Damian's Chronicles Complete series Boxed Set

by Michael Todd

  He handed Damian a card and turned to join his team, and the priest smiled. The battle had definitely been a blast, but it wasn’t something he could do again. Things were different now. He crumpled the card and dropped it on the ground. As much as he was set in his current lifestyle, that card would be way too tempting.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Damian dragged his feet and rolled his arm to ease the shoulder joint. He opened the side door of the SUV and smiled as he put his gear away, thinking about old times in Vegas. There were good and bad memories for him. He zipped his duffel bag as the phone rang in his pocket. His first impulse was to ignore it and he hesitated for a moment, knowing it was the Secretary. After two more rings, he grumbled and rolled his eyes.

  “Talk about a killjoy.”

  He pressed the Answer button, but before he could speak she yelled, “Damian! Damian, I don’t know what to do with you anymore. We send you on a mission with explicit instructions, and you do whatever the hell you want. What was that today? Did you forget that you were no longer a mercenary? Did you forget the vows you took to the church? You aren’t a merc anymore, and you need to remember that.”

  He groaned and turned to lean against the open door. She continued without giving him a chance to respond. “And what do you think the Wise Men will say about this? Do you think they’ll stand back and allow you to break the rules over and over? I was shocked that they came to you with this after the hell you’ve wreaked with the other missions.”

  Damian sighed and shrugged. “They knew who I was when they asked me to join the team. I do things in the safest possible way and with the highest probability for survival. How do you think I’ve stayed alive all these years? It definitely wasn’t luck, that’s for damn sure. Look, you’d think that by now you would be used to the way I do things. Either way, the mission is complete. It’s over and done with. Why does it matter how I get to that point? I saved everyone I could exorcise safely. Most of them were too far gone for me to even attempt it.”

  The Secretary scoffed. “I’m not sure how you know that, given the amount of ammo you unloaded on the demons.”

  He got defensive. “Look, warden, I won’t be killed trying to exorcise when I know there’s a minuscule chance it would work. It’s about safety in these situations. They want me to live another day to continue the work, but at the same time, do stupid things that get people killed. No. I’ll do it my way.”

  She sighed dramatically. “Damian, I understand that you know far better than me or even the Wise Men what it’s like out there, but you have to follow the rules. They are there for a purpose, not simply to piss you off. As far as weapons go, I see why they are necessary. I do. That’s half the reason the Wise Men haven’t found out about the other times you’ve used them. This, though, will be virtually impossible to hide. They will want to see the footage, and you’ve put me in a very tough position.”

  Both lapsed into silence for a moment. Damian tried to calm himself, knowing that it was the Secretary’s job to say those things. He opened his mouth to apologize for jumping down her throat, but she cut him off. “Damian?”

  Damian smiled. “Yes, God?”

  “I’m serious. Where the hell is Max?”

  He jumped to his feet. “Holy shit. Uh, gotta go. Talk to you later.”

  The priest threw the phone onto the seat and raced toward the house. He waved at the mercs, who watched him with confused looks. Damian shook his head, breathing heavily as he jumped over an exorcised Damned in his path. I can’t fucking believe I forgot I locked Max in the closet.

  Ravi laughed hysterically, barely able to get her words out. Oh…oh…this is fucking priceless. The priest was so worried about poor Max that he forgot him in the damn closet. Oh, boy. I can’t… This is like the best thing that has ever happened.

  Damian snarled as he took the porch steps two at a time. Seriously, I’m an asshole. Like, I won’t be upset if Max punches me square in the nose. Okay, maybe I’ll be upset, but it will be completely justified.

  The demon snorted in an effort to regain control. That’s the kind of shit that deserves a nut-punch. No kidding. Right in the nuts.

  He sneered as he started up the steps, slowing his speed. You sound like Pandora. What is it with demons and nut-punches?

  Ravi snickered. We don’t play by the rules.

