Daniel's Dangerous Dynasty

The following day, Daniel has a strangely familiar visitor show up at his front door, and she carries with her a message that could change his very perspective of things!

A man in a mask was holding a pistol against an elderly cashier lady. "This is a robbery!" the masked man shouted at her.

Rather than comply with the robber's demands, the elderly lady flashed a black card at him with two curved arrows circling one-another. "Uno Reverse Card..." she casually replied.

The robber was now unarmed and holding his hands up in the air. "Oh, crap!" he called out in shock.

The old lady was now holding the pistol up towards the robber. "Now hand me all your money, dear." she told him calmly.

The robber shakily opened up his wallet that he mysteriously now had in his hands. "O-okay! Okay!" he stuttered as he pulled the contents out and offered her.

Caim scratched his chin in puzzlement yet again, as he stood to Daniel's left and tried to understand this strange video his master was showing him on the "Computer" device he spoke of prior.

"Master, I do not understand. Is this card a secret weapon that is more dangerous than the pistol?" he asked.

A loud bang filled the office as Daniel practically slammed his head against the desk. Death, who was sitting next to him in his own chair, shook his head and deadpanned to his potentially injured friend. "Dude, it's hopeless at this point. Just give it up, already!"

Daniel raised his finger up in the air and, muffled by the desk still in his face, shouted, "NEVER!" through the cracks. "I SHALL NEVER SURRENDER!"

Caim saluted his master with respect. "A bold statement, Master. Neither shall I surrender in kind, and shall see your victory through in the end!"

Daniel only growled in response, while Death closed his eye sockets and held his head in his hand, shaking his head left and right out of pity.

Then Daniel's phone started to ring. He straightened back up and looked at it curiously. It was an Unknown Caller. He went to answer it.

"Hello?"

From outside, Pamela held a phone that resembled an old-fashioned rotating phone's upper piece. It didn't have a cord, however, nor a screen hidden away in it.

"Hello, dearie. May I speak with Daniel Smith, please?"

Daniel blinked in surprise, not expecting this for sure. "This, uh... this is he."

Pamela smiled, nodding her head. "Good, good. Listen, sweetie, I was wondering if I could come over for just a few minutes? I promise, it's something important."

"Who is this?" Daniel asked, now full of suspicion.

Pamela replied, "You remember me... the cashier you stood up for at the Gas Mart the other day?"

He thought hard for a moment, before his eyes widened in realization. "OH! Oh, yeah, I remember now! Hey, uh, listen, ma'am. It wasn't that big a deal, really. You don't have to come all this way just to thank me."

Pamela's voice replied over his phone, "Please, dearie, it would mean the world to me!"

He smiled at that, then sighed. "Oh, uh... alright, then. If you insist."

"Thank you." she said, before hanging up.

Daniel looked at his phone puzzled, then tried to call her back. However, the phone only gave out a dial tone in response, and nothing more.

"Huh... that's odd. I didn't even give her my address!" he said confusedly, before a knock came from his front door, causing all heads to turn towards the hallway.

Caim took a step towards it. "I shall answer the door for you, Master."

Daniel quickly threw his hand up, stood from his seat, and shook his head. "After what happened last time?! Hell. No!"

Caim backed up at that, allowing his master to take point. However, Daniel began to feel a bit more uneasy about this, and turned back towards Caim.

"But, uh... stay close by, in case something happens."

Caim saluted him, while Death stood from his seat and drew his Scythe from the void. "I'll keep an eye on the back, in case someone's trying to sneak in!" Death added, now sounding a lot more serious.

Daniel smiled at them and nodded his head, before turning towards the front door.

He slowly reached his hand up to the handle, while Caim remained a short distance behind him. Then, after taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

Standing on the other side, leaned up against her wooden T-shaped walking stick, was none other than Pamela. She smiled warmly at him, and he sighed in relief.

"Oh! Uh... that was... faster than I thought!" Daniel said, blinking the surprise from his face.

Pamela nodded her head and replied, "I was here already, dearie. I'm sorry if I'm intruding."

Daniel shook his head. He just couldn't be mad at this old lady; partly because she reminded him of his mom, and partly because she seemed too old and decrepit to be a threat at all.

But it didn't stop him from at least being a bit on the defensive side, considering someone up there sent a particular Guardian Angel to protect him from something... and said something was, as of right now, completely unknown to him.

"No, no, not at all! Please, ma'am, do come in! Make yourself at home!" he offered before standing to the side, and motioning inward.

