Chapter One : The Party : tenth edit : (6/23/17)

	A Paladin's Journey : Chapter 1 : tenth edit : (6-23-17)

It was a slow day at work; I had just finished changing the oil for a white 2016 Dodge Challenger that came in for engine inspection. With a bumper sticker that read, "Don't ride me or I'll be riding you". I had seen worse, but that was still uncomfortable. Jimmy came into the back of the shop around 5:00 and chilled for a bit in the employees break room until the boss left. Jimmy has been my best friend ever since senior year, after I came to Arkansas from Kentucky. 5'8", greasy black hair, thickest New York accent, and family in the mob. He always bragged about too. I think he would let that get into his head to often. He nearly started a fistfight with an ushi-oni because she, "Was talking down on the family." He moved out here about a year before I did from the Bronx. An outsider, like me. I think that's why we got along so well.

Once my boss, an older gremlin, left he came out with a stupid fucking grin. With a quick snap back his baseball found its mark in the back of my knee. "Owe! What the hell man? You nearly hit the car." I called back to him with a worried and painful grin. "Ay don’t worry about the car Otto. I found a sweet little party for us to go and knock around in. Maybe even find you a girl or two." With a massive smile he walked across the floor and plopped up on the tailgate of a Chevy, and stretched out. "I don't know man, I am not good with people, worse with girls, and abysmal with monsters. Besides I don't think I can afford it with work." I pretended to keep working with the Dodge while we talked to take my mind off of the aspect of going to a party. "You'll do fine with me Otto I will bring you home before your bed time, and who said there would be monsters there?" I pointed over to a rag on a tool cart by him. "Grab me that rag for me please. Besides it's 2026, monsters are everywhere after the a Total Integration Act." As I closed the hood as Jimmy slid off the tail gate and walked over to me with the rag in hand. "One, the year has nothing to do with it fuck nugget. Two, you are being over dramatic. Three don't be a pussy." Taking the rag in hand I cleaned off my palms. Letting out a sigh I knew how this would end. "Okay I will come, but only for an hour, and no talking to monsters. Got it?" A quick slap on my back followed his comment. "Party is out side town and starts at eight, BYOB, and I will pick you up." With that he was out the door. I waited until I couldn't hear the engine of his car anymore, then tossed the rag back on the cart.

Looking back over I got into the car and brought it around to the front. Going back in through the car entrances I walked to the employees’ window and placed the keys in the tray and called for the Dodge owner. While doing some paper work I heard a familiar voice that made me stop. "So this is what you do now? From stalking women to fixing cars." Turning my attention up I saw Anabeth on the other side of the window, a hellhound who was one of my worse bullies in high school. I was frozen when my eyes locked with her, and she was watching me like a predator to a wounded prey. The fire above her eyes seemed to grow when she locked to my gaze. "Oh Andy, h-how have you been?" It was all I could muster under her presence. With a smile she leaned in a little to were I could see her cleavage under her small shirt. "I have been doing fine, I can see you have been doing nothing. Hay I just heard a rumor you were heading to the party at Lorry's. I am too. Make sure you are there 'Paladin'. I am sure you want to see all your friends again." With that she took the keys from the window and walked out. Her hips swaying to the left then the right in a slow and rhythmic way as her tail flowed in the opposite direction. She didn't pay me.

Once she left, with the dodges tires burning out, I went to the employees’ bathroom and changed into my normal clothes. A pair of boots, my jeans, undershirt, scale mail shirt, and a jacket. Stopping and looking into the mirror. I haven't felt this way since senior year when she slammed me into a brick wall. Luckily I always wear scale mail; otherwise I might have had a broken rib. Plus it's at Lorry's. Lorry was one of the monsters that bullied me along with Andy. She would always just appeared out of nowhere, if there is one monster I would have to dislike it would be a cheshire. Once I got myself back together I closed up the garage and locked up the money. Emily's auto shop. If any of you ever need some repair or something, P.S. I need money. Half expecting to see a white dodge trailing me I took my motorcycle back to my apartment. It's a nice black crotch rocket with white trimmings, and small red crusaders cross on the tank. I stopped at a gas station to fill up the bikes tank, and grabbed a pack of cigarettes to calm my nerves.

