Daemon Persuasion

by S. K. Gregory

  “Do you two want to tell me what is going on?” the truck driver asked.

  “That man was chasing us. He attacked us and my friend was injured,” she indicated to Taryn.

  “Do you know him? Why did he attack you?”

  “He was trying to rob us. We only just got away.”

  The truck driver looked shocked, “I’ll drive you two to the nearest police station.”

  “We just want to put as much distance between us and him as possible. Please, just take us as far as you can.”

  “We should at least get him to a hospital.”

  “He’s fine. Aren’t you?” she said, thumping him in the arm.

  “Yeah, I’m okay,” he said, through gritted teeth.

  “You’re sure?”

  Mackenzie nodded, “We’re sure, sir.”

  “Hank. What do I call you two?”

  “I’m Sarah, this is John.”

  Hank reached into the back of the cab and pulled out a red and black checked shirt. He handed it to Taryn, whose own shirt was in tatters and covered in blood.

  “Thanks,” Taryn grunted.

  “It must get lonely on the road, Hank,” Mackenzie tried to make conversation, to draw attention away from Taryn’s wounds.

  “It’s not so bad, I meet some interesting people and I always have the Lord to keep me company.”

  Mackenzie smiled, wishing she hadn’t opened her mouth. For the next hour, Hank proceeded to tell them about his life as a Christian. Eventually, he stopped in a town.

  They climbed out of the truck. The town was called Brixton; a good distance from Frances’ house. Mackenzie didn’t know whether Frances would pursue them or not. Since she was in hiding herself, she probably wouldn’t try.

  “Thanks for your help, Hank. We appreciate it,” Mackenzie said.

  “You two take care,” he waved as he drove away.

  Mackenzie had to support Taryn as they walked.

  He didn’t want them to check into a motel, he thought it was too obvious. It didn’t leave them many options. They stopped in a small park, where Taryn found a bench to rest.

  “So why did Frances go crazy on me?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, she didn’t really share before she locked us up.”

  “I’m not surprised that she did it. Frances has always been temperamental. I just don’t get how she could go from giving me a transfusion to trying to kill us.”

  “She didn’t...” Mackenzie closed her mouth before she said anymore.

  “Didn’t what?”

  “Nothing.” She almost told him that she gave him the transfusion. Then he would know that he was half-human. Not a conversation she wanted to be around for.

  Once he could walk again, Taryn asked several locals about a place they could stay. They were directed to a secluded bed and breakfast, nestled in the woods.

  “The Cupid Inn?” Mackenzie said, reading the sign by the gate, written in red stenciled letters, with a cherub posing with his bow and arrow.

  The inn itself was a two-story cabin. Cherry trees lined the driveway. Each cabin was painted different colors, with wooden cuts-outs of cherubs and curlicues around the doors and on the window shutters.

  “At least it’s out of the way.”

  “It’s a place for honeymooners.”

  “Then smile and pretend to be head over heels in love with me,” he said.

  “I played shepherd number two in my school nativity; I don’t think I can pull off an Oscar winning performance like that.”

  “If I had the strength, I would hit you,” he muttered.

  “Aw, our first fight,” she said, sarcastically, “Let’s go.”

  A roaring fire was burning in the fireplace in reception. A small woman with white hair stood behind the counter, a huge smile on her face.

  “Welcome to the Cupid Inn. I’m Maria. Do you have a reservation?”

  “No, we don’t. We’re actually on our way to Vegas for our honeymoon. Our car broke down so we were looking for a room for the night. Someone told us this was the best place to stay,” Mackenzie said. Taryn swayed, she tried to steady him by putting an arm around his waist.

  The woman looked them up and down, taking in their dirty clothes.

  “We ended up in a ditch so our clothes got a little dirty,” she added.

  “Well, we do have one room left but it’s two hundred fifty a night, I’m afraid,” she said.

  Taryn handed her a wad of crumpled bills. She straightened them out, counting as she did.

