Brianna Devereaux: The Mambo (Completed)

First Demon and First Sword

Brianna at first thought that no one did a double take because it was New York. Home of Furry conventions and other much weirder s**t. Considering she looked like she stepped out of a medieval era, she did however expect one or two odd looks.

But Brianna stalked the streets with confidence she effortlessly glided passed people who didn’t even spare her a glance.

Letting her instincts be her guide, Brianna ended up in Harlem of all places. Looking around hoping to feel something, it was hours of walking. And nothing, zilch, nada, and she was getting frustrated. It was getting late in the day when she finally felt she was running on fumes.

Deciding on a break, Brianna found a diner to rest in and took a booth in the back. After she dropped her hood, the waitress seemed to finally notice her and came over, “What can I get you sugar?” she asked looking the young girl in a cloak over curiously.

They got a lot of weirdos and cosplay fanatics, so dubbing Brianna one the waitress shrugged it off. “Can I have a cheeseburger, no tomatoes or onion, and a side of fries. A coke to drink please.”

Brianna watched the nice woman write her order down before assuring it’d be just a moment.

And since the diner was empty sans two other tables, Brianna figured it would be. After a ten-minute wait for her food, Brianna felt the eyes from her waitress after she dropped it off.

But for some reason it didn’t worry her as the waitress kept trying to pin her face. She kept glancing over wondering how she knew Brianna, but after thirty minutes she had nothing.

Relaxing as her food settled, Brianna hummed sitting back and then like cold water she was alert. Feeling it in her bones she needed to go, Brianna stood and threw money on the table.

Her waitress only seeing her cape tail following behind her like a shadow as the door closed.  

Brianna looked around as dark aura close to her, burned a bright red. It was trying to corrupt an innocent and she every fiber of her being protested it. The sun seemed to magically disappear in a blink, but even then, Brianna wasn’t afraid.

She walked with no destination and instead let the pure aura beacon her. Ending in an alley wedged between two abandoned and partially demolished brownstones, Brianna smelt it.

It was foul, like rotten garbage, baby diapers, and moldy fish. All left in a hot sun and the smell was enough to burn the hairs out of her nose. Wanting to turn around, Brianna instead toughed it out even as she gagged. Her whole body revolted and grossed out as she crept closer to the end of the alley.

And what she found disgusted her more.

Three men all big and harsh had a young girl cornered in fear as they tried to make grabs at her. Seeing red, Brianna’s vision seemed to do the same thing it did to Kase. She peered through three men and could see they weren’t really men. But instead they were demons, and they were only interested in the pure soul in front of them.

And tainting it, breaking her spirit, will only feed them more.

“Hey!” All three men simultaneously turned like they were auditioning for The Conjuring, eyes turning as black as their souls. Scowling as they all grumbled in annoyance, Brianna dropped her hood as the tearful brown eyes met hers. The young African- American girl in front of her looked no older than fourteen but was grateful to see her.

Like she was her hero, and Brianna had yet to do anything.

As the soulless glared at her, one seemed to peer closer at her. And like she could see him, he seemed capable of seeing her. “f*****g witch.” He spit disgusted. He was dressed like a stereotype of a black man.

Decked out in saggy pants, a too big t-shirt, and scuffed Nikes a do-rag was on his head. His dark skin was beautiful, but it was filled with cuts and scratches. Watching him dismiss her with an eyeroll, one of his friends spat at her feet.

He was rocking FUBU like it was the 90’s, skin like he was dipped in honey, the man hissed, “f**k off, she’s ours.” Meeting his black eyes, Brianna shook her head, “Yeah I don’t think so asshole. She’s mine, so how about you and your f**k tards leave now or I vanquish you. Pick.”

Eyes traveling over the parts of Brianna’s body he could make out, the demon licked it’s yellow teeth, “Or you could take her place. I bet we could make this work.”

And then their other friend stepped forward, a shorter black man, covered in tattoos looking like an Asap Rocky reject. “Where the f**k did a witch come from?” He muttered to Stereotype like he was the boss.

But FUBU didn’t want to ask questions, he wanted his high. And that was only accomplished when he took the purity and innocence of the living. But if dealing with Brianna is what he had to do first, then he would.

“Who cares?” He grunted. Slamming the confused human painfully against the brick wall, she fell down like a bag of rocks. Disoriented she couldn’t understand when FUBU sneered, “She’s interrupting our meal. So, this little witch is going to be the appetizer.”

Mouth becoming unnaturally wider with razor sharp teeth, FUBU’s demonic voice washed over Brianna, “I’m going to eat you slow for challenging me bitch.” Mouth opening like IT’s deadlights, Brianna moved faster than any of the demons saw coming.

