Reunion and Shadows chapter 2
"Alright, Betty," Taurine said, tossing a duffel bag onto the bed. "Since you're staying, make yourself useful and help me pack."
"And just who do you think you're talking to like that?" she shot back, folding her arms.
"I'm talking to you, catch?" he replied, tossing a suitcase at her. "We gotta hurry. I've got someone to see once we get done here."
Ugh. She groaned, reluctantly helping him stuff clothes and gear into the bags. "Fine. But who's so important that you're in such a rush before you leave?"
"Don't worry about it," Taurine said with a grin. "You'll see when we get there. Now, let's get this shit in the car."
"You do remember you can fly, right? So why the car?"
"And who's gonna carry all this stuff while we fly? Not me," he shot back. "Now move it."
"Yeah… you're right. Let's go," she said, rolling her eyes.
They drove down twisting back roads, the kind of lanes only the South has some lined with dense forests, others opening onto fields and scattered houses. The air was thick with humidity and the smell of pine, and the car's engine hummed quietly as they drove in silence.
Betty tried to figure out where they were headed, but Taurine revealed nothing. After thirty minutes, they pulled into a driveway, and Taurine simply stepped out, moving toward the house. Betty followed, hesitating at the front door.
Instead of knocking, Taurine pushed it open and strode inside.
"Wassup, you black bastard!" he called out.
A voice answered from the kitchen: "I'm in here, cracker!"
Betty froze. Taurine didn't even flinch. He walked straight into the kitchen where his friend stood, mid-preparation, casual as ever.
The man was about six-foot-five, solidly built like an MMA fighter, dark-skinned with sharp eyes that lit up when he saw Taurine. They embraced, laughing like no time had passed at all.
"Long time no see, Taurine. How you been, you ugly fucker?"
"Same old, same old," Taurine replied. "You know how it is. What about you?"
"Shiii, can't complain, bro. Who's your little lady friend this time?"
"Oh, her? She's a friend," Taurine said casually.
"Right, a friend. Whatever you say, man," he replied with a wink. "When you gonna introduce me to this 'friend'?"
Taurine cleared his throat. "Betty, this is Tay Tay. Tay Tay, this is Betty."
"You got any gas, bro? I got some papers to roll," Tay Tay asked, grinning.
"You ain't rolling shit. Yo shit always burns like a motherfucker. I'll roll one up. Yo friend gonna smoke?"
"I'm good," Betty said quickly. "I don't do that. I'll just wait outside."
"Alright, be like that," Tay Tay said with a laugh, nudging Taurine.
For the next hour, they smoked, laughed, and reminisced throwing back to memories of mischief and trouble. Old routines felt easy, like nothing had changed.
"Well, Betty and I gotta head out, man. I'll see you around, you ugly motherfucker. Love you, nigga," Taurine said, grabbing the bags.
"Don't be a stranger, you baster. Love you too, cracker," Tay Tay shouted after them.
Outside, Taurine and Betty climbed into the car, unaware of the danger watching from below. Far beneath the surface of the world, in the deep, fiery halls of Hell, the King of Hell smiled.
He had found a way to lure Taurine to him. This time, he would send someone far stronger. Azrakar. Still a lower-ranking demon, yes… but miles more powerful than the last one.
And this time, Taurine wouldn't escape so easily.