Chapter 3

This is a soul Shaze is to track down.

Shaze heard a noise come from a bush nearby and went to see what it was. But when he looked behind the bush, nothing was to be found. Shaze shrugged it off and began his flight back home. He pushed his wings open as far as they would go and jetted off into the cool night air. He drifted back into his open balcony. Sliding up over the railing and placing his feet down on the cement of the balcony. He then preceded to walk his way back into his room, shutting his balcony doors behind him. He walked over to a chair and sat down.

Just then, his dorm room door swung open hard and heavy. Frank was standing in a huge ball of anger. He was holding a file.

He threw it down on the table Shaze was sitting at and said, “Ok. Mr. Attitude, you want a high ranking job? You can have this one!” He nearly shouted at Shaze.

Shaze picked up the file, “What's this?” He said beginning to open up the file.

“A job worth your time.” Said Frank golden eyes a blaze.

“Ok.” Shaze said looking at Frank calmly in the face.

“Ok! Ok! That's all you have to say, after I give you your way!” Frank said with a roaring fire in his eyes.

“Yeah, you can just leave my room now.” Shaze said preoccupied by reading the file.

“You arrogant little...” Frank began to say.

But Shaze cut him off. “I said, you can get the hell out of my room now!” Shaze said in a more powerful tone.

Frank had no other choice then to leave.

“He'll have no luck coming back and then I will be the new Devil!” Frank thought as he closed the door to Shaze's room.

Frank had kept Shaze down from the beginning because he knew Shaze would become more powerful, might have even become the Devil's right hand man. Frank wanted that spot more than anyone else. He was more than sure that Shaze wouldn't come back in one piece from this trip.

Shaze opened the file and began going through it. The soul to be consumed, not captured, was the legendary “Angst Esser” or “Fear Eater”. It's said that the soul feeds on one's fears.

Shaze mused, “Fear Eater, eh. Can't eat someone's fears if they have none.”

Shaze continued to go through the file. The location said New Brooke Creek.

“That's right next to Nidia.” Shaze said shivering at the thought of what occurred just a few moments ago.

“Wonder what this soul looks like.” Shaze said going through more of the file, hoping to find a picture of some sort.

While he looked through more of the file he found a list of names. He scanned them just briefly because the list was so long. After Shaze read the list he scrolled his eyes back to the top.

It said, “Soul has Devoured the Following:”

Shaze opened his eyes wide. He couldn't believe this.

“How did one soul kill all these Demons?” Shaze wondered in amazement.

He placed the file down and sat there for a moment with a cautious smile on his face.

He thought to himself, “Am I really ready for this?”

He nodded and grabbed his sword up of the back of the chair. He placed it up on his back and got up slowly from his seat. He walked out of his dorm room. He closed the door genitally behind him. He walked down the long call and into the cave. He was very determined to beat this soul and come back home safe and sound. He walked past the Fire and Reaper Demons head held high. He walked into the entrance to the cave that led to the Devil's Keepers and the Devil's dorm.

He walked up to Frank and said, “Frank, I'll be back as soon as I get this soul. You can count on me.”

Frank stood there with arms crossed, “If you say so, kid.”

Shaze walked out of the dorm area and back into the cave. Then he turned to the entrance to the cliff. He decided to run off the cliff. He ran practically into the arm. His wings were quick to open and lift him higher into the sky. His heart was pumping with intoxication to finally get a worth task. He flew up straight up in the air, faster than he'd ever gone.

“Yahoo!!” Shaze shouted with excitement.

He blazed up through the air and then dipped down speeding downward. He spun around a couple times, laughing and smiling all the way. He was a free soul, ready for the task at hand. He flew past the town of Nidia and into a larger town. New Brooke Creek was buzzing with life compared to Nidia the small town Shaze had been to. Though it was night time, people were walking the streets, going to local bars and clubs.

Shaze wondered, “Where in this huge city would a fear eating soul be?”

Shaze had never been a city quite this big. He flew down behind a tall building, having to be careful because of the amount of people. His feet touched the ground and curled his wings up in his jacket. He carefully tucked them in. He also retracted his horns into his head, to get a more Human look. Demons could do that, retract their tails and horns. Shaze walked out from behind the building and tried to blend in with the Human crow.

“This may give me a better chance to catch the Fear Eater off guard.” Shaze laughed to himself.

He walked with a crowd for what was some time before he decided to cut into an alley. He stood at the corner of the alley for a little looking at his surroundings. To his left was a stripper club that some drunk guys were walking out of. Shaze laughed as one came out with his face imprinted with a red hand mark.

