"That'd be cool!" Odette chimes, surprised. She gives him a quick hug before running out of house, her bag in hand. Her steps started to slow as she began hyperventilating. Thunder lightly rumbled overhead as she falls to her hands and knees, grasping her chest and attempting to breathe. Odette closes her eyes. She gasps, feeling clawed fingers curl around her wrists and ankles. She slowly opens her eyes and takes a deep breath. Everything was just fine.
"You're losing it Odette." She whispers to herself before standing back up, and walking to her house through the rain.
Ed is walking beside Nyx, holding the umbrella over them as they head towards her house. He has his glasses on, the grip on the umbrella tightening.
"I'm fine. But thanks for asking." Ed nods and smiles at Nyx as they walk up to her house. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow." He gives her a quick kiss, and then starts heading back to his house. Something was wanting to bug him. But he wouldn't allow it to. . .
-Next Day-
It's a Saturday. Odette rushes down the stairs and into the kitchen. Her aunt isn't home. . . Odette spots a note on the fridge. She reads through it quickly, and shakes her head. Of course. It's a Saturday. . . her aunt would be gone until Tuesday. . . she had gone out with friends to go gambling. Odette didn't mind. She enjoyed the peace of being alone. Somewhat. She sits down at the kitchen table, wondering what she should do today.
Ed was getting ready for his date with Nyx. He wears his usual clothes, as it wasn't anything big and formal. He had texted Blake last night, telling him about Nyx.
"Eddy. Where are you going?" His mother peers around the corner and into his room, supporting herself with a walker. Ed looks over at his mother and smiles. She was old. Very old. And Ed was aware that she could slip through life's grasp at any moment. She had told him countless times to go find an apartment. Or that she would pay for his own house. But, Ed wanted to stay to take care of her. Though, he knew how independent she liked to be. He walks over and gives her a kiss on the forehead.
"Don't worry. I'm just going downtown. Remember to call if you need anything." Ed tells his mother and then gently laughs. "You should be in bed."
"I don't need to be in any bed." His mother scolds. "And be careful. There are some shady people in that place."
"Alright mom. Be good." Ed says as he walks out of the house and towards Nyx's home. He would have driven, but it was beautiful outside.
Odette is downtown. She had just bought a couple of new movies from the video store. She carries a bag in one hand, and a carton of strawberry milk in the other. Odette comes to a sudden stop on the sidewalk. She thought she had seen something. It moved quickly, only a blur against the wall of a building. Odette mutters to herself, shaking her head. She then continues on her way. But, Odette loses her breath for a moment. It felt like a part of her had just been torn out and obliterated.
"What the hell is going on?" Odette whispers as a chill runs up her spine.
Somewhere in Edgley. . . a demon had been killed. It was being chased down by two monster hunters. It had disguised itself as a family pet. A dog. But, when its "owners" had left, it decided to go into its regular form and go for a walk. It was instantly tracked down by hunters. . .
nyx hums as she skips about the house " hark, what do i hear~? surely my boyfriend isn't near~?" she giggled once again from saying the word boyfriend and meaning it.
she laughs as she walks over to the door and opens it "inside duh~" she giggles as she kisses him in greeting " so where are we off to then hmmm~?" she asks
"Seeing as it's already noon, we'll be going to Harper & Son's Deli. They have the best sandwiches in town. Sorry that it's nothing fancy. If that's okay with you? If not I will find someplace else." Ed quickly states as he takes hold of her hand.
Odette traces her hand on the side of a building as she walks, causing the glass to crack. She almost seemed to be soulless as she moved forward, dropping the carton of milk and the bag as her arms just hang there. People are quick to move out of her way, startled and scared.
Ed smiles in relief as he leads the way, bringing them downtown. It was actually quite busy today. He spots Odette walking like a zombie. His eyes widen slightly and he staggers back, his hand tightening over Nyx's as his heart rate picks up. Why was he so terrified? It was Odette. There was nothing to be scared of. Yet, he felt like something had snapped inside of him in her presence. Odette passes by, and as soon as she's a distance away, Ed tries to catch his breath.
The hunters had caught a new signal that is downtown. It wasn't very strong. But, it was a demon nonetheless. The two hunters nod at each other before activating their invisibility cloaks on their army soldier-like armor. Both hunters scale up the side of a building and land on the roof, watching. They deactivate their cloaks, not wanting to waste their usage. Where was this demon? The hunters go separate ways, and suddenly wear civilian clothes, blending in with the rest of the crowd on the streets of downtown Edgley.
