Post by Bene Elohim on Feb 8, 2024 14:50:49 GMT -8
~Viewer discretion is advised.
It contains extreme violence, intense situations, gun violence and death~
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Writers note: This takes place late tonight and is NOT knowledge known by the general public. Do NOT react to this.
Shonn Maguire walks across his living room and smiles at the sight of his nearly-four-year-old twins, Seán and Siobhan, playing with their blocks.
Shonn: “It bae a beautiful sight….”
Aerynn, Ashley and Maiko were walking up the walkway that led up to the front porch of the Maguire household. Not really talking about anything in particular, just chit-chatting between friends. Mostly Aerynn expressing how much she missed her kids and her husband and was so very happy to be home. Even if for a little while.
Once they reached the porch, she opened the door and didn’t even get to set her bags down before the twins were up and screeching as they ran towards her.
Twins: “MOMMY!!!!”
Aerynn then knelt down, while dropping her bags and wrapped her arms around her son and daughter. It was so easy to see that she missed them as she pulled them to her and a few tears fell. Though, she did look up to her husband and smiled. Albeit a sad one.
Aerynn (mouthing): “Love you.”
Shonn cannot help but smile even more broadly and brightly than he already was.
Shonn: “Aye, tha bae an even batter sight!”
He allows almost a full minute to pass before chuckles to himself with amusement.
Shonn: “Ye kin bae lettin’ yer mum in th’ door now, please.”
Twins: “Awwww, but Daddy!!!”
Aerynn kissed both of their cheeks and then, thankfully they were distracted by seeing Ashley and Maiko.
Twins: “AUNTIE ASHWEY!!!”
They started to take off towards her, but stopped short when they seen Maiko. Confusion crossing their faces as they looked from her to Ashley and back again.
Aerynn, on the other hand, was pushing up and making her way over to Shonn. Wrapping her arms around his neck.
Aerynn: “Hey ye.”
It was so easy to see the love between the two of them simply in how they looked at each other.
Shonn: “Hey ye, Alice.”
Just then they hear their daughter pipe up.
Siobhan: “Where Aunt Miko face?”
Ashley grins at the little girl.
Ashley: “It’s still there, she just doesn’t wear it as often anymore. That’s ok, right?”
The little one nods.
Siobhan: “She pwetty!”
Shonn smirks.
Shonn: “Aye, she bae tha, li’l one.”
Aerynn kissed him lightly before taking a step back to hear the exchange between Siobhan and Ashley about Maiko. And then nodded in agreement with her husband.
It was a few seconds later that Aerynn felt a tug at her shirt and she knelt down again as her son came up to wrap his little arms around her neck and buried his face into her shoulder.
Aerynn: “Aww, wha’s wrong, my Darlin’”?
Sean sniffled as Aerynn wrapped her arms around her son.
Aerynn: “Awww, M’Love. I missed ye, too. Haven’t ye a smile fer mummy?”
Sean shook his head and kept himself wrapped around his mother.
Shonn: “He missed his mum…”
It was widely known that Sean was the Momma’s Boy and Siobhan was Daddy’s Daredevil. And speaking of Daddy’s Daredevil, she marched up to Maiko, hands on her hips and a serious look on her face.
Siobhan: “You pwomise you weaw you’s pweety face?”
As Maiko stands there looking somewhere between thunderstruck and confused, Ashley pats her on the back.
Ashley: “We’ll see what we can do. Twoey likes painting so, we might get her to do it yet.”
Aerynn couldn’t stop the peals of giggles that came behind her daughter’s question to her best friend’s girlfriend.
Then she picked her son up and moved to sit on the couch. Setting him in her lap as he still hadn’t let go.
Aerynn: “How’s e’erythin’ been?”
She asked of Shonn.
Shonn: “Quiet a bit. Sorsh bae fightin’ good, th’ rest o’ th’ girls as well. Aoife bae helpin’ wit th’ li’l ones as much as Fi.”
The smile somehow manages to brighten more still.
Shonn: “We all bae missin’ ye.”
Aerynn’s own smile brightened as she listened to the news her husband was giving her. Sean, in the meantime, had quieted down and just laid against his mother.
Technically, Aerynn was still a Shieldmaiden. But when she talked to Robi about taking time off to take care of some “family” business, Robi had readily agreed once Aerynn explained WHY she needed the time away.
Aerynn: “Sorsh has always taken after ye in tha fightin’ department. An’ Aoife has always been great wit’ tha twins.”
Though, she would be remiss if she didn’t smile at the fact that her sister, Fianna Kenyon (who was married to Ashley’s brother), was helping Shonn with the twins. Even though she had twins of her own with Khary.
Aerynn: “She has her own hands full wit’ her an’ Khary’s twins. How does she manage t’ handle ours?”
Of course, a laugh followed after that question. Then she turned and looked to the two women she who had become sisters to her over the years.
Aerynn: “Will ye two get in here already?”
Ashley: “You were having a moment, we didn’t wanna mess it up for ya, Rynn.”
Aerynn laughed.
Aerynn: “Ha ha, smart-arse. Get yer arses in here.”
Shonn nods in agreement.
Shonn: “Aye, come in, come in.”
Ashley and Maiko step inside with the happy family but was quickly addressed by Shonn.
Shonn Maguire: “Weapons downstairs.”
Ashley raised a brow and looked over at the red haired woman who shrugged.
