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K.J.

Guarda te stesso

0 · 844 views · located in Las Vegas, Nevada

a character in “ABNI”, as played by EKRonnie

Description

Red skin, red horns and bright yellow eyes, KJ stands at 6'8" wearing nothing but black and trying to pull of beanies until his horns poke through. His fingernails grow very quickly, his family one of fighter demons and proud of it. He cuts them down as soon and as often as he can, leaving the edges a bit jagged at times. He can't wear shoes, due to a a similar nail growing problem. He walks around with bare red, long toe nailed feet. Darker red hair, nearly brown, decorates his head in locks going past his ears.

Personality

KJ is quiet, thinks too much but is intelligent and shares his opinion when he deems it necessary. Since leaving his family's care, he has become a loner of sorts until meeting his current acquaintances. But even within the group, he speaks little, but smiles. He has affections towards certain others, but tries not to completely trust him co-workers. If he becomes too attached, it will be harder to let go if anything happens.

Equipment

KJ doesn't carry much, though sometimes wields dual scimtars while battling.

History

KJ was born to a regular Farglon demon parents, the sacrificial parties a bit much for him growing up. His relatives tried relentlessly to get him to participate in the animal slaughters, but KJ never felt compelled to raise the daggers or chant the Latin words.

After flunking night school and not finding a job, KJ left his family and made his way to Las Vegas, hearing about the demon community building there. Maybe he could find those like him, demons with no purpose with their own kind. It was a bit over-dramatic, he knew, but figured maybe movies had some truth to them.

A year passed before he found the potential of a calling with a few others like himself. They opened a private eye business, for both humans and demons, and he sat back, hoping this worked out for the best.

So begins...

K.J.'s Story

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Lili

The stench shut Lili up faster than anything the others could have tried. Mimicking Monica, she two grabbed for her nose and shrieked.

"SHEN! What the hell? Uck!" She clapped her mouth shut. The smell was so strong, you could taste it. Without another word, she ran upstairs. Midway, she collided with her brother, who was also pinching his nose. Sam managed to grab the railing with his tail, but Lili saw his hand reach out for her too late, and she bumped her way to the bottom of the stairs again.

"SA-A-M!" she cried, derriere smarting with pain, "Sam, you ass!" She picked herself up and stomped back up, feet as loud as possible.

"Lil, I'm sorry, but my leg..."

"Don't talk to me! You fucking suck!" she shouted, and she punched him in the arm before slamming the door to their bedroom, locking it with a vehement 'click!'

Childishly, she threw herself onto the bed, tears of pain and anger screwing up last night's make up. Not that it was in such great condition now. She was facing the messy coverlet, and let loose a muffled scream into the bed, clenching her pale fists among her long, curly red locks.

How could they? Just leave her in the car like that? After she nearly killed herself that night, too! Were they taking her for granted? What if Tex hadn't picked her up. Or what if he had, and turned out to be a huge perv! Lili liked flaunting her stuff, but only when she was in control of what she was flaunting.

Maybe that was it. Maybe they just thought she was some stupid, shallow skank. Well, that wasn't all she was! Why did she even put up with everyone anyways? Sure, there was Sam, but he was a selfish prick too! He didn't even try to keep her from falling because he didn't want to let go of his nose. And he definitely thought she was just a stupid, shallow skank.

Well, she'd show them! Wiping her eyes, she sat up from the bed. Kicking off her shoes, she stretched her inhuman toes and quickly walked over to her clothes drawer. She opened the last one, the one that held all her heavy clothes, and dug her slender arm to the bottom. Her fingers touched upon a familiar metal lid, and she withdrew the Spam tin. The top wasn't covered, and she pulled out the stack of bills that she had been saving. She had a few hundred so far. Almost a thousand. Was that enough for a class? Maybe two? There was a local community college not too far away. Maybe she could leave to take classes there. See how they liked it without her. Maybe then they'd finally appreciate her!

Sam

Lili was no doubt going through one of her temper tantrums. Sam decided to ignore it for now. There were more pressing matters at hand.

"Jesus Christ, Shen, where have you been? The sewer?" he asked, hobbling the rest of the way down the stairs.

"Funny...you should say that..." Shen said breathlessly, still outside of the townhouse. He was in human form, and boy did he look beat! The Asian started stripping, leaving the disgusting clothes outside before nearly collapsing into the house in only his shorts. "I...I take shower now..." he said simply before disappearing into his bathroom.

Sam looked at the others, eyes wide. "Christ! Do you think he got the monster?"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J. Character Portrait: Tex
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Monica

Mouth and nose still covered, she shrugged to Sam's question before mounting the stairs. Lili was in a state and as little as she wanted to deal with her, she also knew that she wouldn't have wanted to be forgotten after last night either.

Knocking on the bedroom door, she called in, "Hey, I'm really sorry," she sighed, leaning her forehead on the door. "I should have checked the car."


KJ

He faced Sam, then glanced to Shen's bathroom door, hearing the shower kick on. Without saying a word, he began lifting the windows open and keeping the front and back door wide open. He even pulled out some air fresheners and candles.

"He must have," he finally sighed and started out onto the front porch, debating. After only a moment though, he knew his curiosity would kill him if he didn't act. He proceeded to knock on Tex's door.

