Chapter 5
Gwen sighed in disgust as she deleted another batch of fan mail saying that she and Duncan were perfect for each other. This had been happening since the end of Total Drama Action where fans had been sending her mail about how she was perfect for Duncan or telling her that she was some boyfriend stealer. Duncan and Courtney were together now; they even have matching tattoos, why can't these people just leave her alone?
The holidays were almost over now so she was back to school and things were mostly the same, minus a few brainless fan girls bugging her about Trent. She distanced herself from the Total Drama world mostly except for hearing a bit of news and attending that Pre-Christmas concert with the Drama Brothers. She mostly ignored anything that had anything to do with Total Drama, even though Heather decided to keep on bugging her on the Internet with her stupid blog.
That was when the last email caught her eyes. It was from Heather's little brother Damien, the one who liked to play pranks on his sister. Wondering what he would want with her she opened the email to look at what was inside.
"..." Andromeda giggled. "I can just tell you've been waiting for something like this."
"Yep," Gwen smirked. "Revenge."
Xxx
"...found on Youtube in what has been called 'Heather's Date to the Prom'; in a pre video commentary Gwen Rivers narrated that Ms Chang had stayed home on a prom night at her school after being rejected by every boy in her school. In retaliation for Ms Chang's early mockery of her former web show Gwen Rivers posted this video of Heather Chang."
The screen then shows Heather, lying in bed...with her cat (labelled Bruiser on the screen) licking her face and then grooming itself under her leg right in front of Heather's face.
"There has been no comment from Ms Chang, though some believe they shall not see her at school once the coming school week begins."
Gwen smiled at the news report commenting on how many hits her video had got in the last couple of hours. That should show Heather that she wasn't safe from any kind of payback. Her brother promised to send her a whole lot of stuff to help her humiliate Heather publicly. In the meantime she was looking through the blog for spirit avatars and checked for anything that might need attention.
One article caught her eyes.
"The Dealer?"
She opened the blog.
Hey there everybody its Marcus here and I've got big news. The Dealer is heading for Canada so for anybody up in Toronto...sorry to say he is not that kind of dealer. If you know me than you might be able to guess what kind of dealer this guy is and you'll wanna see him immediately if you have a problem-and I'll say this bluntly, no he's not dealing drugs, I've already said he's not that dealer. I've heard good things about somebody up in Toronto and if her plate's still full this is the guy to give her a hand with it.
If you want to see him, better hop on over to Toronto and hope he's interested in talking.
"So he's coming here now." Andromeda appeared in her spectre form.
"You know him?"Gwen asked as she looked at the small spirit floating above her shoulder.
"We have met a couple of times before but they were a long time ago during my time with Sarah. The Dealer is actually not an avatar nor is he one person, but a human with a spirit residing inside him." Andromeda explained.
"Possession?"
"No, nothing like that. A long time ago a young man wanted to explore the entire world and came across us in the process. Knowing he could not survive on his own he came across a spirit and offered it a compromise, it would hide in his body from the spirit avatars and share his life energy with it but the spirit would help him survive as he traveled and explored between both our worlds. Eventually he got older and slower and even though it was the deal that brought them together the spirit decided to help him live but the man was against stealing life energy as some spirits had done, so instead they turned to taking the life energy or what little remained of it of people who were dying and had no hope of living, mostly through old age or terminally ill diseases." Andromeda said. "He made sure that the ones he found were close enough to death that he stole what little was left while looking they had finally passed on."
"So this guy is more of a mercy killer then?" Gwen asked. "Is that why nobody tries to bring him in?"
"Actually it's because of another...perk he has," Andromeda explained. "You see he is indeed a Dealer...of information and knowledge of things so old even I have a hard time remembering them. The spirit itself is suspected of being as old as me, perhaps older; though nowhere near as strong-though I do hate to boast."
"How old do you think he is?"
"If I had to round it up to the nearest million...seventeen million years," Andromeda replied.
"Yikes!"
