Demon Warriors 1: Hondo Read online

  Hondo tilted his head, staring at the warrior in confusion. “Nah, he just wants in on the action.” There was no way Chris liked him. He acted that way around all of them.

  “I think so.” Takeo grabbed Gammy as the other two did the same, all three walking into the shadow on the side of the building.

  Hondo stirred the pasta in the boiling water, checking on the sauce at the same time. “I’m coming,” Chris shouted from the living room.

  “What?” Hondo turned and Chris was right at his side with his apron on. The little demon was fast.

  “Sorry, the commercial took really long to come on.” When he asked Chris over for dinner, he had no clue he’d be stuck cooking. He had planned to stick his friend with the chore. Guess it backfired on him. “It’s cool. The pasta is almost ready, and the sauce is simmering.”

  “I’ll get the garlic bread and put it in the oven.” Chris shot over to the freezer and grabbed the foiled package, ripping it open, and placing two long halves on a cookie sheet.

  “Watch out.” Chris bumped Hondo over as he opened the oven, placing the tray on the rack. “Shouldn’t take too long.” Hondo looked down at Chris, remembering Takeo’s words from last night. Chris didn’t act like he had a crush on him, more like a buddy in his opinion. He waved the thought away. Takeo read too much into things.

  “Let me drain this and then I can sit back and watch the movie with you.”

  Chris shot over to the cupboard, jumping onto a chair and pulling the colander down, setting it in the sink. He ran back over to the stove and shut the sauce off, all before Hondo even pulled the pot from the burner. “Slow down, I’m getting motion sickness.” He chuckled.

  “Sorry, I’m just really hungry, and the movie is about to start again.” Chris shot out of the kitchen as Hondo dumped the pasta in the sink. He set the timer for the bread and then joined Chris in the living room, taking a seat on the other side of the couch.

  “What are we watching?” Hondo asked, seeing how Chris was curled up into a ball and peeking out between his fingers.

  “A scary movie,” Chris whispered.

  “If it’s so scary, why are you watching it?” Chris looked over at Hondo between his fingers. “’Cause it’s good.”

  Hondo smiled. The guy made no sense. He grabbed a throw pillow and held it to his chest, slouching down to watch the movie.

  The acting was terrible and the slasher scenes were comical, but Chris stayed balled up with his knees to his chest and his hands half covering his eyes as he watched it.

  The timer buzzed, and Hondo got up to take the garlic bread out.

  “Don’t let the killer find you while I’m gone,” he teased.

  Chris shot off the couch and ran behind him as Hondo entered the kitchen. The little shit ran into his back when Hondo stopped at the oven.

  “Sorry,” he squeaked and looked over his shoulder. The guy was making this too easy.

  “I’ll be right back.” Hondo set the sheet on the stove, walking out of the kitchen. He hid in the closet, keeping it cracked open until he saw Chris wandering in slowly, looking around for him. He bit his bottom lip to stop the laughter trying to force its way out and ruin his prank.

  “H–Hondo?”

  Hondo jumped from the closet, watching Chris shriek and jump ten feet in the air. “You asshole.” Chris punched him in the stomach.

  Hondo barely feeling it. “That wasn’t nice!” Hondo held his side as he laughed. “I thought it was funny as hell.” He dodged another of Chris’s fists, running into the kitchen, letting the little demon think he was getting even. Chris’s lips were pursed, his eyes narrowed, as he chased Hondo around the four seat table.

  “Okay, I give.” Hondo laughed and grabbed the pasta from the sink, Chris pulling a chair to the cupboard and getting two plates and two glasses down. He balanced them precariously while trying to step down.

  Hondo leased one of the apartments made especially for warriors.

  All the Demon Warriors were occupants here. The counters and cupboards were at his height, which was perfect for him, but not so much for beings under six feet, like Chris. His buddy scraped a chair around the kitchen every time he came over.

  “How much?” Hondo asked as he scooped the spaghetti from the pot and began to pile it on Chris’s plate.

  “Stop.” Chris waved his hands in front of him. “That’s too much.” Hondo took some away, dumping the rest onto his plate and then pouring the sauce over both.

