Chapter 2 - The Gathering (Part 2)

This is the second chapter of the book.

As Kenan Johnston and his beloved wife Elysia were eating lunch with their nine-year-old son Barry and nine-year-old daughter Everette, he heard the doorbell rang. Without question, Kenan grabbed his phone to see who it was through the doorbell camera. Kenan smiled when he noticed it was his older brother Kel at the door. Without thinking, Kenan answered the door and said, “Hey younger brother.” said Kel. “What’s happening?” said Kenan. “I apologize for this.” said Kel. “For what? Say what’s behind your back?” said Kenan. “Again. I apologize for this.” said Kel as he pulled out a dagger and stabbed Kenan right into his arm. “Hey!! What the…?” said Kenan as he fell back onto the floor. “Hey, what is going on?” said Elysia as she headed over to the front door and gasped as she saw her husband’s arm bleeding. “Elysia, I am sorry.” said Kel. “Kel, what are you doing?” said Elysia as her eyes glowed red, rushed at Kel, grabbed him by his neck and pushed him against the wall. “Babe wait. Let him go.” said Kenan. “What?” said Elysia. “I said let him go.” said Kenan. “Okay but why. He just stabbed you.” said Elysia. “Daddy, what’s going on?” said Everette as she headed over to the front door. “Everette go back to the table and keep eating with your brother. Mommy and I are having a chat with your uncle Kel.” said Kenan. “Okay daddy.” said Everette as she obeyed her father. “Okay now baby, let Kel go. Someone or something made him do this.” said Kenan. “Now that you think about it you may be right. I can’t sense any demon presence in his body. I will do as you said hubby.” said Elysia as she Kel from her grip. Kel landed on his knees and coughed to catch his breath. And with that, Elysia made Kel stand up and sat him on the living room couch. Kenan got up to his feet, closed the door and sat down on a chair facing Kel. “Okay older brother, you owe me answer.” said Kenan. “Again, I am sorry.” said Kel as he shed tears. “We know you’re sorry because you did this. Who or what ordered you to do this?” said Elysia. “Some group of demons ordered me to stab Kenan with that knife.” said Kel. “Why?” said Kenan. “Because they would have killed Tariq if I didn’t.” said Kel. “Wait. Tariq has been kidnapped?” said Kenan. “Yes.” said Kel. “Another question. That knife is cursed. Isn’t it?” said Kenan. “Yes.” said Kel. “Do you have any idea where she is?” said Kenan. “Yes. She’s been taken to a s**t at the Boston Harbor on Black Falcon Drive.” said Kel. “Okay. I am going there right now.” said Kenan as he got to his feet and headed for the closet. Kenan then grabbed his white suit, headed to the bathroom, treated his wound and changed his clothes. “Honey, you have just been stabbed by a cursed blade. You have no idea what it will do to you.” said Elysia. “Younger brother. How about I go with you?” said Kel. “Let me ask you another question. Have you been able to master that speed running training you been working on?” said Kenan. “Honestly I haven’t been able to ever since I lost it.” said Kel. “Then unfortunately I don’t think you should come with me. You can risk yourself being injured. I can’t allow that.” said Kenan. “Alright.” said Kel. Kenan grabbed the cursed knife off the floor and said, “And I know about the risks Elysia, but I still can’t just sit here are let Tariq go through torment. I am going. I will save her.” “Okay but you’re not going alone. I am coming with you then.” said Elysia. “No. You must stay and protect the kids.” said Kenan. “But…,” said Elysia. “I will call your parents and your brother. They’ll meet me there.” said Kenan as he kissed Elysia. And with that, Kenan grabbed his phone, called for a rideshare to take him to the harbor. During his trip, Kenan called his in-laws as promised and told them everything that happened. In less than a half hour later Kenan met up with Astaroth, Kafziel and Byleth. Kenan’s unicorn Priscilla was there as well. At the destination, there was a large cruise ship parked in the river just as Kel told Kenan. “Kenan. Are you alright?” said Kafziel. “I’ll be fine Kafz. Anyway, thank you all for coming.” said Kenan. “Anytime to help a family member. Also, I’m willing to save my apprentice.” said Astaroth. “Right.” said Kenan. “So, what’s the plan Kenan?” said Byleth. “The only plan I have is to storm the ship head on and to save Tariq.” said Kenan. “Sounds like a good plan. I’m sure we can take them like we did that Shakin.” said Byleth. “Okay. Let’s go everyone. Priscilla, you stay here.” said Kenan as he led his family to the front entrance of the ship. At that entrance there was a group of demons waiting for them. Those