The old woman's scream only lasted a split second before her heart was torn out and swallowed whole. The werewolf then proceeded to sling her body off to the side, as though it were merely the wrapping of a candy bar. With a sickening thud, her desecrated body slammed against the window. Her form slid down the window on impact, leaving a trail of blood and gore all the way to the floor.
Quick as a whip, the werewolf then turned his attention to his next victim, a young woman who was frozen in place. Shrieks of terror erupted from her throat. Without an ounce of hesitation, the werewolf grabbed her head in his massive claws and popped her skull like a pimple.
Edgar knew he had no choice but to fight... If he didn't step in now, a lot more people were going to die. He pulled off the bracelet Elle had made him that masked his aura, stuffing it in his jacket pocket. Then he took off his jacket, throwing it towards the counter. Then, for the third time in his life, he embraced his demon within, allowing the metamorphosis to occur. He would have time for regrets later.
His nubby nails sprouted forth, elongating into sharp claws, and bat-like wings erupted from his back. Edgar could feel his skin hardening, and the demonic strength suddenly flooding through his veins, as though somewhere deep inside him, a dam had broken.
The werewolf was about to turn to a little girl, but he was distracted by Edgar's transformation. Edgar could see a gleam of excitement flicker in the beast's beady eyes. The two circled each other, hardly paying attention to the tables that occupied the space between the two.
Edgar dared not look away from the werewolf. One split second of not watching him could spell doom for Edgar. However, in his peripheral vision, Edgar could see many of the occupants had made it out if not all of them. He knew many of them didn't go far, though. They had to be videoing this.
"Come on pup," Edgar taunted as he picked up a stool. He knew this battle was going to be a difficult one before it even really began. He had no silver.
The werewolf's lips curled back, revealing yellowed wicked sharp canines. Saliva dribbled from his slightly ajar maw a low growl drifted from his throat. Edgar watched as the creature's entire body tensed, and he knew the creature he was about to leap at him.
Sure enough, the werewolf leaped over the tables at Edgar. He was so quick, that even anticipating the move, Edgar was barely able to move aside. Gripping the leg of the stool with both hands, he brought it down upon the werewolf's spine with all his enhanced strength.
The blow only rewarded him with an enraged whine. The werewolf kicked at Edgar with his powerful back legs, hitting Edgar square in the chest. He felt the air leave his lungs as his smaller form was knocked into a table, which slid backward along with him a couple yards. Edgar threw himself back to his feet just as the werewolf lunged again.
This time, the creature got a hold of him, knocking him straight on his back. His wings were folded at an awkward angle beneath him, causing great discomfort. But that was nothing compared to trying to hold a berserk werewolf away from his body. His claws dug into Edgar's shoulders, drawing blood, while Edgar used both his legs and arms to hold the werewolf above him. It was all he could do to keep the bloody jaws from snapping on his face.
This gridlock continued for what seemed to be forever. Edgar was struggling to see a way for himself out of this situation. When suddenly, an idea slithered across his mind. But it was going to have to be executed carefully.
Edgar moved a hand from the werewolf's shoulder, towards his throat. Doing the same with the other, allowed the werewolf to get a better grip on his shoulders. Edgar yowled as the claws dug even further into his skin. Yet he forced himself to not let go. He couldn't.
He dug his sharpened thumbnails into the werewolf's meaty throat. At first, it had little effect against stopping the rampaging werewolf. But another precious half-second passed, and Edgar was able to sink his nails into the werewolf's trachea. He knew that such a fatal blow wouldn't work on a werewolf. But it made him wheeze for air. The werewolf's grip loosened just enough for Edgar to throw the werewolf off to the side, and throw himself to his feet. He took several staggering steps away from the werewolf, watching as the creature writhed around until the wound healed.
The werewolf quickly recovered, now walking along on all fours. His wild eyes now had a glint of eerily calm rage. As he steadily advanced, Edgar slowly retreated. At this point, he figured that he bit off much more than he could chew by fighting a werewolf. Especially without any silver. But at least he'd saved some lives tonight. If Edgar was going to die, he could die with that knowledge in peace.
Suddenly, Edgar's back collided with the back wall of the shop.
"Piss." Just at the curse word was uttered, the werewolf lunged again, grabbing for Edgar's throat. Edgar ducked away, dashing towards the window with the vector-Esq U logo. He heard a crack as the werewolf crashed into the wall he was just against. But Edgar knew the wall was much more hurt than that beast.
Just before he turned back to face the werewolf, he caught a glimpse of the small crowd that had gathered outside, awestruck expressions painted their faces. He also caught glimpse of two people in black riding up the sidewalk on a motorcycle and dismounting.
He turned his attention to the werewolf, just as it was lunging for him again. This time, Edgar knew it was too late for him to attempt a dodge. So he met the werewolf, blow for blow. His violet-tinged arms were getting all scratched up blocking the slashes, but it was better those than his guts.
