Chapter 12

Clara was hurrying after Detective James when her phone beeped. Without waiting, she checked the notification which revealed it was a text message from Mrs. Smith, 'New development. Meet me at the warehouse in thirty minutes', the text said.

"What's going on?" She asked herself before sliding the phone into her back pocket.

She took a left turn down the hallway when she saw detective James about to take a bend to the left.

She increased her pace, catching up with him as she gripped his hand.

"You can fool everyone not me," she said, her eyes staring daggers at him as he scoffed.

"What do you want from me?" James asked

"Really? Do you seriously think I don't know what you are?" Clara was getting pissed.

"It's who and not what?"

"I hate playing games" she replied, "I just want an answer to a question," she said as he kept a straight face.

"What?!" Asked James, he was impatient.

"Why did you do it?" She asked

"Do what?" A frown broke across his face.

"Why did you kill the girl?" Clara was mean, she tried hard not to make a scene.

"Well, I didn't" he replied sharply, "I hope that answers your question" he added and turned to go, but Clara drew him back.

"I'm not a fool, Detective... Look, I'm sick and tired of calling you, detective James. What's your real name?" She asked, he smirked in her face.

"I know you're a demon in disguise and-"

"I also know you're a guardian and you want Richard alive. So, stay off my lane" he caught her short and left her on the spot.

****

Mrs Smith was pacing restlessly in the warehouse when Mr. Ben and Clara came in. Mr. Ben was with his briefcase as usual as he and Clara hurried towards restless Mrs. Smith.

"Thank God you're here," Mrs. Smith said immediately after they came in.

"I got your text, what's going on?" Clara asked with a worried look on her face.

"The detective James or whatever you call him, he knows what's going on and he knows who you are," she said, but Clara don't seem to be surprised.

"I know, she replied I confronted him today" Clara replied.

"You shouldn't have" Mrs. Smith replied with a worried look on her face, "He still has Richard and he might hurt him" she added.

"So, what do you suggest I do when an innocent girl died?!" Mrs. Smith was shocked.

"She's dead?" Her eyes were wide open in surprise.

"Of course she is," replied Clara, "killed by our lovely demon detective" she added, folding her arms.

"Why did you bring us here?" Asked Mr. Ben. He needs to know what exactly is going on.

"He called me about an hour ago, and he was willing to negotiate Richard's release" she replied.

"You negotiated with a demon? Are you crazy?" Clara was surprised. She wasn't expecting the turn of events.

"I think that's the wrong question to ask" Mr. Ben replied to Clara, "the question is, what did you offer him in return for your husband?" He asked, turning to face Mrs. Smith.

"The stone of fear" she replied and Clara scoffed.

"Okay, hold on a second. I don't think I've had any drink today, even if I've been tempted to, but did I just hear you say stone of fear?" She was surprised as Mr. Ben looked from her to Mrs. Smith.

"I'm sure you're surprised as well," she added, directing the statement at Mr. Ben.

"Didn't you tell her?" Mr. Ben asked turning to face Mrs. Smith. Clara was lost.

"No, I haven't,"

"Okay, can someone explain what's going in here, I'm looking like a fool to myself already," said Clara.

"It's about the stone" Mrs. Smith started.

"That it's a legend?, that I know," Clara said cutting her short.

"No, it's not, it's real" Mrs. Smith replied.

"How can it be real when the only person that was said to have it vanished years ago?" Clara asked standing akimbo.

"Well, I've seen it and we have it with us" she replied, Clara was shocked again.

"It's with Trey if you want to ask who amongst us have it," Mr. Ben said when she noticed Clara was about to ask another question, "the stone chose him" he added.

****

The sky suddenly turned dark, casting a shadow of darkness over some part of the city. There was a storm threatening the peace in the woods and lightning won't stop creating works of art in the sky as it flashed across the dark sky from time to time.

A portal suddenly opened with cacodaemon stepping out of it into the woods, leaving trails of flames behind him as the heat from the portal killed the weeds and shrubs around the portal, setting some on fire in the process.

Slenderman jumped down from the tree he had been hiding immediately after Kakodaimon came out, bowing his head as he paid homage to him.

"What do you have?" Kakodaimon asked with the impatient of someone in a hurry.

"Good news" he replied as his faceless head flashed light from time to time.

"Tell me about it," he said.

"I found the stone" Slenderman replied.

"Good, where is it?"

"It's with the guardian's nephew" he replied.

"You called me out to tell me this?" Kakodemon thundered.

"No my lord" he replied with a shaky voice.

"Then what's the problem?"

"There's bad news" a frown could be seen on Kakodemon's face.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"The boy is protected by the first Guardian" he replied.

"What do you mean?" He asked drawing close to him.

"I was in his school today, and I saw him come out of the boy and raise a girl I killed from the dead"

"Impossible!" Kakodemin thundered, "I need the stone by all means" he added.

"I have a plan, but I'll need some help," Slenderman said.

"What's your plan?" Kakodemon was curious.

"The guardian's husband was abducted by some demons I don't know about, perhaps ancient demons, and they're trading him for the stone tonight. If the stone should get in their hands, getting it back might be difficult, so I'll need help" he said.

"What do you need?" Asked Kakodemon.

"I need an army. We need to stop the trade and hijack the stone tonight, it's our best shot" he said.

"Good, one of the underworld's finest warriors will join you tonight. I want that guardian woman dead, I sense she'll be a threat in the future. Make sure you bring the stone and the boy to me, he can be useful" he added as the heat from the portal became intense.

"My time is up" he groaned as the heat was already burning off part of his face. "Bring the stone and the bit and you shall be rewarded,d," he said before disappearing into the portal.

****

"I can't believe this is true," Clara said in disbelief. "I've read about the stone and I believed it was a myth"

"We all had the same thought" Mrs. Smith replied, "but it's true" she added.

Clara was silent for a while as she seems to be having a deep thought on all that age had heard them say for the past few minutes.

"So you're willing to give up the stone in exchange for Richard?" Clara inquired.

"Kinda," Mrs. Smith replied.

"I don't think that's a good idea," said Clara, "If they're after the stone so badly, don't you think it's not for a good purpose? They've tried to dominate the earth for centuries but failed, this might be-ins of their plans this time around, to dominate the world using the power of the stone, if what I read about it is true. Plus, do you think they'll let Richard go even if they have the stone?" She added.

"C'mon Clara, I'm not a fool," said Mrs. Smith, "you think I'll just hand over the stone to them, including Trey?" She asked looking Clara in the eyes, "hell no!"

"So, what's the plan?" Clara asked folding her hands across her chest.

"Here-" Mr. Smith said opening his briefcase as he provided his iPad from it.

"Here's the plan,n," he said as they both draw near him to have a glimpse of what he wanted to show them.