The freezer facilities were empty when Nyx opened the front door using of the key Botox lady had given him. Nyx dragged the trash bag covered cadaver through the facilities halls, lifting it when the bag got caught on a tile corner. Finally, he placed it on a shelf at the side of his unit, brushing away lines of frost. He ran a hand along the sealed bad, double checking to make sure no demon Chi was leaking. With a satisfied nod, he closed and locked the door of the freezer, and returned to the van.

There would be enough Chi for a while before needing another demon. In Nyx’s core, there was a maelstrom taking pace as his chaotic Chi attacked the demonic presence beside it. Once he was back, before sleeping, he would need to deal with the demon’s essence and malevolence.

After dropping off the rental van, Nyx jogged back to the complex glad it wasn’t far away. The full moon had come out from behind the cloud cover, lighting his way with a soft ambiance. Though he passed the orange glow of an occasional light, the business district of the city was asleep.

The card reader clicked green at the metal door built into the rustic brick wall. The entrance to the orders complex. He wound his way through the tunnels without seeing anyone and slipped into his apartment unit. Gabe, Garry, and Dan were sitting on the living room couch, they had been talking but stopped when Nyx walked in. They all had a haunted look in their eyes.

Gabe broke the silence. “How did you do it? I’ve seen people move fast before, but not that fast. I knew I was going to die, then somehow you got there in time.”

Dan nodded. There was a fresh bandage on his arm and stomach that covered the gashes the demon had torn into him. “Not to mention how you waded through the demon's energy, then almost seemed to flow past its attacks, killing it in a single stroke.” He smoked a cigarette, but his usual fire was gone, eyes almost pleading. “I don’t ever want to feel like that again.”

Nyx looked at Garry who nodded to him but stayed silent.

He nodded slowly. He had started to view these three as friends, but a selfish part of his mind saw what they might become. "I can’t tell you anything, but I can teach you to use those swords properly. You were sloppy tonight."

Dan made to comment, but Nyx held up a hand stopping him. “No, now go to sleep. No more questions, I am tired.”

Rather than break them, it seemed the demon had only increased the teams drive to improve. Nyx closed his bedroom door and threw yet another set of soiled clothes into the trash, this was becoming a trend. He stepped into the tub and assumed a cross-legged position. The demonic energy he had cultivated during the fight, was being bombarded by the Chaos, driven into a corner of his core.

Nyx’s mind relaxed as he delved into his sea of consciousness. The natural glow of his soul was in shadow. A memory started to coalesce, forced on him by a malevolent presence. He was curious what the demonic energy would try to show him this time.

He stood in an ornate manse with plush carpets covering the ground. Every piece of furniture and ornament was flush with wealth. Decadent couches sat on both sides of the entryway with a high arched doorway just behind him. He looked back at the imperial staircase descending into gardens bellow, filled with Rows of spirit trees all dangling with white bulbs and round fruit. Above him, a crystal chandelier reflected light sparkling in all directions. To Nyx's left, a second flight of stairs spiraled up to the villas' second floor.

A woman, radiating natural beauty seemed to glide down the steps as she walked to meet him, hand resting lightly on the railing. She had silky brown hair and delicate features with soft, kind, blue eyes shining with intelligence. Nyx swelled with a sense of wonder, she was perfect. He knew without a doubt she was the counterpart to his soul, she completed him.

On seeing Nyx, Ella’s beauty only increased as a smile lit her face. Her voice, sweet like honey, raised in excitement. “You came to see me! My father will not be happy.”

Nyx smiled at this fond memory from the higher planes. His first love and wife, why would the demon show him this?

The memory faded and another one formed. Nyx was on the ground with the same woman trembling in his arms. He had forgotten how light and delicate she felt. A different set of emotions filled him. He tried to stop the tears running down his cheeks as anguish warred at his heart. Blood pooled around him; Her blood. Ella's usually rosy cheeks had grown pale as the warmth faded from her limbs. He re-lived the rage, the pain. How could they do this to her! She was an innocent bystander.

Nyx wiped away his tears, but it was a useless effort as more pooled in his eyes running down his face.

Ella’s fingers brushed Nyx's cheek as she smiled in a last brave moment. It was a secret smile, one he cherished. “I love you, remember...” As her speech trailed off, her baby blue eyes lost focus becoming glassy and empty. The shivering in her body stilled, and she became limp in his arms. He could almost see her soul depart, forever stolen from him.

Hatred filled him as he looked up at the conniving faces all around. The officers from the Acadian army now surrounded him with grim expressions. Behind them, a smug look on his face, stood Fremont, dressed ostentatiously in his red silk dress coat and pants.

