Demon Hunting

Demon Hunting

Part 1 - Rebecca

Rebecca walked through the corridors of the school with her three so called “friends”. She hated all three of them, they were nothing but annoying gossips, but even they were right occasionally, she smiled and laughed as Gemma told them of Rikki's new boyfriend and how Martin appeared to be paying more attention to the boys than the girls, as Janet struck a new topic she inwardly thanked god for not having to hear more on the subject.

“Apparently,” started Janet as they went to get changed for gym “Karen didn't go home last night, and she's still missing today.”

“Oh my god,” gasped Rachel, “I think she ran away, you know, she always did seem weird, way too quiet.”

“Karen?” said Rebecca, “Small girl, brown hair, glasses, liked to carry around Manga in her schoolbag?”

“That's the girl,” replied Gemma, “Way to quiet though, she um'd and ahh'd a lot too whenever you spoke to her.”

“No wonder,” thought Rebecca, “She was so shy, she thought everyone was out to get her.” She didn't voice this out loud though, that would've been stupid, instead she opened her locker and screamed at the body inside.

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I'm well aware it's cliche but it was too good an opertunity to miss. As with all feel my stuff free to R & R.

Demon Hunting

Part 2 - Counseling

Rebecca sat at the table in the study room with the others, after the body in the locker the locker room had been declared a crime scene and gym class cancelled, she listened half - heartedly as Rachel announced how she knew that Karen had committed suicide. She looked at her watch and breathed a sigh of relieve as she got up.

“I have a session with the school counselor,” she said as way of explanation.

“Sit down,” said Janet yanking her back down, “You’ve just seen a dead body, they can’t expect you to galavant off to the counselor now.”

“On the contrary Miss Stevens,” came a voice from behind the group, “It makes it more urgent that she sees me.” They turned around to see Mr. Greenham, the school counselor standing behind them. “And on that note,” he continued, “I have the rest of you booked in for sessions this afternoon, and attendance at the sessions is mandatory.” He left followed by Rebecca to the groans of the three girls.

The pair sat down in the counselor’s office and looked at each other for an awkward moment. After that Mr. Greenham nodded and said, “The room is soundproofed, you can speak freely.”

“Thank the gods,” replied Rebecca, “Do you know how annoying those girls are? If it wasn’t for the hypnotic safeguards I’d have melted their brains as an affront to teenage girls everywhere.”

“That’s why the safeguards are there,” replied Mr. Greenham, “That and to help you adjust to being 17 again.”

“I screamed at a dead body,” stated Rebecca coolly, “I don’t scream at dead bodies, I’m still annoyed about that.”

“Still,” replied Mr. Greenham, “You shouldn’t be relying on the safeguards so much, they could break if overused.”

“Either sending me into a psychotic rampage or enforcing the safeguards to the point where they cannot be removed,” replied Rebecca almost as though she was reading from a textbook.

“It’s been three weeks,” replied Mr. Greenham, “You’d think you would’ve learned to operate without them.”

“You don’t have to walk around with them all day,” replied Rebecca sarcastically.

“Well,” replied Mr. Greenham, “I’ve had a look at the scene and I think that your cover is safe, they simply chose your locker because it’s the only one that the lock doesn’t work properly, as for the body it appears that Infernal was right, we have a demon in the school.”

“Why was I chosen for this?” asked Rebecca.

“Because it’s easier to lower someone’s age the closer they are to the target age,” replied Mr. Greenham, “Besides how do you think someone in their late thirties would adapt to going through puberty again? It’s much better to get someone in their early twenties to do it.”

“I hate this,” muttered Rebecca getting up.

“I hope that wasn’t directed at me,” comment Mr. Greenham.

“Of course not Stephan,” replied Rebecca.

“Hey,” said Mr. Greenham as Rebecca went for the door, “If it’s leaving bodies then it’s nearly ready to manifest, you just need to stay like this for a few weeks Amanda.”

((loving this so far, great stuff. The first part was brilliantly written with a lovely twist, and the second equally so))

Good work and the first part was great. Not too clichéd at all.

Part 3 - Time for Science!

Rebecca walked into the science classroom and sat down at her desk after handing in her note from the counseling office, Rachel had already left for her counseling session and Gemma and Janet were discussing the latest developments in Karen’s death.

“You know,” said Gemma as Rebecca sat down, “I heard that Mr. Greenham went into the scene whilst the police were still there.”

“And you would know this how?” asked Rebecca putting on her goggles and starting to mix the chemicals as directed on the board.

