Post by Bene Elohim on Feb 8, 2024 14:49:17 GMT -8
It’s been so long.
He hasn’t walked this familiar street in Chalmette in quite some time. When he didn’t have to be in Hell, Zachary Sears was almost anywhere else in the world. Despite the fact that the Killing Fields no longer existed, Hell itself was a recurring nightmare. His Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder kept flashing back to the horrors of pain, suffering, and torture. Even though he took it upon himself to receive the punishments of Maiko Adachi’s mother, Marie Sullivan, and Nurse Gracie, the agony was still everlasting in his mind.
His breathing was uneasy when he thought about the memories, the humidity weighing heavily in the air. He was dressed lightly for the visit, a casual white t-shirt, a pair of blue denim jeans, and a pair of black Converse sneakers. As always, he wore his sparkly engagement ring on his left ring finger. It symbolized his love for Gael and the future they wanted together. It gave him another reason to fight. His blonde hair was slicked back with a light application of hair gel, his sapphire eyes shimmering in the evening glow. With his hands in his pockets, he glanced over his left shoulder and half-smiled.
Zachary Sears: “Velcome to Louisiana. I varned you to dress lightly, ja?”
Trailing close by were Ananiel and Aniel. The two “Fallen Angels” were dressed near-identically to each other in black t-shirts, black jeans, black tactical boots and black leather jackets They were quiet for the time being, causing Zachary to shrug his shoulders. They walked up to the gate and he regarded the number pad, raising his left hand and pressing the following keys: 418892244. In that instant, the gate slowly began to open before them. Both vehicles are in the driveway; both his older sister and brother-in-law were home. Though he honestly hoped Everalda wasn’t driving in her current condition. As he walked towards the front door, Ananiel and Aniel looked up to study the house.
Aniel: “It is beautiful.”
Zachary Sears: “Ja, it is. Adrien put a lot of hard work into this.”
The gate opening had gotten attention, however. The front door opened, and the Dropkick King stepped outside.
Adrien Cochrane: “You don’t know the half of it. It took ten months for us to complete work on this home. Obviously, when it was first being built, I was a much younger guy, still thinking I had the whole world figured out. Married to my first wife, put a time capsule in the backyard that I’ve already gotten rid of at this point, and thinking I could ever possibly step away from a wrestling ring. How wrong I was on all those fronts…”
Cochrane was dressed how he normally does: plaid long sleeve shirt, checkering in colors of gray and black. He wore a pair of black jeans to go along with it. All of this was directed towards his brother-in-law, of course. He glanced at the two companions he brought along with him, first at Aniel followed by Ananiel.
Adrien Cochrane: “Brother.”
A smile crossed Zachary’s face.
Zachary Sears: “Bruder.”
Adrien Cochrane: “You’ve brought friends.”
Initially, the young German man chuckled.
Zachary Sears: “Yes.”
He stepped aside and raised his left hand, politely gesturing to the Twin.
Zachary Sears: “Adrien, zhis is Ananiel…”
Then he gestured to Aniel.
Zachary Sears: “...und zhis is Aniel.”
Quietly, both members of the Children nodded to Adrien. Zachary shook his head a little and placed a hand on his hip. Adrien simply gave them both a nod back.
Zachary Sears: “Zhey don’t talk much, but they’re my companions.”
Adrien Cochrane: “I mean, I hang around Adam so I know how it is. What brings you three down here?”
Zachary Sears: “I…”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It’s been so long since he’s seen everyone. There was a small part of him that wondered if they even wanted to see him at all.
Zachary Sears: “...wanted to spend time vith you, Eve, und Klaus. Ananiel und Aniel vanted to accompany me.”
Adrien gave a warm smile to his brother-in-law before he re-opened the front door.
Adrien Cochrane: “Well, I genuinely have no idea how Everalda is going to react to your arrival. Come on in.”
Cochrane led the trio through the front door, and through the foyer. There was a coat rack near the front door next to a small table. On the coat rack was various coats, none of them being worn quite yet, but it was getting close to that time of year. The table had nothing more than mail on it, various envelopes addressed to Adrien, Everalda, or both of them.
Adrien Cochrane: “Oh Eve! We’ve got company!”
Adrien brought the Children into the living room. A fairly spacious room, a three-seat sofa facing the television along one wall in the corner with a matching two-seat loveseat on the other side of it. There’s a glass coffee table in between them with a bowl of pinecones and an ESPN magazine. The television was on, playing NFL Network and discussing the upcoming return of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Cochrane turned off the television the moment he entered the room, however.
The sound of footsteps could be heard coming from the second floor of the house. Looking over, Everalda Cochrane smiled upon the sight of her younger brother and their guests.
Everalda Cochrane: “Oh, hello!”
She placed a hand on the stair’s handrail and descended them very carefully. She was quite a vision, carrying herself at thirty-three weeks pregnant. Her long blonde hair was flowing loosely around her, her white maternity gown complimenting her larger curves, and she was without any footwear. Finally reaching the bottom of the stairs, she walked over to Zachary and embraced him.
Everalda Cochrane: “It’s so nice to see you again, little brother.”
Zachary Sears: “Eve…”
A warm smile crossed his face as he returned the embrace. Then slowly, he pulled away and studied her features.
Zachary Sears: “You look healthy.”
Everalda Cochrane: “Thank you, dear.”
Turning to face her brother’s friends, she politely bowed her head.
Everalda Cochrane: “Hello.”
If there was an admiration for the expecting mother, it was well hidden. Ananiel and Aniel simply nodded their heads. Zachary casually shrugged.
Zachary Sears: “Zhey are not very sociable. Eve, zhis is Ananiel and Aniel. They vanted to accompany me in spending time vith everyone.”
Everalda Cochrane: “Oh! Well, it’s a good thing I baked extra cookies.”
Zachary shook his head and chuckled. His older sister was certainly the doting mother type, always caring for others. He glanced up the stairs and raised an eyebrow.
Zachary Sears: “Vhere is Klaus?”
Everalda Cochrane: “I just put him down for a nap. He’s been awake since six this morning.”
Adrien Cochrane: “He’s starting to try to race me to be the first one awake nowadays. He won this morning. Please, have a seat. Is there a… non-verbal way I can offer the same hospitality to your two silent friends?”
Adrien attempted such with a simple gesture to the love seat. Zachary glanced back to his companions and nodded.
Zachary Sears: “Go ahead. Ve’ll be here for a while.”
They seemed to understand, making their way over to the loveseat and settling down. While everyone was making themselves comfortable, Everalda made her way into the kitchen to serve her family and their guests.
Everalda Cochrane: “Would anyone like some tea? We also have other drinks.”
Zachary Sears: “I’ll have a cup of tea.”
He looked towards his companions and raised an eyebrow, studying them. However, their expressions were practically unreadable. A soft sigh escaped his parted lips.
Zachary Sears: “Perhaps glasses of water vill do for Naani und Ani.”
He actually used their nicknames. Ananiel raised an eyebrow but said nothing otherwise. Adrien actually rose to his feet as well.
Adrien Cochrane: “Let me give you a hand. You only have two of them, after all.”
Everalda Cochrane: “Oh, darling! Come on, then.”
Her giggle softly resonated from the kitchen. Zachary chuckled and seated himself on the couch. Adrien returned with two glasses of water for Zachary’s tagalongs. He placed them on the coffee table in front of them. There’s a couple of ice cubes in each glass.
Adrien Cochrane: “Here we go.”
