Great duke of hell

“Alloces is the Great Duke of Hell, who commands 36 legion spirits. One of the fallen angel, but one of few that still hold resentment for God and heaven itself. He only goes after halos that would never commit sin or have high devotion for God. Alloces is the only known demon (other than the devil) who can give immunity to mortals.”

I interrupt, “ that doesn’t make any sense! Why give immunity to someone he wants souls from.”

He looks at me, telling me not to interrupt him again with his eyes, “ when demons get human souls, the soul leaves the body all at the same time and dying from the same impact.”

He takes a pencil from the table next to him and puts it through the hole his fist makes like a nail. He brings his other hand up, like a hammer, “ think of it as a hammer and nail. If you go down in one movement, it’s faster, but your more likely to hurt yourself or break something.” While saying this he taps the pencil in his fist and then forces it down in one hit from his right. He opens his left hand with the pencil in it to show a mark on his palm from the pencil.

“However, if you were to slowly tap it until it went in, “ he switches the hand the pencil was in and the hand he used as the hammer. He once again hits the pencil, but this time he taps it until the pencil is all the way inside his fist. Opening his had to show that there were more marks in this hand. Embarrassed he quickly drops the pencil and closes both hands, he begins talking again.

“Anyways, you get my point, souls are sensitive and can break easier than you think. If pieces fall off they can be last forever and won’t give the demons as much energy as they need.  If you have immunity though, the layers of your soul are slowly being taken away. Which gives Alloces more energy which is why he’s such a high rank even though he rarely gets souls.”

“I understand, however what does that have to do with Aiden. Are you saying he made a contract with a rare demon?” I reply

“Yeah, how I don’t know, but unless it was the devil, he’s the only other demon who can do this.”

I glance over at Aiden excepting him to be shocked or shaking at least, but he’s rather calm. I listen to his heartbeat and he’s a little anxious. While he thinks of his next one liner I continue theorizing with Danny.

“So, after the user breaks the last layer of the soul, do they die? How many deaths do they get? Also, how do you know all this I thought you were suppose to be a halo?”

I glance over to see Aiden biting his nails and his heartbeats suggest one of my question made him anxious for the answer.

“Well, there’s the catcher, no ones died from Alloces. Instead, Its said that your conscious, but your not in control of your body. It’s like your a lifeless zombie.” This was the answer Aiden was waiting for, which reminds me what he said on the roof before he died.

“Then, I can finally die.”

I bet if Danny had said he would die if all his soul layers or whatever, we’re lost. He would of been out this window. Danny answers the rest of my question and reveals useful information, there’s a book to learn about demons and how they work. Oh, he also said if Aiden died 15 times he would become a lifeless zombie or whatever.

“So, how many times have you died already?” 

He lifts his hands and starts trying to remember every time he’s died. I knew he was a maniac, but I didn’t know he would  be more than 10 deaths crazy. He finally stops counting at 11.

After finishing counting Aiden opens his mouth, “ Then, how do I end a contract?”

Danny looks away and shakes his head, “ I don’t know.”

“What do you mean?”

Danny goes silent, so I ask my own question, “ I still don’t understand, if you sign a contract with this Alloces , what if you don’t want to die unlike no parachute McGee.”

“Alloces powers also have astrology, which means he can control peoples understanding of things and the way they see things. He prays on the weak minded halos.”

We hear the music get louder and more people, when we realize it’s already 7:00. We thank Danny and begin to head out the gray loft area. When Danny hands me an envelope with the name, Gail Jefferson (death will be: 11/24/34, tier 3 (lowest), How: gunshot). I open the envelope to find his ugly face and a full page of information and even where he will be tonight. Likely we’re close by.

I get into the car and start driving towards A Motel. I read his information at every red light seeing if he has any weakness. I usually do more research before going after a target, but since it was pretty close I thought I might as well. I’m feeling good today, considering the person I met today. I finally realize 5 minutes from the place that I have a passenger. Is it really my fault? He was as quiet as a mouse. Also, what kind of person just sits there and doesn’t tell someone their address, so it is his own faults if something happens to him.