"Indeed, and now he silently passes the day by helping Avatars in order to make himself useful and persuade us to allow him to continue his minor Life Energy feeding." Andromeda continued. "I admit when he started I pondered stopping him...but even I saw that a man about to die would only die slower if the Dealer did not feed from him. He somehow mastered the art of it, making it quick and painless, so much so it looks like they fall asleep. In the end we felt his 'Mercy Feeding' was acceptable."
"So he's really coming to Toronto?"
"He always spreads rumours of where he goes, but from time to time it is true," Andromeda sounded uncertain. "And you were mentioned in the message put up by Espino. Perhaps the Dealer truly wishes to see you."
"And how long has he been inhabiting his current host?"
"If I had to guess, perhaps since the time of Egypt's Old Kingdom."
"That old? Wow." Gwen whistled slightly. "But why come here?"
"The Dealer is still an explorer. He might be curious about something here; possibly with the fact that we've encountered some highly powerful spirits here and there's been outbreak here that I have not seen in a long time." Andromeda replied thoughtfully.
Xxx
A figure stood on the roof of a building overlooking Toronto. He smirked as he looked down. "I'm coming for you, Dealer."
Xxx
Kurt whistled as he sold another game to a kid who thanked him and walked out.
"Another bloody video game to those crazy kids." He chuckled as he checked his watch. "Just in time for lunch."
The sound of the door opening caught Kurt's ear.
"Sorry, but its lunch hour. Come again in an hour." Kurt said, not turning around.
"Still the same as ever, Arcane Technician." The voice of an old man made Kurt stop in his tracks.
He slowly turned and saw a man in his sixties with a gray moustache with a suit, a long coat, and a hat.
"It's you." Kurt said, surprised.
"Been a while hasn't it?" The old man chuckled as he came in. "How's Merlin?"
"I am fine, Dealer." The voice of Merlin came from Kurt's sunglasses.
"So the rumours are true, you are here." Kurt said his optimistic tone replaced with a serious one.
"And I hear the rumour of Andromeda gaining a new avatar, one she's been training for a little while now. Only recently has she made an impression." The Dealer said strolling in with Kurt towards the back. "To take on a group of morphers created by the Deck of Beasts, including the Master Card, an Onyro in Baltimore, and a high record of rogue spirits taken out in the last few months. She is on quite a roll."
"And I doubt she'll want you to complicate it all," Kurt replied politely as he could.
"I come not to complicate, Technician," The Dealer said as he sat down. "I come to inform and move on before my pursuer finds me again."
"Pursuer? Are you being...hunted?" Kurt asked cautiously.
"It is not quite as you think it may be," the Dealer shook his head. "In my time I have made many enemies on both sides. I am not a spirit of waging the hidden war; I am not one of causing chaos or takes pleasure in life energy-especially in stealing it. I am a spirit of knowledge and teaching, I taught monks to help them reach enlightenment, I planted the idea in Phillip the Great to remodel his state's army and allowed him to conquer Greece. I watched his son embrace these ideas to a degree no other human has and almost formed a great empire from it. I live to work behind the scenes Kurt, and the only award I gain from it is a sip of life energy from every person who is close to death for the spirit in me to keep me alive."
He stood up. "But now I find myself stalked by one who is not interested in knowledge so much as prejudice against me and anyone else who believes and lives as I do."
"You mean...other spirits who..." Kurt gestured. "Drink like you do? And the one who is hunting you is a spirit who is...a little too proud?"
"Not a spirit, an Avatar," The Dealer replied.
"Technically that means there's a spirit too," Kurt pointed out.
"This one has a spirit that lives off of combat and has since embraced it as his life since he first started hunting. A fire that can't be extinguished." The Dealer replied.
"You mean..." Kurt raised both eyebrows.
"He's been tracking me for a long time, first he wanted information but I knew he wouldn't stop. He's been tracking me for some time now."
"Too think he's still looking." Merlin said sadly.
"You better hope Andromeda's new Avatar stays clear of him. He's not the type of person to make allies and doesn't act kindly to anyone in his way." The Dealer stood up. "I only came here to make sure that she would be kept out of trouble. I'll be on my now."