He then took a seat opposite Zachary on the sofa. This was to allow Everalda to sit by her brother and her husband. She returned to the living room with a large plate of chocolate chip cookies and set them at the center of the table. Before she could go back to the kitchen for the tea, she glanced up and looked through the window.
Everalda Cochrane: “Adrien, sweetie, it appears we have more company.”
Adrien Cochrane: “Yup, I’m on it.”
With a mumble about always having to get up as soon as he sits down, Cochrane began to walk back to the front door. When he returned, he had someone else that Zachary was quite familiar with.
Kenzie Rydell followed her mentor into the living room dressed in a weathered black t-shirt with the distinct “#Believe” insignia distressed with time at the center underneath an oversized olive green camouflage Army jacket. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her gray acid-washed skinny jeans when she sees the two strangers on the loveseat and Zach himself. He did not seem happy to see her, narrowing his eyes in distrust.
Kenzie Rydell: “Don’t. I’m not here to cause trouble.”
She approached Zach’s seat cautiously. It was her typical spot, after all, and coincidentally, it seemed to be the one spot left. It was sudden, the way Zachary’s warm body language shifted to complete tension, a coldness surrounding him. He shook his head slowly.
Zachary Sears: “Nein… You’re here to simply assume ze vorst of me, ja?”
He felt a gentle hand settle on his right knee and noticed the wedding ring on the ring finger. Looking up, he saw a pleading expression on his older sister’s facial features.
Everalda Cochrane: “Zach, please…”
For her, his tension began to decrease, a slight vulnerability in his expressions. She was halfway to the nine-month mark; he didn’t want to create any unwanted stress for her or the baby. Leaning back against the couch cushions, he released the breath he was holding.
Kenzie Rydell: “Everalda said you’d be here, so under this roof... We’re family. No arguments. No questions. Let’s just enjoy ourselves and be good guests. Alright?”
There was a single nod in response, nothing else. From the corner of his sapphire eyes, Zachary noticed the tiniest of movements from Everalda’s belly. She giggled in response and placed a hand there.
Everalda Cochrane: “Alexander is almost here. Doctor Williams said he’s very healthy and due in mid-December.”
A soft chuckle escaped her husband’s parted lips.
Adrien Cochrane: “I want to say Dad’s birthday…”
Kenzie Rydell: “As a former babysitter, I know kids never listen to their parents. Much less about when to be born. Let’s be real.”
Everalda couldn’t help but giggle. Once the whistling of the teapot resounded from the kitchen, Adrien dismissed himself to serve the tea. Ananiel and Aniel remain quiet, though the latter actually reached out to enjoy a quiet sip of her water. Even before the tea arrived, Zachary reached out for a cookie from the plate sitting on the center of the coffee table. He took a moment to enjoy the aroma before savoring a bite. Kenzie grabbed a cookie of her own and snapped it in her teeth.
Kenzie Rydell: “I know it’s just cookies but you’ve really outdone yourself, Eve. Adrien’s got himself a keeper!”
A pleased smile crossed the mother’s features.
Everalda Cochrane: “Awww, that is very sweet of you to say, Kenzie…”
Kenzie Rydell: “When he was going through his last breakup, I told him his true love would find him and I was right.”
Mrs. Cochrane let out a tiny giggle and shook her head.
Everalda Cochrane: “We found each other at the same time.”
Adrien Cochrane: “Jessica wasn’t expecting either of us to visit her that fateful day…”
The Dropkick King returned from the kitchen, holding two cups of tea in his hands. He set one down in front of his brother-in-law on the coffee table, then he set the other right before where he was sitting on the couch. Earl Grey. They liked the same tea flavor.
Adrien Cochrane: “...but I’m glad we did.”
Sears nodded, a smile on his face, and he took his cup to enjoy some of the tea. He was happiest when his sisters were happy.
For the moment, everyone seemed to be content, even the quiet couple.
...and then…
It happened during a lull in the talking between the small group gathered together in the living room. It was a shadow that passed over one of the windows and a soft, almost inaudible thud somewhere on the second floor as if something had simply fallen off a counter or desk. In unison, Zachary, Ananiel, and Aniel looked up, then down towards one another. As they did, Adrien caught sight of another shadow passing over one of the windows near the doorway leading into the kitchen.
The New Orleanian slowly rose from his spot on the couch as another passed by the window heading toward the front doors. This time, Zachary actually saw the black and white sweatshirt with the hood drawn up and shot up from the couch.
Ananiel and Aniel rose from the loveseat, the feminine of the two looking at Zachary.
Aniel: “Is that…”
Zachary Sears: “A demon. But how?!”
The Demon Knight didn’t even hesitate as he sprinted from the living room to the direction of the front door. When it opened, everyone in the room caught the sight of a black and white-clad figure on the other side, the black faceless masks they wore. Zachary never broke stride and kicked the front door hard, sending the wood shooting back into the demon’s face and forcing them to fall back onto the front yard. Without hesitation, Zachary closed the door.
Adrien’s attention was seized when the sound of the kitchen door opened, but Nani and Ani reacted instantly. The smaller, more agile of the pair vaulted one of the chairs and drove a boot into the side of the masked figure’s head. Aniel planted her shoulder into the demon’s armpit and flipped them over her, sending them brutally into the floor.
Adrien Cochrane: “Honey, did you invite more guests?”
Everalda Cochrane: “No, dear… Did you?”
She rose to her feet, her left hand under her belly while she wore a look of concern. Zachary glanced through one of the foyer’s windows and saw the truth of the matter coming ever closer to the house. A horde of black and white-clad figures were coming from every direction. He spun around, looking at the others who had come with him.
Zachary Sears: “How could zhey know ve vere here?!”
Kenzie Rydell: “Wasn’t the gate secure?!”
Adrien Cochrane: “Twice the code was put in that gate inside the last hour. It doesn’t take a genius to watch someone key it in.”
Aniel: “They couldn’t. No one can track the phones Alistair gave us.”
Kenzie Rydell: “Alright. But who’s Alistair?!?”
Zachary Sears: “Vould you shut up?”
Sears narrowed his eyes at Rydell, then he regarded Aniel once more. Before he could continue, his brother-in-law spoke up.
Adrien Cochrane: “What is going on?!”
His voice was firm, but his patience was being tempted when his question was being ignored in his own home. Zachary kept his attention on Ananiel and Aniel.
Zachary Sears: “Vhy would zhey be here in ze first place?”
Aniel: “If they are here, they are after something...”
Ananiel’s head whipped around to Everalda and his eyes widened.
Ananiel: “LEASH! HE… LEASHES!”
The horror on Aniel’s face expressed everything. She looked sharply at Adrien, then at Everalda, and then back at Adrien again.
Aniel: “We don’t have a lot of time. They will be here any second now, and if we don’t work together…”
Kenzie Rydell: “Wait. How do you expect us to ‘work together’ when we don’t even know who we’re dealing with right now?”
She finger quoted the words ‘work together’ to emphasize the point. Zachary’s patience was thinning out, glaring at Kenzie.
Zachary Sears: “Halt die Klappe!”
Now more than ever, he despised her presence. They were running out of time; they didn’t need to go into details. The Dropkick King took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Adrien Cochrane: “Tell me what I need to do to help.”
Finally, some composure.
Aniel: “Alright… Take Everalda and Kenzie upstairs. Do not let anyone else near them and keep your son in your sight at all times. They are here for the children.”
Kenzie Rydell: “What’s even happening right now?!”
