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Spook Pt. 15

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The first order of business on Killian's to-do list was to deal with Joe. He was furious at the man. And not really for burning down his home, although that was enough. No, it was for the multitude of lives lost within the building itself. Kil knew not everyone had escaped the inferno. From the ferocity that it had been burning and how quickly it had gone up, Killian knew that some sort of extreme accelerate had to have been used.

Men, women, children, all had died and the ones that hadn't were now like Killian, homeless and with nowhere to go. Everything they owned, everything that mattered outside of their lives was gone. From the little old lady on the second floor who made a living making and selling silk flowers out of her apartment to the family of four young siblings ranging in ages from 3 to 16 that lived on the fourth floor and earned their bread by being gophers for the gangs. All dead.

And Joe had done it because he was upset with Killian. Or that's what he supposed. He truly had no idea. But he intended on finding out.

Joe could often be found hanging out at a dilapidated bar called Bizarro's. It was near the center of Lowtown, the most brutal and dangerous part of the city and Killian had no trepidation with going there. It was also a neutral zone between gangs but that didn't mean that everyone followed the rules.

Bizarro's was a very dimly lit bar, more so than normal. Occasionally the only time you saw someone was when they lit their cigarette. Joe was sitting at the bar with two of his buddies, not a one of them being of the group that came and saw Killian yesterday. They were drinking and Joe was laughing boisterously at what probably had been his own joke. They didn't even look over at Killian as he walked in of course he didn't stop either.

As soon as he spotted Joe, Killian walked toward him, weaving his way around tables, chairs, and pool tables. About half way there he bent over and pulled one of his stilettos from his boot so by the time he rose he was just behind the man. Between one sip and the next, Joe had the point of Killian's blade at his throat.

"Good morning Joe, I hear you had a warm evening." Killian's voice was low, pleasant, and dangerous. It was a tone that Killian didn't often use anymore.

"Sat by a nice warm fire." Joe's hands curled on the top of the table his voice remaining calm even if the pulse in his neck quickened. "You're very lucky you weren't home."

"Mmm, yes so lucky for you." Killian pressed the tip of the blade into Joe's neck, a pearl of red staining the tip. "Because, as we both know, Mickey would have killed you. Uh uh." Killian's eyes flicked up to one of Joe's friends that had started to reach inside their coat for a weapon. Killian's second blade was already placed against the black haired man's ribcage. "I wouldn't do that. Joey-boy and I are just having a nice conversation, aren't we Joey-boy?"

"Are we Kill-boy? You don't have that tall man to go home and fuck for money now? Should tell Mickey about him." He hissed as the blade drew another drop of blood.

"Ah Joe, we've had this conversation before. I don't have to sell my ass for money like you used to. Only reason you don't anymore is because your dick nearly rotted off from sticking it in rancid pussy." Killian leaned closer to the foul smelling man, putting his ear right next to Joe's ear. "And I'd love to hear you explain to Mickey how I was forced to stay with someone else because you burned down my apartment. Now, to more important topics. Why the fuck did you do it?"

"You have to ask you uppity shit?" Joe snarled. "You parade around as if you're better than us as if you haven't dirtied your hands or bent over and taken it for the boss."

"Tsk tsk tsk Joe. I think you forget who has the pointy object at your throat." Kil's voice was cheerful in tone but had an undercurrent of ice as he pressed the blade even closer. "I will always be better than you Joe, never forget that. And not because of who you are but what you are. You're the green scum at the bottom of a sewage bucket. You know the type, the scum that has worms growing in it. And it's because I won't bend over and take it for Mickey anymore, because I took my own fucking path and got the hell out, something you don't have the capacity to do, is why you're jealous of me."

Killian lowered his voice to a whisper. "Just think about this Joe. It's out of my good graces that you're still alive. I could kill you any time, any place, anywhere. I can always fucking find you. The only reason you're not dead right now is because I like to keep Mickey happy just to keep him out of my hair."

"It won't last forever." Joe swallowed past his cutthroat.

"And when forever eventually comes, I'll pull this knife the rest of the way across your throat. I'm sure you can understand that?" Both blades were suddenly gone and Killian patted Joe's shoulder harshly. "I hope you all have a great day."

"Have fun in Hightown." Joe said loud enough for everyone to hear the disdain covering the fear.

"And why would I go there when I need to stay here and keep an eye on you?" Killian grinned charmingly before leaving the bar and stepping back out into the street. And now to the Dust Market.

