They waited for the devil himself to come off stage. Taking deep breaths and lessening their presences to the best of their capabilities, they followed the blonde man behind stage.

  “Look… We need to get as much information as possible,” Able gave orders to his teammates as they hid behind large crates, away from Jason’s line of sight. “If the chance is there, kill him.”

  “Even if I’d like to kill him myself.”

  Jason checked his surrounding before entering a large, secluded white tent. Nodding to his teammates, they quickly followed in. Entering the dark space with multiple cages and crates. Upon entering, without a moment’s breath, they were attacked. Muscular creatures wearing missionary clothing with a cloth over their face hurdled their huge fists.

  Able sent his own fist forward, not startled a bit by the monster. His eyes shifted in appearance as the counter happened. His own fist broke through the monster and tore through its torso. The monster that attempted to kill Peaches immediately died of frostbite.

  “Subservient!” A strange black wind followed by raven feathers enveloped Emilia’s foot. She crushed the winds into the monster’s head and killed it.

  Tristan gracefully avoided the monster’s attacks and plunged his ridiculously long fingernails into it. Handicapping it, it couldn’t move.

  “These monsters are all clones of each other, made from [Generation],” Tristan said after analyzing its DNA. Suggesting there could be much more of these monsters.

  “Bingo~!” The blonde man stepped out of the shadows, stretching out his words. You would think that by his appearance and his clothing that he was a good man but, his grin told otherwise. “Haven’t your mothers told you trespassing is bad?”

  “We came here with an aim,” A rage was building within Able’s chest as he mustered up a smile, “To have your blood on our hands.”

  “That’s a nice line but…” Jason bravely walked closer to them. Standing in the middle of the four monsters with a playful and sinister atmosphere. “Do you really think you can get far after killing me?”

  “My monsters… Not to mention that now I have the Confederation wrapped around my thumb,” Jason got uncomfortably close to Able with a threatening presence that made him freeze. “You simply entered a game that you couldn’t win.”

  “The King of the Damned will always be your greatest obstacle,” Able said in a humored tone. He knew no matter what, Jason would fear that man. Just in case Jason made any sudden moves, he materialized the handle of his sword.

  “Why don’t start culling his bloodline then?” Jason was frustrated upon hearing that name beyond his own mouth. “Starting with you.”

  “You stand in the presence of a King,” Peaches broke the control Jason had over the conversation with his presence. “You need to understand who right here has a risk of dying.”

  “Oh, my apologies, I didn’t know the Emperor was here,” Jason mustered a plastic smile. His face was porcelain, so much that it was eerie. “You sure you’d like to choose their side over mine?”

  “Am sorry, Mauter. A promise is the most important thing to me… Breaking them will ruin everything I’ve fought for so far,” Peaches shrugged. Getting his cold atmosphere ready, waiting for the signal from Able to kill. “And one of those promises is getting rid of you.”

  “And here I thought you were smarter than the Emperors before you,” Jason shrugged and slyly got out of immediate cold’s range. “Oh well…”

  “Something in here stinks…” Jason’s nose cringed at the whiff of pheromones. Glaring at Tristan and Emilia, “I hate the scent of demons just as much as I hate the Zorians…”

  “Watch your mouth before I drag it along the floor,” Emilia barked at him, being feisty as usual. “If I get the order to kill. You’re done for.”

  “You’re really the man that Everbit lost to…” Tristan said in his common nonchalant tone. Observing the devil up close.

  “Oh? You know the brat from the Bee Estate?” Jason grinned the moment he got an interesting topic. He was actually stalling as much as he could, waiting for one of his comrades to save him.

  Lucky for him, Able wanted to milk as much information as possible.

  “You know on her dying breath she was muttering some shit like ‘Tristan my beloved, I will always love you’,” Jason recalled the heartfelt words moments before he decapitated her. He chuckled abruptly, “Who knew that an Angel was in love with a Devil!”

  Black veins were beginning to swell in Tristan’s hands. Able whispered him to not lose sight of the mission. Tristan didn’t understand what was happening to him, he never could label his emotions.