Yet Edgar was quickly losing ground. He tried to turn the tide, going on the offensive with a flurry of punches. Yet they didn't seem to cause much harm to the werewolf, other than get him to step back from the sheer force.
A sudden howl erupted from the werewolf, and the massive beast staggered back, landing against the counter. Edgar saw smoke rising from the werewolf's arm. There was a familiar black and white fletched bolt sticking out from the creatures arm... He saw an entire quiver of those bolts in E.R.'s package...
Edgar's attention snapped to the door, where he saw a man charging directly at him, twirling a metal bo staff. It was far too late to dodge. All Edgar could do is recoil, throwing his already lacerated arms up in defense. He grunted as the bo staff connected with his arms, however, he twisted his arm around that staff, managing to grab a hold of it. Through sheer strength, he tore the staff away from the black-garbed man and rammed the staff into his stomach.
The blow knocked him right on his ass. There was another howl as another sizzling bolt landed square in the werewolf's built chest... Whoever these people were, they came to the fight prepared. Only silver would have such an effect. Throwing the bo staff aside, Edgar retreated, activating his aura sight. A medium gray color emanated from the chests of both of the newcomers, the other still standing by the door. She was holding a familiar looking crossbow...
E.R. That was the woman he delivered that package too earlier in the week.
The man stood up, glaring daggers at Edgar, who held up his hands. "Wait, now," he told him. "I'm not the bad guy." He glanced over at the werewolf, just as a third silver-headed bolt pierced his skull. The whining and howls died down as the great beast slumped over.
"Jeff! I told you it was that guy that works with Barnabus." E.R. turned her gaze to Edgar, eyeing him. "We need to get out of here, and you're coming with us. Or we'll make a point of killing you too."
"What! Em! Are you serious?" Jeff yelled, moving to pick up his bo staff that had landed nearby.
"Yes! Now come on. Through the back." Em, as Jeff had called her, rushed behind the counter into the kitchen area. Edgar figured his best bet was to simply follow them. He wasn't going to wade through the crowd outside. He retrieved his jacket from the counter, and then followed after Jeff. Just as he disappeared out the back door, he heard the police sirens from the front of the shop.
Thankfully it was dark, so he could traverse the alleys without fearing too much about being seen. Em and Jeff lead him through a maze of alleyways before they finally stopped in one he didn't particularly recognize. Now that the adrenaline was fading, Edgar was starting to feel the severity of his wounds. His arms and chest were pretty much covered in blood, and he was exhausted.
Suddenly, a force slammed into him, knocking him against the brick wall. A cold sliver of metal was pressed against his throat. He could feel it burning away at his demonic hide... He knew without a doubt, the object pressed against his throat was either blessed or coated with holy water. Swallowing the groans of pain, he stared Jeff down.
"Listen, and listen well demon. You're going to tell us everything that happened in that coffee shop."
"Jeff, he can't be in the wrong. Otherwise, he would've flown off like ten alleys ago."
"Shut up, Emily." Jeff spat towards Emily, before turning his full attention back to Edgar. His icy eyes were blazing with hatred. "Tell me. Right now."
Flashes of the old woman cowering before the beast flashed in his mind's eye. He felt his stomach twinge uncomfortably, like was getting the beginning symptoms of a stomach virus.
"I was sitting there. About to leave, actually. It came in, and I saw it murder two people before I could even properly process how to even respond." Edgar squirmed uncomfortably under the malevolent stare of Jeff. And there was hardly anywhere else for Edgar to look. He was right in his face, fanning Edgar's face with breath that smells awfully like pizza.
"So, you thought it was going to be a great idea to fight the thing? Without silver?" Beyond the loathing present in his icy stare, Edgar saw a flicker of amusement at Edgar's lack of thinking. Edgar felt irritation nagging at the back of his mind.
"I saved lives. More than what you could say, pal." Edgar knew he should've kept his mouth shut, but Jeff was rubbing his ego the wrong way.
The sharp object pressed harder against his Adam's apple. Edgar could feel his skin practically boiling at this point. But he kept the grunts of agony in and returned Jeff's gaze with a hard stare.
"I'd save plenty more if I decided to slit your throat right here, right now, monster."
"Jeff. That's enough. Let him go." Emily stepped forward, placing a hand on Jeff's shoulder. As she requested, Jeff stood back, releasing Edgar. He gasped, placing a hand over the burnt skin over his throat. Thank God for his hardened skin... Else he might've died just then.
"Put on your human guise, Demon," Jeff said, tucking the knife away in a hidden compartment of his black leather armor.
"Half-demon," Edgar corrected. "And if anything, this form is more of a guise," he informed the two. "One I abhor." Edgar hated it because every time he metamorphosed, he lost a portion of his humanity. And every time, it was a little harder to change back.
