Summoned

~`~`~`~`~` ( Author Notes )`~`~`~`~`~

Here’s the next chapter, I’m glad the last one was such a hit. The last few chapters gave me a bit of writers block before since they took a while to write but I feel that theses next few will come out nice and smooth since I have a lot of ideas for some good scenes.

To Amanda88 – Glad you liked it. Good yet so bad was exactly what I was going for ;)

To ShelleDW – I’m so glad you enjoyed those chapters! All those !!! made me happy lol =D

Thanks for all the Reviews, Hits, and Rates!

Enjoy and Please Review!

WARNING: There will be violence and minor character death in this chapter, don’t like violence then don’t read or skip that section.

Note: Story is in Harley’s POV unless stated otherwise in chapters.
“Blah blah” – Normal speech
“Blah blah” – Thought of character
(Blah blah) – Author comments

Chapter 12

-------------------- ( Third Person POV ) --------------------

Slaiden took to the sky, leaving the young woman in his wake. A satisfied half smile formed on his lips as he flew over the streets. “The taste of blood never tasted so sweet.” He thinks to himself as he licks his lips, still able to taste Harley’s blood on his tongue. He is slightly disappointed he couldn’t have some more time with her but he knew he would get his chance eventually. Slaiden pushes back his pleasurable thoughts to focus on the task at hand, locating Steve Crandall.

“Now where did you get to, human? I’m in for some more fun.” Slaiden’s half smile turns into a smirk as he focuses his mind over the district area. He soon senses Crandall a few miles off, still in his car. Slaiden speeds up until he sees Crandall’s car driving ahead. He stills his wings to glide overhead. The freeway below is not too busy for a Friday night. Crandall must be heading home since he merges off the free way and onto a main winding road leading to a hilly area where a few lights can be seen in the distance. The road he is on is deserted, only trees line the area, not a shop of any kind in sight. Slaiden’s eyes flash with an idea.

“Time to shake things up a bit.” Slaiden thinks as he speeds ahead of Crandall’s car. Without hesitating he drops down and lands in a crouch, one fist on the ground for balance, about 20 yards away from the oncoming car. (Think Iron Man style, where I got this idea from) He is in perfect view of the human as he rises up, perfectly composed under the glare of headlights. His ears pick up Crandall’s scream of surprise behind the wheel. With a smirk, Slaiden slams his right fist down on the hood of the car just as it’s within inches of him. The sudden force of impact causes the back of the car to spring forwards, flipping the car completely over Slaiden without any further contact. The car bounces from back end to front end, eventually resting upside down by the momentum. Slaiden senses the man is still alive, possibly with only minor injuries. He turns to view the wrecked car to see any movement. Slight groaning can be heard from inside followed by a few curse words. Suddenly the drivers’ side door pops open and Crandall crawls out. He slowly rises and looks over at Slaiden.

“What the fuck are you? And what the fuck is your problem?” he says, spitting out a wad of blood on the pavement. Blood is trailing from his mouth as well as from a few small cuts on his face, torso, and legs. His face is full of anger, not at all caring about what the creature is in front him.

Slaiden gives a small laugh then narrows his eyes at Crandall. “What I am isn’t important but what is important is that you insulted something of mine.”

“Something of yours? What the fuck are you talking about freak?” Crandall says as he takes a few steps forward, his body tense.

“Although she did put you in your place, quite the fight.” Slaiden says, ignoring Crandall’s question.

“What…you mean Harley Collins? No way that bitch belongs to you.” Crandall says, a slight attitude fills his voice.

Slaiden’s gold eyes flash as this statement. He takes a few steps forward himself as he speaks, “Well she is definitely not yours, she made that very clear.”

“Whatever, I don’t care, have her. If anything I was just looking for a quick bang, not that she’d go for it anyway. Now either you pay for what you fucking did to my car or get your ass kicked, your choice freak.” Crandall says, a pissed off expression clear on his face. He straightens up and takes a few more steps toward the demon, stopping about two feet away.

