Summoned

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

Well after settling in and no more wild nights, I finally have some time to kick off the next chapter that I know you all have been patiently waiting for. I had this one planned since last update so this should go smoothly but also slowly due to the limited writing time that I have…..and without the roomies peeking over my shoulder, haha.

Thanks for all the Reviews, Hits, and Rates (130 Yay!)!

Enjoy and Please Review or leave feedback in the forums!

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 35

“Meow…..”

“…Wha?...Meow?...ugh…”

“…..meow…”

“…….Ok, definitely a meow…..Cal doesn’t have a cat, I don’t think…..ugh just go back to sleep...”

*SCRATCH* *SCRATCH*

“Ok…I’m up!” I open my eyes at the sound of claws on wood, the wooden door to be exact. I blink the sleep away and sit up slowly. I focus my eyes on the blanket then look around. Everything is the way it should be in Cal’s room but something is off besides the mysterious noises. While nothing is different, an odd, unexplainable feeling lingers inside me.

*SCRATCH* *SCRATCH*

There it is again, the scratching.

I look over at the closed door and immediately figure out what is off. I’m dreaming once again. The pale red glow coming from under the door confirms it. I can even make out a small shadow on the other side, my feline midnight visitor no less. “Ok Harley, you’re obviously dreaming. Time to get through it like the others…this is probably the same cat that I was hearing echo through the graveyard.” I think as I pull the blanket off and get out of the bed. I slowly walk over to the door, unsure of what to expect. As soon as my fingers touch the knob, the shadow on the other side moves away.

I open the door cautiously peeking my head around before fully opening it. It’s dark in the small hallway. The pale red light is coming from around the corner, near the main door just out of my sight. The small shadow is as well but I can make out the distinct shape a cat. Swallowing hard, I step into the hallway and face the main room. No sign of Gavin or Cal which makes me truly believe that this is another strange dream. One related to Slaiden and his summoner.

“Meow.”

The cat is once again trying to get my attention, wanting me to come to it. Since I have no other choice I walk through the kitchen and into the main room. I look over to the apartment door and see a decent sized house cat staring at me, a black cat, one with yellow eyes. It instantly reminds me of Slaiden. The midnight colored fur and glowing goldish yellow eyes match his hair and eyes perfectly. Too perfectly.

“Um…hi kitty?...” I whisper, unsure of what to expect.

The cat just blinks up at me, tilting his head.

I meet its eyes and am taken aback. They show intelligence behind them. Way too intelligent for a normal cat. But then again this isn’t a normal dream. The fact that these inquisitive yellow eyes staring back at me make me have to ask, no matter how ridiculous it may seem.

“Uh…you’re not related to a demon named Slaiden in any way are you?” I ask with a small laugh of uneasiness.

The cat hisses and swipes a paw in the air as a response, not at all happy at my question.

“Ok, ok! Sorry kitty!...sooo…who are you?” I say with hands raised in apology, meaning no harm or offense. “Look at me, apologizing to a cat…an imaginary cat…..that’s it, I’ve gone crazy.”

The cat’s eyes narrow, as if annoyed at my simple question. It just turns its head around to look at Cal’s apartment door then back at me expectantly. Even if imaginary, it doesn’t seem to be able to talk but it’s not needed. It wants me to open the door.

Swallowing hard once more, I walk over to the cat and the door. The creepy cat watches my every move as I hesitantly reach for the door knob. As I wrap my fingers around to grasp it the cat stands up and turns to face the door as well. Giving it a brief glance, only to see it staring up in waiting, I turn the handle and pull it open, not sure if I will be staring into a red abyss or the normal shady hallway. I soon get my answer.

Instead of a deadly red abyss or Cal’s apartment buildings’ hallway, I’m greeted to the same graveyard that was in my backyard the last two times. The chill air instantly makes me shiver again wishing Cal had given me warmer clothing to wear and more decent ones at that. I can tell it’s the same because despite the heavy fog I can make out the shape of the horrible crypt in the far off distance. But despite the chilling air and uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach I take a step in that direction but the cat suddenly darts between my legs and goes off in the opposite direction, away from the crypt. It goes a few yards away then looks back at me over its shoulder with its intelligent, almost human like eyes telling me to follow. Feeling a bit of relief to not be going back to the scary crypt which is no doubt home to more lost souls, I follow my new mysterious feline friend.

