Demonic Ascendant: The Visitors

“There!” Natsu yelled, “There’s the crash!” “I hope whoever’s down there is alright,” Monique said, “That looks like one bad-ass crash site.” Fathia signaled for Natsu and Monique to land at the edge of the crater, where Dallas and Jadon had already parked their four-wheelers. As the team regrouped at the edge, a Griffon came into view. On

its back were Friday and Caroline, the two Half-Demon girls who always fought the toughest battles, no matter who’s battle it was. This quality made them a sort of welcome nuisance at a moment like the one at hand. “Saiyans,” Caroline hissed as she demounted. “What makes you so sure?” Jadon growled.

 

Caroline and Friday belonged to Team K.O.D.A. (Kids Of Demonic Ancestry), a team of six Half-Demons, and though K.O.D.A. and Natsu’s team, The Savages, were alliances, they were also fierce rivals. Demons and Half-Demons of the Twenty-first Century aren’t known to get along well. “I know because I’ve seen Saiyan space pods before,” Caroline snapped, “and those, mi amigo, are Saiyan space pods.” “Hey,” Friday said, stepping between the two teens, “c’mon. This isn’t the time to argue, okay?” Caroline and Jadon growled but backed off. Another little-known fact about Half- and Full-Demons is that their universal behavior closely resembles that of a pack of wolves.

 

“On the upside,” Friday continued, “At least it’s only three Saiyans this time. Not any thing like what Caracal and Team P.A.C.K. had to face.” Everyone of Demonic descent remembered the terrible battle between Rantu’ono and the defenders of Earth that had taken place nearly twenty years ago. Caroline’s mother, Tala, was one of the only three Half-Demons in Team P.A.C.K. to have survived. Friday’s father and mother, Justis and Dakota, were the other survivors. Team P.A.C.K., the Z-Senshi, and the Ancarian queen, Faria, had first been attacked then later helped by seven Saiyans, most of whom were low-levels.

 

The pod doors suddenly opened, each hitting the ground with a metallic clang. The teens quickly slipped into fighting stance. A girl in her late teens stepped out, followed by two younger boys about Natsu’s age. Looking up at the seven Demonics, the woman said, “You there! What planet are we on?” “Earth,” Caroline said, “What business do you have here?” The three Saiyans flew up and hovered in front of the Demonics. “We’ve come to warn you of a terrible evil that is brewing on your planet.” “WHAT?!” the Demonics chorused in shock. “No way!” Jadon yelled accusingly, “We just came out of the last postwar period! Just who the hell do you assholes think you are?!”

 

“Forgive us,” the boy with the white hair said, “for not introducing ourselves. I am Jatin, this is my sister Zafira, and my colleague, Baldasarre.” Caroline didn’t catch their names; she was too busy eyeing Jatin. “Perhaps we could discuss this at my place,” Fathia said. As they flew to Fathia’s mansion-sized house, Caroline whispered to Friday, “What are we talking about?” “Weren’t you paying attention?” Friday asked. “Yah… or did you mean to Jatin?” Friday groaned and rolled her eyes. “Did you forget you’ve already got a boyfriend, mi amiga?” “He doesn’t even like me.” “He would like you if you’d stick with him.” “Right. Got it.” “You didn’t hear a word I just said, did you?” “No.”

 

They landed in front of Fathia’s house; Friday and Caroline did about five double-takes, stuttered, and feinted, completely mystified at the sight of the Demoness’s two-story mansion. “Do they always do that?” Jatin chuckled as he and Baldasarre carried the girls into the living room. “They’ve never been to a real mansion before,” Monique sniffed, “The low-class little half-bloods. They’ll probably pass out when they realize they’re inside a mansion.” “You don’t get along well with them,” Baldasarre said, “Do you?” “Not really,” Jadon sneered. “Why?” Zafira asked. “Because,” Fathia sneered, “They’re Half bloods, and we,” she indicated herself and her team, “are Full bloods.” “And what blood do you share?” Baldasarre asked, intrigued.

