A Demon tried to kill me once, now I hunt down demons (Part 9)

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
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As I stood outside of the small grow room, my jaw hung open in shock, ?You want me to help you what??
Timothy frowned to me, ?I need you to help me, I?ll ask the questions, if she resists, I need you to turn on the lights of this room. The UV lights should be enough to burn her skin, and it will help to interrogate her.? Timothy checked behind him to ensure Xei?s still out cold.
?Why me?? I asked.
Timothy sighed, ?I can get Colin, but I?d prefer not to involve Fred.?
?Why??
?He has enough on his soul already,? Timothy admitted to me.
?Oh, and what my soul is clean enough to dirty?? I shot back.
?A fair point,? Timothy acknowledged, ?But we have to do this, there is too much at stake.? he motioned to Xei?s body again, ?Trust me, if I had a choice I would not do this.?
?You have a choice!? I pointed out.
Timothy shook his head, ?No, Trevor, I don?t.? he heaved a sigh, ?I have to lead the Temple, it?s my task.? He looked to Xei wistfully, ?My father gave me a great deal of wisdom before I discovered he was a monster. He told me, a long time ago, inaction is agreeing with the current state of affairs.? he turned to me, ?I can?t stand by with the way things are, I will not allow my father to do what he plans to do, I won?t let the forces of hell use him as a pawn in their game.?
?That?s a heavy burden to carry,? I sympathized.
?It?s the weight of the world,? Tim leaned against the wall, ?You, Trevor, have a choice. You can help me or you can walk away and live your life.?
I shook my head, ?My brother hasn?t been letting me do what I want.?
Timothy?s eyes pulsed, a more intense glow emanating from his irises, ?He forced you here??
I nod, ?the whole way, forced me to open the doors because he couldn?t open them.?
?The temple only opens for those who are worthy,? Timothy?s eyes burned with an icy blue, ?if that is the case, Colin is not worthy to aide us.?
?That?s why he wants me to do it, he feels I?m his greatest achievement,? I looked to my ring, ?I didn?t have a choice, I?m just a weapon. He points me at something and expects me to do what he asks of me.?
Timothy?s head rested on the wall, ?I am not where I ought to be.?
?How so?? I asked, trying to stall.
Timothy looked to Xei, ?I?ve had ten years, and every guardian on that list you gave me? We found one of them, the rest?? he chuckled, ?We only found the first by complete accident, and we were lucky, he was the son of the chosen Guardian Angel, and righteous enough to become an avatar of Michael.?
?Wait,? I realized as I asked, ?That list, those people, they?re supposed to be angels??
Timothy nods, ?Yes.? he sighed, ?We have two out of the list,? his eyes dimmed, ?each of them, died valiant and noble deaths. They died defending their beliefs, people, or trying to save as many as they could, rushing headlong into disaster with no regard for self-preservation,? he smiled, ?they would have made potent additions to the temple.?
?You couldn?t find them before they died?? I asked.
Timothy pushed off the wall, facing me, ?All long dead by the time we even received the list, Trevor,? a grave expression came over him, ?I think it?s because those down below knew the people on the list, just as we did. They just knew sooner.?
It was an ominous statement, and I did my best to digest that. I glanced at my left hand, where the mark of Cain still stained my palm.
Timothy turned back to Xei, ?You have a choice, Trevor, help me now, or walk away.? he glanced to me, ?You have that luxury I can?t afford, I will not rob you of it as your brother has.?
A choice? I hadn?t had one of those my entire life. I looked Timothy in the eye, ?Promise me you?ll keep Colin off my back if I help you, this one time, then never call on me again.?
Timothy turned to me and put his hand out to shake, ?Agreed. I would hate to lose you, but I respect your decision, Trevor. After this, you?re free to do whatever it is you want to do.?
I shook his hand, ?Okay, fine.?
Timothy walked into the grow room, and turned to me, ?when I turn to you, hit the switch. I?ll leave it up to you how long to keep it on.? he turned to face Xei, ?If it helps, think of some way to dislike her.?