We walk through the horror movie-esc graveyard, passing cracked and moss covered headstones. The cat walks a few feet ahead of me, occasionally looking back at me as if to make sure I’m still coming. The ground is cold and hard on my bare feet but I keep going, curious to see where we are going. We walk for about ten minutes, well away from the apartment door that we came from. We are deep in the cemetery now. I couldn’t even see the crypt or even the apartment for that matter, the fog hardly the problem. The cat takes a sharp turn to the right, weaving around several trees. I follow, almost tripping several times over raised roots. I run to catch up as the cat swiftly moves through the wooded area. Suddenly it comes to a stop in a small clearing up ahead. Mr. Cat looks back at me with his intelligent eyes, telling me we are here. I decide the cat is male since its eyes strike me to be male. How I came to the realization of that, I’m not sure but somehow I just know that he’s a Mr. Cat and not a Ms. Kitty.

I stop next to the cat to get a better look at where he brought me. The clearing is of course another section of the cemetery but with one noticeable difference. There are 20 something graves ahead of me but I have an eerie feeling that the actual total is 21. Not only that but each decrepit grave has a demonic gargoyle made of stone wrapped around it in a menacing manor. I step into the clearing to get a better look and can see that some are perched on the tops with snarls while others are wrapped around the headstones digging their inanimate claws and teeth into the stones. Some even appear to be trying to split the headstones in half as twisted, evil smiles are worn on their ugly faces. Even if they are just gargoyles and not actual demonic creatures, their effect is no less frightening. It’s as if their purpose it to taunt and torment the dead laid to rest in the ground beneath them.

I take a few steps closer to try to read the names on the gravestones. Mr. Cat comes to join me as well. We look at the graves before us, placed neatly in rows of five. As I study the first one, the name is revealed to be Jackson Palori. Under his name is a date. The date he died. The date Slaiden killed him. His gargoyle is one that is sinking its stone claws into the edges of the headstone with a sickening grin. I frown at this, creeped out at the disturbing sight. I move on to the next one. I don’t recognize the name but I assume it’s one of the gang members. The date below confirms this. I go down the line and into the second row passing unfamiliar names of several men and one woman. I’m now completely sure that it’s the gang slaughter that I witnessed the night of the concert. The night I first saw Slaiden and hid in the dumpster. Another shiver goes through me but not from the air this time but from the memory. Shaking it off, I continue down the line with Mr. Cat in tow.

As expected I find Mark Hanson’s grave next. His gargoyle is perched menacingly at the curved top edge, snarling in a revolting manner that shows off all of its pointed teeth. Next to his is Jeanette’s which is followed by Steve’s. Then Dave Manning and his men continue into the fourth row. Don is next then Reed’s then an unfamiliar name. I know it must be the name of the motorcyclist, a Derek Evens. I then go into the last row which only has two graves.

“Wait a minute, two?” Confusion crosses my face as I turn around and start counting headstones.

Twenty-two.

There are Twenty-two graves, not twenty-one like I know there should be.

“There should only be one right? That’s Phil’s. Gavin didn’t die so why is there two?” I wonder as I look down at the cat that brought me here. He must know why since he is my apparent spirit guide. Regardless of how ridiculous I feel of talking to a cat, I ask my wise animal friend. “There’s another grave. No one else died last night beside two so what does that mean?”

Mr. Cat’s eyes flash in understanding. He goes over to the other grave and lifts a black paw to rest on the hard surface. He looks back at me then to the grave, telling me to come read it since he cannot. Nodding in understanding I go over to it and kneel behind that cat to get a better view. The gargoyle’s claws are on the front side of the headstone close enough to where it appears to be touching the writing. Peering closer it is as if the gargoyle had just finished etching the name into the stone itself. I read the name and stager away on my hands and feet from the horrifying sight.

“NO! No No No! He’s alive! Damn it, I know he is!” My mind screams in shock.

The name staring back at me is Zack Tambil.

I know Zack has to be safe. Slaiden made no comment of there being another target that night. Phil and Zack were both at the party and he went after Phil instead. Unless after dealing with me he could’ve gone after Zack. Zack could be lying face down in a ditch somewhere for all I know. I run all the possible scenarios though my head of where Zack could be.

“Meow.”

“What if…huh?” I’m broken from my frantic thinking by Mr. Cat wanting my attention. I look over at him still in the same position, looking at me with those striking yellow gold eyes that seem to glow in the night. He inclines his head to the grave then looks at me in the corner of his eye.

“What? Zack dead, is that what your telling me? I figured that one out for myself.” I say half heartedly, not sure what the point is.