“Well someone got a little touchy.” Shaze remarked to the drunk man, who glared Shaze down and walked away head tilted in shame.

To his left were building upon building of housing. Apartments Shaze assumed. After he watched from this alley way for a few minutes he continued to walk with a crowd. This time a small crowd of guys. He heard some whistling and turned his head back to look. It was a group of teenage girls. The other guys in Shaze's group went to see what the whistling was about, but he just kept walking. He did so until the group of girls swarmed around him.

Some saying things like, “Hay hot stuff, you want some of this?”

And, “Let me give my number. Call me for a good time.” That one said it with a wink.

Shaze pushed past the group and continued to walk as he heard moans and complaints from the girls left behind. Shaze wanted nothing more than to concentrate on this task.

“Why can't this town be empty, like Nidia?” Shaze thought to himself a little frustrated with the fact he had to deal with so many people around while he fought souls and such.

Shaze dipped out of the massive crowd and into an empty lot. The lot contained a few tires, but other than that it was completely empty.

“This is more like it.” Shaze said out loud.

“Who dares to wake my slumber, before it is midnight?” Boomed a huge voice from the shadows.

Shaze stood ready at guard. He was a little afraid of what might wait in the shadows for him.

“Is this the Fear Eater?” Shaze thought to himself, standing perfectly still in the empty lot.

Shaze was hidden within the shadows himself. Ready for action but also cautious.

“Who speaks?” Shaze asked boldly.

“I asked you first.” Replied the huge voice.

“I am Shaze. Winged Warrior Demon, sent from Hell to capture and consume souls.” Shaze replied confident in his title.

“So a Demon? They sent a mere Demon to consume me?” The huge voice laughed.

“I promise you I am no mere Demon.” Shaze boasted.

Shaze backed himself up against the wall, hoping to still have a jump on whoever this was. He was sure he knew it was Angst Esser. But, he didn't wanna over step his boundaries here.

“You think you can beat me, Angst Esser or the Fear Eater? You a petty little Demon?” Laughed the Fear Eater.

“I'm not a petty little Demon!” Shaze roared at the Fear Eater.

He stood in place against the wall waiting for the first move of his prey. Though he wanted to jump out and stab the soul for what he'd said. Shaze hated being put down, held down. He wasn't worthless and he was going to prove that to everyone when he brought back the mark of the defeated Fear Eater. He would show them once he freed all the souls of his commraids and the other souls as well.

“Ha. You think a lot of yourself, kid. You think you are high and mighty, but just wait until I make you quiver with your worst fears.” Angst Esser spoke with utter power behind his big voice.

“What if I have no fears? How will you defeat me then, wise Angst Esser?” Shaze mocked the Fear Eater.

“You think you have no fears?” Spoke Angst Esser sadisticly.

“I don't think, I know.” Spoke Shaze all mighty and powerful, his chest puffed out as he stood before the Angst Esser and out of the shadows.

“Ha, but you look like a Human. Where are your wings and horns, Demon?” The Angst Esser said with a half chuckle.

Shaze pulled his wings through the slits in his jacket and sprouted his horns back out. In all his glory he stood before the Angst Esser and laughed in his face.

“You thought I was Human for a second? You think I am a mere Demon, a petty Demon.” Shaze said unable to hold his tongue any longer.

The Angst Esser had got the better of him and Shaze pulled out his sword. He whipped it straight out of it's strap on his back and swirled it in front of him. He drew it across his hand as to make sure the blade was sharp enough and place in directly between him and the huge shadow in front of him. The Angst Esser still had not show himself, so Shaze didn't know what to expect.

“That's a fine piece of work you have. Did you make it yourself or did your mother make it for you? That's your worst fear isn't? The memory of your mother killing you?” The Angst Esser spoke with certainty.

“I'm not afraid of that.” Shaze said his voice a little shaky as he pointed the sword within the shadows.

“You seem a little rattled. Did I say something to offend you?” Mocked the Angst Esser.

“You shut the hell up. You wanna go let's go.” Shaze said urged for the fight, his blood boiling with anger and anticipation.

The anticipation was killing him. He needed to fight and he needed to fight now. He needed to forget what happened in Nidia and he needed to defeat this soul before it defeated him. Shaze shoved his sword into the darkness, only to hit nothing but thin air.

“You are no where close, my friend. Why don't you come into my shadows?” Said the Angst Esser softly.

“You think me a fool?” Shaze howled.

“I think you're a fool for swinging at air like that. What do you take me for? A giant monster?” Questioned the Angst Esser.

“I'm not sure what you look like, for you hiding in the shadows you coward.” Said Shaze.