Aerynn Maguire: “Kids. Safety first.”
Ashley snorted back a laugh and disappeared down the stairs storing the weapons she’d brought with her in the gun safe in the basement before coming back upstairs.
For the next few hours Ashley and Maiko got to see Aerynn Maguire in domestic bliss. Playing with her children and sharing little intimate moments with her husband.
This continued well into the afternoon and early evening as the sun faded over the horizon casting a beautiful afterglow on the property from the Louisiana skyline. As it faded Shonn disappeared upstairs to put the kids to bed and Aerynn excused herself to go and tuck the kids in.
Ashley sat in a chair in the corner of the living room with the blue haired Maiko seated cross legged in her lap. Ashley was gently caressing the bare skin on the small of her lovers back while Maiko gently played with the beautiful black hair.
And then the blissful scene was suddenly broken as the lights of the house suddenly snapped off suddenly leaving them all drowned in darkness. Ashley and Maiko didn’t think anything of it until Ashley saw the shadow of a figure passing through a pair of trees out the window.
Aerynn Maguire: “Just a power outage! Happens all the time!”
Aerynn called down but Ashley was staring at the figure creeping across the grass as Maiko’s head shot around to the sound of the screen door on the back porch opening slowly.
Ashley Kenyon: “RYNN! WE GOT COMPANY!”
Aerynn Maguire: “I SEE THEM!”
What was once one became five and five became fifteen and then too many to count, coming in from all directions as Aerynn appeared at the bottom of the stairs, the only thing that could be seen was her red hair in the dark.
Aerynn Maguire: “We gotta get downstairs!”
Ashley Kenyon: “They are already inside the kitchen Rynn. It’d be a death trap.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth then the swinging door to the kitchen came open and for the first time they realized how dangerous this situation really was. The repeated attacks on Anthony had made Apollyon give word to arm the Demons.
Aerynn hit Ashley in the chest sending both women to the floor and Maiko tumbling from her lap in the opposite direction and three silenced pistol shots hissed out striking the chair. Ash and Aerynn pushed themselves back hard against the chair and Maiko kicked the table down between herself and the kitchen door.
Aerynn Maguire: “Ash the kids are upstairs!”
It was the wrong thing to say as a familiar voice screamed.
Taylor: “UPSTAIRS! THEY ARE UPSTAIRS!”
Ashley’s eyes shot to Maiko expecting to see her cowering in fear, wide-eyed in terror at the voice of one of the men who had hurt her so badly but instead all she could hear was the metallic sound of metal scraping metal and the deep growling from within the woman’s chest.
Asmodeus was done hiding.
Asmodeus: “Get to the weapons.”
Aerynn Maguire: “Maiko there’s too many!”
Aerynn knew how many of them were out there and how many of them were armed to the teeth but Ashley knew better. She knew what Asmodeus was capable of with those two knives she carried hidden at the back of her belt.
Ashley: “Clear a path.”
The shadow of a figure darting out from behind the table was all they could see and the two women followed behind. They could trade her in the muzzle flashes as she seemed to dance, twisting around one Demon as she sliced across hands, fingers, sides and necks.
Those who had been left relatively unarmed, but wounded enough to have to drop their weapons caught brutal right hands and kicks from the two women following in the path of destruction left by the blue haired woman.
When they reached the doors to the kitchen Maiko threw herself to the side as the door flew open and a colossal blast spread across where Maiko had just been. Her free hand grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and brought it up into the masked face sending the demon stumbling back into another that was coming around the kitchen counter.
Asmodeus broke into a sprint and dropped down to a knee slashing across both figures legs, behind the knee and as they fell drove the blade into the back of the figures necks. Aerynn and Ashley entered the room and immediately turned down a set of stairs.
Maiko waited, the only sound now the dripping of the blood onto the floor from the tip of the blades she carried in each hand. Her eyes narrowed and roaming the ceiling for sounds of anyone on the second floor.
The door behind her leading outside suddenly burst open and two black and white clad figures stood outside on the porch raising their arms. The blue haired woman knew this was it. She couldn’t react fast enough and as the shots rang out she just squeezed her eyes shot.
She never saw Ashley come up the stairs with a glock in each hand and open fire without hesitation when she saw the woman she loved in danger. Kenyon passed by Maiko on the floor and through the door, extending an arm in each direction and firing again as two more were coming from each side. The force of the slugs impacting lifting the demons off their feet.
As Ashley came back through the door a loud shotgun blast rang out from above them followed by multiple handgun shots. Aerynn froze at the top of the stairs, true fear in her eyes as she looked up at the ceiling.
Aerynn Maguire: “...No...not my babies….NO!”
Ashley Kenyon: “AERYNN DON’T!”
It was too late as Aerynn kicked the door open and disappeared around the corner back into the living room, the glock in each hand firing with bright muzzle flashes. Ashley and Maiko gave chase and made it to the kitchen door to see Aerynn running up the stairs before shots hit the door frame of the kitchen sending the two women back into the room for safety.
Ashley Kenyon: “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! FUCK FUCK FUCK!”
Asmodus: “SHE WILL NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT SUPPORT!”
Ashley looked back into the eyes of the woman she loved and saw the demon looking back at her. The other half of Maiko’s mind created by Lucifer so many years before. Asmodeus, the Demoness of Temptation.
