When Darkness Fall

Beginning the Investigation Part 1

Jerald was aggrieved for Dianna. She practically begged him to go back for Patrina and now was dead. He knew something was definitely wrong with her family relationship and now it was time for him to find out what it was.

Numerous events repeatedly occur in the surrounding the mountains where Dianna's family resided and none of them were beneficial to Demons or the Demonics' powers most Demons possessed. Exception included black magic that Black Witches used to resurrect damned spirits from the Underworld and this was the only exception that truly concerned Jerald. 

                   1 Corinthians 10;20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles

                                                        sacrifice to devils and not the God: and I 

                                                        would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 

Jerald remembered the text clearly when he was a living human and not the current Demon he is now. Of course, a catholic bred child as himself knew that demons were something to be feared and never once thought to become a demon of his own free will. He felt conflicted when he was human because he wanted to believe living with super naturals was something human would have to be accustomed to their presence especially since they were always so open about their existence. Then, during those restless days and nights, demons were part of everyday life and wanted to live. He never expected the things he went through for the first 200 hundred years of his life. 

In fact, some nights it was painful to breathe and unbearable to be around people who often committed some type of sin. It was always pouring from their pores like water from a faucet and it attracted his Demonics for cleansing. The type of cleansing that Demon Jerald did was excruciating for the person he would purify and just as painful for him. 

The cleansing ritual was almost like he was ripping the flesh of the person to grab their very soul and then it was like he was forcing himself to make it part of his own body.  At first, after 100 years, he was used to cleansing those spirits. His demonic transformation did not kill his body be cause for some reason his body slowly became one with the Demonic powers he absorbed from Dia and made it his own. He learned lately the reasons why Dia was dying from her powers that overflowed from her body and weakened her physical form. Apparently, when Jerald and The Grandmother released Dia’s power from her body that was going to kill her, they also released an evil spirit that she was holding with her Demonic core.

As per Jerald’s’ punishment from the Celestial and Diablo Hades, He would forcibly become a full blood Demon that ushers the dead for eternity, cleanse the impurities of the humans, and those impurities would be like his own. Jerald was not distressed from those remedial punishments, but his inability to speak to Dia’s reincarnation without ever revealing who he himself was, was the most mortifying punishment of all and he didn’t think he would be able to maintain a façade of knowing his love would not know him or that he would have to find a way to make her fall in love with him, he was happy he could love her again non the less.

That love he was searching for was here with him now and she was looking pale from the loss of her precious little sister. Dianna plump cheeks and eyes were swollen from non-stop crying she had been doing since they left the carnival. She fisted all her rage into walls and shifted into her Feral Bear near the forest. Thankfully the forest was near the house they currently resided in. Ashrina and Serene were always near her even in her Beast forms but kept enough distance to not alert her Feral Bear that ripped trees from their roots and fisted the ground like it was a punching bag made of paper.

The rage from the Feral Bear could be heard and her cries felt like knives in Jerald’s heart. He could feel all her love and grief that was like the pressure in his Demonic core when he purifies humans. He could only wait for her to return. The research on the incident surrounding Patrina’s death was his priority and he was certain he knew where and how to begin his search. Alcanan. The man with mystery seeping from him at every turn and what was he thinking when he endangered Patrina like that.

The call to his special investigator in Hades was not hard to contact.

“I need you for an investigation. There is problem to solve and needs immediate attention.” Jerald spoke directly to Demon Hera and did not give her time to refuse him.

“Scout the Mountains in Oregon. Specifically, Bear Mountain, as the Celestials call it. There is a lake, forest and 2 mountains. Search every inch and corner. The trees and leaves move the wrong way You immediately report to me.” Hera cut the communication locks that Galena made and readied a portal to Oregon as instructed.

Demon Hera was known for many things in Diablos Den, and they were disturbingly detailed and accurate. Her body was bewitching. Something fitting of a succubus or snake Demon. Face lush with color, reddish hair to her waistline legs and arms of an athlete and not the bulky man kind either. She was gorgeous and wickedly sinful. She wanted to do things in the human world fitting of a Demon but Jerald’s orders were concise, specific and very direct. This was part of her dreadful punishment for losing to him and pledged an oath not to disobey any order he would give.

The two met so many decades ago that she couldn’t even remember the reason they had fought, and she lost. It was ridiculous for Hera, a pure-bred Demon, to lose to a half-baked Demon like Jerald. But it did not stop her from continuing her dedication and devotion to this Demon. She was long past his dominance over and he became the only master she would recognize. Well now all she needed to decide was whether she would find a potential human to possess or stay in her Demon form and using the human transformation to hide her claws, horn and scaly tail. She couldn’t risk using too much energy before completing the task given.

Hera decided to wear oversized hoody and baggy pants. The heat in Diablos Den (or Hades as some like to call it) always made her feel comfortable and the Human world felt cold even when it was summer. Groggy and tired from walking the portal, Hera trekked her way to the supposed location that Jerald wanted investigated. On the surface it looked fine scenery was beautiful. However, Hera knew Jerald’s suspicions were justified because Hera demonic senses were drawn to the place and made her hungry for flesh. She decided against possession and used a human form that was physically taxing but didn’t take much energy.

Meanwhile Jerald figured it was best to gather all his courage and venture into the forest that Dianna disappeared into with her Feral Beast form and sent Serene and Ashrina to prepare for them to leave for Bear Mountain.

Jerald followed the Feral Bear tracks deep into the forest. Normally, the trees were bustling from the soft breeze of the wind and wildlife linger in the moist soil that was as plush as cotton pillows. Dianna’s Feral Bear ripped the peace from the forest and tore the beauty from this lush forest that looked like a warzone. Pine trees were ripped from their roots and the grass was pummeled from the rage and sadness that Dianna was feeling from her sister’s death.

Slowly Jerald walked at a pace through the forest to Dianna or where he assumed her Feral Bear was finished rampaging through. As he found the clearing, Jerald paused and noticed that she had already shifted into her Minx form. Beautiful, yet sad and peaceful. She was sleep near a river and her fur was soaked from the tears she had been crying since she entered the forest.

Dianna lavender scent was alluring and calming. Jerald slowly took off the throw blanket he carried and wrapped the Minx warmly until she shifted into her human form. She was beautiful but sad. He stroked her lush hair and carried her back to the house. He wished he had listened to her the first moment she spoke about Patrina safety and brought her back with them. Of course, he knew it would have been an uphill battle as she was under 18 and her mother may have not wanted her to leave. Dianna being happy was his priority and so going back for Patrina should have been number 1 of his thing to do. Unfortunately, its too late and now her only sibling is gone.

Dianna stirred only a little bit as the pair cleared the forest, something dark clouded the house where they were currently staying. Ashrina and Serene were passed out near the front door. He assumed they were unable to get everything ready as none of their luggage was nearby. Slowly he walked up the steps and placed Dianna sleeping body on the porch in a lawn chair.

Jerald stepped back from Dianna Ashrina and Serene. Inhale, exhale, inhale and exhale. Then he pinched his nose. What an annoyance Galena is when she was around… He placed his against his forehead. The last thing he needed was her abrupt interruptions in his plans with his beloved.

Calmly, Jerald slowly released his Demonic Aura, mixed his aura with the power Galena surrounded the house with, mixing the 2 completely separate auras and forcefully pulled them back into his own Demonic core. He felt dizzy and needle pricks all over his body but soon his was fine, yet he knew he was fine. The effects of Galena’s artificial aura affected those without Demonics but Jerald shook it off like a bad cold and began to yell out.

“Galena!!!! Come here now!!”