Slaiden loosens his fingers as he glares at the human across from him. He then smirks, giving another small laugh. “Unfortunately for you human, I’m here to kill you regardless of what took place earlier. Time to die.”

“Not likely, your messing with the wrong guy freak.” Crandall says getting into a fighting stance, showing that he’s not going without a fight.

“Not at all, I know exactly who I’m ‘messing with’” Slaiden comments. Without wasting another second, Slaiden strikes at Crandall, making contact with his face, too fast for human eyes to see. He throws a second punch but this time Crandall doges, barely evading it. Crandall throws a punch of his own but its blocked by Slaiden’s forearm. Crandall pulls back then goes for a kick aimed at Slaiden’s ribs. Slaiden quickly brings his arm down to block the attack. The kick collides with his arm. Slaiden twists his wrist over to grab the out stretched leg. He pulls Crandall towards him then turns his body to face the captured leg, keeping it chest level. Slaiden then takes his free arm and slams his elbow down on the knee. A loud crunch confirms a shattered knee.

“AAHHHHH!!! FFFUUCKKKKK!! YOU FUCKING FREAK! AHHHHH!” Crandall screams in agonizing pain over the serious injury. It’s the most antagonizing pain he has ever felt in his life.

“Music to my ears,” Slaiden says in satisfaction, “But this is for the ‘freak’ comment.” Slaiden then elbows Crandall in face, shutting him up as he falls backwards to the ground.

Crandall lands with a small grunt, his face scrunched up in pain with blood gushing from his nose. He rolls over and tries to stand but collapses due to his shattered knee. Even though he is unable to support his own weight, he keeps trying to stand, wanting to keep fighting his other worldly opponent. “I’m..n-not..err… done…with…ah….ugh..with you…yet.” He says through the pain as he keeps collapsing on all fours.

“I believe you are. You were fun for a while but this match is over human. Like your tournament, you’ve lost. And the penalty is forfeiting your life.” Slaiden replies with amusement lacing his voice.

Crandall’s eyes widen as the demon approaches him, like a black panther stalking his prey, with a dark smirk on his face. Crandall scrambles to get up one last time but fails. He realizes that there is no way to escape. It’s over. A whimper escapes the man’s lips as he tries to back up towards his car. He is too scared to form any words as the demonic creature reaches him. Slaiden stands over him, a bored expression now on his face. “Now you show your true colors as the frightened creature that you really are…..how pathetic.”

Before Crandall can even blink, he is flying through the air and smashes into his damaged car. He lands at a 75˚ angle, mostly supported by the car.

“AAAHHHHHH!!!” he screams on contact. The jagged metal from the wreckage pierces into his back, just slightly right of his spinal cord. His can feel the blood seeping out of his back at an alarming rate. Crandall’s eye lids start to flutter, his consciousness slipping away. He tries to lift his arms to defend his battered body but they hardly get up a few inches. Giving up on his arms, he slowly blinks trying to stay awake. They instantly widen as a gash is made across his chest. Another agonizing scream fills the night air. Blood seeps down to his limp legs onto the pavement. Crandall stares at his opponent, now turned torturer. His vision is getting hazy and blurred. He tries to speak but is too weak to even lift his own tongue.

Soft yet cold laughter is heard in front of him as Slaiden looks at his handy work. “One more should finish him off. I’m impressed that he’s still conscious, if barely.” Slaiden thinks with a dark grin, straightening his hand for another slice. In a flash, another slash is made, crossing over the other in an angled ‘X’ shape.

“AAAHHhhhhhhh……hhh….hh……” Crandall’s pained cry slowly dies as his eyes close. His heart slows in his chest. Then his head goes limp, rolling back to rest against the dented metal of his car. Slaiden doesn’t sense any bit of life left in Crandall’s body. His eyes gleam in satisfaction as he licks his claws clean. “Not as delectable as Harley’s but not bad.”

