by P. K. Tyler
Once Jacek broke his gaze with Vai, he knelt on the ground, apparently having decided now was a good time to pray. Zeph joined him. The two men looked like something out of time, both dressed all in black, kneeling on the tarmac with heads bowed and hands clasped in their laps. Jacek's lips moved as he prayed and the streetlight highlighted the scar running along the right side of his face. It spoke of battles fought and the price he must have paid for each one.
Nik was tempted to join them, but prayers had never led to any actual help. For him, they were incantations, words like spells that served him when standing toe to toe with a demon, but otherwise meaningless. He walked around to the passenger side and climbed in, leaving Jacek and Zeph to finish their prayers.
Vai climbed behind the driver's seat of the Challenger.
"Did you get any sleep at all?" Nik asked softly, taking in Vai's red-rimmed eyes and manic energy.
"Plenty, don't worry about me, no rest for the wicked, or the weary, or whatever." She blew a stray lock of hair off her forehead and started the car. "Come on, boys, get a move on. Let's do this shit."
Vai looked perfectly at ease in the driver's seat of the red Challenger. Her phone rang, and she answered with a gruff, "What?"
Nik didn't want to interrupt, but if Zeph was right, they needed to get to Belial, like yesterday, before the crowd at Fubar got too huge. It would be a slaughter no matter what they did, but if they could keep the casualties low, maybe head off Belial's plans before they went into effect, that would be a big check for them in the Win category.
"No, stay there. How many times do I have to say it?" Vai nodded to Nik, her attention still on her call.
He waited as the person on the other end of the line said something that visibly pissed Vai off. She gripped the phone tight, her face bunched up in a scowl that could break glass.
"Riley," she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "there is absolutely nothing you can do here. We met up with someone from the Church and..."
"Yes, a man..."
"I'm going to cut off your fucking balls when I get back up there. All this testosterone is killing me. Look, I'm fine. I'm battle ready. I have back up. What I need is to know my family is safe. Please. I can't think straight worrying that I might lose Dorenia... and you..."
She went quiet, the voice on the other end saying something that brought a smile to her face. She blushed slightly and looked away from Nik.
"Thank you. I promise, I'll call you when it's over and I'll be back as soon as I can. Tell Dorenia... just tell her I love her, ok?"
"Yeah, you too. I’m sorry I’ve been so... I’ll be fine and when I get home we’ll talk. I promise."
Once she hung up the phone she turned to Nik. "Ready?" She plastered on a fake smile and Nik fought the urge to pull her into a hug. She was the closest thing to family he had, besides Zeph, and she was hurting and scared.
"Nope, not even a little, but it's not about being ready. Wouldn't you say?"
"Yeah," she sighed, her shoulders dropping, the fatigue weighing her down.
"Seriously, did you sleep at all?" Nik asked, placing a hand on her arm.
"I don't know, probably a little. Sister Francis Marie snores."
Nik laughed, but it fell flat. "Look, about yesterday with Jacek..."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"We have to, you were seriously injured and then you were fine. You could have died. Sister Francis Marie swears you did."
"I know." She looked out her window at Jacek, still kneeling and praying. "You don't think I'm healed because of him, do you?"
"It's possible. I mean, talk about some fucked-up luck, he's a complete ass, but it makes a kind of sense, the only surviving holy warrior, and the last Roma Sin Eater."
She looked back at Nik. "Nothing was supposed to work out like this. Ma... Dika... they're both dead. And Riley, I do love him, in a way."
"I know you do," Nik said.
"Jacek just... he just isn't what I imagined. And he's impossibly difficult."
"Maybe you're right. Maybe we don't need to talk about this now. We need all our focus on Belial, but if you get hurt..."
"I'll grab Jacek, just in case."
"Thanks, Vai." Nik leaned over and pulled her into the hug he'd been trying to hold back. "I can't lose you too."
She let out a sniff and, for a stolen moment, relaxed into his arms and let him hold her up: a show of trust he doubted happened very often with her.
"Let's do this." She swung open her door and whistled for Zeph and Jacek to come over.
"We should take my car," Zeph said. "Yours is a rental, we don't want to get blood all over it."
