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The NU Demon
Chapter 52: A Proposition

Chapter 52: A Proposition

It takes what feels like an eternity to blink enough of the blinding white out of my eyes that I'm seeing more environment than spots. I cast a heal on myself but it only barely takes the edge off. My ears won't stop ringing, nothing but the ever reverberating sound of nothingness in them.

I slowly pick myself off the floor. Thankfully nothing else hurts, so I'm otherwise uninjured. That or it's so bad I can't feel it. The gate now has a massive hole in it where the magical lighting bolt skipped though. Molten bits of bar still dripping from the edges and burning their way into the counter. Fuck, a corjo demon could definitely fit through that.

But the gate wasn't what they were aiming at, it was just in the way of….. SEYMORE! I stumble around, almost tripping over as I try to reach the stricken old man. Still having more blindness than workable vision doesn't help. It's only when I manage to stumble down next to him that I understand the full damage.

The bolt took his right arm off at the shoulder. The arm itself is now just a charred lump covered in the unrecognizable melted metal of what I assume was the rifle. Somehow there isn't any bleeding, the hit having cauterized the blackened stump that is now his shoulder as the arm was detached. I place a shaky hand on his chest and to my relief I feel it rising and falling, barely.

I push a heal onto him and it takes, but doesn't have any visible effect on his wounds. A minor heal spell isn't going to fix his arm, I never expected it to, I just want to get him stable again.

Doubting I can do anything else for Him I turn my attention to Robert and Toby. Both of them are trying to stand up and failing spectacularly. They are weaker than me, being regular humans, and that bolt put me on my ass. I can imagine they won't be seeing or hearing shit for a good while. Which is very unfortunate because out of the side of my vision that actually works I see a ghoul jump up on the gate and start going to town on the hole.

Headless of its own safety or pain, it grabs the edges of the bars and starts to bend and rip them out. And with the integrity of the gate compromised, it's making a lot of progress very fast. I stand up and blast it with a full disorientation screach. It works perfectly, and the ghoul tumbles back off the gate flailing and disoriented. I wait a moment for the next one but nothing else jumps up. Good, seems I've bought us a little time. I can almost see again, I now have more vision than spots. But my hearing is still useless, which starts to get me concerned that it may be permanent.

I fish my shotgun off the floor, the weapon thankfully intact. Robert and Toby are still fumbling about, and since healing doesn't help, the best I can do is hold the gate until they recover themselves. I push up to the gate to get a view of the lobby.

The ghoul from before is still fumbling around at the base of the counter. Further back a bunch of corjo demos who apparently got caught in the attack continuously trip over themselves and one another. Out of nowhere another ghoul comes hauling ass out of the dust and starts closing on the gate. I'm getting ready to try and shoot it with the shotgun when suddenly the ghoul below the gate gets it's bearings enough to stand upright, right in front of the charging one. I can't hear anything, but the resulting crash looked spectacular as both go crashing to the floor in a tangle of angry limbs.

I figure that's my queue to pick one of them off before they can recover, but to my surprise they don't bother trying. Instead one of them gets angry and goes at the other, and suddenly they're a ball of claws, limbs, and teeth rolling around on the floor trying to rip each other's faces off. Well, works for me.

Unfortunately the corjo demons start to recover. The first one picks itself up off the floor and makes a beeline for the hole in the gate. But it gets a little too close to the ghoul scrap ball rolling along the floor. A limb flies out of the scuffle and smashes the corjo hard in the side, sending it skating across the floor.

The rest pay enough attention to go around the murder tumbleweed as they rush their way toward the gate. The first one gets close and leaps at the hole, trying to clear it in one go. But I still have haste on me, and have enough of my vision back to aim. So all it gets for its trouble is a shell's worth of buckshot shredding its face mid air and knocking it off course. It crashes into the gate and tumbles down to the floor as the next one tries its luck leaping through the hole. It meets the same fate and joins the ever growing pile of corpses on the floor.

