"No. Donovan is a good man, with good people, and they're just doing what they know. Gathering evidence, getting the church involved, there's nothing wrong with that. Demons hate faith, strength, love, and holy dudes do a great job at channeling that. But you won't see Donovan again for a day or so."
"What do you mean?"
"The church will give him the runaround, no matter how much film he gets. He'll have to fight just to get them out here. And an exorcism, if they go that way, takes time, sometimes weeks. But don't worry. Everything will be okay by the time they get back."
"What will you do that they can't?"
Alex smiled.
"Something I don't want their cameras to see. That's for sure."
They rejoined Donna and Keith in the living room. They'd done exactly like he'd asked. A large bed sheet, riddled with holes, sat in front of Kim, folded over. An empty plastic trashcan was on top.
Kim was lashing out once again. She didn't leave the chair, but snarled and glared at Donna and Keith, who stood on the other side of the room. Her demeanor changed to docile, almost afraid, when Alex walked down the stairs. This fact wasn't lost on Donna.
"It's…scared of you," she said.
Kim looked at Alex with a sad, hopeful stare.
"Mast—"
Alex shut her down with a point of his finger and a glare. He definitely didn't want the demon to address him by their favorite nickname in front of three witnesses.
His phone still sat on the couch where he'd left it. He picked it up and scrolled for the app he was looking for.
"Keith, you've got the most important job now. Are you up for it?"
The boy pulled away from his mother, his eyes eager.
"Yeah. I'll do anything to help my sister."
Alex smiled. "That's what brothers do. Okay, take this phone. I want you to record everything. This is for my own notes, so believe me, it's important. Stay right here on the couch, and just point it at your sister."
Keith took the phone. "No problem. I record videos all the time at my school."
Alex shook his head. When he was ten, he could barely handle the remote to the TV. Now kids were sleeping with phones.
"Donna, Jason, come with me, please."
They approached Kim, and suddenly the girl looked like herself. She studied her parents' faces, confused, as she gripped the dining room chair. There was dried blood still on her face, but her face was her own.
"Mom? Dad?" she said. "What's happening? I…don't remember."
"Oh, Kim!" Donna said. She tried to rush past Alex.
He stopped her. "Don't. It's not her. It's just a trick."
The darkness returned to Kim's eyes.
"I don't want to leave," she said. "I want to stay. I want to play."
Alex ignored her and looked to her parents.
"Okay, stay here by the trashcan and…just wait."
"Wait for what?"
"You'll see."
He took a deep breath as he stood over Kim. She still wore her spaghetti-strap shirt, which was a good thing. Both her arms were completely exposed.
Alex reached out and grabbed both of her shoulders. Kim leaned her head back and howled in agony, gripping the sides of the chair. Her voice changed several times.
"Kim!" Donna shouted. She tried to reach out, but Jason held her back. "He's hurting her!"
"No, I'm not," Alex said calmly. "She'll be fine."
He held onto her left shoulder while running his hand down her right arm, loosening the demon. Demons not only obeyed Alex's every command, but his touch injured them, even when hiding inside a human.
The sensation was uncomfortable for him as well. It felt like his hand was being stabbed with a thousand tiny needles. He continued to stroke her arm, but the demon continued to resist. Alex began to worry about Kim. Her own screams blended with the demon's as her eyes rolled back in her head.
"Come on, Kim," he whispered. "You can do it. Just hold on."
Finally, as Alex's fingers slid over her wrist, he realized he was no longer feeling human flesh. He looked down to see a demon's forearm, protruding slightly from Kim's own arm. It gave the illusion Kim had two limbs grafted on top of each other.
Bracing his right arm against Kim's chest, Alex pulled as hard as he could with his left hand. More of the demon loosened from Kim's body. The arm, completely up to the shoulder, was visible, as was part of the head. Kim leaned forward, an unexpected positive. The demon was mostly free, its waist merging with Kim's.
