by Jack Crosby
Even though I knew it was a bad idea, I looked back. Abaddon had put the sword away and had a bow in his hand. The bastard had shot our tire out! Unfortunately it worked, we were slowing down and they were catching up rapidly.
“Master, the rift is opening!”
I looked back to the front and sure enough, the white glow of the rift was taking shape in front of us. The question became would we make it in time before Abaddon caught us. Those damn creatures were getting really close.
Just when it couldn’t get worse, it did. “Damnit, tell me that’s not another tire?!”
“We have been hit again. I do not know that we will make it to the rift before they take us over.”
“How the fuck are you so calm?!” I was losing my shit. Even with my powers returning, I wouldn’t be able to protect us. “We’re so screwed!”
“Roxanne, Death, please buckle up and hold on.”
I looked at Roxanne, confused. If she was, she wasn’t showing and she quickly threw her seatbelt on. Deciding it was in my best interest to follow suit, I did. Just in time too.
I heard a clicking noise come from the back of the car and was about to ask what that was. I got the answer without even asking; followed by the clicking was the roar of a jet engine.
“Khloros, what the fuck is that??”
“This is what Azrael installed under my bumper.”
Trying to turn as the car accelerated to see what was happening, I could barely make out a streak of white. The pack had to turn out of the way, with the few of the demonic animals who didn’t getting vaporized. Khloros kept going and thankfully we went through the rift.
As we left Tartarus, I could feel the shake of the land from the fury of Abaddon. We’d made a very powerful enemy today. As the tires hit the street, I realized we were back on Earth.
I slammed my foot on the brakes, skidding Khloros to a stop. The burn marks of the road went for about a half mile. Both Roxanne and I sat there motionless; I think she was just as relieved to be back as I was.
“Death, Khloros, are you okay?”
Conquest and Dante were running towards us. I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. “Yeah, we’re fine. Khloros has some external damage, but I think everything’s going to be okay.”
Roxanne got out too, no longer in her more demonic form. “Can we never do that again?”
I started laughing, “I second that motion.”
As Dante closed in, he actually seemed somewhat happy. “It appears you accomplished your goal along with mine. I thank you Horseman Death.”
“I couldn’t have done it without Khloros and Roxanne. I think they deserve something for this too.”
The angel stiffened up at the mention of my favorite Lust demon, but continued. “I will see what I can do. I make no promises though.”
“Fair enough. The wolves are dead and Abaddon is royally pissed off. Good luck with whatever it is you hope to do.” Again, thank the Almighty that my part in this is over.
“Before I leave, I give you another piece of the puzzle. The axe is no longer where you believed it to be. Yuri and Veronica moved it last night on Michael’s orders.”
“Wait what?” Why would they move it from the Oval Office? More importantly, how the hell did they get in to move it?
Dante went on, “Against my better judgment, it was decided the axe was best being kept on the move. I do not like it and so I tell you. They wished for you not to know, but call this insurance.”
“Thank you Dante for telling me.”
He reached out and shook my hand. “It is time for me to return. Much as my brethren disagree, it will be you who saves Earth from Beelzebub. May the Father be with you.”
Chapter 29 – The Plan comes Together
Conquest left very shortly after Dante, saying his job had been finished. It looked like it was back to just the three of us. Khloros was in the garage and I was currently working on repairs. There was an auto parts store not too far from us, so Roxanne and I walked down to get a couple of tires and some other maintenance parts.
So while Roxanne was cooking, I was working on the car. “Let me know if this is tight enough.” I turned the wrench a little more on the wheel.
“That is perfect.”
I’d already replaced the other tire, so all that was left was to change a few spark plugs out. “So, just what the hell did Azrael put on you?”
“If I tell you, you agree never to say a word to anyone.”
I popped the hood while he was talking. “Yeah, sure?”
“Azrael fit me with some of his celestial fire. The device under the bumper contains five shots – well now four.”
“Whoa.” Even celestial being has their own way to manipulate the celestial fire. Mine forms as chains, Conquest forms his into extra deadly arrows, and so on. However, the rules state the only you may use your power. To transfer it to another being is not good.
“Azrael told me he is risking much but thinks we will need it more than he. As usual, he was right.”
As I replaced the spark plugs, I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t imagine giving someone part of my power, especially since returning to me. I’d forgotten just how much a part of me it was.
I finished up the work and said good night to Khloros. “Thanks for keeping our asses out of danger today.”
He scoffed, or at least I think he did. “You mean like every other day?”
“You’re an ass.” I shut the door to the garage before he could get the last word in. Amazing smells hit me and I followed them into the kitchen. Roxanne was just putting the finishing touches on what looked like a hamburger buffet.
“Master…”
“You mean Derrick. You really need to break that habit.”
“Right, Derrick, dinner is ready! I hope it is to your liking!”
I couldn’t tell which looked better, Roxanne or the burgers. She had changed back into her normal sexy attire – tight black pants, a low cut shirt, and heels that most strippers would have difficulty walking in. On the counter behind her was a tray full of perfectly cooked burger-y goodness complete with cheese on top.