The sound of moving tires half a mile off reaches Slaiden’s ears. Figuring the bloody scene will soon be discovered, Slaiden extends his wings out, preparing to take flight. Taking one last glace at Crandall’s lifeless form, Slaiden leaps into the awaiting sky.

-------------------- ( Harley’s POV ) --------------------

I stare up at Slaiden’s disappearing form, mentally cursing myself for not being able to stop him for going after Steve. Just the fact of knowing that somewhere, somehow, Steve Crandall was going to be brutally murdered and me powerless to stop it put a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I feel horrible. Even though I dislike Steve with a passion doesn’t mean I wanted to see him dead. To get a taste of his own medicine, sure, I did that myself. But to die at the hands of that demon was not right at all. I sigh and hang my head in defeat. Defeated by a demon that can’t be easily read. I don’t know what his actual intentions are towards me but his last words haunt my thoughts, sending a shiver down my spine. I was lucky he didn’t take things farther but the look in his eyes as he licked my wounds told me he was thinking it. I subconsciously rub my still tender stomach as I walk back to the truck. My dad’s white Silverado is a welcomed sight…or at least it would be if he had given me the keys to unlock it. “Dang, guess I’ll have to wait. I hope he’s calmed down a bit.” I lean against the drivers’ side door and wait for my dad. I’m not waiting long when I see people come out of the building, heading to their cars.

Soon I see my dad and Bill come through the doors. They exchange goodbyes and Bill heads in another direction to his car. My dad walks towards me, his face expressionless. Not a good sign in my opinion. He pulls out his keys and presses the unlocking button. His trucks’ lights flash, signaling it’s unlocked. I walk around to the passenger side, not waiting for him to get to the car. I climb in and wait for him to follow. He reaches the door and opens it. He climbs in without a word and shuts the door. He buckles up and I do the same. He puts the key in ignition and starts the truck. He pulls out and exits the parking lot. Once we are on the main road he lets out a sigh and speaks.

“Bill told me everything.”

“Everything?” I ask, slightly hopeful Bill left out some of the words exchanged.

“Everything.” He says sternly. He looks at me in the corner of his eye as he drives. “Steve said some inappropriate things to you which Bill reacted to. I’m like the fact that he was trying to protect you but his way of handling the situation could’ve been better and he knows that. I am proud that you convinced him not to fight Steve but you shouldn’t have fought him either. Seriously Harley, you shouldn’t let other people’s words get the better of you. What were you thinking, kid?”

He paused so I take this moment to explain. “Dad, it wasn’t his words that provoked me, it was what he did.”

“Oh? What did he do?” My dad’s voice is hard, telling me that he is still unconvinced of the reasons for my actions.

“Remember when Jeff came over to our house a few months back with everyone else to celebrate Jason’s birthday and he was covered in cuts and bruises that he said were caused in a supply carrier accident at work?” I say, looking down at my hands.

“Yeah, why? What does that have to do with this?”

“Steve did that, not a supply carrier accident. Jeff lied to us. He and Jeff apparently crossed paths sometime before that day. Steve said so himself and that he would do it again. Just to get back at me. I know what I did was wrong and not an acceptable way to use my skills but I believe in my heart that I was protecting one of my best friends. I wasn’t going to let Jeff get beat up because of me. I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirroe again if that happened.” I finish with a sigh, still not looking up.

My dad doesn’t say anything for few moments. I notice we are on the freeway again as I look out the window, wanting to be home. I hear my dad sigh again.

“Well I see your reason behind your action, I would probably have done the same if I was in your position. You’re very lucky no one saw you and called the police. I didn’t raise a reckless street fighter…..”

I’m about to comment when he continues. “But apparently I raised a beautiful young woman with a big heart and loyal soul. You always give your best and want to do the right thing. I’m proud that you’re my daughter Harley, your mom and I both. And…..I wish I could’ve seen your fight against Steve, Bill said he’s never seen a better fight.” He says, cracking a smile. I smile back, my eyes getting a little teary from his words. I grab his free hand on the middle compartment between us. He rubs his thumb over my hand and gives a small squeeze.

