by Michael Todd
Angie understood. She just wasn’t sure what could be done.
Korbin stomped to the other side of the wall, pulling out his twin swords and whipping them down by his side. A large rhino demon charged him and Korbin squatted, waiting until it got closer. When he could feel the heat radiating from it, he jumped to the side. Being so fat, the thing couldn’t stop quickly and blew right past him.
As it did, Korbin sliced one sword up and the other down, cutting the demon into three pieces. It fell apart in sections, sliding across the ground with a squishing sound. Korbin watched it spark and then turn to ash before moving on to the next. He turned to his right, slashing off a large chunk of the demon’s front horn. He then jabbed his other sword into the soft flesh of the demon’s head. He pulled it out and let the beast slam into the wall.
Leaning down, Korbin picked up the chunk of horn. The beast turned to ash, but not the horn in his hand. He shoved it in his pocket and glanced at Katie, who was mowing them down with her angelic sword.
Katie looked at Korbin and flew up and over the demons. She landed next to him, kicking one of the charging beasts through the air. “Calvin’s got a few more soldiers up there manning your guns. What kind are they?”
Korbin smirked. “Anti-aircraft missiles.”
Katie chuckled. “Okay, let’s drive these sonsabitches toward the team, then I’ll fly you out so they can bombard them. Blow them the fuck off the map.”
Korbin smiled. “I always did like how you used your brain and your ammo at the same time.”
Katie snorted. “Yeah, right. You thought I was going to murder you all.”
Korbin pointed at her. “I thought Pandora was going to kill us all, not you.”
Pandora snickered. That would have been too easy, and I would still have been fucking stuck with you.
Katie turned toward the crowd of beasts, rolling her eyes. And without me, you would have been lost.
I can never get lost. Someone is always telling me where to go, and it’s usually hell.
Katie nodded. “Let’s rock this shit.”
The two of them charged forward, using their swords and weapons to slice through the demons. Just like the small ones, they began to pull back out of fear, not wanting to get slaughtered like their brethren. Katie whistled at Calvin and pointed, letting him know exactly what they were doing. As they pushed the last demon into position like sheepdogs with their herd, Katie grabbed Korbin under the arms and took off.
As soon as they had cleared the field, the team unleashed their weapons. From above, Korbin and Katie watched as the missiles blew the demons apart without even a pause. When the last one had been destroyed the soldiers cheered, watching giant piles of ash pop up all over the place. Katie chuckled and turned, still holding Korbin.
Across the landscape, they could see the open portal at the destroyed tea farm. Katie narrowed her eyes. “I have a bomb. I left it down there with Calvin. I want to fly it over and throw it in. That should close the portal and give them some grief.”
Katie turned before Korbin could respond and flew over to where Calvin was climbing down with the guns. He groaned as he lugged the bomb down and set it at Katie’s feet. “Are we dropping bombs today, chief?”
There was a loud crack, making everyone duck. They looked at the horizon at the portal as more demons poured out. There were more dino demons and regular ones making their way toward the town. Calvin cupped his hands. “Get ready, boys. Second wave!”
Katie grabbed the bomb, but Korbin put his hand on hers. “I know you have this in your heart. I can see that giving it back to whoever is orchestrating this is very important to you.”
Katie looked at Korbin. “It’s hell we’re talking about here. We have to show them that we won’t take this lying down. We need to give it back to them just as hard. They’re killing our men right and left. They’re turning the world against the people who have saved thousands and thousands of lives. It’s time we let them know that we aren’t going anywhere.”
Korbin took a deep breath. “Right now we need to save this town. If your bomb doesn’t work, we will have a shit show of demons rolling in here. The smartest thing at this point would be to shoot missiles at the portal to close it. We know that works. We know we will stop the slaughter of thousands of people by forcing the portal closed.”
Katie gritted her teeth. These bastards need to know we mean business.
Pandora cleared her throat. But not at the expense of all these lives, Katie. Think about it.