  Damian reached the closet door and took a deep breath, straightened his jacket, and wiped the panic from his face. He clicked the lock and swung the door open with a smile. Max lifted his chin from his knees, his lips in a disapproving line. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say a word.

  His mentor scratched his head and gestured over his shoulder. “Sorry, dude. I wanted to make sure there weren’t any more demons lurking in the shadows. It wouldn’t make much sense to pull you out only to get in a fight.”

  He grunted as he pulled Max to his feet and stepped back far enough that if the trainee swung, he could dodge it. Max dusted his pants off and stepped out, squinting at the light. He looked down the hall and then at the older man.

  Damian chuckled nervously. “You do okay in there? It was a hell of a fight. Sorry it took so long to get you out. Better safe than sorry, though.”

  Max shoved his companion’s chest hard. “It’s actually funny.”

  “What is?”

  “Oh, just that fifteen or twenty minutes ago, one of the mercs stood outside the closet talking to someone. Do you know what they said?”

  Damian frowned. “No, what?”

  Max looked down the hall and fixed his mentor with a hard look. “Just that they had gotten every last demon and you had been a real asset.”

  He stuttered the beginnings of a response, but Max rolled his eyes and held his hands up. “I can’t believe you forgot me. You left me in a dank old closet where I’m sure at least a dozen mice had met their Maker. There were spiders in there that I don’t think have ever been cataloged, not to mention that it smelled like a mixture of dog shit and one of Rose’s lethal pies.”

  Damian sighed and shrugged. “I’m sorry. But hey, the Secretary had your back the whole time. In fact, she called to ask where you were.”

  Max glared at him. “Mmm. More like she called to reprimand you for not doing your job and then noticed that I was nowhere around.”

  He slapped the young man on the shoulder. “At least she noticed, right?”

  Max sighed and shook his head. “I don’t even know who the hell the Secretary is, but tell her thanks. Who knows how long it would have taken you to realize I wasn’t around? I might have been in there for days.”

  Damian scoffed. “Nah, I would have noticed when it was time to load and you weren’t there for the heavy lifting.”

  Max narrowed his eyes. “Great, I’m a fucking workhorse.”

  His mentor laughed loudly, gave him a thumbs-up, and swiped a cobweb from his shoulder. “Language!”

  Max shook his head and hurried after him. “No. Uh-uh. No way. If you forget me in the closet of a rundown farmhouse, I get to say a few bad words here and there. This is not something you can walk away from.”

  He stopped at the bottom of the stairs as Damian walked outside whistling. Exasperated, he threw his arms in the air and groaned.

  Damian looked at the ceiling when he heard a weight hit the floor. Ravi giggled. What was that? Did he miss the dummy again with his hopeless kicks?

  The priest shook his head and sipped his whiskey. Who knows? But I won’t complain. He has put in double time, training with his demon. He needs it, too. I can only lock him in so many closets before the Wise Men catch on.

  She laughed. Maybe next time you could lock him in a bathroom or something. At least then he can pace the floor angrily instead of sitting in the dark and dust.

  Better yet, I’ll put a cage in the back of the SUV and trick him into it with books about tourism. When he goes inside, bang—the doors come down.

  Ravi cleared her throat. You do know your partner is a human, right? You can’t l
ock him in a cage.

  Damian scoffed. I do what I want. Besides, one day he will thank me for it. He will be alive and breathing.

  She snickered under her breath. Yeah, like that will ever happen.

  The priest opened the cardinal’s journal to the next entry. This was his downtime, and he was determined to put the clues together. He settled in near the fire and began to read.

  November 15, 1965

  Everything has gone downhill since All Hallows Eve. What I did that night for survival will haunt my mind for eternity. This is one of the few moments I feel safe writing this in my journal. The demon from that night seems to have gone back to where he came from. I suppose I did one of the many favors that I owe. Nonetheless, I hope not to run into his kind again.

  His bright red eyes and snarling jaws will give me nightmares for eternity. The demon he was looking for could not be found, but no matter. He took someone else. I received my first medallion, a trade for a tiny piece of my soul when the time comes. I will guard it with my life.