A third tries, but this one keeps enough momentum after I shoot it that its body lodges partially in the hole and gets stuck. The next few crash into the gate trying to dislodge the corpse as I keep shooting whenever they get close. But when I finish off the fifth the remaining three turn tail and retreat. Wait, demons don't retreat. Why are they backing off?

My hearing comes back enough for me to hear something else from the lobby. I look over and see the ghouls are done infighting. Both of them look very injured, covered all over with bites, cuts, and bruises. One of them is even missing an eye, black liquid slowly seeping down its face from the empty socket. They both open their mouths and let out some kind of noise as they start charging the gate. I target one eye first and clip it with my first shot causing it to stumble. Which lets me line up a proper follow up that knocks it to the ground writhing. A third shot makes it stop moving entirely.

The other more healthier ghoul makes it to the gate and slams itself into the hole. It's just barely too small to make it through, and starts thrashing and wiggling about trying to squeeze its way in. I level the shotgun at it and pull the trigger, happy for the easy kill.

‘Click’

Fuck! I slam my left hand down into my pocket and grab a huge handful of shells. Pulling them out so quickly I drop a few to the floor. I desperately start trying to fumble the rounds into the gun, but only end up dropping one between my fingers. I'm about to just drop the shells and rush it using the shotgun as a club when a bunch of muted pops sound off behind me. I don't have time to celebrate my hearing starting to come back. A bullet nearly grazes my ear and a bunch more slam into the stuck ghoul, sending black ichor splattering across the gate and desks. While most of the shots miss and spark off the gate, enough hit that the ghoul slows down. Its struggling goes from crazed thrashing to lethargic wiggling. I finally get a round to slide into the tube. Then I chamber the shell and turn the ghouls head into demon giblet confetti.

I lower the shotgun and take a moment to breathe. My hearing is definitely coming back, because with the following silence I can hear my heart thundering in my chest in addition to feeling it. Some noise behind me gets my attention, and I turn around to see Robert leaned over against a cubicle, the barrel of his gun still smoking. He says something, but all I hear is incoherent noises, and I can't tell if it's just my hearing or he's having other problems too. He tries to say something else, but I just cut him off and point to my ear while shaking my head.

He points to Seymore and says something else, but again I don't understand it. Seymore is laying in the same spot still, Chest slowly rising and falling. I don't know if he'll live or not, but if he does arthritis will probably be the least of his issues.

I shake my head, then point to Seymore and point to the back. Robert's face goes solem and dark and he seems to grasp full understanding. Seymore isn't getting back up, at least not while we're still in this apocalyptic shit hole.

Toby is still hunched over trying to regain enough of his composure to stand, Robert is barely standing with the help of a wall to lean on, and I'm still deaf. Not looking good is an understatement. The good news is repelling that last attack seems to have given them pause…. for now.

I drop to my knees and prop the barrel of the shotgun against the floor to stuff more shells in. With less pressure and panic I'm able to actually line the shells up properly and slide them in. I don't know how many it can hold, but I suspect I'm about halfway through filling it when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

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I look up and back to see George has finally shown up. He's yelling something at me, but while my hearing is better. It's still mostly ringing, so I can't understand him. I simply point to my ears with my free hand and shake my head. I point to Seymore and try to say “Get him to the back.” But I can't tell if my words are good or not. I guess it was good enough because George looks to Robert for confirmation. Robert nods his head so George Walks over and starts to drag Seymore away by his feet with one hand while gagging.

I wonder why one handed and gagging, then I remember and realize. I've become so desensitized and distracted I didn't even register the burnt person smell in the air. And George has a jacked up shoulder. We're all so fucked. But just maybe I can do something about it.

