Accidental Demon Slayers: Daughter of Darkness pt. 32

When Clare and Max pulled up to the gates of Fantasy Land they saw a very bloody, beaten up Rico waiting for them.  The second they got the van in park they rushed out, making sure he was okay. 

The story that he told them sounded almost ridiculous, except they had both seen first hand what the creatures in this park could do. 

“She’s on her way to the temple right now.”  Rico looked from Clare to Max, seemingly looking for his new marching orders. 

“Why would you let her go alone?” Max was yelling.  “She’s not equipped to handle that thing on her own!” 

“Yes, yes she is.”  Rico looked to Clare and smirked.  “Trust me on that one.” 

“I need to go after her.”  Clare looked past Rico, at the park.  “You two stay put, okay?” 

“Like hell I will!”  Max grabbed Clare’s arm, pulling her back towards him.  “You are not going in there alone.” 

Clare turned, glaring at him. “What happened the last time I took you on a demon hunt?” 

“This is different.” 

“You became bait, Max.  Within minutes, you were captured.  I can’t take the risk of putting you in danger again, and I can’t waste time trying to save you.  You and Rico stay here.  Wait for Bobby and the others to arrive.”  Clare pulled her arm free, and started down the path into the main fairway. 

Max stood their, mouth agape.  How had he let her go?  He knew he couldn’t physically stop her, but he needed to do something.  He needed to help somehow. He started to walk towards through the gate, but he was stopped by Rico’s hand on his shoulder. 

“Max, trust her on this one.” 

“No way.  I need to help.”  Max turned towards Rico, his anger building. 

“The stay here.  She’s right when she says we aren’t ready for this.”  Rico let out a little laugh, then winced in pain and clutched his shoulder.  “We would only get in the way.” 

Max just nodded.  He hated to admit that they were right, but they were.  As much as he wanted to throw his weight around, be the boss, when it came to this stuff, he was in over his head so far he couldn’t even see the surface. 

Max walked Rico back to the van, and started fishing around in the back for the first aid kit.  Now, under the overhead light, Max could see how deep the wound on Rico’s shoulder really was. 

“We should get you to a hospital.”  Max found the kit, and opened it up, pulling out a pack of bandages and some medical tape.  “You are losing a lot of blood.” 

“We’ll go when the rest of her team arrives.”  Rico’s skin was ashen, and his gaze looked watery.  “I would prefer to stay to make sure Brittany gets out of there okay, but I guess it’s better to be alive to see her after her victory then to die waiting.” 

“You really like her, don’t you?”  Max smiled as he placed the bandage over Rico’s wound and began to tape it down. 

“She’s not like any girl I’ve ever met before.”  Rico laughed again, his voice sounding weaker. 

Just as Max was finishing up bandaging Rico’s wounds two headlights came into view a ways down the drive. 

“Looks like they’re here.”  Max stood, waving his hands over his heads, leading the car towards them. 

Rico just nodded his head. 

When the car finally came to a stop three people jumped out.  Max recognized them from the pictures on the Demon Slayers Inc. website.  As they ran towards the front gate Max could see he beat up and worn out the three of them were. 

He quickly filled them in on what was going on, and Rico chimed in to add a few details from when he and Brittany were attacked.  The three stood, listening, their faces like stone. 

“How do we get to the boat ride?”  Bobby was the first one to speak. 

“Just head straight down the fairway, and you’ll see the dock.”  Max glanced over his shoulder at the park.  That urge to help building up inside of him.  It took all that he had to push it back down.  He had to get Rico to a hospital first. 

“Have you heard from Clare or Brittany yet?”  Ashtyn glanced at the walkie hanging off of Max’s belt. 

“No.”  Max shook his head.  “These things are pretty useless out here, and even if they were, Clare and Brittany don’t have head sets.  If they’re trying to remain discreet, the last thing they need is us blowing their cover.” 

Ashtyn nodded. 

Rico stood up, his legs wobbly.  “Promise me you guys will get Rita back safely.” 

“We can’t promise anything, but we’ll…” Kurt was cut off by the sound of a loud bang. 

Something landed on the roof of the van.  Rico turned just in time to see Elizabeth leaping at him, a blade in her hand.  She slashed, the blade slicing across Rico’s exposed throat., sending a geyser of blood from the wound.  He stumbled back, collapsing onto Kurt.  Blood spurted from his mouth, and his eyes went wide. 

Moving at lightening speed, Elizabeth wrapped one arm around Max’s waist, and with her free hand she held the blade to his throat. 

“You really think we would let the famous ghost hunter sit this one out?” Elizabeth’s voice was a psychotic cackle.

“He has nothing to do with this!”  Bobby took a step towards Elizabeth, but froze when he saw her press the blade into Max’s flesh.  “Let him go Elizabeth, we’re the ones you want.” 

“No, higher ups want you guys,” Elizabeth licked the side of Max’s face.  “Grath and I want a new play thing.  Living in that temple can get mighty boring, and Max here looks like the perfect toy to liven things up.  If you want him back, then meet me at the temple.  We can have a little rumble over who gets to keep the ghost hunter.  Deal?  Good.” 

With inhuman power Elizabeth leapt into the airs, vanishing into the trees. 

***

Kurt sat there, stunned.  The man resting in his arms was gasping for breath, his eyes wild as blood choked his airways. 

“Bobby…” Kurt’s voice was shaking.  “Bobby, what the hell do I do?” 

Bobby turned to him, “I… I don’t know.” 

Place your hand on his wound.

The voice rang through Kurt’s head.  It was older, masculine, with a light Italian accent. 

Hurry, before it’s too late.

Kurt nodded, doing as he was told. 

A warm, blue light started shining from Kurt’s palm as he pressed it against the gapping knife wound on the man’s neck.  Within moments the flesh started to stitch itself together, and in thirty seconds the wound was gone completely. 

The man took a deep breath, his airways clear. 

“How did I…” Kurt looked at the now closed wound, not even a scar visible to say that he had once been injured. 

We are Doctore. 

Kurt looked up at Ashtyn and Bobby, who were both watching him. 

“So, he’s got one now, too?”  Ashtyn crossed her arms, a slight smirk dancing on the sides of her lips. 

“Looks like it.”  Bobby shook his head. 

“Got one… what?  I’ve… wait…” Kurt was at a loss for words. 

He looked back down at the young man, who was now sleeping peacefully.  “What do we do with him?” 

Ashtyn glanced at the van.  “Hide him in there.  He’s safer out here then in the middle of the battle.” 

“Just hurry up.  Who knows what Elizabeth will do to Max, and God knows what Clare would do to us if we don’t keep him safe.”  Bobby was already helping Kurt lift the young man, and carry him over to the van.