Ordinary Life
By: Aviantei
Chapter Twenty
Angstfresser.
That was the name of the demon that stood before her, a massive, black and shadow dripping wolf that fed upon fear and despair. She would've known that, even if she hadn't been told before getting shoved in a room with one, just from instinct alone. She was a demon, too, after all. She could understand, at least a little, even if she was just half.
That half didn't matter much to the people that had put her into the room, though. As far as they were concerned, her father was a problem so she was, too. Never mind that she knew very little about her father in the first place. Never mind that she was scared out of her mind whenever facing down the wolves, that she had no real control over what happened on occasion whenever she was in danger.
I hate it. I hate all of it. Why won't it just go away? I didn't ask for this! The demons would attack, would tear her apart if she couldn't activate her power, but her natural healing would keep her alive. It didn't matter; it still hurt. And the same was about to happen again, a bigger Angstfresser than the last one she'd managed to contain. The wolf Demon snarled; Whiskey cowered, her back pressed against the wall as if it would let her out.
Why do you cower, our Princelet?
The voice was deep. Not in its tone, but in its depth. It was fathomless. It went all the way down to her bones, even further than that. Whiskey's very Core trembled, though perhaps it was more accurate to say that it resonated. It would be a moment she would contemplate in the future, would struggle to understand the full ramifications of for years to come. But in that moment, all she was capable of doing was falling into the infinity the voice offered her, giving a trembling response in her mind:
But I'm scared.
Of that? There is no need to fear. Considering the bulk, fangs, and ferocity of the Angstfresser, Whiskey disagreed. The demons they kept sending after her just kept getting bigger, and there seemed to be no in end sight, just day after day of battering until she couldn't— Such a creature is nothing to you. Do you not recognize what you are?
I'm Margaret.
You are Kin of Time and Space—our Princelet.She didn't know what that meant, just that it felt right. Not monster. Not hell spawn. But Kin of Time and Space. Something and someone that would claim her. A demon like that without a court is nothing compared to you. Use the power that is your right to remind them of how you are to be treated.
The Angstfresser was drawing closer, its demeanor becoming more agitated as Whiskey's emotions did the same. But I don't know—
What should anyone do for a ruler but submit?
Submit. She was just young enough that the word was unfamiliar, but—whatever it meant—it settled into her chest. A heavy weight, but a grounding one, nonetheless. Was it okay for her not to be afraid? Was it okay for her to face the beast before her and all the ones that would come before and after it with no hesitation?
Kin of Time and Space.
Princelet.
She felt a strange mix of confusion and clarity. Her earlier fear had not abated. As if sensing that something else was about to change, the Angstfresser leapt at her, fangs bared and claws out. Its kind had hurt her before in such a way, but she didn't hide, didn't run. Instead she held up a hand for the demon to run into as a voice that was equal parts her and not her came from her mouth:
"Submit."
Purple light swirled around her. The Angstfresser made contact with her hand—all oily, matted fur and heat and fear—and then it disappeared, sucked inside somewhere. She couldn't say where, all she knew was that the demon before her was gone, that she wasn't helpless—
This is the first of your trials,the voice echoing in her mind said, sounding different. Softer. It won't be easy, but you will make it to the end. Even if none of the rest of us do, that is a future you can count on. So stay strong. You aren't anywhere close to finished yet.
And the young Princelet of Time and Space, still brimming with power, turned next upon her captors.
Years later, at age fifteen with much more height and exorcist experience under his belt, Whiskey stared down the Angstfresser with much more confusion than fear. The whole situation was just weird. Angstfressers fed on the negative emotions of people, which meant that abandoned places weren't their usual haunts. Then there had been the way that none of them had noticed the door in their cleaning and the way more worn-down state of the stairs in comparison. Whiskey didn't know what it all meant, but it meant something, he was sure.
"What's that?" Kamiki asked. Being half-demon and all, Whiskey's sight had been fine, but Kamiki had taken a bit longer to adjust. There was at least some light coming in from the door they'd left open up above the stairs, but Whiskey had no idea if it was enough for Kamiki to tell what was going on. "That's a demon, isn't it? But it's not a King Tar…" The Angstfresser snarled and, while Kamiki didn't do anything as undignified as yelping in response, her scent changed to be tinged with fear.
