Devil Ash Days (Devil Ash Saga) (4 page)

“Please hurry, it’s coming!” Grace said. Arthemise didn’t reply, but did make a mental note to go faster. The extra tension wasn’t helping.

As the halo reached its maximum height over a foot above their heads, a new sensation came over them. A thin veil of light began to stream down from the ring, stretching to the ground below. It wasn’t a bright enough light to completely obstruct their view outside; just bright enough to see that it was clearly there. Ash reached out and touched it. He was quite surprised to find that it was solid. It seemed that the veil would keep them safe from any demons, but the downside was that Arthemise was on the outside of it. With the giant pillar of light shining, the sniffer picked up its pace and broke into an excited run.

“Get in here!” Ash said.

“I am sorry, but this trip is just for you,” Arthemise told him. “I can’t abandon my team!”

The demon was only yards away when the next phase of the gate key began, and the thin, transparent light that wrapped around them began to thicken and turn pure white.

“Just a little more…” Arthemise pushed herself. Before the light turned completely opaque and the humans could no longer see through it, the last thing they saw was the demon leaping through the air towards Arthemise. Then everything went white. Even sound was completely cut off, and if they looked up all they could see was more of the color white instead of the forest treetops they knew surrounded them.

They didn’t know how long they were stuck there, unable to move. As Ash discovered, time is hard to keep track of when you’re in a soundless tube, surrounded by nothing but the color white. In reality, it was only about three minutes. Neither mother nor son spoke; what could they say? The obvious statements all seemed redundant. They could question their safety, but it was more satisfying to remain silent and hug each other.

After a while the light that was wrapped around them once again became transparent. As soon as they could see outside again, they wished they couldn’t. They were greeted by the grisly sight of Arthemise lying belly-down in a pool of blood. Most of her clothing was in tatters from the demon. She was a bloody mess, and the demon was still gnawing on her leg. She lifted her head ever so slightly, just enough to make eye contact with Ash. It looked like she mouthed something to him, but it wasn’t audible.

She put her face down and that was the last time they saw her move. If they could see her soul exiting her body they might of known she was dead, but as human beings they were not capable of seeing naked soul energy. Now on their own, with a demon munching on their last hope of survival, Ash and his mother panicked. Ash tried but still could not put his hand through the light, so for the moment they were safe. But something troubling was happening. Just as it had done before when Arthemise lost her concentration, the gate key was slowly lowering to the ground, and with it the protective light barrier.

“Okay, we’ve got who knows how long until this barrier thing is gone,” Ash said, breaking the silence.

“I say we run for it,” Grace said.

“That’s no good,” Ash replied. “It’s too fast for us. I say
you
run while I try to fight it off.”

“No way!” Grace said.

“Hear me out! There’s a pretty big stick over there,” Ash said, referring to a large tree branch only feet away from where they were standing. “If I can grab that, I think I can fight this thing off. It won’t do if you’re standing there too, because it might try and go after you instead. I’m not saying you need to abandon me, just go get help.”

Grace was lost in thought, and in all honesty she would not have been able to make the decision if the barrier weren’t already below their chests. The demon popped its head up from the angel’s body for a moment, but since the humans appeared as little more than floating heads to it, the monster continued its meal. In less than a minute they’d be completely revealed to it.

“When this thing drops to our ankles I’m going to hop out and make a run for the stick.” The barrier hovered around their waists now as Ash gave his directions. “All you have to do is run. Got it?” Ash looked into his mother’s eyes. She was frozen in thought. “Mom!” Ash shook her a little and she snapped to, nodding in agreement.

“Get ready,” Ash said as the light barrier dropped to their knees. The demon looked up suddenly, now aware of the magically appearing humans in front of it. It gave a low growl and Ash knew it was now or never. With the barrier finally around their ankles, he shouted “
Go!
”

He and his mother both jumped over the gate key and ran. Ash made a dive for the stick as his mother kept going, the demon already hot on their heels. With his fingers wrapped around the tree branch, Ash felt a sting of pain as the sniffer clamped down on his leg.