  The church has no suspicion of my involvement in anything, and I must keep it that way. One whisper and I will have failed them and the demon. I’m not really sure which will be worse. The bells are ringing for supper at the chapel, and hopefully, sleep will finally find me tonight. God knows, I never know when the next task will come.

  Until next time.

  Damian closed the journal and rested his chin in his hand. This entry was shorter, and it left more questions than answers. He began to see that this mystery would take a very long time to solve, but he vowed to push forward. The most powerful religious organization in the world was involved, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

  Ravi was silent for a moment and then spoke carefully. Look, I know you’re the priest of all trades. I know that Sherlock Holmes secretly lives inside you, but I think you’re being reckless. I personally believe you should leave this whole thing alone.

  Damian tilted his head thoughtfully. I don’t understand. I thought you believed, as I do, that this is important. Besides, I cannot walk away now.

  She exhaled sharply. Remember what that ghost said? “He shall find you, and when he does, all of the fallen will gather at your doorstep.” Then boom, he exploded.

  He set the book on the table. Yes, I remember. Do you know what that might mean?

  Her cough was obviously fake. Uh, no, I have no idea. But it sounded ominous, and I think you should put more stock in it than you do. This isn’t a game, Damian. You can’t ignore things because you want to.

  Damian raised an eyebrow, sure she knew more. You know what, Ravi? One of these days, you’ll realize that I’m not only your vessel, but I’m also your only ally. You will stop hiding behind your secrets. I will not judge you because you have a past, but I will blame you if those secrets get in the way of solving this or any other mystery that could save lives. There is no sense in hiding from the truth.

  Ravi said nothing for several moments. Yeah? Yeah? Well, whatever. One day, you’ll wear orthopedic shoes, shit your diaper, and say hello to the invalid next door. Fortunately for you, as it is for me, today isn’t that day.

  He stood and returned the journal to the safe. One day you’ll hold back too much, and it will cost us both our lives and our freedom. But do as you will. You are a demon, after all. It doesn’t surprise me that you are stubborn. What surprises me is that whatever you’re holding back scares you. I didn’t think you scared easily.

  The demon fumed. Go fuck yourself, priest. Not everything is as cut and dried as you would like it to be. Even your precious Katie has secrets she will never reveal to you.

  Damian closed the safe. You’re right. The difference is, if she had a secret that would move us forward in this war, she would bite the bullet and tell us.

  Ravi sulked in the shadows of her prison and remained obdurately silent. Part of him felt bad for barking at her like that, but it was time she knew how he felt. Whether it did any good, only time would tell. For now, he would focus on work and the cardinal, and his demon could take her time.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Ahhh.” Damian sighed, put his feet up, and sipped his hot coffee.

  The sun was out, but fall had arrived. The leaves were colorful, the breeze was cold, and they’d had their first frost of the year. It would be his first full autumn and winter in London, and he hoped it wouldn’t be worse than those he had experienced in the States. He shivered slightly, pulled his collar up, and tucked the scarf more securely around his neck. He wore black fingerless gloves, a pair he’d owned since he’d joined the mercs. They were rather the worse for wear at that point, but they did the job.

  Ravi snickered. You look like an old hobo in those things. And what is the point? You want to keep your palms warm, but fuck your digits? They can freeze?

  Damian chuckled as he opened his fallen angel book and flipped to his place. Notes were written on the sides, obviously in Pandora’s hand. He took his time reading the page from top to bottom before he tried to make sense of the annotations. It seemed that was her way to ease her frustration, but they were hilarious. On the top of the page, written in large letters, was Pandora’s sassy attitude.

  If you are reading this book, save yourself time and burn the fucking thing.

  He smirked and turned the book sideways to read the next scribble.

  Apparently this writer has no idea what an angel is, much less a fallen one. Are all humans this fucking dumb? Angels of any kind don’t have magical powers, you fucking idiot. Move out of your mom’s basement.