  “I found it so hilarious that I wanted to deliver her still beating heart to your address after I sent her head to the King of the Damned but….” Jason took out a keychain of a shriveled-up heart tissue, “It got dead and cold right after I fucking mangled her corpse up!”

  The black blood burst from his veins and swirled around his arms. Demonic wings exited his back, and he slowly levitated.

  “You certainly are an interesting man…” The black blood grew more powerful around his hand. Tristan still seemed emotionless, “You will make an excellent familiar.”

  “Oh? A Solomon [Genius]?” Jason’s nose cringed once again at the power before him. He wasn’t the slightest bit intimidated. “And you girl, is that the she-devil in you.”

  “Some of the most powerful demons….” Jason clenched his jaw at the thought of it. “How fucking disgusting.”

  He looked over to a large assortment of crates, “And there’s another notable demon in here….”

  Able stepped between Tristan and Jason, he needed more information before they could kill him.

  “What did you do to Xitalli?” Able asked in serious tone. Withstanding the raging black blood as Emilia tried to calm Tristan down.

  Bryant had followed them into the tent. Wanting answers to what happened to his woman, he guessed that it had something to involve them. He always recognized their scent as monsters but, Kayne put in good word for them amongst other Detectives-In-Training. Upon hearing her true name, he knew that they were on her side. He wasn’t on their side just yet. He needed to wait it out before he could make a move and get answers to saving her.

  Bryant was startled when Jason recognized he was hiding behind the crates. He thought he was hiding his presence well.

  “I can do whatever I want to her, she’s my wife,” Jason grinned at him. Wondering what his next move should be. He shrugged, deciding to have some fun. What could they even do to him? He played his cards right; the moment was his!

  “You know damn well that was something arranged by the King of the Damned so that Luluwa could be protected!” Able called what that certain man explained to him. “And you took that too far!”

  “What did you do to Xitalli!?” Able demanded from him.

  “I had my way with her, what else?” Jason blatantly said, feeling as if nothing was wrong with it. “She was defiant though.”

  He looked as his nails as recalled the event, “I gotta give it to Native American women, they are strong. Seems like a trend amongst them.”

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “So, when she kept killing what I sent at her, I decided to take matters into my own hands,” Jason took out a small, strange hourglass from his pocket. With one segment having a pink solution and the other having a green solution. “With this, of course.”

  “The Potentia Historie…” Tristan muttered at the sight of it, recalling it from his extensive research.

  “Bingo again! Looks like that demon bastard’s wisdom is helping you,” Jason put it away before they got any bright ideas. “I used it on her to make her obedient. Submissive. Making her do exactly what I want, how I want, when I want and where I want!”

  “You piece of shit!” A strange amalgamation of flesh and fingernails built up on Able’s hand like a claw!

  “You watch your mouth! Or else I’ll use it on your precious Luluwa too!” Jason laughed manically; he was having far much doing this. Knowing well they couldn’t kill him in that moment, “Don’t you understand!?”

  “You can’t possibly win this! I have all the cards; I am rolling the dice!” Jason declared and his piercing electric blue eyes glowed. “Why don’t I reward myself with Xitalli when I get home too.”

  “Don’t you talk about Xitalli like that!” Bryant snapped. He couldn’t take it anymore; he endured his ramblings before but that was it. Shifting to his [Grotesque], he soared after Jason and collided into him. Dragging him through the crates.

  “Shit! That’s the Representative’s son,” Emilia recognized him from the information her uncle gave her. “We need to bounce, other detectives gotta be on theway!”

  “No, we don’t need to move just yet,” Able said and got a confused look from Emilia. Tristan and Peaches were already in agreement with him, catching onto the clue too.

  “What? Am I missing something?” Emilia looked at her phone to check if she missed any important info.

  “He mentioned her real name,” Peaches explained to her. Leaning against a crate and seeing what would happen next, “There’s more that meets the eye.”

  “We just have to wait and see,” Able stated.

