![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrI don't know if other pizza places do this, but a large chunk of the boss' vacation money our profits come from doing school orders. We make lunch for about four or five schools in the areas. It's not that bad, except that at least two poor fools have to be in at eight to have anywhere from 80-120 pizzas made and ready to bake in two hours. Less really, b/c we had to have the first run of pizzas in the oven at a quarter to ten today. Tomato sauce smells absolutely vile at eight in the morning, let me tell you.
As much as I hate pizza, I've never gone out on a break to get something else. Why? B/c I couldn't stand to do that to a fellow food slave. So I get really, really pissed when cracker barrel, subway, wendy's, arby's, and everyone else calls us and asks to have pizza delivered. and then they don't tip my (albeit annoying and worthless) drivers. *grrrr*
I warn you - I wrote 3,000 words in about an hour and a half. There's a lot of work that needs to be done here - I hope you don't cringe too much.
Chapter 21
Neil made his way out of the kitchen, stepping out into the hallway - and stopped short. "What…"
Kasimir came up behind him, bumping into him at the sudden stop. "Why don't you warn someone when-" he broke off in a pained cry as he took in the reason for Neil's abrupt halt. "Lord Nomolos!" The genie rushed forward, only to be roughly jerked back by Neil's rough grip on his wrist. He spun around, "Let me go!"
"Kasimir. I had no idea you were here. How amusing. We've been searching every nook and cranny and you were the DeMarius the entire time…" Nomolos' lips quirked in a genuine smile, "That is indeed quite amusing. Did you know this the entire time, pretty nephilim?' Nomolos looked down to address the nervous figure still held close to his chest. Gold hair shook back and forth in a negative response. "I am inclined to believe you."
Neil shook his head, as if to clear it. "What…are you really Nomolos? Why are you here? And what have you done to Sheridan?" His hand tightened on Kasimir's wrists, stubbornly ignoring the genie's demands that he let go.
The demon's expression was smug, "I have done nothing to him. I would never harm such a treasure as this. Tell me little DeMarius, where is Sheridan's father? I would speak with him, as the boy here has been left quite in the dark."
Kasimir finally spoke up, shock on his face. "Nephilim? Nomolos, you can't mean…"
"Ah, Kasimir. It's been so long since you disappeared. You still are as beautiful as ever, though I see you have abandoned the jewels and trinkets you loved so much. Have you missed me? Or have you had fun in the arms of a DeMarius?"
The genie was horrified, "NO! It's not like that. Lord Nomolos, I would never! I didn't have a choice, they-" he broke off.
Neil glared at the demon, pulling Kasimir closer to his side. "Why don't you shut up? What do you want?"
The demon bared his teeth, "Ornias' blood runs strong in you, right down to his streak of stupidity. I want two things, both of which I am about to get. Stay quiet or you won't live long enough to regret it. I could care about the DeMarius family, save for the fact that it would upset my prize here. And he is upset enough as is."
Lights shown through the glass panels on either side of the door, and Neil jumped. "It looks like they're here."
Nomolos grinned, "Excellent. Don't try anything either. I do not want to harm anyone, but if it comes to that I will not hesitate."
Neil bit back any reply, choosing to wait as he heard his siblings approach the door. Rosemary's loud voice could be heard as well. He couldn't help smiling despite his anxiety as the door swung open and Bethany came into view.
"Neil! Why haven't you been answering the phone! We were worried sick about you! Do you have any idea--who are you?" Bethany had spotted Nomolos, "Sheridan! Oh my god, Sheridan!" Rushing forward, she was yanked roughly back by strong hands and shoved to the floor. She stared up dazedly, "Luc!"
Lucas had come in behind her supported by Darrell, whom he'd also shoved aside upon spotting the demon holding his son in the center of the wide hallway. "You! I knew you looked familiar that day! You took it from me! Give it back!"
Nomolos smirked, "You were the careless one, Nephilim." He waved a hand carelessly, sending the man crashing back against the door. Rosemary was crouched down beside the fallen siblings, staring up at the demon with midnight hair in confusion. "It can't be…can it…are you Nomolos?"
"One and the same. How very astute of you."
"Give it back!"
The demon looked unimpressed as he stared at the blonde man struggling to pull himself up from the floor. "You want this?" Holding out a hand, light shimmered briefly as a diadem appeared above it. Why? It is of no use to you."
Lucas paled at the sight of it, "How did you get that? Give it back!" He held a hand to his head, unable to rise for the pain in it. "What do you want with it?"
Nomolos laughed, "It's not as if you can use it, as imperfect as you are."
Darrell had risen to his feet, pushing Rosemary and Bethany behind him and looking toward his brother. "What's going on here? What have you done to Sheridan and Lucas?"
"DeMarius, I've heard so much about you from Sheridan here," Nomolos nudged the unconscious figure in his arms, "Come now pretty, you've been quiet long enough."
Sheridan groaned as he fought the groggy haze he seemed trapped in. He attempted to break free of the demon's grip, but Nomolos kept a firm grip on his waist. He looked desperately at the people gathered around, "Darrell…Dad…I didn't mean to - I didn't know."
Lucas glared at his son, "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
Nomolos grinned, clearly the only one amused by the entire situation. "Of course he doesn't, because you never saw fit to explain anything to your son." He turned to Darrell and Neil, "Tell me, descendants of Ornias, what do you know about the Arden family?"
"What? They work for us, they always have. What's that have to do with anything?" Darrell tensed, warning his brother with a look to hold still.
The demon laughed, delighted. "Yes, of course. But don't you wonder why?" He held out the diadem still hovering in the air. "This is why they serve you, if I'm correct. And I'm seldom wrong." He left Sheridan standing, moving to loom over Lucas. "Gold hair and eyes - though yours are blue I see. A birthmark that looks like something was torn brutally from your back - and this." The diadem shimmered in his hand, "An angelic variation on the Carnelian, your source of power no?"
Lucas glared up at the demon, eyes filled with hate. "That's not for you to touch, demon. You can't use its powers, you'd be in too much pain."
The rest of the room was a mixture of confused gasps and speechless stares. It was Kasimir who finally broke the silence, "Why would nephilim be working for a family of demon origins? My lord?"
Nomolos moved toward Kasimir, stroking his hair a moment before speaking "Ah Kasimir, I really did not expect to see you here. Whatever became of you, hmm?"