Nyx gritted his teeth as he snarled. “I fought a war for you. The entire time you were planning to hand it all over, weren’t you?”

The diplomats face flushed as he looked down his long nose at him. “Curb your tongue. We had to look for an alternative. Agrion’s price was the death of anyone with strong ties to the republic. I am truly sorry it had to end like this...”

The room seemed to sway in front of Nyx as uncontrollable wrath coursed through him. "What was the price, tell me what Ella's life and the republic are worth to you."

Nyx’s body seemed to act on his own as his vision went red. He cycled the energy from his core and flames engulfed him. He knew he would die here, but he no longer cared. As though far distant, he heard the Chancellor yelling for his guards to kill him.

Before the elite members of the republic's military could draw their weapons, Nyx was among them. He felt a throat in his fist being crushed, heard a scream as torrents of flame burned a man alive. At some point, a blade stabbed him in the side, but he felt nothing. The panic ensuing all around him seemed muted, all he saw was flashes of people dying.

The first to die at his hands were the members of the military, but he didn't stop there. The guests and servants were next. Deep inside he knew what he was doing was wrong, but he was lost in a turbulent sea of his darkness. Nobody could reason with him… and they died. When it was over, he searched through the carnage before laying down beside a crumbling wall. The one person he wanted dead most, Fremont, wasn't among the bodies. He screamed at the world, cursing his luck. ‘Luck,’ He mused, ‘what a stupid thing to blame.’

Tears ran down Nyx’s face where he sat in the bathtub. The memories he had buried deep, felt fresh. The demon had achieved its goal of causing Nyx sorrow, but instead of working to break him, it hardened his resolve.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

With a thought, he banished the memory, and his soul, now unhindered, spread with blinding white light. He didn't give the demon's specter a chance to move or speak. A ray of light shot from his outstretched hand and the demon's essence was torn to shreds, evaporating into the air.

The chaotic Chi in Nyx’s core calmed, no longer attempting to destroy the demonic now that it was under his control; they circled each other in peace. There was an excess heavenly and demonic Chi in his core.

Taking a moment to wipe his face, Nyx turned on the shower cleaning off the gunk from the day. Soap and water dispelled the rancid odor, carrying it away in the spray of water. He remained standing under the shower even once clean, fresh memories caused by the demon running through his mind.

Nyx would locate the demon who killed his father on Earth, and when he was ready, the abomination would die. After that, he would pursue the others he owed a debt.

“Please be alive,” he muttered under his breath. If his friends in the higher realm had died, in exchange for his return to earth… was it worth it? He had to believe it was.

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As Nyx woke the next morning, he breathed in the smell of the dorms. There was a distinct musky fragrance that the apartment space had, not to mention the lack of natural light. He reached out with his senses, listening for his team's heartbeats. They were all pumping out a steady rhythm that told him they were sleeping. All except for Dan.

Nyx strode into the soft yellow light of the living area. Dan sat on the couch, his eyes bloodshot with dark bags underneath. “Did you sleep at all last night?” asked Nyx.

Dan looked up with haunted eyes and shrugged. "I promised myself that if I saw a demon again, I wouldn't cower in fear."

“Hey, look at me. It’s not your fault; a demon’s presence isn’t something easily confronted, especially at your level. Their very being is derived from the ability to break human souls. The only way to overcome the primal fear is through exposure and training.”

Dan grunted, he was fingering a locket that hung from the gold chain at his neck, “After my parents died, I promised myself I would be strong, guess I just couldn’t live up to it.”

Nyx voice turned firm. “self-pity won’t do anything to solve your problems, trust me, I know. Now is the time to take responsibility and use the lessons to improve.”

For once Dan didn’t explode into anger but seemed to be contemplating Nyx’s words.

“I am heading out for the day and will be back tonight.”

“Mhm, alright I’ll tell Joshua,” said Dan, staring blankly at the far wall. It was slightly worrying to Nyx that he didn't even mention the extra work Gregor had the team do the last time he skipped.

Outside there were a number of other students in grey uniform in the hall. The early birds. Some smirked as Nyx walked passed, either seeing the badge identifying him as a mutt, or having heard about how he had been knocked unconscious.

Nyx ignored them keeping his eyes forward. Once in the central cavern, he grabbed a quick meal from the buffet, finishing it hastily. Nobody said anything to him as he strolled into the upward sloping passage. A walk, and time to contemplate always helped Nyx organize his thoughts. His mind was still a jumble after experiencing the memory from the night before. At the top, Nyx pushed his way past the thick door and out of the complex. Several high-rises lined a wide sidewalk made of slabs of concrete. Windows not in the shade, reflected pale morning light. Men and women in suits carried their bags and briefcases, sipping morning coffee.