“You think me a coward? That's big talk for someone who can't even face his own fears.” Boomed the Angst Esser.

“I have no fears. Fears keep a person down. I will not be kept down.” Shaze said with a bright glow in his blue eyes.

“To late. They have already kept you down.” Said the Angst Esser.

“Enough talk! Show yourself! Come fight me!” Raged Shaze.

The Angst Esser stepped out from the shadows. He was about eight feet tale and had long ragged brown fur. On his head he had horns like that of a mountain goat and hooves to match it. His eyes glowed a sickening red. When his tongue would flicker in and out it was split right down the center.

“What the hell are you?” Shaze spoke with eyes wide in amazement.

“I am Angst Esser. Did I not tell you this already? You're not very smart, not are you?” Laughed the Angst Esser.

“I knew that. But I've never seen something like you before.” Shaze said curiously.

“You like what you see, the power of the souls I've consumed?” Said the Angst Esser in a playful manner.

“Don't taunt me! How could you eat those of your kind?” Shaze said with disgust on his face.

“Once you have had a little bite, you just can't stop. The taste is like nothing you will ever taste in your lifetime. Wanna try?” Purred the Angst Esser.

“Hell no, I don't wanna try. That's cannibalism!” Shaze said ready to fight and done with this speech.

“Well, if you aren't the hunter, you become the prey.” Said the Angst Esser as he began to move closer to Shaze.

The Angst Esser jumped at Shaze trying to grasp his body.

“No you don't.” Shaze said dodging out of the way.

“Just let me get a little nibble. I wanna know what your soul taste like.” Hissed the Angst Esser.

Shaze stabbed at the Angst Esser and the Angst Esser grabbed his sword and pulled him in. Shaze could feel the hot breath that smelt like Human blood.

“How can one soul be so evil?” Shaze thought to himself as he pulled his sword away from the Angst Esser.

“You'll have to do better than that, boy.” The Angst Esser said looking amused by Shaze.

Shaze regained his balance from pulling his sword from the powerful arms of the Angst Esser. Shaze ran in for one more thrust and the Angst Esser caught him in mid air and threw him to the ground. Shaze slid across the empty lot. He slid right into a wall, the hit knocking the wind out of him. Shaze got back up struggling to breath, but determined to fight and win. He charged at the Angst Esser again. This time he managed to hit the soul. His blade glistened a toxic green color.

“What the hell is this?” Shaze asked the Angst Esser.

“Acid.” Laughed the Angst Esser.

“What the hell are you doing with acid in your body and why hasn't it killed you yet?” Spoke Shaze a little confused by what the Angst Esser had said.

“It induces your fears.” Spoke the Angst Esser as he threw some of this acid over Shaze.

Shaze stepped back covered in this green acid and his head began to whirl.

“What... What's happening?” Shaze thought as he fell back onto the ground.

Next thing he knew his mother was in front of him with the same silver gun. She had it pointed at him ready to shoot, with his younger brother watching. Shaze couldn't move to stop it, he was frozen in place. He couldn't even turn his head side to side.

“What was going on here? Why can't I move? Where is that Angst Esser character?” Shaze thought eyes kept on the scene in front of him.

His mom shot the gun and Shaze felt that same pain from the flashback in Nidia. This time when Shaze looked down and there was a bullet hole from where his mom had shot him. Shaze looked in disbelief.

“This can't be happening! This can't be happening!” Shaze said in a sort of panic.

“Oh, but Shaze, it is.” Laughed the Angst Esser.

“Where are you, you coward? You think you can mess with my emotions and memories like this?” Shaze roared.

“I'm not doing this to you, you are!” Roared the Angst Esser back at Shaze.

Shaze pulled at his body trying to free himself.

“You know if you were stronger you wouldn't be in this situation.” Chucked the Angst Esser.

“I'm not a weakling!” Shaze shouted a burst of black flame surrounding him.

His power poured from his body, an endless amount it seemed. The Angst Esser looked big eyed as Shaze's power split his illusion.

“This can't be. I tested your inner core before I did this. You shouldn't have had this much power.” Said the Angst Esser very confused at the site before him.

“I told you I'm not a weakling!” Shaze said, blade in hand, power pouring from his body.

It was like black clouds. They shifted around him, bending to his will. The winds blazed around these black clouds of power. Shaze moved fast and hit the Angst Esser from behind and then again from the right side. Shaze was a blur around the Angst Esser and he couldn't keep up with his body or eyes. The Angst Esser clawed at empty air and pounded at the ground, upset that he couldn't catch Shaze.

“Who is the one pawing at thin air now?” Shaze laughed.

