I’m not sure at what point in my life I gained the ability to keep my cool under pressure. It was probably just a reaction to having to go through so much pain and suffering - certain things just didn’t really affect me. Of course, this was a little different, and my ability to think on my feet would be tested.
They wheeled the little metal table over to where I was sitting. Four goons in lab coats surrounding a machine that looked like a thick metal canister attached to a runic keyboard or screen. It was hard to tell when my mind was screaming out, distracting the rest of my brain processes.
Was this it? Would I need to start fighting back? Revolver was by my side, I could probably take the room out with one Mortar. They were all humans, although the Director did give me the creeps. No Wight nearby, and no knowledge of what would happen once that trigger was pulled.
No.
I was overthinking it. Too much to lose and too soon. Eric Redd not only knew when he was being manipulated, but was able to manipulate himself. Well, my energy.
At one end of the canister, a cable extended with a thick needle on the end. Held in rubber gloves by a man who looked like he wasn’t paid enough to stay in an in-Hell facility dealing with jackoffs like me who only died, anyway.
“This takes blood?” I asked.
“Is that a problem?” The Director asked from behind her desk. Her face trying to read my reaction. “We expect you to have an amount of demonic energy within you - even the less attached Hunters have trace demonic influence in their blood.”
I nodded. “Oh, no. It’s just that, uh, I get a little grouchy if I’m bled. I think it’s a side effect of the demonic power.” Did try my best at an apologetic smile.
“Are we in danger, Eric?” Partridge raised an eyebrow.
“No, sir. I can control it.” I pulled my arm from my jacket and rolled up my shirt sleeve. “Just… if I start looking like a bad Halloween decoration, that’ll be why.”
Numbing cream was rubbed over most of my forearm. Thank fuck, because the needle looked more like they were about to fill me up with gas rather than extract blood.
“Naturally, this will hurt Mr. Redd.” The dull man held it in his hand while his associates fiddled with the machine. “Give me a nod when ready.”
“Okay, let me try to dissociate.”
Now for fun part. This could go really badly, if it even worked at all.
Normally my two energies sat like a fish tank. Two rectangles of this supposed power prevented from colliding by a wall of the Rat God’s balanced energy. I couldn’t let the Org see I had any divinity in me, otherwise alarms would be raised. So, the shape had to be changed.
I allowed some of my divinity to be eaten away at by my demonic, shifting the balance slightly. Not enough to turn, but it’d get me going if this took too long. I pulped what remained into a sphere and surrounded it in my core by balance energy and allowed the rest of the demonic power to wash through my whole body. It fought and struggled, but I gave the man a nod.
It was painful. He was correct about that. Somehow I focused on pushing more demonic power down through that arm, saturated my bloodstream with it. This was only a guess at how this machine worked, and to be honest, how I worked, too. Could just be making myself irritable for no reason, but the needle did fucking hurt. Good thing the man was not a demon, or he’d have the needle through his neck. There was still a chance.
And then it was done. I had tried to avoid looking at my red stuff escaping so as to not accidentally set off
Bunch of wet blankets.
Opened my eyes to grimace at the pair. “Is this like an immediate thing, or I have to wait three to five business days to find out what percentage demon I am?”
Partridge scowled at me.
“Director. Sir.” I bowed my head, despite warning them I’d get cranky.
“Assuming the machine doesn’t explode, wise-ass, you’re free to go.” He rubbed his mustache through. “You patron is currently having a chat about what birthday gift he can give you for reaching Level Ten. We’ll drop you the Quest and portal information for your taste test tomorrow.”
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
I nodded slowly. We had made it. The Mids were just a few steps away - truly a great gift from the Organization. If you ignored what it actually entailed.
The man at the machine gave the pair a nod and bow before the small group wheeled it back out of the room. I noted the Director’s eyes didn’t leave me while they did so. Did she know more than she was letting on, or suspected me of something? As the door closed, she seemed to relax a little.
“I apologize for the intrusive process, Mr. Redd. I’m sure you have endured worse.” A dry smile cracked at her lips.
Although I definitely had, I didn’t feel as though that really made it any better. “Yes, Director.” The machine hadn’t exploded, but it didn’t necessarily mean that I was out of the woods yet. I was sure I’d feel better once I got back home.
Partridge cleared his throat. “So, to summarize. Be wary of other Hunters you come across, probably just kill them to be sure. Unfortunately, you’re one of our best and brightest,” he sighed after saying this part, “so keep up the good work and don’t die. Promotion is granted and we’ll be in touch with your Mids Quest.”
“Sir.” I nodded.
The Director closed the folder on her desk. “All that out of the way. Congratulations on making it this far, Eric. You have a bright future with us if you maintain your capabilities.”
If only they knew.
“You are dismissed.”
