Dancing In The Void

The semi-truck loudly drove inside the open hangar, parking beside the leftmost wall.

It stood parallel to the entrance that led to the main building, overlooking a small yet nearly empty parking lot. In the driver’s seat was Evan, dressed in a casual gray jacket, slightly puffy to make him seem older. His unshaven, patchy beard helped in that aspect. On his head was a blackened baseball call pulled over his forehead that matched the color of his dirty khakis and brown boots. He took the yellow scarf out from around his neck, the stress of his mission heating him up too much.

Here goes. He carefully looked around the emptied chamber and upon noticing the lack of people he pulled out a map from the driver’s board. It was blueish, with red outlines, and it detailed the entire building complex where Evan and his friends were currently located. There were six small buildings in total, including this hangar. The top three were for the main event, two where the auction was taking place and one for the VIP section, all connected by a series of hallways. The building to the left of him was where the storage, kitchens and administrations were located, and to the right of him was the main control unit, smallest of the six buildings. It wouldn't be as easy to get in there as it was getting in the complex. The gate guard seemed more interested in his own untied shoelaces than the false documents Evan handed to him.

Hooo… you can do this Ev, you can do this. Evan let out an anxious sigh and opened the door of the truck. He looked around constantly, if anyone smart noticed him and realized what was going on it could mean the death of his friends, and of himself. He then went to the back of the truck, opening its large metallic doors with a small bronze key. Inside was a wide wooden crate that took up most of the space. Evan carefully set up what needed to be set up on the small calculator embedded on the top of the crate, then got out of the truck, and found himself in front of a security guard.

“Hey. You’ve got clearance to park here?” The lanky guard said, mildly annoyed.

Evan gulped and cleared his throat. “Of course.” He said, trying to sound as mature as he could. “I was asked to deliver some things for the auction.”

The guard leaned over to her side, placing her right hand on the edge of the truck, her fingers right between the steel door and its hinges. Evan’s eyes darted on the hand then back to the guard, and his own hand grasped at the door latch. He looked up above and around him, there were cameras around, but none of them could see behind the truck. The guard looked intensely at him and at the truck, as a drop of sweat trickled down the side of Evan’s neck.

“Alright buddy, I’ma let you go…”

Oh thank fucking… Evan began easing up, letting out a slow sigh of relief.

“...After I see what you got there inside.”

Evan’s panicked eyes shot back at the guard. Sorry buddy, can’t let you do that. His hand then slammed the door against the truck, with an oddly silent thump, crushing the guard’s index, middle and ring finger. Immediately the guard tried pulling her hand away, letting out a startled pain-filled scream. Before she could though, Evan rushed towards her, grabbed her head with his right hand and smashed it against the sharp steel edge of the truck. It had ended as fast as it started, Evan sat there, looking at the limp unconscious guard whose bleeding mangled hand was still stuck between the door frame. He slowly opened the door, causing her to fall on the concrete surface with a thud. Evan then quickly picked up the body, tossing her over his shoulder and placing her inside the truck. He reached over to get some rope, but then his eyes noticed that the guard was no longer breathing. His entire body felt struck by lightning, shivering as he looked at the lifeless body beside him. A giant cut ran from the upper part of her right eye down all the way to her chin. The guard’s eye and fingers still twitched as she lay there. Evan felt sick. He leaned against the walls of the truck, sliding down until he reached the bottom. He stared at his open right palm, breathing heavily.

“Fuck…” He gulped. His teary eyes dashed back to the corpse to his side. Then up at the faraway ceiling. “Wha.. what did I just do?”

“You.” Katherine said, her voice wrapped in a subtle tone of anger.

“Me.” Mephisto replied, staring her down defiantly.

“What the hell are you doing here? I’d have thought Azazel would have killed you by now.”

“I could ask you the same. Demon auctions aren’t a safe place for children.”

“I can slice your head off before you’d even blink. Belittle me again and I’ll prove it.”

“Consider me intimidated, but do that and every demon in this place will be aware of the fact that the Huntress just crashed their party.”

Katherine coughed, and her stiff posture eased up as did Mephistopheles’.

“So, can we all calm down now?” Constantine asked, as he stood up against the chair, as the two hotheads turned to look curiously at him.

“You would trust him?” Katherine nodded towards Mephistopheles. “He’s just another one of Azazel’s dogs, I’m amazed he hasn’t run off and rang the alarm yet.”

“Don’t push it girl, you’re really starting to get on my nerves.”

“And what are you going to do? Tell him? He’ll kill you first before he starts searching for us and even the-”

“Alright fuck! Shut up both of you already.” He shouted, taking a quick look around to make sure none of the other guests were disturbed. Both of them turned to him again. “Demon dude what’s your face…” Constantine continued, waving his hand in his direction.

“Mephistopheles.” He answered furrowing his brow.

“Mephistopheles, long name, I remember it now. It’s been a while. I’m Constantine, this is Katherine.” Katherine looked at him annoyed and confused. “Look, since I hear you’re one of Azazel’s former employees I take it the only reason you’re at this party is to…”

“Kill him of course.”

“Well, that makes things easier, we have similar goals.” Constantine smiled.

“Do we now? And what do you propose, Constantine?”

“I propose…” Katherine interrupted, leaning on the table. “...That you leave, right now. You saved my life so I’ll not hunt you. But get in my way tonight, and once I’m done with Azazel, I’ll come for you.”

