Everyone has Their Demons

by A. L. Kessler

  ∞

  I trudged into my office. Glass windows overlooked the mountains on the far side of the room. My desk sat in the middle of the room with a chair behind it and a chair in front for the rare visitor. It used to be that I kept my desk empty of any personal effects, but as of late a couple things were breaking that rule. The little vampire doll on a stand sat on the corner, and on the bottom of her stand was a protection rune. Simon had bought the doll as a ruse while we talked to the owner of the store. The creepy thing was that it looked just like me. Curly dark hair, brown eyes, but it was wearing a Victorian dress and had dainty vampire fangs painted on her.

  Next to the desk was a pink lawn flamingo which had been used in an attempt to woo me into a date. He was a nice reminder that not everything in my life was creepy.

  I walked to my desk and put my bag down. I had an afternoon of research ahead of me, and I wish I would have stopped for coffee. I unlocked my computer and then typed in my password.

  I opened the search program and typed in David Long and hit enter. Nothing came back that met his description. No information on if he was a supernatural creature or not, no priors, nothing in the system. It didn't have an address listed. He was clean. I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. People who were that clean in the system were never good news. Many times they were using fake names.

  I typed in Starla Porter and raised a brow when pages of search results showed up. I scrolled through mostly records of previous addresses, a few speeding tickets, one report of disturbing the peace and one report of supernatural misconduct.

  Those last two caught my interest. I clicked on the disturbing the peace report. What I was expecting was a typical report of drunken escapades, but what I got was a report of a violent bar fight. I scanned the report to see where the bar fight was. Wolf's Bane and it was within the last month.

  I cursed, there had been murders at that bar before, and the local wolf pack owned it. I hadn't talked to Simon recently because he was unhappy about how much time I was spending with Mario. Not that it had been my choice.

  I reached for the phone and thought about calling Simon, but instead, I called the club directly.

  "Wolf's Bane, we don't open until five, what do you want." Travis', Simon's second-in-command, voice came through the receiver.

  I wrinkled my nose. "Is that really how you answer the phone."

  "Agent Collins, to what do I owe this…pleasure?"

  Once upon a time, Travis and I didn't get along. He hated me, and I wasn't his biggest fan. But I saved his life and he gave me needed information for a case and most of that changed.

  "It's actually special agent now, and I was calling to ask about a fight in your bar a month ago."

  He grumbled. "Can you be more specific?"

  "It would have been bad enough that the cops were called and involved a woman named Starla Porter."

  He cursed. "Yeah, that bitch. She started a full-on brawl in the bar. Attacked one of our bartenders, pulling her over the bar."

  "Sounds like quite the night. Any idea what she is?"

  "No, but she was with a witch."

  I was hoping that he could confirm what Starla was but maybe her supernatural misconduct was a hint that she could also be a witch. "Are you sure about that?"

  "Yes." He hesitated slightly.

  "Travis?"

  He let out a growl. "Yes, I'm sure. She came in with the witch I hired to ward the bar."

  "Ah, well then. Any idea chance you might know where she is?"

  "Has she done something else?"

  "I can't tell you anything except it's related to a case."

  He started laughing. "Abigail, you deal in murder. That tells me everything I need to know. She was here last night talking about taking a red-eye out. She was with some man."

  "Do you know why? Or where?"

  "Nope, is that all?"

  "Thanks for the info Travis."

  He grunted and we both disconnected. So she was planning on leaving town. Did she know about the demon summoning? Where was she now?

  I put my phone on the desk and looked at the computer screen. I really hoped that the wolves weren't involved in this any further. I had magic on their pack lands, but that didn't help much last time they were involved in a case.

  All I needed to do was locate her. I had nothing but a name to go off of. I could go back to the scene and grab an article of clothing, but without her being a true suspect, I might have a hard time justifying it if any of the higher-ups questioned it. No, I could wait it out a bit. With any luck, she'd return to the scene to get her things.

  I closed out the search and checked my work e-mail. There, sitting in my inbox were the pictures of the runes and markings from Clarissa's scene.

  My hand shook a little bit as I opened the files and the pictures filled my screens. Liz had been kind enough to not include any pictures of Clarissa or the rest of the crime scene. Maybe because she knew I'd questioned her about the scene or maybe because she was trying to keep me from dwelling on the personal aspects of the case.

  I pulled up an image editing software and clipped one of the runes. I used the paint tool to define the lines more and then plugged it into the database.

  I wasn't expecting anything to pop up, so when results started filling up the page, I about jumped out of my chair. Hope filled me, and I started scrolling through the lines of files. The first few were old case studies that were used in early training, so were the ones on the next page, moment by moment the hope dripped away from me. The rune was just similar enough to pull up the training files.

  Just another dead end on the runes that neither Merick or I had been able to translate in the last few months. I clicked and opened one anyways. The rune popped up on the handout used in the class. The date on it was just about ten years ago when PIB first sprouted from the FBI.

  Everything seemed to go back to about that time lately. There was one person who I knew had been around since then, but last time I saw her, she attacked me.