Alex tugged one last time, and fell backwards onto the floor. The demon landed on top of him. It was one of the more tamer demons he'd seen. Mostly humanoid. Two arms, two legs. Razor-sharp teeth. Pure black eyes. It had two horns that curled upward, one longer than the other.
"Master," the demon whispered.
Peering around the demon, Alex saw Kim on the sheet, resting on her hands and knees. She vomited over and over into the trashcan. Donna stayed at her side, gently rubbing her neck, while Jason held the can for her.
Alex quickly put his hand on the demon's forehead. He wanted to send it back as fast as he could. The Felder family wasn't paying attention, except for Keith. There was no need to add to their list of horrible for the evening.
"Back you go," Alex said.
The demon cringed at his touch. It opened its mouth in an attempt to scream, but no sound came out.
It was gone, taking the chill in the house along with it.
The only sounds Alex heard were of pure emotion. Donna and Jason cried openly as Kim vomited once more. Kim had enough time to moan in pain and discomfort before vomiting again. Her body had rejected the demon, with his help. He had the feeling it wasn't just human bodily fluids running out of her mouth and nose. Not a pleasant thought.
Kim was finally done, and collapsed in her mother's lap, sprawling out like she'd been shot. Tears ran down Jason's face, but he looked at Alex and smiled. Kim took a few deep breaths before breaking down completely. She cried so hard that she gasped for breath. Her parents joined her, with Jason lifting her up and taking her in his arms. The Felder family embraced and cried together.
"Uhh," Keith said, still leaning on the back of the couch with Alex's phone. "Am I done?"
"Yeah, you are," Alex said. "Go hug your sister."
Keith didn't need to be told twice. He dropped the phone on the couch and ran across the room. With a hard tackle, he almost knocked his family over. Kim, despite being unable to stop crying, reached out for her brother. It was a touching scene.
Alex continued to watch while lying on his side, resting on his elbow. He was tired himself, and in no hurry to stand up. The Felders would never be the same again. They knew now that there was something beyond the darkness. Those noises at night, they weren't always just a loose critter running around, or a squeaky floorboard.
But it could have been much worse. Kim would probably need some therapy, but she was herself again.
It was a struggle to pull himself to his feet. He brushed his hands and jeans off as he surveyed the living room. Kim was standing as well, with help from her family. She pulled away and took three wobbly steps, nearly falling in the process. She stumbled into Alex's arms, and he caught her, holding her up.
"Thank you," Kim said, sniffling. "Thank you so much."
She pressed her face into his shirt and squeezed. Alex tried to set aside the fact that Kim's mouth was still covered in blood, vomit, and who-knew-what-else. He relaxed and allowed himself to enjoy the moment.
Making money was a good thing. But helping a family in need was even better.
"You're very welcome," Alex said, returning the squeeze. He looked over Kim's head at Jason and Donna. They were smiling and crying at the same time, with Keith standing close. "I'd still get a house blessing. There's nothing wrong with spreading a little love and light in here. But, I think I'm done here. Case…."
He didn't finish what was becoming a favorite catch-phrase of his. He let it drift as thoughts circled
and fought in his head.
"Okay," he said, trying to add a tone of finality to his voice. "I think we can talk about the rest of my fee now."
CHAPTER 3
Alex woke with a start behind the wheel of his truck. He wasn't completely asleep, just drifting lightly in and out of consciousness. It would have been impossible to fall totally asleep, and not just because the truck was uncomfortable.
He was apparently engaged in some kind of game with Nate that he didn't know the rules to. The radio was playing quietly. Nate was humming, badly, to whatever song was playing. In a fit of irritation, Alex would change the channel, hoping Nate got the hint. He wanted to listen to music, not music and Nate's terrible humming. Nate, however, was clueless, and the humming would begin again.
Alex wasn't sure why the young ghost was even still with him.