I stood from the chair, aching slightly where they had stuck me with the large needle. It felt uncomfortable against my clothing now covering it, but hopefully my regeneration would soothe that over in no time at all. If the Org were smart, that would have been a misdirection and they’d have put something in me rather than drawing something out.
In fact, that would probably be the best way to get rid of me without too much violence. Inject a drug or something while I was expecting some bullshit blood test. Or a tracking chip. I guess I was soon to find out how smart they truly were, and how much of what they were saying was the truth. I didn’t feel as though I was being manipulated, and I was reasonably accurate about that sort of thing.
I gave them a deep bow and went toward the door, half expecting to drop dead at any step.
“Oh, Mr. Redd?”
My body tensed, and I turned my head back to her. “Director?”
“Happy birthday.”
The rest of my journey paled in comparison to the amount of dread I felt from such a simple phrase. Made me feel even more that I had been tampered with, or they had their eye on me. Door shut, down the hallway, bow to the receptionist, and the dark room took me to home and the safety of the basement.
I stepped through to find Rodney wielding the shotgun, a sheepish grin crossing his face as his eyes widened at my arrival. “Oh, Eric.”
“Having fun there, Rods?” There was no harm in it - I’d rather he play around with a pact weapon rather than a mundane firearm. At least in the house.
“Watch.” His brow furrowed in concentration as he held it up, and after a couple of seconds some of the runes inscribed along it glowed a dim blue. He exhaled, and they faded away to be inert once more. “It’s a bit much for me but…”
Realization crossed his face - I had indeed returned.
“Impressive.” I gave him a nod and looked over to my recliner.
“What happened?” He placed the shotgun down carefully and went to sit on his own chair, too.
“Said we were doing great, got our Promotion and access to the Mids.” I smiled.
“No shit? The actual Mids, huh?”
“Subject to a trial run Quest or two, I am sure.” I shuffled uncomfortably before removing my jacket and shirt.
“Everything okay?” He grimaced at seeing me seemingly disrobing for no apparent reason - perhaps anticipating I might be about to have a mental break.
I nodded and tried to get comfortable, my bare skin sticking to the leather chair. “They stuck me, did the testing.” My right arm raised to show him the damage.
“Fuck, Eric. Looks like they used a spear to do it.” His grimace furthered. “The test? Fuck. Are we fucked?” Panic started gnawing at the edges of his features.
“Nah. Well, maybe. I’m actually waiting for Wight to get back, to be sure.” He had purged me of Org naughties once before, and although I wasn’t keen to replay that detox, if necessary I would. Although... he couldn’t fully possess me now, so it might not work.
Rodney deflated into the chair. “What a day, huh? I guess you’re spent?” Sounded more like he was being hopeful.
“Yeah. Let’s eat and then I’ll call it.” I closed my eyes and leaned back. “Org knows the Last Lantern is killing off Hunters, although there might be some false positives in their detective work.”
I heard him exhaled deeply. “Would have been less stressful for you to have blown them up, huh?”
For him, maybe. I felt Wight’s presence filter into the basement and opened my eyes to see the bird-demon stretch out.
[Always a pleasure to be prodded about by the Org.]
“You said it, bud.” I held up my arm. “Could you possess me and check around to make sure they haven’t stuck any drugs or anything in me?"
I shivered as his energy cooled me. Ripples in my power formed as he brushed around for anything untoward. It was something interesting to go through now that I had such control over the energies with me.
[No, there is nothing I can detect.]
“Perfect. Let’s go grab something from the kitchen and I’ll fill you both in on the details. We’ll have a proper celebratory meal once Pearl is back - probably tomorrow?” I glanced at my watch, surprised the day was nearing its end already.
----------------------------------------
I stepped up to the bedroom, perfectly done with the busy day. Wight and Rodney updated. The demon went back to the Org, while the Blank wanted to adjust some things in the basement. Sleep sounded better to me, now that the sun had gone. No complaints overall, although things could have gone a little better. Pushing the door open, the room was lit by soft pink lighting and a handful of arranged candles.
Pearl was already laying there, the covers up to her smiling face. I closed the door and stepped over to the end of the bed with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh, if it isn’t the great Demon Hunter, Eric Redd.” She ran her eyes over me. “I’ve been a very naughty Demon Demon Hunter.”
With a sweep away of the covers, she revealed herself. Whatever lingerie she had decided to wear was little more than a handful of carefully arranged straps, gripping at her purple skin like their lives depended on it.
“Are you going to interrogate me?” She pouted and put her hand to her lips in faux surprise.
“That’s right.” I grinned and tipped my hat. “First question…”
My wings, one of obsidian black, one of pure white, burst out from behind my back. The rush of air caused the candles to flicker as the demon’s radiant eyes widened.
“…you ever been fucked by a human demi-god?”