  Damian laughed loudly, covering his mouth. Along the binding of the book was another message to the reader.

  Eat a dick, bozo. If you think fallen angels are all death and destruction, you have another think coming. Maybe you deserve a little death and destruction…of your asshole.

  He shook his head and sipped his coffee. She had underlined and crossed out information throughout the text. He didn’t know when Pandora had worked on it, but she must have been more than bored. It made him think about Katie and Pandora, and he felt homesick for a moment.

  Ravi chuckled. This is what it takes for you to feel homesick? Vulgar language by the Queen of hell talking about the destruction of someone’s asshole?

  Damian shrugged. Hey, I didn’t pick my friends. They picked me. I guess they grew on me more than I thought they would. Even Pandora, who turned out to be a surprising ally.

  He turned the page and paused as the sounds of scraping footsteps came from Rose’s doorway. She stepped slowly out of the shadows, her gaze fixed on the broken paving. Damian straightened quietly, shut the book, and put it on the table. She hadn’t noticed him, and he wanted it to stay that way. He wanted to see what she was doing.

  Her dress was dirty and wrinkled, and her hair was no longer pulled back in a perfect bun. The silver strands stuck in all directions and framed her wrinkled face. She seemed to have aged ten years overnight. Her back hunched as she walked, and her left foot dragged slightly. The bones in her curled hands looked twisted and frail, and her eyes were a constant deep red that shimmered in the shadows around her.

  “Damn broom,” she mumbled, followed by inaudible sounds.

  Her voice was deep and scratchy, unlike the Rose he knew. It was obvious that at that moment, the demon had taken her over. Every once in a while, her voice would emerge between the words of the snarling, snapping creature. Damian could hear a plea in her tone, and it broke his heart. The beast would take control quickly, and her head would twitch to the side.

  Damian pulled one leg over the other and watched as she attempted to use the broom. She was clumsy and had difficulty moving it and her body at the same time. The demon tried to use her like a puppet, but it was clear he hadn’t mastered human movement yet.

  Ravi groaned. Looks like you might be losing old Grammy over there. I can barely sense her human presence.

  Damian sneered. This is bullshit. She is a fighter, but she shouldn’t have to be. She
doesn’t deserve this.

  Damian, none of them do. You got lucky, like the other mercs. So many humans are taken, and no one even notices.

  He balled his fist. Does that make it right? I’ll answer that for you. No, it fucking doesn’t.

  Rose dropped the broom, and a deep demonic voice snapped, “Pick it up! Useless sack of meat. Either die and let me go or let me have what’s left of this crippled old body.”

  An echo of her voice shimmered across the courtyard like a ghost in the wind. It sent chills up Damian’s spine as he sat there and watched her struggle. Her eyes flashed a brighter red as she retrieved the broom and continued to sweep. The demon, lost in trying to take her over, hadn’t noticed him. Damian held his coffee tightly for a second before he slammed the cup on the table.

  Rose turned and looked at him. He narrowed his eyes, dropped his feet from the chair, and leaned forward on his elbows. Her eyes flashed again, and the demon grumbled. She turned and ran back into the house, slamming the door behind her. Damian straightened and shook his head. I don’t understand how the church—or why the church—would do this to her. If she was so devout, why wouldn’t they want to ease her suffering?

  Ravi exhaled slowly. I don’t know, Damian. Maybe it was her choice. Maybe she wanted to fight the demon on her own, but the church seems to have more secrets than Lucifer these days.

  Damian scoffed. You’re telling me. I can’t get a straight answer out of anyone. Still, there must be a limit. They must eventually allow me to do something for her, right?

  I wouldn’t bet on it, especially after the whole debacle in Scotland. You’ll be lucky to get permission to take a piss at this point.

  He tapped his fingers on the table and glanced at his phone. The more he thought about it, the more frustration built in the pit of his chest. Ravi could tell he was worked up. Calm down, Damian. If you’re going to do what I think you are, you might want to think twice.