She's Got An Army Of Saints Armed With Her Prayers

Even worse, their pursuers began to bang on the door, so there was no way out where they came from.

There’s got to be another way out. He ran over to one of the windows, yanking on the bars hoping one would give. It was wishful thinking really. He looked over to where Cassie was. The little girl was on her knees, hands clasped in front of her like she was praying. She was in front of a statue of a winged man, holding a shield and spear.

“Cass, what are you doing?” He asked, desperately trying to keep his voice low. Even with all the banging and the fact they clearly knew they were in here, he didn’t want them hearing.

“Mr. Raiden said if something happens, we should pray to the statue and it will protect us.” Of course Raiden said that. The lord of the manor was a pretty spiritual man, it seemed very on brand for his answer to be prayer.

The chest of drawers suddenly jerked, and Johnny dashed across to grab Cassie. As he did, the bandits finally stormed the room, and he turned to face them. There were three of them, two he recognised as Jarek and Tremor, and the third in the middle was Kano, their leader.

“G’day mate,” Kano greeted casually, holding up a knife towards Johnny and Cassie. “I’m gonna need your lil’ girl now, if you don’t mind.”

“Touch my daughter and I’ll punch your dick so hard your balls explode,” Johnny warned, holding Cassie close with one arm, and using the other to make a punching motion.

“Ey, don’t blame me for this! Blame your ex-wife!” Kano twirled the knife in his hand as he approached. “She ain’t givin’ up on her attempts to hunt me down, so y’know…Desperate times lead to desperate measures and all that.”

Johnny’s eyes darted around, trying to search for a possible way out of this. As his eyes landed on Jarek, he noticed the bandit was staring behind Johnny, an extremely confused look on his face. Johnny didn’t want to look away in case Kano took the chance to attack.

“Uh, boss?” Jarek finally brought up, pointing towards the statue. “Is it just me or is that thing’s eyes glowing?”

Johnny wasn’t about to fall for that, until he noticed both Kano and Tremor looking towards the statue and their eyes widening. Johnny finally chanced a glance himself, he found that Jarek was right. The statue's eyes had a faint blue glow to them.

There was a loud crashing sound, as the statue began to crack. Johnny had no idea what was happening but he didn’t want any of the stones to crush Cassie. So he darted to one side, just as the stone began to crumble. When out the way, he turned to look at what was happening, and was shocked at what he saw.

The statue was gone, and in its place was a winged human with a shield and spear.

Before Johnny could really take in what was happening, the former statue darted forward. He tried to strike Kano who quickly ducked out of the way. This seemed to spring Jarek and Tremor to life. They attempted to strike the statue, but found themselves swiftly blocked with the shield. The statue used his shield to push them both back, before once more swiping the spear at them.

This time, he managed to just about catch Jarek, who let out a short hurt yell. As he stumbled backwards, he looked down to see his torso slashed open and bleeding. The statue took this as a chance to strike again, this time jabbing the spear forward, with such force it was driven straight through Jarek’s chest.

“Fuck this,” Kano growled, as the statue pulled the spear out of Jarek. Tremor ran over grabbing Jarek and throwing him over his shoulder. Kano pointed at Johnny. “This ain’t over Cage!”

And like the cowards they were, they ran. All it took was some vaguely magical being that was a far more skilled fighter than they were. Well… Johnny supposed that was actually understandable.

The statue watched them go, as if he was trying to judge if it was worth chasing them. Eventually, he stood down, deciding it was better to just let them go.

He turned around to face Johnny and Cassie. Johnny felt himself instinctively hold Cassie a little closer. Just because the statue had come to their defence initially, it didn’t mean it would stay that way.

“Miss Cassandra Carlton,” the statue addressed, stepping forward ever so slightly. “I have heard your call for protection, and I have granted it.” Wait. So. The prayer worked? What the hell is Raiden doing with a statue like that? “I am Song Kuai Liang, your guardian, from now until you take your final breath.” Kuai Liang got down onto one knee, bowing his head low. “I am at your service.”

“Oh, cool,” Cassie squealed in excitement. “Can you make me a sandwich?”

“As you wish, Miss Cassandra.”

