A Song of Forgiveness

by Lillian I Wolfe

I sank into the sofa next to him and gazed at the screen, seeing her scramble with some papers from the desk where her computer sat, presumably.

  “Right. I have three different references that tell a similar story. They are all ancient, questionable in accuracy, but they match on many items. First, they all report a time, possibly three to four thousand years ago, when these black shadows haunted several villages in Asia, Ukraine, and parts of Europe. They have similar names for the demons, but soul eater or soul destroyer are the common ones. They believed they devoured the souls of their victims, stealing them or destroying them once and for all. They were fearful creatures, cunning and fast. One of the scrolls had an illustration.”

  She held up the copy of a crude drawing of a blob. The artist, whoever he’d been in ancient times, had used berry juice to paint in the eyes. With the years of fading, they looked barely pink, but the almost human shape of the demon was clear.

  “That’s about right,” Gavin said. “Same demons. Did anything say where they came from?”

  “Not that I could narrow down. Over a period of several full moons, as it was recorded, they increased their numbers, easily taking over a whole village of about three hundred souls. Part of the information I found was written down from the stories carried verbally for a long time, so how true they are might be questionable,” Orielle said, putting the paper she held aside.

  Three hundred... That was back then and probably many more of them existed now. Had they increased as much as humans had? I couldn’t imagine how we could defeat them unless we found a key to containing them, not even letting them get into the fray.

  “The next piece I found is a story, again similar across the tales, of a man from Asia, presumably China, who discovered the yiaiwa had a leader, an immortal, they called bael-al-fager, which became—” She paused to consult her notes.

  “—Belphegor,” Gavin finished. “One of the Fallen Angels, the master of the opening.”

  “What opening?” I asked, my mouth suddenly dry.

  He shrugged. “That’s unclear. Some think it’s a sexual reference or it could be the way to Hell. He was mentioned a few times in the Bible, but his function isn’t well defined. If it’s debauchery, then it might involve Belphegor.”

  “If he is an immortal, might they still be ruled by this demon?”

  “I believe it is possible,” Orielle answered. “In fact, I think it is probable. Let me continue. The man, whose name is unclear but is believed to be Liat Chun, began to devise a plan to trap Belphegor and seal him away for eternity. Part of the plan involved an ivory puzzle box.”

  “Shit!” The expletive exploded from Gavin’s mouth.

  I gasped, connecting as well as he did. Oh, my God. The damn box. Everything we’d feared sounded likely.

  Orielle’s eyes showed sympathy for Gavin, knowing that what he’d done was connected to this. “I am sorry, dear one. It seems that box is a key. Do you still have it?”

  “I do. It’s in the safe.”

  “I will tell you the rest of the story, but I think you will need to bring it back to that secret alcove in India.”

  “Replacing it isn’t enough. We need to lure the demon back to it and seal it. Are there any clues on how to do that?” His voice was hoarse, anger and annoyance with himself in it. All this time, he’d wanted to deny he was responsible for the release of the demons, but this was damning evidence.

  “I am getting to that,” Orielle replied, shuffling her papers dramatically. I could imagine her doing that in a lecture hall when students were getting ahead of her to draw their attention back.

  “Now, Chun worked with another scholar to devise the trap to lure Belphegor to the box where they would execute a spell that would entrap him and seal the portal. Apparently, there was something that the demon particularly wanted and they used that to draw him in, then chanted the spell that I believe we already have.”

  “We do?” I asked, my brow furrowing as I tried to think what it might be.

  Turning his gaze to me, Gavin said, “I think you’re right. Gillian, did you repeat that chant exactly as you heard it when you did the reading on the box?”

  I fidgeted a little, a lump of fear crashing to the bottom of my stomach as I realized what he was asking. “I think so,” I squeaked. I have a good ear for the rhythm, but it was the words I wasn’t so certain I got right. I reminded him now. “The words aren’t in English, so I don’t know for sure.”

  “Okay, we can listen to the recording and check the pronunciations. Ori, do they have any record of the actual spell used?”