Ashley Kenyon: “Can you make it to the stairs?”
Asmodeus: “GO!”
Ashley didn’t hesitate, throwing her shoulder into the kitchen door swinging it out. The bright flashes from the twin glocks in her hands lighting up the room. Some hit flesh with wet suction sounds while others hit wood but it was enough to cause the demons within to take cover and Maiko sprinted at the stairs.
Ashley dipped back into the kitchen again and reloaded, placing both weapons at her sides as she closed her eyes. Taking deep breaths through her nose Ashley was just about to throw herself out into the living room again when the sound of a motorcycle rang out and Taylor shouted for the Demons to pull back.
And then came the most horrible sound Ashley had ever heard. A heart wrenching, grief filled scream. Throwing the kitchen door open she bolted toward the stairs and made it to the second floor just as the power came back on.
Downstairs, the voice of Fi’s husbands and Ashley’s brother Khary called out from outside.
Khary Kenyon: “What the fuck did you turn the breaker box off f…..Shonn?!”
It was then he saw the bodies lying on the porch and the bullet holes. Ashley slid to a stop in the hallway and found Maiko on the floor with her back against the wall and her knees hugged to her chest, her hands over her mouth.
Slowly, moving on tip toes Ashley crept to the door and eased it back with the barrel of the glock in her right hand and found a half a dozen demons lying around the room, all dead.
But lying in the corner of the room was Shonn Maguire, a shotgun blast in the chest and Aerynn was lying in the middle of the room, her hand reaching out for Shonn, blood running down the back of her head from a small round hole.
Ashley Kenyon: “....No….Rynn...no….”
Maiko Adachi: “....Ruvik….”
Ashley’s head spun around and locked eyes with Maiko, her voice a growled hiss.
Ashley Kenyon: “What?! Ruvik what?! Did this?!”
Maiko Adachi: “....saw him standing over her smiling ...said….you were next and then I’d be….”
Before she could finish her eyes shot up and the door pushed open again, Ashley’s arms came up without hesitation and both slides clicked into place as the guns pointed at Khary. The big man flinched back through the door to safety.
Khary Kenyon: “FRIENDLY FIRE!”
Ashley Kenyon: “KHARY?!”
Khary slipped back into the room again and when Ashley saw him it all came crashing down. The weapons fell from her hands clattering to the floor and she collapsed into his chest crying. Khary wrapped his arms around her head, his eyes lingering on Aerynn’s empty blank expression.
Khary Kenyon: “What happened Ash? Who did this?”
Ashley Kenyon: “....”
Another figure soon joined them as Maiko had put herself together enough to enter the room and stand beside Khary with a tender, caring hand on Ashley’s arm.
Maiko Adachi: “....This can’t have only happened here Pool….”
Ashley lifted her head, looking over at Maiko when the realization hit her as well. They hadn’t come for them. The Demons had come for the kids.
Ashley Kenyon: “Valdy’s looking for Leashes.”
Maiko Adachi: “Yes. Zach? Martin? The others?”
Ashley Kenyon: “We have to warn him.”
Ashley withdrew a small black square from her back pocket and flipped open the antenna only to find a bullet embedded in it. She looked behind her at her back pocket and shook her head.
Ashley Kenyon: “Someone nearly… fuck, where the kids?”
Maiko and Khary both look around, all three frantically racking their brains.
Khary Kenyon: “They were here?”
Ashley nods quickly, worriedly.
Ashley Kenyon: “It’s why Shonn and Rynn were up here.”
Maiko glances around the room while Khary and Ashley both go to the door to have a look.
Maiko Adachi: “...Pool… bureau?”
Ashley turns to see the large wardrobe against the wall and then moves her gaze to the chest in the next room.
Ashley Kenyon: “I…”
She walks over and slowly unbuckles the straps holding it closed. She closes her eyes and slowly pulls it open, finding the two small children huddled inside. Both of them look up at her, tears in their eyes and fear written all over their little faces.
Seán Maguire: “Aunt Ashie?”
Ashley swallows hard and takes the small boy into her arms.
Ashley Kenyon: “In here….”
Khary and Maiko come into the room, Maiko carrying Ashley’s guns. Khary walks over to the box and picks up the other child.
Siobhan Maguire: “Unca Kree, wha happened?”
Khary hugs her close and then kisses the top of her head.
Khary Kenyon: “I don’t know, Sweetheart. I don’t know…”
The three walk the children outside and head over to Ashley’s black 1982 Pontiac Firebird and take their time sitting them in the back seat. Once the two children are safely in the vehicle, Ashley, Maiko and Khary step to the front of the car.
Khary Kenyon: “You two take the kids back to wherever you’re going. I’ll make some calls, 3-D’ll take care of the bodies. We’ve got a couple of sympathetic cops that’ll help us make sure we can give Shonn and Rynn the funerals they deserve. The others…”
He looks across the lawn in disgust.
Khary Kenyon: “They’re gator bait, it’ll be like they were never here.”
Maiko nods as Ashley swallows hard.
Ashley Kenyon: “You sure?”
Khary nods grimly.
Khary Kenyon: “I got this…”
Ashley hugs her older brother.
Ashley Kenyon: “I love you, I…”
Khary hugs her tightly and then nods, already pulling out his phone.
