Demon Hunters

by JKMelby74

  We finally made it to the top and I saw a small hallway extend out before us. We walked over to the second door on the right and Kassie forced it open. She pushed me in and it was dark until a light came on suddenly. Her room was small and quaint, just like mine. There was an old brass bed up against the wall with a fluffy, pink quilt on it. Kassie quickly turned me around and pushed me down onto it and then began to pull my shirt off.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Making you comfortable. Lift your leg.” As I did, she slipped my shoe off.

  “Is that all?”

  “Don’t push your luck,” She then pulled off my other shoe and grabbed my legs and spun me around onto the bed. “We’re sleeping, okay?”

  “Whatever you say.” I wasn’t even sure what I was thinking. My brain seemed to have disconnected. I laid there still for a moment. I could hear Kassie doing whatever it was she did to get ready for bed. She finally came around the bed in a tight t-shirt and some skimpy shorts.

  “You asleep yet?” She crawled under the covers.

  “Not yet.” I felt my arm slowly reaching over to her. She quickly grabbed it and gave it back to me.

  “I’m giving you a pass on this because you’re drunk. Probably for the first time, but you really need to sleep.”

  “I know. I just thought we were connecting.”

  “We were, Jake. Honest? There was a time I would jump your bones in a New York minute.”

  “Then why not now? I’m easy. Even when I’m sober.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?” Kassie then turned to me and even through my drunken haze; I could feel the gravity of her eyes.

  “I envy you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I barely remember what it was like before all this. Before the demons. Before the hunting. There was a time my life was simple, predictable and totally boring. I see you now and it all comes back to me. How blissfully ignorant I was before my world, my life, was turned upside down. I love my life now, but there are times I miss who I was. I wonder about what I could have had if not for all this. A husband? A family? Who knows?” I could see a tear forming along her cheek. I instinctively reached out to wipe it away. Kassie tried to resist my touch, but finally relented. Her skin was soft and warm.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. Someday maybe you’ll meet someone and you’ll know what I’m talking about now.”

  “Maybe, but right now I’m not thinking about demons. I’m just thinking about the beautiful woman next to me who is just about the only person on Earth who knows what I’m going through, and how completely un-lonely I feel right now. You know?”

  “Yeah.” She smiled. I reached over again to wipe another tear from her cheek, but before I could pull back, she had her hand wrapped around my wrist. She then gently pulled me closer and just as my eyes began to close; I felt the sensation of her warm lips on mine.

  Chapter 12

  The Morning After

  I felt the warmth of the sun and heard the hustle of the morning rush of Diablo Luto. I opened my eyes and as light filled my sight, a pain stabbed through my head. I groaned as I turned over, away from the brightness.

  “Up and at ‘em, big guy.” I bolted up and saw Kassi dressing at the foot of the bed. I looked around in a panic. My thoughts were fuzzy at best, and I barely remembered coming up to her room. I somehow recalled she had put me on the bed, above the bedspread, but I was underneath it. I lifted it up and saw that I was completely naked. I looked back at her.

  “Did we...?”

  “No. You passed out after I kissed you.”

  “Then why am I naked?”

  “You took your clothes off. You had a lot of enthusiasm, but try as you did, you just couldn’t stay awake.”

  “Oh.”

  “Don’t feel bad. It would have been fun, but it’s probably for the best.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Got a call out of town. It’s been a while since I’ve been traveling, so I’m kind of looking forward to it.” She checked herself in the mirror.

  “Will I see you again?” She turned to me with sympathetic eyes and smiled.

  “I don’t know. You think you’ll still be in town in a few days?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, I guess we’ll just see,” She pinched my cheek. “I have to get on the road now. Leave the key at the bar downstairs when you leave, okay?”

  “Sure.” I got out of the bed and grabbed her arm. She turned to me and I could see a look of almost pity in her eyes.

  “Don’t make this out to be more than it is. You’re probably just feeling like this because of my own powers. It’s not real. I like you, Jake. I do. Maybe in another time, if we were different people, something could happen here.” She gave me a final kiss on the lips. I watched as she walked out the door. As soon as she was gone, it felt like a spell had passed over me and my mind was clear again. I wasn’t sure if it was the tequila or Kassie playing some kind of mind game on me. As my hangover came roaring back, I decided to figure it out in bed. I slept up in Kassie’s room for a good five hours before finally dressing. I went downstairs and left the key with the bartender just as I said I would.

  I stepped out onto the street of Diablo Luto and felt the hot sun wash over me. The daily life of the town seemed to move at a snail’s pace. At any given storefront, there were several people sitting around and watching as the shadows crawled along the ground. There were a few older guys laid out like cats, sleeping in the radiating heat.

  As I headed back to my hotel, I stopped as I saw Ivar charging toward me.

  “Where have you been?”

  “Out.”

  “Out where?”

  “I met someone.”

  “Who could you have possibly met out here?”

  “An old friend of yours. Kassie.” Ivar’s face went white and he seemed genuinely surprised.

  “She was here?”