His neighbor answered, ghost girl at his shoulder like a pet. KJ squinted to her, then focused on Tex. He wasn't put together at all this morning, which wasn't a criticism. KJ barely cleaned up his appearance if ladies weren't involved. What he did feel uncomfortable was that knowing smile, as if Tex expected him to return.

"What can I do for you, Kennedy?"

KJ raised an eyebrow. "That's not my name."

Tex didn't reply. Just smiled on.

The red-skinned demon scratched under one horn and asked, "Can I come in?"

Tex took one step to the side, slowly waving his open palm into his home. "By all means."

Hesitantly, KJ lifted one bare foot and walked inside, not surprised by the stacks of books and pages filling the room with aged dust and the smell of centuries packed together. Tex closed the door, cutting off the natural light into the space. KJ felt closed in, but remained relaxed. In a fight, he felt confident.

"So," Tex started, sipping his mug and winking to the ghost girl. "What can I do for you this morning?"

KJ didn't waste time. "Who are you? Really?"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Lili

At the first knock, Lili immediately replaced the Spam tin, patting her sweaters over it before closing the drawer. To cover, she opened another drawer. She needed to get out of these clothes after all. She pulled open her underwear drawer as well, shuffling through her innumerable bras and underwear. One would think the Spam tin would be hidden here, in the more typical hiding place, but Lili knew better. If anyone broke into her room, the first place they'd ransack would be the underwear drawer, and not just because they thought something was hidden there.

Monica's voice chimed through: "Hey, I'm really sorry. I should have checked the car."

Damn right, Lili thought, pulling out a frilly push-up and beginning to peel off her dirty, ruined dress. But she couldn't really be mad at Monica. Lili didn't expect her to get her. That was Sam or KJ's job.

Still, Monica could have reminded them to get her. And it wasn't as if Monica thought any better of Lili, either. She was a human, so she had even more reasons to think lowly of Lili. She probably thought Lili was a skank too!

"Go away!" Lili shouted angrily, pulling on a pair of booty shorts to go with the lazy-day shirt she had picked out, "I thought you were my friend, but you're just like everyone else!"

Sam

With Shen in the shower, Monica with Lili upstairs, and KJ next door, Sam was by himself. Which he did not like. Here he was, injured with a sprained ankle or even a broken leg or something, and no one was giving a single damn.

Lili had taken over the room, which meant if he wanted to go to the hospital, he'd have to go like this. Dreadful. What if someone he knew saw him? Not to mention his tail...He'd probably have to chop that off again.

Well, it was that, or be crippled for the rest of his life, so Sam somewhat reluctantly hobbled outside to the car after declaring his absence to anyone who cared to listen. Within seconds, he was revving towards the nearest hospital.

Shen

Ah...the shower was so relaxing.

For the first time in his life, he stayed for longer than 10 minutes, scrubbing vigorously until he was positive the smell was gone. He dried himself and stepped out to an oddly empty living room. Where did everyone go? He heard footsteps upstairs, and looking up saw Monica knocking against Lili and Sam's room door. He grinned up at her before looking for the others.

-.-.-

Natasha hovered in the air next to Tex, eyeing KJ with a sideways smirk. She giggled when Tex winked at her, a flutter of butterflies flapping timidly within her. The feelings the girl had for him were more along the lines of a teenage crush rather than true love or anything heavy like that. It had started when he first addressed her by name, instantly winning her over. She still found death boring, but Tex spiced things up.

Of course, when he brought Lili in, she had felt quite the tinge of jealousy, hiding away for most of the night. She made a mental note to keep her shower water permanently on cold for the day. Maybe even short-circuit her phone.

Natasha glanced sideways at Tex at KJ's question. What would he say? Would he tell?

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J. Character Portrait: Tex
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Monica

Monica's gut clenched, weighing down, wanting to fall through her feet into the ground. "I'm sorry," she insisted, but sounded smaller than she wanted to. Lili may not be her favorite type of person, but she was a friend, truly. Or so she thought. Would friends so easily dismiss each other?

Giving up for now, the human girl started back down the stairs, seeing Sam as he just left and Shen vanish back into the kitchen. She didn't really want to talk to the Asian man, so found herself at the basement door, silently twisting the handle and tiptoeing down the creaking wooden steps.

Why she was creeping, she wasn't too sure. It did seem like KJ's territory, so perhaps she felt like she was intruding, but below she found no one around. Just a pile of towels, discarded water bottles on a shelf and an ornate wooden box that was longer than her legs, placed on top of a large chest freezer. The freezer wasn't on, so Monica assumed no food would be inside. Her curiosity remained with the box however, its polished surface gleaming when she pulled the chain to turn on a single bulb above. Roses were carved into the design, her favorite flower.

The hinges were soundless as she lifted the lid. Two long blades lay inside, katanas she thought, but wasn't sure. The silver was bright, blades shining, a single jewel embedded where the sword ended.

KJ didn't seem like a weapons guy. Not that Monica knew much of anything about fighting or weapons, but she figured he was more of fist fighter, direct contact.

She closed the lid, not trusting herself to actually pick up the blades, and glanced around the rest of the square space. It wasn't much a basement, though did have cobwebs where the walls and ceiling met. Nose scrunching, she considered cleaning up a little, just for something to do, but then wondered if KJ liked it this way. He obviously wasn't cleaning it himself.