"Trust me. We all abhor it," Jeff commented as Edgar closed his eyes. He ignored Jeff's snide remark, figuring it wouldn't do him any good to respond right now.
Edgar imagined himself reaching out to the imaginary tendon that connected him to what he dubbed "the demon within." Despite his body's primal desires to retain the demonic form, he forced himself to sever the tendon. He held back groans of pain as his skin softened, and the wings and claws retracted himself. Following the transformation back to himself, there was a hollow pain settling in his chest. He felt empty and drained, and he really just wanted to sleep for two days straight at this point.
His shirt was ruined, so he simply tore it the rest of the way off, discarding it. He groaned as he pulled his leather jacket on, zipping it up. Thankfully Elle knew a certain concoction that would help him get the blood out of his jacket. Thinking of such reminded him to pull out the charm bracelet she'd given him and he put it back on his right wrist.
"Well, Barnabus's delivery boy,-" Emily began, but Edgar interrupted her.
"Ed."
"Well, Ed, it's a good thing you stepped in. Else there might've been a lot more casualties tonight." Emily sighed, pushing her hood back. Jeff shot a final glare at Edgar, before turning to walk away. He stopped at the end of the alley they were standing in, likely waiting on Emily.
"There's been lots of these attacks recently. But this is the first time it's been in such a public place," Emily continued. She crossed her arms over her chest, her brows furrowing.
"Right. And what are you two? Monster hunters?" Edgar refrained from snickering at the idea.
"Something like that. It's a very old family tradition."
"Interesting..." Edgar truly was intrigued, despite how amusing the idea of a monster hunter was to him. He supposed it wasn't that hard to believe, considering the fact that all of Humanity went out of their way to murder anything supernatural. At least, that was before the supernatural learned how to hide, and they were forgotten about in all but stories used for scaring children.
"Actually. Ed. You work with criminals, right? Of course you do. Don't even answer that." Emily tapped her chin, apparently deep in thought. After a moment, she continued. "Maybe you can actually help us out."
"And why on God's green Earth would I even help you two? Your boyfriend there tried to murder me," Edgar jerked his chin towards Jeff, who was standing at the end of the alley like a brooding gargoyle.
"He's my brother, actually, and because I stopped him from actually murdering you?" Emily batted her eyelashes at Edgar and even gave him a pouty lip.
"Fine. It depends on what you need help with." Edgar couldn't be so rude as to not even hear her out. Honestly, she and Jeff did save his life, after all. That werewolf would've eventually gotten the best of him if they didn't step in when they did, as much as his ego would've liked to argue otherwise.
"Well. Like I said, attacks like that have been becoming increasingly common. Rumors are spreading on social media...Even more so than usual, and all. People are starting to get a whiff, you know?" Emily brushed some wispy strands of blonde hair over her shoulder. "Jeff and I know about the Council of Nine, the only form of government your ilk truly adhere to."
At the mention of the Council, Edgar's blood ran cold. They would be after him for revealing himself to Humanity as a whole. And they would kill him, as such a crime is punishable by death.
"We also know it's illegal to reveal the supernatural to the Humans. Which means whoever or whatever is behind these attacks, is a criminal."
Edgar knew where this conversation was going already. "You want me to do some digging into the matter for you."
"Exactly. You have access to the Underworld, the capital of supernatural criminal activity. You have sources we don't." Edgar was already considering the pros of helping the two hunters. If what she said was true, about someone being behind the attacks, and if he could evade the Council long enough to help them solve the issue, he could earn a pardon. That thought alone was enough to spur him right along into agreeing to help them.
"I can do some digging. Barnabus might know somewhere to look."
"Discreetly, of course," Emily told him.
"Duh." Edgar rolled his eyes. "Do you have a way for me to contact you?"
"Er, I don't trust delivering info over the phone. So come to Club Zona around opening hours when you find something." Emily eyed him. "What about you?"
"I live in Oakland Apartments. Over in the Westside. Apartment 2E." He wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of giving his address to Emily, but she was right. Passing information like the types he'd be gathering was probably a risky move.
"Gotcha. I'll stop by if Jeff or I dig up anything." Emily flashed him a brief smile. "Sorry that I just dragged you into the biggest shitstorm of the century, by the way." She'd said it so casually, yet sounded fairly genuine.
Edgar shrugged, then winced at the movement. "It's whatever, I suppose. Isn't the first shitstorm I've ridden out."
"Great! Er." Emily chuckled nervously. "Great that you're at least not totally against it, is what I mean."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going home now if you don't mind." Edgar was to the point, he wanted to spend his night soaking in a bathtub.
"Right." Emily turned to walk away. "Stay safe."
Edgar waited until the two disappeared around the corner, before exiting the alleyway himself. Then he began the long walk home. He couldn't help but wonder what Barry's reaction would be when he shared the events of tonight with the familiar.
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