A strange feeling coursed through Taylor's body as he woke up. He rolled over to ensnare Marlee into his arms, but frowned when he saw the space next to him was empty. The house was eerily silent and the only thing he could hear was the wind tugging at the sheer white curtain hanging lazily above the window.
The strange feeling in his chest strengthened, making Taylor feel almost nauseous. It was an all too familiar feeling that made his blood curdle.
"Marlee?" Taylor called out, only to get no response. He got out of bed and ventured out of the room, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "Mar?"
No answer.
He sighed and travelled down the stairs, before gaping at the horrible sight in front of him.
"Hello, brother." Kyler spat, giving Taylor a searing glare. Taylor returned it before advancing at him, claws and fangs bared.
"Where's Marlee?" He seethed, forcing Kyler up against the wall and pinning him there. A low growl escaped Taylor's lips.
"Wouldn't you like to know." Kyler sneered, a hateful smirk playing over his face.
"Where. Is. She." Taylor roared in his face, digging his claws into Kyler's soft flesh. Kyler just tilted his head back and laughed manically, a crazy look embedded deep into his citrine colored eyes.
"She's back where she belongs, not in this putrid realm with mere pathetic, dirty mortals." Kyler said darkly, looking his brother dead in the eye. "But you chose a filthy human over Marlee anyway, so what do you care?"
Rage pulsed through Taylor at his mention of Vanna. How did he know about that? He was really kicking himself now, because if he ever went back to the spirit realm, he never be looked at the same again. He might even get killed!
"I won't tell anyone your precious secret if you keep away from my bride." Kyler says, giving Taylor an evil smirk.
"Your bride?" Taylor snorted, tightening his grip on his brother. "I could just kill you, you little ingrate."
"If Marcus feels any kind of fluctuation of my powers, he'll slit Marlee's throat like a Christmas ham." Kyler informs him, Taylor's face flushed of color a little. Kyler let out a low chuckle, seeing that he had finally struck a nerve. "Now release me, you filthy human fucker."
Taylor's grip weakened a bit as he contemplated whether the little shit was telling the truth. Either way, he didn't want to risk it. He reluctantly released Kyler, backing away from him and scowling at the floor.
"You can force her to marry you, but just remember that every time you fuck her, she'll be thinking of me." Taylor said scornfully, turning away from his brother.
"You dirty cockroach." Kyler cursed, spitting at Taylor's feet. "I hope Satan banishes you to the underworld where you can sit and rot."
"You'll always be thinking about how much she loves riding my cock." Taylor continues, enjoying mocking Kyler. Fury burns in his eyes before he flips Taylor around, punching him hard in the jaw.
"Once I fuck her, she'll forget all about you." Kyler spat, before teleporting away, back to the spirit realm. Taylor swore under his breath before driving his fist through the wall. How could he have let them get away with that so easily?
He had to get her back to safety. And he had to do it now.
Taylor teleported to the spirit realm, but more specifically a city called Ember. The house he was standing in front of looked decrepit and not very well cared for. The shingles were coming up from the roof, the white clapboard desperately needed to be repainted, even all of the grass that had once covered the front lawn had all died; leaving behind a brown, scorched, patch of death.
He walked up the cracked pavement, before wrapping three times on the door. He heard movement inside, and heard someone make a rude noise on the other side of the door before reluctantly opening it.
"I need your help." Taylor said gravely, stepping past a tall, skinny, man with long black hair and corpse paint that was chipping away on his face.
"Well well well, look what the cat dragged in." He laughed as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. He took a long drag off of it before blowing a small cloud of smoke into Taylor's face. He closed the door and resumed his position on the couch, kicking his feet up and puffing on his cigarette. "So what do I owe this wonderful pleasure?"
"Marlee." Taylor said, waving the smoke away from his face. "Kyler kidnapped her and I need to get her back."
"So you've finally come to your senses, eh?" The man said, suffocating the butt of his cigarette out in the overflowing ashtray.
"Now isn't the time for this conversation, Euronymous." Taylor seethed, glaring at the lazy brute in front of him.
"I was only implying that you should have been tapping that years ago." Euronymous gloated, knowing it would only be a matter of time before fate took its place.
"Shut up!" Taylor barked, sending out a blast of energy that sent everything on the coffee table flying askew. A look of annoyance passed over Euronymous's face. "Can you find her?"
"Absolutely." He said, while digging some dirt out from under one of his fingernails. "If you've got the cash that is."
"Name your price, demon." Taylor said, scowling at the pile of shit in front of him.
"Five hundred coin now, five hundred coin later." He drawled out, leaning forward in his seat. "Collateral cost, you know the drill."
A look of annoyance spread over Taylor's face. He had a lot to consider making this deal. If there were any slip ups, Marlee would be killed. Hell, even he was putting his life on the line here.
"Deal." He agreed reluctantly, as the demon put out his hand for Taylor to shake. Taylor grasped onto Euronymous's hand before he had the chance to back out. A silken string of white magic encased their hands, tying them together in a bond that couldn't be broken. The string faded, and Taylor's arm dropped at his side. He shoved his hand into his pocket, pulled out a small leather drawstring bag, and dropped it into Euronymous's lap.
The greedy demon snatched up the bag and counted every last penny, making sure the full five hundred was accounted for. A sly smile reached his lips as he pocketed the little black bag.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Towler." He said with a low chuckle.