She bowed her head graciously before stepping inside. Upon seeing the angel behind Daniel, her warm smile glowed even brighter. "And you were there too, weren't you, young man?"

Caim nodded his head casually, with his blank stare. "I was, Milady."

Then she chuckled a bit, while Daniel nodded his head at Caim in approval.

Her smile then softened a bit, as she started to reach her hand out to gently stroke Caim's face. Caim, in return, just stood there blankly, allowing her to do the gesture.

"Oh, you poor dear... so much time has passed by you since your absence. And yet, even though I can remember you, you can no longer recognize me. My poor little Caim." she cooed.

Alarms immediately triggered in Daniel's and Caim's minds at once. They looked at each other surprised, before turning back towards Pamela, who started to slowly make her way towards the couch.

Daniel then noticed something as she leaned forward... a pair of barely visible black circles that covered the back of her shoulders, and contrasted with her white button-up shirt. He then felt a pang of unease, as he shakily raised his hand and pointed at her.

"Y-you're... you're a Fallen Angel?!" he asked.

She sat down on the couch, then turned towards him and smiled. "Even better, dearie... I'm the Angel of the Past... and I was the one who taught Caim."

As Pamela made her way inside, a pair of green eyes glared at her from high above a mountain, through a binoculars. He lowered it, and through his anger, it started to rust in his hands, despite his gloves covering them.

"Treason... typical. This is why we never should've trusted a damn Clip!" he growled. Once fully rusted, the binoculars was crushed in his palm, as he made his way back onto his feet, and towards the van.

The van revved its engine, as he stepped inside its open door. Then he rubbed the seat and sighed.

"No doubt our target will be on high alert after this. We'll have to delay for even longer, now!"

He slammed his fist on the seat, which made the van hum louder.

"Until we can press further, we'll have to first take care of that traitor... Rampage!"

Its horn honked out loud, and its front lights flashed on. Its front cover cracked across, and shaped up into massive fangs, which curled open. It let out a loud, metal horse-like whinny that echoed in the mountaintops.

"Make way for your next feast!"

It lifted its front wheels and began spinning forwards, before landing back on all fours. It rushed down the mountain, and vanished out of sight.

Daniel had his hands clasped in his lap, and his right leg was shaking. After having heard the news from Pamela, he was now growing more and more uneasy.

"So they aren't finished, yet..." Daniel said, to which Pamela nodded her head.

"Yes... and they come not for just you, but your family, as well!" Pamela said, frowning at his discomfort. Death was now inside the living room as well, seeing how angels were already familiar with him, at the very least. Caim, however, was now standing at the front door with his sword drawn, and placed downward, as he stood guard for the house, even more determined than ever, upon hearing the news.

Death rubbed his chin in thought, before looking at Pamela. "And how exactly do they know about his family, anyways?" he asked.

Daniel's eyes widened and he looked at her, now curious about this, as well.

Pamela closed her eyes and let a single tear fall from it. "Because, dearies... they sought me out."

Everyone was silent at that point. Daniel wanted to feel angry at her, but after seeing the tear from her eye, he knew something else was up.

"I see... so you worked for them, but not by choice?" Daniel asked.

She nodded her head again. "After Lucifer took our wings from the Armageddon of Narnia, we were cast into this world sixty-odd years ago. We lived among humanity ever since, and grew to understand our mortality. However, at the day this world's Armageddon arrived... someone called my sister Priscilla and I... told us that Fey was dead, and that unless we valued our lives, we'd serve he and his horsemen from now on."

Daniel nodded his head. "And did you get this person's name?"

She shook her head and frowned. "No... we asked, but he hung up before we could get an answer. However... he sounded big... strong... and very, very dangerous. His voice, it... it echoed, and... sounded like an entire legion in one body. And though my sisters and I were among the strongest of Angels, this creature, just... just hearing its voice... petrified us with terror."

She then looked at Daniel and gently placed a hand on his cheek, while he looked at her worriedly. "Daniel... your family is in terrible, terrible danger! If the Horsemen were to free their brother from his confinement... if they become Four again... then I fear neither you, nor Caim, could stop the cataclysm that is sure to follow the end of the war."

Daniel nodded his head in understanding. He breathed a bit heavily, and looked at his shaking hands. "I... I..."

He then took a deep breath, before nodding his head. "I understand, Miss Pamela." He looked at her and smiled weakly. "Thank you for going out of your way to warn us... if you hadn't, then I doubt we would've known what hit us before it was too late."

She closed her eyes and nodded her head.

Death reached into his robe and pulled out the vial containing Abel. "Well... for what it's worth, at least they don't know I'm the one with the jar. Daniel... I promise, I will not let them have it."