"It's an Angstfresser. Try to stay calm," Whiskey said, though he knew that was a losing battle. The two of them had been dumped into an unexpected situation, and the surprise and mental adjustment time it took to get back to normal would be enough to whet the demon's appetite. Did Kamiki even know what an Angstfresser was, how to handle one? She was injured, and, even if it wasn't too bad, she would still need protected, but it wasn't too bad—
Except further in the dark, Whiskey saw more movement, and he realized there wasn't just one Angstfresser.
There were at least a dozen.
Shit. Whiskey's own heartrate was already pounding heavier and faster, and Kamiki's breath catching behind him proved she was in a similar state. Of course, all that panic was doing was feeding all of the demons, making their strength grow. The whole situation could spiral out of control in no time at all, and even knowing what an Angstfresser was became a double-edged sword if you were all too aware of how your own emotions could fuel them. They needed a plan, because who knew whenever Taniguchi would be back—
Not offering any time to strategize, the pack of Angstfressers charged.
"Uke! Mike!" Her voice trembling, Kamiki rattled off her summoning chant. She almost fumbled the words at the end, but the two fox spirits manifested anyways, which was something, but it wouldn't be enough. The closed space was a bad fit for fighting off a group of enemies, and the stairs had busted enough that retreat was going to be rough, even if Kamiki hadn't injured her leg in the tumble. "Ugh, this is the worst. Spirit Begone, then—"
"Are you out of your mind?" Whiskey asked, snapping back to the moment. "Just how in the hell do you think you're going to have the time to get that chant off in these conditions?!"
"Well I didn't see you doing anything!" It was, as much as Whiskey hated to admit it, an excellent point. He'd gotten so caught up in his head that he hadn't been able to do much, and it wasn't like he had anything useful in Submission, either. Unless… An idea starting to form, Whiskey hauled Kamiki up and into his arms as he channeled his demon strength while letting his aura seep out. "H-hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Making sure you don't get hurt. Now close your eyes and mouth and hold on!" The reason for the holding on instruction was obvious, the other parts less so, but Kamiki caught on soon enough as Whiskey took every Coal Tar that was still lingering in his Submission and let them out at once. They weren't strong by any means, but they were many, and the wall of the things that erupted was enough to blow the pack of Angstfressers back. Whiskey took the opening and leapt towards the stairs, channeling every bit of strength possible into his legs to make it to the staircase, then kicked off the walls to land back into the house and daylight proper. Once he was on solid ground, he ran, Kamiki's fox spirits trailing behind him as they recognized the fight they were ill-suited for at their master's current level of skill. "Oi," Whiskey said to the summons, not having any time for wherewithal for politeness, "can you two go and find the nearest True Cross Exorcist so we can have backup?"
"Such rudeness!" One of them said, and he was right. Vati would be so disappointed whenever he learned that all of Whiskey's diplomacy lessons had gone down the drain just because of a little crisis. "We don't take orders from anyone else. Learn how to make a formal request!"
"That formal request ain't gonna do anyone any damn good if those demons get their claws into your Tamer!" The foxes both bristled, torn between the logic and their pride.
Kamiki seemed to have plenty in common with her summons, as she did the same. "This wouldn't be a problem if you would just let me—"
"Sorry, Kamiki-sama, but you don't have anywhere near the experience to deal with those things." She would, with more time and practice, Whiskey was certain, but time wasn't something they had a lot of.
Still, the implication of weakness was enough to piss Kamiki off even more. Given their opponents, though, she was better off angry than scared. "Oh, and you do, I'm sure."
"Yes," Whiskey said, no longer shouting, "I do."
Kamiki seemed to recognize that something was different, because she fell silent. Having dashed across the length of the house, Whiskey had made it to the front entrance, and he kicked open the door. Reminding himself to be careful, he settled Kamiki down on the ground, her fox spirits pacing around her. It would have to be good enough, considering that the Angstfressers were howling and Whiskey's new Coal Tar army wasn't going to hold them for long. Not wasting another moment, he spun around and dashed back into the house, heading straight for the basement as Kamiki shouted, "Wait, you're not serious about going back there are you?!"