  “Yeah. She says she lives here. She came knocking at my door last night and after a little talking, we went out for a drink and I guess I had too much. I stayed with her.”

  “I see. Where is she now?”

  “She left. Out of town call.”

  “I haven’t heard from her in a long time.”

  “She seemed pretty excited when I said I was here with you. Is there some kind of history there?”

  “That’s not important. When I went to your room and saw you were missing, I began to worry. I don’t think I have to remind you there is a demon seeking to kill you.”

  “I’m fine. Just a little hungover.”

  “Good. I think we should go back to your room and discuss our next move.”

  “Okay,” Ivar and I went on to the hotel. “So.”

  “I’m not going to talk about it.”

  “Come on. She was hot! If you don’t tell me you at least tried to get some of that, I will lose all respect for you.”

  “Kasandra is a very complicated person.”

  “I know. She told me all about the cupid thing.”

  “She did?”

  “So what happened with you two?”

  “When we first worked together, the situation tended to become intense at times. I promised her I would not share any intimate details about that time.”

  “I knew it! You did it with her!” I was finally satisfied that there was something human about Ivar. He looked down at me and his expression was similar to the look I got from many school principals over the years.

  “We are not having this conversation.”

  “Wuss.”

  In my room, I was on my bed while Ivar sat at a small wooden desk in the corner writing all over his map. I just stared at the white ceiling, forcing myself to stare into the swirls of light as they shifted with the sun’s movements. Ivar said he was picking up the energy that was supposed to guide us to our next destination.

  “There.” I sat up and looked over at Ivar as he
turned around. He held his map up at me like a gold medal. I noticed he had a large dot circled several times. It looked as though the dot was several miles outside of the town, in the middle of a large, vast desert area.

  “What?”

  “I know where we must go.”

  “Great. Where’s that?”

  “There really is no geographic location to describe. The One is sending us to this point. That is where we must go. It must be hallowed, sacred land so we must enter humble and pure.”

  “I can do humble, but we’re a little late for pure.”

  Chapter 13

  The Church

  I looked up and saw the sun slipping below the horizon. The sky was dim and glowed subtly with gentle hues of red and orange. The heat of the day had dropped to a warm, comfortable sensation. I looked over to Ivar as he was sitting in the jeep trying to start it up.

  “Are you sure it doesn’t need some work?” The jeep looked no better for wear than the rest of Diablo Luto.

  “I am certain,” The machine finally sprang to life. The engine roared like an animal and a large cloud of dark gas spewed out and blocked out the lovely sunset. The entire jeep trembled violently as it coughed and belched loudly. Ivar motioned me over to get in. With a little trepidation, I took his invitation and belted myself in, or rather tied myself in. Ivar put his hand around the gearshift and then looked to me. “Are you ready?”

  “Yeah. Let’s go.” Ivar pushed down on the pedal and the jeep jerked forward. My seat rope cut into my waist as I flew up from my seat.

  As we left the town, Ivar pulled off the dirt road and we tumbled down through a thick field of dry brush. I was about to ask Ivar exactly where he was going, but considering things, I wasn’t sure he’d have an answer for me, so I let it go.

  The sun was completely gone and there was no light save for the two headlights of the jeep. I looked around and there was nothing but inky darkness all around. I looked up to the sky and marveled at the millions of stars hanging above us. I held tight to the sides of my seat to keep myself from jostling around too much, and I was able to better concentrate on the twinkling lights above.

  I had never seen the sky so full and beautiful before. I knew there were billions of stars in the sky, I knew that, but I had never actually seen them before. There they were, far above us, as they had been for millions of years before our existence. I started to understand why contemplation of the stars was such a big deal for some people. It was hard to look up and not think about your place in the universe. I then began to wonder out of the billions of people in the world, why did I have to be me?

  We hit another steep hill of sand and as we crashed down from it, the jeep stopped. The engine hummed loudly and shook like an Earthquake. I looked over to Ivar and saw his gaze fixed solidly forward.

  “What?” Ivar merely pointed and by the meager light of the headlights, I saw a small building at the bottom of a small valley. I couldn’t see it very well, but it looked old and had a small tower on top of it. Next to it was an oddly green patch of grass with a large, blackened tree sitting nearby. Its branches were large and spread far. “What’s that?”

  “The church.”

  “Okay.”

  “That is where The One wants you to go.” Ivar shifted the jeep into gear. We drove forward and sped down to the church.

  The church was built of what looked like stone or large brick. There were pretty stained glass windows running along the side and there was a large door made of a dark wood in front. Ivar parked the jeep a few yards away.

  “We could park closer.”

  “No. We can’t. From here, you must continue alone.”

  “What?”

  “I cannot guide you any longer. You must face what is inside the church alone.”

  “Okay.” I slid out of the jeep and dusted myself off. I started toward the church, but I heard Ivar call out to me.

  “Jake! Here!” He then threw me something large wrapped in paper. I grabbed it and pulled it open. I was holding the guns Ivar had given me and a belt loaded with ammo. I looked up at him. “Just in case.”

