Help from the wrong Demon

The tension has never been higher. Hati and Kris are restrained and currently useless. All they can do is watch as the truth of Ahri and Oliver's group is revealed.

-Kris POV-

I was left speechless at what Oliver said. It's not possible, Ahri only has one tail. As if he knew what I was thinking Oliver said, "It's hiding the other eight tails. Kitsune have that ability, well most of them."

I still can't believe it. It's not possible. I know Kitsune to be deadly and aggressive. Ahri is none of those things. Oliver didn't stop and kept ongoing. "You still don't believe it. Come on dear put his mind at ease and show him." I caught Ahri's eyes. The fear and the pain in them were clear signs that she didn't want to show her tails. She could no longer hold eye contact with me as she turned her head away. Seconds later eight more tails flung out like a peacock. Tears rolling down her face as my eyes couldn't believe what they're seeing. Oliver spoke again. "You know I should actually thank you. If you didn't take her in we won't be able to do the ritual."

I asked, "R-ritual?"

"Right! I forgot, you see everyone here is a part of a cult. Laughing Hand. Our job is to bring our Lord to this world. Zeile."

"Are you fucking insane!?! WHY WOULD YOU RELISH A DEMON ON THIS WORLD!?!"

He just stood there. Unfazed by my words. "Because I made a deal and that's all you need to know."

A cold silence, once again, fell on this place. I could do nothing but look at Ahri and see the fear in her eyes but her face did not show it. I saw Ahri's ears twitch as if trying to hear something but all can I hear are men shuffling around. Suddenly she turned her attention to Oliver.

Ahri looked up at him and asked, "S-so what are you g-going to do i-in the r-ritual?"

She was trying not to sound afraid but her shuddering and quivering tone of voice said otherwise. I'm not sure what she is trying to accomplish by starlings for time. Oliver crossed his arms, "Hmm? Well if you must know we must hold you down on the table like so."

As he said that he snapped his fingers and the two who were restraining Ahri carried her to the stone table where they were met by two others. They then proceed to lay her down on the table and each one of them grabbed a limb and held it down. Throughout this process, Ahri struggled but to no avail. "Now our Lord is not particular on the way we perform the ritual. So long as we start by cutting off the middle tail." Oliver pulled out a mid-evil sacrificial knife seemingly out of nowhere. "And of course we need to use certain items and say certain phrases during the ritual but you'll be dead before we get to them. Now that you know what's going to happen... shall we."

He looked at me when he said the last part. Slowly Oliver moved the knife under Ahri's middle tail, most likely to cut it from the bottom up. Ahri had tears as she cries for help, "AHHHHHHHHHHH Kris!!!"

"AHRI!! OLIVER STOP YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS."

Oliver stopped with the blade practicality touching Ahri's tail. He looked up at me only to see his men struggling on holding me back but that is not what he was interested in. "Kris. Not a bad name."

He quickly looked back down. Tensing up for the act he's about to commit.

"STOOOOOP!"

An extremely loud bang spread throughout the hall as the two large doors behind me swung wide open revealing the dark sky and letting in the cold winds from outside. The wind was causing all the lights to flicker and even turned over a few tables with light equipment on them. Kris barked orders to his men, "SOMEONE SHUT THOSE DAMN DOORS!!!"

Four of his men did what they were told, closing the doors. Once they were closed everything started working normally. The lights stopped flickering only to reveal a stranger standing in front of me with his black facing me. Guns immediately pointed at the stranger but he didn't move. He just stared at Oliver. From my point of view, it looked like the stranger was wearing a tactical suit. I could also see a few different types of weapons. Some I can recognize but others I have no idea what they are. Oliver spoke to the stranger, knife still by Ahri's tail, "Who the hell are you?"

His voice was calm but clearly was demanding. The stranger said nothing but slowly raising his arms to take off his helmet. The look on Oliver's face turned from stern to surprise as he gave the knife to one of his men standing by. He started walking to the stranger with his arms stretched out and a happy smile on his face. "Brother it's so good to see you."

Everyone lower their guns when they saw their boss hug the stranger. Ahri and I were both completely confused at the events taking place. A few cracks came from Oliver's back as he was hugged. "Woah you're hugging a bit tight there brother. Gentleman this is my brother the Bladed Demon. I won't tell you his real name cause you don't need to know."

The stranger's voice is deep nothing like Oliver's. Side by side the stranger is slightly bigger. "Sorry, brother but it's been too long."

Oliver patted his brother's back and said, "So you came to join?"

"Join?"

"You know, the cult... the ritual we were about to perform."

The stranger stuttered a bit, "I.... who's this? A rouge recruit."

"Him? No his someone who tried stopping us."

The stranger walked up to me and I could get a clear view of his suit and face. Both were not what I was expected. His suit looked futuristic and heavy but that didn't seem to bother him. His face had one or two scars but other than that he looked pretty good. His beard was pure black that allowed his silver-grey glowing eyes to stand out. He gave me a look of worry and closed his eyes while lowering his head. Oliver spoke from behind, "Well we better get started. Do you want to do the honors?