Kurt remained sitting down on his chair, his face now having a grim look. "...Damn it."
"You are heading out?" Merlin asked.
"I am not letting him cause trouble. If Gwen ends up in the way things are going to get complicated."
Xxx
"So he really did come to Toronto?" Gwen looked up from the McDonalds soda cup of coffee Kurt had brought to her.
"And pretty much told me not to let you get involved," Kurt nodded, opening his bag and pulling a pair of hash browns out. "Want one?"
"Sure," He passed her one. "So why me specifically?"
"Currently you're the only Avatar in Toronto besides me, and I don't do any active hunting anymore; I make things you hunt with." Kurt explained. "So if this guy does catch up to the Dealer you're most likely to get involved. The Dealer's not a fighter, like I said; he's not even a violent spirit in any way. He's like the oldest pacifist on the planet. He doesn't like bringing trouble with him."
"Nice to know he cares," Gwen nodded.
"You've done a lot better than some people start out, mostly because Andromeda made sure to train you extra longer than most other rookies. Most avatars get a four month training session, and then a few repeat sessions every year or two for the next decade. You spent a few full years training before you went on that show, Total Drama. Quite frankly that host was crueller than most other spirits with their training. So add the two months you spent on TDI, and plus the toughest Morpher from the Deck of Beasts and an Onryo strong enough to haunt Baltimore...you have a reputation."
"I had no idea," Gwen said, setting her coffee down when she almost choked on some scalding hot liquid.
"Well the fact is that the Dealer is being chased by somebody, an avatar who has been around as long as me," Kurt explained. "So we should keep our eyes open and ears to the ground."
"Why, is this guy dangerous? I thought Avatars only target...bad spirits," Gwen said. "Spirits who kill, steal life energy and the like."
"Usually...but this one has an unusual spirit, and the avatar himself seems prejudiced against spirits in general," Kurt said. "Now ones like Merlin and Andromeda don't need to sponge up life energy to get stronger, they're strong enough that they don't need it in their realm and even if some spirits need it they can get by simply staying here in this world and get a bit of energy by simply breathing in the very air we breathe. Nobody dies, nobody gets hurt, it's like swimming in an ocean. But ones like the Dealer need it to fill a void in them, it's a drug addiction; the Dealer just takes a lot less of it."
"Still enough for this rogue avatar to go after him I suppose?"
"Definitely enough," Kurt nodded. "I can't believe I am saying this but I think we might have to...well avatars once had to police their own ranks back in older ages, like in the crusades. Sometimes an avatar would use his power to defend people who were sentenced to death during the witch hunts and as bad as it was to let them die the spirits couldn't allow everyone to know that people could actually wield their powers. They'd look for ways to force the avatars to work for them for their own personal goals."
"...On one hand I understand why we would have to do that but all the same I can't say I'd standby and let someone be executed for a crime they didn't commit." Gwen sipped her coffee again.
"Don't worry, you're not alone." Kurt smirked.
"So who's this rogue?"
"Someone who you should stay away from."
"What?"
"This guy's too strong for you to handle Gwen. If you see him, stay away. You fight him and he will kill you if he has to." Kurt said with a serious face.
"But what about the Dealer?"
"Despite the Dealer's lack of skills in fighting that doesn't mean he's helpless. He has the best camouflage methods ever created. He can hide out for a while but our rogue is one of the best hunters." Kurt replied, taking sip of his coffee. "Despite how far you've come just leave him to me."
Before Gwen could reply Kurt slapped some money on the table to pay for the meal and vanished. "...I hate it when he does that!"
She groaned as she sat back on her seat. "If he thinks I'm sitting this out he's mistaken."
"Gwen, it's not a good idea to argue with Kurt when he's this serious." Andromeda whispered.
"Maybe, but this is my job and I am not getting pushed aside." Gwen pulled out her phone.
"What are you doing?" Andromeda asked.
"Calling the one person who can help me find the Dealer."