He turned the radio off completely and looked out the window. The house was still completely dark, as was the rest of the neighborhood. No doubt the family had all gone to sleep. The minutes were ticking by. He wasn't even sure he wanted to look at the time, but he knew it was late. Or early, depending on perspective.
"Man, a demon…." Nate said again. "I've been dead a while, and I've seen some crazy things. But I've never seen a demon."
Alex kicked his feet up on the dashboard in an attempt to find comfort.
"That's a good thing. Very dangerous. They feed on fear, can possess a human or a ghost. Not very fun to be around. Very nasty."
"And yet you say you beat one up in there?"
"I didn't beat it up…." Alex rolled his eyes. "Okay, sure. I beat it up."
"How did you do that?"
"I'm just nastier."
A moment of silence passed as Alex checked out the house again.
"Did you get that chick's phone number?"
"Uh, no. We had other things going on. And, again—" He displayed his finger. "I'm married."
"I mean for me, man. Did you get her number for me?"
"You can't even use a phone."
"I know." A devilish smile crossed Nate's lips. "But you can look the number up. We can find out where she lives. Maybe I'll change my ways, figure out how to really haunt a house. I'll haunt her house so good, just the way she likes it."
Alex laughed, almost embarrassed that he did. Nate certainly had a sense of humor.
"So," Nate said. "What are we doing still sitting here?"
He cast Nate a sideways glance, amused at the phrasing of the question.
"Well, I'm still sitting here because I think something's going on. Now, why you are still sitting here, I have no idea."
"You said you smacked down the demon, right? And you got paid?"
"I sure did," Alex said, pride in his voice. He rubbed the back of his jeans pocket to feel the two envelopes. He'd not collected on jobs before. Sometimes it was his fault, sometimes the client. It felt good to have money in his pocket. "One thousand dollars. Not bad at all for a night's work."
"Then, seriously, why are you still here? It's not like you'll get paid again, right? You think the demon is still around?"
"No, the demon's gone. But I don't think I'm done here."
"Hell, then, go home, make them call again." Nate rubbed his hands together, producing no sound. "Make them pay again."
"That wouldn't be right." Alex looked at him. "You remind me of a friend of a mine."
"He sounds like a great guy already."
"He's over two hundred years old and never sleeps. He's the biggest asshole I've ever met."
"Two hundred? Damn." Nate was quiet, absorbing the info. He shook his head to get back to the conversation. "I'm just looking out for you, man. Money isn't a bad thing."
Alex smiled and nodded in appreciation. He wasn't sure how he ended up with a ghost in the passenger's seat that wouldn't leave.
"What are you even looking for? Can you tell me that much?"
Alex looked over the house for what felt like the hundredth time.
"I'm not sure yet. But I think I'll know it when I see it."
"Oh, wow. Real zen answer."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Nate was silent a moment, but only a moment. He didn't seem to like silence much.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Alex let out a small laugh. He wasn't sure Nate had it in him to not ask a question.
"Sure."
"How can you do what you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've seen psychics before. I've seen mediums. You're not like any of them."
He regarded the young ghost. "Do you really want to know?"
Nate hesitated. "Uh, sure. I really do."
"My parents were leaders of a cult. They had me, just so they could kill me. They wanted to sacrifice me or something to some demons. They thought it would give them power. But it didn't go like they planned. I'm the one who ended up different, and they ended up dead."
The silence stretched, and stretched. Alex didn't think it was possible for Nate to not say a word for so long.
"Holy shit," he finally said.
Alex laughed. There wasn't much holy about it at all.
"That's not what I expected," Nate said. "I mean…I knew it was something weird. No offense, but I didn't think it was that wedding ring giving you powers."
"You've got a problem with being married?"
"Oh, not at all. Hell, I'm only fifteen, so I can't say much about it. But think about it. You never get to have sex with anyone else. Ever. Again. That doesn't bother you?"
He only smiled. "Nope. It wouldn't bother you either if you saw my wife."
Nate rolled his eyes. "Sure. Whatever."
