The Fiend #12

The Fiend #12

(A gif, a gif for you and me.)

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"Do you like pizza bites?"

"Not really interested in pizza bites."

"Oh... Do you like pizza?"

"More of a chicken parmesan type of lady."

"But pizza is delicious! It has cheese and pepperoni! My mommy likes olives on hers, which is gross, but healthy she says."

"You can do that too with chicken parmesan...minus the olive bit there, I think. Just not fond of all the grease pizza has."

This dialogue was between Janey Reynolds, Daniella's niece, and Elizabeth Sharpe, Daniella's partner in the works of hunting the supernatural.

The two were watched by both Daniella Reynolds and Samantha Walken, sitting on the couch while their conversation about the food they each favored. It was odd to see Elizabeth hold her own against a child; never imagining at all that the blonde who's cold to most, was unnaturally casual with one who barely was seven years of age.

She couldn't help but giggle at this, and turned to Walken, who was puzzled at the third adult among the four of them.

"Hm? What's wrong, Sam?" Daniella asked Walken, who felt a familiarity by Elizabeth. She couldn't understand why, but the woman appeared to her as if she had known her from somewhere. However, that faint thought unraveled itself when she gave notice to Daniella, who was watching her with concern. "You okay? You seemed lost."

Walken nodded her head, with a light smile added with it.

"I take it she's a coworker or something?" Walken asked curiously as the other two in the room were still busy with their exchange of which meals are better to them.

"You... You can say that," said Daniella. For a moment, she had to think on how to explain Elizabeth's connection to herself, without giving up what she truly does; having no choice but to lie to her friend who waited on her to answer her completely. "She and I work together at the...news station, although she works mostly during the day while I go to my show at night. We only recently decided to learn about one another after a get-together from a party for a fellow co-worker. Although she's a bit of a jerk..."

Walken, turning to see Elizabeth smiling at Janey, who giggled from their conversation. "Well, she's nice with children, so she can't be all bad. I'd say she's a keeper," she said to Daniella.

"A... Keeper?"

"Yeah. I can tell that despite you being famous in town, you're still the same loner as the day I met you in school. It be nice to see you having friends around for a change; and you are definitely in need of them if I'm the only one you have."

"Y-Your not the only friend I have..."

"Oh, really? Give me one example other than me that you've known this long?"

.... Uh... Phil?"

A brow raised on Walken, and asked, "Who on earth is Phil?"

Daniella fidgeted her hands as she fell silent. "Uhuh, thought so."

Walken chuckled with Janey appearing to them, waving her hands to her aunt to gain her attention. "Hm," Daniella looked down at her as she asked her a question. "Can we get a pizza, auntie?" This question came from her conversation with the houseguest that was firm in her decision. "If she eats a pizza, she can be happy, and I can be right!"

"Eeeh.... Pizza? Well, I suppose since I got a full house going. But is she okay with it?" Daniella turned to Elizabeth, who folded her arms and said, "If the kid thinks she can change my mind, I'm up for it. I'm not going anywhere for the time being."

In mind, the woman was focused on observing Walken with Daniella, while agreeing with the offer.

Daniella knew this - it wasn't known to the two others, but she knew her thoughts that were to act as her watcher.

It made them both vigilant towards one another's capabilities, should something change.

A friendly smile was made towards her niece, and said, "Okay, fine. One pizza."

"Two! Two!"

"...okay, two. But you better eat it."

-----

"Fool of fools! That imbecile thinks he can swipe my prey from me? Hah! He's lucky I haven't recovered my strength yet to face the Fiend, otherwise, I had been away from this dimension long ago with this new vessel! Filthy fleabag."

Blaire, a demoness that fled from Walken's body, after being defeated by the Fiend, had a temper from being commanded to remain there in that place that resided outside of the mundane reality. She growled while in her beastly appearance, pacing back and forth with the mysterious woman watching her from a lavish seat she sat in. Unlike the demoness, she remained quiet, and clutching a lime colored orb on her lap; a strange artifact containing something that leads those in that dimension outside of normality. An amusing look was what the woman had on her face to watch the monstrous figure complain about being sidelined by one called Goroth.