He let out a yelp and Grace couldn’t help but turn around. She saw Ash turn and swing the tree branch at the demon. It was thick and long, and didn’t break as it struck the creature across its hideous face. The monster released its grip on Ash and staggered back.

“Go!” Ash shouted, and once again she took off. Although his leg was throbbing with pain from the bite, Ash climbed to his feet brandishing the stick like an all-powerful weapon. The demon didn’t stay down long. As soon as it shook its head and gave a few angry snorts, it once again focused on food.

The demon lunged. Ash swung again. Too low this time, and it merely swiped the mad creature’s front legs. No damage done. Ash tried to back away while pointing the stick at the demon as if it were a sword. The demon, not fooled, stayed low and advanced.

Grace ran faster than she had in years . She’d put enough distance between her and the demon to consider herself safe for the time being. She stopped running and leaned up against a tree, which was a welcome break. When she looked back, she could just barely make out the silhouette of Ash behind her. She could see he was moving around a lot, but that was all. The night sky was too dark to see anything, and gray clouds still covered most of the sky. The moon was only able to poke out of passing breaks in the clouds every couple of minutes.

A rustling of the trees around her snapped her to attention. She’d come too far to be caught off-guard by another demon. She started moving again, slowly at first. She didn’t want to give away her location if there were more of them around. She held her breath as best she could. As she crept, an abrupt wind took her by surprise and rattled the treetops above. The wind died down, but the treetops kept moving. Someone - or some
thing
- was up there.

Grace bolted from that spot. She got about ten yards before a mysterious flying rock collided with her head. She fell to the forest floor, unconscious.

Whoever threw the rock had a reason for doing so. They needed Grace out of the picture, yet still alive. She could be used for all sorts of things, a bargaining chip perhaps. If all went according to plan, all she would need to do is lay there unconscious and serve as the perfect motivation for
the boy
…

Ash was barely managing to fight off the demon. All the swings of his mighty tree branch (not to mention the small amount of injuries Arthemise managed to inflict before her demise) were beginning to slow it down. Finally, Ash smacked the creature with such a powerful stroke that the branch broke and the demon dropped to the ground. It stopped moving, though Ash couldn’t be certain it was dead. But he knew this was his chance to get away. Though his legs ached and were bleeding from several bites, he turned and ran. Through the forest he went, in the direction he saw his mom take off in. He didn’t bother to look back. After not too long, he encountered his mother lying on the ground.

“
Mom?
”

He feared she was dead, but quickly realized there was no blood and that she was still breathing. He felt a rush of relief as he knelt beside her, confused as he was.

His mother’s unconsciousness did pose a problem, though. Ash had no idea how they were both going to get to safety. He’d have to carry her. The boy scooped up his mother in his arms and with all of his remaining strength, rose to his feet. He managed three steps before his legs gave way and he dropped back down to his knees, dropping his mother.

Damn it!
he thought.
That bite must have really messed up my leg!

He tried shaking his mother now. “
Come on! Wake up!
” he cried, but she was out cold and no amount of turbulence would wake her.

There’s got to be something I can do!
he panicked.
Anything!

His mind raced as he tried to come up with a solution. He didn’t get to think for very long though, as the rustling of tree branches above his head made his heart beat faster, for there was no wind. With a terrible feeling in his gut, he gazed up.

There above him amongst the tree branches were the strangest looking creatures that he’d ever seen, even stranger than the sniffer demons. Like the sniffers resembled wolves, these new demons looked a lot like chimps. Their arms were much longer and slimmer, and their faces looked skeletal, but they were simian in nature. One of them hung from a tree branch by only one arm, and Ash saw a dangling hand full of sharp claws. He couldn’t be sure of how many were out there, but he counted three before him.