I finish loading the shotgun and stand up to watch the gate. Nothing else shows up, and slowly my hearing comes back enough that I can make out what's going on. There is a lot of yelling coming from the safe area in the back, and a lot of noise coming from the street out front. My guess is the yelling is Karen freaking out over Seymore. And the noise is the pileup of demons coming to rip our faces off and eat out entrails.

I keep watching the front, hyper focused on the wall of dust, waiting for the next wave to come charging out. I almost jump when I'm tapped on the shoulder again. This time I turn my head and find Robert looking at me.

“Lucy, can you go help Seymore?” I barely make out him saying over the reduced by still present ringing in my ears. I shake my head when I answer him. “I can't fix lost limbs Robert. I already did what I could.”

“What about the… shit!” Robert says, before lifting his gun and pointing it at the lobby. I snap my head back forward and do the same, spying a lone figure slowly strolling their way out of the fog of war like they owned the damn place. We don't hesitate, both our guns spewing fire and roaring thunder at almost the same time.

Our shots connect… and bounce off in a cascade of rainbow colored sparks as a shield materializes into existence around our target. Welp, if that's the asshole who can throw lightning bolts we're cooked. Robert fires two more shots in rapid succession, and I get one more off. None of it is effective, except for creating a light show that partially obscures the figure for a moment. They stop walking at the halfway point, seemingly uncaring that we are still shooting at them. Another set of sparks fly as I loose another buckshot at them, then duck back down behind the counter. Robert fires a few more times then joins me.

“So, I think we might be fucked.” I tell him while fishing a shell out of my pocket.

“We just need to get rid of that shield.” Robert replies.

“Oh great idea. Let me just get my shield removal spray. Then we can kindly ask….. them to leave.” I reply full of sarcasm before realizing, we might actually have ‘shield removal spray’. Well, more like an everything removal missile launcher.

I look around, and Toby is just getting to his feet, perfect.

“Psssst, Toby!” I harshly whisper at him, and somehow he hears me enough that I get his attention.

“Go get the thing!” I tell him, but he just looks at me confused. Don't tell me his hearing is still shot enough he can't tell what I'm saying. I make hand motions like I would if I hold the missile launcher, then point to the back with a harsh look on my face. He seems to get the message, nodding frantically and stumbling off towards the back.

I turn back to find Robert peaking up over the top of the counter, watching the asshole.

“Well?” I ask him.

“They're just standing there.” He replies

“Asshole is taunting us!” I snap.

“Let them, time is something we are short on and if they want to give us more we’ll take it.” He says.

I poke my own head up from behind the counter, finding that indeed the figure is just standing there observing us. Their face isn't visible under the hood despite the fact they are looking straight at us. But they’re smaller in stature, being just a little taller than yours truly. The robes they are wearing are fancy to put it mildly, and drop down to just above their ankles. I can see gold trim along the front and hood forming intricate patterns. Across the whole getup I can see runes and inscriptions faintly glowing through the darkness of the lobby. I can just barely make out some kind of insignia pinned to the left shoulder, with a gold chain ending in a glowing gem hanging off the right. They're holding a staff that looks like a bunch of tree roots and vines all weaved together and dipped in silver, before splitting at the top. It also has a few glowing runes near the top and inscriptions along the shaft. Clearly someone very powerful and important among the cultists.

“Oh fuck me!” I hiss in displeasure. Only for the figure to reply.

“Careful Lucy. I might just take you up on that.” A strangely familiar voice replied.

I freeze. I’ve heard that voice before but I just quite can't place it. Was that a woman? No, definitely a man. Not a super deep voice but not high enough pitched to be a woman.

“What, no quick wit angry replies? That's not very Lucy of you, Lucy. I guess dealing with the fodder has taken a toll on you.” They continue.

I've heard this fucker before but I cant quite place it. They reach up and pull down their hood, allowing the flashlight on the shotgun to illuminate their face. I recognize the voice in conjunction with the blue highlights on the dark hair.

“James you fucking ass wanker! I’m gonna sodamize your fucking ass!” I scream at him, causing him to let out a laugh.

