Hellsfire

Chapter Eight

Levi doesn't know why he agreed to this. He doesn't know why he suggested this. This whole vigilante justice thing was a terrible plan. He's been walking for hours and they haven't found anything.

And by hours he means about half an hour but he's lazy, alright? Half an hour is a long time to wander around aimlessly. Shep might have an idea of what he's doing or might not, and Levi's too afraid to ask because he doesn't know what he'll do if Shep does not.

"Somewhere around here..."

Oh, good. They've finally found something. And by good he means terrible because neither of them can use magic properly at all and if they find a demon that's even remotely powerful they're just going to die immediately.

They probably won't. But if they do-

"Levi. This way."

-they're fucked.

Levi follows Shep along darkened alleyways, each alleyway becoming darkened-er as they run deeper in. Even if there's no demon here, there's still a chance they'll get murdered because of how dodgy this place looks.

What joy. To die at the hands of a stranger because you took a wrong turn while pretending to be Batman.

This was a mistake. This is a mistake. This whole thing- everything is a mistake. Levi should have abused his powers when he had them to destroy all of humanity because now that he doesn't have his powers he can't. He can't achieve sweet mercy from the pain that he once called life.

...it's been a rough night.

Eventually, Shep finds a demon. A proper demon, kind of. At least it's not a rat this time. Then again, it's not exactly a proper humanoid demon but it's getting there. It's kind of E.T. shaped and long and spindly and wearing a hat of some kind.

It opens its mouth and sputters some indecipherable garbage.

"M...milady..."

Is it wearing a fedora? Christ.

"And...t...hen....what...?"

With every consonant it speaks, specks of grime fly out of its mouth and dribble onto the ground.

Shep stands still, breathes in deep, and a light begins to glow from his palm. It starts off small, then grows in his hand until it almost resembles some kind of sword. Maybe not as well-defined and physical as a sword but the general shape is there.

Shep lifts it above the E.T. thing and Levi takes a step back. Just in case Shep unlocks some secret demon-killing abilities.

Shep brings it down and the demon doesn't even have time to be cut in half before the light evaporates it. All that's left of whatever this demon used to be is a small green puddle.

"There's still another demon around here. A stronger one. I can feel it."

God damn it, Levi knew that the first time round was too easy. Of course there's another one.

Unless it's just him. He shouldn't be recognisable as a demon yet, but maybe...

"This way," says Shep.

Oh, no, never mind. He's safe another day.

They weave through more alleyways and they're never going to find their way out of here if they live but Levi follows Shep anyway. He isn't really sure why, at this point. Momentum. Some twisted kind of trust. Friendship. Whatever it is, he's following Shep even if it means he might die.