  “Here is the key to your room, Mr. and Mrs...”

  “Black,” Taryn said.

  “Jones,” Mackenzie said, at the same time.

  The woman looked questioningly at them.

  “He’s Mr. Black, I’m keeping my maiden name so I’m Mrs. Jones,” Mackenzie babbled.

  “How very...modern of you,” she said.

  She showed them to their room, pointing out some of the highlights along the way. Each room came with a king-size bed, a Jacuzzi, and their own fireplace.

  “I hope you’ll enjoy your stay with us. If you want we could have your clothes cleaned for you.”

  “We don’t have anything else to wear. It was kind of a last minute trip.”

  Maria left the room and returned a few minutes later with two oversized t-shirts.

  “These are from the gift shop. I’ll add them to your bill.”

  Mackenzie held up the pink t-shirt, which had ‘I heart the Cupid Inn’ stamped across it in red.

  “Great, thanks.” She went into the bathroom and changed into the t-shirt. Once Maria had their clothes, she left them alone. Taryn tossed his t-shirt aside when she left. He lay on the bed in his boxers.

  The room was spacious. A king-sized bed was covered in a bedspread of Pepto Bismol pink roses. Pictures of couples in romantic settings adorned the walls. A blond chest of drawers, directly across from the bed held a large vase of fresh white lilies. Heart shaped pillows graced the one chair in the corner.

  “You’ll catch a cold lying around like that.”

  “I’m not wearing that t-shirt,” he replied.

  “Suit yourself. I’m going to take a bath.”

  She emerged an hour later ready to sleep for a week. Taryn was removing his bandages.

  “How’s the wound?” she asked.

  He pulled off the last of the bandages and threw them in the bin. The claw marks were raw and red but they were healing fast.

  “How come you can heal like that and I couldn’t without help?”

  “Because I’m full demon.”

  “Right. Of course you are,” Mackenzie said, but she couldn’t keep the edge from her voice. She climbed into bed hoping he would ignore it. Why can’t I ever keep my foot out of my mouth?

  “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “No, nothing. I’m really tired.” She yawned and switched off the lamp.

  He lay down on the other side of the bed, keeping a respectful distance. She could feel a brooding silence from him. She closed her eyes, enjoying being in a warm, comfortable bed. She drifted off to sleep.

  The sunlight woke her, shining through the window. She rolled over in bed to find Taryn staring at her, and she jumped.

  “Don’t do that,” she warned.

  He gripped her outstretched arm, “What’s this?” he asked.

  She opened an eye to see what he was talking about. He was looking at the mark where the needle had been inserted for the transfusion.

  “That’s nothing. I cut myself,” she pulled her arm away.

  She got out of bed. Their clothes had been returned, so she pulled on her jeans.

  “It looks like your blood was used for the transfusion. But that’s impossible I would have to be given full demon blood.”

  “If you say so, you’re the expert.”

  “Have you been lying about who your parents are? Are you a full demon?”

  Mackenzie sighed, he wasn’t exactly Caruso.
<
br />   “I didn’t lie about anything. You have been lied to your whole life. The doctor at the house told me you’re part human.”

  She braced herself for the explosion, but he just laughed.

  “You’re taking this well.”

  “Nice try,” he said.

  “You don’t believe me.”

  “No, I don’t. My father is Alden Duke he would never lower himself to breed with a human.”

  “Lower himself? Lower himself!” She shoved him hard, “Do you even listen to yourself speak sometimes? Humans are so beneath you? Well this human saved your worthless ass. I could have walked away and left you to die. I should have left you.”

  She stormed out the door, nearly colliding with Maria.

  “Trouble in paradise?” she asked.

  Chapter 22

  Mackenzie sat on the back porch. She was feeling very violent right now and she didn’t want to be anywhere near Taryn. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the memo. He came out onto the porch, but at least had the sense to keep his distance.