“Woah, woah, woah, there Lucy! We should get to know each other at least a little more before we jump into the kinky stuff.” He replies with a smile.

I go to snarl back but Robert grabs me and pulls me back down behind the counter.

“You know this guy?” He asks, sounding calm and collected as ever.

“Yea, he is… was a good friend of mine. Haven't seen him for a while. Guess that's because he decided to join the demon dick suckers squad.” I reply.

“Judging from those robes he's been in with them since long before any of this started.” Robert observes. And he's right, James only turned eighteen back in January. I know cultists will recruit anyone but shit, how young would he have to have joined up to look This pretentiously and powerfully important at eighteen?

“I don't know. He never seemed cultisty or anything.”

“I can hear you, you know. Kinda rude after all the deference I showed you by not blowing you and your little groupies up.”

“The fuck are you yabbering about? You blew off Seymore's arm, you prick!” I poke my head up to yell at him, finding him still casually standing in place.

“Did you all really think we couldn't see you up in your little tower? God knows you all sat at the windows long enough watching us. Sbrugreth, was about to order them killed. When you stumbled upon them. I figured you were gonna play with the mortals so I stayed his hand. We thought you would try to camp up there until you got rescued. So I planned to come pick you up and deal with them once everything else was sorted. That was until the US military gave our shield a bit more of a thwacking than we anticipated. You know the rest after that.”

“As for the old man? Ah, well that's fair. But I had to get rid of him or he woulda shot you in the back of the head when I made my offer here.”

“What off…? You know what, I don't wanna hear your shitty offer. Take it and shove it up your ass with the rest of your shit.” I reply seething. Where the fuck is Toby? I wanna blow this treasonous ass hat to pieces so badly!

“Oh come on Lucy, don't be like that. I’m sure you've had your having your fun bossing these hooligans around. But lets be honest, your not like them, and they'll turn on you in a heart beat once they see who you really are.” He says a kind of knowing grin.

No fucking way he knows. No he can't, there's no way! He's just blowing smoke, he's gotta be. Then again he's a high ranking cultist, he might have some weird thing that lets him know who or what is a demon and all that. It's OK Lucy, don't panic quite yet. He is a cultist, that means no one is going to believe him. Everyone is going to just think he's blowing smoke up their ass to try and cause trouble.

“Talent like yours would be wasted at playing human. You should come work with me instead. Lady Anvasta isn't your typical demon lord. We don't slap down on our underlings. Merits get you recognized, not quashed by your direct superiors for being a threat to their position. While the entry bar is a little high, the perks are very generous.”

“As a bonus, I'll even get the ah, previous incidents of the last few days swept under the rug. Not even detracting from your other perks.” He rambles on. Man l, his pitch sucks. I'm feeling a hundred and ten percent unconvinced to join him. I'd argue it's a good thing he didn't become a used car salesman, but a cultist is way worse.

I'm about to interrupt his rambling with

another insult when I feel a poke on my leg. I almost jump in place but manage to stop myself from moving too much when I realize it's Toby. Apparently he was smart enough to crouch along below the countertop so James wouldn't see him. I smile and crouch down to take the missile launcher from him while he sets down the accompanying bag of spare tubes. A quick check shows its ready to go, so I flick the safety off.

Robert hears the click and looks over. Once he sees what I'm holding, he reaches up and shoves the ghoul corpse out of the hole in the gate. Robert then ducks, Toby scrambles off the way he came. James is either to stupid or too pretentious to notice because he finishes his ‘offer’ without a seeming care in the world.

“So Lucy, what do you say? Wanna stay friends?”

My response is simple, eloquent, short, and descriptive all in one. I stand up with the shouldered missile launcher and aim it through the hole at his feet.

“No.” Then I pulled the trigger, and enjoyed the oh shit moment he had before the resulting fireball consumed the entire lobby.

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