Sighing, she returned to the first level, closing the door quietly and glancing around for any sign of Lili. There wasn't any.

So Monica slipped on her sneakers and left the townhouse altogether, finding no comfort inside at all. If Shen killed the monster, then she didn't have anything to worry about going into town. And it was daytime. The thing didn't like the sun as she recalled.

Pulling her gummy worms from her pocket, she munched on three, wiping sour sugar from the corners of her mouth as she wondered what to do on her own.


KJ

The ghost girl floated around the conversation, a strange worry crossing her face, but he disregarded it, as he always did with her. He wanted answers. He didn't trust Tex at all, his bare chest and PJ pants not threatening, but that smile, that damn smile...

"I'm Tex, your neighbor," he replied simply, taking the mug into both hands. "But I assume you want to know what I am, yes?"

Eyebrows giving away his agreement, KJ shifted his weight to one foot, nodding. "Spill."

Tex chuckled a little, looking to the ghost girl with that smile, the kind of smile that KJ could only associate with mischievous demons or the devil himself. It was impish and disgusting, but had the affect of not wanting to let it leave your sight. KJ didn't feel safe around it, but couldn't give it the upper hand by looking away.

"It's all right," Tex assured, raising a hand and setting the mug down on the side table. "I won't hurt you."

KJ sniffed. Like he could.

"What matters is that I have taken an interest in your...agency...next door," he continued, gesturing to their shared wall. "ABNI, as you call it. I wouldn't want to alarm you, but your names have popped up once or twice in the lower circles of society, and let me tell you...that's not necessarily a good thing."

KJ knew he had a reputation around here, his demon appearance stirring up rumors and myths among the humans, while the demon circles spun with adoration or disgust. KJ didn't adhere to the protocols. He didn't remain hidden. He went out during the day. With halflings, like Sam and Lili, it was easier to blend it so they didn't cause a ruckus. Red skin and horns weren't exactly normal, not to mention yellow eyes and claws he could call on.

"What's it to you?" KJ persisted. "So what if we're gaining a reputation. It's not going to affect anything we do."

"It won't?" Tex asked, grinning. "I hope you realize that your charade of Private Investigator won't last long in a city like this."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"There are bigger things here. Big picture type of things."

KJ rolled his eyes. "So? We're saving people."

"That's not why you do it."

"Who cares why I do it. I do it. End of story."

Tex tilted his head slightly, saying, "The human girl is an interesting addition."

The red demon blinked, squinting a little. "Monica helps with the money."

"But you could have figured that out on your own."

KJ blinked again. "I guess...but Shen wanted someone to help. With math skills."

"You don't have math skills?"

Huffing and folding his arms, KJ replied, "I do, but not...like her. She's all...genius about it."

"I see." Tex smiled to the ghost again, why, KJ had no idea. But if he liked her then she could move in over here. Fine by him. "Just know, that having a human around may not be safe. Especially that human."

"Why?"

"You could hurt her, for one."

It had already crossed his mind. KJ glanced down briefly, knowing Tex was right and that the smell of Monica's skin in such close proximity to him at night would soon cause problems. The dream catcher he had placed warded off bad thoughts and images, yes, but it was also kept Monica's scent over on her side of the room. KJ had a few of them around the house, just in case, the potions mixed to suit him and him and alone. Different scents could trigger his demon side quite easily, especially last night with that monster. But human scents...if around too long, trouble could arise.

KJ pressed on though. "And for two?"

Tex grinned as if reading his thoughts. "You know she's not just any ordinary human. You can tell right off the bat if something's off about someone."

"Like you," KJ put in.

This made him laugh a little, eyes glittering to the ghost girl who also smiled. "I would just go with your gut," he went on, scooping up the mug and starting toward the kitchen. "You know something isn't right. Don't ignore it. You can let yourself out."

Tex vanished around the corner, the ghost girl giggling and floating right through KJ. He shivered violently, waving her off and starting for the door to avoid another attack. She continued her cackle, slipping into the kitchen as well and KJ stood alone. Tex hadn't answered his question, but the red demon definitely didn't want to stay any longer.

Pulling the door open, he strode back over the porch to his side of the townhouse. He noticed Monica starting down the sidewalk and watched her for a moment as she stuffed gummy worms in her face and glanced around the lawns and fences. She looked normal, dressed normal, acted normal, like any teenage girl would.

But yes, Tex was right. Something was off about her.

KJ slipped inside and immediately made for the basement to be alone and calm his nerves. If he was going to get to the bottom of this, he had to make sure his demon didn't lash out. Putting his palms together and closing his eyes, he began his usual calming exercises.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Shen

The dragon noticed KJ returning inside and head towards the basement. He assumed he had gone to talk to Tex, and after a few minutes, followed down after KJ.

"Did you talk to Tex?" he asked, interrupting whatever KJ might have been doing. "What did you ask him?"

Lili

Finally getting dressed and reapplying makeup, Lili left the room, feeling many times better. There was a soothing affect that makeup had.

Hopping down the stairs, she was surprised to see everything so quiet. She didn't see anyone! First they abandoned her in the car, and now this? Pouting, she headed to the fridge and pulled out the leftover beer. It belonged to the guys, but she'd take her revenge by downing all of it. She still didn't know who had finished her vodka the other day. Chugging down the liquid, she flounced onto the couch and channel surfed until settling on Toddlers and Tiaras.

