The Demon Heritage of Josh Thorne (The Josh Thorne Trilogy Book 1)

by Joe Fowler

  “Are we sure we want to sleep?” I said it with a smile on my face,

  “You have school and I have work. We need to sleep.” She was trying to be the responsible one.

  “I just don’t see a few hours making a big difference. We’re young, we can handle missing a little sleep.” It didn’t take much urging before she gave in. We finally managed a few minutes to close our eyes there at the end.

  Chapter 19

  We picked Keith up on the way to school. The girls were talking quietly in the backseat. Keith just looked at me and started laughing. He knew I didn’t sleep. He was going to make the most of this, I just knew.

  Finals went quickly but not easily. I was paying for my fun. I managed to finish the tests, although I had no clue how well I did. By lunch I was really dragging. The rest of the day wasn’t any better since I had to take make up exams for the ones I had missed the day before. I was so very happy when it was time to go home.

  “What about it Keith? You with us today or you going home?” I asked him when we were walking to the car after school.

  “I have to make an appearance at home today. My recruiter is coming to bring me some information about what they expect my summer workouts to include. I tried to get them to just mail them but he insisted he needed to explain them in detail.” Keith seemed put out by this, which was unlike him.

  “Just part of the game. You have to keep up appearances. Sorry.” I said. The girls were waiting at the car when we got there. Keith and I were quiet letting the girls talk on the way to his house. “If you get bored later, give me a call. We will come get you.”

  “I just might do that. I’ve been feeling restless when I’m here. It’s unusual for me. Y’all take care.” Keith said as he got out.

  “Bye.” The girls said in unison, then giggled. That left a smile on Keith’s face when I pulled away.

  We got a shock when we arrived at my house. Sarah’s parents were parked in my driveway. I parked and we got out to meet them. Her parents got out of their car as well. I was just hoping this wouldn’t be too awful for Sarah.

  “Mom, Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you didn’t want to have anything to do with me.” Sarah was angry. Good.

  “We want to try and talk some sense into you. You have to think of your future and stop this nonsense.” Her father was just as I expected him to be.

  “We can talk if you want, but my future is Crystal. Come inside and sit down. We will discuss this but you may be very disappointed.” Sarah said it as matter of fact.

  I lead the way inside and to the living room. I made sure everyone was comfortable. I offered food and drinks, getting no takers. There, Mom’s rules of good manners had been lived up to. I sat down.

  “We want you to come home. Think about how this looks, Sarah. People are talking about you because of this.” Mrs. Foster said.

  “I care more about how I feel than I do about what others are talking about, Mom. I didn’t ask for this. I dated Keith for three years. Believe me, if I couldn’t fall in love with Keith Goodman, I was never going to fall for any man.” Sarah was speaking calmly and well. I was very proud of her.

  “You don’t know that. Someday someone will come along that you can make do with. Besides, it isn’t all about love anyway. You have to do what is proper. Just think of how this affects your father and me. We have been humiliated because of you.” Mrs. Foster spoke her ignorance.

  “I think it is proper to be with someone I love over someone I can just make do with. Personally, I really don’t care if your friends don’t like that I’m gay. It seems to me that the embarrassing part of all of this is how narrow minded and selfish the two of you are acting. You are losing your daughter because you refuse to accept me for who I am. I love you both, but if this is all you have to say, then you need to leave.” Sarah was very clear on this.

  “Why you ungrateful little bitch!” Mr. Foster stood and took a step closer with his hand raised like he was going to hit her. I was standing between them before he could get close enough. “Boy you get out of my way!” Sarah’s dad was a large man who seemed accustomed to getting his way. He was not going to like this outcome if he pushed me too far.

  “Calm down, now.” I spoke in an even tone. He tried to shove me, but I caught his wrist and squeezed, hard. His eyes bulged not understanding how I was that much stronger than he was. “Do you understand now? You will not touch her. I will try not to hurt you any more than necessary, but you will act properly in my house. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Foster, I am going to put Sarah through college since you two are more worried about what your friends think than what your daughter feels. Know that she will be loved and taken care of by her new family. When you look back and figure out how big of mistake you made, know that it was all your own fault. Sarah loves you and was willing to give you a second chance here, but you wasted that chance. I am going to ask you to leave now. Sarah needs to move on with her life.” I said and pointed them toward the door.

  Alicia was just coming home from work as Sarah’s parents were leaving. She saw the long faces and waited to ask what was going on. I smiled at her and held up my hand to let her know to wait, I would explain in a minute. I walked outside to watch the Foster’s as they drove away. I went back inside hoping Sarah was ok.

  “I am fine.” Sarah was saying. Crystal was right there with her and Alicia was catching up to what had happened.

  “I wish it could have gone better.” I said. “I know it would have been nice if you could have kept them as part of your life.”

  “Thank you, Josh. Thanks for all of this.” She pulled Crystal in closer and smiled at me. “I am very grateful for all that you are doing for me.”

  “I’m just glad I’m able to.” I said and slipped out of the room. Alicia followed me.

  “What happened? Was that Sarah’s parents?” Alicia asked.