Ash had seen nature specials on chimpanzees before. He knew how dangerous they could be. He didn’t need to be told how dangerous
demon
chimps were. As they swung around from branch to branch, Ash almost had to question if they even knew he was down there. But then he realized they were circling around him specifically.

They’re playing,
Ash thought.
Playing with their food.

All at once the demons dropped to the ground and began rolling around, waving their arms in the air and making unpleasant screeching noises.

There wasn’t much that Ash could do. He didn’t want to leave his mother behind, and he knew he couldn’t stand and fight. He and his mother wandered so far from their home that he was sure even the angels wouldn’t be able to find them now. He was thankful that his mom was already unconscious and wouldn’t have to be awake for their demise. With the wild demons approaching, Ash did what felt right and closed his eyes as he waited for it all to be over.

Instantly, he felt something warm on his face. The demons were making such a commotion that he could barely think. They sounded terrified now. Against his better judgment, Ash opened his eyes. He wasn’t sure which he was more surprised to see: the wall of fire that now surrounded him, keeping the demon chimps at bay, or the man who now stood before him.

Chapter Four: Devil

“We call them shriekers,” the white-haired man said, turning to Ash. “Can you tell why?”

“Because they shriek?” Ash replied, relieved to be having a conversation with another person amidst all the madness.

“Aren’t
you
clever?” The man smirked. “My name is Goddard von Gosick. You look like you could use some help.” Like the angels, he wore a black business suit as well.

“You came here to help me?” Ash asked.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Goddard said. “I was just in the area following the trail of these demons. That is all.” He spoke with such a tone of authority and dignity that Ash found hard to disagree with. Like an elementary school child being lectured by his teacher, Ash couldn’t really question him.

“Are you with the other angels that came here?”

“No, I am here of my own free will,” Goddard said. When a worried look appeared on Ash’s face, he added “But make no mistake, I will save you.”

With the fire blazing and the shriekers shrieking, it was becoming difficult to even hear Goddard. Ash’s next request was a no-brainer: “Well, you can start with
them
,” he said. Goddard’s response didn’t thrill him.

“I have done all that I can do to help you. The rest is on you.”

“
What?!
” Ash panicked. “
I
can’t fight them!” Indeed, there was a long list of things impeding his ability to fight (namely, his
ability to fight
).

“Why not?” Goddard asked.

“Well because I’m…” Ash trailed off.

“You’re
what
?” Goddard pressed.

“I’m
weak
.” Ash answered. He didn’t mean he was weak from his wounds, either. Even if his body was in perfect condition, he simply couldn’t fight against the demons because as a human he was just too weak. He knew just by looking at them that those things would tear even the strongest man alive to shreds. Humans simply can’t compete with demons.

“And what if you
weren’t
so weak?”

The question caught Ash off-guard. First, because this wasn’t the best time for silly what-if questions, and secondly because there was no way around their current dilemma: Ash just didn’t have what it took to stand up and fight.

“Obviously, if I had the power to, I’d get up and fight them off!” Ash shouted in frustration.

“Perfect, that’s just what I was hoping to hear,” Goddard said with a smirk. “Like I said, I can’t give you any more help. But what I
can
do is give you the power to fight for yourself.” Goddard acted like an experienced salesman pitching a product now.

“You can? How?”

“All you have to do is drink
this
.” The man produced a small vial of dark liquid from his suit coat pocket. The vial looked exactly like the ones Ash had used in his high school science class, complete with a cork stopper in the top of it. He handed it to Ash.

“What is it?” Ash asked, for he’d always been taught to not accept gifts from strangers, let alone strangers that want you to drink something out of a suspicious vial they give to you.

“Trust me; you’re not going to want to know. Don’t sniff that!” He should have warned Ash earlier, but he didn’t expect him to pry open the stopper and stick the vial up to his nose. Ash immediately regretted it himself, as the scent of the liquid inside was like nothing he’d smelt before. It was so pungent that Ash came very close to throwing up his dinner from earlier. The thought of putting whatever that filth was in his mouth didn’t strike him as a good idea. He put the stopper back in.