Khary Kenyon: “I know, I love you too. Go…”
Ashley nods as she pulls away. Maiko steps into the passenger seat, Ashley into the driver’s seat. She’s fires the car up, the lights in the grill coming to life. She turns and drives off as Khary dials the first number.
Khary Kenyon: “Yeah… we got a situation here…”
It had all happened so fast that it was nearly impossible to have prepared for it. Hits on Xaria’s children and the Cochrane residence simultaneously, thankfully the Children were spread thin enough that there was someone there to help.
Now, hours after the attacks Lucifer stood in the command center with Martin, Johnny, Chelsea, Zachary, Sariel, Xaria and the twins. Zachary, Ananiel and Aniel had only arrived shortly before and Aniel left immediately to tend to Maricela as she was the most qualified.
There was no word yet from Ashley, Aerynn and Maiko and all of them were concerned. No phone calls. Nothing.
As Lucifer paced staring at the board the sound of a chair rolling was heard and Alistair rolled into the middle of the room behind them looking through the opened door at the group.
Alistair: “There’s something weird happening here.”
Sariel: “Define weird.”
The woman commanded and came around the table with Xaria walking beside her and the others close behind leaving Lucifer alone in the room staring at the pictures on the board. Alistair rolled back in front of the group of computers and motioned to them with a hand.
Alistair: “Someone is throwing up red flags all over the place. Security systems, light panels. Anywhere I’m known to monitor. It’s like someone is throwing up a big S.O.S. All from the same location.”
Sariel leaned over his shoulder, her eyes darting from one screen to another reading what he was seeing and turned back to the Harbinger.
Sariel: “They are all coming from Nikki Pelteir.”
Xaria Linette: “Ashley?!”
Lucifer however had already coming out of the room with the strange block phone in his right hand.
Lucifer: “Find me a contact number.”
Alistair: “Already on it. Sending it to you now.”
The number came to the device and Lucifer immediately dialed it and put the ringing on speaker so everyone could hear it. After a third ring a panicked, nearly in tears Nikki Peltier answered.
Nikki Peltier: “...H...Hello?”
Lucifer: “You were trying to locate me?”
Nikki Peltier: “FOR FUCK SAKE ITS BEEN TWO HOURS!”
Lucifer: “Is Ashley with you?”
Nikki Peltier: “....No...I’m trying to reach her….”
Xaria Linette: “We don’t know where she is Nikki. Apollyon attacked the kids last night.”
Nikki Peltier: “Oh god...No...no no no no no….”
Xaria Linette: “Nikki what’s going on?!”
Nikki Peltier: “I need to speak to Ashley! RIGHT NOW!”
Lucifer: “We don’t know where she is! What the fuck is going on?!”
Nikki seemed to pause with only the sound of her panicked breathing to show she was still on the phone. After the pause she whispered.
Nikki Peltier: “There is something about Shay you don’t know Lucifer. About her and the kids….”
At that exact moment two figures appeared at the bottom of the stairs travel stained and more than a little weary.
Ashley Kenyon and Maiko Adachi.
Ashley heard the two sentences and sprinted across the room snatching the phone from Lucifer’s hand and hitting the speaker button putting the phone to her ear.
Ashley Kenyon: “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!”
Even with the phone to her ear Nikki was so scared her shouted voice carried.
Nikki Peltier: “APOLLYON FOUND JOHNNY! HE KNOWS ABOUT THE GIRLS!”
Ashley turned pale white and she listened staring at Lucifer who stared right back at her. Nikki explained it all. That Johnny had been taken by mistake and had sold Shay’s children out for his own safety. That Sathanas and Apollyon now knew Lucifer was the girls father. A shaking hand pressed the button as Xaria looked around them.
Xaria Linette: “Where’s Aerynn?”
Maiko flinched but Ashley never took her eyes off Lucifer.
Ashley Kenyon: “You need to get demons or someone close to LA to the bar right now Lucifer. Right goddamn now.”
Zachary Sears: “Ver is Aerynn?”
Ashley founded on the german man and screamed.
Ashley Kenyon: “SHE’S FUCKING DEAD!”
Zach recoiled from her like a physical blow had been struck.
Ashley Kenyon: “That mother fucker Ruvik put a bullet in her AND Shonn!”
Xaria Linette: “....No…..”
Ashley turned to Lucifer however and locked eyes with the man.
Ashley Kenyon: “That doesn’t matter right now. You need to get someone to Lena’s bar and get Shay and your daughters OUT!”
All of them reacted instantly looking sharply at Ashley as she spoke. Lucifer stared at Ashley and she just nodded answering all of them at the same moment.
Ashley Kenyon: “You are their father Michael and Valdemar knows it. He’s gonna go at Shay full fucking bore. He’ll send Anthony himself.”
Lucifer blinked and then turned sprinting back into the command center and looking back at the map. The closest demon units were in northern Nevada. There was a genuine fear in his eyes now as he laid a trembling hand on the map whispering.
Lucifer: “...There isn’t anyone close enough….”
Maiko Adachi: “....But....”
Ashley turned and drove her fist down onto the table, her arm was shaking and tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
Ashley Kenyon: “This can’t be fucking happening!!”
At that moment Lucifer’s phone chimed and he looked down and saw the notice.
Without hesitation Lucifer prayed the number was still the same and called the only person who could stop Anthony. Someone who happened to be in LA with their family.
The only hope they had now.
