The Power

We see Cain and Carter sitting on a log watching the beautiful view where the sun is about to go down. Cain watches this beautiful sight, trying to memorize what he is seeing right now to implant it in his memories.

"Beautiful ain't it kid"

Cain nodded and said, "Yeah, you don't see this every day. It's a sight to see". Carter smiled as he took it all in and said, "Yeah, it is. I've been coming here every day watching the sun go down, waiting to see what would happen tomorrow".

He turned and looked at the kid and said, "Like you, kid. I have never had a person come here at my shop looking for a job that is right next to the graveyard.". He chuckled and said, "The only people I see are when people need something for a repair or fix something, and when people look for a job there. They get scared like feeling someone is watching them like a ghost."

Cain just laughed at that because it's true you've never seen a mechanic shop that is right next to a graveyard. And how would you feel if you believed in the supernatural, knowing ghosts are watching your back in the least expected? Then something expected happened to what Cater said next.

"So what kind of deal do you make to have that power, kid."

Cain looks confused about what he just heard from him, so he says, "What deal". Carter looks at him seriously, thinking the kid is trying to cover it up or ain't telling the truth, so he says, "You know the deal you made to get that

power, kid."

As soon as Cain heard Carter say about the power, he looked down and sighed and said, "How did you know I had powers?".

Carter nodded and said, "Since we first met when we shook hands. I felt the power running through your veins, and it was powerful".

When Cain heard that, he thought back to when he first met him. He thought he covered it up, but it wasn't that good at all since Carter noticed.

Cain nodded as soon as Carter saw that. Carter sighed, put his left hand on the kid's shoulder, and said to him, "So what can of deal you made to Mephisto to get that power, son?".

Cain looked at him in confusion and said, "Deal, what deal?". Cater follows him in confusion as well, saying to him, "Wait, you didn't make a deal at all, kid".

Cain shook his head and said to him, "I didn't make a deal of anything at all. I'm a mutant".

When Carter heard that, he was surprised hearing him that he was a mutant and relieved at the same time, knowing he didn't make any deals.

Cain looked at him and said, "Who the hell is Mephisto, and what the hell is the deal". Cain already knows, but something in his mind barely knows a few things, just the people's faces and who they are now, because it feels like he's not being Johnny, his old self, but more like Cain, and he feels like he's losing a little about himself from his old life.

Carter sighed as he stood up and walked to the tree, leaning against it and watching the sunset going down, and said to the kid, "The reason why I said that was because I thought you made a deal with Mephisto to get that power, but once I hear you said you're a mutant that surprised me."

Cain looks at him as Carter's back was facing him, and says, "Okay then, who the hell is Mephisto then." Cater just shook his head and said to him, "Mephisto is a man who proclaims himself to be the devil himself, but what I think. I think he's a weak man who talks too much as he orders people around because, without his domain, he's nothing but just a regular Demon He is strong but not stronger anymore, but he has something up his sleeve, and the reason why I said that was I thought you had some piece of what leftover power Zarathos had left with him that he gave it to but I was wrong."

Cain looked at him and said, "Then what the hell is the power of Zarathos that made him stronger?".

Carter turned his whole body to face the kid and explained to him why he was stronger and more dangerous. "Well, you see here, kid, over a trillion years ago, there was a name of Zarathos. He was the most powerful angel that can match up to the archangels that they called him the spirit of Justice created and sent by God to protect the innocent on Earth. But when the rebellion started, he sided with Lucifer because he was sick and tired of what people or gods do here on Earth. As the rebellion ended, Lucifer, Zarathos, and other angels were banished from heaven, making as their punishment God created hell for them to punish the wicked. That made Zarathos the spirit of vengeance, but millions later, new demons started showing up. The fallen angels started to leave to see what was out there in the world along with Lucifer. There were some fallen ones, but they've gotten to enjoy doing evil stuff, but not Zarathos. It wasn't a secret to them that he was the most powerful demon. The next in line to gain full control over hell. His lone mastery and control over hellfire already make him the most powerful demon in hell. Hellfire surrounded them all over hellfire in hell."

Cain just nodded and continued to listen because he didn't know the full story of Zarathos at all. Just that he is a crazy demon that takes over the people he possesses, but he continues what Carter says next: "A lot of demons knew once he takes over hell. He'll start changing things for the better, but the demons like what they are doing because Lucifer isn't there anymore, especially Mephisto, the demon who proclaims to be the devil, so he tricked him into a meeting. It was an ambush; he fought so hard that he killed a lot of demons that they called the inferno age, burning them to ashes, but it was too much for him. Once they captured him, Mephisto tortured him, but he still fought back. But Mephisto keeps something secret; not even the demons know about it. It is a chain that was created by Lucifer himself. That wrapping around him was an unbreakable vice was the legendary Binds of the forgotten souls. An all-powerful artifact used to send whichever sorry soul was trapped in it clutches the soul, destroying the body of the person, keeping it in the in-between realms with the person who controls the soul to do his bidding. Once he did he became powerful enough to think he could control hell but what the demons did not know and not even the fallen ones was that only a celestial can sit on the throne but more like an archangel with divine power levels because Zarathos was close to the same power as them the throne would choose him as the king of hell but not one of the demons".