Kasimir stared up at him, eyes still pained. "A DeMarius and another man turned me into a genie…I kept waiting for you to find me…"
"That was rather foolish of you. You know I had little to no chance of finding you, and at the time is was dangerous for demons to appear in the human world."
The genie's face wrenched at the words, and Neil could feel him trembling. He glared at the red-eyed demon, "No wonder Ornias didn't like you - you're an ass. All I've heard since meeting Kasi is "Nomo this" and "Nomo that," but honestly the only impressive thing I've noticed about you is that no one has managed to kill you yet!"
"You're entertaining. But back to my original point, as Kasimir was kind enough to ask: Why would a nephilim be working for demons?"
"What the hell is a nephilim?" Darrell glared at their antagonist.
It was Rosemary that answered, her expression stunned. "A person that's half angel, half human."
Lucas' angry glared darkened, but he said nothing despite the confused looks sent his way.'
Nomolos was still smiling, "Yes, the children of fallen angels. Fallen because it's forbidden in heaven to get so familiar with a sniveling human. But of course the mighty seven are always willing to strike deals. So tell me, Lucas Arden. What deal did you make? Ah, but I can guess. The angels are always looking for a foothold into the nether regions, it must have felt like Christmas to learn that a key power stone was here on earth, hanging around the throat of an idiot human. Fetch the Carnelian and earn a place in heaven, is that it?"
"What do you care, demon? It's of no concern to you whatsoever." Lucas sneered, finally rising to his feet but remaining in place.
Sheridan in all of this had said not a word, merely trembling slightly in place with confusion and misery. Nomolos approached him, trailing a cold hand down one soft cheek before gripping his chin and forcing the man's gold eyes to look into his own. He smiled softly, before once again turning to address Lucas. "My only concern is the fulfillment of a promise made only a short time ago. But I also seek to but the matter of Ornias to rest once and for all. I had no idea the affair lingered to this day. But it won't end so long as there is an angel lurking in the shadows. So start explaining, else I am not above less pleasant methods of persuasion." He sneered at the mutinous look on Lucas' face, "Don't try to protest - your secret is already out, it matters not now if you explain. Start with your name, or rather the name of the angel from which you descend."
Lucas gritted his teeth, glaring hate at the cold demon. "Exael."
"I thought so. A beautiful angel, but a foolish one. Of course, this entire room seems to be filled with fools, so that is only fitting. "Fell in love with a human woman, but was not loved so much in return. And you struck the bargain with the conniving seven."
"Yes, the Carnelian in exchange for a place in heaven. For Exael or whichever descendant accomplished the task. The Star," he looked at the diadem still clutched in Nomolos' hand, "was meant to be kept safe until an Arden had succeeded. I see my son has truly prove himself worthless."
Nomolos' sneered, "It seems to me that the only worthless one is the fool who leaves his son in the dark. You have no one to blame but yourself. Sheridan, what have you to say to all of this?"
Sheridan was shaking his head, "I don't understand - we're just servants. The Arden's aren't special, we're just DeMarius shadows. Dad…"
"I'm disappointed in you, pretty." Nomolos "You believed so easily in demons, but you won't believe in your own history? But that's all right, I shall convince you of it later. Let us finish this and for all, I believe everyone grows tired of my presence and I've lingered in the human world far too long."
So saying he moved to stand in front of Kasimir, whom Neil was doing his best to comfort while trying to take in the ridiculous situation before him. He glared at the demon as he approached, "What?"
But Nomolos ignored him, instead looking at the solemn genie. "Come now Kasimir, pouting really does not suite you. Don't be like that, you know there's no basis for it. You are not the first or last to leave me, I can not go hunting for all of you no matter what the reasons for your leaving." He reached out to stroke Kasimir's white gold hair, smirking when the genie jerked away from the touch. "Whatever happened to all your lovely jewels, Kasimir? Do not tell me you lost them? What of the bracelet you were so fond of?"
Kasimir said nothing, still refusing to so much as look at the tall demon. But his arm twitched at the mention of a bracelet, and Nomolos caught it. Reaching out the demon caught Kasimir's arm and lifted it, pulling back his too long sleeve to bare the glittering rainbow of gems encircling his wrist. Red eyes shone, paling the red stone set in the bracelet. "I knew I did well to put it here." Releasing the clasp, Nomolos took the bracelet before Kasimir could take his wrist away.
Stepping back, Nomolos crushed the bracelet in his fist, opening it to reveal the shattered remains of the red stone. Rifling through the pieces, he withdrew a smaller jewel of an even deeper red. Dropping the bracelet to the floor, he began to murmur the words of a spell, the small red gem in his hands beginning to flow and increase in size.
The light faded and Nomolos held out his hand to the group that had simply fallen silent in the face of events to bizarre to cope with. Resting in his palm was a jewel of a fine, rich red, carved in the shape of a rose. "Here you are DeMarius, Arden. Your Carnelian."
Neil's eyes widened, beside him Kasimir jerked in surprise. "But that - the picture. God damn it all, we were staring right at it! Damn it to hell and back!"
Chapter 22
Kasimir laughed bitterly, dropping to the floor in complete defeat. "I had it the whole time, why does that not surprise me." He looked sadly up at Neil, who still had a grip on his arm and was trying to haul the genie back to his feet. "I'm sorry, Master. It seems I really have been nothing but trouble."
Neil glared, "Shut up. What did I tell you about being polite and crap? Why not yell at him or something? You're good at that. Now get up and help me or I really will beat the shit out of you."
"Help you do what?" Kasimir rose, studiously ignoring the stares of everyone else, especially the red-eyed demon he'd waited so long to see. He allowed Neil to help him up, blue violet eyes staring into green with confusion.
Neil smirked, hands on Kasimir's shoulders as he turned to look at the demon.
Nomolos smirked, "Don't try anything - I'm well aware of what you could do with a genie at your disposal Little Ornias. I can find you anywhere, especially now that I have the Carnelian whole again. Besides, you should be pleased with what I'm about to do. I made a promise to Sheridan here, did I not pretty?" He turned to Sheridan, who dragged his gaze away from his father when the black haired demons spoke his name. "Perhaps you did not find Kasimir like I requested, but you gave me something else instead. So, here my end of the bargain."