“Grrr…” Mr. Cat gives a soft growl as if in annoyance. His eyes appear to narrow as well which just adds to the assumption. He inclines his head once more pointing at the headstone. Getting the hint that there is something I missed, I crawl back towards him across the hard yet hallowed ground. I stop next to him and stare at what his paw is resting at. There is nothing else there.

I give a huff in annoyance, not at all getting his point now. “What?” I ask Mr. Cat, “There is nothing else there. See? Nothing. What is it you’re trying to say?”

“Hisss…” Mr. Cat responds, not at all liking my attitude.

He swipes his paw over the spot again, empathizing that there is something more that I’m not seeing. His ears flatten against his head showing me that he is pissed off at my obliviousness. But in my defense, who could really blame me. After all he can’t talk so how can I fully understand what he’s trying to tell me. Mr. Cat hisses once more so I look again with more focus, trying to see what he sees.

I look once more at the area his paw is at then at Zack’s name. I look between the two several times, still not seeing it. The paw then moves upward over Zack’s name then down again to its original spot. I follow it with my eyes then retrace it over in my mind. Suddenly my eyes widen in realization. There’s no date. No date like the others. Zack is still alive!

I look down at Mr. Cat in bewilderment. “There’s no date? You mean Zack’s alive? That Slaiden hasn’t killed him yet?”

Mr. Cat nods, his features softening in satisfaction even though his eyes remain intense. He gazes at the grave then at me, expecting something more. He wants me to see another connection. I think for a moment at what this all means. I get that Zack is not dead but the fact that he has a grave in my imaginary cemetery informs me that he is going to die. That he is next on the list. My eyes widen as the pieces of the puzzle all snap into place.

Zack is next on the list.

Zack is LAST on the list.

I look to Mr. Cat, not needing to voice my conclusion. His sharp gaze tells me that I’m correct. “So if Zack is last on the list, who is the summoner?” I ask as I rise, hoping my Blue’s Clues like partner may be of more assistance. “Can you tell me?”

But my question never gets answered because with those words, my eyes snap open, waking me from my deep sleep. I shoot up in Cal’s bed, shocked over what my subconscious just told me. I take a few seconds to calm my erratic heartbeat then glance at the small alarm clock on the floor. I’ve only been out for about an hour.

A feint light coming from the other end of the room catches my attention. The light is coming from the crack under the door. Cal and Gavin are on the other side, confirming that I’m actually awake. I stare at it for a few seconds only to see it go out. The men are going to bed. Figuring I should as well, I lay back down. I snuggle into the blanket and close my eyes, leaving all what I’ve learned behind me for the night. It can wait until the morning. Within seconds I’m asleep again.

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

( Meanwhile )

Slaiden was just getting back to Jeff’s home after flying around aimlessly the past hour in the attempt to extinguish his ever flaring temper. While feeling he had ended the night the victor, he had not felt as satisfied as he had wished. He still felt the humans had bested him despite the fact that he completed the job and got to punish a certain challenging female. While humiliating Harley, he felt she got off easy since a punishment given out by the demon lord usually entailed night long torture and a lot more blood. He had wanted to go further, to make her truly know who the one in control was, who her master is because very soon she would be his completely.

Even though he had left her beaten and stranded, Slaiden felt it hadn’t been enough compared to the humiliation she and that damn detective caused him. Even the detective had gotten off lightly, if he survived or not. Slaiden would have preferred to have ripped out his throat but a slow painful death would have to do since his prey had been getting away. If he did survive then Slaiden would see to it that he didn’t the next time.

Dwelling on this had taken Slaiden to the edge of the city, where the state ends and a large body of water begins. Seeing this only reignited his burning temper which at that point had begun to dissipate. The memory of the demon being submerged into the water by the hands of the detective brought back all the earlier rage he had gotten rid of. Needing to once again calm himself, Slaiden turned back and headed to the nearest heavily wooded area. He needed release, release that would only come if his claws were covered in blood of whatever lowly unfortunate creature crossed his path.

Flying over the trees he had sensed a deer not too far off. Feeling the need for actual meat and not that processed garbage the boy sometimes brought up to him, Slaiden acted swiftly. The doe never saw him coming as his claws ripped into her neck. He gave in to his demonic nature and tore the limbs off of the animal. He sank his teeth into the warm flesh of leg, savoring the taste of the meat as it hit his tongue. As he ate his freshly killed meal, he couldn’t help but smirk at the irony of tonight. Never having been one to let his emotions rule his actions in the demon world but there he was on the forest floor in the human realm, taking out his rage on an innocent deer like a youngling who couldn’t have his way. He could not recall the last time he had acted in such a manner, even in his childhood. Despite the initial feeling to be disgusted with himself, Slaiden had found himself enjoying the small liberty even if it was brought on by a couple of troublesome humans.

