----------------------------------------------------------------------- F O R L O V E O F E V I L E by Gabriel ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For Love of Evile is (C) Copyright 1996 William R. Muench. I hereby give permission to transmit the story electronically as long as nothing in the document is changed and no money changes hands. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 4 - "Gutter Glitter" Adam Walker awoke to the sound of a police siren blaring and tires peeling outside his window. His eyes cracked open and pain hit him full force, right behind his eyes. With a groan he turned over, burying his face in his bed. The siren set off a pounding in his head that wouldn't go away. Another groan of protest later he sat up, perched on the edge of his bed, head in hands. Gummy eyes opened slowly, taking in the cracking plastered walls, bare floorboards and piles of dirty laundry scattered around the room. After a few minutes he got shakily to his feet and staggered over to the window, stubbing his toes on a box of shells laying on the floor. Cursing, he jerked a dirty piece of cloth across the window, blocking out the sunset whose light pierced his eyes. Adam stumbled over to the old white fridge sitting against one wall and hauled the door open, grabbing an old bottle of flat Pepsi from the shelf inside. Unscrewing the top, he took a mouthful of the chilly liquid and closed the door. Adam made his way to the little bathroom off of his bedroom and started a cold shower. He stripped off his dirty clothes and got in, cursing loudly as the ice cold spray hit his skin. After a few minutes the pounding in his head died down and he stepped out of the shower, shivering slightly. Searching through a pile of clothes in the corner, he pressed various pieces of clothes to his nose and finally found one that was relatively clean. After dressing Adam re-emerged in his bedroom and headed for an armoire near the window. Opening the oaken doors his eyes fell upon the tools of his trade: a shotgun, sword, and silver stake. He removed the sword from the peg on which it was hanging and drew the blade slowly, listening to the sound with his eyes closed. As the blade cleared its sheath he carefully inspected the inlaid silver edge for nicks. Finding none, Adam withdrew a small bottle of oil from the cabinet and lightly oiled and sharpened the blade. After a few minutes work he replaced the sword in its scabbard and strapped it across his back. Lifting the stake from its pillow of velvet, he ran his hands over it lovingly, tracing the mystic etchings with his fingertip. After a moment he placed it in a shoulder holster and picked up the shotgun. Adam bent over and picked up the box of shells upon which he had previously hurt his foot and grabbed a handful of ammunition. After reloading his gun he chambered a round and placed the remaining shells in his deep pockets. On top of the armoire rested a vase crafted of the purest white marble which held a beautiful black rose, perfect in shape, each black petal a tender piece of life. Adam closed his eyes briefly as the memories painfully buried surged to life once more. The beautiful angelic face, the flowing auburn hair... her gentle brown eyes. With a small cry of anguish he clenched his fist, fingernails digging into the flesh of his palm. "My Tatiana, I shall never rest while the monsters that hurt you walk the Earth..." With a sorrowful sigh Adam drew the rose from its place. Pulling his Zippo from his pocket he lit the candles which surrounded the vase. With a slight shake of his head, he turned and headed for the door. Adam hung the gun from his belt and grabbed his coat on his way through the door, slamming it with a sense of finality. ---/--/@ The sun was setting over the concrete spires of New York, deepening the shadows ringing Adam's eyes as he knelt upon the concrete floor. The Empire State building remained in the light while all the buildings below retreated into shadow as Adam placed the black rose on the ground. With bowed head he spoke, repeating a verse long-since committed to heart. One who never lives Never dies. One who never loves Never loses. One who never cries Never feels. I have done all And shall do so nightly. The blackened rose remains A symbol of my heart. The sun set, cloaking Adam's form in darkness. Drawing his coat around him, he sat on the cold floor and wept quietly. ---/--/@ "Ok everyone, line up!" said Cassandra as she moved to the front of the dojo. Nearly thirty students formed ranks behind her, standing at attention. "Seisa," she said and everyone knelt quietly, their eyes closing and breathing becoming smooth and even. After a few minutes of meditation she quietly said, "Open your eyes. Master rei." Cassandra and her class pressed their foreheads to the floor, bowing to the shrine at the front of the room. Pivoting smoothly on her knees, she turned to face her class. At her nod the brown belt, first in rank, replied, "Sensei rei." The class bowed to Cassandra and she in turn bowed to them. In one voice they said, "Thank you for teaching us, Sensei." Cassandra replied, "Thank you for coming," and motioned for them to rise. After shaking everyone's hand she moved towards her office, bowing as she stepped from the mat. Entering the small room she closed the door and began to remove her gi, peeling the sweaty material from her skin. She dumped the dirty gi in a hamper and stepped into the little shower off of her office. As she entered she turned on the water and was immediately rewarded with a cascade of liquid ice. Shivering, she was just getting used to it when she felt a pair of strong hands begin rubbing her neck and back. With a start she glanced over her shoulder and saw David, her virtual spouse and fellow Isshin-Ryu instructor. "Hi handsome, how was your class?" she asked him as he began to massage her neck. "Not bad," he replied in his deep voice. "One of the young Petroch twins kicked the other in the head but at their age it didn't result in much more than a brotherly squabble. I worked it out and everyone's happy now. Of course, I'm short