Cain was taking it all in, not knowing that the fallen ones, including Lucifer himself, were out there, whether it was on Earth or across the Galaxy itself or the universe. Hell, not even the Throne itself. He just thought that whoever was powerful enough got to sit on the throne controlling hell itself.

He had something on his mind that he always wanted to say, so he said this: "Okay, you told me about Zarathos and Mephisto, but you didn't tell me about the deal, but more importantly, what was your deal because you felt my powers so you have powers too then".

Carter snaps his finger and points at him and says, "You catching on, kid, but about the deal is when Mephisto makes a deal with a desperate person for something or someone to be his bounty hunter to do his bidding and put the spirit of vengeance in you as he controls you to do whatever he wants."

Cain got up and went close to him and said, "Then what was your deal?". Cater signed with a sad smile looked at the kid, and said one word, "Love".

Cain looks at him and says, "And why is that?". Carter chuckled, walked toward the edge of the cliff, and said, "Back in the day, when I was young, I was a new sheriff in a village when it was called San Venganza. I had my ups and downs being a chief but I was good at taking down crime until I met the love of my life. Her name was Mary Jones she was a beautiful singer in the club called the Golden Nugget but fell in love at first sight. Years went by, and we were married, but she has gotten sick".

Carter took a shaking deep breath and said, "You see, kid, back in the day, we didn't have many doctors or medicine, but she was close to dying. The one night Mephisto came. He made a deal that he could cure the disease from what my wife as if I were his bounty hunter, and I agreed. The deal was made, and he cured my wife, but years went on, and I stopped doing bounties. Mephisto got very mad. After all, I was slacking because I paid attention to my wife."

Carter looks down and says, "So he hired one my rogues of where I live. He kidnapped my wife, and I traced all across the mountains, leading him right here holding my wife hostage." he pointed at the spot where he was standing, which took Cain by surprised.

Carter looks back at the kid. Cain notices that Carter has tears in his eyes as he looks at him.

Cater then said, "I tried so hard to save her, but I didn't make it. She got shot in the stomach while the rogue was shot square in the chest, leading him to fall to his death." He took a deep breath and said as he squeezed his hands, "A-And I hold her tight in my arms. And I didn't know what to do. I was scared, more like terrified, but she calmed me down even though I was the one who had to calm her down, saying everything was going to be okay even though it wasn't. I held her until her last breath and buried her."

Cater started walking to the big tree and said, "Then Mephisto came to me to go back to the village because he did something when I wasn't there. He called upon a dark fog as when you inhale it, you become corrupted and do bad things, such as killing one another until it is only one person killing himself too. When I got there, he told me to fetch a contract with a thousand evil souls. I didn't know what to do because I was scared he could do all those things, and once I had got the contract I went to meet him again in the desert. But that contract was so powerful. That when he gets his hands on it he would become powerful but once I was about to give it to him I heard the last word my wife said to me 'You can't run from your fears you ride them' and so I did what any person who used to had the spirit of vengeance control by Mephisto. I destroyed the bidding that was controlling Zarathos and we took Mephisto straight back to hell where he came from."

Carter then laid his hand on the tree and said with a smile on his face, "And something miracle happened when I came back here. There was a beautiful tree that was here when I laid my eyes on it. It's because this is where my wife was buried. Every time I'm close to it, I can feel her" putting his forehead on it and saying, "And I don't know why she didn't go to heaven even though I wanted her to. That it was just going to be me and Zarathos walking the earth for who knows how long but I felt, no, I knew she didn't want to leave because she didn't want me to be alone knowing I didn't know what to do without her and she doesn't know what to do without me either but I'm thankful".

It was completely silence after that, just the wind passing by as Carter was taking a calm breath. Cain, on the other hand, slowly has tears in his eyes because he doesn't know what to say about Carter or his wife. For the first time, he sees his true love. It's not a family love or friendship love but a story that hasn't had an ending because he knows there's going to be an end to those two meetings with each other again. He just feels like, or more like, he knows it. That one day, they will see each other again and never let each other go, no matter what.

Cain started wiping the tears away as he noticed Carter was turning around to face him. He then said, "Until I meet you, kid, well, I don't know where to begin. When I first met you, I felt the same power that runs through me too. I thought you made a deal, but I didn't expect you were a mutant".

Cain shrugged and said, "Yeah, well, what's so special about me? I got fired to control and ignite myself, but it's weak, and I don't know anything about me having powerful powers, and what do you mean about having the same that runs in your veins, too?". He looked to his right hand and ignited into flames, seeing what was so special about it.

Carter walks towards him and sees the flames dancing in Cain's hand and says, "Because kid, that right there is more powerful than any regular fire." Carter reaches towards Cain's hand that is ignited right above it, filling the fire and saying, "That right there, kid is hellfire."

Cain was surprised when he heard the response from what Carter had told him about his true power. He didn't know this fire was actually hellfire.

As the fire goes out of his hands, he looks at Carter and sees his eyes that it looks like he is impressed.