"You're not still mad at me are you?" Misty was at his shoulder the moment he stepped out of the bar.

So used to Misty popping up out of nowhere, Killian didn't even jump. He paused on the sidewalk, inspecting his blood-tinged blade. "It got me fucked five ways till Sunday. Can't say I didn't enjoy the fruits of your labor. Although the watching will have to stop."

"But why?" She sighed.

"You can go anywhere, see anyone anywhere fucking. All these people you can watch without them knowing. Except for me. I can see you, I can hear you, and occasionally, I can touch you. In the past, I haven't given a shit cause I haven't given a shit who the hell I was fucking. Jet's different. Not saying I care about him but not saying I don't care about him but either way, we're connected and whatever fucking goes on between us is somehow twistedly sacred and shouldn't shared. Sappy but make sense?"

"Sacred?" Misty's right brow shot up and her lips twisted into a frown. "Kill baby, you're falling in love."

Killian looked at her blankly for a moment before letting out a snort and then a laugh before starting his walk down the street. "Bullshit MP. I meant sacred cause the glow and tats and shit makes it seem like a ritual. Not because of some fantasy Cupid bullshit."

"Bitch, you're in denial up to your eyeballs but whatever. Who you visiting?"

"Love is a fantasy MP. You should know that just as well as I. It's a thing people want to believe in to feel better about themselves. And even if it does exist, you can't feel it after 24 hours." Killian stretched as he searched for the back alley entrance to the Dust Market. "I was saying hello to Joe."

"Spoken like a true Lowtown born but I don't believe it. You going to ask about this killer?"

"Ask Joe? No. He couldn't find his asshole with two hands and a mirror let alone know anything about a killer. Did you get any info on the woman you say saw something?"

"That she's going to try and do a summon tonight with a bunch of idiots who look more out of it than her."

"Oh fuckin' great." Kil grumbled as he found one of the entrances. It was hidden as a basement grate near the bottom of one of the buildings. He knelt down next to it and started remove the grate. "Although if they're successful might be a good way to catch him. Or get myself killed."

"You should have brought your boyfriend for back up." Misty leaned against the concrete.

"The hell with him. I've taken care of myself for my whole life." He took off the grate and put it to the side, revealing a ladder down into the sewers. "Plus he screams cop. Wouldn't be able to get any info with him lurching about."

"You could scruff him up. He would just scream big tall and stupid instead oddness cop."

"I don't need him Misty. And that is the end of it." Kil started down the ladder before pulling the grate back over the hole. "I'm not going back."

"We'll see Kill-boy." The specter sighed. "You want me to check on him?"

"Check on Jet? Why? I'm sure he's nice and cozy at his desk. Besides, I need you to tell me who I'm looking for." Killian moved down the corridor, used to the stench from living in Lowtown near his whole life.

"Just a suggestion." She was beside him once again flicking her hair backwards. "She's at the end of the market. Small little hovel there."

"I think I know which one's your talkin' bout." Killian carefully moved along the wall, keeping away from the flowing sewage tinged water to the left of him. It was pitch black until he turned down a tunnel on his right. There, further down, there was a soft glow of light at the entrance of another tunnel. Once turning down it a whole other world was revealed.

Gas lamps lined a corridor that dipped down into a large tunnel that housed an underground city. Ramshackle buildings that were constructed from pieces off other buildings above the streets and anything else that could be scavenged. Tables with wares that people were selling, trading, buying. Bridges crossed the water making commerce easier. The entire place was bright and perhaps a bit cheery.

Killian worked his way through the throng, greeting people with a smile or a nod. Some greeted him back and others got the hell out of his way, aware of his past and former associations. Some even glared at him. He ignored them and continued on his way.

"Her name is Macy." Misty stayed at his shoulder.

"Macy? Really? Most of the time those types take on some sort of 'mystical' name. Such as Solara, Destiny, Moonbeam or some shit like that."

"That is her real name. Most call her Momma Moon." Misty rolled her big eyes.

"Momma Moon? Probably because she shows her moon to the sky too much."

Misty laughed at the bad joke. She pointed out the shanty.

And it was a shanty. Made out of scrap pieces of wood, metal sheeting, and cardboard boxes. But it had a table with wares and a curtain that led to a backroom. A couple of woman of numerous ages and states of dress gathered around the table. He walked up to them and flashes his most charming smile.

"Hello ladies. I'm looking for Momma Moon." He knew better than to use real names.

