Chapter 64

Adrenaline is a hell of a drug. The moment everything kicked off, Adrenaline flooded into Henry, and he acted faster than he’d expected. His car was moved into reverse, and he noped out of that side street, tires skidding a bit as he floored it. Luckily, there weren’t any cars coming, else he would have smashed into one. The moment he was out of that darkness, his D.E.D. having moved alongside of him, the powers rippling about them as that creepy figure just stared and smiled, he rapidly rushed away from the side streets, and towards a more populated area.

He’d been trying to take a short cut through some smaller neighborhoods to get to the Tinseltown. But now, he was hitting up the most populated, bright lit area he could, as his mind raced. What in the absolute fuck was that thing?

“Is it still following us?” Henry asked aloud, his message directed towards his Harbinger Volture. He knew the bird was above him and would have the greatest line of sight. Additionally, the D.E.D. generally seemed capable of sensing the presence of their own kind. However, if that was the case, why hadn’t they warned him previously?

I SEE DARKNESS. NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS. The bird responded in its less than helpful manner.

“Great.”

He glanced back at his Evil Eye. “What was that thing?”

I wish I knew Awakened One. The most respectful and helpful of his D.E.D. said sadly. I could sense a great hunger from it. The power around it threatened to overwhelm. It wished to consume all the essence it could.

“Good to know.” Henry muttered. He looked at his Blade Drake. “Anything to add?”

I… The creature paused. I am not strong enough to face that. Of all the words he’d gotten from his D.E.D. That simple statement drove the gravity of the situation home the most.

“Alrighty then.” He was speeding towards the Greater Rift, probably 10 minutes away, if that. That would likely be the safest spot for right now, considering the large gathering of people, and exorcists. Still, he needed to know what it was he’d just encountered. And also needed to know if it was a threat to everyone else.

“You get me her number yet?” JJ’s voice echoed from his car’s speaker, his best friend having picked up, and opened with a very him comment.

“No, dude,”

“Well, call me when you do. We had a deal.” The line went dead. Henry cursed, and redialed.

“Listen here you little shit.” Henry started in the moment it was clear JJ had answered. “I’ve got a huge problem.”

“I know you do man. Seriously, can’t even keep a-“

“Some freak with darkness surrounding him just stepped out in front of my car. And from what my D.E.D. are telling me, it wanted to devour me.”

“Oh shit.” JJ’s voice lost all its humor, and the line went quiet for a moment. “Where are you?”

“Heading to the greater rift at Tinseltown. I was trying to cut through fountain to get to I-25, hit a side road, and bam, darkness, and then creepy figure with weird teeth, pitch black eyes, and blood red lips.”

“Alright, alright.” JJ’s voice, for the first time, seemed actually shaken. “Shit shit shit. Dude. Fuck. Ugh,” Henry could hear shifting, and if he had to guess, JJ had been in bed. “I’ll meet you at Tinseltown. As long as the Greater Rift is there and everyone’s swarming the place, you’re fine.” He groaned. “Dude. Why are you like a freaking catalyst for all this shit.”

“Man, I don’t know. But are you going to tell me what the hell that thing was?” The fact JJ not only seemed to know what it was, but also seemed worried about it, sent a shiver of cold into Henry’s gut.

“Well, I can tell you what it wasn’t.” JJ said, seeming to regain his composure. “It’s not one of those fun random weak trainers you encounter in Pokemon that you get to just overpower and move on from.”

“Not the time JJ.” Henry growled.

“Man, I make poor jokes when I’m stressed out. Shit. I blame you and Emelia for this, by the by. Ugh. Now I have to actually work.” More sounds as JJ seemed to be getting ready, and opening a fridge, the distinct sound of a can of something being opened, likely an energy drink. “Real talk, mythology wise, think of a vampire. But not? Like, the old school vampires of legend were D.E.D. There are actually some really powerful vamps out there for D.E.D., that are stupid strong. Pretty sure Jewel’s been trying to hunt one down to add to her collection. But, the thing you saw, is like the boogeyman of the Exorcist and Demon Hunter world.”

“Go on.” Henry prodded.

“Remember I mentioned that organization that was throwing away their humanity for power?” JJ asked.

“The ones you said that broke away from the Exorcists? Yeah I remember them.”

“Right, well, I forgot to mention that that group of crazed psycho’s actually had a sect of their own followers that went even more extreme, broke away from them, and then started causing problems for everyone.”

“So, this isn’t that group?” Henry sighed. JJ was right, he was a catalyst for bullshit.

“Nope. Far worse. Though, also, I guess, better? As far as everyone’s intel is concerned, there was a single member of that super psycho group remaining. Someone who had fused themselves with a vampire D.E.D., and then went on a feasting spree of all their other D.E.D., humans, animals, and all sorts of things. In his, er, rampage, he destroyed all of the others around him, so in some small degree, did everyone a bit of a favor.”

“JJ…”

“Right, anyways. Everyone just refers to him as The Consumer. Ever since his rampage, there’s been a few rare sightings of him here or there. For the most part, it’s believed he stays in areas that don’t have a high Exorcist or Demon Hunter concentration, so he can feed on all the D.E.D. that come through uninterrupted. In his transformation, he, uh, lost most of the previous ideals that he once had.”

“If that’s the case, why the hell did I just run into him?” Even as the words left his mouth, he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer.

“Probably because you’ve been flaunting rare and unique D.E.D. But really, it was the Varkoth Greater Rift that likely got his attention, and you just happened to spring out as the unique, tasty type of thing he would want.”

“So, this isn’t my fault?”

“Nope. Varkoth’s essence is so powerful it would have caused his animalistic hunger instincts to draw him towards this area. It’s…actually what Emelia wanted to talk to me about. But, I’m guessing with Varkoth gone, The Consumer was looking for some new prey, and considering most people don’t run around with multiple D.E.D. out, you catapulted yourself to the top of the dinner list.”

“Which means, I’ve now got some creepy powerful demon creature chasing after me? The hell am I supposed to do about that?”

The sound of rings clinking, and a car door slamming, told him JJ had gotten into his car finally. Luckily, his best friend lived relatively close to Tinseltown, meaning he would get there shortly after Henry arrived.

“You? Ha,” JJ laughed. “You’re going to be bait. I’m the one that has to deal with that damned thing. It’s the agreement I made with Emelia.” His car started, music blaring, and JJ ended the call.

Silence filled Henry’s car as he continued on his way towards Tinseltown, his mind processing everything he’d just learned. Was that what his life was going to come down to? Relying on others to protect him? He growled. He hated this. He needed more strength. He needed more power. At the very least, he refused to act purely as bait. Whatever happened, he was going to help JJ with this. Not purely rely on him. Whatever this Consumer was, he would stand beside JJ against it, not cower behind him. He may not be strong enough yet, but he was by no means weak. That much he was confident of.