None of them gave Nyx as much as a second glace, focused on their destinations with sleepy eyes. Nyx wandered aimlessly lost in his thoughts. It had been a long time since he had dwelled on the memories of the night before. They haunted him, made him feel vulnerable. Old wounds torn wide. The chaos churned and he almost thought it was trying to comfort him. but it was a silly thought.

Nyx found a bench and sat beside a bubbling water fountain, the gentle gurgle of the water helped him let go of his tension. A red glow pulled him from his thoughts, indicating the approach of a demon. The person in question was elderly with styled grey hair receding at the temple, wearing a fitted blue suit. His face was stern, and he appeared as a successful businessman.

Judging by the demon’s demeanor, Nyx guessed it must be in a high-ranking position. He followed it, till it disappeared through the revolving door of a legal company.

Activity picked up as the morning wore on as an ever-increasing number of people made their way to the different buildings. Hidden in the crowd, Nyx identified several other demons, many appearing to be quite affluent. Most of them entered the rectangular municipal building of the public sector.

Of the demons he had seen that morning, most possessed a considerably stronger aura than the two he had faced so far. He thought they must belong to the marching hoard. Tracking all these demons on his own would be impossible. He needed informants that could gather information. With the ‘honest’ sectors all teeming with demons, he decided he needed to look to the seedier criminal elements.

A middle-aged man sidled over and took a seat next to Nyx. He was ordinary, neither demon nor Elementalist. With a flick, he straightened his newspaper and crossed his legs creating creases in his brown slacks.

After sitting in silence for a short time, the man looked over at Nyx, folding away his newspaper. “Here for a summer internship?” he asked in a gruff, but friendly voice. He had quaffed brown hair, and his suit didn’t quite fit him.

Nyx nodded without looking over, but the man didn’t take the hint.

“What are you seventeen, eighteen?”

Nyx ignored the question. “Mind if I take a look at that paper?” he asked. This guy was studying him too intently for his liking.

The man shrugged. “Sure, same stuff as usual.”

With a grunt, he pushed himself up from the bench and took out his phone. As he walked away, he looked back with a last curious glance at Nyx over his shoulder.

Nyx flipped the paper back to the front page. It was a story on global warming. Data on the changing of climate and storms over the past years was listed in detail. It appeared there had been unprecedented weather development over the past week. The paper indeed depicted quite a scene with wars, environmental trouble, and an unstable economy.

The man hadn't returned for his paper, so Nyx left it rolled up on the bench beside him. The day had begun to heat up with the occasional cloud darkening the sun. The streets surrounding Nyx were busy with vehicles waiting in traffic. Taxis found spots to park along the side of the road, waiting for potential customers.

Nyx could sense traces of various kinds of Chi in the warm breeze. He closed his eyes enjoying the moment of peace, and his enhanced hearing picked up the faint sound of sirens, but he paid it no mind; what would a city be without the sound of sirens?

The sound continued to grow until a police cruiser pulled right up onto the sidewalk. Out came two officers, they straightened their uniforms before walking up to Nyx.

“Sir, could you please come with us.” The officer flashed his badge, identifying him as James. His voice was commanding but not aggressive. He had dirty blond hair that had been buzzed short tapering on the sides. His partner stood back, hand resting near his gun. Nyx noted the unbuttoned strap on his holster.

“Can I ask what this is about?” asked Nyx, though he had a good idea.

“It is confidential, we will inform you at the precinct. Don’t worry, no charges have been filed, just a routine questioning.”

The other officer regarded Nyx, his face stern and without stubble, shaved head glistening in the sunlight. "Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be son, if we have to go get a warrant, then we won't be in such a good mood."

“Alright, I’ll come,” said Nyx with a shrug.

James raised an eyebrow at his partner before giving Nyx a reassuring smile. "Come, grab a seat in the back, we have been looking for you, contacted your parents, but they didn't have any idea where you were."

Nyx kept his voice calm. “I haven’t been living with my foster family recently.”

As he shut the police cruisers door as people on the sidewalk slowed, or stopped, to stare at him being taken in by the police. Steel mesh separated Nyx from the two officers in the front seats. He could see James eyeing him through the rearview mirror as the cruiser shifted into drive and merged back onto the road.

“I must say, your folks seemed mighty worried about you,” said James.

Nyx watched people on the sidewalks or in other cars with detached interest as they passed by. “I highly doubt they are worried.”

“There was this nasty crime a bit over a week ago. Funny thing is, we saw you on the tape at the time it would have happened,” said James partner, he was either perpetually irritable or playing the bad cop.

Nyx remained silent, meeting the officers look with a glare of his own.