Nik stifled a laugh as he climbed out of the Challenger. If it wasn't so fucking true, Zeph's practical side would be adorable. He probably had a feather duster and an apron back at his place. An image of Zeph, naked in nothing but a black apron holding a duster, flashed in his mind and Nik's laugh couldn't be contained anymore.
"Sorry," he said, waving a hand. "Just, do you have to always be so fucking responsible?"
Zeph frowned and threw Nik his keys. "You drive. If you still have your sense of humor, you're probably the sanest one of us here."
Chapter Four
They made the trip to Fubar in complete silence. The late hour meant the streets were almost empty and the November air had turned downright cold. Zeph fiddled with the heat but every time he turned it on, his car slowed, like the heater was sucking power straight from the engine. Finally, he gave up and put both hands in his lap, facing forward.
Even with the seat pushed all the way back, Zeph's compact car couldn't accommodate the full length of Nik's legs and he had to sit awkwardly to keep from slamming on the pedals as he drove. It only took a few moments, and soon, he pulled the car into the lot across the street behind the bar. For one long moment, no one moved or spoke. Finally, Jacek broke the silence.
"What is that noise coming from the building? It's not screaming, exactly. But it sounds almost like there's a riot or something going on inside. Is that normal for a fubar?"
Nik chuckled. "Not a fubar, it's a bar. The name of it is Fubar. And that's music. It's kind of like a dance club."
"What other kinds of clubs are there?"
"Well, uh—"
Vai interrupted, "Later. We need to get our heads in the game. Zeph, you're on Asmodeus. Try to draw him away from the crowd, see if you can get him talking. The more he's focused on you, the less he'll notice that he's being lured away from Belial. If we separate them, we may have half a chance. The rest of us will focus on Belial. But no matter what, we stay within easy reach of each other. Zeph," she leaned forward next to his seat to look him in the eye, "if anything happens to Nik, if he's seriously injured, you take care of him. Without him, the whole world is screwed. It's too important to risk—"
Nik could almost feel the heat coming off of Zeph when he interrupted. "I get it. Keep the Sin Eater alive." He added in a mumble, "Doesn't matter who else dies."
Nik's own blood instantly fired up. "That's bullshit, and you know it." He shot Zeph a glare. "You'd rather let that demon, Asmodeus, have Adel and kill all those people in there, just like they did the Romani, than to take him out?"
Zeph remained quiet, the muscles in his jaw straining as he ground his teeth.
Vai's voice was gentle but still firm. "The anti-Christ is in the club, and the demon controlling Adel is with him. She might not let that demon kill you, she may still have that much control, but you can't save the rest of the world. It's not a matter of saving Adel. It's a matter of saving humanity. That's the burden of a Sin Eater. Do you understand that, Zeph?"
The muscles in his face relaxed and his eyes widened as he nodded.
Finally, he gets it.
"Okay, guys. Let's go get these fuckers."
"Wait," Jacek said. "One thing. When we go in, we all four go after Belial. The demon-ridden woman will come to his rescue if she's not already at his side. We'll have a bet
ter chance of surviving if we take out the beast first, especially since we have the Blood of Christ weapons now." Nik watched in the rear-view mirror as he held one of the red-flecked blades close to his face, gazing at it with reverence, and whispered a prayer.
"And you," Nik glared at Jacek and pointed a finger at the mirror, "don't think I've forgotten about what happened in the church. Vai should be dead. I don't know if you're her other or not, but if she gets hurt, you get your ass over to her and see if you can help her."
"He's not—" Vai began, but Nik cut her off.
"Like I said, I don't know and I don't give a shit. All I know is you were hurt and now you're not. If Jacek can do that, then I want him to know he better give it a fucking shot, or I'll have to kill him along with Belial."
Vai nodded and Jacek gave a quick grunt before hopping out of the car. They all climbed out and, as they grabbed their weapons and made their way across the street, Nik couldn't stop thinking about Zeph. He hated the distance between them. He should be terrified to face Belial. Instead, all he could concentrate on was Zeph's aloof attitude. Then it hit him: I'm about to face the fucking anti-Christ. THE fucking anti-Christ.