After consuming a good portion of his kill, Slaiden had left the remains to be picked over by the neighboring scavengers. The small act had done its job at diminishing his rage so he went back to his young summoner’s house feeling mildly annoyed instead of seething anger. So now the house was coming into his view and the boy was still not back yet from the party. This was just fine with Slaiden since he was not in the mood to deal with the spineless young man at the moment, or at any moment for that matter. The demon lord couldn’t wait to end this deal and get back to his life. His bed would be a much more comforting sight then this roof that he just landed on, especially when a spit fire of a young woman will be in it.

Getting comfortable, Slaiden lays down with his hands under his head as he closes his eyes. He begins to relax when a soft growl reaches his ears coming from behind him. He raises himself up and looks over his shoulder to see a black cat perched on the top of the roof staring at Slaiden with bright yellow eyes.

Slaiden gives a growl in annoyance at the intruding feline, wanting to scare the offending creature away. He knew the animal had been nearby but was not expecting it to be so bold to investigate his presence. The midnight cat did not back down though, instead he gave another growl only with more edge in attempt to intimidate the strange demon. Slaiden narrowed his eyes at the territorial feline, studying the creature that was determined to be the more dominant being. When their nearly identical eyes lock, Slaiden knows that this is not a normal creature of this world.

“Ah, this is intriguing.” Slaiden thinks as he fully raises himself to stand and fully face the agitated animal. Putting his assumption to the test, he addresses it with a knowing smirk. “Ever hear the saying, ‘Curiosity killed that cat’?”

Hearing this, the cat instantly stills. It’s cold yellow eye narrow as he meets Slaiden in the eye, confirming that it understands his words. The intelligence behind its sharp eyes is unmistakable.

Smirking wider to expose a fang, Slaiden addresses it further. “I myself was curious about you. After hearing what Dendre did to you as revenge over three hundred years ago, I was wondering if you would seek another of our kind out. I cannot undo what another has done to you though, one must live with their mistakes, especially when dealing with demons, beast.”

The cat that was once human gives a hiss in response, unhappy with Slaiden’s comments.

“Salem was it? I am Slaiden, one of the four demon lords. If I understand you’re a little far from home…Then again, when one is cursed to walk these lands forever, one is bound to get around.” Slaiden mocks, enjoying this new source on entertainment.

The cat once known as Salem gives what could be considered a look of disdain as he sits straight, tail twitching.

“Unlike Dendre,” Slaiden continues, “I would have just ended your pathetic life. But Dendre does have a certain unique humor that some are unfortunate to be on the other end of. Shame really if I recall. You’re first summoning for revenge goes so well with Tilberg that you decide to summon another for world domination. You even wrote a book about it, you idiotic human…or cat in this case.”

Salem growls at this, swiping a clawed paw in his direction. His bright eyes are dilated into slits, anger radiating off of him from the demon’s mocking words.

“But I am not done yet little cat.” Slaiden continues with a cold laugh. “You were willing to give up your up ex lover as payment only to have her discover what was going on before your plans were complete. So to make sure you did not succeed, she takes her own life to spite you even further than before. The only thing worse than a woman scorned is a deranged demon. You were unfortunate to encounter both.”

This sets off Salem. He lunges at Slaiden, propelling his lean feline body at the demon’s face. Slaiden meets the challenging cat by shooting out his arm, catching Salem by his small, furry throat. Slaiden gives another dark laugh as the cat struggles, clawing at his wrist. The cat breaks skin but Slaiden ignores the offense, not even flinching at the sharp sting. Soon Salem stops, knowing his attempts are futile.

“Did I strike a nerve? Bring back painful and humiliating memories? Was it painful to watch all whom you love die around you year after year?” Slaiden asks sarcastically as he keeps a firm grip on his feline adversary. “How sad. But enough of your miserable past, how about informing me as to why you sought me out…besides wanting to be a man again.”

Even though he can’t explain his reasons, which they both know, Salem’s feline eyes tell enough of a story for Slaiden to figure it out. The guilty conscious is a universal emotion to every species no matter what the intelligence level. Guilt and disdain are clearly shown in the golden down casted eyes.

