Book 1: The Beast and The Harlot (Avenged Sevenfold)

Chapter Nine

Later on that night, we showed up to the adress provided in the card Syn gave us earlier. It was a really big house. Not as many cars were there as we had thought, but we walked up to the door and Kayla knocked on it.

"Come in." Zacky said opening the door with a smile.

I saw Brandys face turn a light sad of pink.

I couldnt help but laugh as Zacky escorted us into a big livingroom were people were standing, sitting, talking, drinking, everything just about. I spotted Johnny and Syn in a door way talking. There was a third person talking to them, but I had no idea who he was. He was kind of short. He had waving brown, shortish hair.

"Wheres Shadows?" I asked Zacky after we followed him into the kitchen.

Zacky gave me a weird smile, "He'll be joining us later."

"What is all this for?" Brandy asked him.

"Its a crowning I told you before." Syn said walking into the kitchen with Johnny behind him, as well as that other guy.

Brandy rolled her eyes, "We knew that much, but crowning of what exactly?"

"They do already know were not human, it wouldnt hurt to tell them." Shadows said coming into the kitchen from the other side of the room.

I got quiet real fast.

"Hes the Shepherd of Fire. One of very few of us that are like him. As a matter of fact, hes the only one left." That other spoke.

Shadows walked up to him and wrapped his arm around him, "Thats right Aaron. And I'll be in control of every hidden demon on earth."

"Shit." Brandy laughed.

"Its true, but you humans wouldnt understand," Shadows said as he walked infront of us again, "But you get to witness it."

"Why invite us for this?" Kayla asked looking around.

Shadows got speachless.

"Well, waiting?" Brandy said crossing her arms.

Zacky looked at Shadows and waited. All of those boys looked at him and waited for him to speak.

"Cause, god damn it." He said before storming off out of the room.

The Aaron guy went after him ,but the other boys just laughed.

"Thats not nice." I said looking at them serious.

They stopped laughing and the Johnny guy looked at me, "Whats not nice? Laughing at our friend being a dumbass?"

"Yea, exactly, so what if he didnt know what to say?" I said getting defencive.

Brandy grabbed my arm, "Lets just go into the livingroom."

I rolled my eyes and followed her into the livingroom with Kayla behind both of us.

Brandy found a little corner away from everyone and looked me in the eye, "What was that about?"

"What was what about?" I said playing dumb.

Kayla laughed, "Yea, right."

I sighed, "Its notthing."

"Your a liar." Brandy smirked at me.

I rolled my eyes, "Nothing!"

Both of them laughed me.

I crossed my arms and glared at them

All of a sudden the lights went off and red lights came on at the stop of the stairs in the middle of the livingroom.

Johnny, Zacky, and that Aaron guy came out of the kitchen and at the foot of the stairs.

Flames appeared at the top of the stairs, that guy that was in our dreams stood as the flames disapired.

"Ladies and gentelmen, and humans." He said looking at us, then at everyone, "Tonight is the crowning of the Shepherd of Fire. Matt Shadows, please come here."

The guy turned toward the side stairs and Shadows walked down next to him.

"Jimmy, are you sure?" Shadows asked him.

The guy nodded his head, "100%."

Shadows nodded his head and looked out at everyone. He looked at me and smiled.

"Please remove your hat." Jimmy told him.

Shadows took off his hat and undid his bandanna. He thenp proceeded and took off the big black jacket he had on and reveled his stomach.

I couldnt take my eyes off him.

"Matt, the avadors." Jimmy said serious.

Shadows shook his head no.

"Do it, now. I dont have all night. I can only be here so long before I slip back." Jimmy said uneasy.

Shadows sighed and took his sunglasses off, but kept his eyes closed.

The Johonny guy, walked up the stairs with a crown in his hand. Jimmy picked it up and looked at Shadows.

"Disiple of the cross and champion in the suffering. Immerse yourself into the kingdom of redemption. Harden your mind through the chains of the divine." Jimmy said as he placed the crown on Shadows head, "Make way for  the Shepherd of Fire."

Shadows hailed up his hand and everyone got on one knee. Everyone but us, but Zacky and Johnny changed that real fast as they whispered something in their ear, they got on one knee. Then I was the only one standing, besides Shadows and Jimmy.

Jimmy looked at me, leaned over and whispered something in Shadows ear, then vanishedin flames.

Shadows looked at me for a long minute before he spoke again.

"I am your pride. Agent of wealth, bearer of needs." Shadows said as he slowly started walking down the stairs, "I am your wat, arming the strong, aiding the weak."

I took a deep breath and stood my groud.

Shadows reached the bottom of the stairs, but kept talking, "I am your wrath. I am your guilt. I am your lust."

He looked me right in the eyes. Paused from talking. Everyone in the room looked at me.

I didnt say another or move. I just stood their, watching him.

"I am your law. I am your star. I am your trust." He said looking at everyone as he walked toward me, "Know me by name, Shepherd of Fire."

He stood right in front of me and looked down at me.

Everyone was know standin and clapping.

Shadows grabbed my hands, "Come with me."

I looked behind me at Brandy and Kayla. Zacky whispered in Brandys ear and they started walking off.

"Shadows, I dont know." I said scared.

He placed my hands on his chest, "Trust me. Call me Matt."

I looked down between us, there wasnt much room. I looked back up at him and nodded my head.

He smiled and escorted me up the stairs.

I had no idea where he was taking me and what I was suppose to do.