Katie looked down at the bomb. She knew they were right. If the bomb didn’t close the portal, there would be a world of hurt unleashed on Taipei. It would be a battle of epic proportions without the backup to even begin to push them back.
After a few moments’ thought, Katie reluctantly nodded. “You’re right. It’s not about revenge, it’s about saving lives. Get those missiles up and going. We need to get that shit closed and those demons demolished. I’ll man the outside of the wall so any that slip by are taken out before they can breach the perimeter.”
Korbin put his hand on her shoulder. “That’s a leader’s choice, and I’m proud of you for making it.”
17
Korbin, Calvin, and Katie walked the perimeter of Taipei. The soldiers were already beginning to pick up and restock the area, just in case there was another incursion. Korbin looked all along the wall. Some sections were broken and lying on the ground. Calvin walked at the back, stepping over the piles of ash.
Korbin stopped and crossed his arms over his chest. “This was to be expected. We got two full forts completed before anyone noticed that we were doing it. It was only a matter of time before they caught on. There was nothing we could do to stop that. I think all in all, for what could have happened, it turned out okay.”
Katie took a deep breath, looking at the tea farm. “Were there casualties?”
Korbin sighed. “The workers on the farm tried to hide. All but three were killed. Other than that, no. We were able to keep the crew in one piece. I’m pretty sure it’s one of the few times that has happened since the incursions of that size started. Those demons were brutes, that’s for damn sure.”
Katie shook her head. “The rules we thought applied no longer do. They’re reanimating, bringing weapons-equipped creatures, and who knows what else. Now is the time to stop thinking we know what to expect and start looking for the unexpected.”
Calvin, who was walking up to them, nodded. “I agree. In all the time we’ve been fighting, Korbin, we’ve never seen things like this.”
Korbin walked up to the wall. “This is true, but it’s been that way for the last couple of years. Right around the time that Katie was infected, things started to really change; to become angrier and more vicious. It’s escalated, and will continue to do so. I have to say, though, the damage isn’t what I thought it would be when I laid eyes on those creatures.”
Calvin patted Katie on the back. “True. Thanks to both of you.”
Korbin glanced back at Calvin. “And you. Not being Damned hasn’t taken your badass tactics away, that’s for sure.”
Katie kicked at a piece of stone. “I wasn’t here before the incursion to see your work. Will you have to start over?”
Korbin laughed. “Not in the least. You should have seen how unprepared this place was before we got here. We’ll have to rebuild the wall in most places, even where it didn’t fall down. The supports will have taken some serious damage.”
Calvin looked at the guns on the top of the wall. “We’ll have to rebuild some of the guns too. Or reorder, but that won’t take very long. We set all of them up in a day.”
Korbin turned toward them. “The most important part is that most of Taipei was saved. I would say that our strategy seems to be working. Of course, you did a hell of a lot, but if the whole fort had been completed, I’m pretty sure that we could have pushed them off and closed that portal without any groundwork.”
Pandora sniffed. Ungrateful.
Katie sighed. No, realistic. And I for one am thankful for it. That’s one less incursion we have to focus on.
Korbin took a deep breath and patted Calvin on the shoulder. “I’m going to head over and start getting the crews ready for a full cleanup and rebuild.”
Calvin smiled. “I’ll be over in a few. Gonna have a little chat with the angel.”
Calvin and Katie moved back through the wall and toward the town. Calvin pulled Katie to the side and narrowed his eyes at her. “You look fucking exhausted. And I don’t mean you need a good nap. A lifetime of rest wouldn’t take those bags away.”
Katie grinned. “Guess I should lay off the binges and sex parties.”
Calvin shook his head. “Very funny, but I know you’re working on your own. You can’t go on doing what you’re doing by yourself forever. You do understand that at some point, you’re going to be so exhausted that you’ll make a mistake and die.”
Katie rolled her eyes. “I won’t make a mistake like that. I never make mistakes like that.”
Calvin gave her a serious look. “We both know how well cockiness works out for people.”