  “Yes. They were trying to talk some sense into her. At least that’s the way they saw it. She was wonderful, Alicia. Sarah stated what she felt in a calm tone. She said the exact words I would have wanted her to. Her parents are just idiots who wouldn’t accept her being gay. Her father tried to get violent briefly. I made sure he saw the error in that. I just hope this won’t worry her. Sometimes it is better to just break off contact cleanly.” I hoped I was right.

  “I wish I had been here to give them a piece of my mind.” Alicia was furious. “They had already hurt her and to come here claiming Sarah was the one who was wrong is unforgivable. I would have told them where they could go next.”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore. They won’t be back and Sarah has people around her that love her the way she is. We just need to support her now.” I smiled down at Alicia and she seemed to relax and accept what I said.

  We ordered a bunch of pizzas and Crystal decided we needed to have a Buffy marathon. I decided not to argue. Joss Whedon to the rescue. We were laughing before long. A happy family once again. I guess it was late before the recruiter left since Keith never called. Alicia and I called it a night sooner than we wanted to. The lack of rest was catching up to us.

  Chapter 20

  Thursday started out happy enough. Everyone was in good spirits as we ate breakfast. Sarah had recovered nicely. Alicia and I had gotten enough rest. Crystal was happiest because Sarah was ok, and had once again shown how deep her feelings were. Alicia didn’t have to work so she was looking forward to a day on the couch.

  Keith seemed to be fairly chipper this morning too. We had the last of our finals today or we wouldn’t have gone to school at all. The day flew by. Keith had to start his workouts today, since he had been so busy with my problems he had fallen behind. He would try to get a ride to my house later or would call if he needed us to come get him. So after school it was me and the girls driving home, singing along with the radio and laughing.

  I had an instant of worry that I couldn’t explain when I got out of the car. I shook it off t
hinking it was probably nothing. I followed the girls through the door with a smile on my face, thinking of how great a day it had been. That was when the smell and sense of evil hit me.

  “Stop! If you so much as breathe wrong she dies.” Alicia was being held by two men and a third had a gun to her head. Sarah and Crystal had guns pointed at them as well. The one who had spoken stepped forward and I knew instantly that he was a demon. He looked me over and said. “Your father was too careless. He should have ensured his way into you.”

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “There is power in names. You won’t know mine until I am inside your body and you are in hell.” He smiled. “Your weakness is easy enough to see. You care so much for them. What kind of demon let’s himself be ruled by love?”

  “I am trying to forget that I am half demon. I chose to be good.” I said it calmly even though my mind was racing.

  “That was stupid. Serving yourself is so much more fun.” He sat at one of the kitchen chairs.

  “I don’t agree. Why are you doing this?” I knew why, I just needed him to keep talking until I could figure out what to do.

  “Power. You have power that I can take. The fact that I will be able stay topside is just a bonus.” He smiled.

  “If my father couldn’t take me, what makes you think you can?” I was drawing a blank. I wasn’t fast enough to save the girls before they would be shot. I just had to hope he made a mistake.

  “Oh no, we aren’t going to fight. I know I wouldn’t win that battle. You should be more honest if you are choosing to be good. You were getting beat by Adramelech, it was the other wolf that was too strong.”

  “You’re no Adramelech.” I said simply.

  “Not yet. With your power added to mine, I will be greater than he was.” He said it hungrily, like he could taste it.

  “So you are a two bit nothing of a demon, who is trying to become something.” I thought maybe anger would cause a mistake. “You are pathetic on your own so you steal other people’s rewards.”

  “Boy, I see what you are doing and it won’t work. I will not be angered into making a mistake. I will not let my guard down for even an instant. I know how rare these opportunities are and I am going to capitalize on this one.”

  “Cowardly bastard.” I could barely contain myself. That same confrontational desire that I experienced with my father was starting again.

  “Not cowardly. Smart. If you can’t beat them, manipulate them. It’s the way of the demon, always has been.” He laughed.

  “You sound pretty confident that you are going to come out of this on top. I would think a smart demon would know not to get cocky.” I was fishing for anything now. I was waiting for his reply when I saw a flicker behind him. My mother’s ghost appeared. She saw quickly what was happening, but being a ghost she was helpless to act.

  “You make a good point. That is why I have these humans with their guns. If you make a move toward me, they shoot the women. When the time comes, if you don’t do what I say, they shoot the women.” He was gloating.

  “It’s too bad my friend Keith isn’t here.” I said this while looking at my mom. “He would love to meet a jackass like you.” I gave Mom another meaningful look being careful that the demon did not see. She seemed to understand and disappeared.

  “Why would you want me to have another hostage?” He was suspicious.

  “Because when this is over he will never believe me when I tell him.” I didn’t think he would buy it.

  “Are you really still trying to piss me off?” He asked.

  “Yes. It seems to be my best chance. It helped me against my father, I have to think it would help against you as well.” That sounded better.

  “I am not your father.” He seemed to relax a bit.

  “You say that like it is a good thing. I thought all this was so you could be more like he had been.” I said. I was just trying to keep him talking.

  “He was a fallen angel, very powerful. I am just a demon. I want to gain the kind of power he had, yes. I won’t be as careless as he was though. He made enemies and didn’t care who he stepped on.” He shook his head.