"No..." The stranger stood up and put his helmet back on. Oliver was standing a few feet away and had a confused look grow on his face. "I'm not here to join."

"What are you talking about?

"I'm sorry."

Out of nowhere, the stranger shot Oliver in the abdomen and before anyone could react he pulled out a knife and slit the throats of the two holding me down. I felt their grip instantly loosen and before I could look up I hear five gunshots. Then all hell broke loose. All of Oliver's men opened fire and the stranger quickly knocked over a nearby table, blocking both of us from the swarm of bullets. I looked behind us to where Ahri was but I couldn't see her only some of the men that were holding her lying on the ground in their own pools of blood. I immediately turned to the stranger only to be met with him offering his pistol. "She's behind the stone table. Is that wolf yours as well?" I gave him a nod while taking the gun. "I'm going to need its help to pick off men. Once you free it goes straight to the fox and stays there. Got it."

I don't know how he could be so calm while bullets literally fly over our heads. He reached behind his back grabbing a short mechanical stick that extended in his hand to an impressive scythe. He used his other hand to count down from five...

Four...

Three...

Two...

One...

As soon the stranger finished counting he jumped over the table charging at the enemy with unnatural speed. He drew the fire away from me so I could run to Hati. Two men were guarding her but their attention was on the stranger making it easier for me to free Hati. As I was untying the ropes they used to hold Hati I could hear men screaming in pain. Hati called out to me, "Kris! Are you alright?"

"I'm alright Hati but that stranger says he's going to need your help picking off men. You think you can do that."

After I said that I finish untying the ropes and Hati immediately got up and started running towards the men jumping on one of them killing him quickly and running to another. I started running towards Ahri who was hiding behind the stone table. On my way there I got a quick look at the stranger fighting. He had his scythe in one hand and what looks like an assault rifle in the other. He was shooting one man and slicing another and never wasted time killing more. There were already piles of bodies lying about. Ahri was sitting against the table clutching her right arm. I immediately knelt beside her tearing a bit of my shirt to use as a bandage. Ahri looked up at me with joy and relief that I'm by her side. I hugged her through all the noise and said, "You alright Ahri?"

She simply nodded her head and when I was done tying the makeshift bandage she threw her arms around my waist and buried her face in my chest. She started crying through all the chaos happening around us. I can understand why she was nearly used as a sacrifice for some demon lord. I gently put my arms around her patting her head, waiting for the fighting to an end.

Hati was not doing much in this fight as the stranger must have killed at least eight men but this man is like a war machine. Shooting and slashing men left right and center. Their numbers dwindling by the second. Eventually, Hati wasn't even needed so she just watched the stranger work. Soon there was only a handful of enemies left and for some reason, most of them just charged at the stranger. What confused Hati more was that the stranger dropped his weapons and walked towards them. All that came next blew her mind. The stranger fought them all, killing them one by one and using their own weapons against them. The stranger grabbed one of them and threw that enemy in the way of an attack. Soon all were dead but one trying to escape through the doors. He was quickly killed with a knife to the head to the back of his head. The place went dead quiet. Except for the grunts and groans of a few injured survivors. Hati looked around for Kris and Ahri but her eyes only landed on the stranger who was standing right in front of her. Looking at Hati while tilting his head to the side. "Now that is one big wolf."

Though Hati could not show emotions she still had a smug tone of voice. "You know I can understand you."

"Oh!? Okay then."

He didn't wait for a reply and walked towards the stone table where Hati assume Kris is.

-Kris POV-

By the time the fighting stopped Ahri finally calmed down and now we were just hugging. "I think it's over."

Ahri looked up at me. "Please don't let go."

"I won't."

Keeping my left arm around Ahri I pull us both up to our feet. Bodies lay everywhere and bullet casings littered the floor. Hati, with blood covering her mouth, and the stranger both approached us. The stranger took off his helmet only to show a cold emotionless expression. No one said anything as we just stood there until someone called out. "I-I g-guess... it's do-over?

All of our attention was on Oliver who was sitting against a pillar holding his stomach. The stranger approach Oliver and knelt in front of him. "Y-you were... sent t-to s-stop us. I-it figures t-they'd s-send a d-demon like y-you."

"Sadly..."

"I n-never w-w-wanted to d-do all o-of this."

"I know..."

"D-do me an f-favor?"

"Sure..."

Oliver pulled the stranger closer to whisper the favor. He was so quiet not even Hati could hear. After a short time, the stranger pulled back and nodded his head helping his brother up to his feet. Oliver used the pillar for support. The stranger then took a few steps back and held a fighting stance. "Re-remember... d-don't h-hold... b-back."

"Never did..."

The stranger said that through gritted teeth, not of anger but sorrowful regret. Oliver charged throwing a right but the stranger just hit it away, went behind Oliver, and..... A loud snapping noise filled the entire building. The Stranger snapped Oliver's neck. Ahri covered her mouth at the site. The stranger caught Oliver's now lifeless body and gently lay him down. We watched in silence not knowing what to do until the stranger spoke. "There is a semi-truck outside.... I'll take you back to your home. Just... give me a moment."

We did what he said and walked towards the doors. We stayed silent and never looked back for we were ready to go home.