When I got back home Susan was coming back from a jog with Kasey in tail. Hard to believe that she could go from very fit to pregnant, then come out looking better than when before. She called out to me when she saw me unlocking my door "Hello Otto!" Turning around I was surprised on how fast she came up to me. "Hello Mrs. Jones, and Ms. Kasey." A very uncomfortable conversation later and I entered my apartment. I fed Steve his veggies, started dinner, took my armor off, and, for the first time in three years, had a smoke on the balcony. Just thinking about what I could do next, unfortunately nothing came to mind. So I went back inside my apartment, with a half smoldering cigarette in a half ass ashtray I made from tubberwear. My apartment is nothing to big, one bedroom, one bathroom, a office, and a living room with an open floor design that connects to the kitchen. I drowned the cigarette by filling up the tubberwear container in the sink. Steve was a bearded dragon I kept as a pet. His cage was across from the living rooms TV so I just let him watch movies while I was gone. It was getting late and I had a party tomorrow, even if I didn't want to go. So I brushed my teeth and flopped down onto my bed for the night.

Thanks to it being Saturday I could sleep in. So I did. I really woke up around 9:00 am, and started my day the same way I have always done. Showered, ate breakfast, had two maybe three cups of coffee, brushed my teeth, and got dressed. I mostly sat around watching movies and looking up new articles on the Internet. It was about 2:00 on when I felt the need for lunch, but looking into my fridge showed no signs of it. I needed to make a run for food. Grabbing a backpack I exited my apartment to see Mrs. Jones and her husband enjoying each others company in the pool. Shrugging it off I went down to my bike and started it up. About halfway to the road I heard someone's music blaring out. I couldn't make out the song because of my helmet but I have heard the beat before. As I kept going the song followed, I took a left it took a left. I went right it went right. At the next red light I got my answer when a kick lifted diesel rolled next to me. Sabaton was blasting out and shaking the windows. Looking into the windows I could see four paladins all-looking back at me. When the light turned green they quickly shot out in front of me, cutting me off, and black smoking me. After that I was able to get my groceries and carefully make my way back home. Unloading the groceries into the fridge I took another look. 'Salads for days, plus some meat on the side.' Closing up the fridge I made myself a chicken salad and split it with Steve. In the middle of eating it my phone started to buzz. It was Jimmy, ‘Hay I will pick you up around 7:40, you ready!' I sent him a quick text back. 'Sure...'

It was 8:00 and Jimmy was pulling into the apartment complex. I could hear his El Camino's engine thumping from my balcony. Going inside I got a bottle of water, my cigarette pack, and some jerky. I debated for a hot second about wearing my great helm or not, I didn't feel comfortable without it. Picking up my backpack again I put in it a bottle of vodka and two shot glasses. One for Jimmy and I. Once I got into his El Camino I could see he packed the floorboard down with all kinds of booze and liquors. "You could kill a whole college campus with all this." Smiling he burned out into the street. "I am getting you laid tonight my friend." I gave him a quick jab in the arm at that remark. "No, no, no, and no. Besides I have a question for you?" Keeping his eyes on the road he turned off the radio. "Yeah what is it?" I looked around thinking for a second as the streets and lights past. "Why did you decide to bring me to a party?" The look in his eyes went from a pumped joy to a misunderstanding. "Didn't your parents got divorced about a month back? I decided to take you out to cheer you up." Nodding I watched the old high school fly by. About thirty minutes later we had exited the city of Red River, Arkansas, another ten minutes and we were pulling down a old dirt road to the party.

Lorry's house was a old two story farm house sitting on 40 acres with a barn close to the house and a pond in the back that her grand parents gave to her on the weekends. About twenty cars and trucks were pulled up around the house including one white Dodge challenger and one kick lifted diesel. Nothing in my body said this was a good idea, but it was to late to back down now. Pulling into a spot next to a ford focus Jimmy shut off the engine and opened the door. When he did all I could hear was music blasting out of the house and bottles hitting the ground. Smiling at me he grabbed a hand full of bottles and started to the house. Throwing my backpack on I left, ducking and dodging around all the vehicles. "So Jimmy when I get in there what am I supposed to do?" Slapping me on the back he gave his usual shit-eating grin. "You will see, live it up I am not your baby sitter." The front doors were wide open and I could see everyone moving around inside, humans, and monsters. The loud music and busy people were a stark contrast to the blissfully calm night air and starry night.

Inside it was a true culture shock. People were everywhere laughing, drinking, making out, and some looked on the verge of fighting. Hands were everywhere and seemed to come from nowhere. After a short walk trying to avoid any and everyone I got a feel for the first floor of the house. The main door opened up to a extremely open floor plan, to the right was the kitchen with a bar, a dining room, and a set of stairs leading to the second floor. To the left was a massive living room that was kept warm with a fireplace. Its furniture was very rustic and it seemed so out of place with its surroundings. There was a slightly ajar door next to the front door that lead down to the basement; I was about to step in when I hear sabaton blasting from it. The house was quite crowded; I kept bumping into people and monsters while trying to find some place for myself. As usual I kept my head down and stayed to an empty place next to the bar. It was somewhat quite there; hardly anyone was in the kitchen at the moment. The whole time people were going up and down the stairs, usually two sometimes three at a time. Focusing on the stairs I could hear some soft muffled moans and a hard creaking.