Before Kenzie could get an answer, Adrien and Everelda were shepherding her up the stairs and down the hallway. Adrien looked to his wife and exhaled.
Adrien Cochrane: “The panic room…”
He didn’t need to say anything else. Everalda understood his direction, giving her husband a hasty kiss. Quickly yet carefully, she entered Klaus’s bedroom-- the former office-- and awakened him so they could both relocate into the room designed for emergencies such as this. Once they were secure and the door was locked, Adrien and Kenzie were on guard.
Downstairs, the front door burst open and the Demons came through. They were huddled into a mass, preventing anyone from hitting one of them, and then they expanded outward into the hallway. What was once a mass of human bodies instantly became eight people, all of them heading in different directions.
Zachary had the foresight to shove one of them back into the doorway. The next group attempting to come in became bogged down by the sudden appearance of one of their own. He came at the side of another one who was heading towards the stairs, shoving him into the wall where pictures and decorations rattled from the impact.
While the Demon Knight was throwing brutally hard right hands into the masked face, Aniel and Ananiel were working together with a unique harmony that Ananiel only shared with his lover and his brother. The two danced around one another, their backs barely touching as they worked to keep the Demons that were encircling them from coming at them from behind.
While Ananiel fought with his glove-covered hands, Aniel held an aluminum extendable baton that she was flicking across arms and feet to block the blows coming from her lover’s blindside.
Eventually, the sheer numbers became too much and the black and white-clad figures raced up the stairs. At the top, they were met by Adrien and the still extremely confused but ready Kenzie. At the small opening of the stairs, Adrien was true to his nickname, landing a perfect dropkick into the front runner’s chest. He sent the Demon flying back into his companions and forced some of their numbers to tumble down the stairs.
Kenzie, on the other hand, proved to be nearly as skilled as Adrien himself, though she didn’t show it until now. A hard right cross caught the next one coming up in the jaw, sending him over the edge of the railing and crashing to the floor below. Another right cross caught another of them in the masked face, sending them to the side and into a brutal kick from Adrien square in the mask. The impact formed a crack, revealing part of a stubbled face before the person fell back unconscious into the horde. Kenzie appeared remorseful, but the numbers finally caught up with the pair. The group found themselves engulfed by a dozen of the black and white-clad Demons. They did their best to cover up their heads and chest but it was futile. The blows rained down on them from seemingly every direction with malice and savagery.
Visualizing this from within the panic room, Everalda covered her mouth with one of her hands. Her left arm held her three-year-old son close to her, trying to maintain her stress levels.
Everalda Cochrane: “Adrien…”
Klaus Cochrane-Sears: “Mommy…?”
Everalda Cochrane: “Everything will be alright, my little Star-Lord…”
There was something particular on one of the monitors… and she was relieved when her husband noticed it where he was. Adrien was able to clear his vision enough through the horde to spot Klaus’s solid wood baseball bat nearby. He snatched the small wooden club off the floor and found one of the figures holding Kenzie’s arms behind her back while four others were laying into her with brutal right hands. With an accurate swing, Adrien struck the back of the man’s shoulders and head, forcing him to drop and freeing Kenzie’s hands.
She grabbed the blow coming in and yanked the figure forward while throwing her own head towards the intruder. The headbutt connected with a loud CRACK as the mask shattered, revealing a girl who couldn’t have been a day over nineteen who collapsed unconscious. She felt a ping of sympathy for the stranger until yet another Demon approached. She used parkour to bounce off the wall and kick him square in the jaw to knock him back, mounting him on the ground to deliver a few more desperate punches while tears rolled down her cheeks.
Next to her, Adrien was driving the small round end of the handle into the sides of the head of anyone near him, sending them staggering away. However, when one of them suddenly looked up and charged in his direction like a rabid animal, Adrien swung for the fences. The bat connected with the masked face and sent the man end over end into the air.
When the situation was finally manageable, Adrien quickly glanced over at his first protégé and smiled.
Adrien Cochrane: “That wasn’t too bad…”
Kenzie Rydell: “I guess we’re a good— BEHIND YOU!”
The Dropkick King reacted just half a second too late. The forearm shot caught him behind the ear and sent him crashing against the wall. The Hopebringer was doing her best to keep the two still standing occupied when she heard the pounding of feet overhead. Someone else was coming up the stairs.
For a moment, Adrien was seeing stars. The Demon behind him grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head back with the intention of driving his face into the wall -- when suddenly, the pressure disappeared from behind him. A familiar voice growled, letting out a German curse word.
Adrien turned around to find Zachary with his arms around the masked figure’s throat, choking him out. The Demon was flailing, gasps and gurgles came from behind the mask as he struggled to swallow his saliva. There was something about the feral, murderous look in Zachary’s eyes as he tightened his grip. Adrien knew Zachary intended to kill whoever this was. Whatever this was. Whatever Zach was involved in, it was so bad he had to kill to survive.
He couldn’t fathom this from his own family.
Adrien Cochrane: “Zach, stop!”
Zachary Sears: “Nein! Zhis is vhat they deserve!”
Adrien Cochrane: “And what do you deserve? To have blood on your hands…? You’re better than this.”
Zachary and Adrien locked eyes, while the man in the chokehold began to go limp. To their surprise, Everalda and Klaus emerged from the panic room, holding hands. Her baby blue eyes shimmered softly as she faced her younger brother.
Everalda Cochrane: “Klaus looks up to you. You’re his Uncle Zach, so please…”
Sears looked from her to his nephew. Klaus was wide awake now, shocked and cowering in fear. The sight caused tears to run down Zachary’s face before he threw the unconscious man to the side. With those upstairs neutralized, thanks to Kenzie finishing with the last two, Zachary, Adrien, Everalda, and Klaus shared an embrace. Despite everything, he made the right choice.
Downstairs, however, was a different story. Aniel and Ananiel had refrained from killing simply to be easier on the cleanup, but there were bodies everywhere. The two stood close together, whispering while tending to the bleeding eyebrows, noses, and lips.
A final Demon seemed to appear out of nowhere in the upstairs hallway behind where Kenzie stood. The man grabbed her by the hair, and before anyone could react, he turned her forcefully and drove her face hard into the door frame. Klaus let out a scream, hiding behind his mother. The Demon repeated this process two more times before Adrien and Zachary reacted, each of them throwing a punch that took the man in the masked face and sent him crashing over the child’s convertible crib and onto the floor.
Once Kenzie dropped to the floor, Adrien crouched down, lightly touching her and releasing a sigh of relief.
Adrien Cochrane: “She’s fine… She’ll be out a while, though…”
Everalda Cochrane: “I’m glad she’s going to be alright…”
Slowly, Klaus peaked from around his mother. Now that it was clear, Adrien helped Kenzie into the master bedroom and settled her down on the bed. Klaus was happy to keep her company when his mother asked him to stay with her. She was like an aunt to him, after all. This gave the adults an opportunity to talk to one another just outside of the room.
Everalda Cochrane: “I… assume they’re the ones you told me about.”
She sighed softly and rested her hands on her belly. Adrien blinked, wondering how his wife came to this conclusion. He was a sharp thinker; he remembered overhearing Everalda talking on the phone with Zachary on a couple of occasions.
Adrien Cochrane: “Maybe now I can learn what’s going on? Our house was invaded, our family threatened…”
Sears walked over to the top of the stairs and looked down at Ananiel and Aniel. He was certain Lucifer didn’t want anyone outside of the Children knowing about the Civil War, but he already bent that rule when he informed his older sister quite some time ago. He sighed and turned to Adrien, nodding his head.
