The Demon goes to War

Picking Sides

  Jason Blood laid down in his bed. Sleep came hard to the expert of the Occult. Centuries worth of memories had their way of creeping up in his most peaceful moments. He tossed and turned in his bed, remembering the horrors he had seen throughout his many many years. Finally the panic had worn him out enough for sleep to come. In dreams were the only place where Jason Blood could speak with the demon that had been tethered to his soul all those centuries ago.

"Hello Etrigan." Blood spoke, his voice echoing through the chamber of their souls. Then, from a cloud of fire formed the Demon himself, hulking above the crimson haired man. Smoke escaped from the demon's nostrils and an audible growl could be heard.

"Not often do you summon me thus, this meeting had best not be superfluous. What is it you want? I warn you now if this is simply a taunt!" He roared, clearly annoyed. Jason looked up, unimpressed.

"Firstly, if this was nothing more than a taunt it wouldn't matter. There's nothing you could do to me, here or anywhere. Secondly, I am here on business or I wouldn't even bother to show up here with you unless it was important you idiot. I would think that centuries of our quid pro quo you'd figure out how this relationship works by now." Jason replied with a confidence that even John Constantine would be proud of. Etrigan roared once more but did not retaliate.

"Very well, you have made your case. Then tell me the reason for this spiritual face to face."

"I plan on getting in the fight against Superman, which means I am getting you into the fight against Superman."

"And why should I join the fight? Betray you to him I just might." Etrigan threatened.

"You may be an idiot but you're not that dumb. If you so much as try to join Superman's side I will kill myself to leave you stranded in that damned pit for the rest of your eternity." Jason threatened and it was much more convincing as Etrigan growled once more. "Besides Etrigan, think about it. You help with the resistance against Superman and you get to challenge one of your favorite foes and finally decide who is truly the ultimate. The alien, or the demon." This caused Etrigan to grin maliciously.

"Then scream it loud to heaven up high! Allow it to ring out and horrify! I shall put an end to this Superman, he shall know the wrath of Etrigan!"

With that Jason awoke, the best sleep he had in years. He rose up and stretched, smiling at the rising sun. He stood up and looked out to see foot soldiers of Superman's regime patrolling the streets, Jason smirked. He opened the window of his Gotham apartment and sat out on the ledge. He called out to them. "Oh boys!" The soldiers turned and looked up to see a man falling down from the window towards them, he was shouting something.

"Gone, gone the form of man! Rise, the Demon Etrigan!"

It had been a week in and already the Demon Etrigan had laid waist to many of the organized militia men that Superman had employed to patrol Gotham City. On one night in particular Etrigan was blending in with a gargoyle upon an abandoned church when he heard the now all too familiar sound of patrol radios going off.

"I dunno Mikey I don't really like this...I heard rumor that the Bat's been picking off late night patrols that come too close to crime alley." Said one of the armored men as he entered the church. He was alone which was opportunistic but the Demon was not at all happy with the fact that Batman was getting the credit for the fear he was instilling. Etrigan lept down, creating a nice little crater beneath him in front of the patrolman who was now pissing himself.

"You think that the one instilling fear is Batman? No little man, the one you should fear is the Demon Etrigan!" He grabbed the man by the throat and lifted him off the ground, holding up so he could look the hulking demon eye to eye. "I could easily break an arm or a leg, but I'd much rather not so long as you beg." the monster said with sadistic pleasure. The man in his grasp trembled and tried to fight his way out of Etrigan's grip but to no avail.

"I~I~I uh umm oh god p~pluh~Please don't kill me..."

"Your begging it seems, is indeed falling flat. If you wish to be spared, try harder than that."

"I have a wuh~wife and child please...for their sakes...please let me live I...I don't want to die!" The man was terrified, urine rolled down his leg, dripping off his boot. The rhyming demon was like something out of his nightmares and he was sure he was going to die.

"Why should I let you live mortal man, since you have aligned yourself with the Madman of Steel's clan?"

"If I di~didn't I would be killed...either join Superman or die...." He gulped dryly in his throat. Etrigan rolled his red eyes and threw the man against the wall, not enough to kill him but certainly enough to knock him out instantly.

Etrigan then walked over to the unconscious man and pulled at the radio attached to his shoulder and pressed the button. "Listen to me, and listen well, you now hear a being straight from Hell. If you align with Superman, you shall face the wrath of Etrigan!" He then crushed the com in his mighty grip. Little did he know that in the next few hours he would meet Black Canary and both he and the human he was bonded to would join the true fight against the Dictator of Steel.