Sam

The emergency room was packed, as it always was, and he had to wait 45 minutes before he was seen.

His ankle had been twisted, or sprained, or something like that. Either way, he had to get a small cast. The doctor was more interested in the tail that was starting to grow out again. In his haste to get out of the car, Sam hadn't cut it all the way off, and there was still a scaly nub.

"Dude, uncool," he said when the doctor tried to examine it, "Half-demon, doc. I could bite your head off."

After that pleasant encounter, he strolled back to the car. He still felt bad about leaving Lili last night, and decided to just buy her something so she wouldn't yell at him later.

Lingerie sounded good. He drove to the outlet mall and headed to the Victoria's Secret, this time making sure his tail was off. He didn't want to freak out any potentials.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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KJ

Calm was difficult to achieve with an Asian man in your ear.

"Yes," he replied firmly. He pressed his palms harder together, keeping his eyes closed. "I just wanted to know what he was. Why he was helping us."

He didn't feel the need to mention the cryptic talk about Monica. KJ didn't understand it himself and wasn't going to worry the dragon. But then again, the Asian may be feeling the same. Maybe that was why he hired her in the first place. Perhaps he knew something and wasn't spilling.

Palms together, he inhaled and exhaled. Inhale...exhale...

No. He figured he was being paranoid.


Monica

She thought about everyone back at the townhouse, even Tex. Though Tex was creepy and she didn't remain on him long.

For such a scary group as they were when she first arrived, she admitted she was beginning to see how everything worked together. How they could even be considered heroes. They needed practice, maybe even help, but she saw the potential and felt a little excited to be a part of it.

Still, the wiggins weren't anything to laugh at. She didn't belong there, and she knew it. She couldn't fight. She couldn't research other languages. She knew numbers, that was about it. And math went only so far in demon or monster slaying.

Passing some shops, she browsed through the windows, sucking on gummy worms, wondering what to do. She was thinking about getting some food, but dining alone? Was that okay? She was sure it was, and started looking around for any kind of restaurant that wasn't fast food but wasn't expensive looking. It proved rather difficult.

Once passing around the corner of a Victoria's Secret however, she found a little cafe tucked between a Forever 21 and some taco place. It seemed nice and she crossed the street, reading the chalkboard specials on the sidewalk.

"I didn't see you as a coffee person," a voice said.

Monica glanced up and gasped. Black hair...glasses...

"Yes," he chuckled. "You saw me last night."

Monica gaped a little, stomach turning slightly. "Did you...get out okay?"

"Oh I wasn't in the club last night."

Monica blinked. "Then why were you...?"

"I came to see you."

"See...me...okay uh..."

"I know, I know," he said, waving a hand. "Cut the creepy-come-out-of-nowhere crap. I get it. You're new to this."

She grimaced, crossing her arms tight over her chest. "At least you know this."

"I do, Monica," he said, and she tried not to look too surprised by his knowing her name. Of course he would. That's how all of this was working out, wasn't it? He grinned. "I'll be around."

"Why?"

"That doesn't matter. Just thought I'd introduce myself."

Monica resisted the urge to stamp her foot. Despite her feelings of acceptance earlier, all of this new stuff and creepers and monsters were really getting to her. "Without a name?" she snapped.

"Without. A name." And he started away.

Monica watched him go, trying not to be pissed off. But she was. She definitely was. First demons, an Asian dragon thing, a monster that kills girls with songs...what next? Pulling at her hair, she ducked into the cafe, but knew coffee wouldn't calm her down at all. The last thing she needed was caffeine.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Shen

He nodded. He had gotten that Tex wasn't fully human, or possibly human at all, but that was it. It was frustrating, not knowing what exactly Tex was, but he could rule out demon.

"Maybe he is halfling," he suggested. They were more difficult to detect, the human and demon scent intermingling and confusing the other. "But I don't like him. He reminds me of a snake. He even stole our ghost!"

Sam

The pickings were slim today. Even he could tell that.

He finally decided on a gift card. The last thing he needed was Lili to get pissed off at him because the underwear was ugly or not her size or not her brand or some other bullshit. Plus it was less embarrassing. They still put the stupid card in this mini bag, though, complete with tissue paper. "Thanks!" he said brightly, with a wink, but after leaving the store, had to suppress a gag reflex. Oh well. Lili would like it.

His stomach grumbled, and he decided on food. Turning the corner, he passed by a guy with black hair and was surprised to see Monica hiding away into a cafe. "Hey!" he called, and he ran up to her, "What are you doing here? I thought you were back at the townhouse!"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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KJ

"I'm fine with the ghost stealing," KJ sighed, finally giving up and standing. His yellow eyes were directed upwards, straight through the door, through the living room, through the wall. He sent a glare to Tex that he probably didn't feel. Or did. KJ couldn't be sure. Either way, he didn't like him and wanted him to know it. "But he's definitely a snake. He knows too much."

A phone started ringing upstairs, the only one connected to the home that was an ABNI only line. KJ bounded up before Shen and pulled the phone off the receiver, pressing the TALK button. He was eager for a fight. Please, let there be a fight.

"ABNI, what can I do for you?"

"You guys...deal with...weird stuff. Like really weird stuff. Right?" She was female, accent not from around here...Canadian? He couldn't be sure.

