Ryker, page 16
CHAPTER 23
Ryker wasn’t going to play this game with Tarek. Seeing the Hell Hound bounding toward Susan had sent his rage through the roof. He had stopped the creature just before it attacked using his magic. Bad move for these fuckers to show up in the Human Realm…real bad…for them.
“Enough!” Pyro shouted his eyes narrowing on Susan. “Come here, now!”
“Yeah, not happening.” Susan mumbled stepping closer to Ryker. “Fuck you.”
Tarek laughed staring at Susan. “Nice.” He said looking at Ryker. “Now I see why you were so hell bent on finding her, Warlock. Like you, I enjoy feisty women. Maybe I’ll take her for myself.”
“I paid you.” Pyro bellowed in outrage. “She is mine.”
“You’re a Demon for hire.” Ryker made the statement. A few Demons put out their services for anyone with a high price. In the underworld it was frowned upon because Satan called the shots. If one was caught, they would spend the rest of eternity burning in the pits of hell, that was why there were so few.
“Not exactly. Beneath my status. Though I would have been awesome at it.” Sighing Tarek rolled his eyes as Pyro began yelling. He then looked at Ryker. “If you don’t kill him I might.”
“What?!” Pyro actually looked frightened as he stared in horror at Tarek. That’s when Ryker realized that the threat wasn’t really this pussy Pyro but Tarek.
“Just kidding.” Tarek rolled his eyes then motioned toward Susan. “Go get your…Princess. I’ll take care of the big guy. Go on.”
“I’m not his fucking Princess.” Susan hissed angrily. “I swear I will kick your balls so far up your throat if you touch me.”
Pyro made his way forward toward Susan. His eyes shooting nervously toward Ryker who glanced at Tarek. The Demon gave Ryker a wink, then motioned toward Pyro as his thumb slid across his neck in the age-old sign language of death.
Just as Pyro reached them, he held out his hand toward Susan. “Come.”
With lightning speed Ryker snagged Susan putting her behind him as he grabbed Pyro’s hand. Yanking the bastard forward Ryker swung out punching the bastard in the face. His gaze quickly scanned the Hell Hounds who just stood watching as did Tarek.
“Tarek!” Pyro screamed as Ryker punched him again before maneuvering the bastard into a head lock.
“I swore that you would suffer a slow death for taking what is mine. Lucky for you I don’t have time to make you suffer.” Ryker growled at Pyro, but his eyes were still on Tarek. With a quick snap he broke the Demon’s neck, then chanted a banishing spell sending him straight to hell. “Rot motherfucker.”
“Ah, man.” Tarek looked disappointed as Ryker tossed Pyro’s body to the side without a second glance. “I was hoping to see more…gore and blood, maybe a few hours of suffering. I’m so disappointed in you.”
“You lied to me in the bar.” Ryker cut to the chase. “Why?”
“I did.” Tarek looked sad, but then an evil grin spread across his face. “But I did warn you quite a few times to maybe not…trust me. Oh, and good move on not making a deal with me. That could have turned out badly for you.”
“What do you want, Tarek?” Ryker was done with the games. One thing about fucking Demons, they loved games.
Tarek looked past Ryker and clapped like a madman. “Look it’s the Demon Slayer in the flesh.” He then fanned himself with his hand as the Hell Hounds began to pace, drool pooling at their mouths as they all stared behind Ryker. Their deep growls vibrated around them. “My hearts all aflutter.”
“Cut the shit.” Ryker growled knowing that backup as well as Daniel was behind him.
“Sorry.” Tarek said then chuckled. “I’m just excited for what’s to come. Oh, and you asked me why did I lie to you, Ryker? Because I’m a fucking Demon. We all lie. It’s in our nature. Plus, it sounded good. Me being in a love with a human, wanting the baby, blah, blah….blah. Everything that has happened, even blondie there, has everything to do with the Lore.”
Ryker was trying to piece together what the hell Tarek was saying. Demons loved hearing themselves talk and sometimes you just had to be patient wading through the bullshit to get to the real answers.
“I see you’re confused, Warlock.” Tarek stared at him for a long time before looking at Daniel who had walked up next to Ryker. “Shall I explain, or would you like to do the honors?”