“You want to save your friend do you not? The one with the burn marks right?” Mephisto said, silencing both of them immediately. “Aha, I see. So our plans tonight aren’t all that similar, but they could be.” Mephistopheles shifted in his chair. Constantine looked at his black suit and tie, then back up to his sullen face, the apathetic eyes and thick stubble. “If I am willing to let you two take care of Azazel, meaning…” His gaze turned back to Katherine’s ever vigilant, emotionless look. “To stay out of your way, will you be willing to cooperate?”

Constantine nodded, then turned to Katherine. She sighed and leaned back, nodding as well. “Sure.”

“Great then, where’s your other friend, the blonde guy.” He said, scratching the hair on the left side of his head.

Katherine turned around and looked ahead of her, dozens of people had filled up the seats and the tables of the restaurant, and a man was making some sort of preparations on the microphone on the stage.

“Our blonde friend Evan is hopefully carrying out our plan as we speak.” She told him without bothering to look away from the stage. “It seems the auction will start soon.”

“Where can I find him?” Mephistopheles questioned her, after looking up towards the stage.

“Hangar building.”

“Did you see Azazel anywhere?” Constantine asked, his eyes dancing through the crowd, searching.

“There, in the front-most table, the one in the white suit.” Mephisto pointed out. “Alright, Constantine, Katherine, I always hoped to be the one that ends that insufferable cunt’s life, but I leave it to you both. Don’t disappoint me.” Constantine nodded as his new partner got up from his seat. Before he left, Mephisto turned to Katherine. “Girl, I heard what happened to Alilianna, I also heard she was your mother.”

“If you’re going to apologize for anything, spare me, I don’t need it, especially not from someone like you.” She lashed out stoically, her words stinging deeper than Mephistopheles imagined.

“Fine then, no apologies from me. However, may I just ask one final thing. U-Uriel, the angel, she’s safe, right?” He said, catching a brief stutter.

Constantine turned back to him, mildly confused. “Yes, she’s safe.”

“Good.” The demon sighed. “As long as she’s safe…” Mephistopheles then left, walking back through the presentation hallway. When he was gone Constantine turned back to Katherine.

“You feeling alright?” He asked.

“That’s what I should be asking you. I’m fine.” Her lips curved into a slight smile, but her eyes were still locked in Azazel’s direction. “I am not one to eagerly accept an inanimaliat’s help, but I’ll take what I can. I just… sincerely hope that demon can be trusted...” She nodded. “Now, let me go find my cello case.”

Wrath smiled seductively at the bartender as she drank cold whiskey from a crystal shot glass. A few other people were nearby, some talking about auction, others about some game that took place a week ago, and another trying to get into the pants of a close-by woman who was all too obviously not into him. Soon however, everyone else started leaving the bar and going back to their seats, except for her.

“Will you not be taking part in the auction, Miss?” The tall, handsome barkeep asked.

Wrath ignored him, and sent the last droplets of alcohol down her throat.

“Miss?” He pressed the issue.

“If I terrify you that much, you can just ask and I’ll leave. Don’t dance around the matter.” She snarkily replied. The bartender glimpsed at her icy golden eyes, and quickly turned away, picking up some glasses to wash them later.

Wrath smiled falsely, and turned back to enjoy what was happening on stage. Octavian was standing beside a large electronic screen. On it was the picture of a creature she noticed earlier when she was strolling through the presentation hallway with Azazel, a large mutilated black hound, with stone scales instead of fur.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Demons, Humans...” He began after a few seconds, picking up the microphone.

And other mistakes created by god. Wrath finished to herself.

“...I personally welcome you to the two hundredth and twenty fifth annual supernatural objects, artifacts and creatures auction.” A roar of applause erupted from the audience.

Fancy title for what’s nothing more than a fancy butcher’s shop. She thought as she poured herself another glass.

“Now let us begin with something we rarely have the opportunity of selling, a stone wolf. The price will start at three thousand gal.”

Dozens of people raised their signs, showing the desire to purchase the current item. The price quickly climbed higher and higher, until finally twenty minutes later, it was sold for about ten thousand four hundred and fifty gal to a young lady in a stunning purple dress. Her face however, left so much to be desired that Wrath believed at first it belonged to a horse.

The damned dog is prettier than her, and it doesn’t even have a face. She giggled to herself. But by god is this auction boring as all hell. As Octavian moved on to the next item, Wrath turned to search for a certain someone through the crowd. Now huntress, where are you hiding? Her eyes closed slowly and in the dark she saw them, the dim souls of every being in the room, like little burning candles in the night. Every human was a different shade of gray, while the demons, like Azazel, were an almost indistinguishable black flame. Only two lonely souls were different, the huntress’ crimson red, and her friend’s pale white one.

There you are, little songbird. Wrath opened her eyes, and their gaze found Katherine’s white hair amongst the crowd. Still sitting at that table waiting, eh? What exactly are you planning? Wrath turned to look at Azazel, who was enjoying the company of two women at his table, which was about eight tables directly in front of Katherine’s.

It burns deep inside doesn’t it? Losing someone so dear and having the murderer right in front of you? Wrath grinned and poured herself another glass of scotch.

A flash of light suddenly burst from behind Octavian and then nothing, blackness on the dead screen. Every light in the room all at once then went out, drowning the restaurant in darkness as panic gripped the crowd. One of Octavian’s men rushed on stage to tell him something, as Octavian himself tried to calm the restless audience. Loud metallic sounds echoed along with the noise of a blaring alarm, as red emergency lights lit up the room. Wrath calmly looked towards the faraway windows, as iron walls collapsed outside. Iron walls around the entire complex, locking everyone and everything inside. She chuckled, and finished her drink.

This night finally got a lot more interesting.