"Be patient, you'll have your chance one more. Allow Goroth to have his fun. He has certain ties with your prey - or better yet, the one who resides in the Fiend." The woman said to Blaire, who scoffed in response.

"That horned-feline can get sentimental all he wants," exclaimed Blaire. "He may have been some bigshot down in hell, but this isn't hell, and I won't play by HIS rules, got it? I'm only being still because you promise I'll have my way soon."

She continued her childish rant about the larger creature that made up their trio, amidst the orb on the woman's lap.

"... Korin..."

The woman's eyes shifted down to the orb, glowing dimly. A voice spoke to her from it; speech she understood and filled her heart with silent glee.

She focused on that voice speaking to her, and called her by name; taking in every word closely as it gave instructions for what was to come.

A smile grew on her face. "My lord... As you wish." Blaire paused, and heard her heart race like a running rabbit.

"I take it that trinket you got is speaking again?" She had asked Korin. Korin stood from her seat, the orb floating on it's own as she said, "Yes. I have business to tend to. In the meantime, I'll let you return to your abode. Do as you wish, but to stay away from the Fiend for now."

With a soft "ta-ta", Korin clapped her hands together to make their surroundings shed into what was a basement; the hideout and homemade meat locker of Blaire's human victims. At the same time they appeared there, Korin faded from sight and left Blaire alone.

A quiet scoff escaped from the demoness's lips as to find herself alone and left to her own devices.

".... F**king sorcerers," she grumbled and sat down on the dirty floor in a huff. Then she smiled a bit, growing a grinch-like one that drooled with intense eyes. "I'll have you, Fiend. I'll have your head and mount on these meat hooks as my trophy."

That thought kept her at ease; an anticipation of meeting her enemy soon had kept herself from going off the rails.

Soon enough will it begin.

-----

The day slowly ed towards the evening, and back at the apartment of Daniella Reynolds, Janey would be sound asleep on her mother's shoulder.

"Thanks Ella, I really appreciate you babysitting her. Work had me held up, and the babysitter called in sick."

Nora Reynolds, Daniella's older sister, gave her thanks to the woman who watched her daughter.

"Oh, it wasn't any problem," replied Daniella. "If anything, having her around really lightens up the mood. Call on me any time you need her watched over, and I'll have myself available."

The two gave each other a hug before Nora turned to leave with her daughter in her arms.

Daniella watched her do so and waved lightly before closing her apartment door. Then she turned and walked through the small hallway into her living room to see Walken resting her head on the armrest, and Elizabeth sitting at a small table near the kitchen, closes to the narrow hall. She had waited for Daniella to return so they could talk freely about her on the couch, and what to expect.

Elizabeth looked at her come out the hall and stop to make eye . She then would say, "I suppose you believe she's fine now?" To this question, Daniella looked at Walken resting with a bit of anguish on her face. Elizabeth would then stand up, and said, "This isn't my first rodeo with those who were possessed by demons. The victims can sometimes suffer from symptoms, like nightmares, auditory hallucinations, and possibly retaining some aspects of the spirit within them."

"She... She hasn't shown any of those things," said Daniella as she heard these symptoms. "For the past three nights, she hasn't been speaking to the air or threatening to kill me. But the nightmare thing...yeah, that I saw."

Elizabeth stood up and faced Daniella, her hands placing themselves on her shoulders. "I know she's your friend, but if she does revert to that monster again and loses control, you'll need to step up." When saying this, it made Daniella stare at her with a melancholy look.

Then she saw ed the woman's shoulder, and saw Walken slowly sit up from the couch and yawn softly. "Man... I feel so tired. I'm gonna go lie in bed for a bit." She turned over to see the two together, and said, "Oh did Janey already leave? Guess I missed her." Daniella softly left Elizabeth's arms that lowered as she did to go to Walken.

"How do you feel?" She asked her friend this question.

"I'm...okay, I guess. I just feel drained for some reason, like I lost energy," answered Walken while slowly standing up. Her legs immediately gave out, causing Daniella to catch and hold her. "Easy, easy," said Daniella with a worried look, "Let's get you to bed, and then I'll go get you some caffeine."