So saying Nomolos gripped the Carnelian tightly in his fist, chanting a spell that made the entire room vibrate. In his hand a brilliant red light appeared, continuing to grow brighter and brighter as Nomolos chanted. Then it suddenly began to darken, a blood red light as opposed to the bright light it had started as. The chanting stopped, and the three siblings cried out in sudden pain. Darrell and Bethany dropped to their knees, hands to their chests. Neil was caught by Kasimir's arms around his waist, and he held tightly to the genie as a burning pain ripped through his body.
Blood red shards dropped in a shimmering shower to the hallway floor, Icy laughter cast a deeper chill over the room. "Don't know what you've got until it's gone, no? How sad that you had all that potential and now it's gone. But you'll survive, I'm sure. Ornias' descendents seem stronger for all that they're just as idiotic. I think I'll be on my way now, and I'll take my pretty little prize with me." Nomolos turned away, walking toward Sheridan.
Quiet and still since being forced to reveal his secrets, Lucas suddenly moved. Launching himself forward, he attacked Nomolos from behind. He didn't get far, the demon whirling around quickly disabling the older man. "Stupid spawn." He threw the man aside, laughing as he collided with Neil and Kasimir. "It's not like having the Star would do you any good. You're incompatible with it."
"What are you talking about?" Lucas shoved away from the two men that had cushioned his fall, ignoring their curses and grunts of pain.
Nomolos' smirk was amused and almost cruel looking, "Haven't you ever looked in the mirror? Your eyes are blue, which means you're very human."
"What?" Lucas only stared in confusion, "I'm still descended from Exael, which means I'm nephilim."
"No, it doesn't. Look at those three" He indicated the siblings, "They're all descended from Ornias but they don't have the exact same degree of his blood. The eldest there is like you - completely human. The woman has some measure of demon blood, and the look alike there could be a full fledged demon if I hadn't just destroyed the source of his power. Nephilim are no different - you would know this if you fools ever bothered to have more than one child. You are nothing but a human with extremely fine hair. But your son…ah he is a prize. The Star will suite him well, don't you think?" Though I don't think I'll be giving it to him for quite some time."
Sheridan had begun to back away from the demon, as if he had recovered from whatever had been ailing him. Nomolos noticed the movement and shook his head, sending his long black hair cascading over his shoulders. The Star shimmered darkly in his hands, and both Sheridan and Lucas grimaced in pain as Nomolos laughed. "Well, I may have been mistaken. Clearly the spell I cast on the star is affecting you, so I guess there is enough angel blood in you to cause discomfort. But rest assured you'll not be "pure" enough to handle becoming an angel. How like the despicable seven to leave such a little detail out. How like a fellow angel to be so gullible."
Nomolos abruptly surged forward, jerking Neil toward him and gripping his hair in a painful grip. "I saw that little Ornias. I warned you about making wishes. You can't save everyone, and if you try to touch my prize I'll destroy the Star as easily as the Carnelian - and the results will be much, much worse for your golden haired servants."
"Let me go." Neil snarled up at the demon, wildly swinging his arms out - to no avail. Nomolos warned off the rest of the room, smirking in satisfaction as they all backed away. His icy fingers gripped Neil's jaw, preventing the man talking. "That's a beautiful earring, little Ornias. A diamond of stunning quality - did it cost you dearly? No? And where is the other?" Nomolos reached up a hand to stroke the earring lightly with his fingers, twirling it gently to watch it catch the light from the ceiling. "Positively thrumming with magic, how exquisite. No wonder the mate is dangling from the ear of my lovely little ex-slave."
Turning to look a the trembling genie, Nomolos looked almost thoughtful. "I suppose stealing the earring would mean I get you back, would it not? But I really have no use for a genie, and really I have no desire to take you back…" He ignored the look that crossed Kasimir's face, as the genie looked away to glance down the hallway. "How amusing that right now you are my biggest threat. I'm well aware of what you can do, once I'm gone and no longer keeping you from granting wishes…" The demon returned his hard red gaze to the red haired young man struggling vainly in his grasp. Tightening his grip on the dangling black diamond, he yanked it from Neil's ear.
Screaming in shock and pain, Neil barely noticed as Nomolos dropped his carelessly to the floor. Holding a hand to his bleeding ear, he turned around - Kasimir was gone. Struggling to his feet, he lunged at Nomolos in an attempt to get his earring back, "Give that back!" Nomolos dodged his futile attempts, sending him crashing into his brother and sister with little effort. He stepped back, pulling Sheridan close to his side. He held the earring aloft for them to see. "I was fond of Kasimir, so I am reluctant to take more drastic measure. But I'll not tolerate interference of any kind at this point."
"Why? Why are you doing all this? We didn't even want to cause you harm, we just wanted the Carnelian - to destroy it. That's the only reason we--" Bethany bit off her sentence at the glare shot her by Rosemary. But it was too late.
"Oh, so you would be the one that attempted to summon me. Luckily for both of us where I wound up proved far more fortuitous than I could ever have imagined. I would kill you, but I'm still pleased over my find. But the Carnelian has been destroyed, so you should be pleased."
"Give him back! He's not yours anymore, you had no right! I'll do whatever you want, just give him back!"
Nomolos raised his eyebrows, baring his teeth in a disturbing smile. "You would allow me to take away this one," he indicated "In return for a spoiled slave turned genie? My, you really do regard them as mere servants."
Neil looked horrified, glancing in dismay at the once again motionless, silent Sheridan. "That's not what I meant! Why do you need Sheridan, you said yourself they're just human now."
"You should learn to listen, little Ornias. I said the feeble one with blue eyes is too much a human. But Sheridan…he is so close to being an angel it's pathetic. He lacks only awareness of his abilities, having been raised by a selfish, thoughtless father. I will craft him into far better a servant that you could ever manage to create. In regards to your desperate plea, no deal. I trust you as much as I trusted your illustrious descendent. I will take the earring with me, and in time I perhaps I will return it. If ever I am bothered by this family again, he will die. Though I'm sure in time that will mean little to you, loyalty does not extend to servants after all."
"You would know. Kasimir all but loved you, and this is how you treat him?" Neil's voice was bitter and full of hate.
"Loved me? Don't be silly - he merely adored the attention and jewels I lavished upon him. If I had not bought him, he'd have simply gone to another. That is what happens in slave markets after all. He would have loved anyone who took him from the family that sold him. Kasimir was never very good with emotions, but it kept him amusing."