Carter looks at him and smiles. "Kid, that is one impressive handy work you got there. While I live for 150 years, the only thing when I use the hellfire power is when I turn into a bounty hunter, but you, I can see why Zarathos sees you as his true vessel."

Cain looks at him and doesn't even know how to answer, so he says, "What do you mean?".

Carter smirks and says, "When we shook each other's hands, didn't you feel whole again? Have you ever felt like something was missing, and it felt right when you felt connected to that power that was running through you?".

Cain nodded as he remembered that feeling he felt when he shook his hand but he put it past that. Now, remembering it for just a second, it felt like he was whole again, but he didn't feel that when his mutation activated when he was angry but didn't feel the feeling again even now when he ignited his hand on fire.

Carter grabbed his shoulders tightly and looked into his eyes and said, "Kid, I really don't want to give you this power but I have to because I know the world is changing for the better or worse, but the world needs the spirit of vengeance because it's getting bigger. And I don't want you to have this burden on your shoulders, but I'm getting too old, and the world needs a rider to ride across the world, vanquishing evil that is coming".

Cain doesn't know what to say because of what he is hearing right now. Carter is handing the mantle of the spirit of vengeance to him.

Carter steps back and reaches his hand out. As soon as his hand reached Cain, his body started to smoke, and a moment later, all-over exposed skin erupted into flames, leaving a fiery skeleton standing right in front of Cain.

Cain didn't take a step back from what he was seeing right in front of him. People would start screaming in horror seeing a demonic being right in front of them but not Cain. What he is seeing right now is a being radiating godlike, powerful fire that he has never seen before, and he wants to feel that power.

When Carter spoke, it sounded like a deep and fiery, smooth demonic voice: "Now, are you ready for the deal, kid?".

Cain looked serious and reached and gripped the fiery bony hand and said, "Let's do this". Carter nodded and said, "Let this be known that he should ever have this power shell be the Spirit of Justice or Spirit of vengeance, he would be God's wrath. Let them know that whoever crosses his path, their evil souls will be in internal punishment, feeling the pains of the innocence they caused. I grant you heaven and hell or earth. The perfect rider that rides across earth now knows this evil that hides in the shadows. You can run, you can hide, but judgment will come. Now I'll give you the power of the Hellfire core. You are whole again!!"

Cain felt his arm that was holding Carter. As soon he looked down, he saw a red and orange glow in his veins that went spreading up to his arm and started spreading across his body. He can feel his insides burning. He doesn't know if this should be him screaming right now but it's felt like his whole body has finally been put back together as if it found the missing piece.

As soon it was done, Carter reverted to his human self and took a step back, seeing Cain looking at his hand as he started flexing them, feeling something was inside him.

Carter was paying close attention and said, "How are you feeling, kid?". Cain was about to respond when something or someone in his head spoke in a godly demonic voice"Do. It".

Cain looked around and said in confusion, "What". As Carter saw this, he knew who he was talking to, so he waited.

"You heard me I said Do.It" the godly demonic voice that was telling him in his head. As Cain started to notice and heard it again, it was in his head, and he said, "What do you want me to do?".

"Oh, you know what I want you to do, so I asked again. Do. It," the Godly demonic being in his head said again in a commanding voice.

Cain didn't know what to do until he thought back in his memories about how he didn't ignite himself again when his mutation activated, so he took a step back and closed his eyes concentrating on trying to recall the feeling as he did his upper body ignite into flames burning his muscles shirt as he felt his flaming hellfire flowing out of him.

As Carter took a step back, he could feel the kid's hellfire radiating out of him as he watched something magnificent until something made him in shock. That was when Cain opened his eyes and had beautiful orange flaming eyes. That he finally knew Cain had become whole because of Zarathos.

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Both Carter and the godly demonic beings said at the same time, "How do you feel?". Cain snapped his neck and says, "I fucking feel great."

Carter smirks as he sees Cain turning off his flames, leaving him shirtless, showing his athletic body with a six back.

Cain looks and sees he is shirtless, sighs, and says, "Damnit." Carter laughed as walks to his horse, grabbed inside the saddle, threw Cain a grey shirt, and said, "At least I was prepared for this to happen".

As soon as he finished putting on the shirt, he grabbed something that hit him in the chest and what felt like leather. He spread it out seeing a classic black leather jacket. As he was admiring it, he heard what Carter said to him: "Keep it, kid."

He looks up, sees Carter getting on his horse, and says to him, "Come on, try it on." Cain smirks as he slides on the leather jacket and says to him, "What do you think.".

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Carter smirked and said, "Like a rider," and pulled his horse as he headed down the cliff. He looks over his shoulder. "Keep the bike, kid, and remember, don't be late tomorrow, kid."

Cain smiled at what he heard that he could keep the bike. As he went and sat on it, the Godly demonic voice spoke to him again, "So kid, how did it feel."

Cain smirked and said, "Like I'm whole again." As soon he said that he heard a laugh in his head that said, "Yeah, well, me too."

Cain put the keys in and said to his head "So got a name". But the only response he got was "Zarathos".

Cain nodded and said, "Well, Zarathos, we got work to do". As he said that he turned on the motorcycle, he left a dirt trail behind, heading home.