Shaze blazed his sword across the head of the Angst Esser. Taking his head clean off. Then he stopped flying about with such speed it left the wind buzzing with energy from Shaze. He walked over to where the head had rolled and picked it up off the ground.

“I told you I was no petty Demon.” He said spitting on the face.

Shaze pulled his sword back and slammed it into the center of the head. His sword did all the rest of the work. Once the head was stabbed, it began to flow into Shaze's sword. Following the consumption of the head the big furry body of the Angst Esser pulled itself into his blade. This freed all the souls the Angst Esser had consumed. Shaze watched this site with a smile about his face. Thousands of souls flowed from the tip of his blade. The circled him, as to thank him for their freedom. They would be able to live another life, happy and free. That's what Shaze hoped. Once all the souls had been freed, Shaze went to move to head back home. He took one step and fell to his knees. Blood leaked to the ground. Shaze was confused as to where the blood was coming from. Then, he looked down remembering the illusion the Angst Esser had posted in front of him.

“That damn soul actually made an illusion real.” Shaze said with a smile on his face, but hurt in his heart.

He took off his jacket and wrapped it around his puncture wound in his chest. He was determined to make it home before he'd let some little wound kill him. He had something to prove to all those who had kept him down. He pulled himself to his feet and lifted up into the sky by his jagged blood dipped wings. All the while, carrying this newly marked sword. The face of the Angst Esser forever imbedded into his sword. That's what happened when a sword consumed a soul. He dragged his sword through the air as his wings pulled him higher. He had enough strength to pull his sword over his head and place it back into his strap. He glided through the air, a sense of accomplishment written across his face.

“No one can tell me I'm worthless now.” Shaze said out loud, as to declare something.

He finally reached the mountain top maze. It had taken longer than he thought to fly back, but then again he was wounded. He stepped down in front of the entrance to the Underworld. He walked through, head held high. Cheers followed him as he walked through.

“Way to go Shaze!” Most of them shouted.

Shaze kept walking. He didn't stop for anyone or anything. He just wanted to reach Frank and rub it in that trolls face. Shaze passed the Demon Women's dorm and got pats on his back and worried looks. He shrugged them aside. He walked down his hall. Heads bowed as he passed them all. He walked into the cave and received a group of Reaper Demons in his way.

“Let me escort you, Shaze.” Said the strongest of the Reaper Demons.

“Hurry up and don't drag me down.” Shaze said to him.

Shaze continued to walk to the entrance to the Devil Keepers and Devil's dorm, now with a Reaper Demon by his side. He pushed through the gate. He received gazes and bows from the Devil Keepers. He pushed passed them and opened the gate to the castle. The guards to the castle didn't even say anything to him. They even seemed to praise him as a member. Shaze walked up to the current Devil and Frank.

“I see you've made it back. Either you defeated him or you managed to come back badly wounded. I think the last.” Frank said with a smile across his face.

“You're wrong Frank. I told you, you should have given me a mission like this sooner. I told you I wouldn't fail you.” Shaze said whipping the sword from his strap.

The sword reflected the face of the Angst Esser. It also said his name underneath of the face. Frank looked in Disbelif.

“There must be some mistake. This can't be the Angst Esser.” Frank said, anger roaring in him.

“This kid wasn't supposed to come back. The Devil's place was to be mine.” Frank thought to himself.

“I don't think there is any mistake, Frank” The Devil spoke.

All was quiet and the Devil beckoned Shaze to show him his sword. Shaze walked up to the Devil, head held high with pride of his accomplishment.

“Very well. Shaze you may very well be in the ranking to become the next Devil. You have my best wishes and seal of approval. To have accomplished a task such as this, takes real power and inner strength. You are no weakling in my eyes.” The Devil told Shaze.

Shaze's face lit up.

“I don't believe this is happening.” Shaze thought to himself all the while, smiling.

Shaze was then dismissed from the presence of the Devil. He walked out of the room smiling as Frank's eyes glowed with anger and terror.

“To think this little brat could out do me.” Frank thought.

Shaze strolled out of the Devil's dorms and into the open cave. He didn't think anything of his battle wounds. He once again ran to jump of the cliff. He was overflowing with happiness. He set flight and glided against the still resting night. He flew to Nidia to thank it for helping him face his fears. When he got there he walked to the playground and sat upon a swing. He swung for a little while thinking how great this day had been. When his world began to spin. He shook it off as nothing. It wasn't long before he noticed a little blood upon the ground below the swing. He touched his hand to his wound and saw a lot of blood pushing past his jacked.

The world suddenly became blurred and Shaze passed out.

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