Unlikely Heroes-Draft 1

Chapter 8

Chimney staggered out of the Void, retching more black vomit onto the pavement. He wanted more souls, *needed* more souls. He craved them with an intensity he had not felt in ages. He screamed as the energy of the demons soul continued to burn through every fiber of his being. It surged through him, pushing him forward even as he felt his flesh twitch. Pins, needles and rusted scalpels flayed him down to every nerve, leaving them exposed. The air here might have well been saltwater and acid on a hemorrhaging wound.

The city was so achingly loud, and all the lights seemed to bore into his skull with their brightness. His senses felt like they were under assault from the intensity of everything around him, like world was pressing in to crush him. He cared for nothing else but to make it stop, despite the overwhelming power that surged through him. He'd eat 100 souls if it meant he could make it stop. He snarled with hatred...for everything and anything around him, and smashed his non-broken fist into a brick wall. The bones cracked and the bricks crumpled, leaving a hole.

He didn't even notice...he was so hungry. Always so hungry...yet he laughed maniacally even as more black ooze poured from his eyes and his nose. His laugh, distorted and crackling, echoed through the alleyway, startling a pair of nearby dealers. Their movements caught his attention immediately and he grinned wickedly...first prey of the night.

He slipped through the darkness towards them, their souls shining brightly, like they were calling out to him, begging him to take them. Relief, relief from the agony...sweet souls that he could almost taste already. His shadowy claws sprung as he salivated hungrily...just a little closer...

The last thing they would ever see would be blazing red eyes in the darkness as he clawed into them, ripping their souls out with all the ferocity and terror of a cat shredding apart a songbird...

Taluus moved a small grey table close to Argus's elbow. On it, were placed various small figurines carved of precious stone, in the shapes of various demons and monsters that moved of their own accord across an intricate and delicately decorated board. Amid these were two smaller figurines, one made of blood red opal, the other of deep blue benitoite. The opal figure teetered on the game table, before being caught by Argus's hand. He coughed violently, spattering the table with a mixture of gold blood and dark matter. Taluus rushed to his fathers shoulder, easing him upright.

"Time grows shorter for me..."

"Hold on Father, you will make it..."

As Argus went to reach for one of the pieces again, a large luna moth landed on his hand. He sighed contentedly, and there was a smile in his voice, "A sight for sore eyes." Taluus found himself grinning, "She won, but that is to be expected"

The moth flitted towards the Shadow God, tickling its wings against his cheek, before zipping off into the darkness, weaving a glowing trail as it did.

"In the meantime," Argus moved the red piece one space to the side of the board, "no getting yourself killed."

He picked up the blue piece, which glowed fiercely in his hand, "I see you've found a bit of your old self again. Good."

Taluus spoke softly, "What are you going to tell them? They will have many questions."

"The truth, just the summarized version. Otherwise they're going to be there for a loooong time..."

Nocturne woke up the next morning, stunned to see the sparse light of the sun filtering through the curtains. He had fallen asleep on Iblis and Marc's couch, Amira and Kenith curled up together on his chest.