?She knocked my friend Trish out,? I said, my hand moving to the switch, ?so a little retribution would be nice.?
Timothy nodded, then adjusted the collar of his shirt and trench coat. A strange silver bubble then enveloped his head and turned opaque. It looked like his head was nothing but a silver egg, no other features, just a perfect mirror finish.
Timothy spoke, as he did, his voice sounded strange, modulated, but not in a single modulation. It ranged from male to female, it?s pitching changing erratically. ?Thank you for this,? he said as he now placed his hand on Xei?s shoulder, and pulled a needle out of his trenchcoat. Something red filled the needle, possibly blood.
After he injected it, Xei?s eye shot open, and she gasped, ?Who are you?? she shouted and struggled against the restraints. The table shook and threatened to give way.
Timothy glanced at me.
I flipped the lamps on.
Xei?s white skin turned pink and began to smoke as the light touched her. She screamed in pain, her back arching as her head rocked back and forth on the table.
After about ten agonizing seconds I turned the light off.
Xei gasped, struggling against the restraints weakly, ?What? what did you? do to me??
Timothy?s modulated voice held up the needle, ?Blood of the deceased. As you pull the attributes from the blood you imbibe, the blood of the long since dead renders you weaker..?
Xei growled, ?So, you know how I work? Who are you? What do you want??
?Who I am, is Major F, an adversary of your father,? Timothy began, ?What I want are answers to important questions? such as what is your mission? Why did your father send you?? Timothy asked, ?What means will you take to reach this end??
Xei spit at him, ?I won?t tell you anything about my father?s plans!?
Her spit hit Timothy?s mirror plated dome, dripping down the smooth surface, ?I believe it is in your best interest to inform me of Xyphiel?s plans for you. I am already well aware of his other dealings.?
Xei hissed at him.
Timothy turned to me again.
?Tanning session is starting,? I taunted as I flipped the switch.
Xei screamed again, this time her skin turned redder, more smoke filled the small room.
I hit the lights after about five seconds this time.
Xei shook and whimpered in pain, ?I? I won?t?? she sputtered.
Timothy wavered, I could tell by his body language. I did my best to help.
?Why are you looking for Tasha?? I asked
Xei whimpered, ?N-no? you? you monsters are going to? hurt her too??
Timothy began, ?I am in League with Lady Tasha, I can assure you, she is not in any danger from me,? he moved to stand over her, her face reflecting at her in the mirrored dome, ?but are you a danger to her??
Xei growled at Timothy, ?I would never hurt her!?
?Then why are you seeking her on your father?s orders?? Timothy asked, now back on track.
Xei furrowed her brow, ?I? I can?t trust anyone with??
Timothy looked at me again.
Before I even had my hand on the switch, Xei began to plead, ?Wait wait! No no! I?ll talk!?
I frowned at how effective the torture turned out to be. How much pain did she experience when I turned the lamps on?
Xei looked to Timothy?s metal dome, ?I?m trying to defect, okay? I can?t take him anymore! My father?s zealotry was one thing when we were far from his objective, but he?s grown obsessive, madder now that we?re even closer to his goal.?
?How has that affected you?? Timothy asked.
Xei?s lips pursed, and she looked away, ?I would rather not say.?
Timothy looked at me, and I flicked the switch on.
Xei?s skin began to bubble as she screamed, she pleaded as she screamed in pain, ?I?ll tell you! Please! Stop!?
I stopped, the lights were on for only a few seconds this time. Hopefully, it was the last time I would need to use them.
Tears streaked down from Xei?s eye, ?My father?? she whimpered, ?he? he killed a man I was? having relations with.?
?Why did he do that?? Timothy asked.
?I had an arrangement with him,? Xei squeaked, ?I would drink his blood, and he?d get a good ****. It was a win-win situation??
?And Xyphiel took offense to this??