“Maybe I should since you are doing such an excellent job of fucking it up.” Daniel finally spoke. Another fun fact about Demons is that they hated to be made fun of, ridiculed, or proven wrong.
Tarek roared as one of the Hell Hounds bounded toward Daniel. Ryker was waiting for Daniel to…do something, but the beast kept coming. “Fuck!” Ryker growled, but before he could use his magic to stop the creature it slid to a halt, then shook its massive head before laying down. “About fucking time.” Ryker hissed at Daniel.
“I didn’t do that.” Daniel said his eyes still on Tarek.
Ryker looked up to see Tarek staring at the Hell Hounds around him all at once lay down as if ready for a nap. His head snapped up but didn’t go to Daniel. Instead, he looked past them to their right. Ryker slowly looked that way to see Katrina.
“You!” Tarek pointed at her. “We’ve heard of your talents. Exceptional. You Warriors and Guardians have very intriguing mates we have learned.”
Katrina didn’t say a word as Blaze moved closer to her, but the Warriors as well as Charger expressed their displeasure at his words.
“I think I want you.” Tarek said as he lifted his hands. Ryker tried to show no emotions as the wind picked up around them. Sparks shot out of his fingers as Katrina was lifted off her feet being dragged toward Tarek.
“You son of a bitch.” Blaze threw a fireball toward Tarek who deflected it without problem. Raven and Jill were trying to stop Katrina, but their attempts were failing.
Daniel stepped forward walking toward Katrina. He reached up, grabbed her leg, and pulled her down gently then handed her off to Blaze.
“Why don’t we stop with the tricks, Tarek.” Daniel said as if bored.
“You’re a Warlock.” Ryker frowned his eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Yes, I am.” Tarek said still staring at Katrina then turned his focus on Ryker. “You’ve met my mother.”
“The Hag.” Ryker growled realizing that this son of a bitch had pulled one on him and it pissed him off.
“Ding. Ding. Ding. Give the man a prize Johnny. That was some of my best acting. I think I deserve an Emmy? Oh, and I was the one to mark the beautiful Susan. I also inherited my mother’s gift of dream control. That was all me. I thought the spell of having blondie wanting to kill Ryker was brilliant. Oh, man I really outdid myself with that one. But then that bitch Sibyl talks my mother into reversing my spell, she will pay for that very soon. Mother always wanted a daughter.” Tarek growled his jovial mood turning sour. He glanced at them realizing he said more than he meant to. Slowly his mouth curved into a fake smile. “Let me see have I missed something?”
Everyone watched as Tarek put on a show as if thinking hard, a long black fingernail tapping his chin.
“Cut the shit.” Sid growled, then glanced at Daniel. “Do your thing and end this asshole, Daniel. I’m bored as fuck and need to take a shit.”
The Warriors laughed and Ryker could see that Tarek was enraged being disrespectfully disrupted during his little show but tried to play it off as if he hadn’t heard Sid.
“Oh, now I remember. I forgot someone on the old family tree. The most important as a matter of fact and very soon you all will get the honor of meeting him personally.” Tarek’s eyes turned solid black as a sinister smile curved his lips. “And my father, Lucifer is very excited…to meet you, Demon Slayer.”
“Dun, dun…dunnnn.” Kane snorted shaking his head. “Come on Demon. Sid’s shits scare me more than that little weak ass speech.”
Ryker grinned watching the guys get to Tarek. Actually, it was really easy to do with Demons, but he had to give Tarek credit. He was keeping his cool pretty well.
“Holy shit.” Ryker heard Susan whisper. “His dad is Satan?”
“That’s right, blondie. Though he prefers Lucifer.” Tarek winked at her. “He’d sure like to have a go at you. He just loves pure souls. Speaking of which, Adam. How is that sweet Angelina.”
Adam took off with a growl, but only made it so far before he was shot back with a flick of Tarek’s wrist.
“Pathetic attempt.” Tarek looked disappointed, then snapped toward them all. “Anyone else.”
“Me.” Daniel walked toward Tarek as they all moved as one behind him.
“Get her in the house, now.” Ryker said to Jill who had moved beside him.
“Oh, how I wish, but not yet…Demon Slayer.” Tarek said shaking his head. “Soon, but not yet.”