  Her eyes literally crossed as she gaped at him. “You do realize the translators were reading hieroglyphics and symbols? Even if they had the spell, the translation would probably not match what it was then at all. Without actually hearing the language spoken at the time, a translation is not going to be accurate.”

  “Sorry, you’re right. I know that. I just thought if we could see the words, then we might be able to compare them to the ones Gillian recorded and make any adjustments.” He ran his hand through his hair, pushing the longer ends that tended to fall in his eyes back into place.

  “Any idea what they used for bait?” he asked.

  She shook her head, her lips drooping to a sad look. “No, I could not find anything specific. If he is the keeper of the opening and that opening being a portal from his plane to another, would the most valuable lure be something that threatens the closure of the gateway?”

  “Or someone,” I whispered as a knife of fear struck my chest.

  “You mean Chun, who had the key to closing the portal with the box and the spell?” Gavin asked leaning closer to the computer screen as if he could see Orielle’s notes.

  “Possible,” she agreed. “But who would that be now? Is there anyone who presents a threat to him?”

  The words the pacura yiaiwa spoke to me at our last encounter echoed in my mind. “Segel se tan kunci daya...” and whatever else. Could it interpret them to mean I was a threat? With my limited skills, did I represent a challenge?

  “Me. I think I may be one,” I croaked out. “Maybe all of us combined are the threat. One of them did hint that I was an annoyance, and the limited defeat when I encountered them in the transitional cemetery may have elevated the threat.”

  “No,” Gavin said at once. “It can’t be.”

  “Why not?” Orielle asked, her eyes thoughtful. “Gillian may be on the right track. She has a power she’s used against them, but what if the bigger danger turns out to be the resistance she is trying to organize. Alone, she may not be a big threat, but with you, me, the psychic lady, and a few others who can cross to the next plane, she might become a powerful force.”

  “Crap,” Gavin muttered. “I wanted to keep you out of this, chica.”

  Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I forced a weak smirk, “Wasn’t your choice, was it? I appear to have been selected for this. What do we need to do now?”

  Orielle looked uneasy. “I guess I would have to say to put the box back, hope we have the right lure, and say the spell to seal it.”

  “Well, that sounds easy,” I said.

  Rubbing his hand across his mouth, Gavin grumbled, “Not that easy. How do we position the lure to get Belphegor there? How will he know?”

  “We send him a message,” I replied without enthusiasm. “I pay a short visit to the cemetery, look for one of the yiaiwa, and tell them we know how to shut them out. That should get his attention. He’ll figure if we really know, then—”

  “He’ll show up at the cave in Cambodia,” Gavin crowed. “Good plan.”

  Yeah, only a little risky. I cursed myself for suggesting it.

  After sorting through a few more details of the plan, we agreed that Gavin and I would bring the box to India where we’d meet Orielle. Then we’d take the box to the cave to trap Belphegor and seal him into it, closing the portal. When I objected that I couldn’t afford the ticket, Gavin told me not to worry, he’d handle that.r />
  Both nervous and excited about the plan, I sent a text to Ferris that I was on the way, then headed out to my Jeep. As I drove, a dozen other thoughts ran through my mind ranging from making arrangements to leave work for a few days, how I would pay the bills without the usual income, and what to pack for a trip into a jungle. I would need Ferris to stay with Nygard, which meant I needed to tell him what we were planning.

  Yeah, this would go over well.

  TWENTY-SIX

  “Are you insane?” Ferris asked as he wiped his mouth with a napkin after he’d spit soda all down his front. I’d chosen a bad moment to tell him I planned to visit the cemetery on Saturday and I wanted him to come with me.

  “I have to do it and I really would like to have you there with me.” After passing out at the funeral home and the close call of my most recent astral travel, I didn’t want to go alone. “You promised to be my anchor,” I added to rub it in.

  “I know. Do you have to do this?” He still looked annoyed while he wiped up the table.

  “Yes, I do. It’s important.”

  “Well, I don’t get it. Why? This doesn’t have to do with Stalker Roger, does it?”