"I'm afraid I'm growing impatient now - there is much I have to do to make up for my extended absence from home. Beyond that I have Sheridan here to train. But really, that name no longer suites, does it pretty?" Nomolos forced the silent man to look up at him, "Exael is much more fitting a name. A nephilim with no where to go, a beautiful addition to my palace of ice." Nomolos vanished the diadem and earring, pulling Sheridan close before casting the group one last smirk - then they were gone."
"Sheridan!"
"Kasimir!"
The brothers called out frantically for the people taken by the demon, glancing desperately at one another before turning away. Neil locked his jaw in determinatin, "There's got to be something we can do! I won't let him just take them away! Argh, are all demons assholes?"
Bethany glared at the man across from her, "Oh, I don't know. I'd say angels rank pretty high on the asshole list." She rose to her feet, stalking over to Lucas and backhanding him across the face. "I don't believe this - your goddamned son was stolen away by a demon and not once did you ever voice a protest. All you wanted was that fucking tiara or whatever it was! Did you even notice the pain he was in? Did you?" She swung her hand again, eyes blazing with anger. Her brothers protested, but a dark glare from her and they both fell silent. "The saddest part was that he didn't even expect you to help! Goddamn you!"
Rosemary caught her friend around the waist, pulling the other woman away and speaking soothingly too her, "It's okay Beth, we'll get them both back. You couldn't have known this would happen - neither of us good have known."
Bethany was crying, "We should never have tried to summon him. If we'd just left well enough alone this wouldn’t have happened. We've lost both of them, as well as the only thing that might possibly save them!"
Rosemary shook her head, "That's what I'm trying to tell you - it's not over yet. Nomolos mistook us for stupid, but I'm still in the family business am I not?"
Darrell looked strained, "I get the feeling that I should beat the hell out of both of you right this instant. But I also get the feeling that we don't have time. But you're all," he his head to include his brother in the glare, "going to explain to me exactly what just happened here after we figure out how to get those two back - though I'm still completely lost as to who the dark skinned man was. Somehow I don't think he was a friend from school." Three people looked guiltily at the floor, and he sighed. "Lord save me from idiot siblings - and that includes you Rose."
He turned a glare as fierce as that of the departed demon on the man still sitting motionless on the floor. "And you I will definitely deal with once this is all over. We've always treated the Arden's well. I know you've only ever played servant to us, but when have we not lavished gratitude on you? And I find it more despicable than I can say that you let you son get so easily taken away." His face collapsed into pain, "Not that I did much better…"
"Darrell, that's enough." Rosemary smiled at him, waving the siblings toward her. "Now listen - that stupid stone isn't finished yet. Didn't you see the way Nomolos summoned it?"
"He took it from Kasi's bracelet," Neil pointed to the ruined piece of jewelry on the floor.
Rosemary shook her head, smiling increasing as she explained. "No, he took a piece of it. Then he just brought the other pieces to it - that's easy enough to do when he has access to all the pieces. But Kasimir is a genie, outside his control. That's why he had to physically take the last piece from the bracelet."
"So what?' Neil asked impatiently.
Rosemary reached over and smacked him upside the head, "Chill a minute, boy. I mean - it's in pieces now. It a not uncommon way to store valuable sources of power like that. So long as most of the pieces are close to each other, you can use nearly the same power you could use if it was whole. In theory, you three can reassemble the pieces and restore the Carnelian."
"That stupid," Darrell snorted, "Pretending for a minute that I understand what's going on - why would that freak with the red eyes leave open such a wide window of opportunity? It's too easy."
"Because he doesn’t think you have the power. Look at how much pain it caused you to feel it break. Technically it's ruined, but a powerful enough demon could reassemble the stone with just his basic abilities. The Carnelian is just a source of greater power, it's not all that Ornias had. Or all you three have.
"So how the hell do we reassemble it. He's right, we don't have the power. Even if we did, we don't know how to use it."
"Am I or am I not the descendant of a long line of witches?"
"Sorry, that's the first I've heard of it. Somehow my sister always failed to mention that minor detail." Darrell said dryly as he turned a half glare on his sister. "So tell us what to do - how exactly will all of this work?"
Rosemary stood, motioning them to follow her. She glared at Lucas, "Stand aside. The energies of a nephilim might corrupt the demonic ones. And you've done enough as is." To the siblings she said, "Gather the shards together, it'll be much easier that way as you're all still new at this."
"What happens if there are some missing?" Neil looked anxiously up at her.
Ruffling his hair, the ever-cheerful woman smiled reassuringly. "They're all nearby, so we can't miss them really. This makes it easier, it's not essential. So long as they're in the house - which they are - we're fine. Okay?" She sat on the floor, waiting as the three sat with her, forming a loose circle around the pile of glittering red shards. "All right. Did you see what he did? It's easier to hold your hands close, as that's the easiest way to visually focus your magic. Hmm…Neil, if what he said was true - and it probably was - then you're going to be the biggest part of this. Darrell and Bethany can back you up, but you'll be doing the bulk of it. I can chant the spell, but I won't be contributing the energy required for it."
"I still don't think he'd just leave this for us to do." Darrell snorted, Neil nodding agreement across from him. Bethany and Rosemary glared at them both. "Okay, okay. Let's just try it."
"That's better. And I told you, he had no reason to think we'd believe anything but that the stone was well and truly destroyed. I wouldn’t be surprised if he'd been plotting to come back for it at some point. But Sheridan is far more powerful than this thing. Anyway - here's what you do. Focus every though, every breath, every thing on the Carnelian being whole again. The spell essentially commands it to return to it's natural form, but you have to picture that image, the Carnelian as it appeared before he broke it. Can you manage that, you three. Especially you Neil."
"I can do it - it's just like making a wish." He looked determinedly at the shards, jaw set."
Bethany and Rosemary jumped at his words, exchanging a startled glance. "Yeah, I guess it would be…" Alright then, let's make a wish. As impossible as it seems, wish for that stone to be whole again. Wish to see Sheridan and Kasimir back again. Let's begin."
The three siblings held their hand over the stones, closing their eyes and wishing with all their might for the Carnelian to be unbroken. Just above their hands, Rosemary held her own, eyes closed and brows knit as she concentrated her own energy on the tricky words of a spell she had seldom ever used. Unseen by them all, the pile of blood red shards began to glow, increasing in brightness as the spell and energy washed over them.