Xei choked back tears, ?He? he called me a failure, a *****?? she was almost balling now, ?He slit his throat right in front of me and made me watch him bleed out!?
Timothy took a step back from the table, then turned and exited the room.
Xei shouted, ?I?m trying to find Tasha because she escaped, and my father never found her?? she whimpered, ?... I need to disappear.?
Timothy looked to me, ?Open the door.?
I hit the Intercom, ?Hey, Dad, can you let us out??
The door buzzed, and Timothy and I walked out.
Timothy shut the door behind us and pressed something on his collar, the metal sphere vanishing.
It shocked me to see his face. It was pale, his eyes looked grey, and he was hyperventilating. He collapsed against the door, leaning against it and sinking to the ground, ?what have I done??
I knelt next to him, placing my hand on his shoulder.
Timothy was shaking.
The angel who saved my family and me when I was young was shaking like a leaf.
?It?s? been a rough ten years, huh?? I asked.
?I?ve tortured my sister, thinking she was acting on the behest of my father. My fiance has gone mad because of some ancient rogue angel thanks to me,? Timothy turned to me as if he just noticed I was there with him. ?I?m destroying everyone I love.?
I held out my hand, ?Let me help.?
Timothy took my hand as I pulled him to his feet, ?She? she only wanted sanctuary and I just?? he pressed his head against the door, ?she?ll never forgive me.?
Do you ever feel God put you into a place for one specific purpose? Like there was one thing you had to do, and the entire series of events that put you in this position occurred for that sole purpose? I realized, right here, when Timothy was at his lowest point, that I had to be the one with him.
?Timothy,? I began, ?If you go to her, and explain everything, explain why you did what you did, and that you wish you didn?t have to do what you did, and admit you were wrong for doing it,? I explained, ?I know she?ll forgive you.?
Timothy turned to me, ?How can you be so sure??
?Because that?s what I want Colin to tell me,? I sighed, lifting my shirt, ?Because Colin hurt me, scarred me, and has never apologized. But all I want from him is to hear that he was wrong, that he is sorry and he?ll never do anything like that again.?
Timothy?s eyes regained some color, he looked to the door and opened it.
I followed him, Xei?s sobbing had stopped, she was now struggling with the restraints, the wires Timothy tied her down with starting to give.
Xei hissed, ?When I get out of these things I?m going to?? when she saw his face she stopped.
Timothy took his trench coat off, revealing his silvery wings, ?Hey sis.?
Xei was still, her expression fixed on him. In a rapid motion, she sat up, snapping the steel wires like they were nylon, ?T-Timothy??
Timothy walked over and undid the restraints on her feet, ?Yes, it?s me.?
Xei got to her feet, a good foot shorter than him. She hugged him, buried her face in his shoulder.
Timothy looked at me, and all I could do was return a shrug.
That?s about when Xei slapped him, ?That?s for burning me!?
Timothy winced, ?Sorry I--? another slap interrupted Timothy?s sentence.
?That?s for never trying to contact me!? she shouted.
Timothy placed his hand on his cheek, ?I deserve that.?
?Where have you been?? Xei shouted.
?The Guardian Temple,? Timothy began, ?I?ve been restoring it,? he picked up his trench coat.
Xei frowned, ?Oh, Tasha has gotten to you.?
Timothy shook his head, ?the doors opened for me, they showed me the destruction that my parents left in their wake.? He heaved a sigh, ?they showed me the truth, that they were monsters, so I ran away.?
Xei launched another slap, ?And you didn?t take me with you??
Timothy winced, ?I didn?t know if you would tell father!?
?I would have told your mother, not our father!? Xei looked to the table, and then back to him, ?You? you?re trying to fight them??
Timothy nods.
?... He might go down Timothy but? your mother is unstoppable.? Xei pointed out.
?I have something to stop her,? Timothy said, looking away.
Xei looked to me and then back to Timothy, ?That?s your mother, you can?t? can you??