demons were in their human forms. “We knew you would come.” said one of the demons. “Spare me the bullshit. Tell us where Tariq is and we will let you go.” said Kenan. “You’re in no position to be making demands. You want to know where she is then you must beat it out of us.” said the demon as he and his allies transformed. At an instant, Astaroth, Kafziel and Byleth transformed as well. With his in-laws’ help, Kenan defeated the demons guarding the ship. They spared only the one that spoke with Kenan. “I guess you’re ready to tell us now.” said Kenan. “Yes. Yes. I’ll f*****g tell you. She’s in the brig. You might know that but an even larger horde of us await you inside.” said the demon. “Thank you.” said Kenan as he punched the demon in the face knocking him out. “Nice blow Kenan.” said Kafziel. “Thanks, Kafz. Anyway, we must save Tariq. Let’s go.” said Kenan as he led his family into the ship. As Kenan walked into the vessel, he noticed that his hand had been scratched. He quietly gasped at the of his own blood leaking from the wound. Instead of red, it was black. To ignore this, Kenan reverted his focus back on the demons that charged him and his family. The family defeated every single enemy until they reached where Tariq was. Tariq was sitting in a tied up while being heavily guarded by more demons. “Listen. We’re only going to say this once. Let Tariq go an we will spare your lives.” said Astaroth. “What will you do when we say ‘no’?” said one of the demons. At an instant, Astaroth sped over to that demon, grabbed his head and crushed it. “We’ll show you.” said Kenan. “Like we’re going to just surrender.” said another demon as she and her allies transformed and charged into battle. It didn’t take long for Kenan and the others to defeat Tariq’s captors. Tariq smiled, knowing that she had been saved. “Thank you all for saving me.” said Tariq. “Of course.” said Astaroth as he untied his apprentice. “Tariq, can you tell us why they wanted to kidnap you?” said Kenan. “They wanted me to give you a message, but I said I’m not doing it.” said Tariq. “What message is that?” said Kenan. “Satan has Michael Wheeler. She wants you to come to the Prudential Tower if you want to save him.” said Tariq. “What? Michael’s been kidnapped?” said Kenan. “Yes.” said Tariq. “We have no time to waste. We must save Michael. To the Prudential Tower.” said Kenan. And with that, Kenan and the others headed for the exit of the ship. As Kenan tried to leave, he felt an intense pain in his stomach making him fall to his knees. “Kenan. What’s wrong?” said Kafziel. “Kafz don’t come any close to me.” said Kenan. “Oh no. Kel must have stabbed you with that cursed blade. That explains the black blood.” said Tariq. “Yes. The curse is getting worse. I can feel myself changing.” said Kenan as a surge of power engulfed his body. “Kenan.” said Kafziel as she took a step towards Kenan. Astaroth grabbed Kafziel’s arm and said, “No. As he said don’t come any closer.” “Kenan. Hang in there. You can do it. You’ve survived so many endeavors. You can beat this too.” said Kafziel. Kenan screamed louder as his body transformed itself into a demon. As he heard Kafziel’s words, he tried with all his might to use his time magic on himself to revert to his human form. In a matter of minutes, Kenan successfully changed back and fell face down on the ground. “Kenan!!” said Astaroth and the others as they carried Kenan out of the ship. Less than a half hour later, Kenan woke up on Priscilla’s back. “What the hell happened?” said Kenan. “Kenan. You’re awake. Are you alright?” said Kafziel. “I am. The last thing I remember was this serious pain in my body.” said Kenan. “You transformed into a demon.” said Kafziel. “A demon?” said Kenan. “Yes. I apologize. This happened because of me.” said Tariq. “It’s not your fault. Kel only stabbed with that knife because he loves you so much, he’s willing to do anything. Even this.” said Kenan. “You are the most forgiving person I’ve met Kenan. You even forgave me for lying to you.” said Kafziel. “You had the chance to destroy a piece of my soul, and you didn’t.” said Astaroth. “Exactly.” said Kenan. “Anyway, what are we going to do?” said Byleth. “As I’ve said before, we’re going to the Prudential Tower to save Michael Wheeler.” said Kenan. “What are you going to do about that curse?” said Kafziel. “I might as well use it against Satan.” said Kenan. “Okay but when this is over you better tell Elysia this.” said Kafziel. “I will.” said Kenan. And with that, Kenan and his in-laws left the Boston Harbor and headed for the Prudential Tower on Boylston Street. On the roof of the skyscraper, Satan waited there for the gathering of her enemies.