“You’ve really outdone yourself.”
She sauntered over to me, shaking her hips the entire time. “Those will be warm for quite awhile. I am hungry too, for you.”
She put her finger up to my lip. I stopped moving and let her take over. She proceeded to deliver one of the most passionate kisses I’d ever gotten. Literally, I could feel heat coming off her lips.
As we kissed, she made short work on my clothing. My pants were on the floor with my shirt landing on top. Roxanne slowly guided me to the floor where we continued to kiss. With expert hands and not missing a beat, her shirt joined mine. I was amazed to see she wasn’t even wearing a bra. Her breasts were so full and perky that they just held up on their own.
My hands roamed over them, washing away the terrible memories of Abaddon and Tartarus, and replacing them with these orbs of goodness. Her nipples were just right, allowing me to flick them.
Roxanne giggled, “I see someone is enjoying my breasts again.”
“Sometimes I need a reminder of how awesome they are.”
She lowered them closer, letting them rub against me. Oh man did that get me going. She leaned in and kissed me, he crotch rubbing up against mine.
“I can’t even tell you how right this feels. Never has sex been so enjoyable for me.” She whispered the words in my ear, finishing with her tongue dragging over it.
“It’s really good for me too.”
She reached down and undid her pants. She slid them down far enough to free herself and let it tease my hardened muscle. It was just out of reach, but the warmth was tingling.
“Please don’t tease me like this.”
“The servant has become the master again. I should make you wait, but I don’t know if I could either.” With that, she quickly brought herself down. The slick opening devoured me, and her muscles began contracting. The pulsin
g was overwhelming.
Not wanting to be a dead fish, I raised my hips a bit and lifted her off the ground. I used what little leverage I had to push myself as deep as I could go. She squealed in delight as I arched myself up.
“My little sex demon likes that, doesn’t she?”
She moaned in satisfaction and began to really work me over. The gyration of her hips started picking up and before I knew it, she was orgasming.
“Ohhh… I’m sorry… ohhhhh, yes yes YES!!!”
I wasn’t quite ready yet and as she finished, I picked up the pace. She must’ve been super sensitive as each thrust brought squeals and moans. “Please… please don’t hold back. Fill me up good!”
Her begging did it, driving me to climax and I held on tight to her hips as I made sure she felt everything. With both of us now sweating and close to exhaustion, she fell on top of me and I held her.
Even breathing hard, “So we’re going to cuddle this time?”
“Sure, I think I can handle that.”
“Mas- I mean Derrick, are we advancing our relationship?”
Huh? I hadn’t really thought of it. “I guess we are. Funny, I never would’ve guessed this.”
She gave me that coy smile. “You were right, in the beginning anyways. I just was using you for protection. I figured if I found a big enough badass to take me in, that maybe Beelzebub would leave me alone.”
“That plan failed. Speaking of, we need to stop fooling around and come up with one to take out the Vice President. Hell, I even forget his name.”
She looked surprised. “The Greed demon is calling himself John Keen. That is a rather important fact.”
Hey, what can you do? I went to get up and put my pants back on. I also grabbed myself a hamburger and started to think. “Ughh, I wish I was more like Washington. There was a guy who could come up with all sorts of crazy shit and have it work.”
Roxanne grabbed a burger as well. “You mean your old human friend George Washington?”
“The very same. What I wouldn’t give to pick his brain right now. I tell you Roxanne, the guy was a genius and a hell of a warrior.”
“Do you think the angels would help?”
Ha! They wouldn’t even give me any cool weapons or gadgets, but then us Horsemen and the angels had a bit of a rivalry. “Even if they could, I wouldn’t ask. I’m already in too deep with Yuri.”
We finished our burgers and went into the living room. Cuddling on the couch while some silly TV game show was on, I dozed off.
****
“Hey, wake up you old buffoon.”
Someone was poking me in the head. It sure was annoying. “Go away; I’ve had a long day.”
“Is that anyway to talk to someone who came here to help?” He gave me another prod on the side of the head.
Hmmm, that voice did sound familiar. “I’m waking up. Quit poking me.” I opened my eyes and sweet mercy, “George?! What the bloody hell are you doing here?”
The very imposing form of George Washington was hovering over me. Large for a human during his lifetime, he held out his frying pan for a hand and gave me a boost up. “You asked to speak to me. The Almighty saw reason in your wishes and allowed me to visit you here.”
The Big Guy upstairs was on top of everything. “Where exactly are we? I’ve been around literally forever and never had a visitor in my dreams.”
“Think of this as a war room set aside for us to use.” It looked like the living room I’d just fallen asleep in. “So, you are in need of a battle strategy Master Weems?”
Even as he said it, his knowing eyes twinkled. “Sorry that I never told you who I really was.”
“Do you think I’d believe that? I would have had you committed or worse!”
Fair point, given the times and the superstitions of the new land. “To answer your question, yes I need help coming up with a plan to take out a demon pretending to be the Vice President.”
