Chapter 2
Aeshma hazed out of an abandoned farmhouse’s fire pit. The dust made by his appearance sent it up in motes. The place was a ram shack of its former self. The outside was bleary out bringing a sense of depression into the air. Before he even looked outside, Aeshma already knew that this wasn’t the correct time he was supposed to be in. He pulled out the token he kept in his pocket square making sure that it was still with him. The token was something all demons had on hand when they went to the topside so they could get back home. It would light up after completing a job opening a way back to Hel. There were other ways to get back that required blood sacrifice and runes but that was more work for the ones that went up here without permission.
Aeshma went on his way heading to the big city. He had the skill -hell sense- that allowed him to track his target as long as he was in the same country as the thing. He figured he would try it when he reached the city, no sense in doing it when he was still walking there. After a few short hours of getting to the metropolis, he was starting to get hungry. He tried to sense the target a few times, but nothing came up. The fact was worrying for him, but there was nothing he could do. Already resigned to spending years here waiting for the man who is name Logan Daniels, he would have his fun in the meantime.
The night life in the city of Chicago during the swinging 20’s was something any male would enjoy. Now demons as a whole wouldn’t show they’re true selves, that didn’t mean they couldn’t change to look human. Aeshma didn’t have a preference to what he looked like as long as the job got done, if that meant he as Asian, African American, Latino or any other ethnicity as long as it fit for his purpose. For the 20’s, it was easier to go with the white, it was less problems for him.
The night was alive with the new cars going through the city, the cops busting any of the boot leggers they caught. The speak easy’s were a little hard to find along with a brothel but if you knew the right people it was as simple as taking a shot. That was where he went now.
The suit that he wore was made a little less lustrous so he wouldn’t look too rich, the red skin he had was white and the horns he had vanished. The long black hair he had was the same along with his eyes. There was a rule that no matter the appearance one took from Hel, the eyes had to remain the same. It was an older rule then he was but the hair he kept because he wanted to. The first place he would go was the speak easy so he could get the current currency, then he would hit the brothel for his dinner.
He made his way over to the cops that were currently beating a poor man down, the look of bliss on their face was obvious they were enjoying it a little too much.
“We told you Johnny wasn’t happy with the stock you brought him!” Cop 1 said, he was standing over the man while lighting a cigarette. A fag, he thought. Aeshma corrected himself. He had to get with the terms they were using.
The other cop, cop 2, was still smashing his baton on the man’s head. Cop 1 continued with what he was saying, “Now, you can either bring in double of the shine you have or well break your legs, your brothers’ legs and take your sister over to Merryin Lou’s place. You don’t want that Tim, trust me because Fred here goes there. And you already know that Fred isn’t too gentle.” Cop 1 tapped the other cop Fred’s shoulder letting him know they were done.
Aeshma waited till they were done stepping up to the cops. He didn’t talk often because of the little problem it brought but if he said small sentences then it would cause that big of a problem. “Excuse me gentlemen, would you know where I could find a place to drink?” The words were hypnotic in nature, Aeshma couldn’t speak a word unless it was pure truth.
Cop 1 staggered a little at the words he said, the truth of Aeshma’s intent hit him like bag of rocks. “Wha- what did you say.” He was holding his head looking Aeshma up and down, profiling him. It wasn’t till a few seconds later he realized what he had asked him.
“Now why would you think I would know something like that?” Cop 1 was pulling his baton out now.
Aeshma looked down at the man that was bleeding on the road, he turned back to the cop with an eyebrow raised. “I assure you, that’s all I want.” Aeshma replied.
The cop looked down at the hurt man “You feel sorry for this negro?”
Aeshma didn’t much care in truth and expressed that, “No” he looked around, this was taking too long for his liking. “I’m in a hurry and would like it if you told me about the nearest place for a drink.”
The words had the same effect as before, pain was riddled over the cop’s face. “Yeah, sure sure. Just take your fancy ass over to Jones place, it’s the shop that sells candy. Just take two blocks down 5th street and take a left onto Jefferson. You can’t miss it; it has two big guys outside watching for anyone shady trying to get in. they ask you the code word just say you would like to buy a few licorice sticks.” the cop told him just to be done with the conversation.
Cop 1 looked back at the man on the road, he was starting to get up. He tapped Fred’s arm and left walking down the road. Aeshma not waiting for anything else followed the directions to get to the indicated place. He came to the shop with the lights still on. It had a few customers inside talking, he entered in the front.
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The men that had gathered turned to at the newcomer watching him plain as day. Aeshma didn’t wait for the code word and answered the coded question “I would like to purchase a couple of licorice and have a seat in the back.”
They all looked at each other then broke out in laughter, it continued for a little longer than what was necessary. The man behind the counter was the only one that spoke to him. “I have no idea of what you’re asking for, maybe you came to the wrong place.” On cue the man gathered all turned and started to circle Aeshma in a tight form, putting their hands under their jackets.
Aeshma had the ability to know when someone lies to him, the cop he met didn’t lie to him but this guy sure was. He didn’t want to have a problem at the start of this long trip he was making, so he looked the clerk in the eyes and said, “Fred and his partner told me this was the place.” He put a little of his will into the words making them more powerful. It had an immediate effect on the store clerk, making the man’s eyes bulge out from his eyes.