a few candy canes... Now why don't you get out of this shower and get dressed? We've got a date and my sleeves are getting soaked." "Fine, I'll just be a minute," she responded. Cassandra felt his hands withdraw and she quickly finished her shower. Stepping out of it she quickly toweled herself down and slipped on her underwear and then a pair of black tights, a billowy white blouse and a tight black vest. Stepping into her office she saw a blur of motion towards her face and reflexively caught the scabbarded han-dachi sword which David had tossed to her. "Good reflexes, as always. I'll get you yet," he joked as he grabbed her boots and brought them over to her. She strapped the sword across her back and then slipped her chilly feet into a pair of wool socks and then the old army boots. Cassandra then grabbed David by the arm, pulled her jacket off of the coatrack and hauled him out the door. "So where are we going today, lover?" she asked with a smile. "I was thinking that we could go the Empire State building. I've been told that it's beautiful up there at sunset," David replied with a twinkle in his eye. ---/--/@ As the sun set, sending shadows across Cassandra's lovely face, David lowered himself to one knee. Her black hair was backlit by the lowering sun, creating a halo of amber light around her head. The last rays sparkled off of the ring in his hands, a simple silver circle. "Cassandra Chabot, will you marry me?" David asked, a slight tremble to his voice. Cassandra's beautiful grey eyes looked down at his face, detecting that hint of apprehension in his eyes. A hint of moisture appeared in her own eyes and she reached down and clasped his cold hands in her own. "I will, David. I'll marry you." A light of joy appeared in David's eyes and he leapt to his feet, grabbing her around the waist and swinging her around in a circle. He crushed her head to his chest, his fingers intertwined in her hair. A hot wind blew across their skins momentarily and the sudden chill afterwards caused both to shiver. A hollow clapping was heard behind them. ---/--/@ A clapping sound intruded on Adam's reverie as his head snapped up, searching out the source of the noise. ---/--/@ Turning her tear-streaked face, Cassandra saw a tall woman standing near the elevator which would have returned them to civilization. The woman was perfect in form, every curve of her body delineated by a suit of black metal. Fiery hair swirled around her shoulders as she moved forwards, still clapping that awful knell. "Beautiful," she said in a sultry voice, "I'm touched. You two are so perfect together." The woman approached David and Cassandra and stopped a few feet away, hand on her hip. David stepped in front of Cassandra, moving her behind him. "Can I help you?" David asked in his deep voice, looking askance at the odd platemail that the woman was wearing, even for New York. His hand drifted unobtrusively to the chain coiled in the small of his back. The woman reached out with one blood red nail and gently ran it across David's chest, provocatively. "I don't know, handsome, can you?" David reached up with his hand and grabbed his wrist, forcing it away. In a cold tone he replied, "I have a feeling that I can't. Now if you'll excuse my fiancee and myself..." He began to push by her when she grabbed his arm in a grip of steel, nails biting painfully into his flesh. The woman's eyes flashed an unholy green as her nails lengthened, newly formed talons piercing his leather jacket and bringing a cry of pain to his lips. He swung his free arm at her head, the powerful blow knocking it back temporarily but not loosening her grip. With a hiss she backhanded him across the jaw, sending him crumpling to his knees. Before Cassandra could react the woman grabbed David's leg with her other hand and lifted him above her head. With little effort she threw him over the protective railing. Cassandra rushed to the edge and looked on in disbelief as he plummeted to the street below. Just before he plunged out of sight his white lips formed the words "I do..." Cassandra turned, tears rolling down her face. With a scream of pure rage she reached behind her head and drew the sword she kept there. In a convulsive movement she threw her coat upon the floor and advanced on the woman before her, sword held out before her. The woman grinned mockingly, "Oh, I'm sorry. Was he important to you?" She raised her blood stained claws to her perfect lips and gently licked them clean of David's blood. A cry escaped Cassandra's lips as she attacked, swinging her sword at the woman's throat. Too fast for Cassandra's eye to follow, her claws moved to block the sword, bringing a rain of sparks to life. Cassandra's blade moved furiously, each stroke blocked by the woman before her. She saw an opening and leapt towards her, foot shooting out and catching the woman in the stomach. She bent over with the force of the blow and Cassandra swung her sword towards the woman's unprotected neck. It stopped a hair's breadth away from her fair skin, jarring to a stop and nearly disarming Cassandra. With a snarl the woman straightened a swung a clawed hand at her face. There was a loud sound behind her and almost simultaneously the woman leapt backwards, a bloody hole appearing in her stomach. Cassandra looked back over her shoulder and saw a man in a long black trenchcoat standing there, shotgun leveled for another blast. ---/--/@ Adam saw the demoness he had just shot clutch her stomach as she stumbled backwards, a grimace of pain apparent on her face. Her glowing eyes brightened momentarily as shadows leapt towards her wound, covering the hole. After a moment there was no sign that the woman had ever been hurt. She approached the mortal woman again, claws outstretched before her. The sword-wielding woman cautiously stepped backwards towards Adam, apparently intent on reaching the only ally in sight. The demoness's eyes brightened and a snarl began to escape from her throat as she leapt at the woman, catching one of her hands in her claws. Adam fired another slug in the demoness and she flew backwards, pulling the woman with