  He was just turning to set the pot back on the stove when the building vibrated. Shit, not again. “Get in the closet, Chris.” The little demon shot from the table as Hondo stormed to the hallway, the other warriors rushing out of their apartments.

  “Where’s Chris?” the warrior Kane asked.

  “I told him to get into the closet,” Hondo shouted over his shoulder as the warriors ran from the hallway and down to the street.

  Shit, it was the demon that had been with Gammy. He was projecting energy blasts into the building, making the bricks crumble slightly, fine dust hit the ground, and a few windows shattered. They weren’t strong enough to do structural damage. The demon must be a young adult, and his powers weren’t fully developed. Lucky for them.

  “Damn, that was my bedroom window.” Kane growled.

  Hondo held his arms out, palms up, as he called forth the demon inside. His skin began to heat up, a glow became visible, and then he caught fire. Hondo’s entire body was engulfed in the inferno. He pulled his right arm back, aiming and throwing the fireball at the attacking demon, but the jackass jumped away in time to avoid the heated missile.

  Kane focused and then everything stilled. Time no longer mattered. He walked over to the demon, Hondo following. They only had a twenty second window before everything morphed back to real time.

  “Who’s got a pair of neutralizing cuffs?” Hondo shouted, reached his hand up, and then caught the flying set. “Thanks, Einarr.” Hondo gave them to Kane, not wanting to set the scumbag on fire. Kane pulled the demon’s hands behind his back, ready to cuff him when time started again, Chris came running out of the building toward them, and the slimeball pulled away at the last second.

  Kane couldn’t stop time because the five minute mark hadn’t been reached yet for him to recharge.

  “No!” Hondo shouted, running toward Chris, but pulled up at the last second, seeing the flames burn higher on his arms from his anxiety.

  The demon saw what was going on, looking quickly from the Demon Warriors to Chris. The smile that crept across his face had a chill running up Hondo’s spine. The demon tipped his head and shot away in the other direction.

  Hondo closed his eyes, willing the flames to bank. Once they ebbed away, he spun around. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the closet?” he shouted.

  Chris shrank back, and his hand trembled as he pushed his hair from his face, glancing around at the other warriors, and then back at Hondo. “I–I was afraid something bad might happened to you.” Chris backed away, turning on his heel and taking off down the street.

  Hondo felt like shit.

  “He’ll be back.” Kane patted him on his shoulder, Hondo still staring after his buddy. “He has been hanging around us too long to let an outburst drive him away.”

  “I’m going to go find him. I didn’t like the way that demon was looking at him. It just doesn’t set right with me.” Hondo took off down the street after Chris, hoping his buddy would forgive him.

  Chapter Two

  Chris used his supersonic speed to race the three blocks down Broadview, and then turned onto Mapledale until he reached his house. He had never been more embarrassed than just now. All the warriors had been standing there, witnessing him being chastised like a child.

  How could Hondo have done that to him? Didn’t he see how much Chris adored him? He fumbled in his pocket, extracting his key, and unlocked the door. He slammed it shut hard, angry at the way Hondo had handled the situation.

  Why, why, why was he so
in love with someone who only looked at him like a friend? Chris wanted to throttle the big lug until he realized how Chris felt about him or passed out from lack of oxygen.

  Chris ran into his bedroom when a big, booming knock sounded on his door. He had a feeling he knew who it was, and he didn’t want to talk right now.

  The brute probably came to yell at him some more. Well, let him yell at the door. He was a grown demon and expected to be treated like one. Just because he was short and skinny, it didn’t mean he deserved any less respect. Chris squeaked when Hondo walked into his bedroom from a shadowed corner.

  He really hated when the guy did that.

  “I could have been naked or, or, having wild sex. You need to learn how to knock!” Chris flopped down onto his bed and crossed his arms over his chest, still angry from earlier.

  “And who would you being having sex with?” The demon took a step closer. Chris thrilled to hear just the slightest hint of jealousy in his voice. Had Hondo finally gotten the thousand and one clues he dropped all of the time and figured out how Chris felt about him?