  “How are you any different?” I asked.

  “I made allies in the mid-demon levels. I will have backing like no other once I rise to power.” He smirked. “All those short sighted ones like Adramelech who only had one goal at a time. I have my fingers everywhere, getting set up to take everything.” As he was speaking, my mother reappeared. She smiled and made the ‘ok’ symbol with her fingers. Now I just had to bide my time until Keith arrived.

  “So you are the demon equivalent of Hitler. Or was Hitler the demon equivalent of Hitler?” I was still just buying time.

  “We did enjoy that man. Hell has never celebrated a human so greatly, although now he suffers worse than any other.” He was looking nostalgic.

  “My father offered me a lot of rewards, thinking that would be enough. I turned him down, although I must admit, some of it sounded pretty good.” I was reaching for anything that would keep him talking.

  “You were a fool to have said no. But his loss is my gain. We are only waiting for two humans to bring me what I need for the ritual. Then it will be over for you boy.” He was gloating again.

  I closed my eyes trying to seem defeated. I was really calling on my vision to see where Keith was. I recognized the background. He was two streets over and coming fast. That’s when the front door opened and the two humans he had been waiting on arrived. The demon moved to get the things they brought.

  “Time’s about up. A few short minutes and this will all be over.” He set a ceremonial knife down next to a container of blood. He was just setting a book on the table when Keith walked in with a smile on his face.

  Keith snapped his fingers and all the humans fell to the floor asleep. The demon seeing his plans falling apart tried to grab Alicia himself, but I wasn’t having any of it. Just as the demon’s outstretched hands touched Alicia’s arms, my clawed hand burst through his chest. He had the chance to look down and watch his last heartbeat before he died.

  “I can’t leave you alone for a minute can I?” Keith smiled.

  “Thank you, Keith.” I managed to say. I let go of the demon’s heart and pulled my arm free. He fell lifeless to the floor. Alicia threw her arms around me and hugged herself against my chest. I looked over at the girls who were standing in shock, staring at the dead demon. Keith followed my gaze and went to help Sarah and Crystal. “Let’s all go to the living room and sit down.”

  We stepped over the dead or sleeping bodies to head to the living room. I helped Alicia and Keith was helping Sarah and Crystal. I went to the bathroom and washed the gore from my arm as quickly as I could. Mom’s ghost appeared in the bathroom beside me.

  “Thank you, Mom. You saved us.” I said. “I don’t know what we would have done without your help.”

  “It felt really good. I still don’t understand who Keith is though. He was all bright and shiny, it kind of hurts my eyes to look at him.” Mom said.

  “You will have to ask him. I know what he is, but it is one of those things that not everyone is allowed to know.” I tried to explain as we walked back to the living room.

  “I understand.” Mom sounded happy.

  “I had to put Sarah and Crystal to sleep for a minute. Alicia is holding up much better.” Keith was on one knee holding Alicia’s hand and looking up at me and Mom. He gave us one of those everything will be ok smiles.

  “Thank you, Keith.” I felt like hugging him. I went to Alicia’s side and held her other hand. “I’m so sorry. You should not have had to go through that.”

  “How did you let Keith know what was happening?” Alicia’s voice was still shaky, but she seemed like she would be ok.

  “Mom appeared behind the demon. Do you remember my comment about wishing Keith were here?” I watched her as I said this. She nodded. “Mom understood what I meant. She went and told Keith what was happening.”

 
“Is she still here?” Alicia was looking around trying to see Mom. I nodded to Alicia telling her that Mom was still there with us. “Thank you, Ms. Thorne. You saved us. Well, I guess Keith helped a little.” She smiled.

  “Tell her to call me Mom, if she wants. She is going to be my daughter-in-law once you do what is proper and marry her.” Mom and her priorities. Keith started laughing at that. Alicia looked around confused.

  “She said to call her Mom, because she wants me to do what is right and marry you. Mom is a believer in being proper.” I smiled at Alicia as I said it.

  “I like the marriage idea. How fast could we arrange that? It would be better to do that here so Seth and Keith could be there.” Alicia was very excited now.

  The rest of the day was a whirlwind of activity. Keith wiped the memories of the humans who had held the girls at gunpoint, while implanting a fear of evil and guns. The girls woke up refreshed, having only a cloudy memory of what happened. They forgot all about the being held hostage as soon as they heard ‘wedding’. Keith and I were repeating Mom’s ideas so Alicia and the girls could hear them. Keith said he could help rush things along.

  Seth and Anna were excited as well when we called and gave them the news. It was only as an afterthought that we told them about the demon. They insisted we come over and celebrate. We were more than happy to. All of us loaded up in Mom’s Audi and headed to Seth’s. Seth had called around and many of the pack had arrived or were driving up at the same time. There were hugs and well wishes all around.

  “This just made my day. I was sitting here bored and feeling like I needed to be somewhere all afternoon. Then you guys call and I can’t believe how happy this wedding is making me feel.” Seth was smiling from ear to ear when we got there. He hugged me and Alicia close as he spoke. “I am just so happy for you two.”

  “Seth, will you give me away?” Alicia asked.