As much as I hate pizza, I've never gone out on a break to get something else. Why? B/c I couldn't stand to do that to a fellow food slave. So I get really, really pissed when cracker barrel, subway, wendy's, arby's, and everyone else calls us and asks to have pizza delivered. and then they don't tip my (albeit annoying and worthless) drivers. *grrrr*
I warn you - I wrote 3,000 words in about an hour and a half. There's a lot of work that needs to be done here - I hope you don't cringe too much.
Chapter 21
Neil made his way out of the kitchen, stepping out into the hallway - and stopped short. "What…"
Kasimir came up behind him, bumping into him at the sudden stop. "Why don't you warn someone when-" he broke off in a pained cry as he took in the reason for Neil's abrupt halt. "Lord Nomolos!" The genie rushed forward, only to be roughly jerked back by Neil's rough grip on his wrist. He spun around, "Let me go!"
"Kasimir. I had no idea you were here. How amusing. We've been searching every nook and cranny and you were the DeMarius the entire time…" Nomolos' lips quirked in a genuine smile, "That is indeed quite amusing. Did you know this the entire time, pretty nephilim?' Nomolos looked down to address the nervous figure still held close to his chest. Gold hair shook back and forth in a negative response. "I am inclined to believe you."
Neil shook his head, as if to clear it. "What…are you really Nomolos? Why are you here? And what have you done to Sheridan?" His hand tightened on Kasimir's wrists, stubbornly ignoring the genie's demands that he let go.
The demon's expression was smug, "I have done nothing to him. I would never harm such a treasure as this. Tell me little DeMarius, where is Sheridan's father? I would speak with him, as the boy here has been left quite in the dark."
Kasimir finally spoke up, shock on his face. "Nephilim? Nomolos, you can't mean…"
"Ah, Kasimir. It's been so long since you disappeared. You still are as beautiful as ever, though I see you have abandoned the jewels and trinkets you loved so much. Have you missed me? Or have you had fun in the arms of a DeMarius?"
The genie was horrified, "NO! It's not like that. Lord Nomolos, I would never! I didn't have a choice, they-" he broke off.
Neil glared at the demon, pulling Kasimir closer to his side. "Why don't you shut up? What do you want?"
The demon bared his teeth, "Ornias' blood runs strong in you, right down to his streak of stupidity. I want two things, both of which I am about to get. Stay quiet or you won't live long enough to regret it. I could care about the DeMarius family, save for the fact that it would upset my prize here. And he is upset enough as is."
Lights shown through the glass panels on either side of the door, and Neil jumped. "It looks like they're here."
Nomolos grinned, "Excellent. Don't try anything either. I do not want to harm anyone, but if it comes to that I will not hesitate."
Neil bit back any reply, choosing to wait as he heard his siblings approach the door. Rosemary's loud voice could be heard as well. He couldn't help smiling despite his anxiety as the door swung open and Bethany came into view.
"Neil! Why haven't you been answering the phone! We were worried sick about you! Do you have any idea--who are you?" Bethany had spotted Nomolos, "Sheridan! Oh my god, Sheridan!" Rushing forward, she was yanked roughly back by strong hands and shoved to the floor. She stared up dazedly, "Luc!"
Lucas had come in behind her supported by Darrell, whom he'd also shoved aside upon spotting the demon holding his son in the center of the wide hallway. "You! I knew you looked familiar that day! You took it from me! Give it back!"
Nomolos smirked, "You were the careless one, Nephilim." He waved a hand carelessly, sending the man crashing back against the door. Rosemary was crouched down beside the fallen siblings, staring up at the demon with midnight hair in confusion. "It can't be…can it…are you Nomolos?"
"One and the same. How very astute of you."
"Give it back!"
The demon looked unimpressed as he stared at the blonde man struggling to pull himself up from the floor. "You want this?" Holding out a hand, light shimmered briefly as a diadem appeared above it. Why? It is of no use to you."
Lucas paled at the sight of it, "How did you get that? Give it back!" He held a hand to his head, unable to rise for the pain in it. "What do you want with it?"
Nomolos laughed, "It's not as if you can use it, as imperfect as you are."
Darrell had risen to his feet, pushing Rosemary and Bethany behind him and looking toward his brother. "What's going on here? What have you done to Sheridan and Lucas?"
"DeMarius, I've heard so much about you from Sheridan here," Nomolos nudged the unconscious figure in his arms, "Come now pretty, you've been quiet long enough."
Sheridan groaned as he fought the groggy haze he seemed trapped in. He attempted to break free of the demon's grip, but Nomolos kept a firm grip on his waist. He looked desperately at the people gathered around, "Darrell…Dad…I didn't mean to - I didn't know."
Lucas glared at his son, "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
Nomolos grinned, clearly the only one amused by the entire situation. "Of course he doesn't, because you never saw fit to explain anything to your son." He turned to Darrell and Neil, "Tell me, descendants of Ornias, what do you know about the Arden family?"
"What? They work for us, they always have. What's that have to do with anything?" Darrell tensed, warning his brother with a look to hold still.
The demon laughed, delighted. "Yes, of course. But don't you wonder why?" He held out the diadem still hovering in the air. "This is why they serve you, if I'm correct. And I'm seldom wrong." He left Sheridan standing, moving to loom over Lucas. "Gold hair and eyes - though yours are blue I see. A birthmark that looks like something was torn brutally from your back - and this." The diadem shimmered in his hand, "An angelic variation on the Carnelian, your source of power no?"
Lucas glared up at the demon, eyes filled with hate. "That's not for you to touch, demon. You can't use its powers, you'd be in too much pain."
The rest of the room was a mixture of confused gasps and speechless stares. It was Kasimir who finally broke the silence, "Why would nephilim be working for a family of demon origins? My lord?"
Nomolos moved toward Kasimir, stroking his hair a moment before speaking "Ah Kasimir, I really did not expect to see you here. Whatever became of you, hmm?"
Kasimir stared up at him, eyes still pained. "A DeMarius and another man turned me into a genie…I kept waiting for you to find me…"
"That was rather foolish of you. You know I had little to no chance of finding you, and at the time is was dangerous for demons to appear in the human world."