  Probably not, Hondo was too damn thickheaded.

  “Why is that any of your business?” Chris rested his elbows on his thighs, his hands dangling between his knees, wondering why he bothered to spend so much time with Hondo. At first he began to hang around all of them out of sheer awe of who they were, but then feelings started developing for one big lug-head named Hondo.

  Too bad the man never looked twice at him, at least not in a sexual way. Chris was too chicken to come right out and say that he wanted the demon. So instead, he tortured himself by shadowing him everywhere.

  “You’re right, it isn’t.” Hondo sighed, and Chris wanted to yank his hair out. He pushed from the bed and plodded across the room, pulling the door open.

  “I think you should go.” He was tired of chasing someone who didn’t want him. A hundred years was a long time to run behind someone, and enough was enough. “I’m sorry for not listening earlier.” Chris really didn’t want him to go, but he was hurt and wanted to be alone with all the other emotions swirling around inside of him.

  “Chris, I’m sorry for yelling at you.” Hondo walked across the room and stood in front of him, his hand reaching out, but stopped midway and fell. Oh, how Chris wished the guy would really reach out, but as usual, Hondo didn’t.

  He kept his head down, unable to look up at the demon. It would only crumble his resolve and then he would give in. “I accept your apology. Now could you go?”

  Chris didn’t think the guy would leave. He stood there for a moment, Chris staring at the man’s boots, and then he watched them turn and head out of his bedroom. Chris closed the door, holding onto the handle as his heart broke. Hondo would never want someone as scrawny as him. Why was he chasing a pipe dream?

  He flopped down on his bed and reached for his phone, calling his mom. “Just calling to see what you’re up to.”

  “No, you’re not. I know that tone. What’s wrong, Chrissy?” God, he hated when she called him that. It made him feel like he was five hundred years old again. “Can’t a son call his mom and ask how she’s doing?”

  She snorted. “Normally yes, but with you, no. What’s wrong?” My heart’s been torn in two, and I want to cry my eyes out.

  “Nothing.” He blinked up at the ceiling, refusing to let the tears roll.

  He knew he should move on, forget about Hondo, but the demon was unforgettable. How do you forget someone who makes your skin scream for attention every time he’s near?

  “Fine, don’t tell me. Anyway, your sister came by…” Chris tuned her out. All he wanted was to hear her voice for comfort, not listen to the latest gossip. Normally he loved hearing about the whos and whats of his family and friends, but not today.

  Today he just wanted to crawl under his blanket and forget about the most stunning Egyptian warrior he’d ever known. The Demon Warriors were a melting pot of nationalities, making up a group of stunning men, but he only had eyes for Hondo.

  “Are you listening to me?”

  “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

  “I said, where’s Hondo? You’re always with him.” His mother was using that mommy tone, and Chris hated it.

  “Out doing his job, I guess.” He rolled over to his stomach, kicking his legs up into the air and crossing his ankles.

  “Is he the reason you are so upset, dear?”

  “He yelled at me in front of the guys. I’m supposed to be upset.” He told her only half of it, too ashamed to admit how much he wanted the guy. Even though he and his mom talked about everything, that was one subject he never touched with her.

  “You know they care about you. Don’t take it to heart.”

  Too late. “I know. I’m going to go. Tell sissy I said hi.” Chris hung up, not waiting for a reply. He tossed the phone aside, feeling like a hole was in his chest where his heart used to be.

  Chris panted as he ran as fast as he could. The demon that had attacked the warriors’ building the other night just hit him with an energy blast, and now Chris’s sonic speed was out of whack. His legs were starting to cramp, and his lungs were on fire. Using normal speed to run sucked. He skidded around the corner and jumped over a trash can that was lying on its side.

  The demon was hot on his heels. He had learned his name was Leam and Gammy was not his buddy, but his brother.

  He hit the ground when he heard the charge coming at him, pushed back to his feet, and took off again when it missed by mere inches.

