Daemon Persuasion

by S. K. Gregory

  Mackenzie kept staring at her father. She didn’t know what to make of him. He definitely wasn’t what she expected, not that she had ever had any illusions of a huge tearful reunion but her mom always spoke about how kind he was.

  He was more than a bitter old man on the surface. He was only interested in the talisman just like the rest of them. She just wanted this to be over.

  “What do I need to do? For the spell?” she asked Sebastian.

  “You say this incantation,” he handed her a sheet of paper. “We’ll do the rest.”

  She took the paper and read the incantation a few times.

  “It might not work,” Sebastian said.

  “We have to try.”

  “No, I mean I don’t know what it will do to you. You’re not full demon, it could kill you.”

  “What? Did you know that?” she said to Taryn.

  “It’s a possibility but if the spell is done right, you’ll be fine,” he replied.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re so calm about my potential death,” she snapped.

  “You’ll be fine.”

  Now that she had that to worry about the hours flew.

  They picked the cemetery because it had plenty of exits if they were ambushed. Divided in half by a low stone wall, the far side contained recent graves. The side they were now on was much older and most of the graves were overgrown, tombstones crumbling. Mackenzie glanced at a few dates, surprised to see they went back as far as the early 1800s.

  Taryn laid out some herbs on the ground while Sebastian lit candles, while Mackenzie shivered in the cold air.

  The sky was clear and out here in the dark, she could see thousands of stars. The moon’s edge was beginning to darken as the sun moved into position. The eclipse was starting.

  A cold breeze whipped through the cemetery. A dog howled in the distance making her jump.

  “Stand in the circle, Kenzie,” Taryn said.

  She moved forward, the knot in her stomach growing by the minute. Sebastian held out his arm, blocking her path.

  “I’m doing it,” he said.

  “What are you talking about?” Taryn said.

  “I’m performing the ritual. Once I have the power I’ll make sure the Dukes leave you alone.”

  “No, I don’t trust you. Kenzie is doing the spell,” Taryn argued.

  “Okay,” Mackenzie said.

  “Kenzie...” Taryn said.

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t want to do this. I never did.” He didn’t know what he was asking. She thought she could go through with it, but she couldn’t. If her dad was giving her an out, then she was going to take it.

  Taryn turned away. He was pissed.

  “It’s best for everyone,” Sebastian said. He stepped into the circle.

  “Start the ritual,” he said to Taryn.

  “Don’t do this Kenzie,” he said.

  “I’m sorry.”

  The eclipse was starting; he had to get the ritual done. Taryn began to read his part of the spell. He had the herbs ready and at the right moment Sebastian would add his blood and anoint the talisman.

  Mackenzie stepped back, her leg bumping one of the tombstones. She glanced down at it and saw a blur moving fast on her right.

  “Look out!” she cried, too late.

  Lucien collided with Sebastian. He pitched forward, his head striking one of the tombstones. The talisman flew out of his hand. Mackenzie dived for it.

  Lucien grabbed her by the hair and yanked her to her feet.

  “I’ll be taking over from here. Keep reading or she dies.”

  Mackenzie pulled away from him losing a handful of hair in the process. Taryn tackled him.

  “Get in the circle,” Taryn yelled.

  She looked at her father but he was out cold.

  “Now Kenzie, we won’t get another chance,” Taryn said.

  She got into the circle and picked up the incantation and began reading.

  Taryn recited his part while trying to keep Lucien pinned to the ground. Mackenzie struggled a bit with the Latin but she tried to read it as best as she could. She really hoped it was right; she didn’t want to burst into flames if not.

  She felt the talisman start to heat up in her hand but she held onto it tightly. Lucien was crawling towards her, reaching for the talisman. Taryn yanked him back.

  “Keep going,” he said.

  She kept reading. The eclipse was almost complete. The wind began to blow harder and harder. The sheet was ripped out of her hand and it blew away. It didn’t matter, she’d taken the time to memorize it while they waited for nightfall. Slicing open her palm, blood dripped the over the herbs. Rubbing the mixture over the talisman she completed the spell.

  The talisman began to vibrate in her hand. It was almost too hot to hold. She gritted her teeth against the pain. The moon turned blood red and the vibration shot up her arm and through her whole body. She screamed as pain ripped through her. The chain on the talisman melted from the intense heat.

  Taryn said the final words of his part of the spell and Mackenzie crumpled to the ground.

  Chapter 26

  When Mackenzie saw the moon again, the eclipse was over. She stretched out her hand to find the talisman had seared her hand. It was nothing more than a misshapen lump of gold now. She put it in her pocket.

  “Kenzie, are you okay?” Taryn called from nearby.

  “What did you do?” Lucien screeched.

  He lunged at her.

  “Stop,” she said.

  He stopped mid-stride. The spell was working, she could control him.

  Mackenzie got up of the ground. Her body still felt like it was vibrating.

  “It worked. What do we do now?”

  Taryn came over to her, “We need to make sure he doesn’t come after us again. I doubt he told our father, although you should ask him that.”