Xxx
The Dealer was not afraid to walk in open daylight despite the circumstances. He knew his hunter would not attack him with his powers in the open, with so many humans he could hurt in the cross fire. Despite his zealous dedication the hunter did not cross the line if he did not have to. He was patient, watching from every corner and behind any cover he could-sometimes the Dealer wasn't sure which single place the hunter spied upon him from.
But there would not be humans around him forever, or the Hunter would get impatient and risk a chance just to strike at him. Trying to use a spell to make humans ignore him would not affect the Dealer, who could see through even the most complex charm or curse. Maybe he wouldn't use his powers, but a gun or something similar. He had not yet seen his pursuer's weapon, nor even what he truly looked like.
He had a...special way of following the Dealer, and it was slowly working.
The Dealer was used to such danger, but after a while the less than competent avatar would run into an unfortunate accident such as another spirit or would give up. This one was both talented and persistent. He and his spirit must both be determined to start a fight if they chased the Dealer all the way from South America for this.
Perhaps a confrontation would be in order eventually, but the Dealer was content to avoid this Avatar for a while. He went down into a nearby subway station and had barely paid for his ticket when he began to notice the subway station was not as full as it seemed. People were filing out through the entrance even if they had just acquired a ticket of their own, others piled onto a train that would not take them to their original destination...
Soon few inhabited the station besides the dealer, and those few suddenly just collapsed on the spot.
"Interesting," He mused. "A Repelling Method to cause most of the humans to leave...and a Sleeping Method to knock those strong enough to resist the first seal out cold." He turned. "Andromeda has taught you well."
"A few years of training's worth something," Gwen replied as she took off the hood of the ragged coat she had worn over her original outfit and got off of the bench she had been sitting on.
"And the cameras?"
"I used an old trick Kurt showed me to make them to show the station emptying and then going to a loop." She shrugged. "Won't work for long but I only need a few minutes of your time."
"How did you find me?"
"Marcus Espino might help you out by spreading seven different rumours to mislead people," she held up her phone. "But the rest of my Walking Around money made him slip how you planned to leave the city. First you'd board the next train, get as close to the air port as you can, take a taxi, and fly to South Africa to meet with an Avatar sanctuary."
"Hm...well he is only human," The Dealer shrugged. "I should really persuade Minos to discipline him some time though."
"I want to know who is hunting you," Gwen said. "I know why, I need to know who though. If you tell me, I can stop him from hurting you."
"Sorry child, but I won't involve you in my problems," The Dealer shook his head. "This is my affair, and this avatar has been fighting demons as a past time for a while."
"Well then don't tell me...sell me the information on him."
The Dealer cringed. "Blast it...you would need something expensive for the information on another avatar."
"How about a piece of a claw from an Alpha Morpher?" She held up a small jar that contained several fragments of the claw that Damien Strauss had formed when he used the Deck of Beast's master card to become an Alpha Morpher. She had found several fragments in the top of the CN Tower with some directing from Kurt-who advised her to keep it 'in case she ever needed to buy something expensive'.
"Interesting..." The Dealer nodded. "Alpha Morphers have been rather...impossible to find for several centuries. How did you find one?"
"Deck of Beasts."
"Ah...I wish I had been able to get my hands on those cards," The Dealer muttered. "A few of those fragments would give a spirit the chance to become much stronger."
"And you sound like you need it."
"It would never put me on par with Andromeda or Merlin in ten million years, but I can see the value," the Dealer nodded. "Very well then Gwendolyn Rivers...I shall tell you what I know of the avatar who hunts me."
She held out the jar, and he stowed it in one pocket.
"He is a young man who was born not too many years before you, but showed as much potential as you do," the Dealer began to explain. "His name is Carlos Hunter-he never did tell anybody his real name, I fear even he forgot it a while back. He is Canadian like you and he is the avatar to a spirit that is extraordinary in the skills of battle that some even call him the Spirit of War."
"There's literally a spirit for war?" Gwen cut in.
"Yes, a very active and violent spirit, who thankfully has focused his tendencies against demons," The Dealer continued. "He sees humans as a herd that must be protected...and himself as the shepherd who protects them. He took Carlos under his wing because of the emotions he felt from the boy, a burning fury most humans can never possess. Carlos' skill is strong enough that he is recognized as the 'Inferno Hunter'."
