Guardian's Redemption

Chapter Thirty Four

A week went passing by with nothing but training for the newest Naturalist. The world had changed drastically to a sweet life and a comfortable living. The years of the chaos upon the world forever etched upon Ben's soul. Now he found himself leaning against the oak table in the laboratory where Pockets had offered Ashley the ultimatum.

The man's eyes were fixated at the large desk with a large worn cloth lying upon it. He was still angry at himself for allowing his two sister in laws to be trained for combat. The two women were becoming fighters and with that skill brought danger. This was something that may lead them out of the barrier around this forest. He did not want them anywhere near the dangers of the outside world, why couldn't they understand what was at risk? Ben was lost in his mind that he barely heard the steps of the others.

Dyrune and Pockets walked into the lab. The always cloaked man speaking unnatural words for a moment then nodding his approval. He went to his old recliner to sit comfortably in the large chair; the same one he had occupied with conversing with Ashley. Dyrune on the other hand sat on the edge of the large table that Ben was leaning against.

"I really can't believe you left this bad boy behind," Dyrune said while looking down at the large cloth on the table. Ben gave his former opponent a questioning look. He didn't understand that comment. "A devil dies and you don't try to remove the weapon?"

"You killed the devil and then tried to kill me," Ben snapping at his old friend.

"Oh," Dyrune smiled. "I forgot. That sounds right except the 'try to kill' you part. I would say it was foreplay." The man chuckling at his own humor. Ben only glaring.

With a snarl Ben directed his attention to his other old friend who slowly was rocking in his chair. "This isn't right. It is bad enough that Jasmine is a Naturalist and has been trained to fight." The Hunter could careless about some demonic weapon that Dyrune confiscated. His top priority was the vow he had made to his wife and he would never break that vow.

Pockets began to slowly lean back in his chair, pulling back the hood of his cloak to reveal his features. Ben didn't mean to look shocked in that moment, he knew that his friend had changed a bit physically. Every time he had seen his old friend's new features he had felt a mixture of revulsion and pride. Revulsion at the physical changes Pockets had gone through; pride that his friend did not draw away from the world, instead using the amplified power these changes seem to give him to help others.

The cloaked man saw the reaction though and frowned. He only showed his closest friends for when he saw those reactions it ached him. There was a sadness about the acceptance. Ben saw the frown. "Hey I didn't mean..."

"It's fine. You haven't seen me in a while." Pockets replied with a weak smile.

Pockets had formally been a man who epitomized the word average. He had been so non-descript that he could have fit into any crowd. It was ironic that after the apocalypse the best to describe his, now angular, features would be unique. The man had once possessed black curly hair and slate gray eyes on a frame just under six foot that had kept him weighing around one hundred and sixty pounds. Pockets had gained a couple more inches in height, but also appeared to have lost some pounds in this exchange, becoming thin, almost gaunt. The most striking changes were to his face; once a full healthy cheek had come to recede as his face had become more angular. His eyes now a large and almond shaped; with a gleaming piercing blue for color. Finally his ears had elongated and could be seen poking through his mop of still curly black hair.

When others had asked what had happened to his face, the man would refuse to comment and those almond eyes would take on a hard edge. Something had happened on that fateful day when the world as the they knew it changed drastically. Pocket's friends respected his privacy knowing that he would tell them when the time was right. But in truth this was a question that even he didn't have an answer to. The reason for this mutation, well he was still investigating that.

Pockets did however grow tired of people asking about his appearance and had decided to cloak himself unless he was around his five close friends. Even then it was rare for him to remove that hood as he did now.

"Sorry to disappoint, but as Jessica so put it; it's not your choice," Pockets stating calmly while finally pushing his inner turmoil of his change to the back of his mind. He should have known better but Ben's response was normal now to the man. Pockets knew Ben supported him so the robed figure gave a stronger smile.

"Still doesn't mean I like it," Ben grunting in frustration as he turned to look away for a moment to compose himself.

Pockets gave a loud sigh, "it also means you're not going to like what my other decision is. I am going to give Ashley this," He said pointing to the large cloth upon his large desk and the item beneath it.

"You're joking right?" Dyrune spat out, his jaw dropping in shock as his eyes connected with Pockets. The former assassin noticing Ben's look of confusion. "The damn sword wielded by that devil you fought. The one named Balazaar. Ya know the one that exploded with hellfire every time it hit you."

"Interesting," a voice came fluttering from the darkness of the staircase.

All three men turning to the stairs on the other side of the lab. Their guard was up instantly as the small child like demon came walking down the staircase. Behind Gzaar was another figure. This newcomer was taller than Dyrune and barely shorter than Ben and Pockets, his hair black and so short that he almost looked bald. Ben instantly recognizing this man.

"And how interesting is it, Azrael?" Pockets asked as the newcomer came to them and grabbed an extra chair from the corner.

"Very," Azrael gave a smirk.

"And where the hell have you been," Ben said with a glare at the man as Gzaar came to stand next to the Hunter. Ben couldn't help but notice Gzaar looking at the group of humans nervously but so familiar with Ben that he thought Ben was the safer choice.

Azrael gave a chuckle as he sat, "Fine specimen you brought back with you. He seems to be fine to me, but Pockets we should consult this matter a little further when we get back. For now Gzaar will provide no threat." He fell back into his hard wooden chair that was barely ever used.

"Going somewhere," Dyrune queried as he hoped off the table and began to lean against it as his former opponent was doing. The man gave that large cloth a second look before looking back at the group.

"We all are," Azrael answering the man. This drew Ben and Dyrune's immediate attention. "Well seems like you haven't said anything."

Pockets gave a shrug, "I was just about to as a matter of fact."

"Tell us what?" Ben said sternly. He wasn't liking the possible ideas forming in his head.

Azrael looked over at Pockets and gave a nod. The robed figure's gave them a serious visage. "Due to certain information that we have acquired and events that have transpired, we are going to the Sanctum of Haven. Ben you have been gone for so long, but this is something we cannot ignore. Allow me to catch you up."