Katie released a long breath from her lungs. “What am I supposed to do about it? Bend my will to the Council?”
Calvin groaned. “No, not the Council, but General Brushwood was your friend. He cared about you, and he enjoyed working beside you. Personally, I think it was dumb as fuck to give that up.”
Katie pursed her lips, obviously deciding that being stubborn was the best thing at that point. “What’s done is done. I can’t keep moving forward with a group of people who are constantly trying to yank me back. I’m not saying rules are always bad, but rules in these situations can get people killed. Sometimes following the rules just doesn’t work out. You have to work outside the box. They don’t want to let me do it.”
Calvin looked at the town. A couple of houses had Christmas wreaths on the doors. He knew there needed to be a change of subject if he was going to have any chance of getting through to Katie. “Korbin and I decided last night that it’s super important, especially with the world the way it is now, to be with our family for Christmas. We’re going to rearrange things and head back to the base for Christmas. It would be good, really good, if you and Pandora could make it back. You have a whole family who loves you and wants to spend the holidays with you.”
Katie avoided eye contact. “I don’t know. I’ll try. Who knows what the world will be going through?”
Calvin opened his mouth to fight her on it, but his phone rang. He lifted it, seeing Timothy’s face. “Speaking of family, it’s Timothy.”
Katie turned, waiting for news of another incursion. She wanted to get out of there. Calvin answered, “What you got?”
Timothy let out a deep breath. “You guys okay after that incursion? It was looking like it was going to be a monster.”
Calvin glanced at Katie. “Katie came. She helped us. Only a few casualties, and those occurred before we knew what was going on.”
Timothy cleared his throat. “Are you with Katie?”
Calvin smirked. “Yeah, she’s right here.”
Timothy let out a sigh. “Good. Put the phone on speaker. There’s something I want to ask both of you about. It just popped up on conversations that I’m monitoring.”
Calvin paused. “You’re monitoring conversations?”
Timothy scoffed. “I don’t care if we’re working with the government. I know how they roll. I’m sure as hell keeping tabs on their asses, and that includes the World Council appointees.”
Calvin laughed and clicked on the speakerphone. “Okay, Timothy, you’re on speaker with Katie.”
Katie leaned toward the phone. “Hey, crazy. What you got for us?”
She could hear Timothy typing. “I overheard some conversations about the Demonic Defense Force. Apparently, it’s a new unit out there taking down not just demons but Damned as well. They are generally referred to as ‘the DDF,’ but I managed to hear the whole name once. Do you guys know anything about it?”
Calvin looked at Katie. “Nope.”
Katie shook her head. “No, nothing. What other information you got on it?”
Timothy chuckled. “Well, that’s where it gets fucking interesting. The only thing I’ve been able to hear is that it’s being led by Lieutenant Colonel Wilson. When I heard the name, it rang a bell. That’s the guy who shot you, right, Katie? He had a hard-on when it came to taking you down.”
Calvin’s mouth dropped open, and he glanced at Katie. “It couldn’t be.”
Pandora sniffed. Oh, hell no. That old-ass motherfucking dickweed is not trampling all over my piece of the fucking pie. He thinks he can roll up with his DDF, which I know stands for Dingleberry Dick Face, and become a hero?
Katie gritted her teeth. I have a feeling it’s about more than just taking down demons. This is too small-time to the colonel for him to put his life on the line for it. There has to be something more to it. And for it to form at the same time that the Council is being infiltrated by demons? I don’t think so.
Katie tapped her fingers on her leg, narrowing her eyes. “I’m going to check this shit out. I’m not going to be fucking taken down by that little weasel again.”
Baal and Beelzebub stood under the canopy outside the latter’s cave. Beelzebub was at the table in the center, strumming his thumbs. “I still don’t know why you won’t just come inside. What if someone out here sees?”
Baal rolled his eyes. “Who? Some low-level demon skimming the area for crumbs? They know better than to fuck with us.”
Beelzebub shrugged. “That may be true, but eventually, we should take our shit back into the cave.”