"Weird is our specialty," he answered, glancing to Shen.

"Well I've got weird. My sister's dead and last night she said she heard strange music at a club. She came home all out of it and this morning, she was dead in her bed, throat cut clean through."

KJ squinted. "Strange."

"Weird," the girl corrected.

"I meant you. You don't sound very grief stricken."

"I was at the club too. I saw that thing. If she didn't survive, how can I? I just want protection. And an explanation if that's so hard. The news won't give anything helpful."

"You still don't sound very worried." It was true, her voice remained quite even the entire time.

"Sorry if I don't see the point of freaking out. I want to do something about it."

KJ smirked. "Seems reasonable."

"So are you going to help, or not?"

"Give me an address. We'll meet you there."

Scribbling down an address and turning to Shen, KJ sighed with relief. Finally something to work with. "We're on the case," he announced and found Lili in the living room. "We're heading out. Work to do." With that, he started out, grinning for once.


Monica

"I...just wanted to go out," she said evenly, forcing the words out. It wasn't that she didn't want to see Sam. It was that she didn't want to see anyone really. Maybe going out was a bad idea. "Nice cast," she said, nodding to it.

They shuffled into line inside the small place, indie band posters scattering the walls along with neighborhood notices and different craiglist type pamphlets. It definitely seemed to be of the small town. Not from a city like Las Vegas. It was nice though, and not terribly far away. Monica noted the name "Brew Brew Cow" and smiled a little. Coffee scents wafted into the air, swirling and she almost changed her mind about the caffeine. Upon reaching the front however she ended up ordering a Chai Tea, spilling coins on the counter and glad she had just enough on her. So much for food.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Lili

Lili protested loudly, "But I want to see who wins Grand Supreme!" and didn't even get to pull on any shoes before she was dragged into the truck by Shen. The nice car had been taken by Sam.

"Hey! What the hell!?" she shouted, but they were already driving away. "What is with you guys? First you forget me in the car, now you're dragging me back in a car. I've lived in a car before, you know! NOT FUCKING FUN!"

"What are you talking about?" Shen asked, "Bla bla bla, all you do is talk! We on mission, now! And who exactly forgot me inside giant monster? I don't see any of you come rescue me!"

"That's different," Lili muttered sullenly, but it was enough to shut her up. She crossed her arms and pouted, glaring out the window.

Sam

"You think so?" Sam asked, lifting his leg, "I think it clashes terribly."

He ordered an extravagant coffee order (some expresso double shot with chocolate and whip cream, or nonsense like that) and paid via credit card. "Not a coffee person?" he asked Monica, motioning towards her tea as he sat down at a table. He noticed a couple girls looking sympathetically at his leg, and he saw a bright side to his temporary handicap.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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KJ

The place wasn't far from their townhouse, nor the club. Glancing around, KJ sighed and figured Lili and Shen should greet their customer at the door before he rushed inside. Many pedestrians were around such a populated area. They would see his red skin and probably make a scene.

"Just go make sure this is the place. You open the door, and I run inside. Go."

He slumped back, crossing his arms and trying not to pout.


Monica

"Not a buy anything I don't need person," she corrected, sitting across from him and noticing the glances to the girls across the way. They were giggling, like little girls do. Sam seemed to be enjoying it and she rolled her eyes, sipping her tea.

Her eyes drifted out the front window, sun beaming down on the street as cars passed. A guy with pamphlets was grinning widely, passing the green sheets to anyone who would take one, even if they ended up dropping it directly to the pavement. He didn't seem discouraged though. It was almost nice to see.

"The usual, Sue."

The deep voice caught her attention. Monica turned quickly, the voice carrying so far and speaking so cautiously. The man wore a trench coat number, all black, black fedora to go along with it. On such a nice day, it seemed very odd for anyone to be wearing anything black, much less a trench coat. She squinted, unsure why she was doing so, but watched the man closely.

His coffee was ready after a minute or so. Sue, presumably, smiled and handed him the cup happily. He didn't give a smile back. He turned swiftly, grim frown bending his entire face in an unattractive upside down U. Shoulders hunched and demeanor meaner than Lili's temper, he tried to hurry between the customers in line to the exit.

Monica's head tilted a little, and she stood up without realizing it, starting to follow the man.

She tapped Sam's shoulder once to get his attention when she passed him, but if he followed or not didn't concern her. She just had to keep up with that guy.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Shen

Lili immediately started protesting again: "But my feet! People are going to stare!"

Shen rolled his eyes. "Then I will go myself!" Slamming the car door, he crossed the street and knocked on the door loudly.

An attractive young girl answered the door. If she had looked bored before, she looked quite unimpressed before. And somewhat confused.

"I am representative for ABNI," Shen declared, "You called for us just now?"

She continued looking at him weirdly. "Y-yes..." she finally drawled, and leaned against the doorframe, "You don't sound the same as you did on the phone..." she almost said the last bit accusingly, eyes narrowing.

"That is because I did not answer phone," Shen stated, "Beside, your accent is not perfect either, but I not make mention of it, no?"

The girl stood up straighter, brows furrowing, "I didn't--"

But Shen had already started back towards the car. "Right house. Come, let's go," he said, dragging Lili out, who was yowling about "the one day she should have worn jeans". He pushed her into the house and motioned for KJ to hurry inside.