The genie's face wrenched at the words, and Neil could feel him trembling. He glared at the red-eyed demon, "No wonder Ornias didn't like you - you're an ass. All I've heard since meeting Kasi is "Nomo this" and "Nomo that," but honestly the only impressive thing I've noticed about you is that no one has managed to kill you yet!"
"You're entertaining. But back to my original point, as Kasimir was kind enough to ask: Why would a nephilim be working for demons?"
"What the hell is a nephilim?" Darrell glared at their antagonist.
It was Rosemary that answered, her expression stunned. "A person that's half angel, half human."
Lucas' angry glared darkened, but he said nothing despite the confused looks sent his way.'
Nomolos was still smiling, "Yes, the children of fallen angels. Fallen because it's forbidden in heaven to get so familiar with a sniveling human. But of course the mighty seven are always willing to strike deals. So tell me, Lucas Arden. What deal did you make? Ah, but I can guess. The angels are always looking for a foothold into the nether regions, it must have felt like Christmas to learn that a key power stone was here on earth, hanging around the throat of an idiot human. Fetch the Carnelian and earn a place in heaven, is that it?"
"What do you care, demon? It's of no concern to you whatsoever." Lucas sneered, finally rising to his feet but remaining in place.
Sheridan in all of this had said not a word, merely trembling slightly in place with confusion and misery. Nomolos approached him, trailing a cold hand down one soft cheek before gripping his chin and forcing the man's gold eyes to look into his own. He smiled softly, before once again turning to address Lucas. "My only concern is the fulfillment of a promise made only a short time ago. But I also seek to but the matter of Ornias to rest once and for all. I had no idea the affair lingered to this day. But it won't end so long as there is an angel lurking in the shadows. So start explaining, else I am not above less pleasant methods of persuasion." He sneered at the mutinous look on Lucas' face, "Don't try to protest - your secret is already out, it matters not now if you explain. Start with your name, or rather the name of the angel from which you descend."
Lucas gritted his teeth, glaring hate at the cold demon. "Exael."
"I thought so. A beautiful angel, but a foolish one. Of course, this entire room seems to be filled with fools, so that is only fitting. "Fell in love with a human woman, but was not loved so much in return. And you struck the bargain with the conniving seven."
"Yes, the Carnelian in exchange for a place in heaven. For Exael or whichever descendant accomplished the task. The Star," he looked at the diadem still clutched in Nomolos' hand, "was meant to be kept safe until an Arden had succeeded. I see my son has truly prove himself worthless."
Nomolos' sneered, "It seems to me that the only worthless one is the fool who leaves his son in the dark. You have no one to blame but yourself. Sheridan, what have you to say to all of this?"
Sheridan was shaking his head, "I don't understand - we're just servants. The Arden's aren't special, we're just DeMarius shadows. Dad…"
"I'm disappointed in you, pretty." Nomolos "You believed so easily in demons, but you won't believe in your own history? But that's all right, I shall convince you of it later. Let us finish this and for all, I believe everyone grows tired of my presence and I've lingered in the human world far too long."
So saying he moved to stand in front of Kasimir, whom Neil was doing his best to comfort while trying to take in the ridiculous situation before him. He glared at the demon as he approached, "What?"
But Nomolos ignored him, instead looking at the solemn genie. "Come now Kasimir, pouting really does not suite you. Don't be like that, you know there's no basis for it. You are not the first or last to leave me, I can not go hunting for all of you no matter what the reasons for your leaving." He reached out to stroke Kasimir's white gold hair, smirking when the genie jerked away from the touch. "Whatever happened to all your lovely jewels, Kasimir? Do not tell me you lost them? What of the bracelet you were so fond of?"
Kasimir said nothing, still refusing to so much as look at the tall demon. But his arm twitched at the mention of a bracelet, and Nomolos caught it. Reaching out the demon caught Kasimir's arm and lifted it, pulling back his too long sleeve to bare the glittering rainbow of gems encircling his wrist. Red eyes shone, paling the red stone set in the bracelet. "I knew I did well to put it here." Releasing the clasp, Nomolos took the bracelet before Kasimir could take his wrist away.
Stepping back, Nomolos crushed the bracelet in his fist, opening it to reveal the shattered remains of the red stone. Rifling through the pieces, he withdrew a smaller jewel of an even deeper red. Dropping the bracelet to the floor, he began to murmur the words of a spell, the small red gem in his hands beginning to flow and increase in size.
The light faded and Nomolos held out his hand to the group that had simply fallen silent in the face of events to bizarre to cope with. Resting in his palm was a jewel of a fine, rich red, carved in the shape of a rose. "Here you are DeMarius, Arden. Your Carnelian."
Neil's eyes widened, beside him Kasimir jerked in surprise. "But that - the picture. God damn it all, we were staring right at it! Damn it to hell and back!"
Chapter 22
Kasimir laughed bitterly, dropping to the floor in complete defeat. "I had it the whole time, why does that not surprise me." He looked sadly up at Neil, who still had a grip on his arm and was trying to haul the genie back to his feet. "I'm sorry, Master. It seems I really have been nothing but trouble."
Neil glared, "Shut up. What did I tell you about being polite and crap? Why not yell at him or something? You're good at that. Now get up and help me or I really will beat the shit out of you."
"Help you do what?" Kasimir rose, studiously ignoring the stares of everyone else, especially the red-eyed demon he'd waited so long to see. He allowed Neil to help him up, blue violet eyes staring into green with confusion.
Neil smirked, hands on Kasimir's shoulders as he turned to look at the demon.
Nomolos smirked, "Don't try anything - I'm well aware of what you could do with a genie at your disposal Little Ornias. I can find you anywhere, especially now that I have the Carnelian whole again. Besides, you should be pleased with what I'm about to do. I made a promise to Sheridan here, did I not pretty?" He turned to Sheridan, who dragged his gaze away from his father when the black haired demons spoke his name. "Perhaps you did not find Kasimir like I requested, but you gave me something else instead. So, here my end of the bargain."
So saying Nomolos gripped the Carnelian tightly in his fist, chanting a spell that made the entire room vibrate. In his hand a brilliant red light appeared, continuing to grow brighter and brighter as Nomolos chanted. Then it suddenly began to darken, a blood red light as opposed to the bright light it had started as. The chanting stopped, and the three siblings cried out in sudden pain. Darrell and Bethany dropped to their knees, hands to their chests. Neil was caught by Kasimir's arms around his waist, and he held tightly to the genie as a burning pain ripped through his body.