Before Gwen could ask another question the Dealer looked up when he saw something at the top of the stairs.
"I've waited too long." He backed away. "You must go!"
"Wait!" Gwen called out, following him.
"Gwen, you must not follow!" Andromeda urged her.
"I'd listen to her if I were you." A voice behind her made Gwen stop and turn.
Walking down the stairs towards the platform was a boy about as old as Gwen, dark slightly spiked hair, blue eyes, wearing dark pants and sneakers with a black shirt and denim jacket.
"Inferno Hunter Carlos." Andromeda spoke up. "Avatar of Warhawk."
"Nice to see you too, Andromeda." The sound of a deep voice came out of a pocket knife Carlos had in his hand.
A black smoke came out of the knife and Gwen could see bright orange eyes staring at her.
"Gwen Rivers, Avatar of Andromeda AKA Heaven's Star." Carlos said, smiling at her. "I heard a lot about you."
"Ditto." Gwen said wearily. "You're here for the Dealer aren't you?"
"Got me on that." Carlos chuckled. "I have unfinished business with the old man. If you promise not to get in my way we won't have any problems."
"Sorry, but that's not part of the job description." Gwen touched the symbol on her Omni-Glove and her sword appeared.
"Gwen, please do not do this!" Andromeda pleaded.
"I will be fine young lady." The Dealer tried to make her move.
"I'd listen to them if I were you." Carlos said, flicking out the pocket knife's switch blade.
"We don't have to fight but I am not going to let you kill the Dealer because of whatever problem you've got with him." Gwen held her katana out in front of her. "Can we solve this the easy way or do we just skip to the fight?"
Carlos sighed. "Marcus said you were stubborn so I should have known. You take this job seriously like I do."
"Should I consider that a compliment?"
"Well, if you're like me and you have family that might be considered a bad thing. On the other hand I am interested in seeing how tough you are, taking on the Master Card of the Deck of Beasts and an Onyro. Andromeda's not taking any chances this time." Carlos said he put his pocket knife away. "All right then, I'll make this fast."
"You're not going to pull out your weapon?" Gwen asked.
"Honey...I am a weapon." Carlos said as he moved with great speed towards Gwen.
Gwen jumped to her left, dodging Carlos' fist as it slammed into the ground and produced a small crater. Carlos jumped and flew at Gwen, forcing her back as she dodged and twirled out of the way of his blows. Taking the chance when she did Gwen would swing her sword but Carlos moved just as fast, evading her swings while taking the chance to attack but Gwen moved just as fast to dodge. If anyone could see this and follow their movements they'd think it was dance with the way they moved, minus the punches, kicks, and the swinging of the sword.
"You're good." Carlos landed a few feet away. "Andromeda made sure you were good with the sword and hand to hand combat. Considering what happened with Sarah I wouldn't blame her."
"What do you mean?" Gwen asked, taking a bit of breath.
"She never told you? Sarah was no good at fighting, so she relied more on methods than direct combat and that's how she ended up getting caught by those morons and killed. She did have Andromeda's power but when they saw that necklace allowed Andromeda to connect with her they stole it, thinking that it had great power. They were right but Andromeda would never lend her power to those bigots." Carlos explained. "Obviously she's not taking chances this time and is making sure her new avatar knows how to fight. That's good, the way I prefer it. Though from what I hear you're still working on using the full power of your spirit."
He looked at the pocket knife that was the connection with his spirit.
"Me on the other hand, I got plenty of experience with that." Carlos said as his pocket knife glowed.
Gwen watched as Carlo was engulfed in a bright fiery aura with awe. Carlos' skin turned black with red veins traveling his skin that resembled lava. His eyes turned bright red and he roared, releasing fire from mouth.
"Andromeda..." Gwen asked stepping by.
"The power of his spirit has flown into his body, physically altering his appearance to show just how strong his connection with his spirit is." Andromeda said.
Gwen had heard this was possible but she never experienced any physical changes when she called on Andromeda's power. It did increase her strength and speed but nothing changed when it happened.