"So, what seem to be problem?" he asked the client when they were all gathered in the house.

Sam

He had barely gotten through half of his coffee when Monica stood up and started following some random guy.

"Jesus Christ," he muttered, gulping the rest down and immediately regretting the scalding side effect. Tossing the cup away, he tailed her as well.

Catching up to her, he whispered, "Is this like a habit we should know of? Following men?" he was grinning teasingly, but he couldn't deny that the guy looked suspicious. What was up with that coat? "We should back up a little, so we're not so obvious, eh?" he tugged on her shoulder, slowing them down a bit.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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KJ

Indoors, he felt safer. And proved so by leaning against the wall, crossing his legs and arms and smirking knowingly. Though, he knew nothing.

"My sister died. I'm next. What happened at the club last night?" The girl was giving her sneer to KJ. She was a bit scrawny, but her blonde hair and light makeup lit up her face brilliantly and KJ smiled wider, liking his chances here.

"There was a monster," he said simply. "But you knew that, or you wouldn't have called us."

"I only called you because the police didn't know."

"I stand corrected then."

"Corrected?"

"I figured you were the smart type." The blonde scowled, fists forming at her sides, but the fuming only made her tiny figure look more adorable. KJ laughed a little and stood up straighter. "We should have been your first call. Now. Your sister's throat was cut?"

"Officers said someone forced themselves in through the window and killed her. No prints."

KJ squinted to Shen and Lili. "Doesn't sound like...our kind of thing."

"It is!" the girl insisted.

KJ rolled his eyes. "What's your name?"

She blinked, surprised by the question. "Nikki."

"All right, Nikki," he continued, starting toward the staircase. "I'm going to need you to be quiet." Her mouth dropped open to shout, but he raised a hand. "Ah, ah...quiet. Shh."

She scowled. But didn't say a word.

"Let's head upstairs and check it out," he said to the others, and started up the stairs.


Monica

Sam pulled her back and she scowled a bit, but didn't argue. He had a point.

"I feel like...I know him..." she whispered, ducking to the side as the man turned to walk across an intersection. Once he was halfway across, she took off after him, dragging Sam along. "That's weird...right? I've never seen him before...I can't know him..."

The black clad man continued down the street, leading them out of the shops and restaurants. He picked up a newspaper. A donut. It's when he entered a tall building with the sign Tate and Tate Law Firm on the glass doors, that Monica finally stopped. Through the doors, they watched him pass security and head up an elevator, the arrow on top indicating his final destination was floor 14.

Monica glanced up the tall building. They had entered the business side of the city it seemed. Casinos and clubs left behind. She realized how far they had walked and rolled her ankles from the aches. Glancing to Sam and his cast, she gave an apologetic look. "Sorry..." she muttered. "I just...this place...its dangerous."

Her eyes scanned the tall blackness and she shivered under the warm sun.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Lili

Boy, did KJ sound high and mighty! "Asshole," she muttered as she followed after him. The human girl, Nikki, looked at Lili with raised eyebrows. "I'm not defending you, bitch," Lili snapped, and she stomped up the stairs as loudly as she could in her avian feet.

Still, she couldn't help feeling jealous. Living in a nice house like this...she let her hand slide against the railing as she stared up at the high ceilings. She loved high ceilings. Low ceilings made her feel compressed.

It wasn't difficult to figure out which room had the dead girl in it. Already there was a smell emanating from it. Covering her nose, Lili peeked over KJ's shoulder as he opened the door. At the sight of all the blood, Lili gave a strangled gasp and backed away quickly, nearly falling over the banister that opened out onto the lower floor. With another small shriek, she grabbed the railing, the lower floor reeling beneath her. She took two strong steps away from it, composing herself. It was a good thing Sam wasn't here. He would hate it.

Shen

Ignoring Lili's dramatics, Shen pressed forward into the room. It was a gruesome sight. Young girl, cut throat. It didn't seem crazily supernatural. There were definitely forced entry signs on the window, but no identifiable footsteps.

Could it have been the incantator? Shen had been with it practically the whole night after it ran away. From what he recalled, it didn't stop anywhere. It had gone straight to the sewer.

"It's not the monster we think it is," Shen said, looking underneath the bed for anything, "Though I am impressed Nikki know to call us. Our ad is so small in paper, even I admit must be difficult to find us."

If it wasn't the monster....then what could it be? "Something is not adding up," he said, standing back up.

Sam

Just looking at the tall building made Sam dizzy. And nervous. And sweaty.

"That....is a very tall building..." he said, rubbing his neck. He averted his eyes to the ground, but they kept wanting to travel back up, towards all those flights and...

A pit grew in his stomach, and he took several steps away from it. "I...I think we should leave," he said, not wanting to confront or explain his fear of heights. Besides, what was there to justify? People died from great heights. It was totally normal to be scared of that! It wasn't like he was scared of spiders. Or babies, like Lili.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Monica

She wasn't about to disagree with Sam, but she wasn't moving either. Her feet remained planted to the sidewalk, eyes trained up, counting to the 14th floor. With the reflections off the windows, there was no way she would be able to see inside, but she figured knowing where he was would be a good thing. What to do with said information. Well that...that she didn't know.

"Should we catch a cab back?" she asked, eyes down and thoughts whirring. She didn't hear if he responded. She raised a hand automatically, eyes still lowered to the pavement as if she would find a clue there. Before a cab found them, a hand took her own.