“Jane said that Kim told her Michael saw him go into the locker room after showing the police some sort of ID,” replied Gemma.

“This the same Jane who said that Statesman was in school the other day,” replied Rebecca sarcastically, “And that Mr. Roberts was a hero, Mrs. Shartan was a villain, and that she had psychic powers.”

“Yes,” replied Gemma lifting the beaker with the finished chemical from the bunsen burner, “Why?”

“No reason,” replied Rebecca as she lifted the beaker to examine the liquid, “Anyone else apparently see him go into the crime scene?”

“No,” replied Gemma, “Of course, Michael and Kim deny everything.”

“They were probably snogging whilst the corridor was deserted,” giggled Janet.

“More than likely,” replied Rebecca as the teacher approached their desk, “Look sharp, here comes Mrs. Applewhight.”

The three finished the lesson in relative silence, after the lesson the three went to their lunch, whilst on the way Rebecca wondered what was taking Rachel so long. Until Mr. Greenham came through a wall backwards.

He noticed Rebecca and shook his head. “Found it,” he said standing up as Rachel stepped through the hole he made. She looked around and saw the three girls and smiled.

“Looks like I'll eat four souls today,” she said before turning back to Mr. Greenham, “Any last words counselor?”

“How about,” started the counselor, “Ollie ollie oxenfree, stop what you're doing and come help me.”

“Stupid to the end,” replied Rebecca launching a fireball at Mr. Greenham.

Part 4 - Begin

Rachel turned from the counsellor's body to where Rebecca, Gemma and Janet had been standing, Rebecca was the only one standing there now, as Rachel approached she remained standing there stoically.

“Now I know I didn't hear footsteps,” said Rachel, “So where have the other's gone?”

Rebecca's eyes flicked up and Rachel followed them to see Gemma and Janet clutching each other by the ceiling. She looked back at Rachel who smiled.

“You're holding them,” stated Rachel, “But when you die, they'll fall to their deaths.”

“That's right,” replied Rebecca.

“In fact,” replied Rachel, “You'd have been better off floating up there with them.”

“Maybe,” replied Rebecca.

“Which raises the question, why didn't you?” asked Rachel.

“It's a distraction,” replied Rebecca.

“From what?” asked Rachel as Mr. Greenham wheeled her around and punched her. Rachel flew backwards at the wall impacting it hard enough to crack it.

“That should keep her out for a minute,” commented Mr. Greenham, “Now pass me my things Amanda.”

Rebecca held out her hand towards her bag, it flew into her hands and she reached inside and pulled out a bundle of clothes. She passed them over to him and pulled a small vial of green liquid out of her bag, she pulled the stopper out and drank the vial.

Part 5 - Fight

The demon stood Rachel's body back up and stepped back, the two people she was facing were not the two it had known for the past few weeks, the girl who had called herself Rebecca had grown about six inches and now had brown hair instead of the blonde she had before, and Mr. Greenham had put on a blue trenchcoat and sunglasses. The two girls that Rebecca had raised were on the floor and running down the corridor from the scene.

“I believe we haven't met,” said the demon it used Rachel's voice to unnerve them.

“I suppose we'd better do this right,” replied the man, “You may call me Bluedarky, and the young lady here is Amanda. I won't bother asking your name.”

“Heroes,” laughed the demon as it launched Rachel's body to attack.

“Distract her,” said Bluedarky clenching his fists together.

“Got it,” replied Amanda stepping forwards, she sent a bolt of psychic energy into Rachel who stumbled at the last moment and fell, the demon stood before Amanda and went to punch her with her fist filled with flames, Amanda intercepted the punch with one of her own which sent the demon flying back.

“Now I'm confused,” replied the demon, “I thought you were a psychic, how can you not only punch me back, but also hard enough to block my flames?”

“Not telling,” replied Amanda, the demon charged again and Amanda launched it back with her telekinetic powers.

“Telekinesis,” replied the Demon, “Disguising you're powers behind physical attacks, that's actually quite impressive.”

“You should have figured that one out earlier,” smiled Amanda, “I was lifting Gemma and Janet using them.”

“True,” replied the demon, “But time to die.”

“Move,” yelled Bluedarky, Amanda ducked and the demon turned to Bluedarky.

“No!” it screamed running over Amanda towards him.

“Genitus malum everto!” yelled Bluedarky, the demon screamed as Bluedarky held out his hand towards it.

Part 6 - Limits

Stephan fell to his knee, his hand still held towards the screaming girl, to Amanda's eyes the girl began to shimmer and appeared to be separating into two things. Amanda managed to hear two garbled words from the demon and the world snapped back to how it had been moments before.