Blood red shards dropped in a shimmering shower to the hallway floor, Icy laughter cast a deeper chill over the room. "Don't know what you've got until it's gone, no? How sad that you had all that potential and now it's gone. But you'll survive, I'm sure. Ornias' descendents seem stronger for all that they're just as idiotic. I think I'll be on my way now, and I'll take my pretty little prize with me." Nomolos turned away, walking toward Sheridan.
Quiet and still since being forced to reveal his secrets, Lucas suddenly moved. Launching himself forward, he attacked Nomolos from behind. He didn't get far, the demon whirling around quickly disabling the older man. "Stupid spawn." He threw the man aside, laughing as he collided with Neil and Kasimir. "It's not like having the Star would do you any good. You're incompatible with it."
"What are you talking about?" Lucas shoved away from the two men that had cushioned his fall, ignoring their curses and grunts of pain.
Nomolos' smirk was amused and almost cruel looking, "Haven't you ever looked in the mirror? Your eyes are blue, which means you're very human."
"What?" Lucas only stared in confusion, "I'm still descended from Exael, which means I'm nephilim."
"No, it doesn't. Look at those three" He indicated the siblings, "They're all descended from Ornias but they don't have the exact same degree of his blood. The eldest there is like you - completely human. The woman has some measure of demon blood, and the look alike there could be a full fledged demon if I hadn't just destroyed the source of his power. Nephilim are no different - you would know this if you fools ever bothered to have more than one child. You are nothing but a human with extremely fine hair. But your son…ah he is a prize. The Star will suite him well, don't you think?" Though I don't think I'll be giving it to him for quite some time."
Sheridan had begun to back away from the demon, as if he had recovered from whatever had been ailing him. Nomolos noticed the movement and shook his head, sending his long black hair cascading over his shoulders. The Star shimmered darkly in his hands, and both Sheridan and Lucas grimaced in pain as Nomolos laughed. "Well, I may have been mistaken. Clearly the spell I cast on the star is affecting you, so I guess there is enough angel blood in you to cause discomfort. But rest assured you'll not be "pure" enough to handle becoming an angel. How like the despicable seven to leave such a little detail out. How like a fellow angel to be so gullible."
Nomolos abruptly surged forward, jerking Neil toward him and gripping his hair in a painful grip. "I saw that little Ornias. I warned you about making wishes. You can't save everyone, and if you try to touch my prize I'll destroy the Star as easily as the Carnelian - and the results will be much, much worse for your golden haired servants."
"Let me go." Neil snarled up at the demon, wildly swinging his arms out - to no avail. Nomolos warned off the rest of the room, smirking in satisfaction as they all backed away. His icy fingers gripped Neil's jaw, preventing the man talking. "That's a beautiful earring, little Ornias. A diamond of stunning quality - did it cost you dearly? No? And where is the other?" Nomolos reached up a hand to stroke the earring lightly with his fingers, twirling it gently to watch it catch the light from the ceiling. "Positively thrumming with magic, how exquisite. No wonder the mate is dangling from the ear of my lovely little ex-slave."
Turning to look a the trembling genie, Nomolos looked almost thoughtful. "I suppose stealing the earring would mean I get you back, would it not? But I really have no use for a genie, and really I have no desire to take you back…" He ignored the look that crossed Kasimir's face, as the genie looked away to glance down the hallway. "How amusing that right now you are my biggest threat. I'm well aware of what you can do, once I'm gone and no longer keeping you from granting wishes…" The demon returned his hard red gaze to the red haired young man struggling vainly in his grasp. Tightening his grip on the dangling black diamond, he yanked it from Neil's ear.
Screaming in shock and pain, Neil barely noticed as Nomolos dropped his carelessly to the floor. Holding a hand to his bleeding ear, he turned around - Kasimir was gone. Struggling to his feet, he lunged at Nomolos in an attempt to get his earring back, "Give that back!" Nomolos dodged his futile attempts, sending him crashing into his brother and sister with little effort. He stepped back, pulling Sheridan close to his side. He held the earring aloft for them to see. "I was fond of Kasimir, so I am reluctant to take more drastic measure. But I'll not tolerate interference of any kind at this point."
"Why? Why are you doing all this? We didn't even want to cause you harm, we just wanted the Carnelian - to destroy it. That's the only reason we--" Bethany bit off her sentence at the glare shot her by Rosemary. But it was too late.
"Oh, so you would be the one that attempted to summon me. Luckily for both of us where I wound up proved far more fortuitous than I could ever have imagined. I would kill you, but I'm still pleased over my find. But the Carnelian has been destroyed, so you should be pleased."
"Give him back! He's not yours anymore, you had no right! I'll do whatever you want, just give him back!"
Nomolos raised his eyebrows, baring his teeth in a disturbing smile. "You would allow me to take away this one," he indicated "In return for a spoiled slave turned genie? My, you really do regard them as mere servants."
Neil looked horrified, glancing in dismay at the once again motionless, silent Sheridan. "That's not what I meant! Why do you need Sheridan, you said yourself they're just human now."
"You should learn to listen, little Ornias. I said the feeble one with blue eyes is too much a human. But Sheridan…he is so close to being an angel it's pathetic. He lacks only awareness of his abilities, having been raised by a selfish, thoughtless father. I will craft him into far better a servant that you could ever manage to create. In regards to your desperate plea, no deal. I trust you as much as I trusted your illustrious descendent. I will take the earring with me, and in time I perhaps I will return it. If ever I am bothered by this family again, he will die. Though I'm sure in time that will mean little to you, loyalty does not extend to servants after all."
"You would know. Kasimir all but loved you, and this is how you treat him?" Neil's voice was bitter and full of hate.
"Loved me? Don't be silly - he merely adored the attention and jewels I lavished upon him. If I had not bought him, he'd have simply gone to another. That is what happens in slave markets after all. He would have loved anyone who took him from the family that sold him. Kasimir was never very good with emotions, but it kept him amusing."
"I'm afraid I'm growing impatient now - there is much I have to do to make up for my extended absence from home. Beyond that I have Sheridan here to train. But really, that name no longer suites, does it pretty?" Nomolos forced the silent man to look up at him, "Exael is much more fitting a name. A nephilim with no where to go, a beautiful addition to my palace of ice." Nomolos vanished the diadem and earring, pulling Sheridan close before casting the group one last smirk - then they were gone."