Gasping, she spun about. The man in black stood there, glaring down to her. "Why are you following me?"


KJ

"They left...the body..." he mused ruffling his dark hair, scratching at his horns. "Why would cops leave a body...?"

Nikki crossed her arms at the door. "I thought that was weird too."

"Were they real cops?" KJ asked at once. He doubted they were, and he doubted she would know. So he pressed on. "I think someone's trying to cover up something."

"Helpful observation," Nikki sniffed, turning away.

"It is," he shot back, face serious. The cut along the girl's throat, gruesome with blood, was a blade. Not a claw. Not a sword. A short blade, like a dagger. Something subtle, yet effective. "We're dealing with humans, and humans are just as, if not more unpredictable, than monsters."

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Sam

"Following? We weren't following anyone!" Sam said quickly, "We were just, er, admiring this really...really tall building...and deciding we would never go near it again."

He grabbed Monica's hand and made a motion towards the guy that suggested leaving. "Now, if you'll excuse us, I have an offering I have to make to an angry demon." He shook the Victoria's Secret bag.

Shen

As KJ talked, Shen felt around the carpet. There was something weird about it, as if grooves had been dug into it. Pulling out his cellphone, he shined the flashlight app on it.

His eyes widened as far as they could, and he shouted, "ABNI!" He hit his head on the underside of the bed as he sat up, but continued pointing and shouting, "Our name is carved into the carpet! They know about us! Was this how you knew about us?" he asked Nikki, squinting.

Something wasn't right. Why would they attack this girl and then write down who to call? Unless...

Lili

She walked down the hallway, not wanting to see the blood anymore. She'd had enough blood in the past few days to last her a good while. She heard KJ and Shen's voices, but was too far away and disinterested to really understand what they were saying.

Bored, she pulled open a linen closet door. Nothing but boring towels in here. Sheets. An iron. A---wait a minute, what the hell was--

There was a shrill squawk as the black bird (was it a bird?) shot out of the closet towards Lili's face. The girl screamed and fell backwards against the wall, but the bird wasn't interested in her. It continued flying straight up with such force that it burst a hole straight through the ceiling to the roof, whistling and screeching the whole time.

"It's a trap!" she heard Shen's voice shout, tearing her eyes away from the hole in the roof and the small black dot flying in circles above them. "It's a trap!"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J. Character Portrait: Tex
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Monica

She allowed Sam to drag her along. No words formed on her lips in response to the man, because all she could see were images, frightful images. The kind that pierce and stab and horrify to no end. Sam's hand was like a life jacket and she clung to it as they hurried around the corner, her lungs gasping for air.

"He's...He's..." she couldn't get the words out. What she did manage was, "Lili's...in...trouble..."


KJ

He grabbed the girl and dove out into the hall, both landed hard on the carpet as the side of the house ripped open.

"No!" she shrieked, finally showing fear as her fingernails dug into KJ's red skin.

He shook her off, leaning in the doorway and searching for Shen. "Asian man!" he called, eyes wide on the room, or lack thereof. The side of the house had been torn apart and the shorter Asian was nowhere to be seen. "SHEN!"

Turning, bounded down the stairs, tumbling down the last few as the house shook on its foundations. "What the fuck...?" Nothing downstairs, no attackers, nothing. Shaking again, the house creaked to the left as Nikki practically fell down the stairs.

"What is it?!" She stumbled to him, snatching his shirt as she fell over from another earthquake. "WHAT IS IT?!"

"I don't know..." KJ breathed, falling to one knee and glancing around, the ceiling caving in and Lili nowhere in sight. He pulled Nikki to him and they hurried to the dining room table, crouched underneath as dry wall fell in large chunks above. "I think...we're a little screwed here."


Tex

While sipping at some tea, he tapped his tongue on his lip once, grimacing to the mug. "More honey," he decided, seeing ABNI in his mind's eye and not caring much in the least. He stirred the sticky substance in, took another sip, and smiled. "Much better."

Settling down with an old romance novel, he sipped and read and ignored the trouble he saw in his head.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Lili Dean Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Sam

Trouble?

"What do you mean Lili's in trouble?" Sam asked, heartbeat quickening, "How do you know? Are you messing with me? You better be joking! Right? I mean...Hey!"

He jumped back from the street, a car nearly running him over even though they were on a crosswalk. "ASSHOLE!" he shouted, shaking the lingerie bag at him.

"Isn't Lili back home? She wouldn't leave home...Toddlers and Tiaras is on now. She fucking loves that show...unless Shen or KJ made her...shit!"

Another car zoomed by, nearly taking his foot. "What the fuck, man! Fucking drivers..." he scowled and practically dragged Monica across the street, worried about Lili completely.

Shen

He had fallen to the bottom floor during the crash, landing all the way in the basement. He managed to shift in time to avoid damage, but as he stood up, human again, an uncomfortable feeling settled in his stomach.

Suddenly the temperature heated up, and he felt dizzy. Nauseous. He heard a sound, but he was sluggish in his movements. Why was he so weak? He felt heavy...

A flash of white and red, and he realized what was the cause. Someone had pasted up ribbons of white, red characters of an ancient language cursed and spiraled around Shen, a dark spell that hadn't been used in millenia against his type.