Baal looked at the cave door and shivered. “I can already feel the cool, damp stone. It makes me want to jump into a lava pit.”
Beelzebub sighed. “You are so fucking dramatic and spoiled.”
Baal put his large hands on his hips. “I am not spoiled. I have thieved and connived better than anyone I have worked under to get to this place. I am a silent killer. You don’t know I’m coming until you’re already gone. You would be wise to remember that.”
Beelzebub walked over to the map and looked down. “Yeah, yeah.”
There was a loud snap, and a portal opened behind them. Through it stepped Belphegor, holding his briefcase. There was a shimmer of a curse over his human skin to keep him in one piece. Beelzebub whistled. “Belphegor, you got yourself a new human suit! I have to say, this one looks much more judicial than the others. Bravo. What are you going by out there these days?”
Belphegor marched over and nodded at Baal. “Mr. Belly.”
Both demons looked at him with raised eyebrows. Belphegor shook his head at them. “It was a spur-of-the-moment choice. It just vomited out of my mouth. That isn’t what’s important.”
Baal shifted in his stance. “No, Belly Dancer is correct. That’s not what’s important.”
Beelzebub snickered. “Yes, Belly Butter is still the same old conniving asshole.”
Belphegor shook his head and put down his case, standing in front of the maps. “If you two are quite finished, I don’t have a ton of time on this side, not if I want to keep this human skin for a while.”
Beelzebub hurried over. “He’s right, and he is instrumental in this right now.”
Belphegor ran his hand over the map and stopped, pointing at Nashville. “There. That is where you need to attack next.”
Baal lifted his brows. “Nashville? I know it’s a tourist location and I would love the chance to smash some country, but don’t you think we should go for someplace a bit more populated?”
Belphegor shook his head. “Normally I would say yes, but not this time. We want someplace Wilson can get to quickly. That is very important. If Wilson and the demons are there, Katie won’t be far behind. We put a bug in one of Katie’s minion’s ears, and she will be hunting the DDF to see who the hell they are. It is just as we planned. The bait will be set, and
Katie won’t be able to resist.”
Baal looked at Beelzebub. “You sure you got this?”
Beelzebub rolled his eyes. “I think I have been doing this long enough to know how to begin an attack. If you want to come along, you are more than welcome to.”
Baal put up his hands and backed up. “No, thank you. I did the last one. You have fun with this one. I will make sure to open a window in my house and watch from afar.”
Beelzebub chuckled. “Have fun relaxing.”
He turned and swished his long claws through the air, opening a portal. He could instantly feel the clash of cold and hot air as it opened. He nodded at Baal and stepped through into the snow. Steam sizzled around him as the snow began to evaporate at his feet. He was in the woods on the side of a snow-covered mountain right outside of Nashville.
They wanted a covered place to emerge, hoping it would be a surprise instead of having everyone on the map flocking to the sight of an open portal. Gasps brought Beelzebub’s attention in front of him. He tilted his head to the side, finding two men in orange vests holding shotguns and wearing camo paint on their faces. They both looked terrified.
The man to the right, who was wearing a fur-lined hat, pointed his gun at Beelzebub. “You’re one of them demons. A real fucking big one. I came out here for a deer to hang on my wall, but a demon head would be much cooler.”
The other guy shook as he lifted his gun. “Let’s send this bastard straight back to hell.”
The hunters opened fire, blasting normal shotgun shells at the demon. When both of them had run out of ammo, they stopped and looked at Beelzebub. At his feet was a pile of pellets, and there wasn’t a scratch on any of the scales on his body. He reached up and covered his mouth with one hand as he yawned, flicking the wrist of his other.
Two demons surged out from behind him, running straight for the hunters. The guys backed up, but the demons were on them first. They leapt into the air, diving into the hunters’ chests. Both fell backward and passed out on the ground. Beelzebub rolled his eyes and walked over, bending over them. He grabbed a handful of snow, which turned to water in his palm.