It contains extreme violence, intense situations, gun violence and death~
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Writers note: This takes place late tonight and is NOT knowledge known by the general public. Do NOT react to this.
Shonn Maguire walks across his living room and smiles at the sight of his nearly-four-year-old twins, Seán and Siobhan, playing with their blocks.
Shonn: “It bae a beautiful sight….”
Aerynn, Ashley and Maiko were walking up the walkway that led up to the front porch of the Maguire household. Not really talking about anything in particular, just chit-chatting between friends. Mostly Aerynn expressing how much she missed her kids and her husband and was so very happy to be home. Even if for a little while.
Once they reached the porch, she opened the door and didn’t even get to set her bags down before the twins were up and screeching as they ran towards her.
Twins: “MOMMY!!!!”
Aerynn then knelt down, while dropping her bags and wrapped her arms around her son and daughter. It was so easy to see that she missed them as she pulled them to her and a few tears fell. Though, she did look up to her husband and smiled. Albeit a sad one.
Aerynn (mouthing): “Love you.”
Shonn cannot help but smile even more broadly and brightly than he already was.
Shonn: “Aye, tha bae an even batter sight!”
He allows almost a full minute to pass before chuckles to himself with amusement.
Shonn: “Ye kin bae lettin’ yer mum in th’ door now, please.”
Twins: “Awwww, but Daddy!!!”
Aerynn kissed both of their cheeks and then, thankfully they were distracted by seeing Ashley and Maiko.
Twins: “AUNTIE ASHWEY!!!”
They started to take off towards her, but stopped short when they seen Maiko. Confusion crossing their faces as they looked from her to Ashley and back again.
Aerynn, on the other hand, was pushing up and making her way over to Shonn. Wrapping her arms around his neck.
Aerynn: “Hey ye.”
It was so easy to see the love between the two of them simply in how they looked at each other.
Shonn: “Hey ye, Alice.”
Just then they hear their daughter pipe up.
Siobhan: “Where Aunt Miko face?”
Ashley grins at the little girl.
Ashley: “It’s still there, she just doesn’t wear it as often anymore. That’s ok, right?”
The little one nods.
Siobhan: “She pwetty!”
Shonn smirks.
Shonn: “Aye, she bae tha, li’l one.”
Aerynn kissed him lightly before taking a step back to hear the exchange between Siobhan and Ashley about Maiko. And then nodded in agreement with her husband.
It was a few seconds later that Aerynn felt a tug at her shirt and she knelt down again as her son came up to wrap his little arms around her neck and buried his face into her shoulder.
Aerynn: “Aww, wha’s wrong, my Darlin’”?
Sean sniffled as Aerynn wrapped her arms around her son.
Aerynn: “Awww, M’Love. I missed ye, too. Haven’t ye a smile fer mummy?”
Sean shook his head and kept himself wrapped around his mother.
Shonn: “He missed his mum…”
It was widely known that Sean was the Momma’s Boy and Siobhan was Daddy’s Daredevil. And speaking of Daddy’s Daredevil, she marched up to Maiko, hands on her hips and a serious look on her face.
Siobhan: “You pwomise you weaw you’s pweety face?”
As Maiko stands there looking somewhere between thunderstruck and confused, Ashley pats her on the back.
Ashley: “We’ll see what we can do. Twoey likes painting so, we might get her to do it yet.”
Aerynn couldn’t stop the peals of giggles that came behind her daughter’s question to her best friend’s girlfriend.
Then she picked her son up and moved to sit on the couch. Setting him in her lap as he still hadn’t let go.
Aerynn: “How’s e’erythin’ been?”
She asked of Shonn.
Shonn: “Quiet a bit. Sorsh bae fightin’ good, th’ rest o’ th’ girls as well. Aoife bae helpin’ wit th’ li’l ones as much as Fi.”
The smile somehow manages to brighten more still.
Shonn: “We all bae missin’ ye.”
Aerynn’s own smile brightened as she listened to the news her husband was giving her. Sean, in the meantime, had quieted down and just laid against his mother.
Technically, Aerynn was still a Shieldmaiden. But when she talked to Robi about taking time off to take care of some “family” business, Robi had readily agreed once Aerynn explained WHY she needed the time away.
Aerynn: “Sorsh has always taken after ye in tha fightin’ department. An’ Aoife has always been great wit’ tha twins.”
Though, she would be remiss if she didn’t smile at the fact that her sister, Fianna Kenyon (who was married to Ashley’s brother), was helping Shonn with the twins. Even though she had twins of her own with Khary.
Aerynn: “She has her own hands full wit’ her an’ Khary’s twins. How does she manage t’ handle ours?”
Of course, a laugh followed after that question. Then she turned and looked to the two women she who had become sisters to her over the years.
Aerynn: “Will ye two get in here already?”
Ashley: “You were having a moment, we didn’t wanna mess it up for ya, Rynn.”
Aerynn laughed.
Aerynn: “Ha ha, smart-arse. Get yer arses in here.”
Shonn nods in agreement.
Shonn: “Aye, come in, come in.”
Ashley and Maiko step inside with the happy family but was quickly addressed by Shonn.
Shonn Maguire: “Weapons downstairs.”
Ashley raised a brow and looked over at the red haired woman who shrugged.
Aerynn Maguire: “Kids. Safety first.”