  “I need to go and see Klaus again. We left all the supplies at Frances’ house.”

  Mackenzie refused to even look at him.

  “I’m going to go by myself. I’ll pick up the stuff and come back to get you. I’ll be back by the evening.”

  “I’ll be counting the minutes,” she said, sarcastically.

  When he was gone, she relaxed. A few hours away from him was exactly what she needed. She went back upstairs to use the phone. She didn’t know if demons used wire-tapping but she had to check on her mother.

  A nurse answered the phone.

  “Hello, my name is Janet Stevenson; I’m the warden at Valley State Prison. I’m ringing to enquire about the condition of a prisoner, Annie Murphy?”

  “One moment, I’ll pull up her file.”

  Mackenzie paced the room while she waited.

  “She’s in stable condition. She should be ready to move to the Pine Hills psychiatric hospital in a day or two. Would you like to speak to her doctor?”

  “No, that won’t be necessary. Thank you for your help.”

  So far so good. They were going to commit her mother, exactly as she suspected. She wished she could be there with her. She must be so scared.

  She wanted to be ready to go when Taryn returned. Dumping, the Cupid t-shirt she put her own back on. Checking the room, she tried to find something she could use as a weapon. She felt naked without anything to protect herself. The closest thing she could find was a safety razor. That didn’t rule out the rest of the cabin. They were bound to have a kitchen. She went downstairs for breakfast.

  Several couples were gathered in the dining room, eating a breakfast buffet. Mackenzie filled a plate for herself, trying to avoid their sympathetic stares. It didn’t exactly bode well for any marriage, when the wife turns up at breakfast alone and the husband has disappeared.

  She decided to milk it. She sat down at the far end of the table with her plate. She kept her head down while she ate.

  “Don’t you worry honey, he’ll come crawling back. They always do,” the blonde-haired woman, closest to her, said.

  “It was our first fight,” Mackenzie simpered.

  “And it won’t be the last, trust me,” the blonde-haired woman, said.

  “I think I need a moment alone,” Mackenzie said. She used the opportunity to get into the kitchen. She saw the cook disappear out the back door, carrying a trash bag. Grabbing a knife from the counter she hid it in her boot. Stainless steel wouldn’t have the same effect, but it was better than nothing. She left the kitchen and headed into the reception area. She struck gold, there was an iron poker.

  Picking it up, she gave it a practice swing. She didn’t hear Maria come in behind her.

  “I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to kill him but you’re not doing it in my cabin. Take it outside,” Maria said.

  “Will do,” Mackenzie replied.

  She took her weapons back up to her room. She flicked on the TV to occupy her while she waited. It was ten a.m.

  By two o’clock, Mackenzie was going stir crazy. She took a walk outside, after leaving a message at the front desk with Maria. She didn’t hold out much hope that Taryn would be back before her and she was right.

  Night fell, and he still hadn’t returned. At eight o’clock, there was a knock at the door.

  “Finally,” Mackenzie said, opening the door. It was Maria.

  “Still no sign of him? I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to pay for another night. It’s past check out time,” Maria said.

  “Of course, I’ll be down in a minute to pay you. I left the bath running,” Mackenzie said.

  When Maria left, Mackenzie locked the door. Taryn had the money so she had no way of paying her. She couldn’t wait around any longer. If he wasn’t back by now then he wasn’t coming back. He was probably dead.

  If that was the case then she needed to find someone to help her do the spell. The only person who seemed to know a lot about the talisman was Ed Black.

  After scoping out the cars parked out back, she found a silver BMW with an unlocked door. She hotwired it.

  Like it or not, she was going back to East Falls.

  Abandoning the BMW a half mile from Ed’s place, Mackenzie set out on foot. If any of the Pariah were still watching the place, she wanted to be as quiet as possible in her approach. She kept the poker ready just in case.

  It was late, there was no one around. The road out to Ed’s place was pitch black.