  Then there was Grayson Yorkington, a vampire that was part of PIB; he might have been around with the FBI. I looked at the rune, there were some very subtle differences that most people wouldn't have noticed, but because I'd spent the last three years studying runes in more depth, I saw them. An extra tick at the end of the line, a slight variation of the curve.

  But the base was the same. Exactly the same.

  I scrolled to the bottom to see who the lesson was written by or what book it was taken from. I wrote down the information in the small print and went to type it into the search bar.

  Nothing came up for a digital copy. I went to the library's website and typed in the name of the book and a copy came up, but it was checked out.

  I had a small library at home of my dad's books, but Merick and I had already gone through that. Levi had a library, and my Uncle Oliver also had a library that was probably more useful than Levi's when it came to magic.

  My phone rang, and I picked it up without looking at the screen. "Special Agent Collins speaking."

  "Abby." Simon's voice came over the receiver. "Travis told me you called and that there's a murder case involving our bar."

  I rolled my eyes. "No, I was looking for someone who caused a ruckus there, promise your bar is not the center of my investigation."

  "But it is a murder investigation."

  "Well, not exactly. Look I can't discuss it." I rubbed my eyes. "I'll let you know if your wolves are involved or not when I have more information."

  There was hesitation on the other end of the line. "Okay. Can I bring you dinner? I want to see you."

  He knew that the relationship with Mario was fake, but it felt a little bit like sneaking around when he showed up. On the other hand, I liked the free food and good company. And I needed it after the last couple days I was having. "Add coffee to the list and I
'll gladly let you bring me dinner. I'll be at the office working late. Hopefully, Mario just waits for me at the house."

  "What do you think he'll do if he shows up at the office?"

  "I honestly have no idea. I'll explain to him I'm having dinner with a good friend that came to offer me comfort." I know Simon hadn't mentioned Clarissa's death, but I did not doubt that he knew. Things like that went around the paranormal world.

  He was quiet for a moment. "You doing okay?"

  "People keep asking me that. I'll be okay. I'll see you tonight." I disconnected the call and turned back to my computer. I didn't want to work right now. I was starting to feel numb inside from my last couple days.

  I looked at the clock. There was no way I could make the two-hour drive to my uncle's, find the books I needed, and be back in time for Simon to bring me dinner.

  Without the books, there was no real progress that I could make on the runes. So it was time for good old fashion research.

  Chapter Three

  I had read all kinds of things on demonology and myths that made my head spin. Of course the internet had been a mix of good information and the ridiculous, but I did learn a couple things.

  Like a goat wouldn't have been enough of a sacrifice to contain the demon. The one demon I dealt with had been summoned through an Ouija board, and it was a lower level demon that needed a host to be in the human world. That was scary enough. I couldn't imagine what we were dealing with now.

  Simon knocked on the door, bringing my head up from my research. I got up and let him in. He held a pizza box with two coffee cups balanced on top. I took the coffee cups and stepped aside so that he could get in. "Thanks for coming."

  "How's work going? Must be a big case if you're staying late." He sat the pizza on my desk, careful to avoid the scattered papers.

  I handed him his coffee and then took a sip of mine before gathering up the papers, including the pictures of the runes. "Yeah, I'm working the murder at the Windmill apartments." I assumed it had hit the media by now and that Simon knew what I was talking about.

  "You're not handling…" he hesitated and his face twisted up a little bit like he was stopping himself from saying something.

  I shook my head. "I'm not handling Clarissa's case. Protocol says that I can't handle it." I don't think I could handle it.

  "Got it." He flipped open the pizza box and grabbed a piece. "I have some news."

  I paused in getting my slice. "Good or bad news?"

  "Good," he promised. "I would have brought you wine if it had been bad news."

  I laughed. "And drinking on grounds is frowned upon. I doubt our receptionist would have let you in with it."

  "We're mending the wolf pack." His voice was even, giving me no sign of how he actually felt. He was the alpha of the local wolf pack. About a year ago they fractured into two separate packs, and things had been rough, especially when someone started to kill werewolves.

  I smiled. "Simon, that's great news. That should make things a little bit easier on you, without the constant threat of the two factions warring over things."

  "It is great, and there are still some negotiations that need to be worked out, but it'll be nice to have all the wolves under one pack again." He took a big bite of his pizza.

  "Why don't you sound happy then?" I asked before taking a bite of my own piece.

  He waited until he swallowed and sighed. "Well, one of the things up for negotiation is finding a co-alpha. Luke wants to be a co-alpha, instead of dropping back as a third."

  "How does Travis feel about that?" I raised a brow. "I don't think he'd suddenly take very kindly to getting booted out of being next alpha in line."

  Simon shook his head. "He doesn't like it; he thinks it's a ploy for Luke to kill me and take over. Travis has never been interested in actually being alpha."

  I'd forgotten about that. Travis had told me once in a small heart to heart that he wasn't after Simon's spot, that he wanted to protect Simon. "What do you think?"

  "I want it to work out, but I think I'm going to have to watch my back for a little bit until the loyalty to two alphas starts to grow. It's an extremely unusual situation because of typical pack politics, but short of killing Luke, I don't know how else to bring the packs back together. And ultimately that's what I want." He finished his piece of pizza.