Ashley snorted back a laugh and disappeared down the stairs storing the weapons she’d brought with her in the gun safe in the basement before coming back upstairs.
For the next few hours Ashley and Maiko got to see Aerynn Maguire in domestic bliss. Playing with her children and sharing little intimate moments with her husband.
This continued well into the afternoon and early evening as the sun faded over the horizon casting a beautiful afterglow on the property from the Louisiana skyline. As it faded Shonn disappeared upstairs to put the kids to bed and Aerynn excused herself to go and tuck the kids in.
Ashley sat in a chair in the corner of the living room with the blue haired Maiko seated cross legged in her lap. Ashley was gently caressing the bare skin on the small of her lovers back while Maiko gently played with the beautiful black hair.
And then the blissful scene was suddenly broken as the lights of the house suddenly snapped off suddenly leaving them all drowned in darkness. Ashley and Maiko didn’t think anything of it until Ashley saw the shadow of a figure passing through a pair of trees out the window.
Aerynn Maguire: “Just a power outage! Happens all the time!”
Aerynn called down but Ashley was staring at the figure creeping across the grass as Maiko’s head shot around to the sound of the screen door on the back porch opening slowly.
Ashley Kenyon: “RYNN! WE GOT COMPANY!”
Aerynn Maguire: “I SEE THEM!”
What was once one became five and five became fifteen and then too many to count, coming in from all directions as Aerynn appeared at the bottom of the stairs, the only thing that could be seen was her red hair in the dark.
Aerynn Maguire: “We gotta get downstairs!”
Ashley Kenyon: “They are already inside the kitchen Rynn. It’d be a death trap.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth then the swinging door to the kitchen came open and for the first time they realized how dangerous this situation really was. The repeated attacks on Anthony had made Apollyon give word to arm the Demons.
Aerynn hit Ashley in the chest sending both women to the floor and Maiko tumbling from her lap in the opposite direction and three silenced pistol shots hissed out striking the chair. Ash and Aerynn pushed themselves back hard against the chair and Maiko kicked the table down between herself and the kitchen door.
Aerynn Maguire: “Ash the kids are upstairs!”
It was the wrong thing to say as a familiar voice screamed.
Taylor: “UPSTAIRS! THEY ARE UPSTAIRS!”
Ashley’s eyes shot to Maiko expecting to see her cowering in fear, wide-eyed in terror at the voice of one of the men who had hurt her so badly but instead all she could hear was the metallic sound of metal scraping metal and the deep growling from within the woman’s chest.
Asmodeus was done hiding.
Asmodeus: “Get to the weapons.”
Aerynn Maguire: “Maiko there’s too many!”
Aerynn knew how many of them were out there and how many of them were armed to the teeth but Ashley knew better. She knew what Asmodeus was capable of with those two knives she carried hidden at the back of her belt.
Ashley: “Clear a path.”
The shadow of a figure darting out from behind the table was all they could see and the two women followed behind. They could trade her in the muzzle flashes as she seemed to dance, twisting around one Demon as she sliced across hands, fingers, sides and necks.
Those who had been left relatively unarmed, but wounded enough to have to drop their weapons caught brutal right hands and kicks from the two women following in the path of destruction left by the blue haired woman.
When they reached the doors to the kitchen Maiko threw herself to the side as the door flew open and a colossal blast spread across where Maiko had just been. Her free hand grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and brought it up into the masked face sending the demon stumbling back into another that was coming around the kitchen counter.
Asmodeus broke into a sprint and dropped down to a knee slashing across both figures legs, behind the knee and as they fell drove the blade into the back of the figures necks. Aerynn and Ashley entered the room and immediately turned down a set of stairs.
Maiko waited, the only sound now the dripping of the blood onto the floor from the tip of the blades she carried in each hand. Her eyes narrowed and roaming the ceiling for sounds of anyone on the second floor.
The door behind her leading outside suddenly burst open and two black and white clad figures stood outside on the porch raising their arms. The blue haired woman knew this was it. She couldn’t react fast enough and as the shots rang out she just squeezed her eyes shot.
She never saw Ashley come up the stairs with a glock in each hand and open fire without hesitation when she saw the woman she loved in danger. Kenyon passed by Maiko on the floor and through the door, extending an arm in each direction and firing again as two more were coming from each side. The force of the slugs impacting lifting the demons off their feet.
As Ashley came back through the door a loud shotgun blast rang out from above them followed by multiple handgun shots. Aerynn froze at the top of the stairs, true fear in her eyes as she looked up at the ceiling.
Aerynn Maguire: “...No...not my babies….NO!”
Ashley Kenyon: “AERYNN DON’T!”
It was too late as Aerynn kicked the door open and disappeared around the corner back into the living room, the glock in each hand firing with bright muzzle flashes. Ashley and Maiko gave chase and made it to the kitchen door to see Aerynn running up the stairs before shots hit the door frame of the kitchen sending the two women back into the room for safety.
Ashley Kenyon: “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! FUCK FUCK FUCK!”
Asmodus: “SHE WILL NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT SUPPORT!”
Ashley looked back into the eyes of the woman she loved and saw the demon looking back at her. The other half of Maiko’s mind created by Lucifer so many years before. Asmodeus, the Demoness of Temptation.
Ashley Kenyon: “Can you make it to the stairs?”
Asmodeus: “GO!”