“Damnit,” muttered Bluedarky, “The girls a channeler!”

“Just figuring that out,” muttered the Demon, “Why do you think I'm so strong?”

“Amanda,” yelled Bluedarky getting to his feet, “Get Numina, we need this thing's true name.”

“But...” started Amanda.

“Go,” said Bluedarky waving his hand, “I can handle one demon for a few minutes.”

Amanda glanced around worried but eventually flew off towards Founders Falls to locate Numina. Bluedarky stood up straight and rolled his shoulders making sure they worked before moving into a ready stance. The demon possessing Rachel moved forwards towards Bluedarky and summoned a small flame around her hand.

It moved forwards quicker than Bluedarky had anticipated, he span around and the demon struck the flame against the back of his trenchcoat, it glanced off without leaving a mark and he dropped with a spinning kick against the girls legs. He heard Rachel's knee became dislocated and stood up quickly and stepped back.

The demon pulled Rachel's body up and snapped her leg back into position. It look back to Bludarky and laughed.

“I don't feel her pain you fool,” it laughed, “All the pain you inflict won't slow me down until you kill her.”

Bluedarky snorted at this, “Almost ironic,” he said, “I almost wish I hadn't come up with those plans to stop me under hypnosis.”

“To stop you,” said the demon.

“Yeah,” smiled Bluedarky, “I don't feel pain either.”

“Then I win,” laughed the demon, “You won't hurt the girl that badly to stop me.”

“Won't I?” asked Stephan, he sprinted forwards her and brought his hand to the back of her neck, she dropped to the floor as he struck and he smiled. “Vulcan nerve pinch be damned,” he muttered as he tapped his sunglasses.

“LOCA, you online,” he said, “Get a patch through to MAGI, I need some faerie thread.”

Part 7 - Search

Amanda flew towards Founders Fall, Numina and Infernal were usually found there, when she arrived she searched for Numina on the psychic plane, theoretically she could have done this from the school, however it was hard to distinguish even powerful psychics at long range, and to find a specific one would narrow her search radius to a line in one direction. Closer to she could search in all directions at once with accuracy.

As she brushed against Numina's mind she felt Numina enter hers, she mentally moved her defences around Numina's entry to allow her into her mind, she headed to Numina herself, face to face contact was better than just a mental connection, on her way she filled in Numina from her own memories.

“You touched the demons mind?” asked Infernal as she entered, Numina was in a Midnight Club library and pouring over a large leather bound volume.

“Barely,” replied Amanda breathlessly, “Only surface thoughts to anticipate it's moves, I didn't dare to go deeper.”

“Good idea,” replied Numina inside her mind, “I need to see what you saw for a few moments.”

Amanda brought the memories to the front of her mind for a few moments, psychics respected each others privacy and rarely delved deeper than necessary unless they were facing a rogue psychic. Numina examined them for a moment before pulling back, she quickly flick through the book. Whilst she did this Amanda scanned her surroundings, it was a shock for her to discover that the book had it's own mind, she was wondering about this when Numina thrust a piece of paper into her hand.

“Take it to Bluedarky,” she said, “Don't look at it or transmit it in any form, if it is spoken or sent psychically the demon could pick up on it and prevent it's use.”

Amanda nodded and slipped the paper into her pocket and zipped it up, she'd learnt that lesson when her lose change fell out of her pocket when she first flew, she ran for the open window and was through it and heading for the school before Numina and Infernal could even say goodbye.

Bluedarky had to admire the Faerie Thread, it looked thin enough for Mel's daughter Laura to break on her own, in fact even Statesman couldn't break it. A fact that Bluedarky and the MAGI technician who had brought the thread had found out much to their chagrin.

“Smart move,” commented the technician sarcastically.

“Oh be quiet,” replied Bluedarky, “This is all part of my plan.”

“Getting tied to a MAGI technician by unbreakable Faerie Thread is part of your plan,” came the reply.

“I'm, adapting the plan,” replied Bluedarky, “Marioko is initiating plan B as we speak.”

“I'm willing to bet she can't remember the symbols,” replied the technician, “Or runs out of chalk. Not to mention we now have a near fully channelled demon in Paragon City's youngest known channeller.”

“This wouldn't have happened if you knew the release phrase,” replied Bluedarky.

“I know the phrase,” replied the technician, “But I'm just a technician, not a mage.”

“Why didn't you say that?” asked Bluedarky, “What's the phrase?”