“As I was saying,” Goddard continued, “by drinking that you will gain an unimaginable power, transcending what your human body is capable of.”

“Like
superpowers
or something?” As unappealing as the liquid itself was, the payoff
was something Ash was definitely interested in. As the demons continued their frantic wailing, it almost looked like the flame barrier was shrinking. Ash could swear he was able to see the demons on the other side more clearly now than he had before.

“If that is how you choose to rationalize it, then yes.” Goddard knew how to sell to his target audience, and the ‘superpower’ angle was a perfect fit for Ash’s demographic.

“I don’t know… What do you want from me in return?”

“Oh you will owe me
big time
, that’s for sure,” Goddard said. “But we can work that out later. I’d say your safety, and your
mother’s
safety, is the far more pressing matter at the moment.” He took this verbal cue to diminish his flame barrier a little more. “This fire barrier isn’t going to last much longer, and by the sounds of it, those shriekers are pretty angry,” he said. “So what do you say? Become a ‘superhero’ and save the day, or…well, don’t. And
die
.”

Ash knew the barrier was shrinking. All around him, the demons were beginning to notice it as well. A few of them even tried (ineffectively) to step through the diminished flame blockade. With the shriekers still held momentarily at bay, Ash gave a downward glance at his sleeping mother. His heart broke at the thought of letting any harm come to her, and he
knew
that she would do anything she could to save him. If their roles were reversed and she was the one awake and defending her son, she would take the drink. It was only right that he do the same.

He laid his mother down gently on the earth and brushed aside a few stray hairs on her forehead. After being on his knees for so long, standing up was quite tricky. But the rest helped, and he made it to a standing position with less difficulty than he expected.

“Well then…” Ash said, wondering if Goddard would continue on with his speech. Goddard said nothing, but mentally he lowered the fire barrier a little more. Ash took one more look at the vial, removed the cork and figured it’d be best if he just didn’t think about it too hard. He tilted his head back and held the vial over his open mouth.
Filth
ran down his throat.

The Prince of Hell was battered and blood ran down his cheek from being punched so many times in his face. This was, bar-none, the worst beating he’d suffered in his life. And he loved every minute of it. Pain coursed through his body, making him all the more excited. He knew he was the stronger and more experienced combatant. He
knew
he wasn’t really in any danger. But the sensation of pain was new and exciting to him. It meant there was a potential challenge to be had.

The Prince narrowly raised his blade in time to block slashes from Sosime. The angel kept disappearing and reappearing from different directions, which was actually just him moving at a speed that was faster than the eye could detect.

Sosime, believing himself to be the victor, finally quelled his light blade and pocketed the cylindrical sword hilt. The Prince, though not exactly sure of what was happening, did not feel he was in any immediate danger. He caught Sosime’s icy stare, returning it with a grim smile.

“You’ve lost here,” Sosime said. “Remove this barrier now, and I will let you to leave with your life.” The Prince’s smile widened, but he let Sosime continue with his victory speech. “What are your plans for the boy, anyway? What value does he hold to you?”

“No value at all,” The Prince said. “To
me
, anyway. Goddard wants him for some experiment or some such nonsense. I’m just here to kill some angels.”

Is it possible,
Sosime wondered,
that The Prince knows nothing about the boy? Whoever this Goddard is, he must be the one pulling the strings.
Sosime was careful not to seem too lost in thought, for fear that Prince Darko may catch on. “Do you admit defeat yet,
Devil
?” Sosime asked.

The Prince looked up and laughed. What began as a chuckle turned into a hearty laugh. Not quite the reaction Sosime predicted. It continued like that until The Prince practically chocked on his laughter. He struggled to regain composure.