"Sheridan!"
"Kasimir!"
The brothers called out frantically for the people taken by the demon, glancing desperately at one another before turning away. Neil locked his jaw in determinatin, "There's got to be something we can do! I won't let him just take them away! Argh, are all demons assholes?"
Bethany glared at the man across from her, "Oh, I don't know. I'd say angels rank pretty high on the asshole list." She rose to her feet, stalking over to Lucas and backhanding him across the face. "I don't believe this - your goddamned son was stolen away by a demon and not once did you ever voice a protest. All you wanted was that fucking tiara or whatever it was! Did you even notice the pain he was in? Did you?" She swung her hand again, eyes blazing with anger. Her brothers protested, but a dark glare from her and they both fell silent. "The saddest part was that he didn't even expect you to help! Goddamn you!"
Rosemary caught her friend around the waist, pulling the other woman away and speaking soothingly too her, "It's okay Beth, we'll get them both back. You couldn't have known this would happen - neither of us good have known."
Bethany was crying, "We should never have tried to summon him. If we'd just left well enough alone this wouldn’t have happened. We've lost both of them, as well as the only thing that might possibly save them!"
Rosemary shook her head, "That's what I'm trying to tell you - it's not over yet. Nomolos mistook us for stupid, but I'm still in the family business am I not?"
Darrell looked strained, "I get the feeling that I should beat the hell out of both of you right this instant. But I also get the feeling that we don't have time. But you're all," he his head to include his brother in the glare, "going to explain to me exactly what just happened here after we figure out how to get those two back - though I'm still completely lost as to who the dark skinned man was. Somehow I don't think he was a friend from school." Three people looked guiltily at the floor, and he sighed. "Lord save me from idiot siblings - and that includes you Rose."
He turned a glare as fierce as that of the departed demon on the man still sitting motionless on the floor. "And you I will definitely deal with once this is all over. We've always treated the Arden's well. I know you've only ever played servant to us, but when have we not lavished gratitude on you? And I find it more despicable than I can say that you let you son get so easily taken away." His face collapsed into pain, "Not that I did much better…"
"Darrell, that's enough." Rosemary smiled at him, waving the siblings toward her. "Now listen - that stupid stone isn't finished yet. Didn't you see the way Nomolos summoned it?"
"He took it from Kasi's bracelet," Neil pointed to the ruined piece of jewelry on the floor.
Rosemary shook her head, smiling increasing as she explained. "No, he took a piece of it. Then he just brought the other pieces to it - that's easy enough to do when he has access to all the pieces. But Kasimir is a genie, outside his control. That's why he had to physically take the last piece from the bracelet."
"So what?' Neil asked impatiently.
Rosemary reached over and smacked him upside the head, "Chill a minute, boy. I mean - it's in pieces now. It a not uncommon way to store valuable sources of power like that. So long as most of the pieces are close to each other, you can use nearly the same power you could use if it was whole. In theory, you three can reassemble the pieces and restore the Carnelian."
"That stupid," Darrell snorted, "Pretending for a minute that I understand what's going on - why would that freak with the red eyes leave open such a wide window of opportunity? It's too easy."
"Because he doesn’t think you have the power. Look at how much pain it caused you to feel it break. Technically it's ruined, but a powerful enough demon could reassemble the stone with just his basic abilities. The Carnelian is just a source of greater power, it's not all that Ornias had. Or all you three have.
"So how the hell do we reassemble it. He's right, we don't have the power. Even if we did, we don't know how to use it."
"Am I or am I not the descendant of a long line of witches?"
"Sorry, that's the first I've heard of it. Somehow my sister always failed to mention that minor detail." Darrell said dryly as he turned a half glare on his sister. "So tell us what to do - how exactly will all of this work?"
Rosemary stood, motioning them to follow her. She glared at Lucas, "Stand aside. The energies of a nephilim might corrupt the demonic ones. And you've done enough as is." To the siblings she said, "Gather the shards together, it'll be much easier that way as you're all still new at this."
"What happens if there are some missing?" Neil looked anxiously up at her.
Ruffling his hair, the ever-cheerful woman smiled reassuringly. "They're all nearby, so we can't miss them really. This makes it easier, it's not essential. So long as they're in the house - which they are - we're fine. Okay?" She sat on the floor, waiting as the three sat with her, forming a loose circle around the pile of glittering red shards. "All right. Did you see what he did? It's easier to hold your hands close, as that's the easiest way to visually focus your magic. Hmm…Neil, if what he said was true - and it probably was - then you're going to be the biggest part of this. Darrell and Bethany can back you up, but you'll be doing the bulk of it. I can chant the spell, but I won't be contributing the energy required for it."
"I still don't think he'd just leave this for us to do." Darrell snorted, Neil nodding agreement across from him. Bethany and Rosemary glared at them both. "Okay, okay. Let's just try it."
"That's better. And I told you, he had no reason to think we'd believe anything but that the stone was well and truly destroyed. I wouldn’t be surprised if he'd been plotting to come back for it at some point. But Sheridan is far more powerful than this thing. Anyway - here's what you do. Focus every though, every breath, every thing on the Carnelian being whole again. The spell essentially commands it to return to it's natural form, but you have to picture that image, the Carnelian as it appeared before he broke it. Can you manage that, you three. Especially you Neil."
"I can do it - it's just like making a wish." He looked determinedly at the shards, jaw set."
Bethany and Rosemary jumped at his words, exchanging a startled glance. "Yeah, I guess it would be…" Alright then, let's make a wish. As impossible as it seems, wish for that stone to be whole again. Wish to see Sheridan and Kasimir back again. Let's begin."
The three siblings held their hand over the stones, closing their eyes and wishing with all their might for the Carnelian to be unbroken. Just above their hands, Rosemary held her own, eyes closed and brows knit as she concentrated her own energy on the tricky words of a spell she had seldom ever used. Unseen by them all, the pile of blood red shards began to glow, increasing in brightness as the spell and energy washed over them.
no subject
Date: 2003-12-02 03:24 pm (UTC)well yeah, but that's a given duckie
no subject
Date: 2003-12-02 03:26 pm (UTC)