  “Did you tell your father about the talisman or what you were doing?”

  “No,” he said.

  “Of course he didn’t. He wanted it for himself. He wanted to overthrow him. Isn’t that right?”

  “Answer him,” she ordered.

  “Yes, I want the throne. I want it all,” he raged.

  “That’s why he was using the Pariah to do his dirty work. So it doesn’t get back to him. Kill him.”

  “I...how?”

  He tossed her the knife.

  “You won’t kill me, will you Mac?” Lucien said.

  She hesitated. It was different killing the Pariah; they were more animal than anything.

  “If he wants me dead, let him do it himself.”

  She looked at Taryn, “I can’t.”

  “Tell her why. You would rather have her become a murderer just to save yourself. Scared of the curse, brother. You know it’s an old wives tale,” Lucien said.

  “Do it now,” Taryn urged.

  The knife handle seared her palm. She couldn’t do it. Glancing at Taryn she caught a glint of what? Satisfaction? Or something more primal? Which one could she trust to tell her the truth? Taryn had been there for her while Lucien had turned on her; tried to kill her. She raised the knife.

  An explosion ripped through the cemetery. Mackenzie felt her feet leave the ground and a startling sensation of flying through the air. When she came back to earth, her shoulder connected with a tombstone. A streak of pain jarred her entire body and the arm went numb.

  With her good hand, she tried to support the injured limb as she struggled to her feet. Disoriented, she looked around, searching for Taryn and Lucien.

  From the wooded area abutting the cemetery, Pariah swarmed forward. Even at this distance, she could smell them as they charged past the crumbling tombstones. Dropping behind the grave marker, she chanced a peek.

  Taryn, fifteen feet away, wrestled with Lucien as the Pariah circled the two men. Without conscious thought, she surged to her feet. “Pariah! Stop!” It didn’t work. Apparently, she could only control one at a time.

  She hurried toward
them, grabbing the first one she came to. It looked around in surprise. “Kill all the other Pariah,” she said, her voice, to her surprise, was firm and steady.

  Even more surprising, it hurried to do her bidding. Big hands and razor-sharp claws slashed at the fellow mates unlucky enough to be in the way.

  Weaving her way to Taryn, she grabbed his arm, pulling him out of harm’s way. “Where’s Lucien?” she asked.

  “Ran off. We need to get out of here.”

  A few feet away, she spotted her father’s still form. She went over to him. “Sebastian?” she shook his shoulder. “Help me,” she said to Taryn. “Help me get him up.”

  Taking an arm each, they dragged him toward the cemetery entrance and the truck waiting there for them.

  Blinding pain exploded along her jaw. She found herself on the ground, taking Sebastian with her. Mumbling incoherently, Sebastian woke just as Lucien dived at her, knife in his upraised hand. Sebastian yelled, “No,” and threw himself in front of her.

  Lucian couldn’t halt his forward momentum, driving the knife deep into Sebastian’s chest.

  Taryn’s attack distracted Lucien and he turned to his brother, sucker punching him in the stomach. Turning, he disappeared into the night.

  “Oh God, Sebastian, it’s going to be okay,” she said. The knife had just missed his heart.

  “I’m s-sorry,” he gasped.

  “For what?”

  He put a hand on her cheek, “You should have never been born.”

  His hand dropped to his side. He was gone. Mackenzie stared at the body in shock. How could he say that?

  “Sebastian? Dad?” she cried, shaking him. He had to take it back. He couldn’t leave her now.

  “Kenzie, stop,” Taryn said.

  “Wake up,” she sobbed.

  “He’s gone, Kenzie,” Taryn dragged her away from the body.

  She tried to stand but her body was practically convulsing now. Taryn picked her up and took her to Sebastian’s truck. The keys were still inside.

  “What’s happening to me?” Mackenzie asked, as he put her in the truck.

  “I don’t know. We need to go to Madame Tula’s; the spell might have gone wrong.”

  “You think?” she said, through gritted teeth. The pulsing feeling was growing more intense. She felt like she was being torn apart from the inside.

  They drove out onto the main road. As they reached town there was a thump on the roof of the truck.

  “What was that?”

  “I don’t know,” Taryn said, leaning forward to look out the windshield. The driver’s window imploded as a hand reached in grabbing at Taryn’s arm. As he fought off his attacker, the truck swerved dangerously into the oncoming lane. Mackenzie grabbed the wheel, too late, as the truck careened off the road and into the trees.

  “Brake,” Mackenzie screamed.

  Taryn hit the brakes, throwing the attacker forward and into the scrub brush.

  “Was that Lucien?”

  “Yes, we need to get out of here,” he started the truck and began backing up. The wheels spun in the mud.

  “Come on,” he urged.

  Lucien charged out of the bushes, ripping the door off the passenger side. Reaching in, he jerked Mackenzie out of the vehicle.

  “Get off me,” her blows to his face and chest were ineffectual.

  “I’m going to rip you apart,” he screeched.