“Because daddy hasn’t given you permission.” Daniel shot back and Ryker knew Daniel had hit a nerve. “Why don’t you show yourself, Demon. Stop hiding behind magic.”
“Ah, he’s standing right there.” Sid leaned up informing Daniel.
Ryker frowned as he looked closer and that’s when he saw it. That slight shimmering reflection. Producing a rock in his hand he stepped up to Daniel and then threw it. Ryker used his magic to deflect anything that got in the way of the rock’s projection. The image of Tarek shattered as the Hell Hounds stood up snarling.
“I can’t control them anymore.” Katrina said sounding weak. “There’s too many for me to hold them this long.”
“Pity.” Tarek’s voice sounded like it had static. “I wanted to be the one to expose the truth, but I’ll leave that up to you Demon Slayer. The Human realm will soon be ours. Everything has been set into motion and the end is…”
There was silence as Tarek was cut off, then a loud boom exploded around them as a black hole appeared swallowing up what was left of the shattered portal.
“Dammit, Ryker.” Sid frowned at him. “Couldn’t you have done that sooner. I didn’t think the fucker was going to ever shut up.”
“I was kind of wanting to hear what he was about to say.” Jared tapped one finger on his chin. “The end is…coming? No, that’s not it. The end is…near, maybe?”
“Yeah, I’d go with near.” Steve nodded, then looked behind them. “He didn’t take his dogs with him.”
Ryker glanced at the Hell Hounds who were snarling, pawing the ground glaring as if waiting for orders from Tarek. Daniel gave them a short glanced and then they disappeared as one.
“I just want to say you’re a badass.” Steve said to Daniel. “And I’m happy as fuck you’re on our side.”
“You going to fill us in on what the fuck is happening now?” Raven walked up standing directly in front of Daniel. “Because we know you know we know that you know what the fuck is going on.”
“You sounded like Phoebe on Friends.” Susan said as she walked up putting her shaking arm around Ryker.
“Good episode.” Daniel grinned at her with a nod. “One of my favorites.”
“Mine too!” Susan said with a smile. “Will you be my new bestie?”
“Hey! Friends is my favorite show and that’s one of my favorites too.” Steve broke in. “Add me to that bestie list.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Sloan bellowed making Susan jump. Ryker tightened his arm around her. He had been watching Sloan who Ryker knew was about to lose his shit and he was right. Sloan was raging.
“She started it.” Steve whispered then disappeared behind everyone as Sloan’s narrowed eyes swung toward him.
“How fast can you get the new compound done?” Daniel asked saving Steve’s life.
“Another six months or so.” Sloan answered with a frown. “Why?”
“That’s no good.” Daniel looked up at Ryker. “You, Bonnie, Mira, and Kira need to finish it. Can it be done?”
“Yes.” Ryker said without hesitation.
“Give Ryker the plans and I’ll add what I feel needs to be added.” Daniel’s eyes swirled. He didn’t look at anyone, just stared into the distance.
“Are you giving orders now?” Sloan asked, but not in his usual pissed off way which was odd. Everyone looked toward Daniel for his answer.
“I never wanted this.” Daniel said his eyes meeting Sloan’s before looking around at all of them. “I don’t know why I was chosen. Honestly, I wish I’d never been born and if anyone tells my mother I said that…I will kill you. The day I went into the Demon Realm everything was set into motion.”
“Louis Maxwell was a set up.” Charger said, not really asking a question.
“Everything has been a set up. The day I was born whispers in the Demon Realm began. My mom was plastered all over the news. The half-breed raped by a vampire now pregnant with a child.” Rage flashed across Daniels usually calm face. “A child born of tragic circumstances as the Lore says. There was no doubt even as a young child there was something different about me. Every single one of you knew it. I knew it. The Demon’s knew and feared me. If you don’t think they’ve been watching everything you’re wrong. To the humans I was an abomination, to the vampires I was an oddity, but to the Demons I was a living Lore…a beginning to their end to take over the Human Realm that must be destroyed. Satan had them step up his game in his evil doings overwhelming not only the VC, but the Guardians. That’s when I began to grow and mature at an alarming rate. That is also when the whispers in the Demon Realm became louder. The only way the Demons could find out if it was true was to lure me into the Realm. Tarek saw an opportunity with Louise Maxwell as well as Pyro as a pawn to set all of this in motion. They succeeded when they took Susan, a human connected to the VC, into the Demon Realm. The bastard knew I would eventually come.”