  I reached for my coffee. "I don't know how the merge would work. I'd be cautious too. And please, any sign of him betraying you, take care of it. I don't want another person in my life to end up dead."

  We were both silent for a moment. "Abby…"

  "Hm?" I raised my eyes to meet his.

  "I'm sorry, about Clarissa and Nick."

  "Thank you." I tried to keep fresh tears out of my eyes.

  Mario appeared in the office, and I damn near threw my hands up. "I have a door!"

  Simon turned around to see the vampire standing behind him.

  Mario raised a brow. "What's going on here?"

  "Simon offered to bring me dinner since I was working late." I held up my piece of pizza. "That's all."

  Mario looked at my coffee. "He brought you coffee too."

  "Really, anyone who walks in that door brings me coffee if they know what's good for them." I shook my head. "It's nothing that's going to jeopardize our relationship. Stop being so jealous."

  Mario bowed his head. "Fine. I came because you weren't home."

  "I got a case that required a lot of research, so I stayed after five. It beat moping around the house."

  He leaned against the edge of my desk. "Do you plan on staying here all night?"

  Simon snorted, and I tried not to roll my eyes. "No, I plan on finishing dinner, and then I need to run to my uncle's house."

  Both the boys looked concerned at that. Mario shook his head. "You're not supposed to be in contact with your uncle anymore."

  "My uncle left the country. He has the biggest library that I know of on magical information, and I need to find some books on demonology."

  Simon choked on his pizza. "Demons?"

  Mario looked like he was counting to ten. "Levi does not want you around your uncle."

  "Then Levi can go get the books."

  Mario growled at me.

  "Yeah, I didn't think that was going to happen. Besides, Levi knows damn well he can't control who I'm in contact with." Simon didn't know that Levi was the king of all vampires, making me princess by default. I was basically daring Mario to reveal the situation.

  Mario glanced at Simon who looked like he was still trying to digest the news of a demon. "Then I will go with."

  Damn, he didn't take the bait.

  I shrugged one shoulder. "If you must." I grabbed my phone to send my uncle a text. I hadn't gotten any responses from the previous texts, but I figured it was still courtesy to try.

  Simon reached for another piece of pizza. "How do you like the promotion, Abby?"

  I smiled. "It's nice; I get to use my magic a little bit more than I did as a regular agent. I haven't seen agent Grace much, but I really like working with Liz."

  "Liz is your lead, yes?" Mario asked.

  I nodded. "She is, she's the one who helped with the Doll Maker case a few months back."

  "She's a good woman."

  Which was exactly why I called her for Clarissa's case. A fresh wave of grief hit me, and I paused in my sip of coffee.

  "Abby?" Simon reached over to touch my hand, and Mario snatched his wrist.

  "Do not touch her."

  Simon looked at me, then to Mario.

  I took a deep breath. "Let him go; this isn't a pissing contest. Simon is offering me comfort. Just like you, he can smell the grief." I shook my head and put my cup back down.

  Mario slowly let Simon's wrist go. Simon stood. "I should go. Let me know if you need anything, Abby. You know I'm always here for you." He stood and walke
d over to me. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek, and I knew that he was doing it to piss Mario off. He grabbed his cup of coffee and let himself out of the office.

  I closed the pizza box and stood. Mario was suddenly in front of me. "You want people to believe that we're in this relationship? Then you can't have Simon around."

  "This was yours and Levi's idea," I hissed. "Nothing is happening between Simon and I, except for dinner with someone who can actually eat food."

  Mario crossed his arms. "Picking a fight tonight?"

  "No, I'm just tired of everyone thinking they can control my life." I grabbed my bag. "I'm going to my uncle's house. Go back to the mansion." I headed to the door, and he appeared in front of me blocking my path.

  "I told you that I was coming."

  "You're not going to be able to get in, he's got a nasty circle around it, and you're not welcomed there," I shot back. "So you can come and stand outside the circle, or you can go see if Levi needs you for anything."

  "With Ira in town, it's not wise to leave you alone."

  I felt like he had punched me. I couldn't breathe. "Neither of you mentioned that he was already in town." Panic started trying to crawl through my body.

  "He's here on a truce."

  But I could alert PIB he was in the area, and the executioners could go to take him out. No one would be the wiser. "But it's not safe? I don't have much faith in that truce then."

  The look on his face told me that I stumped him. "I'll see you after I'm done at my uncle's, and if it's too close to dawn, I'll see you tomorrow night."

  He didn't say anything as I left the office. I half expected him to follow me, but he hadn't. I took the stairs down to the lobby and then walked out to my car. Mario stood there against it.

  "I can't believe you bought this piece of shit." He shook his head. "It doesn't look like it'd protect you in an accident."

  I tried to keep my annoyance out of my voice. "It's not accidents that I have a problem with; it's total destruction."

  "Still."

  "Hey, I pay for my cars, I wasn't going to buy a shiny car just for someone to destroy it." I shrugged. "I thought you were going back to the mansion."