Ruin Box Set (38 page)

Chapter Twelve

“What’s going on?” Isadore gasped the second the old man left.

“The father is possessed, not the boy,” Ruin said.

“What? Are you fucking kidding?” she shrilled. “Why haven’t you judged yet? When can we leave?”

“When I know who I’m supposed to judge,” Ruin said, looking at the boy who stared at the ceiling with wide eyes.

“You don’t know?” she cried.

“No, I don’t. The demon is hiding that. I’m going to have to deal with him first to figure out which human or humans I’m supposed to judge.”

“Oh my God,” she gasped. “I thought the demons were subject to you?”

“They are. When they’re not hiding.”

“Oh shit.” She rocked side to side then gasped and covered her mouth. “If the boy isn’t possessed, we need to get him out of here!” she whispered.

“Isadore, I’m here to judge, remember? I’m not a savior.”

“You’re still human! We have a legal obligation here, Ruin. You may be here to judge and execute but I’m not a Carnificem. I’m a human woman with compassion and feelings and this. Is. Wrong. To leave him, I mean. Look at him!” she shot her arm toward the bed. “He’s half dead! I can at least call the police!”

“You can do that after I judge and execute, Angel. In the next city. Understood? We need to do this job and leave. Nothing else.”

“What is your plan?” Scriber looked down at the boy. “He’s coming back now.”

Ruin turned to Isadore. “I want you to stand in this corner.” He led her and placed her exactly where he needed. “Under no circumstances are you to move. Understand?”

“No circumstances?”

“No matter what you see or hear, what it looks like, stay put.” Ruin looked at Scriber. “Can you hide her?”

“I can.”

“Do it.”

Scriber shot ink at Isadore, covering her in it. “I’m invisible?” she asked, lifting her black hands and turning them over. “Can you see me?”

Ruin could but he knew she was still invisible the way Scriber was. “No, but I can hear you. So you will need to not talk or make a sound.”

“Oh God,” she whimpered. “No sound. Got it. No sound.”

Ruin stood next to the bed and he didn't wait long before the door opened. But it wasn’t the old man that entered. It was another kid. The boy from the swing set, Ruin thought.

“Who are you?” the boy asked, stopping halfway between Ruin and the entrance. “Are you here to help my brother?”

“This is your brother?”

He nodded, standing perfectly still, looking almost like an apparition in his black slacks and white dress shirt.

“How long has he been sick?” Ruin asked.

“Father says he's not sick.”

“Does he ever leave this room?”

“No. But Father lets him free when he eats. He says it helps digestion.”

“What does he eat usually?”

The boy finally ventured closer which meant Ruin’s power to make him appear trustworthy was working. “Father brings him special things.” The boy came all the way to the side of the bed, just next to where Scriber stood. He stroked the boy’s arm who still remained still, eyes wide on the ceiling. “Mother makes his dessert herself.”

The door opened and the father held it for the skinny woman from earlier. She came in with a tray and the father shut the door. Then locked it.

Ruin’s fire geared up, ready to act. He’d bind the demon so he could see the assignment. Ruin stepped away from the bed as the father came over, pulling keys from his pocket.

“So you unchain him to feed him?” Ruin wondered what he had in mind.

“It’s the humane thing to do,” he said, his voice low but a little deeper.

“Demon,” Ruin said with authority. “I see you.”

The old man didn’t acknowledge him as he unlocked the boy and removed the chains from his body. Scriber filled the room with a mist of ink and the man finally said, “You see…” then helped the boy sit up in the settling ink, “only part of me.”

The father grinned at him. As did the mother. The naked boy. And the young kid.

Their mouths and eyes went wide in silent screams and Ruin walked away from the bed, toward the middle of the room, drawing the main leader away from Isadore.

The demon manipulated the human bodies, forcing them into shapes and positions that broke bones and tore skin, bringing screams of agony from his hosts.

The woman crawled on her belly like a crab, legs and arms stretched out entirely at her sides while the two kids bent forward until their faces touched their buttocks.

But the Father walked upright, like a man, and Ruin knew. He was the one he wanted first. The one controlling the four headed Diáspasi̱ Daímonas

With the demon’s full presence, Ruin's power came in a way he’d not experienced before. Blue fire surfaced on his skin, forming a full body armor of Judgement. His red fire formed gauntlets on his forearms and shins, and a mask of fire, all weapons of Execution.

