Smiling Demons

Drake and his group killed three more witches after Willow. They were unsuccessful in helping some of the Smiling Demons escape an assault. They succeeded in keeping them off their trail back to the hideout.

They came to a clearing and Drake bent down tapping a pile of leaves. He struck metal as it pinged. He knocked once, two times in succession and one more time. The metal hatch creaked as it was unlocked. It opens outward revealing a tunnel underground. He let his men go in first. His eyes glowing blue as he scanned the area using his heightened senses.

He then jumped down the hole and the latch closed behind him. He climbed down and met with his crew as they all waited for the others to leave for some rest. With the light illuminating their masks. They were colored distinguishing them all differently. The girl in the group's mask was yellow in color. Five men's masks all ranged from purple, green, black, orange, and white. Drake's mask was blue like his eyes. He took off his mask revealing a man with spiked black hair, black goatee, and bushy eyebrows. He had a scar on his cheek, on his forehead, and on his chin. All slanted to the right side of his face. Over his black gi he had a vest with a fur collar. In his back was painted a smiling demon in a circle. The girl took off her mask revealing a beautiful woman with stern maroon eyes, a brunette ponytail and wore a black gi like everyone else. She sat on the ground heaving a sigh of relief. She took a drink from a canteen. Purple mask also took his mask off revealing a gray haired man with half his face burnt. He smiled at the girl, "Well we made it one piece Deb. Drake's crazy idea worked" he said, slapping him on the back. Drake scratched the back of his head. "Honestly didn't think we stood a chance" he said honestly. Orange mask pushed his mask on the top of his head. His face looked like a rat and his black hair tied back. "Seriously!" He said in annoyance his pale green eyes rolling at the statement. Green mask sighed revealing his face was handsome and chiseled. He had blonde hair and green eyes. Last was black and white revealing they were twins. Both have purple eyes, angled faces and black hair tied back in a bun.

Drake walked past them down the tunnel, "Doesn't matter! We made it let's go get some food and rest!" The group followed him silently angry as they headed deeper underground. Tunnel opened up a large city built underground made of wooden huts, bridges where water rushed through from a cave. The place was lit up by a giant chandelier in the middle made of millions of candles all lit by balls of light. They approached the guards that heckled Drake, "Oh good we got the ax man back! Why couldn't it be Taive!" The other guard spit on the ground, "Yeah rest in peace the REAPER! Hope the Allfather punishes you!" He said to Drake. He said nothing as he passed through. "Don't listen to them Drake! This crusade was noble for you to take up! The witches have been nothing but a problem for generations. Taking our children! The young women! The young men! Even feeding on us! All have suffered from their cruelty" the purple mask said, grabbing his scarred face in remembrance of a past pain. Drake said nothing for while, "Wit you speak true we have suffered. But this war I started with Taive was not something noble. We both knew the risks doing this. We put our lives in the line attacking the Witch King" he sighed, "Honestly I agree with them that Taive should be here. Not me", Wit shook his head. The green mask spoke up, "Well he's gone. So best we all act accordingly" he said with a cold tone. "Really Quinten? Is it that simple for you?" Deb accused. Quinten nodded, "It is. Plenty of our men died out there tonight. You cry about every single one then your going to be weighed down with guilt. How you going to fight tomorrow?"

Deb felt like she couldn't protest that logic. She went silent. Orange mask pulled out a cigarette and lit it with his finger. "I'm gonna go to the brothel! Later folks!" He said turning down a pathway towards a tall wooden building. "Dross is a perv!" Deb said annoyed. "It's his coping mechanism," Drake explained. "Me, I'm getting a drink! Along with some food!" He said as they walked to a wooden building with the name "The Barrel!" Lit up by neon lights. They opened the door to find people all chatting and drinking. All regular people that work in the city of Rabbit Hole. Some were miners helping expand their city and keep the structure intact. Some were soldiers, others farmers, and so many more. All eating meat and veggies. Waiters and waitresses moved about as bartenders served ale from a barrel. A waitress, seeing them, smiled and walked over. She hugged Drake and he kissed her cheek. "Rachel, good to see you," he said with a smile. "Usual?" She said, smiling back. He nodded. "Follow me" she led him to a corner table to fit the five of them. "Where's Taive?" Rachel asked looking back at the door. "He didn't make it tonight," Drake said with a sad tone. Rachel picked up on the mood from the others. She nodded in understanding ,"Ah…I see. Well…I'll just get some drinks for you to be right back" she left and you could tell she was wiping a tear away from this news. Drake felt terrible, 'She loved him and I can't say anything to fix that' he inwardly cursed.

After a few minutes Rachel returned with cups of ale and behind her a waiter came with plates of food. "I hope you enjoy it," Rachel said, wiping her hands on an apron. Drake gently grabbed her arm. "Wait Rachel" he stood holding up his cup at the table. He quickly grabbed a cup off a tray a waiter was carrying before they noticed. He handed the cup to Rachel who shook her head at his action. "I want to raise a cup to our fallen brethren today. May they find rest and freedom from the madness of this realm" he then took a drink. All followed along with Rachel who was hesitant to do so. She drained the cup and walked away without saying anything. Drake sat back down defeated and all began eating in silence. 'Not sure why I thought that would do anything' Drake thought.

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Afterwards Drake went back to his quarters alone to train and cultivate. He didn't sleep the whole night. He sat upon a circle of metal with a magic circle etched into it. The circle was glowing blue as he sat cross legged on it. He was deep in his Mind Palace. Blue water with floating rectangles all around. They were made of metal and above the sea of blue was a black sky with a crack running down the middle revealing white light. Yellow orbs floated above. His ethereal body stared at a mask with a blue smile and two hollow eyes. 'I made this group hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Red Demon. Ironic being I was nicknamed the Smiling Demon among the habitants of Rabbit Hole. They all see me as a plague these days. The war I rage is causing more harm than good. No person can even set foot outside without being hunted. Making the minors and engineers work harder at digging out space for us' he sighed. 'Be alot easier if the Red Demon was here. Maybe saying that would make it so! I truly am mad aren't I!' He laughed inwardly. 'It's still a fact though. Red Demon was here, maybe he would have a plan. The man's been flying solo this whole time and he seems to be doing just fine' he nodded at this. He opened his eyes to the real world after some time. His soul core is full of chi. He took a few pills for his mind palace.

He heard a knock on his door. Standing in the doorway were men in armor, "Allfather wants to see you Drake" the leader of the armored men said, dawned in a black helmet. Drake nodded putting on his shirt shirt and vest. He picked up his ax sheathing it to a circle clip on his vest. He then followed the men to the Allfather's quarters.