He stopped abruptly and Vai slammed into his back.
"Ow! What the hell, Nik?" Vai placed a hand on his arm. "Nik? We have to do this. We're the only ones who can. It's down to us. I know the risks, we all do. But we've said all we need to say, done all we can to prepare. Now, all we can do is try and end Belial before he opens the gates of Hell."
He nodded and turned toward Fubar.
The bouncer at the door looked over their odd appearance but then nodded and laughed when he saw Nik. "Friends?" he asked, holding the door open.
"Something like that," Nik said, leading the way. He noticed the bouncer checking out Zeph as he walked by and clenched his fists. There was shit to take care of before he could worry about that.
When they walked into the room, it was like everyone stopped breathing to look at them. The music and lights seemed to pause for an extended moment as the crowd on the dance floor and at the bar took them in. Each sonic boom of the base spanned entire minutes as bodies moved together in syncopation. The mass of flesh, glitter, and leather swayed as one, beckoning the new comers to join the revelry and forget their responsibilities.
Nik and his band of misfits stood out, all dour seriousness. It would be a miracle if Belial and Adel didn't see them coming. The element of surprise was no longer with them. Looking at his companions, Nik couldn't help but giggle at the picture they made.
Zeph wasn't wearing the collar, but everything about him screamed, I'm not here to party. Jacek stood next to him, in an almost identical outfit, as if they were wearing uniforms. The holy warrior kept rubbing his arms as if he longed for the protection of his shiny armor. But for the purpose of a battle in a nightclub, the armor was a no-go. Vai's ill-fitting ensemble, her white sneakers, still stained with her own blood, and her short dark hair spiked up every which way gave her a totally rocking grunge chic look.
Nik was dressed as per his usual, jeans and a t-shirt with Converse sneakers that, amazingly enough, had avoided bloodstains. His dark leather jacket hid stains well, including the ones on his t-shirt.
He shook his head and let his gaze roam the crowded room. It was still fairly early, not even ten, but the place was packed. A gorgeously glammed up queen stepped onto the stage and it was business as usual once again as the baritone voice passed over a pair of plump, fire engine red lips. Not really his type, but definitely fuckable.
Zeph cleared his throat. Nik blushed, thinking he'd gotten caught, but he was only trying to indicate that Adel had been spotted. She leaned against a wall near the rear exit, between the stage and the 'private rooms' that lined one wall. Belial was nowhere to be seen, but he would undoubtedly be nearby.
It was like Zeph had read his mind. "Probably in that room behind her."
He nodded his agreement, and Zeph led the way across the dance floor. Nik stayed close behind him, with Vai and Jacek bringing up the rear. As they neared Adel, he veered off to the right a bit, heading toward the room nearest her. He wouldn't stray far from Zeph's side, but they couldn't risk Belial creeping up on him while he tried to reach his sister.
Bad idea. Bad plan. She won't kill him, but we're wasting time.
Nik picked up the pace and, within seconds, reached the curtained room nearest the stage.
Adel stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
He stopped short to avoid slamming into her. Out of the corner of his eye, Zeph approached from his left. Behind him, he hoped, Vai and Jacek stood ready.
"Asmodeus," Nik kept his voice low regardless of the loud music. The demon would hear him. "I give you this one last chance to release this child of God. Begone, the Blood of Christ compels you." He made the sign of the crucifix between them
Adel's lips lifted in a sneer. She placed an uncomfortably warm palm against Nik's chest, "Let Zeph go, Sin Eater. The 'Blood of Christ,'" she mocked, "compels you." Her hand burned through the fabric of his shirt and singed the hair beneath it.
"What the fuck?" he shouted and jerked backward, away from her, stumbling into Vai and Jacek. It's not supposed to work like that. What about my fucking stone armor?
She stood there glaring at him, gloating. Mine. She'd mentioned Zeph and, just like that, his armor had evaporated. Zeph was Nik's biggest weakness. Asmodeus knew it and had just used his love for Zeph against him.
I'm fucked. Without any way to consciously call on his armor, Nik was at a loss as to how to protect himself. He'd always done so without realizing it, without effort, but he’d never had Zeph in the line of danger during a fight before. He didn't have time to learn how to raise that barrier.