Which, well, the answer seemed obvious without having to say anything.
Because of his sharp ears, Whiskey was well aware of Kamiki cursing up a storm behind him, but he couldn't pay it any mind. It would be rough—some demons were just sharper to take in—but he could handle dragging most of the Angstfressers into Submission. If Kamiki had any sense of mind, she'd call Taniguchi; if not, the older exorcist would be back to finish proctoring them anyways. Whiskey just had to hold off long enough for someone to show up and make sure he wasn't a bloody pulp on the ground.
Not even bothering to slow down as he approached the basement door, Whiskey decided to forego the busted stairs and jumped.
For a moment, he was suspended in freefall—and then he began to plummet straight down into the monster pit waiting for him. His wall of coal tars had been torn to shreds, but those that remained and came into contact with Whiskey got sucked right into Submission, disappearing like soap bubbles as the slightest contact. The Angstfressers were a bit more solid, emboldened by the rest of their pack around them, but Whiskey released a snarl as he grabbed onto the fur and howled the command to submit.
Not having any other choice in the matter, the demon obeyed.
Sure, it fought the whole way there. Whiskey could feel his insides turning raw, and that was just from one of the things—but the Angstfresser had obeyed. He could handle a couple more without too much trouble. It wasn't like he had a choice, either. Suck in some monsters or let Kamiki get mauled. When you put it like that, diving headfirst into a pile of ravenous demon wolves started to seem like the logical thing to do.
He did not get out of it unscathed. Angstfressers were vicious, and nothing but defeat—theirs or their prey's—could stop them once they went on the offensive. Claws and teeth tore at Whiskey's skin and clothes, but he didn't back down. Every point of contact was another chance to enforce his will, to suck another of the demons in. Even just one more could make a huge difference, and Whiskey shoved the Angstfressers as deep, deep down as he could go, right in the spot of his very being that housed so many more of their kin.
What should anyone do for a ruler but submit?
Whiskey didn't know if he considered himself a ruler or a Princelet or anything like that. He knew he couldn't deny whose child he was, but that sometimes seemed altogether separate. Holding power and embracing power were two different things, and he'd done his best to keep his life as normal as possible. He didn't want some grand power or destiny.
But if something's threatening others, then I'm not about to just sit around and do nothing!
So jumping headfirst into a pile the demons that he'd been forced to face as a child it was. It felt nauseating to bring in such creatures again, but Whiskey knew he would feel even worse if he didn't, so the choice was obvious. Any Angstfresser that touched him for more than a split second was dragged into Submission, clawing and howling. Plenty still got their hits in, tearing through his clothes and flesh, but Whiskey knew damn well what they could regenerate from, and it would take an awful lot more than that to make him give in.
When one of the demons latched its fangs around his forearm and tore, though, his concentration faltered, and Whiskey screamed, forcing himself to turn the sound into a hiss. It didn't matter—Angstfressers could feed off the pure emotion rather than just the displays of it. Whereas Whiskey had counted a dozen in the pack before and knew that he'd taken in at least that many, there were still more of the demons left, and they pounced upon him in the moment of weakness. Whiskey felt a snarl grow in his throat, his incisors aching to grow, his fingernails on the verge of turning into claws, his instincts begging to meet ferocity with ferocity and—
"Shudder, shiver, and shake—Spirit Begone!"
It was nothing more than a simple spell, even more basic than the setup Taniguchi had put together to cleanse the Coal Tars from the house. It couldn't dispel anything but the lowest levels of demons, which the remaining Angstfressers were not. But with enough innate skill and powerful enough familiars, it could stun them.
Kamiki Izumo had both.
For Whiskey's part, he felt nothing more than a faint prickle along whatever uninjured skin he had left. Kamiki may have had innate power, but she was still a fledgling exorcist and Tamer; she had nowhere near enough juice to exorcise the child of a King of Hell. The Angstfressers, on the other hand, were nowhere near as lucky, leaving an opening in their otherwise relentless assault. Whiskey was able to muster up enough strength to hurl one of the wolves at another, knocking them both away and hauling himself up to his feet.