her. The sword fell from numbed fingers, clattering to the floor. As the pair reached the edge of the building the demoness screamed in triumph. With a leap she threw herself and the mortal off of the building, sending them both towards the street so far below. Adam threw himself forwards, reaching for the woman's outstretched hand as she rushed downwards. His hand clasped only empty air and she plummeted into the fog, a scream her only sign of passage. With a cry of rage he fell to his knees, pounding the pavement in anguished fury. ---/--/@ Over the rush of the wind Cassandra heard the woman's throaty voice. "As you approach your death, mortal, remember that your love is dead, dead by my own hands." With a shriek of glee leathery wings erupted from the woman's back as she let go of Cassandra's wrist. Just before she hit the pavement, Cassandra saw the demoness soar away, her form outlined by the luminescent moon. Then everything went bright white. ---/--/@ The hollow thud of Gabriel's boots striking pavement resonated down the concrete canyons of the city. A taste of salt tinged the air as he neared the docks, and a foghorn sounded in the distance. As he walked Gabriel pondered Sylvia's words and the ramifications if she was telling the truth. Gabriel shuddered as the possibilities entered his mind. As Gabriel walked along the docks he heard a quiet splashing sound coming out of the mist. He approached the sound cautiously, and after a moment found himself at the edge of one of the piers. The sound grew closer, a measured splashing. A few minutes later a spectral form emerged from the mist. A large boat, apparently an old row boat, manned by women and children. It gently tapped the pier and a rush of unintelligible voices reached Gabriel's ears as he stepped back into a shadow to watch. After a few moments of confusion a few women climbed up from the boat and formed a chain, helping the children up to the pier. After nearly ten minutes of work everyone was out of the boat and the last woman pulled a knife from her dress and cut the lines, setting the boat adrift. The children huddled around the skirts of the women and babbled incessantly until the woman who had set the boat adrift made a swift gesture and sharp command. Gabriel looked closer and saw their clothes were wet and torn and that many of the children appeared to be sick. After only a moment's consideration he stepped from his hiding place. As he stepped into view a child screamed, drawing everyone's attention to him. He approached, palms out, showing that he was unarmed. "Are you ok?" he asked slowly, not sure if they could understand him. The woman who was apparently the leader responded in a weary English accent, "Can you help us? We're freezing and the children are sick..." Gabriel studied their faces carefully for a moment and then nodded. "Come with me, I'll see what I can do." He bent down to help carry some of the children and then moved towards one of the abandoned warehouses, the rest of the group following. When they reached the warehouse he set one of the children down and tested the door to see if it was locked. Finding that it was, he sighed and concentrated for a moment. The door was suddenly ripped from its hinges and blown inwards. He then picked up the child and entered the building. The children followed him with wide eyes while the women followed warily. Gabriel set down the child he was carrying near the middle of the warehouse and told the children to gather together to stay warm. "Ladies, we're going to need some of these old packing crates that are scattered around. Grab what you can and make a big pile in the center of the floor." A few minutes later there was a respectable pile of wood. Gabriel motioned the children to back slightly away as he raised his hands and pointed them at the wood, his brow furrowing. A moment later a flame erupted in the center of the wood and quickly grew into a large fire. The women and children gathered around it, their hands outstretched towards the warmth. Their leader approached Gabriel with a look of profound thanks on her face. "Thank you, good sir. I am afraid that we would be in dire straits at the moment if it weren't for your kindness." Gabriel replied, "You're welcome, but might I ask why you were all in that boat freezing to death? Tonight doesn't seem like a good night for a pleasure cruise." The woman's face tightened slightly as she said, "We were on a freighter which was en route to Canada. A few days ago it sank and since then we've been in that boat trying to make our way to land. I'm just glad that we met you first." "What you were doing on a freighter of all things?" "As you know, hostilities have been growing in Europe for some time now. These children's parents tried to escape before war broke out. Canada is a relatively safe place when compared to Europe and the United States, many of the families had retreats there. They felt that they would be safer in the country than in the cities with all the murder and mayhem. When the freighter went down they herded their children, wives and a few nurses onto the old escape boats." The reports of growing civil unrest in England came to mind as Gabriel considered the refugees' predicament. No one had been able to explain why, but the hostilities between the Irish and English, which had always simmered, had recently exploded. Dozens of bombings had occurred in the past few weeks. Since then the unrest had slowly spread through Europe, moving inexorably towards Russia. He could understand why this group would be fleeing. "Well, I'll see what I can do for you. I ought to be able to get you on a bus for Canada but I'll have to go see some friends of mine first. I'll be back later, don't leave this building, okay?" After checking to make sure that everyone was set for the time being, Gabriel left through the open door and set it back on its hinges so that by any cursory inspection it appeared normal. Then he set off to begin a long night's work. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This story is archived at - http://thegarden.neonexus.com/literature.htm#evile