Stepback Tempo

• × Chapter Nine: Strangers × •

"I knew it.

You seemed sketchy the moment I saw that seam down your face."

Chancellor spoke, sharp. He watched the teen, who wickedly grinned in response. "You did know, didn't you, Oculatum? Nonetheless am I not surprised." His head lowered, the stranger mocking him with a cruel tone. The hotel manager shifted, walking backwards towards his desk as he watched the stranger. Skin turning red, the boy grew taller, a pair of horns beginning to surface from his forehead with the repulsive sounds of cracking bones and shifting skin. Soft, messy blonde hair darkened to a deep ash hue, lengthening as his sharp clawed hands pulled from his parka. The jacket eventually ripped, the demon's jagged arms pulling from torn sleeves and tossing it on the tile beside him. As wings were growing from his back in a horrid manner, the manager had subtly pressed a button under the lip of the counter he found himself pressed against, ruby eyes low in defense.

× × ×

Jack had "awoken", sitting up once the gambler had left the room and stretched. Nobody else had left where Matchstick had worked, and the boy ended up having to wait in silence. Soon, there was a loud blare and his body stiffly froze in shock, hearing as the others quickly slammed open the door and ran out into the main area. Ensley looked around alertedly, plumes of heavy smoke surrounding him. He listened for the sound's origin, until he opened the main door out into the hallway. Alarms were buzzing, echoing in their ears as fear ran up the Englishman's spine, and he shouted. Flames spat from his mouth as he spoke, getting Jack up. "Matchstick! We need to go now!"

"I'm coming, hold on a minute!" She called back. There was a loud clutter of metal until she came out, slamming the door to the station shut. "Jack, come on! Take this with you!" The woman ordered, tossing something into the boy's hands. Catching it, Jack gripped whatever she threw him tightly in his hand as Ensley grabbed his other, and ran out of the room. Panting heavily, the young boy felt a surge of heat from above as he ran as fast as possible, keeping himself from being dragged behind by the other. The pool of smoke that trailed behind Ensley became intense and heavy with panic, lingering in the halls much like the smoke of a house fire. The cries of the alarm began mixing with the screams of smoke detectors overhead, sprinklers turning on behind their wake. Running to the elevators, Ensley hurriedly tried to press the buttons, to no avail. "When the hotel alarms go off, the elevators stop functioning for safety purposes! We need to take the stairs!" Matchstick called, and Jack felt the figure holding him turn violently and start running full speed towards the flights of stairs that led to the bottom. Trying not to stumble, Jack raced at the other's pace, hearing Matchstick follow after them as they charged towards the ground floor. "I'm coming, Chancellor!" Ensley called loudly, fire hissing from his mouth as they made it down to the last flight. Hurriedly, Ensley slammed open the doors that led into the main lobby, and eyes widened.

Chancellor was face-first against the cold tile, struggling to get up as a boot kept him down to the floor. Over him was a tall demon, ash black hair pooling over his shoulder in a ponytail and two giant red horns curving up over his head. Large wings were folded behind him, along with a giant tail. "What a shame I cannot harm him, no?"

Ensley froze, seeing the demon turn to him with a fanged grin, and the Englishman shouted. "Let him go, you impudent beast!" He huffed, flames pooling from his lips as Jack clung to his body in fear. Ensley may have scared him the first time they meant, but this demon brought terror in his eyes as the young boy's lips quivered.

"Oh? My, my. That's not my name, yet it sounds quite clean. Rolls off the tongue a tad." The enemy grinned. Straightening his back, his attention shifted: from the gambler, to the shopkeeper... to the boy. "Hmm? Is this a young human I see?" The demon's brows raised. Glancing closer with his boot still pressed to the side of the manager's face, the demon leaned down to his head and pulled off his black hat, twirling it on his sharp fingers. Tossing it across the room, there was a breath of wind that soon blew the smoke from Ensley to the other part of the lobby. Jack felt something and turned his head, suddenly meeting eyes with the demon up close as Chancellor soon wobbled to his feet in a daze. Horrified, Jack yelped and stumbled from the Englishman, falling down as his hand only clenched the item he was holding tighter. Wings open, the monster could see a blue glow in his palm and hummed, leaning closer until something yanked him back to the center of the room. "Get away from him!" Chancellor shouted, hands tightly gripping on the demon's tail. Yanking him back, the demon was forced to his feet until a figure quickly ran in front of Jack and pulled him into their arms. It was Matchstick, her flame a bright blue as Ensley kneeled down near the duo as well in swift defense. "Leave this place, demon." Ensley griped. The stranger's yellowed eye looked down at Matchstick in reply, and he scoffed. "Are you not aware she is a demon as well, you fool? Very well." He hissed. His tail shook Chancellor from his grip, throwing him across the floor as the beast stepped back into the lobby's centre. Unfolding his wings, he brushed off his suit and soon lifted his body into the air with a loud fwoom. "This visit, as he said before, was well worth it. I knew there was a Perception Gem in this area." He smirked, eyes dark. Soon, they shifted back to Jack's panicked blue. "Shudderstep is my name, dear child. Remember it for when I visit... next time." He chuckled, slamming the large front doors open and leaving in a flash of red.

There was an empty cloud of pain looming in the air, and Ensley's eyes quickly darted towards Jack. Matchstick was comforting him, and so he hastily turned and soon ran over to the other. Boots clicking against the floor, he swiftly picked up Chancellor's hat and rushed over to where he was on the other side of the room, hair messy and eyes exhausted as the shopkeeper kneeled down. "Chancellor!" Ensley huffed, helping him to sit up. Coughing, the gambler covered his mouth, wiping it until words broke the brief silence.

"We really do need to leave this damned hotel."