Ashley didn’t hesitate, throwing her shoulder into the kitchen door swinging it out. The bright flashes from the twin glocks in her hands lighting up the room. Some hit flesh with wet suction sounds while others hit wood but it was enough to cause the demons within to take cover and Maiko sprinted at the stairs.
Ashley dipped back into the kitchen again and reloaded, placing both weapons at her sides as she closed her eyes. Taking deep breaths through her nose Ashley was just about to throw herself out into the living room again when the sound of a motorcycle rang out and Taylor shouted for the Demons to pull back.
And then came the most horrible sound Ashley had ever heard. A heart wrenching, grief filled scream. Throwing the kitchen door open she bolted toward the stairs and made it to the second floor just as the power came back on.
Downstairs, the voice of Fi’s husbands and Ashley’s brother Khary called out from outside.
Khary Kenyon: “What the fuck did you turn the breaker box off f…..Shonn?!”
It was then he saw the bodies lying on the porch and the bullet holes. Ashley slid to a stop in the hallway and found Maiko on the floor with her back against the wall and her knees hugged to her chest, her hands over her mouth.
Slowly, moving on tip toes Ashley crept to the door and eased it back with the barrel of the glock in her right hand and found a half a dozen demons lying around the room, all dead.
But lying in the corner of the room was Shonn Maguire, a shotgun blast in the chest and Aerynn was lying in the middle of the room, her hand reaching out for Shonn, blood running down the back of her head from a small round hole.
Ashley Kenyon: “....No….Rynn...no….”
Maiko Adachi: “....Ruvik….”
Ashley’s head spun around and locked eyes with Maiko, her voice a growled hiss.
Ashley Kenyon: “What?! Ruvik what?! Did this?!”
Maiko Adachi: “....saw him standing over her smiling ...said….you were next and then I’d be….”
Before she could finish her eyes shot up and the door pushed open again, Ashley’s arms came up without hesitation and both slides clicked into place as the guns pointed at Khary. The big man flinched back through the door to safety.
Khary Kenyon: “FRIENDLY FIRE!”
Ashley Kenyon: “KHARY?!”
Khary slipped back into the room again and when Ashley saw him it all came crashing down. The weapons fell from her hands clattering to the floor and she collapsed into his chest crying. Khary wrapped his arms around her head, his eyes lingering on Aerynn’s empty blank expression.
Khary Kenyon: “What happened Ash? Who did this?”
Ashley Kenyon: “....”
Another figure soon joined them as Maiko had put herself together enough to enter the room and stand beside Khary with a tender, caring hand on Ashley’s arm.
Maiko Adachi: “....This can’t have only happened here Pool….”
Ashley lifted her head, looking over at Maiko when the realization hit her as well. They hadn’t come for them. The Demons had come for the kids.
Ashley Kenyon: “Valdy’s looking for Leashes.”
Maiko Adachi: “Yes. Zach? Martin? The others?”
Ashley Kenyon: “We have to warn him.”
Ashley withdrew a small black square from her back pocket and flipped open the antenna only to find a bullet embedded in it. She looked behind her at her back pocket and shook her head.
Ashley Kenyon: “Someone nearly… fuck, where the kids?”
Maiko and Khary both look around, all three frantically racking their brains.
Khary Kenyon: “They were here?”
Ashley nods quickly, worriedly.
Ashley Kenyon: “It’s why Shonn and Rynn were up here.”
Maiko glances around the room while Khary and Ashley both go to the door to have a look.
Maiko Adachi: “...Pool… bureau?”
Ashley turns to see the large wardrobe against the wall and then moves her gaze to the chest in the next room.
Ashley Kenyon: “I…”
She walks over and slowly unbuckles the straps holding it closed. She closes her eyes and slowly pulls it open, finding the two small children huddled inside. Both of them look up at her, tears in their eyes and fear written all over their little faces.
Seán Maguire: “Aunt Ashie?”
Ashley swallows hard and takes the small boy into her arms.
Ashley Kenyon: “In here….”
Khary and Maiko come into the room, Maiko carrying Ashley’s guns. Khary walks over to the box and picks up the other child.
Siobhan Maguire: “Unca Kree, wha happened?”
Khary hugs her close and then kisses the top of her head.
Khary Kenyon: “I don’t know, Sweetheart. I don’t know…”
The three walk the children outside and head over to Ashley’s black 1982 Pontiac Firebird and take their time sitting them in the back seat. Once the two children are safely in the vehicle, Ashley, Maiko and Khary step to the front of the car.
Khary Kenyon: “You two take the kids back to wherever you’re going. I’ll make some calls, 3-D’ll take care of the bodies. We’ve got a couple of sympathetic cops that’ll help us make sure we can give Shonn and Rynn the funerals they deserve. The others…”
He looks across the lawn in disgust.
Khary Kenyon: “They’re gator bait, it’ll be like they were never here.”
Maiko nods as Ashley swallows hard.
Ashley Kenyon: “You sure?”
Khary nods grimly.
Khary Kenyon: “I got this…”
Ashley hugs her older brother.
Ashley Kenyon: “I love you, I…”
Khary hugs her tightly and then nods, already pulling out his phone.
Khary Kenyon: “I know, I love you too. Go…”
Ashley nods as she pulls away. Maiko steps into the passenger seat, Ashley into the driver’s seat. She’s fires the car up, the lights in the grill coming to life. She turns and drives off as Khary dials the first number.