  Chris ran into King Wings and shot out of the back door, hoping to lose the scum bucket. “Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me.” He bumped into numerous people trying to make it to the warriors’

  building. He was mad as hell at Hondo, but one of them would help him. He cursed when he stumbled, hitting his chin on the sidewalk.

  Chris looked over his shoulder and saw Leam gaining fast. He got up and took off, feeling his black blood trickling down his chin. Wiping at it, he ducked around a corner and pushed at the first door he saw, rushing in and slamming it shut.

  He held his hands to the door, panting and gulping to catch his breath.

  “What do we have here?”

  Chris spun around and slammed his back into the door, his eyes scanning all around him. It was an ordinary backroom with stock piled high and a small desk with papers strewn about on top of it.

  What didn’t seem ordinary were the five large demons—not as big as the Demon Warriors—sitting at a round table in the middle of crates and boxes.

  Oh, crap, what had he gotten into now?

  “Come, have a seat.” The largest of the five stood. His smile was lecherous as he nodded to a sixth and empty chair.

  Chris felt for the doorknob and cursed when he didn’t feel one.

  His night was getting more fucked up by the hour, minute actually. “I can’t, I have a hair appointment.”

  The five laughed, but the one standing was the guy who advanced toward Chris. Oh boy, this was gonna hurt.

  Hondo was going out of his mind with worry. Chris had never ignored his phone calls before. Sure, he had yelled at the little guy, but that shouldn’t have been enough to make him unreachable.

  It had hurt like hell when Chris demanded he leave. The guy had never been this upset with him before, and Hondo was at a loss on how to fix it. He didn’t want to wait a few days. He wanted it fixed now.

  He once again thought of Takeo’s words, but dismissed them. If Chris was sweet on him, he wouldn’t be acting this way. Hondo couldn’t think of this right now. They had to find Chris first. Then he would try to figure the rest out.

  He had looked everywhere he could think of, but Chris had just vanished.

  “We’ll find him,” Rainerio tried to reassure Hondo. Why was everyone trying to comfort him? They were all his friends. Why single him out?

  They all sat around in Panahasi’s apartment trying to think of where he could be.

  They were all worried abou
t Chris. They sat silently for a long time.

  Hondo pounded his fist onto the table, wanting his little buddy back. “There’s no way he just vanished into thin air.”

  “I agree.” Panahasi sat very still, his eyes narrowed. “Something’s not right.”

  Hondo leaned forward in his chair, and in a controlled voice, he said, “If that scumbag that was here the other night hurt him, I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

  “What about Torky? Has anyone asked him if he’s seen Chris?” Takeo rose in one fluid motion, staring down at Hondo.

  Hondo rose from his seat as if propelled by an explosion. “I never thought of him.” He raced to the door and tore the door open, running from the apartment building and down the street.

  How could he forget about loudmouth Torky? The demon that had the lowdown on everything and everyone…for the right price.

  Hondo raced down King Kennedy, cutting a left onto Broadview.

  Torky always hung out in front of his apartment building.

  Hondo prayed he would be there now.

  Torky was lounging casually against the brick wall of his building, arguing with one of his loser subjects. Hondo took in the scene as he approached.

  Perfect.

  “Torky,” Hondo shouted.

  The neighborhood know-it-all looked over his shoulder to see Hondo gaining fast. He shrugged indifferently and then looked back at the guy he was arguing with. Hondo had an urge to set the fucker on fire. He couldn’t stand Torky and his sheisty ways. The guy would sell his mother out for a buck.

  He grabbed Torky’s arm and pulled him away from the building.

  “Chris is missing. Have you seen him?” Torky pulled his arm away, sneering at Hondo. “It’ll cost you.”

  “You didn’t charge me earlier for the information about Gammy.” Hondo growled at him, pissed that Torky was being difficult.

  “That’s because I wanted his ass off the streets as well. He’s bad for business.” Torky turned his back on Hondo, taking a step away from him.

  Hondo grabbed Torky and yanked him back, grabbing the punk by his collar. “This is Chris we’re talking about. Fucking tell me, or I’m gonna take you to Panahasi and let him get the information out of you.”