Of Angels and Demons

Chapter 12:

It was midday, and Richie had flown over, probably, three towns.
He didn't count locations.
What he did count was his target, and the number of demons around it.
The group hadn't spotted him yet.
Probably because Richie was still far above the clouds.
There were roughly 10 demons, one of which was his main target.
The one that he was sent down here to take care of in the first place.
Robert Grey.
... or whatever their name was.
Names didn't matter.
Richie dove to the ground, swiftly landing a few feet away from them.
The demons immediately gathered around him.
Neither side attacked.
The demons remained in place, only glaring at him.
They almost looked like statues.
Then, slow clapping.
"Well. Well." One of the demons spoke up from behind the group.
The demons cautiously let him through.
He didn't really look like much.
Richie had expected a brute, rabid, ruthless demon.
Instead, he was given an average skinny middle aged looking man.
It didn't make Richie let down his guard any less.
"I bet this was a fun game of cat and mouse? You're the poor, curious mouse, and I, am the sly cat, and the chase went around, and around, and ar-"
A fist made contact with the demon's chin, which sent him flying back past the crowd of demons
At that moment, the other demons scattered.
They came at Richie from all directions, and before he could focus on one, 5 or 6 demons had him pinned to the ground.
Two demons held down his arms, another 2 pinned his legs, another held Richie's head between their hands, keeping him completely immobile.
He struggled, nonetheless.
His wings aggressively and desperately flapped underneath him, even though he knew it wouldn't do any good.
As if they were an invitation, two other demons pinned Richie's wings by their feet.
That was the limit.
He cried out at the immense pressure that was put on the limbs, especially when they tried to move even more frantically.
"Now. It's very rude to interrupt someone when they're talking." Robert's voice sounded again.
Richie could barely turn his head to see him.
He circled him a couple times.
"Hmm. I was expecting more of a challenge, I wasn't expecting it to be this easy, now, what to do with you." He mumbled amongst himself.
"You probably wouldn't be so tough if you didn't have all these roaches to defend you." Richie growled out.
The demon glared down at him.
Thud!
Richie was nearly knocked unconscious as the demon kicked his head.
The demon had moved to the other side of him by the time Richie could recover.
"Hmm." Robert leaned down, running his hand down one of Richie's wings. "I've always wondered what it was like to have wings."
Richie felt a tremor run through his entire body. Pain, anger.
His wings were moving even more desperately now, but the other demons' feet were firmly planted on them.
"I think I'll take them. A little souvenir." Robert continued, and Richie could make out the faint form of a dagger.
"Wanna watch?"
Before he could answer, there was a sharp whoosh sound followed by a thwap, followed by a strangled scream.
All heads turned to the scene.
One of the demons that was at Richie's feet was standing upright, body frigid.
Soon, it began to fade away into small particles, leaving a familiar weapon to fall to the floor.
"Oops... Wasn't the one I was aiming for, but oh well." A voice sounded a few feet away.
Richie lifted his head, that the demon had let go of, to find the owner of the voice.
It sounded familiar.
It couldn't be...
Eddie...
He was casually approaching them as though they were lost friends.
The other demons were too brought by surprise to move.
Finally, the second demon at Richie's feet glanced down at the weapon that had dispatched the other.
Richie reacted first.
Now having newfound strength, he lifted his free leg, kicking the demon aside the head, and when he stumbled back, freeing Richie of his other leg, he lifted that one next, jamming his foot against the demons chin, sending him flying back a few inches.
He then repeated the similar reflexes to the other demons, wrenching his arms free, punching each demon once or twice until he was able to sit up.
By that time, Eddie had reached them, tossing the demons aside like they were plastic.
Once Richie was completely free from the contraptions, Eddie hoisted him up before he could prepare.
Even when his eyes met a pair of chocolate brown eyes, he still didn't believe it.
"E-Eddie?" Richie stuttered.
A small smile formed on his face, "It's me, buddy ."
So many questions were flying around Richie's head, but he couldn't decide which one to use.
Eddie sighed before reaching behind him.
"Here." He handed him the weapon.
Richie lowered his gaze down on the blade.
The Blade...
"I think you need it more than I do." Eddie finished, pushing the object forward until it was forced into Richie's hand.
Richie continued to stare.
There were so many things he wanted to say.
What are you doing here? Why did you come back?
...I'm sorry.
"Look out." Eddie said as he grabbed Richie's arms, and hoisted them up, just as a demon tried to attack them.
They were on their feet now, and Richie looked down at the demon who attempted to attack them.
He noticed that they, too, had weapons of their own.
Suddenly, another demon grabbed Eddie from behind, dragging him away.
Richie immediately turned his attention to help him.
"Don't worry about me! Go get who you came for." Eddie protested as he struggled in the other demon's grasp, easily breaking free and getting trapped in a fight of his own.
It took every fiber for Richie to listen, to ignore that his friend had needed help first. He reluctantly turned away, searching for the lead demon.
He hadn't gone far, but he was obviously trying to leave the danger zone.
Richie lifted his wings, prepared to go after him, when another demon appeared, and grabbed one of them, jerking it down roughly.
Richie cried out.
Why the fuck did everyone insist on going for the wings?
With enough attempts, he managed to yank himself free, sending the demon tumbling back a few feet.
Richie could barely keep himself in the air, his wings felt as though they were almost being plucked from him like a flower petal.
Giving that up, his feet landed on the ground again, and he went for the nearest demon, picking him up by the front of his shirt, before jamming the blade into his chest.
Two down.
Richie then switched his attention back to the other demons that Eddie seemed to be handling fine on his own. He wasn't exactly winning, but Richie knew he was keeping them distracted.
He glanced back over to where the lead demon was currently fleeing.
He took a deep breath, before forcing himself into the air once more, this time without interruptions.
With only a couple heavy flaps, he was right next to the demon, dropping down right in front of him, blocking his path.
"Who's playing mouse now?" Richie questioned lowly, and the demon's eyes widened as the Blade drove into his chest.
The demon continued to struggle, but Richie held his firm, keeping him in place.
It took longer than usual for the Blade's powers to spread, but little by little, small particles began to wither from the demon.
After a good few minutes, the body finally dissipated into the air.
Richie took a deep breath as his arm rested back to his side.
He'd been on earth for a month, and just now fulfilled his task.
Not as long as he wished to spend here, but...
Eddie...
A new surge of adrenaline hit him at the sudden reminder.
However, when he turned, he saw Eddie approaching him a few feet away.
His clothing was torn, his hair messy, and face sprinkled with scars, but other than that...
"Well. That was fun, we should do it again sometime."
Richie almost wanted to smile, but it was quickly replaced by fear when he saw another demon only a foot away from them.
In a flash, it appeared behind Eddie, wrapping an arm around him from behind, while driving a large dagger into his abdomen with the other arm.
It had happened so fast, Richie thought it had to be a dream.
It had to be.
Eddie never really showed up. Eddie never really saved him, it was all in his head.
However, no matter how much he tried to convince himself, it didn't erase the scene before him.
"Henry sends his regards." The demon whispered into Eddie's ear, before twisting the blade within him harshly.