Walken bore a weak smile, hiding the feeling she had of burdening the one who has acted as her nurse for the few days. But when seeing Elizabeth standing there while they moved to the bedroom, that same familiarity came over her mind; feeling as though this was not the first she had seen the blonde woman, and couldn't knock it away. In the end though, she focused on moving with Daniella carrying her by the shoulder. And once in bed, she looked at her and thanked her for the aid. When Daniella intended to turn, Walken's hand grabbed her wrist gently.

"Hm?" Daniella looked down at Walken.

"... You mean a lot to me. I don't want to make you worry, or be a burden to you. So I'm sorry to have you do this for me." Walken said while holding her wrist, but behind her eyes were one of sadness over her sickly state.

Daniella felt the pain in her heart to see her like this, and wanted to speak truthfully. However, Elizabeth was there and the risk of Walken being in more danger than now was too great for any words to be told. So she instead allowed her own hand to touch Walken's and said, "Nonsense. I'll do anything for you, Sam. I owe you for all the times I got picked on as a kid. So think nothing of it, okay? And rest. I'll be back soon."

She pulled her hand away gently to leave her to sleep, with the door closed slightly.

"Ella..." Walken said quietly as her eyes succumbed to sleep once more.

Elizabeth had watched the two, and waited for Daniella to come out once again. The other woman approached her, purse slung over her shoulder with the intent to walk to the nearby bodega. "I'm going to get her some ginger ale. You're coming along with me."

"Why?" Asked Elizabeth with a raised brow.

"Because despite your calm demeanor, you think killing Walken will make things better. So I don't trust you to be alone with her while I'm out. Come on, we're going on a walk.

"Tch... Fine."

They both would leave the apartment soon afterwards.

-----

The sound of a cash dinged at the purchasing of a whole 2-liter bottle of ginger ale; a purchase made by Daniella for her sickly houseguest. Elizabeth observed the interior of the small store they were in that was close to apartment complex her partner calls home. Her eyes were not fond of the decor whatsoever, with a disgusted look in them to see the floor stained with dirt from the daily traffic of people coming in and out; and partially opened bags of small snacks that some random jerkwad opened to sneak a few bites from them to skip out on paying for it. It was, to Elizabeth, a dump for the common crowd to come to.

"Ugh... How can people live like this around here? Disgusting." She mumbled with one of her shoes stepping into an old stain that was still sticky. It slightly annoyed her, and shifted herself to move away from the spot as Daniella was at the counter, speaking to the cashier about the pay of the beverage. When a bottle had been placed inside a bag to be carried, Daniella would grab it and turn to Elizabeth who was focused on her shoe being dirty.

"Not used to places like this are you," asked Daniella with a curious look.

"Of course not," answered Elizabeth, "I didn't go to places like this as a kid. I lived in a more fine part of this stinking city; I can't understand why you chose to live here when you got the means to afford your own place. Talk about modest."

Daniella smiled a bit and looked down with thought to that. Then she spoke. "Yeah, this neighborhood is kind of crummy. But it's close to Maxwell's church, which I go to alot." Elizabeth placed her hands on her hips when hearing her reason, and asked, "That church really is important to you, huh? It's weird how we both lived in the same place for a time, and yet we're so different."

"Wait, you lived there as a kid?" Daniella looked stunned with widened eyes upon being told this.

"Of course I did. I'm about a year or two older than you, but I was adopted some time after you came around; But I was forced by Richard to attend some church services growing up. However, I'm not interested in that mess you enjoy - boring and irritable, really."

Daniella took a moment put those together, to look in her memory to recall ever seeing Elizabeth during her childhood days of attending the church services. Then she paused with a even more surprised look. "Y-You were the one who spat out the communion wine, weren't you...?"

"That sour crap you drink after eating a small cracker? Yeah, I recall something like that."

"....."

"What? Wine tastes strange and bitter."

"Pretty sure you left a pretty big impression to everyone on that day...hm?"

A sudden sense of dread washed over Daniella; a feeling resembling a twinge of static shooting in her brain. The body slowly grew hot with the blood in her veins that weren't of a human - but of a devil.

The Fiend in her sensed a coming danger.