"Coming back to fight was risky, Kamiki!"
"That's not how you thank someone for saving your life, Pheles!"
Whiskey couldn't help it—a bark of a laugh slipped out of his mouth. Not at Kamiki, but the ridiculousness of it all, and the fact that he was laughing while bloody and facing down monsters that had filled his childhood nightmares for years just set him off further. While Angstfressers weren't so simple as to be defeated by any expression of joy in front of them, they could be thrown off balance by it, and that vulnerability gave Whiskey the perfect opening to charge the closest one and drag it into Submission.
"Kamiki, tell those familiars of yours I'll buy them whatever offering they like if they let you pull out the big guns!" A novice Tamer she might've been, but Whiskey knew the girl had enough raw power in her that she could do some serious damage, even without practice behind her. Kamiki didn't argue back, instead picking up a conversation with her fox spirits that Whiskey no more than half listened to as he leapt up from the Angstfressers charging at him, then slapping his hand down on one of their backs to drag it in. If Uke and Mike agreed and Whiskey got the timing right, then…
"Okay!" Kamiki called, her negotiations successful. "We're gonna get started! Try not to die if you get caught up in this. Furue yurayura furue yurayura to furue…"
It was the opening chant for Expel Spirit, which was better than Whiskey could have hoped. Of course, the beginning of an invocation was enough to attract some of the demons' attention, them pegging Kamiki as the threat. But the good news about the basement being contained was that there was just one way to get to Kamiki standing in the doorway to the upstairs, so Whiskey just had to intercept the wolves before they could get to her, which was easy enough.
Playing knight might be way more of Ruma-chan's style, but I can be a tank every now and then, too! He had the constitution for it at any rate, though even Whiskey was starting to feel lightheaded from the blood he'd shed. But if it was just for a few more minutes until Kamiki completed the chant, then he could manage that with no problem at all, so long as he channeled more of his demonic strength. Enhancing himself but not losing himself in it, Whiskey kicked some Angstfressers out of the way and dragged others into Submission, all the while Kamiki's voice following a steady intonation as she made her way through the chant.
"…furue yurayura furue yurayura to furue momochiyorozu…" Recognizing the climax to the chant, Whiskey leapt backwards, landing just a bit behind Kamiki in the doorway so he wouldn't get caught up in the immediate backlash of the spell. The Angstfressers followed, but there wasn't anywhere enough time for them to do any damage as Kamiki yelled, "Expel Spirit!"
The basement turned a blinding white, but Whiskey didn't let himself become complicit. Most of the remaining Angstfressers burned away, but one, the massive pack leader, remained. Kamiki didn't need told to get out of the way, as she let Whiskey shift into the point position, his teeth bared as he unleashed the full brunt of his aura upon the last final enemy. "Submit!"
The demon's energy crashed into him with a sensation not unlike a thousand razor blades ripping through his skin, but it worked. The demon disappeared. The air was clear of any smell besides the lingering must of Whiskey's released Coal Tars. The dead silence that followed was almost too much to bear, but it was over.
And then, the natural consequence of pushing their abilities to the absolute limit, Whiskey and Kamiki both collapsed to their knees on the hardwood floor, one after the other.
[Author's Notes]
*kicks down door* I SWEAR THIS FIC ISN'T DEAD!
Thanks to Ergelina, maximilianoismiranda, gaybabyangel003, and lunarwolf27 for the faves, follows, and review, and anyone else who left anything while emails have been a mess.
One might've thought, with the Shimane Illuminati Saga airing, I would've knocked this out sooner, but the power of hyperfixation is wild... Finally got things together, though. Past me left very minimal notes, so I went wild with baby Whiskey backstory and then some exorcism shenanigans. Don't mind me, I'm just making up demons to suit my plot purposes, it's all good.
One more reminder for the people in the back: Whiskey is nonbinary/genderfluid. Pronouns may vary.
Looking forward to the Aomori anime in the fall, too! I'm...not making any promises about when the next chap will be, since I'm making some headway on other projects, but know that I have ideas. Hm, should probably catch up with the manga while I'm at it.
Next chapter will happen whenever I organize my brain enough to write it. Please look forward to it!
-Avi
[20 July 2024]