  “No. It has to do with the shades and a possible way to defeat them.” I hadn’t told him about what I’d learned earlier and if he was reacting this way now, I worried about how upset he’d be if I told him the full plan.

  His head came up as he stared at me with concern, “Now, that sounds worrying. What are you up to?”

  “It’s not that bad. I just need to send a message to the higher-ups in the demon world. Or is that lower-downs?” I tried to make a little joke.

  His eyes narrowed. “Are you kidding?”

  “It’s hard to explain,” I hedged. “Gavin and I have a plan to deal with them, but we need to send them a message for it to work.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that. What kind of plan?”

  “Secret, for the moment. We’re still working out the details. But... I will have to travel somewhere for a few days, like a long weekend. Can you housesit with Nygard for me?”

  “Where are you going? Or is that a secret also?”

  “Yeah, it is, kinda. I’ll tell you once everything is set, but for now, I’m not entirely sure. So, Nygard?” I batted my eyes coquettishly.

  He sighed, concern in his narrowed eyes. “Yeah, sure, I’ll take care of him. When?”

  “I think the weekend after this coming one, like Friday through Monday?” I’d made a guess on the travel, but Gavin had sounded like it would be soon.

  “You’re taking off work?”

  I nodded. “’Fraid so. It’ll put a dent in my budget, but Janna might have a job for me.”

  “Janna? Doing what?” His face scrunched up in confusion as he asked. He finished the wipe up and set the napkin aside.

  At least, that derailed the other conversation for now. I hoped to keep him off it for the rest of the night. The waiter brought a dessert menu and asked if we wanted any. I shook my head, asking for an Irish coffee instead.

  “That sounds good,” Ferris said, handing the menu back. “Make it two.”

  After the waiter left, I added, “Nothing like drinking dessert, is there?”

  “It’s not exactly an ice cream shake, but a good choice. Now, about Janna?”

  “She’s offered me a part-time job doing some PR work with clients for parties and special events. It would be on-call, but she hinted that something would be coming up soon. With luck, it’ll help supplement the income I’m losing out on with the band off the program.” I flashed a brief smile. He was losing out as well, but it didn’t impact him that much.

  “That sounds fun,” he conceded. “I’m glad you have options.”

  “Maybe she could use a handsome, clever guy to mingle at these events also. Should I suggest it to her?”

  He made a shy face, pulling his head down and back like he was hiding it. “Me? Naw. That’s not my gig. I’m using the time to work on my music.”

  “Oh? Do tell, my love.” I dropped my voice to its sultry, sexy level.

  “Just exactly that. I’m focusing on writing a film score for a student at UNR, who is doing a movie project.”

  I straightened up in surprise. “Really? That’s great. What kind of film?”

  “A suspense movie, very ‘Casablanca’ like in feel. It’s a lot of fun to work on the score to fit it.”

  The waiter brought our drinks and I offered a toast to successful ventures before Ferris told me more about his new project.

  Once he got started, he had quite a bit to say; how he got into it, and where he hoped it might lead. Even though I’d known he was interested in doing film or television scores when we were in college, I didn’t realize he’d been working on it still.

  “So, you have plenty to keep you busy,” I said as I finished up the last of my drink about the same time as he paused to drink more of his.

  “I do. I’m really loving it. But I’m worried about you.”

  “Me? I’ll get by. Something always seems to come up when I need a little money.” My smile was to reassure myself as much as to convince him.

  He dropped his gaze to his cup, then worked it across the table to my hands that still held my cup’s handle before his eyes moved up to my face. “You could move in with me, babe. I have lots of room and it would save you quite a bit on that little house you rent.”

  I caught my breath. I hadn’t thought about that at all, not at any point. It caught me by surprise. “Uh, that’s a very generous offer. I’d like to think about it though. I mean, we’ve really just started dating again and it’s a change in our relationship, so before I...” Letting my voice trail off, I realized I was burying myself in words here. Awkward. So many emotions and worries swirled in my mind. I definitely needed to think about it.