  “You know… I heard rumors that the Chairwoman was seeing the Representative’s son but…” Jason muttered as his skin got torn off as he bumped into crate into crate. His bones shattering too. “I wanted to see the proof for my eyes!”

  “What you are saying, kid?! You into miffs? She’s decades older than you!” Jason mocked him despite being held in the air by Bryant. His scoffed collar dragging on his nose ignored by his rampant taunts.

  “Watch your mouth!” He flung Jason into the earth, creating a minor crater. A stream of excited pink fumes charged between his demonic horns. “Destrio!”

  “I reject!” Oliver and Yvette came in time and blocked the bolt of pink fumes. Oliver stretched his black arm forward and deflected it. While Yvette stayed close to Jason and bodyguard him as he regenerated.

  An imminent presence entered the tent. A large man with dark skin and a curly moustache. Wearing a white shirt with black suspenders and pants. He looked like a gentleman but, his character was far worse. A scowl of high-classed wickedness, with his hand folded behind his back as he walked further into the room.

  Able, Peaches, Emilia and Tristan jumped up. Sensing that the large man was hostile to them, they prepared for anything. THEy recognized this was no regular man. That even Peaches and Able together would have difficulty against him.

  Suddenly, Bryant stopped his onslaught on Jason to stand between the man and them. He nodded to Able, signally him to escape and so they did. Going the opposite way and making their exit through the tent themselves. Peaches was annoyed that he had to 'run away' but, Able persuaded him by calling it a tactical retreat.

  Count Earl clicked his tongue as they got away, folding his fists tight, “Why are you defending the enemy?”

  Bryant scoffed. The man was standing tall before him, Bryant still didn't back down, “Why are you defending someone who disrespected the Confederation.”

  “Know your place, boy,” Count Earl smacked Bryant several times before pushing past him. Winds blasted around as each hit collided, Bryant endred, “You’ll never be as great as your father.”

  Bryant bit his lip and stared at his feet. He was unable to save Xitalli. He came here and failed. His own lover was unsafe, and he could do nothing.

  “Leave before I eliminate you,” Count Earl glared and gave off his presence. It was a mixture of opposite energies, this man was abnormal.

  Bryant was grudgeful. He marched out the tent with animosity in his heart, his face bent from the emotion, “I am going to save Xitalli, Mauter!”

  “Come! I’ll have her prepped and waiting for you!” Jason laughed it up as the young man left the tent, “You can have my leftovers.”

  ~`

  “I am so sorry that you had to witness all of that,” Kayne sat with Lauri on his bed. Conflicted on what to do, he brought her to his house. It was either him talking her out of terror or brainwashing her. They sat on his bed, a flat mattress on the ground with multiple-colored pillows on the bed. Over 10, the large man liked his comfort. There was also a box of records near-by, with an album player.

  And his heart was too weak to put her through brainwashing.

  “It’s- It’s okay,” Lauri stuttered, still shaken up about it. The flashing images of the snarling monsters kept replaying in her mind. The scent of blood, the impulse of death. It was still so new to her. Kayne being such a murderous creature stained her, something she will never forget.

  They sat on the edge of Kayne’s bed; it was a very well-made floor bed inside his mansion. Kayne carried her in since she was too terrified to move. She rested her head on his chest and held his hand to feel secured, her heart still beating.

  “Do you always do that type of work?” Lauri looked up into his eyes and asked. She remembered vividly how he killed those dangerous animals. How he controlled the earth, how he emitted flames. How his personality completely switched when the monsters appeared.

  Kayne bit his lip and thought of what to say. Would be right to give her this information now,” Yes... This is what Detectives do…”

  “I always had that idea from what my dad told me,” Lauri looked at her hands and wondered if she could ever handle work like that. She was still trembling; she was terrified of that line of work. “Do you enjoy it?"

  “I don’t know,” Kayne never asked himself that question. No one ever asked him that. In his entire life, he never questioned it. All he knew is that he was supposed to be a detective.