  I came closer to the church and I felt a chill run up my spine as I approached the door. I wrapped my hand around the handle and I began to pull. I felt the full weight of the door as I struggled to move it. It creaked as the hinges stretched against years of rust and dirt. I looked inside and saw nothing but darkness. I went on in and after a few steps, a loud, dull crash shot out and I spun around to see the door had shut behind me.

  What little noise there had been outside was blocked out. I felt trapped in a void of space. I stepped forward and the floorboards below moaned softly.

  “Hello?” No answer other than my echo bouncing against the walls. I felt my way around through the darkness and I found a pew. The wood was surprisingly smooth and cool to the touch. “Is there anyone here?” Still no answer, but I began to get the feeling I wasn’t alone. It was as though the darkness had come alive and I felt its icy grip over my heart. My breath became short and I felt like I was drowning. I turned and hurried back the way I came, but I stopped as I heard a violent noise shoot up from the floor. I turned and I heard the sound of splintered wood falling against the floor. Soon, there was a choir of broken wood ringing out above and below me. I took a step back and felt a clawed hand wrap around my leg. I panicked and leapt forward. I heard a hissing coming from all around. The sound of heavy claws digging into wood and stone grew louder. Suddenly, a giant hole was ripped out of the roof and moonlight was pouring in and I was able to see. I saw a church full of creatures slinking along the floor and down the walls. They had smooth, oily skin and hissed like snakes as they crawled along. Their claws and teeth were huge and sharp. Their black, marble eyes were crazed and wild. I pulled out the guns and started firing. They weren’t strong, as they pretty much exploded with just one shot, but there were a lot of them. It seemed for each one I shot; three more would take its place.

  They were closing in on me from all sides. As one monster got too close, I pointed both guns at its head, pulled the triggers, but discovered I was out of bullets. I also had no time to reload. I put the guns back in the belt and jumped forward as far as I could. A thousand hisses echoed around me as I flew over the beasts. I felt their claws snatch at me. I dropped down to the floor and tumbled forward. I sprinted for the door and as I reached it, it flew open, knocking me back. Light poured in from outside. I shielded my eyes from the brilliance. The monsters cried out in pain and they all quickly crawled back to the dark corners they had come from. I got up slowly and backed away. I heard footsteps and soon the door closed. The light had gone out and as I lowered my hand, I saw a man standing before me.

  “Hello.” It was Jonathan.

  “Hi. Again.”

  “Sorry about that. We try to keep that kind of element out.”

  “Sure.” He just smiled at me. Just being in his presence was beginning to make me feel secure and safe.

  “You must be wondering why I did this.”

  “Just one more slice of crazy in an insane sandwich.”

  “Come with me.” He brushed past me toward the altar at the front of the church. I followed a couple steps behind. He walked up to the altar and turned right and headed through a door I had not noticed before. I walked up to it and unlike the door at the front of the church; it was a standard looking pine door. I opened it up and walked through.

  After I shut the door, I turned and was taken by the scenery change. I found myself standing in a large dining hall. The floor was shiny and black and there were large Ivory columns on either side of the room that reached far beyond my sight into a dark void above. The columns led up to a large table that sat in the middle of the room. The whole room was very dark until a bright flash from above and everything was bathed in a warm amber glow. I could see the food that sat upon the table better and it looked to be quite a feast. It was set up very elegantly with silver candlesticks between each place setting and evenly spaced servi
ng dishes with all kinds of food. There were bowls of exotic fruits and plates filled with well-cooked meat dishes and several bottles of wine. I took a step toward the table and suddenly I heard voices. Out of the shadows, figures appeared and took their places at the table. They were chatting to each other, but their voices were too soft to hear exactly what they were saying.

  “You came just in time,” Jonathan’s voice came at me from behind. I spun around and he walked up to me and patted me on the back. “Come. Meet the others.”

  As we approached the table, the guests took quick notice of my presence. I noticed that they were all very well dressed. The men were clad in very expensive looking suits and the women were styling some incredibly fancy dresses. They were pouring wine into their glasses as Jonathan took his seat.

  “Everyone? This is Jake Corba. He stopped by for a visit.” I looked out at the others at the table and their eyes met mine with unimpressed looks. Whatever comfort I had been feeling was long gone. I took particular notice of a woman two seats away. Her hair was red like fire. She was very beautiful but there was some kind of coldness behind her eyes that I could feel.

  “Really, Jonathan. It’s a little late to bring in new members.”

  “He’s here on a matter of his own, Lilith. I would thank you to make him feel welcome.”

  “He’s not bad looking. It’s nice to have a little eye candy around. No offense to you, of course, Jonathan.”

  “Of course not,” He looked back up to me and I was pretty sure my confusion wasn’t difficult to see. “Have a seat,” I turned and saw a vacant chair nearby. I sat down and continued trying to make sense of the situation. “We meet here for dinner every now and then to discuss things. I find it’s easier and far more productive to have certain conversations over a nice, relaxing meal.” Jonathan said as if to answer a question I had forgotten to ask. The others at the table had already begun eating. I could hear the clink of silverware against fine China. I began to realize there was light violin music playing from somewhere.