"I am." The middle age woman stood up with that vacant glazed eyes and wide smile. "Come and join our circle and let us witness something powerful."

"Uhh about that." It took everything in the young man not to roll his eyes. He continued to smile even though it didn't reach his eyes. Holding out his hands he took the woman's in his own, pulling her slightly away from the others and bending down slightly so he could whisper in her ear.

"We need to talk about that. I have a warning and a message from the other side if you wish to hear it."

"You do?" She sounded surprised and she turned towards the ladies. "We have a messenger here!"

"Shit." Kil muttered under his breath as he heard Misty collapse into cackling glee behind him. "No, no. The warning and the message are just for you and no one else."

"But, but a messenger knows all and shouldn't he share his knowledge?" She looked at Killian with revere.  "Oh please. Tell me what I can do to help?"

"But only few are worthy of such knowledge." Killian countered. He swore if Misty still had breath to draw she would be asphyxiating from laughter. He could hardly believe the words coming out of his mouth himself but he was skilled at getting people to trust him.

"I wish to impart on you a warning as well as receive some information that you may have in return. You are a seer yourself but of a different kind. You viewed a man in a scrying mirror but his reflection in another mirror was different. What did you see?"

"Oh, he was a true child of darkness but beauty." Her hands tightened in Killian's hold.

"Maybe you and her can dance naked under the moonlight!" Misty howled for a moment.

"He hungers." She continued to speak. "A dark hunger."

"Yes a dark hunger that kills, mutilates, and causes destruction. A darkness you shouldn't be summoning. If you do, and are successful, you will die. This is my warning to you. I don't know what it is but I do know that. Do not attempt to summon this thing. It may be beautiful but the most beautiful things are the most deadly."

"But he is searching. Searching for strength."

"Strength through blood and death. Through your death."

"Tell her that she'd be summoning a demon." A girl's voice spoke from beside them. Killian's head turned quickly, his eyes wide to take in the barely transparent spirit. She was young, barely in her teens. There were dark circles around her eyes, seeping needle marks trailing down her arms telling of her death.

"Who are you?" Killian whispered. Dark eyes turned towards Killian, a sad smile alighting dry, chapped lips.

"Ari. Macy is my mother." A demon. A fucking demon. Killian wasn't sure he believed the spirit. "It's not her time to join me yet. I miss her so I watch over her."

"I see . . ."

"The man he might be able to give me something in return . . ." Macy looked down at Killian's hands gripping hers. "You're hurting me."

"I apologize. I didn't mean to." He softened his smile and eased his grip. "It's just that your daughter, Ari, is here now. She says . . ." His eyes flicked to the girl who nodded. "She says that the man is a demon. You wouldn't get anything from him except darkness, pain, and death."

"Ari?" Her large glazed eyes began to leak with tears. "I can make a deal for her? I'll give him anything if he brings her back."

"Tell her I don't want that! He doesn't have the power of resurrection! He wields death. And if she makes any deals with him, even if he did deal in anything but pain, she'd never see me again." Ari's words were stronger than before, her form flickering as she lost concentration in her panic.

Killian repeated the wraith's words, stressing the sincerity of them. "This thing has already killed. This thing that you saw is what I suspect to be the Lowtown Killer. You must not attempt to summon or communicate with it. Your soul will be lost and you'll never see Ari again. Do you understand?"

Killian's eyes grew hard and piercing but he didn't shake the delusional woman or tighten his grip on her hands.

Her head bobbed up and down much like a broken puppet's would but those glazed drugged eyes kept leaking pain.

"Messenger. Does she hate me? My Ari?"

"No mama. I don't hate you. I could never hate you. I'm sorry I was so wrapped up in my own shit that I left you." Ari herself was crying now, tears of vapor vanishing into smoke. Killian translated her words exactly, a sense of peace coming over him as he helped both of them in a small way.

"Thank you." Macy's voice was small as the other women looked at them intently. "Thank the Goddess you've come to us."

"Killboy you need to get out of here or they're going to pull you down and make you stay. Run, running is good." Misty reappeared with an urgency of her own.

Killian nodded more to Misty then to the woman. He squeezed Macy's hands and then stepped back. Making a quick retreat.
Killian goes to visit Joe and you learn another part of him. Then his discovers something in the underbelly . . .
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chainedheart977's avatar
demons? Well. that is sooo better than the ciche werewolve I was thinkin of.