Carlos had obviously experienced the same increase in physical performance in addition to the demonic change his body had undergone. He lunged forward so fast it was like a bullet train. Gwen barely had her katana up before Carlos slammed into her and sent her flying into the wall of the subway. Gwen released a breath and collapsed on the floor, coughing. She looked up and saw Carlos examining a cut on his right arm where she had sliced deep into him while he slammed her. He looked at her and grinned as the cut sealed itself up. "Now that little boo boo isn't even close to what you'll need to take me on Gwen."
"I had another idea in mind," She said, placing on hand palm flat on the ground. A blue seal made of light briefly flashed, and then a large hand made of stone and metal shot up at Carlos. It had been made from the material that that subway station's floor was made of, along with something underneath the floor. It slammed into Carlos, and made him slide back as he gripped the artificial appendage. It stopped short of the opposite wall where Gwen had intended to slam the demonic young man into so she could stun him momentarily. Then suddenly with a heave of his arms Carlos tore the hand off and tossed it aside.
"Okay, I'll give you credit," He nodded. "Good one, but here's my trick." He held up one hand, and a bright red seal flashed to life. Suddenly a large red arm with a clawed hand appeared in mid air, made entirely of a red energy. It mimicked every move Carlos made with his right arm. "Like it? You won't in a second."
He swung it in an upper cut, and the arm slammed into Gwen's gut and knocked her back. She managed to roll aside and avoid the next one, and then roll backwards to avoid the third blow as Carlos swung it down on the floor, leaving another small crater in it.
"Oh man this isn't going well," Gwen muttered, getting to her feet as the energy arm faded. "Andromeda I could really use an idea right now!"
"Try using water."
"What water?" Gwen asked.
"Well if I'm right that seal you used broke open a sewer pipe below us," Andromeda pointed out. "And if you recall, a short range portal is a two way method..."
"Gotcha!" Gwen stood and traced a blue circle in front of her.
"Oh this'll be good," Carlos chuckled.
"Yeah, it will be, for me." Gwen finished the circle, having the other one appear in the sewage line below them. Suddenly a jet of water shot out of the portal and slammed into Carlos, who was caught off guard-thanks to Andromeda making sure only Gwen heard her plan. The young man was knocked back, steam rising off of his darkened flesh as though he was truly on fire. He let out a furious snarl, holding one arm in front of his face.
The portal shut of its own accord moments later, and Carlos stood up, drenched and looking pissed. "That was a cheap move."
"So was the demon arm, so bite me." Gwen snapped back at him.
"I'd rather crush you for that, but I'll settle for a broken leg or two," Carlos said, somehow managing to calm his growing rage. He started forward, and Gwen tried to repeat her attack on him. But this time he leaped out of the way of the water jet and dug his clawed hands into the wall of the station. He still moved quickly and then leaped off of the wall. Gwen was caught off guard by this and took a left hook to the side of her head that spun her around.
As she tried to steady herself Carlos spoke again. "Come on Gwen, I don't want to fight you, Warhawk doesn't want to fight another Avatar; just let me take the old man and we'll both leave Toronto."
"Not happening," Gwen swung her right foot up in a reverse roundhouse kick but Carlos blocked.
She jumped off and landed a few feet away.
"There's no need for us to fight, child." Warhawk spoke. "You have proven to be a worthy Avatar and we don't want to destroy you. But the Dealer will not escape."
"You are blinded by your prejudice." Andromeda said.
"Anyone who steals life energy is just another leech like the ones that we hunt with our human partners who we teach and aid in the fight because we cannot reach into this world without causing damage because how our powers affects the world upon our arrival." Warhawk said. "The Dealer is just a spirit hiding in a human's body and drains life energy from the old and defenceless."
"He keeps his host alive through what little energy is provided and has never raised his hand to harm the innocent." Andromeda argued.
"I see you are still the same, Andromeda." Warhawk sighed.
"As are you, Flaming King of the Inferno." Andromeda replied.
"Whatever reason you have for hunting the Dealer if you're a real Avatar you'll forget it and walk away." Gwen said as Andromeda started to release her power.