Zachary Sears: “...I asked Eve to keep it a secret from you because we both knew you vould try to join ze fight. You’re needed here vith zhem, not on the missions.”
Cochrane blinked. His wife, who was terrible at keeping secrets, actually managed to keep one from him? He was impressed. His brother-in-law continued.
Zachary Sears: “Ze reason vhy I kneeled to Lucifer und joined the Children of Nephilim… vas to fight a new threat. Lucifer’s First Demon, Valdemar Johansen, betrayed him, persuaded some of the sinners to join him, und stole ze Master File to create his own Hell on Earth. Along ze vay, he tracked down Lucifer’s First Angel, Anthony Crawford.
He vas ze first Sathanas, not Dean. Valdemar und Anthony formed an alliance to oppose Lucifer und ze Children of Nephilim. They believe ‘the new vay’, as Valdemar describes, is wrong, zhat every Sinner deserves to be punished. No re-education; no permanent solution. These men are merciless. They demolished ze Farmhouse, the former home of Ramiel, Ananiel, Sariel, und Aniel. They rigged Xaria’s estate to explode with us inside, no regard for her innocent children.”
Everalda’s left hand covered her mouth in pure shock. That was not a detail Zachary shared with her before. Adrien offered his shoulder for her to lean on, his own expression full of dread.
Zachary Sears: “Valdemar und Anthony… zhey are no longer human. They’ve done the one thing ze old Lucifer never did… They endangered children. They were willing to destroy a building with Xaria’s kids inside. Now…?”
The Dropkick King pieced it together.
Adrien Cochrane: “...They sent their ‘demons’ here for my sons.”
He looked at Everalda and a frown settled in.
Adrien Cochrane: “For my wife…”
It was such a grim reality… and Zachary suddenly realized.
Zachary Sears: “Mein Gott, they’re trying to place leashes on ze kids.”
They attacked Adrien and Everalda’s house. Abducting her and Klaus would have placed a leash on Zachary. There was no doubt that Valdemar and Anthony would send Demons after the kids of the other members. Aerynn’s kids, Xaria, Johnny, and Martin’s kids, anyone who was young, innocent, and related to the Children of Nephilim.
Zachary Sears: “Naani! Ani! Ve need to go.”
They looked up the stairs from the living room and nodded. Sears looked to Adrien once more.
Zachary Sears: “Vhatever you do, please do not tell Kenzie everything I just told you.”
Adrien Cochrane: “But--”
Zachary Sears: “I may not like her, but I don’t vant her to be any more involved zhan she already is. She can continue to villainize me all she vants; it matters not.”
Everalda looked to her husband, who looked back at her with softened features. He then faced his younger brother-in-law and nodded.
Adrien Cochrane: “Fine. But be careful, brother.”
The Demon Knight solemnly nodded.
Zachary Sears: “Danke…”
He hugged them, careful with Everalda’s belly, and then he raced down the stairs to rejoin Ananiel and Aniel. There was no time to lose.
The war was upon their doorsteps.
When the door of the elevator rang out again the man Valdemar had been waiting for stepped out. Anthony wore a simple tank top with black loose fitting track pants and combat boots. The cheek wound had all but healed now but his face bore the scar.
Valdemar rose and extended his arms in greeting but before he could greet his right hand the elevator rang out a second time. Anthony lifted a brow when Valdemar motioned with his head to the side, but he did move along the wall coming to a stop beside the desk.
Out of the elevator this time came a man who walked beside the female demon dressed in the white and black outfit designed for them. The man had blonde hair that was now stained red with dried blood and his wrists were shackled to his ankles. His pants were torn and his shirt completely missing showing the signs of the blows and torment he had suffered in Hell.
Demon: “This is him Lord Apollyon”
Valdemar leaned back in his chair and folded his hands over the top of the desk before him. He stared at the man and then down at the opened file on the desk and then finally over at Sathanas.
Lord Apollyon: “That isn’t Donovan Felk.”
Anthony gently shrugged and pushed off the wall with a single shoulder roll staring at the man who did his best to cower even in the chains.
Anthony Crawford: “What does it matter? They all deserve to suffer.”
Lord Apollyon: “BECAUSE HE’S NOT GUILTY!”
Valdemer screamed and slammed his fist down on the desk and for a moment, a brief second he was the man who had served in Hell for so long was back. A man who understood the difference between the Guilty and Innocent.
That however changed when Valdemar sighed and looked back at the man, opening his hands in apology.
Lord Apollyon: “Unfortunately? I cannot let you go now.”
Demon: “....what?”
The woman was more than shocked, she was appalled. The man standing beside her however wasn’t shocked or appalled, he was horrified.
Man: “But...I CAN’T GO BACK THERE!”
Lord Apollyon: “Unfortunately, I cannot let you out after you’ve seen this place. You know too much.”
A wave of his hand was all it took and even appalled the Demon grabbed the man’s chains and began to drag him toward the elevator again. Valdemar turned his attention to Anthony, who looked anything but concerned and leveled a finger at the man being dragged away.
Lord Apollyon: “That’s on you. You realize ...”
Man: “NO! PLEASE! I CAN’T GO BACK!”
Anthony Crawford: “I can live with it.”
Man: “WAIT! I HAVE INFORMATION ON LUCIFER!”
Anthony and Valdemar’s eyes shot to the man and the latter lifted a hand for the demon to stop before motioning with his hand toward him. Once the Demon had brought him to the edge of the desk Valdemar leaned forward to stare at him.
Lord Apollyon: “What is your name human?”
Man: “....Johnny. Johnny Dawkins….”
Lord Apollyon: “And what could you possibly know about Lucifer that we don’t already know?”
Johnny Dawkins: “....You give me freedom from this fucking hell and I’ll tell you a secret not even Lucifer knows. One that would make him do whatever you told him.”
Lord Apollyon: “And what is this secret?”
Johnny Dawkins: “Freedom?!”
Valdemar leaned back in his chair and placed his index fingers to his lips, staring at the man. Ultimately he flashed a curt nod.
Lord Apollyon: “You know what happens if you tell anyone about this place right?”
Johnny Dawkins: “....Yes….”
Lord Apollyon: “Then deal. What is this information?”
For a second the man looked like he didn’t want to tell Valdemar after all, but when Valdemar looked at the demon, who tightened her hand on the chain to drag him to the elevator he shouted.
Johnny Dawkins: “HE’S THE FATHER OF SHAY KENYON’S TWINS!”
Anthony Crawford and Lord Apollyon: “HE’S WHAT?!”
Johnny Dawkins: “Shay and I dated in high school so they approached me about saying I was their father. I’m one of the only people who know the truth. Ashley Kenyon, Shay and her wife Lena, Nikki Peltier…and their family friend Dean and his family lawyer who helped forge the birth certificates.”
Anthony Crawford: “Mother fucker…”
Lord Apollyon: “We can put a Leash on Lucifer himself! He’ll have to kneel!”
Johnny Dawkins: “And my freedom?!”
Valdemar looked back at the man and for a moment Johnny thought he was going to renege but he gave a single nod to the Demon. An hour later he was outside in the streets of Philadelphia with nothing but a Demon like jumpsuit and enough money for a bus back to Texas.
And Johnny knew he needed to find a phone as quickly as possible and call Ashley.
They needed to be warned that this madman was coming for Shay and it was his fault.