For Elizabeth, there was a sense as well - one not like her ally, but something otherworldly approaches with great speed; something unlike anything she had felt. In response to it, she lunge forward to knock Daniella down while telling her to get down.

From above their heads, the ceiling crashed inwards with tremendous and violent force from what came to be large hooves of a goat, and yet the fur of a bear that was dark to the eyes. They belonged to a creature with large horns, and face like that of a feline that has sharp canine teeth.

It's large body was the size of the small store, but inside it had caused massive destruction, enough for the lights to flicker to darkness, and leaving the cashier who ran the store to tremble in great terror of the beast.

"Daniella Reynolds!" It's voice rang with a booming sound that rattled the very air around those around it. "I, Goroth, have come to test your mettle as one of our kind. For you are Beleth - a foe who I know as a worthy opponent from that plane of Mephisto's domain!"

From the debris did Daniella and Elizabeth arise, covered in dust and fragments of the ceiling with their eyes on the large figure that appeared like a creature straight out of a horror novel - a genuine devil from paintings and medieval myths. Daniella could feel it in her blood that this thing was no mere demon, not like Blaire, but something more... something familiar that she couldn't place into words.

Elizabeth only reached into her jacket, and pulled from a holster a handgun intended to fire on the creature.

Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam!

She pulled the trigger as many times as she could; bullets unloaded in shots towards the beast who barely flinched as they made their marks on it's large chest. A stinging pain, with smoke emanating from the small wounds made no signs of being of real injury to it.

"Hmm...blessed weapons, eh? It appears human weaponry has evolved over the centuries. But still primitive in my eyes," said the large beast (who already announced his name) and soon looked at Daniella, who stared in absolute shock to see this large devil. Their eyes met, one like a snake with a dark crimson hue while the other a dark brown hue that trembled in disbelief of the other.

"Daniella," said the beast with a growl, "Tonight, I shall test your worth as a fledgling to my kind! Prepare yourself, she who subdued Beleth!"

"B-Beleth...?" Daniella was shocked to hear that name. It belonged to the demoness that fused with her many months ago; her forced benefactor that gave her power, the capabilities of becoming a demon with a human heart - the Fiend.

To hear her name by another of her race left the young woman at a pause while Goroth was already on the move; his large paw grabbing the womans body and making a run through the brick wall at the back of the store. His other arm raised to destroy it, leaving a large hole behind while exiting out into the street.

"DANIELLA!"

Elizabeth exclaimed with shock to see her be taken by the monster, and immediately gave chase through the destroyed wall with her gun in hand. She didn't know what was going on, or what this thing wanted out of Daniella; but to see her get taken by this thing called Goroth led her to feel angry and rather desperate to save the one whom she has allied with.

The streets were somewhat empty with but a few stragglers of the night - bums and loiterers of apartment buildings - witnessed the monstrous entity who continued to run with Daniella grasped in it's large paw.

"This thing knows Beleth," thought Daniella while wincing from being held with such a grip. "If this Goroth knows Beleth...then that means... it's a devil. And in that case..." Her heart beats fast in her chest, and her blood became hot. Unaware, on her face, Daniella's face smiled widely with glowing yellow eyes and red markings appearing on her face.

I get to fight like hell!!

She began to transform, her clothes bursting from the sudden form taking place to that of the Fiend. Goroth only noticed when seeing the paw that held his target would be forced open, and her snarling as she leaped out. He stopped running and watched her appearance. "You look...like her. But your scent, and parts of your form are your own. Have you truly tamed the mighty Beleth, who commands legions of lesser devils?" Goroth thought to himself as the Fiend glared at him with eyes aiming to kill.

"You wish to die by my hand devil, then so be it," said the Fiend with a wide grin. "I'll rip off your horns and drive it right into that heart of yours!"

"Hmph... A fledgling's bravado. Words are meaningless in battle; Do not speak bold, act. Come forth, Fiend!"

The battle between devils begins in the next installment.

However... To be continued. :smiling_imp:

(The gif is literally a random one, and the art of describing the two characters belongs to Devilman Lady's manga. I actually find it amusing that I find myself happy to write incoming fight scenes, as it motivates me more on plots I got planned. So hopefully you enjoy this bit before the real action begins. See you later, alligators! 🧖🏾‍♀)