“What about that awful Darius creature? I would see him as more of a problem.”
“On top of things as always George.” This is why the guy was so loved. “One problem at a time though.”
He crossed his fingers together. “I think you will find both problems are intertwined. You need to cut the head off the beast. Without a brain, the body will fall.”
“You want me to go after Beelzebub?”
“Does that not make sense? What he seeks is no longer in its proper home. The situation is fluid Parson and you need to adapt. That is why you failed the first time.”
I’m sure I was pouting. “What do you suggest then George? I’m all ears.”
He gestured me to the couch. “Sit down and listen to my words. The teacher is about to become the student.”
Chapter 30 – Clues for Five Hundred Please
“Are you sure about this Derrick? How do you know it was really this Washington talking to you?”
I wasn’t surprised she’d be skeptical; hell if I’d heard the story from someone else I’d question it too. “I know George and it was him. The Almighty wouldn’t send in an imposter.”
How can you argue that reasoning? She couldn’t and we went back to the task at hand. Knowing the angels would come by the house at some point to check on me, we were across the street hiding behind our new neighbor’s fence. No one was home and it looked like it was another house that was probably vacant.
“I never asked, how did we end up here?”
“When I rescued you from Darius,” she placed her hand on mine, “I ran into Yuri as we exited the tunnel. He led me here, saying it was a safe house for them.”
“I wonder why he didn’t give us this place to start with?”
That would have to be answered at another time. Out of nowhere, the two angels, Yuri and Veronica, appeared on the side walk. They walked up to the door and knocked. With no answer, they entered the house.
“Do you think they will spot us over here?”
“They shouldn’t. I’m using my aura to cover us. Hopefully they won’t pick up on any abnormalities.”
We stopped talking as they came back out. Yuri went over to Khloros and he opened the door for him to get in. The plan was to try and slip a tracking device on one of them, and since Yuri was in the car, he was the lucky target. The device was hidden in the seat, so hopefully the horse could manipulate it into a back pocket or something.
“Once we are successful, then what?”
Phase two of this plan. “We should assume that since we know the angels have the axe that Darius knows too. Our plan is to take the fight to them. The angels will have to side with us and that should give us the numbers advantage we need.”
She still didn’t seem all that confident. “This plan hinges on a lot of if’s and but’s.”
“The only butt I care about is yours.” Her face got all red and she muttered ‘men.’ “Oh, here comes Yuri!”
The angel got out of the car and walked over to Veronica. He said something to her and the two of them walked for a bit before blinking out. Roxanne was ready to go, but I stopped her. “Give it a minute or two just to make sure.”
When enough time passed, I got up and we walked back over. Slipping into the driver’s seat, “Did you get the tracker in place?”
“I slipped it into his back pants pocket. I must say I’m surprised you still had that thing.”
The tracker was a supply I’d gotten from Azrael a long time ago. It was the size of a watch battery and easily placed. Luck smiled on us when I found that in my jacket pocket. “Good, with this USB plugged in, we’ll be able to keep track of those two.”
I plugged the USB into Khloros’s radio. The music and song selection screen went away, replaced with a map of the surrounding area. The first ping happened about a mile and a half away at another diner.
“What is it with those two and eating at those little greasy shacks?”
I wish I had an answer for her, but I didn’t. “With those two on a leash, I say we go back to the pit under
the Lincoln Monument and see if there are any clues for us in regards to the demons.”
Roxanne bitched and complained from the house all the way to the Lincoln Monument, but I had a good feeling about this. The tide was turning towards us and with a bit more luck; we’d be on the offensive. The trip down the hidden passage and into the catacomb was a ton less stressful. When we got there, it was abandoned.
“No one’s here thankfully. Let’s walk around and see if we can find a clue.” With that, I hopped down into the pit and left the upper level for Roxanne.
The first thing I saw was a giant scorch mark in the middle of the pit. That must’ve been where Beelzebub’s rift had been opened. The bones of the sacrifices still littered the area to make that happen. I also saw the different places where Darius and I had been fighting. There was a giant crack in the wall where I had collided. That was no bueno.
I continued to walk around, not seeing anything. Roxanne is seemed had, and she started yelling to get my attention. “Derrick, over here!”
I made my way over and jumped up to her level. She was standing over the charred body of a demon. “Is that Ezzard?”
“It sure is. It seems the little weasel was no longer needed.” She handed me a piece of paper that was burned up around the edges. “This is the clue you wanted.”
I read the paper, the parts that weren’t burned to a crisp. It looked like address information and dates. “Hmm, the first date on this was yesterday, but the next one is tomorrow. We need to find out where this address is.”
She pulled out her phone. “Thanks to modern technology, we can find out.”
“You have service done here?” She just smirked and took the paper.
While she did her phone voodoo, I looked down at the body of the demon who gave us this information. I hoped whatever they promised him to deliver me on a platter was worth it. The look etched into his charred face was one of pure terror.
“Found it! It’s outside of Washington, about ten miles down the interstate. It looks like it is an auditorium.”