“Wait- Wait- No. No!” He addressed that at both of them. Partially to stop Kuai Liang from actually going through with Cassie’s request and partially because he had so many questions. “Okay. I’m her Father, can I get some context as to what the hell is going on?”

“I am a guardian angel,” Kuai Liang answered, like he didn’t understand where Johnny’s confusion came from. “Your daughter is my ward, Mr. Cage.”

“Right. No. Sorry that doesn’t explain anything,” Johnny sighed, rubbing his face with his hand. “So. Cassie prayed to your statue for protection, and now you’re… What? Gonna protect her for the rest of her life?”

“If you wish to put it in such simple terms, yes.” Kuai Liang’s wings flapped ever so slightly. “The statue, as you so put it, was me in a hibernation state. Awaiting someone to call on me to be their protector.”

“I see…” Johnny kind of understood. He still had many questions. He could probably ask them later, but for now, he decided to try with the one he found most perplexing. “Okay, so, the guy who owns this place, Raiden, had your statue here. And the guy clearly knew what you were and how to summon you, given he told Cassie what to do. So… Why didn’t he summon you himself?”

“I cannot say, I am not Mr. Raiden,” Kuai Liang stated matter of factly, and Johnny mentally kicked himself because… Yeah. He probably wouldn’t know. If the statue thing was him being in hibernation, then he probably wasn’t conscious enough to have any idea.

“Right. Okay. Well. I think we need to go find Raiden then,” Johnny claimed as he began to carry Cassie towards the door. “Because I really wanna know what the fuck is going on.”

“Is that what you wish for, Miss Cassandra?” Kuai Liang asked, following after them.

“Well… I’d prefer the sandwich,” she muttered, pouting slightly. “But if Daddy wants to see Mr. Raiden then I guess we should do that.”

“I see,” Kuai Liang hummed thoughtfully. “Then we will do as Mr. Cage has requested.”

“I mean, I am her father,” Johnny pointed out again. “You should probably refer to me about certain things, before you act on them.”

“Such as?” Kuai Liang asked, tilting his head like he did not understand. Maybe he hadn’t been a protector for a child before, and didn’t know how little self control they had.

“Like, if she asks you to do something stupid like… I dunno… Let her stay up all night.”

That declaration was met with a huff from Cassie as she muttered “dammit.”

“Yeah, I know what you’re like, young lady, and no supernatural guardian is gonna stop you from having a bedtime.”

Kuai Liang looked between them, still clearly not really understanding. Johnny sighed, he tried to think of a way to explain.

“How about this, if she gives you an order that doesn’t relate to her direct safety, maybe just run it past me first, okay?” He didn’t mind Kuai Liang doing things if she was at risk. Protecting her was Johnny’s first priority after all, and if Kuai Liang could help with that, then he’d take everything he could, especially with Kano’s desire for revenge against Sonya. He just didn’t want Cassie abusing her powers to get things like extra cake, making Kuai Liang do embarrassing things or things that could get either of them into trouble.

“I… See…” Kuai Liang nodded thoughtfully, pursing his lips. “If she gives me orders I do not understand, I will ask you first.”

“Good man.”

“Jonathan, Cassandra, there you are,” Raiden’s voice called to them, and they looked just in time to see him running down the corridor. “I’m so relieved you are alright. Did you-” Raiden came to a complete pause, mouth open when he spotted who was with them. “Kuai Liang…”

“Lord Raijin?” Kuai Liang questioned.

Lord Raijin? As in the Shinto thunder god? Just 20 minutes ago he’d have found the idea preposterous, but with everything that just happened? And standing next to a man who came out of a statue?

Raiden being a god was somehow not the weirdest revelation today.

“I think you have some explaining to do, Lord Raijin,” Johnny claimed, narrowing his eyes a little bit.

Raiden sighed in defeat and nodded. “Indeed, I do owe you that much.” He moved to the side and gestured. “This way, I will tell you everything over tea and cake.”

Johnny grumbled, but still went to follow. Meanwhile Cassie had heard the word cake and had gotten excited. Kuai Liang followed along silently, looking concerned about something. Johnny wasn’t sure what that was about. Honestly he wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

Raiden better have a damned good explanation for all this.

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