The day had finally arrived. The festivity filled the air, as was the aroma of food and the amazing dance of the pretty damsels throughout the street. Men and women walked in pairs, boys and girls played out in the open. A joyous celebration.
Spen was alone though, his friend having fallen prey to Cupid's stray arrows. Miguel had been caught up in one as well, as he and Annabeth danced to the music, much to the cheer and joy of the crowd. Spen also spotted Dr. Vott. He had waved at him but Spen didn't wave back. Not out of anger, but out of shock. The doctor's famous white coat was gone, replaced with a colorful coat. His glasses was gone as well, making him appear much handsome than before, attracting the eyes of many who had wondered what he'd look like without it.
Spen wished he had a phone. There was just to much he needed to show afterwards. The look of embarrassment that would be on their faces.
Spen continued to nimble on the cotton candy, walking through the street. He could see Jose laughing among some of his colleagues, bottles of half empty beer in front of them. Even the so called gangster had come to the celebration, dancing and singing; or at least trying to sing. They were terrible singers, adding their own words to the songs. Thankfully no one could hear them that much.
The fountain was much lively than it was on a normal day. More couples than the previous day, a few older guys who had decided to meet the and discuss their old days. For Spen this was his spot. Whether people gathered there or not, it was his.
Someone had fixed the fountain as there was water in it now. It had also been cleaned up, giving a clear color than reflected the sky. Flowers floated on its surface.
"Here as usual?" Dr. Vott said.
"I see someone is having fun." Spen said.
"Yeah. Haven't had some in a long while. Feels nice though."
"Ha. I can tell. You lost the white coat."
"Indeed."
Spen continued to nimble on the cotton candy.
"Why this fountain?" Dr. Vott asked. "You always come here, whether angry, sad or happy. You always come here. Besides the moon that is."
Spen turned to him, a bit surprised that he had asked that question. "Why do you want to know?"
"Just curious."
Spen sighed looking up at the sky. "When I was little my parents used to bring me here. Or that what I heard from my mom. Then my mom to used to bring me here. Then...my mom was killed by a daemon here."
"Ah...sorry."
"She died trying to protect me. Well, that's how most of us got orphaned anyway. Killed by Diablos."
"So you come here everyday to pay your respects, right?"
Spen nodded. "Least I can do."
"That's actually kind of nice." Dr. Vott said, "Visiting this place to honor her. I haven't visited my brothers grave in years."
"You? A brother? I thought you were an only child."
"Why does everyone think that? Do I look like an only child?"
"Yeah."
"Wow." Dr. Vott sighed. "Yes I had a brother. A business man to be more accurate. Nice guy making a decent living. Then during a daemon attack he was trying to escape with his wife. He never made it."
"Damn."
"His wife did though, so at least, his sacrifice wasn't in vain."
"So the times that you leave you go see his grave?"
"Actually no."
"No? Why? He's your brother."
"He is indeed." Dr. Vott said. "And he will always be my brother. That's why I won't let a gravestone replace that."
A loud shout made everyone turn. From the direction of the school, a large crowd of people seemed to be running in the opposite direction, looks of terror written on their faces. They were close enough to finally make out a few words that they were saying.
"Diablos esta aqui!"
Spen froze. His heart racing, his body stricken with fear. He could feel Dr. Vott shaking him and see his mouth move but he couldn't make out what he was saying. Diablos. Here? Today? It was over for everyone.
"Nikolai!" Dr Vott shouted, finally reaching Spen.
"Y...y...yeah."
"Rush to Miguel and tell him about the Diablos. Hurry. I'll hold it off."
"Y...you can't."
"!VE AHORA!" Dr. Vott commanded, removing his fancy coat. revealing his white buttoned shirt. A smooth black coat of scales began to coat his arms. "I'll hold him off as long as I can!"
Spen moved his body, reluctantly running away. Dashing and weaving through the crowd, he made it to the front, moving way ahead. He looked far ahead, to see a much larger crowd in confusion, wondering what was going on. Spen grunted. He jumped onto a car, and made his way across them. A few followed his path, not matching up to his speed, though. He stopped abruptly, scanning through the crowd. No sight of Miguel anywhere. Miguel closed his eyes. He just needed to sniff him out.
Foods, clothing, drugs, gunpowder, alcohol, grass, trees, paint, more alcohol, Jose, Annabeth...Annabeth...Spen opened his eyes. He found him. But he was far. The town square was already in a riot. He needed something that was sure to gain his attention. It needed to be big. And loud as well.
Spen didn't like the idea. For years he'd kept it secret from everyone. Well except Dr. Vott, that is. It wasn't much of a secret, just that no one knew he had it. Spen, with tremendous speed and strength, leapt into the air, his aim the market center. Concentrating hard, he began to channel the hollow within him out. He could see it. He could touch it. He could...
Miguel had seen the commotion far ahead. He just couldn't hear a word that they were saying.
"Annabeth, get inside." Miguel said, "I'll find out what's up."
"But..."
"Please." Miguel said, kissing her on the cheek. He nodded at Jose who nodded back, grabbing his daughter's hand. Miguel made his way through the crowd. It was agonizing almost falling twice. He had to stop to help a man up before he was crushed by the thousands of pairs of feet.
"!Mirar! El loba de la sombra!"
The crowd had stopped panicking, and everyone turned. Sure enough there was a giant shadow like wolf. Miguel looked at it surprised. He had heard the story of it. A large shadow wolf that fought for them before falling at the hands of the Diablos. Belonging to an inquisitor. At first he thought it was a rei. But a hollow? That was weird.
The shadow wolf made a howl before dispersing, like it was imploding in on itself. It got sucked into the chest of a young boy who fell to the ground. Miguel quickly made his way through the crowd to his side, checking who it was. It was Spen.
"Spen!" Miguel called to him. Spen got up, not minding his bruised knee.
"Diablos!" He cried. "The doctor is fighting diablos! Alone!"