Daniel looked over at Death and chuckled slightly. "Thanks, Death... you're a good friend."

Death nodded his head and slid the jar back in his robe.

Daniel then saw that the sun was starting to set. He looked over at Pamela and asked, "So, uh... do you want to stay here for the night? I'll let you use the bed as long as you want! I'm cool with using the couch!"

She patted him on the back and shook her head. "No, dearie. You are a good, strong man, Daniel, but... if I stayed here, I'd just bring more trouble into your home. No, I... I have to stand firm, and face what my sisters and I have brought. I only hope and pray that in the end, the future we helped shape comes true."

Daniel nodded again, before standing back up. "Then... can I at least get anything for you before you head out?"

She giggled a bit, before opening her eyes and looking up at him. "Actually, dear, if you wouldn't mind... could I talk you out of an odd request?"

"Of course, Miss Pamela. Anything!" Daniel replied.

She then placed her walking stick on her lap and held her hands up. "Could I possibly talk you out of a small cup of Vinegar, please?"

Though confused by the gesture, Daniel nodded his head and hurried to the kitchen. He grabbed a small teacup and filled it with vinegar, as requested, then brought it to Pamela.

She nodded her head graciously and slowly drank the contents in one go, before handing him back the cup. "Thank you, dearie... but I fear I must go, now. Thank you for your time, Mr. Daniel... and with your new knowledge, may you, and your family, be safe!"

Daniel placed the cup on the coffee table and helped her to her feet. She bowed her head graciously and hobbled past Caim, who was standing oddly still there, with his head faced down.

"Oh, and Daniel?" she asked.

"Yes, Miss Pamela?"

She then smiled at him one last time, before turning towards Caim. "You have my word, that Caim can be trusted. After all... he did learn from me!"

Daniel nodded his head and smiled back at her. "Of course, Miss Pamela. I'll... I'll go easier on him. Of that, you have my word."

She bowed her head once more, before leaving the door, and hobbling her way back over to the street, where a taxi cab sat waiting patiently for her. The driver opened her door, and in moments, drove off with her, back to where she lived.

Daniel then looked at Caim, and frowned after seeing that tears were falling from the angel's eyes.

"Caim, what's wrong?" he asked.

Caim closed his eyes, and shook his head. "M-Master, she... s-she drank Vinegar."

Daniel crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "Yeah... what, is it some kind of ritual in Angel Culture?"

Caim nodded his head. "It... it is an Omen, Master." He looked up at Daniel, whose eyes widened in realization. "It means we are prepared to breathe our last."

It was nightfall when Pamela made it back to her home. She let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes as she stepped into her Living Room. With walking stick in hand, she hobbled her way towards the bedroom, but paused when she felt another presence inside the room.

She opened her eyes and saw the floor in front of her starting to decay and turn to rust. This made her smile a bit, as she looked over her shoulder.

"You know that trick doesn't work on me, dearie." she said casually, before facing forward again, and closing her eyes, as she seemingly ignored the green eyes glowing behind her in anger, and the hand raised out of the shadows.

Famine spat on the ground, which burnt through the wood, before lowering his hand. "Figures. Though your wings are gone, I can still sense power in you, woman."

She casually shrugged her shoulders, as her grip on her walking stick tightened.

Then he snapped his finger, and drew a long, green-glowing sword from the void. He quickly became a blur, as he lunged towards the Fate, while she did nothing to react.

*CLANK!*

In a fraction of a second, however, his blade clashed with the walking stick, which she casually held over her shoulder, and his weapon was frozen in place. It shook a bit, as he applied more pressure, and she raised her left hand in the air, then wiggled her finger in a disciplinary manner.

"Tsk. Now now, dearie. You know what they say about Tempting Fate."

She snapped her finger, and he was immediately propelled back into the shadows of the wall, where he was pinned in place.

She then turned around to face him, and her eyes were still closed.

His glare intensified, as his arms shook from their invisible bindings. Then he managed to break his arms and legs free from the spell, before curling up. Stretching out immediately after, his dark green wings shot out of his back, breaking the rest of his body free.

He then rushed her again, swinging downward in a speed capable of leaving an afterimage, but she simply raised her stick up and blocked the shot, still with her eyes closed.

With a growl, he swung several more times, which met a similar result, as she merely toyed with him, blocking each and every strike without effort.

Then, after blocking one last downward slice, it was her arm that blurred, as she shifted her walking stick over his head and merely tapped on his skull.

He was quickly knocked to his knees, before she leaned her stick to his left side, and tapped on his shoulder.