Gwen was engulfed in a shining white aura that lit up the subway.
"That's not necessary anymore." A voice made them both stop.
They looked up at the top of the stairs to see...
"Kurt!" Both Gwen and Carlos shouted.
Kurt casually walked down the stairs with his hands in his pocket. "Long time no see, Carlos. And Gwen, I told you to stay out of this."
"You know me." Gwen glared.
"Yeah, I should have seen this coming." Kurt chuckled as he turned to Carlos. "And you, coming up here and causing all this trouble. Only you could find a spirit as crazy and destructive as you."
"So you're the one looking after the new girl? I got to say that you've done a good job. She's tougher than I thought but she's still way over her head." Carlos replied.
"Which is why I am putting a stop to this before this subway becomes the opening battleground for World War Three. Now if you two don't power down than I'll have to put you both in the corner." Kurt said.
"With what?" Carlos grinned.
"This." Kurt pointed to the ceiling and a seal glowed.
Carlos transformed back into his human form and the aura around Gwen faded.
"What's happening right now is that seal is draining the energy from Warhawk and Andromeda that was powering the two of you up. Try to summon anymore power and that is instantly drained into the seal and dispersed up to the surface to fade in the air. Is that enough reason to stop or should I try harder?"
"Thank you for coming, Kurt. I was afraid someone was going to get hurt badly." The Dealer bowed his head.
"No problem." Kurt said as he stopped between them. "As for you, Carlos it's only my respect for you and their memory that I tolerate this, but harm a single hair on either of their heads and be prepared for an ass kicking from here to the next dimension."
Carlos glared at Kurt but did not attack.
"That's better. And just in case you wanted to ask him, the answer is no the Dealer has not seen any signs of it." Kurt said. "I'd suggest you leave while you have the chance, Dealer. This is only a temporary solution."
The Dealer nodded. "Thank you, Kurt."
He walked off and vanished into the subway tunnel.
"Oh boy, what a mess you two have made." Kurt sighed as he looked around. "Honestly, they stick the two of you with me and have me clean up the debris left out. Did I do something to offend them?"
"Oh stop whining." Both Gwen and Carlos said at the same time, making them stare at each other.
"I can already tell this will be the beginning of a beautiful, annoying, and insane friendship." Kurt lowered his head.
"Is he always like this?" Carlos mumbled.
"Usually more charming," Gwen replied. "And what did he mean that the Dealer didn't see any sign of 'it'?"
"It's called 'none of your beeswax'." Carlos replied. "Let's just say before I tore the Dealer out of that old guy I planned to have him tell me where to find something that's number two on my list. But now that he doesn't know where it is...let's just say the Dealer's number two on my list, especially if he has you two guarding him."
"Meaning he's safe until Carlos clobbers, kills, murders, slaughters, or generally eliminates that 'other' thing he's after," Kurt elaborated.
Gwen relaxed. "Oh thank god."
"Now I suggest you two get out of here while I fix this place up," Kurt sighed. "This'll take hours."
"You do realize I spent a few hours in here preparing, right?" Carlos replied, walking over to a bench and reaching under it, producing a brief case. He opened it, revealing papers with a seal written on them.
"What are those?" Gwen asked, glancing at Kurt.
"Methods of Restoration," Kurt breathed a sigh of relief. "He'd have to keep them on him so he could repair all the damage he does. Carlos and Warhawk are an explosive combination."
"Yeah, so I spent three hours writing these," Carlos explained as he walked around, setting down the sheets of paper near different area of damage or taping them up on the wall he had dug his claws into. "But I spent a full year figuring out how to do this," He held up one hand, and a red seal matching the ones he had written appeared on his palm before suddenly lines of red energy shot out of his palm and connected to each paper he had set down like strands of web.
Suddenly the floors and wall shifted and twisted, the damage repairing itself. Soon the station looked pristine and untouched.
"For a guy who blows things up you sure clean up nice," Kurt nodded.
"That's what Warhawk keeps saying," Carlos replied. "Well if you'll excuse me I have a different hunt I have to finish."