  Reaching across the table, he caught my hand, linking his fingers in mine. “It’s all right, babe. You don’t have to decide right now. Just think about it, okay?”

  He squeezed my hand gently and my heart fluttered. We were best friends, and now we had become more. A part of me feared the commitment of moving in with him. Yet I wanted to so much.

  “I will,” I mumbled, my eyes meeting his as I felt the moist drops welling in them. He released my hand and I quickly used the napkin to wipe at the edges of my lids. The last thing I needed to do was start crying.

  As Ferris walked me to my Jeep, he stopped and pulled me into a snug, warm hug. My head dropped against his shoulder with my face nestled against his neck. Under any other circumstance, this would have been a perfect evening and I would have gone back to his home with him, made out, and maybe even tried out his bed. I wanted to, but something held me back.

  Too much had gone on today and I was emotionally charged. His suggestion had topped it off. I needed time to think about what I had to do on the demon level, then decide about the personal one.

  I COULDN’T HAVE PICKED a colder day to go kneel in a cemetery. While it hadn’t snowed in two days, the temperatures were cold enough to maintain the two inches that had fallen. Add a crisp breeze to it and my nose felt brittle. I wrapped my blue plaid scarf across my face and over my nose hoping it would help.

  Ferris coughed, the chill getting to his lungs. He wore a knit cap and a scarf wrapped around his face that muffled his cough and words. “Jesus, this has to be the coldest day of the whole winter.”

  “Naw, it’s just that wind chill isn’t helping any.” I stood near Zoe’s grave, not that I expected to see her, but it was close to the parking area. The less distance I had to walk to do this the better. “This shouldn’t take me very long.”

  “Okay. What do I do?”

  I knelt in the snow in front of the grave and held my left hand out to him. “Just hold onto my hand and don’t let go. I’m going to be singing, so it might seem freaky because it will seem like I’m in a trance. If I seem to fall or pass out, then try to call me back. I don’t think it will happen. I just want some ins
urance.”

  I offered him a reassuring smile as he got those worried lines on his forehead. “It’ll be all right.”

  I hoped I was right about that. In fact, I hoped I could reach the next plane without a legitimate client on the other side. I’d made it to the island, so would this be much different?

  Ferris took my hand as he knelt beside me. He gripped it firmly, almost too much, and I wiggled my fingers to loosen his grasp a bit. I took a couple of minutes to whisper a protection prayer and added a line Gavin had suggested to increase my strength.

  Taking a deep breath, I started singing. I’d chosen “Walk with Me”, the song Della Reese has sung for that TV show about an angel. I figured it was appropriate. By mid-way through the verse, I felt myself slipping away...

  I stood in a gloomy-looking garden, the flowers wilted and the grass looking yellow. About two hundred yards away, the wall of almost black brambles, vines, and misshapen trees rose higher than it had the last time I was here. The blight from the barrier appeared to be spreading toward the beautiful lawns, hedges, and beds I’d first seen in the cemetery. Looking around the area, I noted that the silver path was nowhere in sight.

  As I inhaled deeply, where I usually smelled roses and carnations in the air, it now reeked with the odor of rotting leaves and a vile stench. We didn’t have much more time to stop the yiaiwas if this was an indication.

  Steeling myself for an encounter, I started toward the tall hedge. As I got closer, I gauged that it was at least two feet higher and more dense. Oddly, I felt a wave of reassurance as I went. Ferris, I suspected, keeping me grounded.

  I reached about ten feet from the hedge itself and stopped where the vines had spread out, greenish-black tendrils with thorns that sensed my presence and began to inch their way toward me. I turned to the left and walked along the perimeter, staying just out of the reach of the eager ropes that tried to wind toward me.

  I need a yiaiwa to see me. It didn’t have to get close. I just needed to make contact.

  “Hey! Are any of you creeps there?” I yelled and waited, noting the vines stopped advancing. “I have a message for your leader. Tell Bell-fagger we know how to end this. We have the key and I’ll personally turn it.” I had intentionally mispronounced Belphegor’s name, hoping it would anger one of them.