Night 59: Stairwell by Waiting Room/Lobby 1

[bastard_sadi]

[Coming from here.]Daemon slipped from the hallway and into the stairwell, starting the climb to the second floor. His gaze searched the shadows and he'd made no more than three steps up when he went carefully still, holding up a hand to halt Renji as well. The chittering came from above their heads, quiet but definitely there, the sound familiar

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[stray_shinigami]

And with the laughter, Renji felt a little better, because it sounded more like normal Daemon. Less like something that he wanted to cut in half, and that would be a really unproductive and... well, sad way to spend the evening anyway. He tried to have a strict anti-murder policy when it came to his friends.

In the stairwell, Renji glanced up, then let out a short, sharp laugh. "I like it. I've been wanting some payback."

He drew Zabimaru, this time releasing the sword into its second form without speaking. He squinted up into the darkness. "If you could send up a little more light for me, that'd be great."

He moved forward to put himself more directly then kicked off the wall. It felt great to have his full strength back. More than great. It was like a fucking amusement park ride. He jumped between the walls in the stairwell only a handful of times, working his way up with quick flash steps until he was close enough.

Then he lashed through the spiders with Zabimaru, mostly to knock them down. Though one did lose several of its legs and most of its abdomen, and that was quite alright with him.

He dropped down after the spiders, Zabimaru already howling through the air toward them.

[bastard_sadi]

"I can do one better," Daemon answered, a smile spreading across his lips as he watched Renji leap upwards. The chittering grew angry now, the nest disturbed. He moved quickly, gathering a ball of witchfire in his hand and flinging it up to the ceiling. At first, nothing happened. Then there was a rush of sound and flames as the webs spun across the ceiling caught fire. There was movement everywhere, small spiders and large fleeing the flames. Some were successful while others tumbled downwards, already burning, legs twitching and spasming in death.

Daemon stepped out of the way as one plopped to the floor right where he'd been standing. He eyed it a moment, making sure it was dead before his instincts warned him of danger and he lifted his head. The spider could have rivaled Ladvarian for size and it was coming straight for him, skittering down the wall with a speed and agility something that size should not possess. He reacted quickly, invisible hands reaching out, dozens, catching the legs, hearing it hiss in rage and frustration as he prevented it from escaping. It struggled against a grip it couldn't see, suspended there, and Daemon almost felt a moment of pity for it. But not quite.

The hands ripped, tearing the spider's limbs from its body and it made an unearthly sound of pain as it dropped, splattering on the edge of a step. Daemon glanced up once more, eyes searching for Renji to see how he'd fared with his payback.

"Done yet?" he called to the Shinigami, a grin in his words, enjoying this far more than he probably should.

[stray_shinigami]

Three quick cuts, flashstep while Zabimaru recovered, and three more. He jumped behind a larger spider and cut it neatly in half, after which point they just seemed to run out. Another flashstep and he was next to Daemon again, taking a moment to carefully step on a small spider that was heading toward Daemon's foot.

"I think we're still even," he said. He propped Zabimaru on his shoulder. It didn't seem worth sheathing the sword this time. "Nice trick with the fire. I always like working with someone that's good at kidou." It made up for the fact that he definitely wasn't any good at it himself.

"Hope there's something more interesting coming up. At this rate neither of us are going to even break a sweat."

[bastard_sadi]

"We are definitely not even," Daemon disagreed, looking amused as he brushed a spider leg off his shoulder. "I'm quite certain you're at least a half dozen behind. Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find something small for you to catch up with," he teased the redhead, starting to climb the stairs once more, his movements graceful and relaxed, although there was a definite anticipation making him move a little more quickly than before. The map he'd copied down earlier from the bulletin board showed where several unexplored areas were up here. he wanted to find his way past them, find a way upstairs.

There had to be a way to learn how they were doing what they were doing. And then put a stop to it.

[stray_shinigami]

Renji laughed. "Don't know where you learned to count." He shook his head, obviously lamenting the sad state of the schools in Daemon's world. He let Daemon get ahead of him in the stairs, then simply jumped to catch up with him. "Oh, hey. I've been meaning to ask..." he kept his tone casual, but his posture was anything but. "How long was I gone? I didn't get the impression that I died just yesterday from the way you were acting."

