69: Homecoming

The news old Nicholas had for Aaron and his party was grim. He deliberated and pondered over the ways he could break the news without making them panic.

“I’ve had multiple sources telling me about the increased sightings of demons but I let it slide as it has happened quite a few times in the last few decades. Quite recently, I was informed that Samel had been particularly talkative about some void of leadership in the underworld and how earth belonged to anyone who dared to take it. But I didn’t give it much importance either because that’s what the demon lord keeps rambling about”, the elder vampire gravely said as the listeners focused on every single word that he had to say. “But now that you’ve told me what you’ve seen, it all makes sense”, he added thoughtfully, staring at nothing. Mike had a feeling that his hunch was spot on.

“When the demons walk the earth, angels are responsible to fight and send them back to their realm. The demons are not strong enough to fight them so they would back off. But if an all out war breaks out between two of the strongest immortal factions on the face of the earth, it will definitely keep the angels busy and muffle the footsteps of the demons on this plane”, he continued.

“Please don't tell me Samael is behind all this”, Boris spoke hoping against hope that Nicholas was implying something else. He dreaded the thought of an all out war between vampires and werewolves. He feared the innocent humans being hunted and demons facilitating their misery. Nicholas worriedly looked towards Boris and nodded slowly.

“I’m afraid you’re right. He has the most to gain in such a conflict”, Nicholas broke the news and the listeners were in dismay. Rick and Sandra were the only ones that didn't look afraid. They were still the father and mother of a boy who was killed by fraud. They looked angry rather than scared as the elder vampire had just told them about the real killer of their son. They seemed determined to make the demon lord pay. To others, the news was greatly troubling.

“How so?”, Mike interrupted curiously. He was trying to match the puzzle pieces but until a couple of days ago, he was ignorant to the existence of immortals around him. Nicholas understood that he needed to be more comprehendible.

“If Samael is really behind the provocations, he will make his army sit through the war and will only make them come out after the vampires and werewolves are out of the picture. When the vampires, werewolves and angels are badly damaged, he’ll emerge with his demons and claim the plane”, the elder vampire elaborated and Mike seemed to understand.

“But how can you be so sure what Samel will do?”, Boris butted in and tried to defy what the old guy was telling them. He was still not letting the idea of a full scale war of the underworld factions claim a spot in his mind.

“I’m sorry buddy. There’s more to the prophecies than what you’ve learnt”, Nicholas responded and concluded the topic. There wasn't much left to be said.

“So, what now?”, Sophie asked, sounding defeated. All the conversation was taking a huge toll on her. If someone had told her those things a month ago, she would have laughed on his face but she had witnessed the unexplainable and unbelievable secrets of the underworld with her own eyes. At that point, Sophie and her father were ready to believe anything.

“I’ve been informed of an agent of the demons among the humans. He’s in New York. Boris knows whom I’m talking about. See if you can break anything out of him”, the elder vampire revealed and implied that it was the end of the conversation. Boris looked clueless for a moment then it dawned on him. He looked questioningly at Nicholas and the old vampire nodded sorrowfully in response. The confusion on Boris’s face turned into rage and he was huffing with anger. Aaron was oblivious to what Boris knew about the guy as long as he took him to the agent. All that was running through his mind was the excuse fate had chosen to bring him back to that city. He almost smiled at that coincidence. Sandra and Rick looked determined to avenge their son even if it was God himself that they had to fight. Mike and his daughter were a couple of tumbleweeds that went wherever the wind took them.

“You aren’t coming with us?”, Sandra asked the elder vampire. Everyone else also had the same question on their minds. Nicholas chuckled.

“I can’t leave my house. Every fanatic vampire blames me for delaying their supposed destiny and wants my head for a trophy”, Nicholas responded and sounded comedic rather than sad. It made Rick Hudson feel bad about what men and women like himself had pushed their elders to. He felt embarrassed about how he had treated the old vampire in his own house when he was trying to help them while risking his own life. “Do what you must and end this. I’ll help you if I can”, Nicholas added and stood up. Aaron knew that it was time to leave. Boris stood up from his seat and was reminded by his back about the bashing he had taken from Hudson. His back was killing him and one or two of his ribs seemed to have become a casualty of the fight. They thanked the elder vampire and were on their way out of the door. Nicholas waved them goodbye and shut the door behind them. Aaron could hear the old vampire put half a dozen locks on the inside just to be sure. The old guy was too paranoid to even breathe. It had taken him a lot of courage to step out of his shell and lend a hand. Boris sneaked a peek into the pit on his way to the vehicle and saw nothing more than a pile of ash lying in it. They walked back to the vehicle and sat there quietly for a moment. The car took off.

“We’re off to New York I guess”, Rick Hudson spoke questioningly.

“Yup. My jet is ready to take off”, Mike responded and asked the driver to take them to the hangar. Rick felt the urge to play a shameless game of one-upping.

“Mine is bigger. Maybe we should use mine”, Rick smugly offered. It rubbed Mike wrong. Mike was willing to let bygones be bygones but the arrogant offer from Hudson ignited something inside him.

“But mine isn’t tainted with the blood of old veterans”, Mike responded with a straight face. Hudson wasn’t expecting it from him. Sandra’s reaction told everyone in the vehicle that she was ignorant to that side of her husband’s life. She looked at Rick for some elaboration and he tried to wrap up the subject.

Aaron sat across from them and ignored the dog fight between the two former business associates. He just looked at the innocent girl he was dragging along in the thorny field of his life. She stared at the ground and it was obvious on her face that she longed for a moment of peace. There was no doubt in Aaron’s mind that her love for him was undying but she was human after all and she had her limitations. This turn in her life after meeting Aaron was causing her to deteriorate. He loved her equally if not more but he hated to see her in such a shape. Aaron had tried to let go of her multiple times but it was obvious that something was preventing it. They were stuck together, for better or for worse. It was fate, he decided. He hoped to get across the line and meet her again as if they had never met before. Aaron momentarily looked away and saw Boris sitting beside Mike. The veteran werewolf looked pissed beyond comprehension. It made Aaron wonder but he decided to let him break the ice himself.