We finally arrive at A Motel, which look like it has a homeless man in your tub and a gun under the front desk. It’s exactly the place I’m looking for. There’s two floors, 16 doors on each floor and one extra at the end of the narrow walkway at the bottom. The gray concrete with the off color red roof, stairs, and doors doesn’t help this place. And the flicking street light out of a horror movie isn’t helping the vibe either. I look at the information sheet and see the last call was made to a Mr. mark and he seem important. I text him that “I’m here and he should come to the back of the building,” from Marks number, that I got from the sheet Danny gave me, after reading some of their texts. He replies that “we said we would have brunch.” 

“Change of plans.” I disable the number and through it out the window and crush it with my car. I pull up to where the sidewalk meets the street and start to get out and I once again remember the passenger.

“Are you a zombie already?”

“....Just thinking, like how do you undo a contract. Also where are we?”

So, you finally ask, “look, if Danny doesn’t know than I sure don’t either. I just have to meet someone. Don’t leave the car, ok.”

“My mom says you should leave a situation, if it doesn’t feel right.”

I take the keys out of the engine,” with what keys?”

He pouts and yells while I close the door. I go around to the other side of the building, where the flicking street lights doesn’t really reach. I wait five minutes until Mr. Jefferson comes. He’s short, where I have to look down to met his eyes, and fat, where I have to look around him to see if anyone followed. I can’t see his features in the dark, but i know the face all to well. A couple years back, when my mom was still alive, this short bean hit my mom with a car and when we asked for money to pay the hospital bills, he sued us. We were broke and that’s how my dad met my mother. This muffin ruined my moms life.

“Mark, it’s great to see you, you look slimmer. Good for you.”

I make sure I’m in the dark enough, so he can’t see my face clearly. I still wear a black medical mask and disguise my voice though.

“Let’s get to the point, it’s late.”

Now I really wish I had done more research, so I knew if Marks voice was deep or steady. I cross my fingers that I get some information.

“Right, sorry sir.”

He hands me the large yellow envelope that he’s been holding and gets a cigarette out and try's to light it. He hands me one and I deny, I open the envelope to find more papers, some like mine with the names and information, others full of just information. I don’t recognize any of the  names on the paper, but they all had halos and came from lower backgrounds. I put the top papers with the names and people behind the information papers. 

What are they doing ?

It talks about some kind of serum, but there’s a lot of words that I need a dictionary to understand.

“What am I looking at,” I say hoping this doesn’t end my Mr.Mark acting career

“ New serum their trying to sell, it’s called M. It’s said to give you immunity even with a contract. It’s been on the market for about three years, but it stopped killing people  about six months ago.”

Everything he said just now was a big coincidence, right. I mean there’s no way Aiden took that stuff. I mean the guy wants to die more than anything. 

“Who was the person that survived.”

“Mr. Mark, how do you not know this.”

“What do you mean?” 

I knew when his hands slowly went to his back pockets, that my cover was blown. I quickly rush him, kicking his side and slamming him down on the cement sidewalk. I sit on him and keep his hand at his sides, I threw the pocket knife, he took out to the tree far away.

“Who was it?”

He stays silent, and I get up a little bit, so my knee is now on his chest. I use my body weight to put pressure on his chest and with the demons power it should hurt even worse.

“Who was it?”

He starts coughing and struggling more, meaning he’s in pain. I press even harder, so it should feel like his hearts about to explode.

“Ah! I don’t know the kid, OK. All I know is he was recommended by my employer. I went to the recommended place and forced a contract on him and then gave him the serum. I made sure he didn’t die for a couple days and then left. Please.”

I lift his right hand, knowing it’s his dominant and bent it on his back. I pushed up hard , telling him that I intended to break it.

“Who is your employer.”

“ I don't know, “ he’s crying, why do they all start crying?

“You’re lying,” I push his arm even more and hear a pop, he starts screaming in pain.

“ I...I...can’t tell you, man.”

I push it a again and hear another pop and another scream from Gail.

“You can, but you just won’t. You’re either going to die by me and painlessly or someone your to scared to say the name of. Pick your poison.”

He starts to cry again and I give him sometime to think about his choice. He finally stops crying and opens his mouth, “ Naomi O’Moore.”

Just as he finished the sentence a bug walked by. A bug that should still be in the car and should have nothing to do with the plot.

“Why did you say my sisters name.”

Oh, good lord.

Of course, this suicidal maniac is an important person to the plot. My life keeps getting better. Can you read the sarcasm?

End of chapter