“Wh-…why didn’t you say so, BOY’S he’s with our friend Marko Cappelli from the force. Dan, why don’t you show our dear friend here the best table we have and git Liz on that table, she’ll put on a show for him.” At the name Marko Cappelli all the men stopped dead in their tracks with a look of fear on their faces. Apparently, he made a friend that was a little too known for his taste, but beggars can’t be choosers.
The big thug named Dan led him to the back of the store, he pulled a perfectly hidden rope from behind the checkout desk, popping the floorboards with an audible click. Stairs could be seen by the illumination of the store’s lights leading down to another door with a hole in it. They made their way down coming to a stop, the thug nocked twice then paused then nocking again with four more.
“What’s the code?” a voice sounded out behind the metal door.
“Marry had a little lamb, who’s wool was as black as night” the thug intoed, Aeshma could tell that he had went through this numerous times as the phrase came out smooth. The door opened and soft music could be heard drifting through the basement, low dimmed lights littered the walls with smoke wafting out. The thug led him through the underground to the bar.
“It’s Marko’s friend, treat him right and get Liz on the table so he can relax. Did Bobby get that case over at Mulberry?” Aeshma followed one of the serving girls to a table where he was seated and a bottle was placed in front of him. The contents were little to what he was used to drinking but he wasn’t here just to drink the sin that was in the air drifted to him in an invisible haze. Demons had a number of ways to eat, and one of them was drinking in the sin that was around them. He preferred to eat the words of sinners and their lies but that would have drawn attention to him.
He opened the bottle and poured himself a drink as he sat there enjoying the view of the speak easy, a soft voice rose out grabbing his attention.
“Are you Marko’s friend, they never did give me your name. Mine is Liz, so how do you want to do this? I think there is a room in the back we usually keep for important guest but I believe you qualify.” Liz slowly sat down next to him showing an abundant of cleavage as she did so, the perfume on her stung Aeshma’s nose as she got near him. She was the perfect image of a two-dollar whore, blond hair with enough make up but not overly so. Her hair rand down her lose fitted clothes that were too flashy to be decent in. Her face was a heart shape that most humans found appealing, but what was different about her was her eyes. They spoke of sorrow and hate and Aeshma found himself being swallowed up in them.
“No, I think I’ll just enjoy the company you bring; besides I don’t think I’m up for that right now.” His words were soft as hers and he tried not to put any of his will into them. She made an expression of distaste at what he said.
“I’m not one to judge but if I don’t please you, Marshal over there will tell Phil and trust me when I say I don’t want any of those problems”. She nodded her head over to one of the bigger guys in the joint, he was watching them as they made their small talk. He looked like Dan the thug, could have been twins. He sat on a barrel in the corner as the jazz player was going at it.
“Fine, but I really do want to just talk.” Liz got up and pulled on his arm leading him to one of the rooms in back. The way through was an obstacle course as they dodge and shuffled their way through the basement. Once they got to the back, she showed him to one of the bigger rooms, it was decorated with nice furnishings and a large bed. In the corner there was a couch and a table with a bottle of rum. Aeshma sat down and poured them both a drink. He didn’t have anything better to do then to wait for his mark to make an appearance so he decided on spending it on what he had in front of him.
“So, what’s a big fish like you doing her in one of the smaller joints in town?” Liz sat next to him again and curled up around his shoulder, taking the glass form him she made a quick motion draining the shot in a second.
“I’m sorry for asking but is that a Brooklyn assent?” He cut her off from asking the stupid questions most mortals asked. Who are you, where are you from and what brings you here.
“Why yes, it is! I noticed you had an unusual one yourself. It sounds proper. Where did you day where you’re from?” He was going to respond but his sense ability picked up on his target and he made a dash through the door. He went through the bar and out of the store before anyone knew what was going on. To poor Liz, it just seemed like he just disappeared, she made her way back out of the room and went to Marshal thinking of a way to get out of getting in trouble. She would come up with it being a quicky and he was so embarrassed about it that he ran out of the joint before she could gossip about it to the other girls.
Aeshma ran through the town heading to the more luxuries side, he found a hospital and the target was currently in there. He slowed down and went through the back entering the alley behind the place, it stunk of trash but didn’t show any singes of people being there. Before he could exit, he was assaulted by a mugger, he was dirty and had an appearance of being a hobo. The man had a kitchen knife in his right hand and a bag in the other.
“Give me everything you have!” the man demanded. “Or I’ll kill you here and now!” Aeshma didn’t have the patients for this kind of stuff anymore. He moved too quickly to be seen and grabbed the man around the neck. He was still hungry from not finishing his meal back at the bar. Now that he had the opportunity to finish that he did so with mirth. He tore the head off the man and downed all the spilling organs that he could get out, crushing the body like a can in the prosses.
He finished up and hid the man’s remains in the trash as he made his way to the back entrance of the hospital. He got up the stairs and through the hall as he came to the maternity ward. There sat the little joy that he was supposed to kill.