Adel sauntered toward him, and Zeph stepped forward, gripping her arm with one hand. She ripped it out of his grasp and backhanded him across the face. He vaulted backward, through the curtains of the room behind him, into Belial, who caught him in strong bare arms and wrapped a pair of massive, dark wings around him before the curtain fluttered closed.
"Zeph!" Nik moved toward the private room, but Adel punched both fists into his chest and slammed him into Vai and Jacek behind him. They stumbled into the crowd, but managed to keep their feet. Ethereal black tentacles snaked out from Asmodeus' outstretched hands, slithering across the dance floor, wisps breaking off when they made contact with a human body and seeped into their heads through the back of their necks.
As each of Asmodeus' tendrils sank in, a patron would stop moving suddenly, their eyes would dim, the life behind them momentarily subdued.
How many people can he control at once?
Vai and Jacek stalked closer to Asmodeus. It was now or never. As much as Nik hated to admit it, with Zeph in the hands of Belial, they had to take this opportunity to kill this demon.
He pushed all other thoughts out of his mind and focused on Adel's form, and the hideous image of Asmodeus's demonic presence superimposed over her features. He approached slowly, with caution.
"Asmodeus,"
Adel's smug grin turned into a vicious, broad smile. Subdued partiers gathered around her, moving in front of her and blocking off both Sin Eaters and the holy warrior.
Mine.
She turned to the private room which contained Belial and Zeph, entered, and closed the curtains behind her.
Roughly a dozen zombified humans trudged toward the three of them. Nik didn’t want to kill them, they weren’t responsible for what Asmodeous was making them do, but he had to do something. Hopefully, they weren't any stronger than normal.
A bear of a man stumbled awkwardly to the side, shoved past Vai, and swiped a massive paw at a random party goer, a woman in impossibly high heels. He missed, but the fumbled attack didn't go unnoticed. She spun to face him.
"Dude, what's your deal?” He backhanded her and sent her tumbling into a group of dancing men.
They laughed for a moment, likely thinking she was just drunk, but the
guy advanced, gripped her by the hair, and dragged her back. They stood in shock as the burly man wrapped his meaty arm around her shoulders twisted her head.
Nik could hear the sickening pop.
Then, all Hell broke loose as zombified humans attacked. They couldn't fight them all, they were too spread out, lumbering toward random victims scattered across the dance floor.
Vai let out a banshee scream that somehow resembled Nik's name and he turned to find her, instead he took a solid punch to the jaw. On instinct, he grabbed the shirt of the person nearest him; the guy had his hand drawn back like he would swing again. Nik noted the intelligence in his eyes, not a dull deadness like expected.
Instead of pounding him into the ground, he caught the man’s fist in its second arc toward his face. He yelled to be heard over the still pounding music and screams. "Stop, damn it. I'm trying to save you. Get the fuck out of here if you want to live."
He shoved the guy away, glanced around for Vai or Jacek, and gave up trying to make any kind of sense of the scene. There was no way to tell who was possessed and who was just succumbing to the mob mentality as fists flew and fallen party-goers were trampled underfoot.
So, Nik fought. As he always had, he let everything slip away from his mind and focused on ridding the world of evil, one target at a time.
A man with way too much makeup on and piercings everywhere lunged at him. Nik sidestepped, tripped the guy, and elbowed him in the face on his way down. He pulled holy water from one pocket and flicked the stopper out of the bottle. From his belt, he jerked a dust bomb. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, seeking that peaceful connection he only found when battling demons. Usually it just came upon him unbidden, but this time, he reached out for it, calling on power of the Sin Eater.
Time stopped, the moment frozen like a fly in amber, everything it meant to be a Sin Eater trapped in the timeless Blood of Christ. His blood. The words he'd spoken so many times resounded in his mind. Warmth began in his hands and head and heart and spread out to cover his entire body. Not the sweltering heat of a furnace, but something else. Something inside him. Something that roiled with indignant fury and decisive calm. For that moment, Nik was wrath incarnate. The path ahead of him had never been so clear.