He hasn’t walked this familiar street in Chalmette in quite some time. When he didn’t have to be in Hell, Zachary Sears was almost anywhere else in the world. Despite the fact that the Killing Fields no longer existed, Hell itself was a recurring nightmare. His Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder kept flashing back to the horrors of pain, suffering, and torture. Even though he took it upon himself to receive the punishments of Maiko Adachi’s mother, Marie Sullivan, and Nurse Gracie, the agony was still everlasting in his mind.
His breathing was uneasy when he thought about the memories, the humidity weighing heavily in the air. He was dressed lightly for the visit, a casual white t-shirt, a pair of blue denim jeans, and a pair of black Converse sneakers. As always, he wore his sparkly engagement ring on his left ring finger. It symbolized his love for Gael and the future they wanted together. It gave him another reason to fight. His blonde hair was slicked back with a light application of hair gel, his sapphire eyes shimmering in the evening glow. With his hands in his pockets, he glanced over his left shoulder and half-smiled.
Zachary Sears: “Velcome to Louisiana. I varned you to dress lightly, ja?”
Trailing close by were Ananiel and Aniel. The two “Fallen Angels” were dressed near-identically to each other in black t-shirts, black jeans, black tactical boots and black leather jackets They were quiet for the time being, causing Zachary to shrug his shoulders. They walked up to the gate and he regarded the number pad, raising his left hand and pressing the following keys: 418892244. In that instant, the gate slowly began to open before them. Both vehicles are in the driveway; both his older sister and brother-in-law were home. Though he honestly hoped Everalda wasn’t driving in her current condition. As he walked towards the front door, Ananiel and Aniel looked up to study the house.
Aniel: “It is beautiful.”
Zachary Sears: “Ja, it is. Adrien put a lot of hard work into this.”
The gate opening had gotten attention, however. The front door opened, and the Dropkick King stepped outside.
Adrien Cochrane: “You don’t know the half of it. It took ten months for us to complete work on this home. Obviously, when it was first being built, I was a much younger guy, still thinking I had the whole world figured out. Married to my first wife, put a time capsule in the backyard that I’ve already gotten rid of at this point, and thinking I could ever possibly step away from a wrestling ring. How wrong I was on all those fronts…”
Cochrane was dressed how he normally does: plaid long sleeve shirt, checkering in colors of gray and black. He wore a pair of black jeans to go along with it. All of this was directed towards his brother-in-law, of course. He glanced at the two companions he brought along with him, first at Aniel followed by Ananiel.
Adrien Cochrane: “Brother.”
A smile crossed Zachary’s face.
Zachary Sears: “Bruder.”
Adrien Cochrane: “You’ve brought friends.”
Initially, the young German man chuckled.
Zachary Sears: “Yes.”
He stepped aside and raised his left hand, politely gesturing to the Twin.
Zachary Sears: “Adrien, zhis is Ananiel…”
Then he gestured to Aniel.
Zachary Sears: “...und zhis is Aniel.”
Quietly, both members of the Children nodded to Adrien. Zachary shook his head a little and placed a hand on his hip. Adrien simply gave them both a nod back.
Zachary Sears: “Zhey don’t talk much, but they’re my companions.”
Adrien Cochrane: “I mean, I hang around Adam so I know how it is. What brings you three down here?”
Zachary Sears: “I…”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It’s been so long since he’s seen everyone. There was a small part of him that wondered if they even wanted to see him at all.
Zachary Sears: “...wanted to spend time vith you, Eve, und Klaus. Ananiel und Aniel vanted to accompany me.”
Adrien gave a warm smile to his brother-in-law before he re-opened the front door.
Adrien Cochrane: “Well, I genuinely have no idea how Everalda is going to react to your arrival. Come on in.”
Cochrane led the trio through the front door, and through the foyer. There was a coat rack near the front door next to a small table. On the coat rack was various coats, none of them being worn quite yet, but it was getting close to that time of year. The table had nothing more than mail on it, various envelopes addressed to Adrien, Everalda, or both of them.
Adrien Cochrane: “Oh Eve! We’ve got company!”
Adrien brought the Children into the living room. A fairly spacious room, a three-seat sofa facing the television along one wall in the corner with a matching two-seat loveseat on the other side of it. There’s a glass coffee table in between them with a bowl of pinecones and an ESPN magazine. The television was on, playing NFL Network and discussing the upcoming return of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Cochrane turned off the television the moment he entered the room, however.
The sound of footsteps could be heard coming from the second floor of the house. Looking over, Everalda Cochrane smiled upon the sight of her younger brother and their guests.
Everalda Cochrane: “Oh, hello!”
She placed a hand on the stair’s handrail and descended them very carefully. She was quite a vision, carrying herself at thirty-three weeks pregnant. Her long blonde hair was flowing loosely around her, her white maternity gown complimenting her larger curves, and she was without any footwear. Finally reaching the bottom of the stairs, she walked over to Zachary and embraced him.
Everalda Cochrane: “It’s so nice to see you again, little brother.”
Zachary Sears: “Eve…”
A warm smile crossed his face as he returned the embrace. Then slowly, he pulled away and studied her features.
Zachary Sears: “You look healthy.”
Everalda Cochrane: “Thank you, dear.”
Turning to face her brother’s friends, she politely bowed her head.
Everalda Cochrane: “Hello.”
If there was an admiration for the expecting mother, it was well hidden. Ananiel and Aniel simply nodded their heads. Zachary casually shrugged.
Zachary Sears: “Zhey are not very sociable. Eve, zhis is Ananiel and Aniel. They vanted to accompany me in spending time vith everyone.”
Everalda Cochrane: “Oh! Well, it’s a good thing I baked extra cookies.”
Zachary shook his head and chuckled. His older sister was certainly the doting mother type, always caring for others. He glanced up the stairs and raised an eyebrow.
Zachary Sears: “Vhere is Klaus?”
Everalda Cochrane: “I just put him down for a nap. He’s been awake since six this morning.”
Adrien Cochrane: “He’s starting to try to race me to be the first one awake nowadays. He won this morning. Please, have a seat. Is there a… non-verbal way I can offer the same hospitality to your two silent friends?”
Adrien attempted such with a simple gesture to the love seat. Zachary glanced back to his companions and nodded.
Zachary Sears: “Go ahead. Ve’ll be here for a while.”
They seemed to understand, making their way over to the loveseat and settling down. While everyone was making themselves comfortable, Everalda made her way into the kitchen to serve her family and their guests.
Everalda Cochrane: “Would anyone like some tea? We also have other drinks.”
Zachary Sears: “I’ll have a cup of tea.”
He looked towards his companions and raised an eyebrow, studying them. However, their expressions were practically unreadable. A soft sigh escaped his parted lips.
Zachary Sears: “Perhaps glasses of water vill do for Naani und Ani.”
He actually used their nicknames. Ananiel raised an eyebrow but said nothing otherwise. Adrien actually rose to his feet as well.
Adrien Cochrane: “Let me give you a hand. You only have two of them, after all.”
Everalda Cochrane: “Oh, darling! Come on, then.”
Her giggle softly resonated from the kitchen. Zachary chuckled and seated himself on the couch. Adrien returned with two glasses of water for Zachary’s tagalongs. He placed them on the coffee table in front of them. There’s a couple of ice cubes in each glass.
Adrien Cochrane: “Here we go.”