I felt a soft paw on my left shoulder. "Hey don't look so down, there is plenty of fun around." Then larger paws shoved me out of my spot. Turning my head I was confronted by Lorry and Alexia. Alexia, a jinko, was one member of the group of monsters who made senior year hell of me. She stood about a foot taller than me. The look on their faces turned to surprise when I brought my face up. "Oh my God it's you. What, why are you here?" Alexia stepped forward pushing be back further with her size alone. "Otto what are you doing here?" I was about to mumble something when I felt Lorry's paws on my shoulders, as she seemed to fade out of thin air. "Awww, do you want to have some fun? I think he wants some fun, after all I don't think he has ever been to a party before." Alexia cracked a smile and put one of her paws down on my shoulder to hold me in place. "You know what, I think you are right." Lorry floated for a second before disappearing to somewhere. The last part of her to disappear was that smug ass grin.

"It has been so long Otto, I missed seeing you everyday. I wonder if you still look the same.” With that and a swipe of her hand my helm came off my head. I wouldn’t move out of fear that she might have taken my head with it. “Well, well, well, if I didn’t have a boyfriend I might be dragging you up those stairs right now.” Her paws gripped down harder on my jacket, if not for the mail underneath she probably would have pierced skin. Suddenly she let go and pushed me off to the side. “Enjoy the party.”

It only took several seconds before I was out the back door, I had to breath and I couldn't find any air inside. Occasionally looking back in I would see Jimmy next to the fire place chatting with someone just out of my sight. Under the current circumstance I decided the best option was to take a small walk around the property. After a minute of walking I was passing the barn. It was as big as the house, but only a single story for it. Form its doors came a softer and more relaxing tone, a very contrasting sound from the upbeat house just a hundred yards away. I decided to keep walking. Moving towards the pond all the music started to fade, and become a distant mumble. The nights air was chilling; my jacket only have so much warmth while the fully metal mail bit down through the undershirt. The stars above the trees gave me a clear view of the ground ahead. The pond was about 50 ft at its widest part and held the shape of a crescent moon.

The water was calm and only a small ripple ran across its surface as the wind pulled it along. It quite relaxing to sit by its edge and stare up to the sky. Pulling off my backpack and setting it to the left side of me, closest to the pond. Unzipping its top pouch I found the vodka, water, and jerky. The glasses and cigarettes were in the front zipper. I pulled myself out a glass, and filled it about halfway with vodka. The burning liquid ran down my neck and scratched the back of my throat. A couple shots later and I could feel the effects of a light lunch and no breakfast. For a minute I thought I could hear something behind me. At the time I labeled it as the wind in the tree, but it kept getting closer it sounded more and more like footsteps. Turning my head back I was caught looking at a wyvern wearing a dark blue overall. Her scales were a crimson red, her hair more of a rust. She stood a good half foot over me, and I stand five ten. The most notable part of her was her right wing; it was torn and tattered. It was obvious she couldn't use it for flight. I have seen her before when I was a senior, her name is Victoria. She didn't bully me but she never noticed I even existed.

We stained at each other for a moment before I started to pack my stuff, but she intervened. “Sit down, I was just wondering what you were doing out here. I saw you pass the barn and keep going, people don't just leave parties.” I don't know if it was the vodka, her wing, or her attitude, but I listened to her. As she walked closer the hairs rose higher on my neck. “Just not very social are you.” I was considering leavening as fast as I could. Even if it meant I was leaving my backpack and everything with it; but my ride was probably blasted and with whoever he could get. So I moved about three feet to my right across the ground and continued watching her. “Thought you might be more entertaining to watch then the other drunks.” I didn't know how to respond to her, so I just sat there dumbstruck. A monster approached me on her own, and a wyvern at that too, but not to harass me. She walked closer before sitting down on the other side of my backpack. “So, you going to pour me a drink, or am I am going to get one myself?” I sat there watching her fiery eyes piece my softer hazel set. Slowly I reached into the bag and pulled out the second shot glass, I started to fill it up when she stopped me. She suddenly jetted forward reaching under me and grabbing my glass. “Keep going, I am just getting a drink if you are going to take so long.” I was frozen for a second as she was only inches from my face, her hot breath gave a strange soothing warmth to my cheeks. She waited a second before pulling back and sipping down my drink. I could see once I snapped out of my tension that she was having trouble just holding the glass. Then looking down I was not paying attention to the vodka and wasted about a shot just overflowing the glass. Setting the bottle down I took my shot and decided this was most likely not going to end soon.