 

“Demon,” Caroline grunted as she sat up, “And, Monique? F.Y.I., my team and I have been in a mansion before, and the only reason we feinted was because the color it’s painted is the same color as my mother’s Seal of Torogrout. The one that defeated Rantu’ono. Looking at the color makes us queasy.” “Uh-huh,” Jadon sneered, “mud-bloods.” “Don’t you know that term is property of Draco Malfoy?” Friday asked with a strange, dreamy look in her eye. “You’re only sticking up for Caroline because you’re like her,” Dallas said before spitting on Friday’s shoe. “Yah,” Caroline said, “You’re right. She’s like me. She has a selfless, caring, gentle heart. You bastards can’t boast of that. You can only boast of being inconsiderate, cruel, and cold-blooded. You don’t even have hearts!”

 

Dallas stepped forward menacingly. Through clenched teeth, he hissed, “Was that what I think it was?” “You bet it was.” “How dare you challenge a Full blood to the scared Battle of Souls, weakling!” “Guys!” Fathia stepped between the two teens and spread her arms so that each palm faced a Demonic Blood. “This is pointless! We all have our little disagreements, but this is no time to argue!” Caroline growled; she didn’t like being bossed around by someone younger than her, even if Fathia was only younger by a month. However, she had to admit, her archrival was right. The Battle of Souls would have to wait for now. She gritted her teeth, swung her lion tail between her legs, and stepped back.

 

Dallas laughed and bitterly said, “So, I guess you are just another weakling. You stand down at the orders of someone younger than you. What a laugh.” Fathia turned and… SMACK! Dallas fell to the floor, four clean claw marks in his right cheek. “Thanks,” Caroline said, stunned. “He needs it now and again. And you’re welcome,” Fathia smirked, “Outcast.” Caroline smiled in admission; she couldn’t deny her wretched past. She didn’t want to; forgetting her past was forgetting what she fought for. Forgetting who she fought for. “Now,” Zafira said, “about the new threat…” “Not here,” Fathia said, “I know a better place. Follow me upstairs.”

 

“Holy shit!” Caroline shouted, “I wish my house had a game room like this!” “It’s not just a game room,” Fathia explained as she picked up her Chihuahua, Cinnamon, “It’s also a conference room, play pen, and pet washing service room.” “You wash other people’s animals?” Baldasarre asked curiously, “Why?” “’Cause they pay her mucho denero for it,” Caroline said enthusiastically, “Just like they pay me to baby sit their animals.” “Why would animals need babysitters?” Zafira wondered. “Well,” Friday piped up, “the owners can’t look after their pets if they’re on a business trip or vacation.” “Ah,” Jatin agreed, “of course. Now, about this new threat?” “Of course,” Fathia said, “Come, have a seat.” She indicated a large round table with ten chairs in the center of the room.

 

After everyone was seated, Jatin looked both his comrades in the eye, nodded slightly, and began. “The new threat is Rantu’ono’s younger sister, Kinaree’tolo. She’s sixteen years old, and she was recently murdered for being in league with Rantu’ono and his supporters. She was resurrected with the body she had when she was strangled. She now seeks revenge for her brother’s death. She’s not as strong as Rantu’ono, but she knows of a gem that can make her twice as strong as she is now. Her current power level is 500,000; fighting someone with a power level of 1,000,000 wouldn’t be safe. We have to find the gem before Kinaree’tolo does. If she finds it first, we may as well give up.” Caroline stood up, a defiant glare on her face.

 

“Rantu’ono’s highest power level was 2,000,000, and my Half-Demon mother survived the battle with him. My father is Full-Demon, so I’m a little stronger than Mom was. And I’m older, and have trained more. I’m not gonna back down now. Now’s my chance to prove my worth, and if anyone tries to stop me, they’re going down!” The room was silent; an outburst that forceful and that determined was unexpected from Caroline; she was usually rational, if not to an extremely limited extent. She wasn’t lying; she’d K.O. anyone who tried to stop her, even Friday or Tala. Her past had been filled with bullies telling her that she wasn’t worth shit. “Well,” Jatin said, “You certainly have the attitude of a Saiyan Elite. But first thing’s first: the gem. Here’s a holographic image of it.”

 

An image appeared in midair; Caroline slammed her fist down angrily. “Dammit!” she growled, “That gem’s in a local museum.”

 

Sounds like whatever the threat is, it’s gone from bad to worse for our heroes. Watch out, things start to get spicy in Chapter Three: Kinaree’tolo.

 

Note: Torogrout is pronounced TOE-row-GROUT.