Khary Kenyon: “Yeah… we got a situation here…”
~
{
Unknown Location
Lucifer’s Hell
10 hours later
}
~
{
Unknown Location
Lucifer’s Hell
10 hours later
}
~
It had all happened so fast that it was nearly impossible to have prepared for it. Hits on Xaria’s children and the Cochrane residence simultaneously, thankfully the Children were spread thin enough that there was someone there to help.
Now, hours after the attacks Lucifer stood in the command center with Martin, Johnny, Chelsea, Zachary, Sariel, Xaria and the twins. Zachary, Ananiel and Aniel had only arrived shortly before and Aniel left immediately to tend to Maricela as she was the most qualified.
There was no word yet from Ashley, Aerynn and Maiko and all of them were concerned. No phone calls. Nothing.
As Lucifer paced staring at the board the sound of a chair rolling was heard and Alistair rolled into the middle of the room behind them looking through the opened door at the group.
Alistair: “There’s something weird happening here.”
Sariel: “Define weird.”
The woman commanded and came around the table with Xaria walking beside her and the others close behind leaving Lucifer alone in the room staring at the pictures on the board. Alistair rolled back in front of the group of computers and motioned to them with a hand.
Alistair: “Someone is throwing up red flags all over the place. Security systems, light panels. Anywhere I’m known to monitor. It’s like someone is throwing up a big S.O.S. All from the same location.”
Sariel leaned over his shoulder, her eyes darting from one screen to another reading what he was seeing and turned back to the Harbinger.
Sariel: “They are all coming from Nikki Pelteir.”
Xaria Linette: “Ashley?!”
Lucifer however had already coming out of the room with the strange block phone in his right hand.
Lucifer: “Find me a contact number.”
Alistair: “Already on it. Sending it to you now.”
The number came to the device and Lucifer immediately dialed it and put the ringing on speaker so everyone could hear it. After a third ring a panicked, nearly in tears Nikki Peltier answered.
Nikki Peltier: “...H...Hello?”
Lucifer: “You were trying to locate me?”
Nikki Peltier: “FOR FUCK SAKE ITS BEEN TWO HOURS!”
Lucifer: “Is Ashley with you?”
Nikki Peltier: “....No...I’m trying to reach her….”
Xaria Linette: “We don’t know where she is Nikki. Apollyon attacked the kids last night.”
Nikki Peltier: “Oh god...No...no no no no no….”
Xaria Linette: “Nikki what’s going on?!”
Nikki Peltier: “I need to speak to Ashley! RIGHT NOW!”
Lucifer: “We don’t know where she is! What the fuck is going on?!”
Nikki seemed to pause with only the sound of her panicked breathing to show she was still on the phone. After the pause she whispered.
Nikki Peltier: “There is something about Shay you don’t know Lucifer. About her and the kids….”
At that exact moment two figures appeared at the bottom of the stairs travel stained and more than a little weary.
Ashley Kenyon and Maiko Adachi.
Ashley heard the two sentences and sprinted across the room snatching the phone from Lucifer’s hand and hitting the speaker button putting the phone to her ear.
Ashley Kenyon: “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!”
Even with the phone to her ear Nikki was so scared her shouted voice carried.
Nikki Peltier: “APOLLYON FOUND JOHNNY! HE KNOWS ABOUT THE GIRLS!”
Ashley turned pale white and she listened staring at Lucifer who stared right back at her. Nikki explained it all. That Johnny had been taken by mistake and had sold Shay’s children out for his own safety. That Sathanas and Apollyon now knew Lucifer was the girls father. A shaking hand pressed the button as Xaria looked around them.
Xaria Linette: “Where’s Aerynn?”
Maiko flinched but Ashley never took her eyes off Lucifer.
Ashley Kenyon: “You need to get demons or someone close to LA to the bar right now Lucifer. Right goddamn now.”
Zachary Sears: “Ver is Aerynn?”
Ashley founded on the german man and screamed.
Ashley Kenyon: “SHE’S FUCKING DEAD!”
Zach recoiled from her like a physical blow had been struck.
Ashley Kenyon: “That mother fucker Ruvik put a bullet in her AND Shonn!”
Xaria Linette: “....No…..”
Ashley turned to Lucifer however and locked eyes with the man.
Ashley Kenyon: “That doesn’t matter right now. You need to get someone to Lena’s bar and get Shay and your daughters OUT!”
All of them reacted instantly looking sharply at Ashley as she spoke. Lucifer stared at Ashley and she just nodded answering all of them at the same moment.
Ashley Kenyon: “You are their father Michael and Valdemar knows it. He’s gonna go at Shay full fucking bore. He’ll send Anthony himself.”
Lucifer blinked and then turned sprinting back into the command center and looking back at the map. The closest demon units were in northern Nevada. There was a genuine fear in his eyes now as he laid a trembling hand on the map whispering.
Lucifer: “...There isn’t anyone close enough….”
Maiko Adachi: “....But....”
Ashley turned and drove her fist down onto the table, her arm was shaking and tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
Ashley Kenyon: “This can’t be fucking happening!!”
At that moment Lucifer’s phone chimed and he looked down and saw the notice.
Without hesitation Lucifer prayed the number was still the same and called the only person who could stop Anthony. Someone who happened to be in LA with their family.
The only hope they had now.