Odette comes to a quick stop, and turns her head to the side. There are hunters nearby, searching for her. No. Not Odette. They are searching for the queen of demons. Regina. That's who is in control now. Not the clueless human. She straightens out, and blends in with the humans.
"H-hey. . . are you okay?" Ed stutters, looking at Nyx in worry. He still slightly shakes, but was starting to calm down.
Ed was blaming it on his hunger. Still holding Nyx's hand, he gulps and then leads them to the deli. "Is is a bit warmer in here?" He asks her, finding a spot for them to sit.
"What the hell..how did.. they" he says as he reaches and grabs ones cloak pulling it off.."What are you guys.. how do you have a cloak that makes you invisible" he says to the one he grabbed
"Kid we don't have time for. . ." A hunter begins to say, but he suddenly freezes as he looks up at the sky. His eyes widen. "What the hell?"
The sun is suddenly replaced by a full moon, and the sky becomes dark and filled with blackened clouds. The hunter quickly presses a button on his communicator. "DAMN IT WE'RE GOING TO NEED BACK UP! WE'VE GOT A POWERFUL DEMON IN SECTOR 209. I REPEAT. STRONG DEMON IN SECTOR 209!"
People of Edgley look around in confusion. It's clear that they are scared. They talk to one another, making suggestions of the cause. Aliens. Armaggedon. Some freak accident. Scientists gone crazy.
Ed glances out of the window, seeing that it was suddenly dark outside. "What is going on?" He gasps, tensing.
"u-um ed...d-do you think we could go some-somewhere else?" she stutters, the signal so obvious to her that it hurt to not run and serve the demon who caused it.
Large tanks and vehicles start to appear. On the side of each one is the word Syndicate. Men come pouring out of each one, as well as parachuting down from helicopters and massive planes. If this demon was causing this, they HAD to take it down. There was no other option. It had caused the moon and sun to switch positions. This demon was strong enough to change the world. . .
The men start to shout at all of the people who were walking. "Everyone get to safety! EVERYONE GET TO SAFETY!" They started to evacuate the streets, and people rushed out of their vehicles and into the nearest buildings.
Ed was frozen in place. He couldn't move. But, he manages to look over at Nyx. "N-no w-we should stay where we are." He croaks.
Odette is in total darkness. Her clothes change, and a mask forms on her face. Her hair and eyes shade into different colors. She suddenly appears on the top of a building, and the nearby demon hunters glance up as they sense her presence.
"Humans." Odette smiles.
"We've found the demon." One hunter says, contacting the others.
She then chuckles, "Let the game begin."
nyx stands, gazing at the scene 'i-is that...no...it can't be...we lost her years ago....' she thinks silently her eyes once again tinging red and her canines elongating.
Odette’s scorching amber eyes burn like endless orbs of fire, filled with hatred and bloodlust. With dark brows knitted together, her gaze skims across the wave of upcoming demon hunters. With their menacing guns raised, they rush towards her. She stands, completely still, atop of the six story building. She wears a mask, a beautiful black, feathered, masquerade piece – to hide her doll-like face. Because of the gale, her flaming red hair billows like a cape. If one didn’t know better, they would worry about Odette’s petite figure being carried by the strong winds and knocked off the brick structure.
Slowly, Odette begins to raise her arms. With her palms to the dreary sky, she curls one finger at a time. The firmament suddenly blasts from hazy gray to brilliant pink and orange. Wispy white clouds swirl against the canvas of colors. A full moon is suddenly over powered by the odd sunrise. One second it had been dusk, the next daybreak. All due to Odette’s simple actions.
“Hah!” Odette roars as she splays her slim fingers, throws her hands down, and crouches on the building’s ledge. The entire area explodes into never-ending darkness. The hunters’ battle cries are consumed by complete silence. Against the black, Odette’s porcelain skin glows in a magnificent way. Her breathing settles to nothing, and she lethargically rises once more. Odette tilts her head back, closes her eyes, and holds her arms to the side while chanting:
"Thy soul shall find itself alone
'Mid dark thoughts of the grey tomb-stone;
Not one, of all the crowd, to pry
Into thine hour of secrecy."