Alex was surprised to realize he enjoyed Nate's company. He made what would have been a boring stakeout into something a little better. They talked a while longer, with Nate telling Alex about some of the places he'd visited across the country. Nate was in the middle of describing floating over the Grand Canyon when Alex noticed something out of the corner of his eye.
There was a light coming from the Felder home. It was on the second floor. Kim's room. The glow was dim, flickering. Cindy had lit enough mood candles in their house for him to recognize candlelight when he saw it.
"Ah. That might be it."
"What?" Nate asked.
"I'm going to go see what's happening."
Nate's eyes lit up. "Can I come along?"
"No. Stay out here and keep watch on things, just like before."
"What fun," Nate said, looking down dejectedly.
Alex smiled. Nate must have been very bored to want to help that much. He spoke up when Alex opened the door to the truck.
"Wait. You're just going to walk up there? Knock on the door? Get everybody up out of bed? That might not go over too well."
"No. But something like that."
Alex left Nate behind and crossed the street. He glanced up at Kim's window as he walked. The curtains were open, and he could see the candlelight tossing wild, dancing shadows on the wall. There was more flickering, and her silhouette crossed the room. More candles, perhaps?
He wouldn't know for sure until he saw for himself.
As he crossed the lawn, he willed himself to shift. He phased from the world of the living to the spirit realm. It was a painless process with no sensation at all. It was so normal to him that he often tested himself to make sure it really worked. This time was no different, as he leaned down to run his fingers through the lawn. His fingers passed through the individual blades of grass, and he knew he was essentially a ghost.
Alex wasn't sure which of his demonic powers was his favorite, but walking through solid objects was high up on the list.
He poked his head through the front door, leaving the rest of his body behind. He assumed the living room was empty, but didn't want to just barge into the house. The sound was muffled, but he heard Nate screaming in the street behind him. The words were an excited mess, but Alex smiled as he understood the general id
ea. It was something along the lines of Damn Alex did you just stick your head through the damn door!
He stepped through completely into the darkened living room. The only light came from the corner pole outside, and the soft glow of the time on the DVR under the TV. Not only was it dark, but quiet. It was hard to believe that only a few hours ago Alex had purged a demon from a teenage girl.
The stairs were to the right. He wanted to rejoin the living realm and turn on his night vision, but that came with its own set of complications. He'd be solid again, and would no doubt make noise moving about the house. His night vision also wasn't exactly stealthy. They gave his eyes a terrible red glow, making him look less human.
He stayed in the spirit realm, and walked carefully up the stairs. Not making any sound at all, he trailed his hand through the wall to guide him. He felt the wood, drywall, and the occasional nail.
The candlelight spilled from under Kim's door into the hallway. Alex heard her, in a low whisper.
"…why…hurt…my family…."
Alex approached slowly, trying to focus his hearing. Kim sniffled quietly. There was pain in her voice.
"I thought we were friends. How could you do this?"
He steeled himself as he stood outside her door. He wasn't sure he wanted to see what a young teenage girl did in the privacy of her bedroom, but he was certain she wasn't playing with Barbie dolls.
Stepping into Kim's bedroom, Alex wasn't prepared for what lay before him.
There were candles spread throughout the room, but the majority of them were arranged in a half circle on the floor next to Kim's bed. She sat on the floor with her legs folded. She wore pink pajamas with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, looking much more her age than someone trying to land a modeling contract.
Sitting in the center of the half circle of candles was a Ouija board. Kim kept one hand on the planchette while wiping at tears with a tissue.
"Please, talk to me," Kim said. "You hit my mother and father. Why? Why would you do that? And you…took me, took control of me. How could you?"
A low growl came from the open closet. Only Alex could hear it, as Kim didn't react. The cold chill came once again, affecting him even in the spirit world.
Several candles blew out, which Kim did notice. She smiled as she placed both hands on the planchette.
Demons LLC (Damned and Cursed Book 7) Page 6