“I see. You do not want the boy to succeed. You want to interfere so no other human knows the pain and regret that you have to live with.” Slaiden says seriously, knowing exactly what the cursed being intends.

A hard, cold look from Salem is all Slaiden receives in response.

“You may be immortal, unable to die by the hand of another, only until the very end of the world itself but you are powerless to stop what is to occur. The deal will be complete and I will receive my payment that you can be sure of. So you might as well find a nice seat to watch the events unfold because that is all you will be able to do.” Slaiden explains with venom lacing his voice. His words are sharp and to the point. Completely true, a fact that both males know but one is unable to admit.

Seeing the defeated look in the black cat’s eyes Slaiden releases his hold, tossing Salem away from him. The cat lands on his feet expectantly and stares back at Slaiden, his gold eyes surging with emotion not common in a normal animal. The two hold each other’s gaze for a moment but is eventually broken by the cat. He silently turns his back to the demon and skillfully walks the narrow roof to the edge. He spares one last glance at the demon, his eyes full of disdain as well as regret. Then he leaps off of the roof top, landing on a nearby tree branch. He leaps onto the ground and runs off, disappearing into the night.

Not a moment after a car turns onto the street with the boy as one of the passengers. Slaiden lowers himself as the car pulls up the driveway of the house. The young man gets out, bidding his friends good night and walks to the entrance. The car pulls away as the Jeff enters his home. Slaiden doesn’t have to wait long for the boy to come up to his room, opening his window for Slaiden to enter. In a slightly better mood then before, Slaiden decides to grace the boy with his presence. Swiftly leaping into the room, Slaiden faces the tired human. Jeff is the first to speak.

“I didn’t see much after Harley and Phil got away but you being here means that Phil’s dead. You make it sound that you’re in control all the time but it looked like to me that Harley and that cop got the better of you tonight.” Jeff says seriously, not too impressed with the display that he managed to catch.

Slaiden gives out a threatening growl, his earlier anger beginning to return due to the boy’s unpleasant words. His face is stoic as he stares the boy down. This action immediately strikes fear into Jeff, realizing that Slaiden isn’t too happy about how the night played out.

“What have I told you about that mouth, you damn boy?” Slaiden growls out as he takes a threatening step closer. “They may have tricked me earlier but they all were dealt with properly for it. The boy is dead, the detective is at least hanging onto life if not dead and as for Harley…She now knows not to ever cross me again.”

Jeff waits a moment before commenting, working up the nerve. “She’s still going to try to fight you.”

Slaiden actually smirks at this comment which takes Jeff by surprise, recovering quickly from his sudden spike of anger. “I do no mind her fighting me, in fact I welcome it boy. It is quite the turn on. But to try to fool me will not be tolerated which she now knows. She will have to consider a new tactic.”

“Well there’s one more name on the list…….*Sigh*…You can finish next week.” Jeff says solemnly, uncomfortable with what will eventually take place despite having his goal completed.

Slaiden flashes his fangs, in a much better mood now. “That I know human and I have been anticipating it from the beginning.”

Jeff squirms slightly under the demons gaze, not at all liking the predatory look in Slaiden’s eyes. Figuring that he better call it a night before he hears something that he really doesn’t want to, he adds, “Fine…I’m going to bed then.”

With that he starts to remove his shirt, showing Slaiden that he means it. Slaiden decides to allow the boy his privacy and turns back to the window. He prepares to exit when he addresses the boy one last time over his shoulder. “Remember to come through on your end, human. Many have suffered at my hand. Just feel fortunate that I will just kill you. There are far worse fates then death.”

With that last bold word, Slaiden is out of Jeff’s sight. Jeff silently goes over and shuts the window, his mind echoing Slaiden’s cold words of death and of worse fates he does not even want to imagine.


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

Well it’s going into the second week of classes and I was able to find some free in the later hours of the night to get this chapter done. I decided to leave out the next scene since I figured this was a good stopping point…..and so you readers can get this sooner, haha. I decided to do one last dream sequence and bring that man…err cat in that started this whole mess, if only indirectly. An interesting angle and set up for the next installment.

The next chapter will tie up some ends with Harley informing Gavin of her dreams and of Zack being next. A few other things will be brought up as well but it’s still a rough draft in my head at the moment of how I want to go into the next big scene as well as leading to the finale.

Look for chapter 36 in the next few weeks!

Please Review! :)