"You know Toronto's a hot bed of spirits and demons," Kurt said. "And a whole lot of other things. Morphers, maybe a few other creatures made by demons...maybe you might find what you're looking for here?"
"..." Carlos looked back at him from the steps. "You're just doing this to keep an eye on me."
"I have Klondike bars," Kurt offered.
"...your proposal is indeed one that has caught my interest, old friend," Carlos nodded. "Very well, I'll stay in Toronto like a good boy, help out when I can and try to avoid blowing things up...but I'm only staying for a few months, nothing more. If I don't find it, I'm moving on."
"Let me guess...somebody told you the Dealer knew where it is, so you decided you'd kill two birds with one stone," Kurt guessed.
"Yes actually...the Merchant did."
"Merchant?" Gwen spoke up.
"Like the Dealer, only he doesn't give information, he gives out more...material objects," Kurt said. "And he doesn't absorb life energy like the Dealer; he's stronger...almost as strong as Andromeda or Merlin. He's just a very lazy guy who likes money, just like his host."
"He told me my best bet was with the Dealer," Carlos continued. "So I went after him in Brazil, chased him all the way up here."
"What exactly is going on?" Gwen asked. "Why were you chasing him so much? Is it a spirit or a demon you're after?"
"Let Kurt tell you, I'm out of here." Carlos walked out of the subway.
"What exactly was that about?" Gwen turned to Kurt.
"I'll explain back at the shop."
Xxx
Kurt passed a cup of tea to Gwen as she sat on the couch before he sat on his chair. "From what I remember, Carlos actually got involved in this Spirit stuff a few years before you, but his entrance was a lot more gruesome. He was an ordinary kid at the time, going to school making friends, normal family until he was eight."
"What happened?" Gwen asked, feeling a chill running up her spine.
"A rogue spirit came out of nowhere, mad, insane, with a bloodlust that would terrify even the cruelest of demons. It slaughtered Carlos's entire school, not even interested in life energy as it killed everyone, kids and teachers. Carlos was the only survivor but his will to fight that thing was so strong that it led Warhawk to him." Kurt explained. "Carlos has been on this hunt for this guy ever since."
"And it hasn't been seen since?"
"He'll keep on looking until the end of time if he has to." Kurt leaned back. "The guy's come too far to back out now."
"So who killed them?" Gwen asked.
"Sorry, Gwen. But no one knows and only Carlos knows the details of what it looks like." Kurt shrugged. "In the meantime about we talk about you going off and picking a fight when I said not too."
Gwen glared. "You can stop with the acting, Kurt. I know you set me up."
Kurt raised an eyebrow.
"You knew Carlos wouldn't intentionally try to kill me after I gave him a better fight than most rookies would. You wanted me to go after him so he'd calm down enough that you'd talk him out of going after the Dealer." Gwen smirked. "Telling me to stay out of the fight when you know me is like telling me to run out and start it. I know Warhawk respects Andromeda too much to allow Carlos to strike down her avatar."
Kurt was silent before shrugging. "So you're a little smarter than I gave you credit for."
"You manipulative old cr-"
"Language!" Kurt held up a finger. "I just needed you to keep Carlos in one place for me to convince him to stay low for a little while. If he killed the Dealer then nothing would stop the spirits and avatars from hunting him down and he'd be hunted like the ones he hunts. So I had to trick you, you figured it out and went along with it and plus if I can convince him to help you train with using Andromeda's powers it's a bonus."
"So, one big plan. It's Total Drama all over again." Gwen sighed and leaned back.
"It's not all bad. If it helps I've been monitoring Heather's status on Facebook. She's now nicknamed 'Cat Breath' by about a dozen people including her 'friends' at her school."
Gwen laughed, happy that the humiliation Heather was getting. Maybe that will stop her from going on about her stupid anti-Gwen web show. Gwen doubted it but then again that video wasn't the only thing her little brother had sent.
"Well, if Heather persists in bugging me I've got a whole list of things I can send out to show the world." Gwen smirked, knowing it was most likely an evil smile.