She then takes a single step, and swan dives off the structure. Before striking the earth, Odette flips and then lightly lands on her toes. She is slightly bowed, her head lowered and her palms to the ground. The army of 283 demon hunters stand frozen before her delicate form. Their breathing has stopped, her aura causing each and every one to grow paralyzed. They are no longer downtown, but instead at an open field located somewhere in Europe. The mountains were silhouettes in the monotonous distance. The aroma of upcoming downpour hangs thick in the atmosphere. Odette suddenly continues to speak:
"Be silent in that solitude,
Which is not loneliness- for then
The spirits of the dead, who stood
In life before thee, are again
In death around thee, and their will
Shall overshadow thee; be still."
Odette taps a single finger against the closest man’s chest. She then lifts her head to stare at him. His hazel irises suddenly become a wretched and blotchy black, an ink against the whites of his eyes. The expression on the aged hunter’s face contorts into that of pain. There’s a loud SNAP! As he bends completely back in the most unnatural of ways. Odette straightens herself out, and takes a step back. Her face is vacant as she says in an emotionless way:
"The night, though clear, shall frown,
And the stars shall not look down
From their high thrones in the Heaven
With light like hope to mortals given,
But their red orbs, without beam,
To thy weariness shall seem
As a burning and a fever
Which would cling to thee for ever."
Odette intently watches as the man starts to deform. One arm twists completely around at the elbow, and his legs crack and pop into new mangled forms. His veins suddenly pulsate with a glowing golden residue, instead of fresh blood. With a heartbreaking scream, he throws his arms out wide and cranes his neck back. The hunter bursts into millions of yellow sparks. The other hunters cry out as they are struck by these sparks, and the same tragedy happens to them. It quickly turned into a chain reaction. Their shrieks and bellows fill the gloomy air, turning the scene into an even more ominous one:
"Now are thoughts thou shalt not banish,
Now are visions ne'er to vanish;
From thy spirit shall they pass
No more, like dew-drop from the grass."
Odette waves at the air in front of her, and the violence stops. Only 83 of the hunters remain. Like rain the dazzling lights that had once been the men, come pouring down. But, no one becomes harmed. Yet, the left over hunters still scream in panic and horror at their literally falling comrades. The sound was a glorious melody to Odette’s ears. It was time to put these fools out of their misery. . .
Wrapping her fingers around the handle, Odette removes the whip from her left hip. She could practically feel the men trembling. By sight, it is clear that they are. She takes a dragged step forward, sliding the balls of her feet against the grass. Her movements don’t produce a single noise. She then cracks the whip against the air, creating a bright flash of sparks. The hunters yelp, eyes bulging. Odette lashes out with the whip and then flicks her wrist. Six of the men fall in half. She then strikes the air, the blood on her weapon splattering a couple of wannabe warriors. Her actions were fluid. Quick. Blinding.
It begins to rain. At first a light sprinkle, the intensity is quick to pick up. Lightning brightens the area, and thunder rumbles the Earth. Power. It coursed through the universe. It surged through Odette. A short smile formed on her gorgeous, yet hidden, face as a thick fog came forth.
"The breeze, the breath of God, is still,
And the mist upon the hill
Shadowy, shadowy, yet unbroken,
Is a symbol and a token.
How it hangs upon the trees,
A mystery of mysteries!"
Then. . . the massacre truly begins. . .
: S Y N D I C A T E . B A S E :
“What is going on!? Where did all of our men go! Get them back on radar! I WANT TO SEE THEM ON SCREEN AGAIN!” The burly man shouts. His gruff voice is filled with a concerned rage. The room is large, filled with machines and monitors. The screens are all blank, though. All of the men and women wear uniforms and high-tech goggles. They are Syndicate. The demon hunters.
“Captain, we have found them. They are in an unidentified area in a section of Northern Europe.” One of the men behind a computer responds, attempting to stay calm in the situation. He taps two fingers against the monitor, and the big screen at the front of the room comes to life. But reveals death.
A young woman in a mask moves about with lethal grace and unbelievable agility. If the sight weren’t so horrifying due to the merciless killing, it would be breathtaking. Power is clear. She twists, flips and twirls. The menacing whip lashes and strikes at the remaining and helpless demon hunters. They try to shoot, but each and every bullet is effortlessly dodged.
“The demon queen.” The captain’s eyes widen as he watches the video. Screams move from the speakers to fill the room. Yet, the only movement that anyone could do is tremble.
"e-ed i'm so-sorry but i think i need to go home o-ok? wh-who knows i might even c-call a family member to st-stay with me for a while till this is o-over" she stutters as she begins to shake.
she can feel the chaos needing to be unleashed. the night had dawned upon them and she could never ignore her call....