[bastard_sadi]

Daemon's expression went carefully blank as he glanced over at the other man, debating an answer.

"I don't know," he finally answered honestly. "You might want to ask Sora, if you need an exact number. I do know I apparently slept through around four weeks, so if you remember when I vanished, I'm sure you can figure it out from there. All I knew was that when I woke up, everyone I'd known was gone."

[stray_shinigami]

"But Sora is still here," Renji said. He needed the good news to hold on to. "I hope... No, Kairi still has to be here too. And..." He shook his head. He would have to put a note on the bulletin board. Even if maybe it was better to not know. "All of the other Shinigami are gone."

He shook his head. "It doesn't make sense. I was dead. And four weeks...?" he murmured.

He shook his head again, dragging a grin back onto his face. It was a grim subject, one better left for time that couldn't otherwise be used productively. "Well, you got me back, you unlucky fucker. Your karma must suck."

[bastard_sadi]

"Sora's still here," Daemon agreed, nodding his head slightly as he neared the top of the stairs. "Although I hadn't met him before, I only knew of him through you. I sought him out, though, when I woke up. He's taken over the Arts and Crafts group, by the way. And I spoke to someone named Kairi as well, so I assume that might be the same. As for the Shinigami..." Daemon shot him an apologetic look. "I didn't know all of them, but I haven't seen Rukia, or the white-haired captain." Daemon couldn't recall his name, only that Renji had pointed him out. He remembered thinking he was far too young for that position. "I also haven't seen the two I met the night I guarded the Sunroom."

Renji's expression was grim and it was a feeling Daemon shared. "Not to mention Lucivar and River and Ren. My father vanished before I did, the morning before, actually. I don't know what happened to the others who showed up there just before." Karla, Rainier, Lia... Were they alright? Were they home? It killed him to think about for too long."

Still, Renji had a point, and he forced a grin back, more genuine now, because he was more relieved than Renji knew. He clapped his hand on the Shinigami's shoulder and laughed. "Unlucky or not, I've never been so glad to see anyone as I was tonight in that hall," he answered, utter honesty in his words, despite the amused tone.

[stray_shinigami]

A knot if tension eased in his chest a Daemon confirmed that Kairi was still around. "I knew Hitsugaya-taichou, Ran, and Momo were gone the instant I woke up. We can feel each other. And..." He clenched his teeth before continuing, his voice harsh for just that moment. "Rukia left. Before I died."

He quickly moved on, wanting to focus on something less upsetting. He patted Daemon on the shoulder, knowing that he had quite a few friends gone too, including the woman that had healed Renji's spider bite... What was her name, Jaenelle? But Daemon had obviously been very close to her.

Renji gave Daemon a grin. "Well, I was happy to see you too, asshole." He cleared his throat. "Let's go find some more shit to kill before we start gossiping and painting our toenails."

[bastard_sadi]

"Left?" Daemon echoed, looking started as he followed Renji quickly up the stairs. "What do you mean she left?" He ignored the flirting for the moment, his attention caught by the redheads words and not liking the tone he'd said it in.

[stray_shinigami]

"Ask me some other time," Renji growled. "Keep your fucking head on the game." While out might have sounded like he was angry at Daemon he was really admonishing himself. Now was not the time, not when he had Zabimaru howling for blood in the back of his head.

He paused near the top of the stairs, seeming to listen again. "Smells funny. And not burnt spider funny."

[bastard_sadi]

Daemon didn't press the matter now, although he made a mental note to himself that he would, and soon. Instead, he inclined his head in agreement, pausing at the top of the stairs to probe the darkness beyond. He could sense heartbeats... somewhere. They were muted though, as if there was something trying to hide them, something Daemon's senses were having difficulty penetrating.

Also there were things that weren't human. Lots and lots of things.

He broke into a feral smile as he pushed the door open and stepped out onto the second floor. "Let's go see what's waiting, shall we?"

[Going to here.]