Daniel paused as if collecting his thoughts and everyone remained silent allowing him to do so. His eyes left the ground to zero in on Susan. “None of this was your fault, Susan. Don’t blame yourself.” He smiled at her when her eyes opened wide in surprise. “It was going to happen whether it was you or someone else.”
“I still feel like shit.” Susan whispered with a frown. “And I’m still so sorry.”
Daniel walked over giving her a hug. “And that’s why you are pure of heart.” He whispered for her ears only, but Ryker heard and agreed. Daniel pulled away looking around at everyone. “Evil that happens in this fucked up world has been for one purpose. It’s not the vampires who want to take over the world. Who in the hell do you think created the vampires? It sure as hell wasn’t anything good. But Satan was overzealous forgetting that even ones created to be the evilest, you, have free will. Satan does not understand this, doesn’t get it, but absolutely despises it. You were all once human; you were born with free will to decided what side you are on. Good or evil. That is what it has come down to, has been like this since the beginning of time. The difference now…is that time has finally run out on this war. One side is going to win and if it’s the evil side then humankind will be no more.” Daniel said, then paused. “We need more Dark Hunters to train the Warriors. We need more Warriors to stop what is to come. Nothing has changed, there will still be rogue vampires, Crimson Rush, bad characters trying to take us out. And yet everything has changed because now the onslaught will be relentless.”
“Why are you just now telling us all of this?” This came from Ronan who was frowning. “If this is all about you, why have you waited?”
“It’s not all about me.” Daniel sighed and Ryker could see the hurt in his eyes before he masked it. “Trust me or don’t. I can’t tell you everything because I still don’t know everything…yet. Every single fucking day my brain gets loaded with information. It’s something I cannot explain other than to tell you that it’s fucked up. But I swear to each and every single one of you that I will do everything in my power to stop what is coming. That’s it. That’s all I can do. I can do no more.”
Raven walked up and gave Daniel a hug. “And that’s enough.”
Each Warrior as well as Guardian slammed their hands on their chest as they looked at Daniel, including Ryker. Daniel remained silent until he finally looked up at Sloan.
“And no, I’m not calling the shots, Sloan. That’s all you.” Daniel finally answered Sloan’s question, then gave him a tired smile. “Honestly, I’d rather burn in the pits of hell than have your job. I just give suggestions and hope you listen, that is it.”
Ryker watched as Daniel left with Duncan following him. Ronan also jogged up to Daniel. “So now my yard is a portal for Demons?”
Daniel who had stopped to talk to Ronan heard her. “No.” Daniel called out with a half-smile. “I take care of my besties. No more Demons will be showing up here. I took care of that.”
“Ya know. I’m thinking my power of invisibility sucks. Daniel is a cool cat and I’m a little jelly.” Steve said thoughtfully, then looked at Susan. “Speaking of jelly. You got anything to eat in there? I’m starving.”
“Sure, come on.” Susan smiled leading Steve to the house. “So Friends is your favorite show? What’s your favorite movie?”
Ryker shook his head as he watched them disappear into the house. His attention went to Sloan and Charger.
“Guess this means we’re one now?” Charger frowned as Raven stood smirking in the background.
“Looks like it.” Sloan didn’t sound any happier than Charger about that fact.
“So, we changing the name?” Kane said with a frown. “Because honestly I’m partial to Dark Guardians.”
“Yeah, fuck that.” Sid added not looking happy with that possibility. “I am and will always be a VC Warrior.”
“I’m with Sid on that one.” Damon added glaring at Kane.
“What’s wrong with Dark Guardian, fuckers.” Kane growled his eyes narrowed at Jared.
“It sucks.” Damon said with a shrug just as Kane leaped for him.
Ryker glanced at Daniel who was watching Charger and Sloan trying to pull the two apart while Sid and Jared were placing bets. This was going to be one fucked up situation. Daniel glanced his way giving him a smile and nod, then turned with Duncan and walked away shaking his head. Ryker also thought he heard him laughing. Raven was also watching Daniel then turned to Ryker with a grin.