He then took a seat opposite Zachary on the sofa. This was to allow Everalda to sit by her brother and her husband. She returned to the living room with a large plate of chocolate chip cookies and set them at the center of the table. Before she could go back to the kitchen for the tea, she glanced up and looked through the window.
Everalda Cochrane: “Adrien, sweetie, it appears we have more company.”
Adrien Cochrane: “Yup, I’m on it.”
With a mumble about always having to get up as soon as he sits down, Cochrane began to walk back to the front door. When he returned, he had someone else that Zachary was quite familiar with.
Kenzie Rydell followed her mentor into the living room dressed in a weathered black t-shirt with the distinct “#Believe” insignia distressed with time at the center underneath an oversized olive green camouflage Army jacket. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her gray acid-washed skinny jeans when she sees the two strangers on the loveseat and Zach himself. He did not seem happy to see her, narrowing his eyes in distrust.
Kenzie Rydell: “Don’t. I’m not here to cause trouble.”
She approached Zach’s seat cautiously. It was her typical spot, after all, and coincidentally, it seemed to be the one spot left. It was sudden, the way Zachary’s warm body language shifted to complete tension, a coldness surrounding him. He shook his head slowly.
Zachary Sears: “Nein… You’re here to simply assume ze vorst of me, ja?”
He felt a gentle hand settle on his right knee and noticed the wedding ring on the ring finger. Looking up, he saw a pleading expression on his older sister’s facial features.
Everalda Cochrane: “Zach, please…”
For her, his tension began to decrease, a slight vulnerability in his expressions. She was halfway to the nine-month mark; he didn’t want to create any unwanted stress for her or the baby. Leaning back against the couch cushions, he released the breath he was holding.
Kenzie Rydell: “Everalda said you’d be here, so under this roof... We’re family. No arguments. No questions. Let’s just enjoy ourselves and be good guests. Alright?”
There was a single nod in response, nothing else. From the corner of his sapphire eyes, Zachary noticed the tiniest of movements from Everalda’s belly. She giggled in response and placed a hand there.
Everalda Cochrane: “Alexander is almost here. Doctor Williams said he’s very healthy and due in mid-December.”
A soft chuckle escaped her husband’s parted lips.
Adrien Cochrane: “I want to say Dad’s birthday…”
Kenzie Rydell: “As a former babysitter, I know kids never listen to their parents. Much less about when to be born. Let’s be real.”
Everalda couldn’t help but giggle. Once the whistling of the teapot resounded from the kitchen, Adrien dismissed himself to serve the tea. Ananiel and Aniel remain quiet, though the latter actually reached out to enjoy a quiet sip of her water. Even before the tea arrived, Zachary reached out for a cookie from the plate sitting on the center of the coffee table. He took a moment to enjoy the aroma before savoring a bite. Kenzie grabbed a cookie of her own and snapped it in her teeth.
Kenzie Rydell: “I know it’s just cookies but you’ve really outdone yourself, Eve. Adrien’s got himself a keeper!”
A pleased smile crossed the mother’s features.
Everalda Cochrane: “Awww, that is very sweet of you to say, Kenzie…”
Kenzie Rydell: “When he was going through his last breakup, I told him his true love would find him and I was right.”
Mrs. Cochrane let out a tiny giggle and shook her head.
Everalda Cochrane: “We found each other at the same time.”
Adrien Cochrane: “Jessica wasn’t expecting either of us to visit her that fateful day…”
The Dropkick King returned from the kitchen, holding two cups of tea in his hands. He set one down in front of his brother-in-law on the coffee table, then he set the other right before where he was sitting on the couch. Earl Grey. They liked the same tea flavor.
Adrien Cochrane: “...but I’m glad we did.”
Sears nodded, a smile on his face, and he took his cup to enjoy some of the tea. He was happiest when his sisters were happy.
For the moment, everyone seemed to be content, even the quiet couple.
...and then…
It happened during a lull in the talking between the small group gathered together in the living room. It was a shadow that passed over one of the windows and a soft, almost inaudible thud somewhere on the second floor as if something had simply fallen off a counter or desk. In unison, Zachary, Ananiel, and Aniel looked up, then down towards one another. As they did, Adrien caught sight of another shadow passing over one of the windows near the doorway leading into the kitchen.
The New Orleanian slowly rose from his spot on the couch as another passed by the window heading toward the front doors. This time, Zachary actually saw the black and white sweatshirt with the hood drawn up and shot up from the couch.
Ananiel and Aniel rose from the loveseat, the feminine of the two looking at Zachary.
Aniel: “Is that…”
Zachary Sears: “A demon. But how?!”
The Demon Knight didn’t even hesitate as he sprinted from the living room to the direction of the front door. When it opened, everyone in the room caught the sight of a black and white-clad figure on the other side, the black faceless masks they wore. Zachary never broke stride and kicked the front door hard, sending the wood shooting back into the demon’s face and forcing them to fall back onto the front yard. Without hesitation, Zachary closed the door.
Adrien’s attention was seized when the sound of the kitchen door opened, but Nani and Ani reacted instantly. The smaller, more agile of the pair vaulted one of the chairs and drove a boot into the side of the masked figure’s head. Aniel planted her shoulder into the demon’s armpit and flipped them over her, sending them brutally into the floor.
Adrien Cochrane: “Honey, did you invite more guests?”
Everalda Cochrane: “No, dear… Did you?”
She rose to her feet, her left hand under her belly while she wore a look of concern. Zachary glanced through one of the foyer’s windows and saw the truth of the matter coming ever closer to the house. A horde of black and white-clad figures were coming from every direction. He spun around, looking at the others who had come with him.
Zachary Sears: “How could zhey know ve vere here?!”
Kenzie Rydell: “Wasn’t the gate secure?!”
Adrien Cochrane: “Twice the code was put in that gate inside the last hour. It doesn’t take a genius to watch someone key it in.”
Aniel: “They couldn’t. No one can track the phones Alistair gave us.”
Kenzie Rydell: “Alright. But who’s Alistair?!?”
Zachary Sears: “Vould you shut up?”
Sears narrowed his eyes at Rydell, then he regarded Aniel once more. Before he could continue, his brother-in-law spoke up.
Adrien Cochrane: “What is going on?!”
His voice was firm, but his patience was being tempted when his question was being ignored in his own home. Zachary kept his attention on Ananiel and Aniel.
Zachary Sears: “Vhy would zhey be here in ze first place?”
Aniel: “If they are here, they are after something...”
Ananiel’s head whipped around to Everalda and his eyes widened.
Ananiel: “LEASH! HE… LEASHES!”
The horror on Aniel’s face expressed everything. She looked sharply at Adrien, then at Everalda, and then back at Adrien again.
Aniel: “We don’t have a lot of time. They will be here any second now, and if we don’t work together…”
Kenzie Rydell: “Wait. How do you expect us to ‘work together’ when we don’t even know who we’re dealing with right now?”
She finger quoted the words ‘work together’ to emphasize the point. Zachary’s patience was thinning out, glaring at Kenzie.
Zachary Sears: “Halt die Klappe!”
Now more than ever, he despised her presence. They were running out of time; they didn’t need to go into details. The Dropkick King took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Adrien Cochrane: “Tell me what I need to do to help.”
Finally, some composure.
Aniel: “Alright… Take Everalda and Kenzie upstairs. Do not let anyone else near them and keep your son in your sight at all times. They are here for the children.”
Kenzie Rydell: “What’s even happening right now?!”
Before Kenzie could get an answer, Adrien and Everelda were shepherding her up the stairs and down the hallway. Adrien looked to his wife and exhaled.