“I’m sorry, I will collect myself now,” The Prince said. “You see, this is one of the few times in my life I’ve experienced something resembling
danger
. Perhaps
you
are used to it, I mean naturally since your opponent is
me
, but
I
have never experienced anything quite like it. It’s
exhilarating
.” Sosime, unflinching, did not respond. Instead, he waited to hear out whatever The Prince had to say, on the off-chance it included a possible surrender.

“My point is,” The Prince continued, “while it has been
fun
, I’m afraid the fun cannot last for long. It is my eternal burden to bear that I must never fear death, though I wish I could.”

“Are you so arrogant that you will not admit defeat?” Sosime was unprepared for the haughtiness The Prince displayed.

“Arrogant? If only it were that simple. For example, you are using soul power, which is a feat not many are able to master. In all my travels, I have not come upon more than a handful of others that were able to elevate themselves temporarily to my level. It is with great regret that I must inform you that I have been battling with but a minor
fraction
of my actual power. The rest, as you are about to witness, is not usually required. For this, I thank you. It will feel good to let loose for a change.”

At once, The Prince emitted the same glowing steam that surrounded Sosime. It was his soul energy finally taking form as The Prince called it into use. And it was
terrifying
. The mist trickled off him, blood red in color. It was also much thicker than Sosime’s, giving it the appearance of a sinister cloud of death.

Sosime didn’t want to wait around for The Prince to fully awaken his soul power, so he did what anyone else might have done: he charged forward. After all, up to this point he had been too fast for The Prince to even see. Before he reached his foe, The Prince stabbed his blade into the ground. When the angel finally stretched his arm forward, fist aiming directly at the devil’s face, Sosime truly discovered the extent of The Prince’s soul power.

Instead of making contact with his face, Sosime’s fist merely hovered in midair only centimeters from its destination. The Prince smiled.

“What’s the matter? Have a change of heart?” he asked with childish innocence. Sosime grinded his teeth and pushed himself harder, trying to move his fist the necessary distance to properly punch The Prince in his face. It just wasn’t possible. The Prince repelled him with soul power alone, something that the angel had never seen before. “If that’s how you really feel, I understand,” he taunted. “But you should know I
do not
feel the same!” With this, The Prince shot his own fist forward, connecting with Sosime’s stomach. The angel was blasted backwards so fast that The Prince and all his surroundings blurred. Before he noticed it had even happened, Darko reappeared behind him and thrust both his open palms into the angel’s spine.

Sosime screamed in pain.

“
Boring,
” The Prince said.

Following the consumption of the strange liquid, Ash’s body was not responding well. In fact, once the liquid crawled down his throat, his body tried its hardest to forcefully eject it via puking. All he got were dry heaves. The liquid felt as if it had the consistency of concrete inside him, and try as it might, Ash’s body simply could not expel it. The gunk dripped down his throat into his stomach, then seeped into his veins and spread throughout his body. Ash entered a state of near-unconsciousness. It felt like something solid was passing through his body, and it
hurt
.

His whole body - not just externally, but
internally
- felt like it was on fire. Everything itched but he couldn’t lift a finger to scratch. He was paralyzed. The vial dropped from his hand and disappeared. As the mysterious liquid spread and blended in with his body, he became short of breath. Everything was moving around him but he himself was unable to move. He could hear the shriekers still, but they were not as loud now.

Goddard was talking to him, saying something he could no longer understand. The words all blurred together, and soon he realized the only reason the shriekers sounded different was because he wasn’t hearing things properly. Sound faded, colors blurred, and soon everything was going dark. He dropped to his knees, unaware that he was doing so. His comprehension of the world was a little better than that of a coma patient.

In real-time, Goddard watched as Ash became an even more pathetic scene than he had been before. He knelt beside his mother as demons wailed into the empty night. Every once in a while, the sky lit up as lightning struck. Rain was imminent, and Goddard wished to be going before he got wet. While Ash twisted and contorted in pain, Goddard stood on edge with excitement. He’d come this far, now he just needed the boy to survive. But that all depended on Ash.