He was then shot across the room, and through the wall, where his body ragdolled across the yard, leaving decay with each spot he landed and rolled. Then he angled his sword down and sliced into the ground, tearing through the land, but slowing his movement to a halt, while he looked up in anger.

Pamela casually opened the door, ignoring the hole beside it, and hobbled her way outside, using her stick for support again. She stepped down the stairway and into the decayed grass. As soon as her feet touched the grass, however, the decay reversed itself, becoming the beautiful green grass it once was.

He pulled his sword from the ground and rushed after her once more. She blocked two more strikes, before gripping the middle of the stick and lunging it upward, and into his chin.

Famine was then flung into the sky, spinning out of control for a brief moment. Then he straightened his wings out and stopped himself midair. He made his sword glow brighter green, then sliced into the air, making a green flashing line shoot from the blade, and towards her neck.

She lifted her stick up, and angled the top of the T to where it was in-sync with the line. Once it landed, the walking stick absorbed the shot. Then she lowered her stick to where she was holding the top, and lifted the base into the air, pointing it at Famine.

The tip of her stick glowed white. She then slammed the stick down onto the ground, and Famine shot downward, crashing into the land, and kicking dust into the air upon impact.

He was crouched down with his hands angrily gripped onto the grass, as he looked up and saw her take another few steps towards him.

And then, he stood back up and assumed a defensive position, putting his blade in front of him, as he awaited her to make a move.

"Behind you, dearie." her voice echoed in the wind. He turned around, and she was just standing there casually.

He swung his sword at her, but she was once again behind him, staff in hand. She gently pressed it onto his back, and he flew across the yard again, and into a tree, which shattered and fell on top of him.

At this point, he was beyond angry. He gripped the fallen tree that was lying on his stomach, and pulled it in two directions.

It rotted instantly, then shattered open, as he stood back up and rushed towards his sword, which was now lying halfway between she and himself.

She pointed at the sword with her stick, and it flew towards him. He caught it and took another step forward.

Then Pamela hobbled towards him for just a second longer, before bumping into an invisible barrier. She raised a confused eyebrow, while Famine grinned wickedly at her.

Realization dawned on her. She closed her eyes, and smiled. "Oh... well, that's unfortunate." she proclaimed, before looking down at the Himalayan Salt Ring that she walked right into. She tried to move her staff ahead, but it bounced back into the ring. She was trapped, and couldn't even lift her staff anymore.

Famine straightened out his posture, and pointed his blade at her. "You know you could've been spared from this, Fate."

She looked up at him and deadpanned. "Oh, and for how long? Perhaps only a few more days, at least... I know how you Horsemen work. You'd just send your oldest brother to me, and he'd end me for being mortal."

Famine nodded his head, and lowered his sword. "True... but even so, you've only made things worse, now that you've complicated it beyond my control. And so, I'll happily watch you fall here tonight."

She tilted her head confusedly. "Oh? And how do you plan to do that? In case you didn't know, your Spirit Blade can't go through the ring, if it can't fit properly. Face it, Famine. You've only given me a shield, to where you can't possibly kill me, now!"

Then Famine glared at her, before sheathing his sword back into the void. He raised his fingers and told her, "Now, Past... look back at our conversation we just had. When, exactly, did I say I was the one going to end your life?"

With that, he snapped his fingers. A pair of glowing yellow headlights suddenly flashed behind him, and the green van's engine revved up loudly. Its teeth opened wide, and it let out its whinny.

Pamela's eyes widened at the construct, and she looked down at her staff, trying once again to find some way out of the ring.

Then, after Famine walked to the side, and out of Rampage's path, the truck's wheels burned through the decaying grass, and it roared over towards the Fate.

Time then froze around her, as she realized there was no escaping this. And so, she closed her eyes and smiled. Releasing her grip from the walking stick, she shrugged her shoulders and casually spoke. "Well... at least I did the right thing. So now, I go with a smile."

Then, as time returned to normal, the van sped into a blurring speed, crushing Pamela, and consuming her into its awaiting mouth.

It spun around, before returning to Famine, who was still glaring at the area the Fate once stood. He may have won the battle, but the war was far from over. And now, he had to completely rethink his strategy, knowing that Daniel and, by extent, Hell's Army was now on their trail.

He stepped inside Rampage's opened door, and took his seat. As soon as the door closed, the van drove into the night, leaving behind nothing but dead grass behind it.

And there, where Pamela once stood, was nothing left but a ring of salt, a puddle of blood, and her walking stick, which was now broken in half.