Adrien Cochrane: “The panic room…”
He didn’t need to say anything else. Everalda understood his direction, giving her husband a hasty kiss. Quickly yet carefully, she entered Klaus’s bedroom-- the former office-- and awakened him so they could both relocate into the room designed for emergencies such as this. Once they were secure and the door was locked, Adrien and Kenzie were on guard.
Downstairs, the front door burst open and the Demons came through. They were huddled into a mass, preventing anyone from hitting one of them, and then they expanded outward into the hallway. What was once a mass of human bodies instantly became eight people, all of them heading in different directions.
Zachary had the foresight to shove one of them back into the doorway. The next group attempting to come in became bogged down by the sudden appearance of one of their own. He came at the side of another one who was heading towards the stairs, shoving him into the wall where pictures and decorations rattled from the impact.
While the Demon Knight was throwing brutally hard right hands into the masked face, Aniel and Ananiel were working together with a unique harmony that Ananiel only shared with his lover and his brother. The two danced around one another, their backs barely touching as they worked to keep the Demons that were encircling them from coming at them from behind.
While Ananiel fought with his glove-covered hands, Aniel held an aluminum extendable baton that she was flicking across arms and feet to block the blows coming from her lover’s blindside.
Eventually, the sheer numbers became too much and the black and white-clad figures raced up the stairs. At the top, they were met by Adrien and the still extremely confused but ready Kenzie. At the small opening of the stairs, Adrien was true to his nickname, landing a perfect dropkick into the front runner’s chest. He sent the Demon flying back into his companions and forced some of their numbers to tumble down the stairs.
Kenzie, on the other hand, proved to be nearly as skilled as Adrien himself, though she didn’t show it until now. A hard right cross caught the next one coming up in the jaw, sending him over the edge of the railing and crashing to the floor below. Another right cross caught another of them in the masked face, sending them to the side and into a brutal kick from Adrien square in the mask. The impact formed a crack, revealing part of a stubbled face before the person fell back unconscious into the horde. Kenzie appeared remorseful, but the numbers finally caught up with the pair. The group found themselves engulfed by a dozen of the black and white-clad Demons. They did their best to cover up their heads and chest but it was futile. The blows rained down on them from seemingly every direction with malice and savagery.
Visualizing this from within the panic room, Everalda covered her mouth with one of her hands. Her left arm held her three-year-old son close to her, trying to maintain her stress levels.
Everalda Cochrane: “Adrien…”
Klaus Cochrane-Sears: “Mommy…?”
Everalda Cochrane: “Everything will be alright, my little Star-Lord…”
There was something particular on one of the monitors… and she was relieved when her husband noticed it where he was. Adrien was able to clear his vision enough through the horde to spot Klaus’s solid wood baseball bat nearby. He snatched the small wooden club off the floor and found one of the figures holding Kenzie’s arms behind her back while four others were laying into her with brutal right hands. With an accurate swing, Adrien struck the back of the man’s shoulders and head, forcing him to drop and freeing Kenzie’s hands.
She grabbed the blow coming in and yanked the figure forward while throwing her own head towards the intruder. The headbutt connected with a loud CRACK as the mask shattered, revealing a girl who couldn’t have been a day over nineteen who collapsed unconscious. She felt a ping of sympathy for the stranger until yet another Demon approached. She used parkour to bounce off the wall and kick him square in the jaw to knock him back, mounting him on the ground to deliver a few more desperate punches while tears rolled down her cheeks.
Next to her, Adrien was driving the small round end of the handle into the sides of the head of anyone near him, sending them staggering away. However, when one of them suddenly looked up and charged in his direction like a rabid animal, Adrien swung for the fences. The bat connected with the masked face and sent the man end over end into the air.
When the situation was finally manageable, Adrien quickly glanced over at his first protégé and smiled.
Adrien Cochrane: “That wasn’t too bad…”
Kenzie Rydell: “I guess we’re a good— BEHIND YOU!”
The Dropkick King reacted just half a second too late. The forearm shot caught him behind the ear and sent him crashing against the wall. The Hopebringer was doing her best to keep the two still standing occupied when she heard the pounding of feet overhead. Someone else was coming up the stairs.
For a moment, Adrien was seeing stars. The Demon behind him grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head back with the intention of driving his face into the wall -- when suddenly, the pressure disappeared from behind him. A familiar voice growled, letting out a German curse word.
Adrien turned around to find Zachary with his arms around the masked figure’s throat, choking him out. The Demon was flailing, gasps and gurgles came from behind the mask as he struggled to swallow his saliva. There was something about the feral, murderous look in Zachary’s eyes as he tightened his grip. Adrien knew Zachary intended to kill whoever this was. Whatever this was. Whatever Zach was involved in, it was so bad he had to kill to survive.
He couldn’t fathom this from his own family.
Adrien Cochrane: “Zach, stop!”
Zachary Sears: “Nein! Zhis is vhat they deserve!”
Adrien Cochrane: “And what do you deserve? To have blood on your hands…? You’re better than this.”
Zachary and Adrien locked eyes, while the man in the chokehold began to go limp. To their surprise, Everalda and Klaus emerged from the panic room, holding hands. Her baby blue eyes shimmered softly as she faced her younger brother.
Everalda Cochrane: “Klaus looks up to you. You’re his Uncle Zach, so please…”
Sears looked from her to his nephew. Klaus was wide awake now, shocked and cowering in fear. The sight caused tears to run down Zachary’s face before he threw the unconscious man to the side. With those upstairs neutralized, thanks to Kenzie finishing with the last two, Zachary, Adrien, Everalda, and Klaus shared an embrace. Despite everything, he made the right choice.
Downstairs, however, was a different story. Aniel and Ananiel had refrained from killing simply to be easier on the cleanup, but there were bodies everywhere. The two stood close together, whispering while tending to the bleeding eyebrows, noses, and lips.
A final Demon seemed to appear out of nowhere in the upstairs hallway behind where Kenzie stood. The man grabbed her by the hair, and before anyone could react, he turned her forcefully and drove her face hard into the door frame. Klaus let out a scream, hiding behind his mother. The Demon repeated this process two more times before Adrien and Zachary reacted, each of them throwing a punch that took the man in the masked face and sent him crashing over the child’s convertible crib and onto the floor.
Once Kenzie dropped to the floor, Adrien crouched down, lightly touching her and releasing a sigh of relief.
Adrien Cochrane: “She’s fine… She’ll be out a while, though…”
Everalda Cochrane: “I’m glad she’s going to be alright…”
Slowly, Klaus peaked from around his mother. Now that it was clear, Adrien helped Kenzie into the master bedroom and settled her down on the bed. Klaus was happy to keep her company when his mother asked him to stay with her. She was like an aunt to him, after all. This gave the adults an opportunity to talk to one another just outside of the room.
Everalda Cochrane: “I… assume they’re the ones you told me about.”
She sighed softly and rested her hands on her belly. Adrien blinked, wondering how his wife came to this conclusion. He was a sharp thinker; he remembered overhearing Everalda talking on the phone with Zachary on a couple of occasions.
Adrien Cochrane: “Maybe now I can learn what’s going on? Our house was invaded, our family threatened…”
Sears walked over to the top of the stairs and looked down at Ananiel and Aniel. He was certain Lucifer didn’t want anyone outside of the Children knowing about the Civil War, but he already bent that rule when he informed his older sister quite some time ago. He sighed and turned to Adrien, nodding his head.