?Unless we can reason with her,? Timothy said as he put on his trench coat. ?It?s possible, unlikely, but possible.?
Xei frowned, ?okay, so, take me to this ?Temple? then. I might not do much but, I?ll help you as best I can.?
?Can she even enter the temple?? I asked.
Timothy looked Xei over, ?Depends how much faith she will gain.?
Xei gave an exasperated sigh, ?Whatever!?
I looked at my ring, it wasn?t hot or glowing. Without thinking much, I placed my hand, ring and all, on her wrist.
Xei looked at my hand, and then to me, ?Remove it, or I remove it for you.?
I let go, turning to Timothy, ?If that didn?t hurt her I think she?ll be okay.?
?
I shook Timothy?s hand again at the door of the shelter.
Timothy asked, ?You sure I can?t convince you to join us??
Xei was wearing a heavy black blanket in the morning light, grumbling a bit, ?I am nervous in the sun Timothy,? she frowned, ?You sure the others, outside of Tasha, will be okay with me? You know, me being undead and all??
Timothy laughed, ?you aren?t the only undead person there.?
Xei turned to him, ?what??
?I?ll introduce you to Elon when we get there,? With that Timothy started walking towards the backyard.
As I leaned against the shelter door and glanced at my ring, twisting it on my finger, and then to the sky. ?So, what now??
?Stop asking the clouds for answers?? Trish said from behind me.
I smiled as I turned to face her, ?You?re okay!? I hugged her tightly.
Trish grunted, ?Yeah, a headache but I?m fine?? she hugged back. ?What are you doing out here??
?Just, saying goodbye to an old friend,? I said to Trish, smiling.
?Where?s Colin?? she asked, looking around.
?He?s?? I chuckled, ?He?s talking to a priest. I went off on him, told the priest what happened, and now he?s getting a lesson or two.?
Trish smiled, holding her hand up for a high five, ?Nice.?
I high-fived her, and winced, ?That?s your bad hand, isn?t it? I thought Xei broke it.?
Trish shook her head, ?Nah, just twisted, and the joints cracked, your mom fixed me up good with some pain killers and such.? she laughed, ?Didn?t know she?s a nurse.?
?Yeah, good to have around,? I smiled at her, ?I?m glad you?re okay.?
?What happened to the nut job?? she asked.
?She?s? well heading to the proper authorities,? I looked to where Timothy had walked off too.
?You?re not claiming she was some demoness coming to rip our souls out or anything, are you Trevor?? she gave me a quizzical look.
?I?m,? I thought of how to phrase it, ?done with that. It?s too much trouble.? I smiled at her, ?I?d rather just start over, chill with you, maybe get hooked up with a friend of yours.?
Trish smiled, punching my shoulder, ?You do not understand how happy I am to hear that. Seriously, you needed to hear yourself Trev, you were pretty crazy sounding.?
As Trish called me crazy, I got a little twitch in my neck. This was the last straw, and my last chance and Timothy owed me one. I grabbed Trish?s hand, ?Okay, no more disbelief, I need to introduce you to someone!? With that I dragged her out of the shelter, running after Timothy, hoping to prove to Trish that I was not insane like she thought.
?Ouch! Slow down!? she shouted.
I ran towards the back of the house, seeing Timothy and Xei were still walking into the backyard, both still here.
Trish looked at Timothy and Xei, ?who are they??
I laughed, ?You?ll see,? I shouted, ?Hey, Timothy! I need a huge favor!?
Timothy turned to face me, looking confused, ?What?s that??
Before I could say anything the doors to the temple appeared behind Timothy.
Bursting out of them was Sofia ? with no attempt at all to hide her wings or any angelic features. She barreled out of the doors and ran at Timothy. I noticed she had the blindfold off, and though her eyes were milky, it seemed she could see. Though her irises were strange, I couldn?t figure out what color they were as she tackled Timothy.