  A couple of times she heard a cry off in the distance. It didn’t sound like any animal she had ever heard before. She gripped the poker tightly, pausing to see if it got any closer. Something whipped past her head, wings fluttering rapidly. She barely stifled a scream, realizing instantly it was just a bat. She was used to dark alleys in the city, but out here, in the open, she was out of her element and fear rode her shoulders like a Pariah that wouldn’t let go. A rustling in the bushes to her right sent her heart into overdrive and she crouched, ready to swing the poker at anything that moved.

  Despite wanting to kick his ass, she sort of wished Taryn were here with her. If nothing else, she could always use him as a shield.

  Relief flooded through her as she walked through the gate into Ed’s yard. A strange sensation coursed through her body, almost as if she was trying to walk through treacle. It only lasted a second but Mackenzie guessed it was some kind of spell on the place. If it was, it wasn’t a good one. She had walked right through it.

  Stepping up onto the porch, she knocked on the door. It swung open at her touch. Never a good sign.

  Mackenzie stepped inside.

  “Hello? Mr. Black?”

  The house was in its usual state of disarray, so it was hard to tell if it had been ransacked.

  “You shouldn’t have come back,” Ed said. He was hunched in the corner of the darkened room. He seemed to be waiting on her.

  “I had nowhere else to go. I have the talisman but I need to know how to perform the spell to activate it.”

  “And I told you that it needs to be destroyed. You just don’t get how dangerous this is, do you? This isn’t some fairytale where the heroine beats the bad guys and lives happily ever after. You are dealing with something you couldn’t begin to understand.”

  “Then help me. I’m not stupid, explain it to me. Show me the spell,” she yelled.

  He went to a bookshelf and pulled out a book. He laid it out on the table in front of her. She noticed the stiff way he walked when he went to retrieve it. He was being controlled.

  “You’re a demon,” she said.

  He was breathing hard and he looked angry.

  “I guess that makes sense, why would a human know all about the talisman,” Mackenzie said. She lifted the book to check out the spell. Most of it was written in Latin so she only understood a few words of it.

  Ed moved to grab the book from her.

  “Stop,” she said, holding up her hand. Ed froz
e mid step.

  “Do you have any of these supplies?” she asked.

  He glared at her.

  “Answer me.”

  “Yes, I have them,” he grunted.

  “Good.” From what she could gather, the spell had to be performed outside. There was a list of ingredients, most of which she had never heard of and she had to add her own blood to the mix. It was used to anoint the talisman. The problem was the spell required two people.

  “I want you to get the ingredients for me,” she said.

  “I’ve had enough of this. Put the book down, sit down on that chair and don’t move,” he said.

  Mackenzie was going to laugh at him but was alarmed when she dropped the book and moved to the chair. Once she was seated, she couldn’t move off the chair.

  “It’s not nice is it? Being made to do something against your will?” Ed said.

  “I don’t understand. How are you able to do that?”

  He shook his head, “Think about it.”

  There was only one explanation but it didn’t make any sense. It couldn’t be him.

  “Dad?”

  Chapter 23

  “I don’t get how you can do this. Why won’t you help me?” Mackenzie said. She was still rooted to the chair.

  Ed or Sebastian was pouring over his books.

  “I am helping you, by destroying the talisman.”

  He had it in his hand after he had torn it off her neck. Without it, she had no power over him.

  “How come everyone thinks you’re Ed Black? The people in town must know what he looked like.”

  He pulled off his cap, scratching absently at his cheek. As she watched ‘Ed’s’ face melted away. The man revealed was younger with dark curly hair and green eyes. Her father. He still had some scars from the fire but not as extensive as before.

  “Cool trick. Can I do that too?”

  “It’s a spell.”

  “My mom had you all wrong. When I was a kid, she told me stories about you. How great a guy you were, how in love you were. I know my mother isn’t the best judge of character but I can see now that everything she told me about you was bullshit.”