“Thanks dad. I’m lucky to have such a great parents. You and mom are the best and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He squeezes my hand again then takes back his hand and places it on the steering wheel. A few moments pass in comfortable silence as we drive down the freeway.

“You’re still grounded, you know.”

“Dang it.” I think as I let out an annoyed huff. “Aww, for how long?”

“A week.”

“Really? Just a week?” I ask hopefully.

“Yep, one week of cleaning all the cars, the whole dojo and the house, and weeding out the backyard.” He says in a carefree voice that I know actually means he’s serious.

“Ooohhh, not fair. You know mom is just going to add on top of all that!” I say in a whinny voice that I know he hates.

“Actually we are going to keep this between us. If your mom asks why, just tell her I’m paying you some extra cash. We don’t need her getting worked up again like last week.... By the way, remember to get up early for that funeral service that you are going to.” My mood lightens at hearing his earlier words.

“Thanks dad, that’s fine with me. And don’t worry, I’ll set my alarm for 7:30.” I say, feeling happier now that we had this talk.

“Good, and try to stay out of trouble for a while. I mean it. Are we clear?” he says with in a more serious tone.

“Crystal.” I say with a grin. “If only I could keep that promise.”

-------------------- (Third Person POV ) --------------------

Slaiden landed on the boy’s roof soundlessly. He stands over Jeff’s room and senses the boy inside. Curious as to why the boy is back, Slaiden swings himself in the awaiting open window. Landing softly, he leans against the wall and crosses his arms.

“Back early?” Slaiden says to across the room, with an arched eyebrow. Jeff had his back turned and jumps slightly at the sound of Slaiden’s voice.

“Damn, stop doing that! You’re scary as it is without the sneaking up on people thing.” Jeff says as he pulls a DVD from his shelf. With a more calmer voice, he speaks again, “Any way to answer your question, I only came back to grab a few more movies. I’ll be leaving in a second. How’d it go by the way? Did Steve put up a fight?”

“He did, and not a bad one until I crippled him. He took a while to die though. But what was really interesting was the event I saw earlier, before we fought.” Slaiden answers, purposely wanting to get the boy interested.

“Oh? What happened? That girl show up again?” Jeff asks as he turns around to face Slaiden.

“She was. She knew the target actually. Although, she wasn’t too fond of him. They even fought each other.”

“Really? Why?” Jeff’s brows furrow in question.

“They were at a Martial Arts Tournament where I found them outside. She was stopping an older man, a friend of hers, from fighting Crandall. Apparently the target had insulted her. She convinced the man to back down and they almost walked away when Crandall said something to make her stop dead in her tracks. Something I found quite intriguing.” Slaiden says with a smirk.

“What was it?” Jeff asks with a hint of confusion, not sure where this is going.

“He mentions you.” He says simply.

“Me?! Why the hell would he do that?”

“About going after you again from what I take it relates to your earlier story. This got a strong reaction out of her which leads me to conclude that she knows you. And not only that but she is close to you.”

“Oh no, it can’t be.” Jeff’s face begins to pale as recognition sets in. The sight of his expression only fuels Slaiden to continue, clearly amused by this new development.

“It’s at this point where I also learn her identity, right before she fights to defend you.”

“Oh God, please don’t say it!”

“Her name is…” Slaiden pauses to purposely draw out the suspension, enjoying the mental torture his human summoner is experiencing.

“Stop! It can’t be true! No!”

“Harley Collins.”

~`~`~`~`~` ( Author Notes ) `~`~`~`~`~

Jeff knows it’s Harley now. Wonder how he will react to this new information and the fact that Slaiden is asking for her as the price. Tune in next time for Chapter 13! An unlucky number for a reason. ;)

Look for another update either tomorrow or late Thursday night, I’ll be gone the majority of that day so this could change.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and Please Review! :D