  “Are you really okay with putting your life on the line for this?” Lauri continued to ask. Her eyes becoming glossy, realizing that Kayne knew nothing better.

  “Someone has to do it…” Kayne affirmed what he has done so far. All that he killed in order to become a detective. A single tear escaped his eye, “My life isn’t mine… I am meant to protect people… Until I can’t anymore.”

  “So, when you ‘can’t anymore’ is when you’re dead!?” Lauri couldn’t label what she was feeling but, she was uncomfortable in her skin. She didn’t know why, there was also a obscure energy building in her chest. She didn’t notice the scales growing on the back of her hand, disappearing and reappearing.

  But her emotions for Kayne were excessively strong at that moment, “Kayne, I am terrified! I feel so unsafe, more than I have in my whole life!”

  “People need you!” She let her words go and it struck Kayne deeply. He looked away but still held her up. “They don’t just need someone who will protect them from monsters.”

  She held his hair and kissed him. Kayne was surprised. She didn’t know why she did it, her emotions were too strong. “I need you.”

  “So please,” She began undressing him and took off her clothes too. Doing what felt right to her in the moment. Kayne didn’t resist, he felt overwhelmed. Wondering what was right or wrong. Wondering why her skin looked so fair. Wondering if it was right to do this when her expression told only of fear.

  Angles, curves blessed graciously to this woman in front of him. Giving herself to him but, how they got this point is what conflicted Kayne. Clear skin, that blonde hair. Was this right?

  Carrying him up on the bed and examining his many scars traced along his back. He was a beast of labor, it was becoming more evident to her by the second. Worked so hard, she wanted to hold him close. She touched him and guided his hand where she wanted, “Just for tonight.”

  “Be mine.”

  ~`

  Bryant stepped out of the tent; his fists folded. In all his life, he never felt nothing but lust. Thanks to his [Genius] that is. Xitalli was the first to make him feel love. And he’s unable to protect her? To save her? He felt useless, pathetic and weak.

  He gripped his fists tighter as his rage grew, what kind of protector is he? If he can’t save the woman he loves? His palms were becoming blistered from his own strength.

  “Why you looking so down?” A voice awoke Bryant. He looked forward to seeing a short young man with blonde hair. Three other persons standing behind the young man. As the night continued to rain down on Jason's parade.

  “You have no idea how many questions I got for you,” Bryant smirked and responded. Folding his arms and looking at them. He always knew Able and the others were special. Just by their scent. Now they were so brazen about it.

  “Great but, I can’t answer them here,” Able said to him and beckoned for him to follow. They were still in the open, the Confederation dogs were snooping around. “Let’s go somewhere else.”

  “Where to?” Bryant asked, wanting to know he wasn’t going anywhere too shady. After all, he was trained to be a Detective. And they were monsters, the criminals he's supposed to kill.

  “The Gangsta’s Paradise.” Able responded briefly.

  Bryant smirked; he heard about the place before. He followed, “Lead the way.”

  Suddenly, there was a revving of an engine. Emilia recognizing the car, she turned and identified the scarlet vehicle, “You guys go ahead, I’ll catch up.”

  “Whatever, just don’t get your ass in trouble,” Able shrugged and walked away. The others following behind since he was alright with it. After they were bit out of sight, they used their abilities to travel as fast as they could.

  She stood by the parking lot gate. Hands on the fence and she identified the scarlet Nissan GTR. Spotting the tall oaf and her recent rival. They exited the car without Luluwa. She wasn’t there. In fact, Lauri was wearing Kayne’s varsity jacket. That fueled a fire intense in her, she always wanted to wear that jacket.

  Emilia watched as Kayne got out and then helped Lauri out of her seat. Exchanging some words, Lauri tipped and kissed Kayne on the lips before running off. Kayne stood there frozen, lost in confusion.

  Emilia gripped her fists. She held her head on the fence and then released a muffled scream. Turning around and kicking the dirt, she shoved her hands in her pockets, "Fuck that! Fuck him! And fuck her!"

  Going to where she knew as home, The Gangsta’s Paradise.

  Save Lauri?