Outside Temperature Sprite sketched a rune on the school car park, it corresponded with various other runes around the school to make a rudimentary magic circle. It was ineffective without the demon's name, but once Stephan spoke the name the circle would take effect. She flew up to admire her work as Amanda flew past close enough to spin the 4ft tall sprite around. She quickly dived towards the school following Amanda.

“Got you,” yelled Bluedarky diving towards Rachel, he grabbed her around the waist and tackled her to the floor. The pair rolled before Bluedarky pinned the demon possessed girl to the floor.

“You know,” said the demon, “If someone who didn't know what was going on...”

Bluedarky's punch should have snapped the girls head, the demon laughed absorbing enough of the pain to keep it's host alive but the bloodied cheek said that the damage was done anyway, Rachel would spend a few weeks in the hospital but he knew he couldn't think about that now. Too late though as the demon engulfed Rachel's hand in flames and thrust it at his chest.

He rolled aside and leapt to his feet, the demon stood slowly and turned to face him.

“You can't hurt the host,” said the demon, “I'm sure I said that already, or at least you won't, not whilst you think there's a chance that you don't have to kill her.”

Rachel stepped forwards and raised burning hands before she was lifted into the air and flung against the wall. Marioko flew forwards and encased both of Rachel's hands in solid ice as Amanda handed Bluedarky the piece of paper Numina had given her. He unfolded it and looked at the demon which struggled realising what was coming.

“Incendia quod Flamma,” he said as the demon screamed. The runes that Marioko had drawn began to glow brightly surrounding the school in light as the demon was forced from Rachel's body.

Part 9 - The Demon

There are many types of exorcism, all of them remove the demon or spirit from the body, but in a variety of different ways. Some are the classical exorcism which sends the demon/spirit to the hell realm it came from, others destroy the demon/spirit whilst it's in the body. Both of these methods require intensive training and/or innate magical skill. Bluedarky and crew have none of these, this forces them to rely upon the third and most dangerous of all the methods, forcing the demon to manifest itself into our reality.

The demon stood at 12 feet tall and had the look of a classical demon, it had beast like legs, a hunched back and it's face was the stuff of nightmares, it was currently crawling on all fours as it had been to large to manifest standing without some parts appearing in the ceiling or floor causing some very problematic moments with the laws of physics, insofar as demons obeyed them anyway.

Bluedarky stepped back as the demon began to stand, Amanda gripped Bluedarky's arm and said, “Stephan.”

“I know,” he replied.

“You may have...”

“I know.”

The demon pushed against the ceiling as Bluedarky stepped back further.

“Amanda grab the technician,” said Bluedarky, “Marioko the girl.”

“Then what?” asked Amanda.

“Run!” yelled Bluedarky turning and sprinting away. Amanda grabbed the MAGI Technician and Marioko slipped around the demon to grab Rachel's prone form. Amanda and Marioko flew whilst Bluedarky sprinted through the collapsing corridors. He dived into a classroom and hid behind the door and pulled out his mobile phone.

“I require a quarantine for the King's Row District High,” he said, “Level 4 demonic, and possibly...”

The call was cut off as he instinctively dived forwards as the demons claw burst through the wall behind him.

“Fast and smart,” growled the demon, “Why would that be?”

“You don't live on these streets for as long as I have without good instincts,” he replied, “And having a titanium fibreweave coat helps.”

“You'd be a fool to take me on with your fists,” laughed the demon, “How do you expect to beat me?”

“Now that is a stumper,” replied Bluedarky smiling, “How am I meant to defeat a demon with my bare hands? Do you know?”

The demon moved back from the hole, it had the advantage in size, speed and raw strength, but the smile was the one of desperate men, men with nothing left to lose. Bluedarky dived forwards and rammed his fist into the large black eye of the demon. It pulled back and roared.

Part 10 - Demon Battle

Bluedarky dived forwards after seeing the demon pull back in pain, his fists pummelled against the steel like skin of the demon and he felt the demon pull back. Looking up he saw black blood spilling from one eye.

“You forgot,” said Bluedarky, “Back in your realm you have near infinite power, but here, you're bound to our universes laws. And that means you can be hurt!”

“Foolish mortal,” roared the demon, “You believe you can win if you continue this folly?”

“I don't have to win,” he replied, “There's a specialist team on the way to deal with you, all's I need to do is keep you here till they arrive.”

“And exactly how do you plan to do that?” laughed the demon.

“You forget,” replied Bluedarky removing his gloves, “I have your true name.”