He lost his balance and fell over. He tried to shift into a dragon, but the curse locked his form tightly, no wiggle room. The room was so hot, moisture evaporating from his skin, and he passed out just as a dark figure entered his vision.

The men grabbed the smaller Asian, and in a flash had him covered and in a van. The girl with the birds feet was already knocked out, gagged, and tied in the back. There had been two others, a girl and a demon, but the men knew better than to battle physically with the red-skinned one. At least not directly. They piled into the van and drove away from the crumbling house, speeding considerably.

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Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: K.J.
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Monica

Once safe on the other side of the road, Monica held her head, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Well, she wasn't really seeing anything, it was more of feeling. Just knowing. Facts.

"They're close," she blurted, spinning around. The street sign above read Richards. Number flew into her vision and gasped out loud, hopping back and covering her mouth as they zoomed in her peripherals and spun down the street, forming an arrow. 2's and 4's danced together like ribbons while 11 and 9 zigzagged horrendously. But all pointed the direction she needed.

"C'mon!" She tugged Sam along, hoping they got there in time.


KJ

When the rumbling stopped, he crawled out at once and ushered Nikki to do the same. "Lili! Shen!" he called, hurrying to the stairs, only to find them crumbled. The sky above shone through a large hole in the roof like a spotlight, heading straight through the floor and into the basement.

Dashing over, KJ hopped down at once, turning. "Shen!" he shouted, kicking debris aside. "Lili!"

Nikki's head peered down the hole, frantic and red. "Are they...there?"

KJ huffed, leaped up and pulled himself back up to the first floor. Brushing his hair back, he yelled for them again, but nothing. No response. His gut told him they weren't dead, just not present. Pinching a horn, he turned back to Nikki. "Someone's taken them."

"How do you...?"

"We're going to head back and...and..." He wasn't sure what to say. What to do. He had no clues, had no idea where to start. They had taken Lili and Shen, but not him. Good thing too, he would have torn them apart, but bad that he didn't get a visual. Nothing.

He pulled Nikki over the rubble of the front wall out to lawn where a crowd had gathered once the tremors had ceased. A woman was on the phone with the police. Another had called an ambulance. KJ ignored concerned questions and shoved past a couple who were taking pictures to some website. All the while, Nikki's hand was tight on his and he felt good that he had saved one person, but his throat filled with a rock, a heavy rock of emotion. Lili and Shen...

His eyes zeroed in on a pair running toward him along the sidewalk. "Monica?"

The human huffed, face red and breath haggard. "Is...Is Lili...okay?"

KJ raised his eyebrows. "How did you know where we were?"

"Is she okay?!" she insisted, pointing to a distraught Sam.

The rock expanded when KJ tried to swallow it down. "I...don't know."

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Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Shen Character Portrait: K.J.
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Sam

"You don't know? What the FUCK do you mean you don't know??" his voice was raising higher and higher, cracking, but he didn't care, "Why the fuck are you out here anyways? And why'd you drag Lili into it? What the hell am I supposed to do with this fucking underwear now, huh? I can't even fucking make a peace treaty with that bitch because you lost her! What the hell, KJ??"

Sam's language had grown crasser, but it was to hide the fact that he was very worried. Lili...gone? She was smarter than that! At least smart enough not to go off by herself! Was she taken? Stolen? Someone had snatched her? He had always been scared of that happening, even when they were younger. Lili was pretty. She could get snatched easily. Have terrible things done to her.

"What the fuck!" Sam repeated, distressed and voice wavering. He felt like he was going to cry. "Well come on! Fucking find her!" The sentence was useless, didn't offer any solutions, but he didn't have any. He had come late to the party, and Lili was gone. GONE! How??

"You!" he pointed at Monica, "You found this place, randomly. And you knew Lili was missing. How did you know? I thought you were normal!"

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Character Portrait: Monica Price Character Portrait: Sam Dean Character Portrait: K.J.
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Monica

Sam's accusations didn't help her already confused and guilty mind. Stumbling back a few steps, she nearly toppled over the curb, catching herself at the last second. "I don't know!" she exclaimed, shaking a little. "I just...knew and we're here so...so...just..."

KJ's expression bent into suspicion. He even stepped in front of some girl that was with him, looking fearful and small. Monica couldn't believe any of this.

Before she could explain more though, something caught her eye. In the crowd. A young man...with black hair...

"Hey!" she exclaimed, dashing away from the group and into the growing crowd. "Wait!"

He was already gone, like a wisp of smoke, when she reached his spot. A news van had arrived as the fire department did, while others shouted about posts on facebook about similar happenings around the country. None of it mattered to Monica though as she spun on the spot, shoulder colliding with more than one body. But the boy was gone.

"But..." she exhaled, at a loss. What was happening to her? He had to know, he had to.

Then she saw him across the street. He adjusted his glasses, gave a quick salute, then vanished into someone's backyard. Monica didn't chase him. He would only disappear again.


KJ

New things were not helpful right now. He couldn't deal with Monica and decided to let her run off, turning to Sam. "They knew we were coming. They killed a girl here who was at the club last night. This is Nikki, her sister."

Nikki gave a half-wave.

"Her throat was slit and ABNI was carved under her bed. It was a trap for us and it has something to do with that piece of ugly from last night. I don't know where Lili is, but that...thing...is where we start."