Zachary Sears: “...I asked Eve to keep it a secret from you because we both knew you vould try to join ze fight. You’re needed here vith zhem, not on the missions.”
Cochrane blinked. His wife, who was terrible at keeping secrets, actually managed to keep one from him? He was impressed. His brother-in-law continued.
Zachary Sears: “Ze reason vhy I kneeled to Lucifer und joined the Children of Nephilim… vas to fight a new threat. Lucifer’s First Demon, Valdemar Johansen, betrayed him, persuaded some of the sinners to join him, und stole ze Master File to create his own Hell on Earth. Along ze vay, he tracked down Lucifer’s First Angel, Anthony Crawford.
He vas ze first Sathanas, not Dean. Valdemar und Anthony formed an alliance to oppose Lucifer und ze Children of Nephilim. They believe ‘the new vay’, as Valdemar describes, is wrong, zhat every Sinner deserves to be punished. No re-education; no permanent solution. These men are merciless. They demolished ze Farmhouse, the former home of Ramiel, Ananiel, Sariel, und Aniel. They rigged Xaria’s estate to explode with us inside, no regard for her innocent children.”
Everalda’s left hand covered her mouth in pure shock. That was not a detail Zachary shared with her before. Adrien offered his shoulder for her to lean on, his own expression full of dread.
Zachary Sears: “Valdemar und Anthony… zhey are no longer human. They’ve done the one thing ze old Lucifer never did… They endangered children. They were willing to destroy a building with Xaria’s kids inside. Now…?”
The Dropkick King pieced it together.
Adrien Cochrane: “...They sent their ‘demons’ here for my sons.”
He looked at Everalda and a frown settled in.
Adrien Cochrane: “For my wife…”
It was such a grim reality… and Zachary suddenly realized.
Zachary Sears: “Mein Gott, they’re trying to place leashes on ze kids.”
They attacked Adrien and Everalda’s house. Abducting her and Klaus would have placed a leash on Zachary. There was no doubt that Valdemar and Anthony would send Demons after the kids of the other members. Aerynn’s kids, Xaria, Johnny, and Martin’s kids, anyone who was young, innocent, and related to the Children of Nephilim.
Zachary Sears: “Naani! Ani! Ve need to go.”
They looked up the stairs from the living room and nodded. Sears looked to Adrien once more.
Zachary Sears: “Vhatever you do, please do not tell Kenzie everything I just told you.”
Adrien Cochrane: “But--”
Zachary Sears: “I may not like her, but I don’t vant her to be any more involved zhan she already is. She can continue to villainize me all she vants; it matters not.”
Everalda looked to her husband, who looked back at her with softened features. He then faced his younger brother-in-law and nodded.
Adrien Cochrane: “Fine. But be careful, brother.”
The Demon Knight solemnly nodded.
Zachary Sears: “Danke…”
He hugged them, careful with Everalda’s belly, and then he raced down the stairs to rejoin Ananiel and Aniel. There was no time to lose.
The war was upon their doorsteps.
~
{
Philidelphia
Hell
}
~
{
Philidelphia
Hell
}
~
When the door of the elevator rang out again the man Valdemar had been waiting for stepped out. Anthony wore a simple tank top with black loose fitting track pants and combat boots. The cheek wound had all but healed now but his face bore the scar.
Valdemar rose and extended his arms in greeting but before he could greet his right hand the elevator rang out a second time. Anthony lifted a brow when Valdemar motioned with his head to the side, but he did move along the wall coming to a stop beside the desk.
Out of the elevator this time came a man who walked beside the female demon dressed in the white and black outfit designed for them. The man had blonde hair that was now stained red with dried blood and his wrists were shackled to his ankles. His pants were torn and his shirt completely missing showing the signs of the blows and torment he had suffered in Hell.
Demon: “This is him Lord Apollyon”
Valdemar leaned back in his chair and folded his hands over the top of the desk before him. He stared at the man and then down at the opened file on the desk and then finally over at Sathanas.
Lord Apollyon: “That isn’t Donovan Felk.”
Anthony gently shrugged and pushed off the wall with a single shoulder roll staring at the man who did his best to cower even in the chains.
Anthony Crawford: “What does it matter? They all deserve to suffer.”
Lord Apollyon: “BECAUSE HE’S NOT GUILTY!”
Valdemer screamed and slammed his fist down on the desk and for a moment, a brief second he was the man who had served in Hell for so long was back. A man who understood the difference between the Guilty and Innocent.
That however changed when Valdemar sighed and looked back at the man, opening his hands in apology.
Lord Apollyon: “Unfortunately? I cannot let you go now.”
Demon: “....what?”
The woman was more than shocked, she was appalled. The man standing beside her however wasn’t shocked or appalled, he was horrified.
Man: “But...I CAN’T GO BACK THERE!”
Lord Apollyon: “Unfortunately, I cannot let you out after you’ve seen this place. You know too much.”
A wave of his hand was all it took and even appalled the Demon grabbed the man’s chains and began to drag him toward the elevator again. Valdemar turned his attention to Anthony, who looked anything but concerned and leveled a finger at the man being dragged away.
Lord Apollyon: “That’s on you. You realize ...”
Man: “NO! PLEASE! I CAN’T GO BACK!”
Anthony Crawford: “I can live with it.”
Man: “WAIT! I HAVE INFORMATION ON LUCIFER!”
Anthony and Valdemar’s eyes shot to the man and the latter lifted a hand for the demon to stop before motioning with his hand toward him. Once the Demon had brought him to the edge of the desk Valdemar leaned forward to stare at him.
Lord Apollyon: “What is your name human?”
Man: “....Johnny. Johnny Dawkins….”
Lord Apollyon: “And what could you possibly know about Lucifer that we don’t already know?”
Johnny Dawkins: “....You give me freedom from this fucking hell and I’ll tell you a secret not even Lucifer knows. One that would make him do whatever you told him.”
Lord Apollyon: “And what is this secret?”
Johnny Dawkins: “Freedom?!”
Valdemar leaned back in his chair and placed his index fingers to his lips, staring at the man. Ultimately he flashed a curt nod.
Lord Apollyon: “You know what happens if you tell anyone about this place right?”
Johnny Dawkins: “....Yes….”
Lord Apollyon: “Then deal. What is this information?”
For a second the man looked like he didn’t want to tell Valdemar after all, but when Valdemar looked at the demon, who tightened her hand on the chain to drag him to the elevator he shouted.
Johnny Dawkins: “HE’S THE FATHER OF SHAY KENYON’S TWINS!”
Anthony Crawford and Lord Apollyon: “HE’S WHAT?!”
Johnny Dawkins: “Shay and I dated in high school so they approached me about saying I was their father. I’m one of the only people who know the truth. Ashley Kenyon, Shay and her wife Lena, Nikki Peltier…and their family friend Dean and his family lawyer who helped forge the birth certificates.”
Anthony Crawford: “Mother fucker…”
Lord Apollyon: “We can put a Leash on Lucifer himself! He’ll have to kneel!”
Johnny Dawkins: “And my freedom?!”
Valdemar looked back at the man and for a moment Johnny thought he was going to renege but he gave a single nod to the Demon. An hour later he was outside in the streets of Philadelphia with nothing but a Demon like jumpsuit and enough money for a bus back to Texas.
And Johnny knew he needed to find a phone as quickly as possible and call Ashley.
They needed to be warned that this madman was coming for Shay and it was his fault.