And as her staff naturally came into reach, Brianna stabbed the demon in the throat. Her mind buzzing as her body burned with newness. The demon retched painfully as the wood sat in the back of his throat.

But Brianna’s sigil on her hand and staff met, and a silver blade came out of the wood. The demon shrieked at the silver and Brianna smirked, “Have fun back in hell bitch.” And then he was disintegrated, body turning to ash and blowing away in a cloud of smoke.

Only ten seconds were given for Brianna to enjoy her first demon vanquishing. But then shorter guy knocked wind from her. Stumbling back as his talons came at her, Brianna skirted out the way, her body moving on it’s own volition.

Running up a wall, Brianna jumped over his head, her staff enabling her. Landing on her feet behind him, the demon whirled around ready to strike. But was met with a wooden staff in the chest.

Stumbling back, Brianna looked at stereotype holding the panting girl by the throat. His claws ragged and broken to small stubs were drawing blood as he held her to shield him. “Get back,” He panted as his disgusting teeth flashed threatening, “I kill the little b***h now.”

Frowning disgusted at the demon’s tactics, Brianna’s gaze locked on his narrowed black eyes. “Let me walk away and I’ll give her to you.” Scoffing at the deal mostly benefiting him, Brianna sneered, “And you run through my city hurting other young girls?”

A creepy smile took over Stereotypes face, “Can’t save them all. And a man’s got to it.”

A fury burned in Brianna’s blood as she hissed, “You’re not a man. You’re a creature that dug itself out of hell and now, you’re going back.” Stereotype started to make more half ass threats, but Brianna’s gaze pinned him against the wall making his arms snap to his sides.

“Pwazon an ajan! *Silver poison” Brianna yelled. Silver immediately began to bleed from the demon’s eyes and nose. He shrieked in pain clawing at his skin as it burned.  And then she drove her staff into his chest, his body painfully incinerating before his soul fell back into the purgatory.

Falling on her ass panting, Brianna’s head swam and then she painfully retched as her lunch came up. Heaving for a few more moments after, Brianna’s eyes snapped to the shaking girl. She tried to run, but Brianna tripped her making her fall.

Getting up with surprising agility despite her moment of nausea, Brianna watched the young girl quiver in fear.

“If I wanted to hurt you, don’t you think I would have left you to them?” Calming down, the young girl let Brianna help her up. But became unnerved when Brianna simply stared at her like a puzzle.

“W-what are you doing?” Brianna c****d her head to the side lost, “You’re not like me.” Which was the truth, while the young girl in front of her might be special in her own way, she wasn’t a witch.

“What’s your name little girl?” Still frightened from the whole ordeal, the stuttered reply showed it, “Y-y-yolanda.” Brianna hummed, “And you called yourself what? Running away I presume?”

Yolanda nodded since that was exactly what she’d wanted to do. But the spoiled little girl was now seeing the error of her ways, and knew the streets were not for her.

Brianna scoffed a little, “You’re lucky I came, men are a lot of things. But merciful for what they consider weak? They are not. Come on, I’ll walk you home.” In no position to pretend she didn’t need the security, Yolanda and Brianna hopped on a train and went to Queens.

And after standing in front of a fancy building for a moment, Yolanda seemed unsure if she should ask. But Brianna faced her with a confidence and power as she told her frankly, “What I am, what I can do, saved you this time. But next time, you may be on your own. My advice? Stay a child in your parents home as long as possible.”

Sniffling Yolanda nodded as she tiredly asked, “But how do I forget something like that?”

Brianna put a hand on her forehead and whispered, “Not to worry, I can manage that.” Concentrating Brianna naturally pushed for her power as she whispered, “Pa gen memwa. *No memory.” And in a matter of seconds a white square seemed to fall in the girl’s head.

Concealing her from a world she had no business knowing about. Brianna waited until she was inside and smiled when the young girl was greeted in the lobby. Her parents furious she’d ran away, but grateful she was in piece as they hugged her tight.

Turning away from the touching scene, Brianna stalked down the streets like a bat. Glad she’d saved young Yolanda from demons; Brianna also couldn’t help but be disappointed. Because while she’d saved a soul, there was still three girls she had to find.

And so far, she’d made no progress and had wasted a whole day.

Ready to go home and take a bath, Brianna was heading to the train terminal. But then a presence she knew all too well appeared behind her. And while she tried her best to convince herself it was a lie, she knew it wasn’t.

Especially when he said her name.

“Bri?” Freezing feeling ice in her veins, Brianna stopped dead. Turning slowly, Brianna met her older brother’s gaze as he stared at her wide-eyed.