The demon growled and shuffled back in the corridor.

“Now I'll admit,” said Bluedarky pushing his gloves into his pocket, “The power of true names is exaggerated by normal people, knowing the true name of water doesn't mean that I can stop the tide for example as that's a magic all of it's own, same said that I can't just say Incendia quod Flamma stop and expect you to stop as that defies the laws of free will.

“It does however, prevent your magic from working around me.” Bluedarky smiled as leapt forwards again. “Now transform back into your real form.”

“How did you know?” said the demon as it shrank smaller and smaller until it's true form was revealed to be about 4 ft tall and stick thin, arcane tattoos covered it's entire body. It's deep booming voice had given way to a squeek.

“My grandfather was the Blue Boy,” replied Stephan gripping the demons arms and pinning it to the wall, “He told me about you, and demons in general. Anything over 6 feet tends to bust straight through rather than go through a host, they're usually powerful enough, especially round here thanks to the circle.”

“You made one mistake mortal,” growled the demon pushing Bluedarky off him, “You assumed I was weak without my magic.”

Bluedarky fell back as the demon leapt on top of him pinning him to the floor, he struggled but his own strength, way above that of most people, was useless against the demon.

“And now,” it announced, “You will die.”

“It's strange,” said a voice behind the demon, “I've known what I was from birth, but I didn't know how to use it, until now.”

The demon twisted it's head to see Rachel standing behind it, her hand was already on it's back. It looked behind her to see Numina and Infernal. “No,” it croaked.

“Power to bind,” chanted Rachel. “Power to find, and make it mine.”

The demon screamed as the tattoos moved across it's body and up Rachel's arm, she writhed in pain as the tattoos affixed themselves to her skin. When it was finished she stood facing empty air with black tattoos up her left arm. She clutched her arm to her chest and fell to her knees as Bluedarky climbed to his knees and looked across at her.

Part 10 – An Ending and a Beginning

In Numina’s chambers Bluedarky and Amanda sat as Rachel knelt on the floor, Numina and Infernal busied themselves ensuring the magic circles surrounding Rachel were complete, the black swirling tattoos covered Rachel’s left arm as she sat in a trance state to learn to control her powers.

“How long will she be like this?” asked Amanda looking at the young girl.

“As long as she needs,” replied Numina, “She is a rare class of channeller, one who can take on the powers of a demon without them controlling her. But such power rarely comes without a price, and hers is the tattoos you see on her arms.”

“Why is that?” asked Amanda looking once again upon the tattoos which seemed to swirl hypnotically under her gaze before she averted her eyes.

“They burn,” replied Bluedarky, “Upon her skin, the price for her power is the constant reminder of its infernal source. No offence Infernal.” The demon grunted as though to suggest no offence had been caused.

“It is a lower price than most of her kind pay,” replied Numina, “The child sought the help of another, one she could trust, and she reached out in her dreams until the demon found her, and I believe you know the rest.”

“So what now?” asked Amanda.

“She will train,” replied Numina, “In time she may even seek to bind new demons to her body and increase her power, but that will remain her decision. She has however expressed interest in becoming a hero.”

“She’s got a lot of growing up to do,” commented Bluedarky, “School as she knew it is over, from here it’s one long haul from who she is, to who she’ll need to be to become a hero.”

Numina nodded, “Indeed,” she said, “She will find the rewards to be worth it however, all young heroes learn that lesson very quickly.” She glanced across at Bluedarky and Amanda. “But I cannot allow my new charge to take up all of your time, you have much to do, and plenty to catch up on within the city.”

“Then we will take our leave,” replied Bluedarky standing up, nodded to the two and left, Amanda quickly following.

As she reached the door Amanda turned back. “Numina,” she said.

“Yes you may,” replied Numina looking up at her, “I believe it may be good for Rachel to speak with another who went through a similar experience herself.” She smiled at Amanda’s confused face, “One does not need to be psychic to know how people think,” she said simply.

Amanda smiled and nodded before she left, Numina turned back to the teenage girl in the magic circle and smiled. Incendia quod Flamma’s live had ended, a demon who had used his unnatural strength combined with cunning and guile had been destroyed, and his power transferred into a girl who could go on to great things.

She walked across to a shelf and pulled down a book before opening it on the stand. She flicked through the book which marked landmarks in Infernal’s training, until she came to a blank page. She lifted the quill pen from its inkwell and with a few graceful strokes wrote “Rachel Hawkens” at the top of the page. She smiled as she confirmed to herself, that from the demons end, came Rachel’s beginning.