The demons came at him, attacking from all sides, sending Ruin twirling through the air. Red fire daggers on lava chains shot from the gauntlets on his forearms and shins, striking the four-headed demon without touching the humans. The room erupted in deafening roars and Ruin heard Isadore scream within it.

As did the demon.

The demonic humans raced for her, a skittering stampede of twisted limbs. With the speed of lightening, the fire daggers returned to their sheaths, reloaded, and shot out again, striking at the demon’s necks, his most vulnerable point. Ruin stormed toward its twitching bodies on the floor and placed a red flaming boot on the head of the leader. Aiming his right fist, he loaded the dagger with concentrated execution power and released it at its head, rocking the air with the spiritual explosion.

The second the demon was bound, Ruin’s judgement assignment lit up. The mother and the father. Ruin stared down at the two children on the floor, particularly the naked boy barely alive. His body armor and weapons receded back into the fire from where it had come, and Ruin grabbed the two adults by the neck and held them up against the wall. “Wake,” he commanded, putting power in the word, watching them become fully aware.

The judgement leapt on his tongue, a ready script of burning fire he was required to speak. “I am Ruin. Chosen Carnificem of Daguire’s Guild. You have been judged and you are being executed.” He slowly squeezed their necks until they flailed and kicked, fighting for their lives. Ruin watched them, their death a hunger pang being finally met.

As the life expired from their bodies, the Soul Prison moved into place. Even now, Ruin sensed Grim just on his right and behind him. Ruin collected the two souls and handed them off to the transporter. The second he did, the room turned upside down and all lights went out.

****

Ruin gasped awake, fighting whatever held him.

“Whoa, whoa, calm your scooter jets,” Caliber said, pressing tattoos on Ruin’s torso.

“W-what…what are you doing?” Ruin looked around, feeling dizzy.

“Giving you your next and hopefully final assignment since you didn’t successfully complete the others.”

Ruin sat up. “Where…where’s Isadore.”

“Home.”

“Where am I?”

Scriber gestured around the hotel room. “You’re getting proper rest.”

Ruin fought to think past the cobwebs in his brain. “What do you mean I didn’t successfully complete the assignments?”

Scriber tapped on Ruin’s temple. “Your wall, Padre.” He shook his head. “Damn thing is still there. But fear not,” he shot up a finger and walked to the door. “This final assignment is my ace in the hole.” He opened the door and turned. “You complete it, and you’re home free.” He gave a wink and a nod. “Guaranteed.”

The door shut and Ruin hurried to it wondering how he supposed to… He spied Isadore’s truck parked right in front of the room. Dressed in only jeans, he ran to it and headed to Isadore’s house. He had to see her, find out why she wasn’t with him, what had happened. The last thing he remembered was…the exorcism. What had he done wrong? What did Caliber mean, he didn’t
successfully
complete the assignment?

Thirty minutes later, he skidded to a halt in Isadore’s driveway then raced to the door to find it locked. He banged until he heard movement and sighed in relief when Isadore’s exasperated
hold on
reached him.

“It’s me, Ruin,” he called.

“Oh my God,” she gasped, unlocking the door.

The second she opened it, Ruin ran her over with a hug, lifting her in his arms, breathing her in. “What happened?” he asked.

“What are you doing here? I thought Caliber said you had to do one more important assignment?”

“Is that what he told you?” Ruin asked between kissing her.

“Yes. He said one last judgement. Said I won’t see you until then.”

Pain thumped hard in the coordinates Caliber set and he groaned.

Isadore pushed him away, looking at him. “Why is your tattoo glowing white?”

Ruin looked down, confused. The pain slowly faded, replaced by a frigid dread. No. He shook his head, looking around, panic making him pace. “Where’s Scriber?”

“I thought he was with you. Ruin, what’s wrong?”

“Caliber!” Ruin roared, looking all around, grabbing his head before roaring again, “Caliber!”

She hurried to him, pressing her palms to his torso. “Ruin! What’s wrong?”

Ruin gasped, looking at her. “Nothing is wrong, Angel.” He grabbed her up in his arms again and kissed her with a hunger. “Nothing is fucking wrong.”

Ruin hugged Isadore tight to him, terror pumping through his veins until he couldn’t think and breathe. He needed to find Caliber. Or Scriber. This was a mistake, the coordinates couldn’t be right. No way would Caliber send him to execute Isadore. No way.

I hope you enjoyed it. If you want to know what happens next, you can!

Click the link below:

Ruin, The Turning

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