Chapter 14
Too Late
Ace sat at the bar, chasing shots of Jack Daniel's with sips of coffee. His bandana was in place, as was his vacant stare. He'd been there for several hours, and he was trying to sober up a little bit before heading home. He'd been busted for DUI too many times, and one more would probably be his last. He couldn't defend the world from the Sleshta Skatz from a prison cell.
Brandon and Zim approached. "Ace!" Zim said. "We've been looking all over for you."
Ace knew Brandon, but Zim was a bit hazy. He had a hard time remembering most people because he tended to meet them when he was drunk. His usual policy was to fake it, so he did. "I've been here all night, dude. What's up?"
"Krimskep's coming to this world tonight," Zim said. "We need your help to lure him here."
Ace blinked. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Zim," Brandon said, "the rock."
"Right." Zim reached into his pocket and retrieved the Rinkan Stone. He placed it on the bar in front of Ace. "This ring any bells?"
Ace's eyes grew wide. "Holy shit! He's really coming here now?"
"Sorry," Zim said. "I got blood on it, so it's kind of sticky, but I'm sure it will work."
"We have no time to lose," Ace said. He slammed the final shot and drained off the remainder of his coffee. "Things are about to get nasty. Let's get out to the portal."
"The portal?"
Ace let out an Axl Rose yowl and started running for the door. Brandon and Zim followed, gesturing to the others to follow. Bruni came out of the bathroom at just that moment, so he started after them. Fitz took the rear as they stepped out into the night.
"Quick!" Ace shouted. "Over here!" He led them back by the Dumpster where a drunk leaned against the brick wall, urinating. "Dude! Clear out! Shit's about to get real!"
The drunk hiccupped and dropped to the ground, passed out.
"Okay, then," Ace said. "He'll be all right. Zim, take off your clothes."
Zim paused. "What?"
"Your clothes. Take them off. You can't do this ritual while wearing clothes."
"This sucks," Brandon said.
Zim sighed and started taking his clothes off. His body was strangely pale in contrast with his blood-splattered face and hands.
"Now," Ace said, "the Rinkan Stone." Ace gave it back to Zim.
Fitz swept in between them and slapped the rock from Zim's hand. It clattered away and under the Dumpster. Fitz laughed, his eyebrows arched so much that they were like Satanic inverted V's.
"What the fuck?" Zim asked.
"Shit!" Lorne said. "The Dementemum demon! She's back!"
Fitz's eyes glowed a golden color, and the light started emanating from his mouth. Angel and Gunn stepped forward with their weapons ready.
"No!" Lorne shouted. "Remember, he can be saved!"
"What do we do?" Angel asked.
"Cover your ears!" As soon as everyone complied, just as Fitz was getting ready to jump at Zim, Lorne let loose with his high-pitched cry.
Fitz froze in place, and the murderous glare went out of him. There was a shrieking sound, and the golden light blew out his back, hovering behind him.
Ace yelled an incantation, and the light became solid. Desdemona stood before them all, her teeth bared—all of them on her body—and her hands twisted into claws.
"Now!" Lorne cried out.
Angel, Spike, Connor and Gunn leapt forward, each skewering Desdemona with their weapons until she was a pincushion. She gave a yelp but offered no further resistance.
Fitz stood like a zombie, his eyes wide and his hair sticking up in all directions. He held up one hand, his index finger pointing at the sky. "Check please," he muttered. Then, he fell to the ground.
Brandon, Bruni and Zim rushed to Fitz's side. "Dude, are you all right?" Brandon asked.
"He slimed me," Fitz whispered.
"Stop!" Ace yelled. "Zim, I need you in place! The air is charging up!"
"Huh?" Zim asked.
"Get the Rinkan Stone!"
Zim rushed over to the Dumpster and looked under it. "I can't see it."
The air crackled, and as Zim reached under the Dumpster to see if he could grab the rock, a portal split open. Something started rumbling through.
"No!" Ace screamed. "We're too late! Here comes the Sleshta Skatz!"