?Tim!? She shouted, all six of her wings flicking, flapping, and fluttering as she collided with him, hugging him tight, ?I?m so sorry!?
Timothy caught her, and smiled wide, his eyes glowing brightly, ?Sofia? Wha-?
?When Samael took me, I fixed my broken body but not my mind, it was still scattered from him? Elon slapped some sense into me,? she then paused, ?I mean he didn?t slap me, but he told me off and I realized I?ve been acting like a psychopath.?
Timothy smiled wide, his eyes pulsing with bright blue light as he kissed Sofia in a loving embrace, his own wings opened under his trenchcoat, popping out of the sides.
?Wing *****,? I chuckled as I turned to Trish, a ****-eating grin on my face, ?So, yeah, who?s crazy now??
Trish?s eyes locked on Sofia, her hands were shaking.
?Trish?? I said, confused.
She took a step forward, ?Who,? Trish?s voice cracked as she spoke, ?Is that???
?Uh, Sofia? She?s Timothy?s Fianc?,? Maybe it shocked her to see a real angel, that was my thinking at the time, anyway. ?Timothy is the angel who saved my family and I, you know, from the fire?? I tried to snap Trish out of her shock, ?I told you I?m not crazy.?
Timothy spun Sofia around, ?I thought I lost you,? he hugged her tightly, kissing her again.
I smiled at the pair of them, hoping I could find something that pure at some point. Sofia seemed different from when I first met her, I couldn?t place it but I got no ominous feelings from her as I waved at her.
Sofia?s smile was wide until she looked at me, her face falling, her eyes widening. In a panic, she shouted, ?Trevor! Get away from her!?
?Who?? I turned towards Trish, unsure who Sofia was talking about.
Trish?s hands were still shaking, but it wasn?t her hands I was looking at. Her recently purple hair was floating over her head, the color rising out of it like steam. Her hair was red, a deep crimson red, and it grew wild as it floated there, twisting into dreadlocks.
?Who... Is... That... *****??? Trish said through gritted teeth, ambling forward.
?Get away from her Trevor!? Sofia said, pushing herself out of Timothy?s arms, ?Run!?
What was going on? Why was Trish?s hair was floating? I saw Trish stumble as she walked forward. At first, I moved towards her to stop her from tripping but I realized something was wrong.
Trisha?s skin darkened, now looking pitch black. Her boots fell away from her feet, but Trish?s feet had vanished, replaced by a lengthening black snake tail that was now growing longer out of her denim skirt, replacing her legs. Next, her black leather jacket fell to the ground as black feathered wings sprouted out of her back, and now with her tail at full length, she sped towards Sofia with inhuman speed.
Timothy got in front of her, pulling out his knife and staring her down, ?Don?t you dare!?
?Stay out of this Mouthpiece!? Trish shouted, and shoulder checked Timothy out of the way.
Timothy grabbed at her wrist and tried to stab at her.
Trish pushed his hand away, and hissed at him, baring fangs, and moving to bite him.
While Timothy tried to avoid her fangs, her tail had snuck up behind him and swept his legs out from under him, sending him to the ground.
With Timothy on the ground, Trish resumed her mad dash towards Sofia.
Sofia stood her ground even as Trish grabbed Sofia?s throat, sliding her tail up to make her tower a good three feet over Sofia.
?Who the **** are you, you little ****!? Trish hissed, glaring daggers at her.
Sofia locked her eyes on Trisha?s. Sofia grabbed Trisha?s hand as it grabbed her throat, ?What are you doing here??
I fell to my knees, in shock. Unable to make heads or tails out of what was unfolding before me. I rubbed my eyes, pinched myself, checked my ring, but it was still cool to the touch. Something was off. This had to be a nightmare, a fever dream! I had to be losing my mind. That had to be it, because somehow, right in front of me Trish had transformed. My one little island of sanity had sunk down into the black abyss and what it left was whoever was standing there.
My world fell apart as Sofia called Trish by her true name, ?... Lillith??


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