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#Post#: 171--------------------------------------------------
Black Ties: Part 9
DIR By: Gallowtree
Date: September 27, 2020, 7:05 pm
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Chapter 9
On the way back to my room, I considered all that I had heard
tonight, and I really didn't like where my thinking was going.
Where did Dante go when I needed his help before it all went
wrong? In the end, he did the best he could and we pulled it
together, but what if Gage is right, and something has gone
sideways? Such questions, I knew, would keep me up tonight. I
mournfully considered my gloves in the backpack on my shoulder –
I wish I'd just gone to the gym. While it was true that I
couldn't punch my problems away, it usually made me feel better
to fall into the old rhythms, focus on the fight instead of on
the struggle. Hmm.
I ducked down the hallway to the gym instead of going back to my
room...what the hell, I wasn't tired anyway.
When I reached the gym, I found that the door was shut and
locked. Damn. The staff sometimes locked the facilities after
eleven, and I'd spent more time downstairs than I'd intended.
Bugger it. I looked down the hall to make sure no one was
coming, and put my index finger up to the keyhole. Focusing
some kinetic energy, I slowly turned my finger, working the
tumblers with a very delicate amount of force...it was tough...I
clenched my teeth as I felt each tumbler fall. Sweat started to
break out on my forehead. Finally, the last one slid into
place, and I opened the door. I patted myself on a fine piece
of finesse, and went on in.
The gym was split into a weight room where I usually worked the
body bag or the speed bag, and the workout room which had a
decent open space with mats for sparring and cardio machines.
My job really sucked sometimes, but I couldn't complain about
where I lived – this was so much better than some of the dives I
used to work out in. I headed right for the weight room.
Something caught my eye though, and I stopped. Peering inside
the door of the workout room, I could see the mats were all
piled up haphazardly in one corner by the walking machines. I
put down my bag quietly and slowly stepped inside. Something
started buzzing in my head as I entered the room – I was
instantly on edge.
The small skylight in the ceiling lent some light to the room.
I could see the light switch a couple of feet away to my left.
I could hear some small skritching sound coming from somewhere
in the middle of the room, but I couldn't see anything. As my
eyes began to adjust, I perceived a huddled form crouching on
the floor. My heart started beating quickly, and that buzzing
just wouldn't stop! I reached over and flicked on the switch.
The fluorescent lights in the ceiling popped on, and immediately
began to flicker and spark. In the half-light I could see the
figure clearly...it was Dante, naked except for a pair of black
boxers. The tattoos on his body were swirling like a whirlwind.
His eyes were closed, but his hands were working furiously,
making strange markings on the gym floor with a black sharpie.
The markings were all over the floor, as if he'd been working
for hours. Holy crap. The demon didn't need to see, obviously.
So, was Dante sleepwalking, sleepdrawing? The presence of the
creature was strong, like the feel of the air after a storm –
energized. I knew that it was probably time to call in some
reinforcements, but on the other hand I really wanted to handle
this myself; I owed it to Dante. Gathering my will, my own
magical presence, I stepped forward.
“Dante,” I said, hoping that I was wrong about what was going
on.
Dante kept on scribbling and drawing, oblivious to me.
I took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
“Kazvineroth! By your name I bid you hearken to me!
Kazvineroth, hear me and respond. Kazvineroth, a third time I
command you, hearken to me now!” I yelled, putting my foot down
with a small portion of kinetic force.
The sound was a little louder than I intended, but it worked.
Dante rose to stand in a snap, and tilted his head towards me.
“I hear you, you gob of flesh,” he croaked, “I just don't give a
shit.”
“Hello Kaz,” I replied, “isn't it past your bedtime?”
It laughed hideously, coming out as a hiss and a chuckle.
“No...sleep...for the wicked,” it said, “and I have much work to
do.”
“Not anymore, you don't,” I said, raising my hand towards it.
“Aww…you don't want to do that, do you Maxie? You might hurt
the pretty boy here, and my heart would just about shrink to
hear of it...”
“No, but I'm going to ruin your day, you demonic prick,” I
muttered, “Zakiel!”
Dante flinched, crying out as if in pain. The word was the name
of an angel that the Wardens had intoned when they inscribed the
kill switch on Dante's body just in case Kaz got out of control.
“Ffffucker!” it roared.
“Zakiel! Zakiel!!” I yelled back.
The demon shook in Dante's body, convulsing as the word pushed
it back down the hole where he was buried in Dante's mind. The
tattoos became static, and Dante collapsed to the ground. His
eyes were open now, and he looked at me with such fear and
self-loathing. He buried his face in his hands and wept. I
went over to him, not sure of what to do, but I couldn't let him
suffer alone.
“You'll be okay Dante,” I said, helping him up, “it's gone, and
your safe. Let's get out of here before--”
“Before we show up?”
I turned to see Brom holding a staff in his hand, still in his
pajamas, with two wardens and Gage in tow. I helped Dante up,
dusted my hands, and put them on my hips.
“Well,” I said, “anyone up for a nightcap?”
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