  Taryn grabbed Lucien, but blind fury made him impossible to hold on to. Mackenzie stumbled toward the tree line. Spots danced in front of her eyes. Blinking back the film at the edge of her vision, she fought to stay conscious. Falling on her knees, head down, she tried to stop the spinning earth. She retched, her body expelling what little there was in her stomach.

  Lucien kicked her in the stomach flipping her onto her back. He pinned her down and put his hands around her throat.

  “The power was supposed to be mine.”

  “Take it,” she choked.

  “It’s too late. The talisman can only be used once and it went to you. You pathetic half breed bitch.”

  He pressed tighter on her throat as she desperately tried to suck in air.

  I am pathetic. I’m going to die in the middle of nowhere lying in my own vomit.

  “S-st...” she tried to say stop but she was out of air and she was out of time. Darkness closed around her. She stared up at Lucien’s face, which was twisted in a hate-filled grimace. A shadow appeared over his shoulder and for a moment, she thought it was the Shadow, come to rescue her, but this one was carrying a knife. She watched as it was raised in the air and swung down into Lucien’s back. The look of shock and surprise on his face was almost funny. He let go of her neck and rolled onto his side.

  Taryn stared back at him.

  “Big mistake brother, now you’ll die too,” Lucien rasped. His head dropped onto the ground and he was gone.

  Chapter 27

  Mackenzie gasped, trying to fill her lungs with air. Her throat was raw and she could barely speak. “What did he mean?” she rasped.

  “Nothing, can you stand?”

  She nodded, her throat on fire. Taryn got her back to the truck and headed for Madame Tula’s.

  “I’m charging double for this,” she grunted in greeting, when she met them at the door.

  Mackenzie lay on the bed and closed her eyes. She just wanted to sleep.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “Lucien. She also activated the talisman,” Taryn admitted.

  Madame Tula swore in a couple of different languages, “Where is it?”

  “I don’t know,” Taryn replied.

  “If you want to save her life, you better find me that damn talisman.”

  Mackenzie reached into her pocket for it. She held it out and Madame Tula snatched it from her.

  “It takes time for the talisman to reach full strength. Once that happens it becomes a useless piece of metal and the power will probably kill her.”

  “What do we do?” Taryn sounded worried, which surprised Mackenzie.

  “You do nothing. You’re done enough. I might be able to bind the power to the talisman.”

  Mackenzie fell asleep to the sound of Madame Tula’s humming. She was so sore and exhausted she honestly didn’t care if she ever woke up.

  Taryn was gone when she opened her eyes, but he had left a note.

  The Dukes won’t look for you and I have fixed things with the police. You’re in the clear. Taryn.

  So, he wasn‘t going to help her get her mother out.

  “Not even a thank you,” she whispered.

  “You wouldn’t get one from him,” Madame Tula said. She was sitting in a chair by the fire.

  Mackenzie put a hand to her throat. The bruising had gone down and it didn’t hurt as much.

  “Well, I’m capable of saying it. Thank you for your help.”

  Madame Tula gave her a small smile; she stood and came over to the bed.

  “Here,” she handed her the talisman.

  “What do I do with it?” she asked.

  “My advice?” Madame Tula replied, “Get rid of it, somewhere no one will find it.”

  “What about the power, is it gone?”

  “Yes, it is contained inside the necklace. You have three days to get rid of it. If you do that then you will be fine. You will be back to normal.”

  “Whatever normal is.”

  When she was strong enough, Mackenzie took the truck Taryn had left behind, and drove to Rhonda’s in San Francisco. When Rhonda opened the door, she took one look at her and embraced her.

  “Oh, honey, what’s happened?” Rhonda asked.

  “I can’t even tell you half of it,” she whispered.

  “Come inside,” Rhonda ushered her in and made her some tea. Toys were scattered over the living room floor. There was no sign of the kids. She guessed they were in school.

  “Sorry, I have nothing stronger,” she apologized. She wouldn’t have any alcohol in her house, not with her hi
story.

  “Don’t worry about it, this is fine.” She drank the tea, feeling slightly better.

  “I found my father,” she said at last.

  “You did? What is he like?” Rhonda asked, lighting a cigarette.

  “He’s dead. I watched him die,” she said. She felt like she should be crying but the tears wouldn’t come.

  “Mac, sweetie, I’m so sorry.”

  “I don’t know what to do. I can’t tell my mom, it would send her over the edge.”

  “You can stay here as long as you want, until you decide what to do.”

  Mackenzie nodded, grateful to her. She couldn’t face going home just yet.

  “I just want to forget the whole thing ever happened.”

  Epilogue

  It was early. The sun was barely up and a dense fog was rolling in off the water. Mackenzie left her car a half mile away and walked to the bridge. She was glad of the fog. The gray mist shrouded her movements, made her feel invisible from the dangers of the world.

  She could hear the water lapping on the shore, seagull’s overhead. Other than that there was no one else around that she could hear or see.

  She pulled the talisman out of her pocket. This one tiny piece of metal had taken so much from her. She wasn’t sure how the spell that Madame Tula had performed worked, but separation was the key. She was more than happy to get rid of it.

  Along with the talisman she had also bought a cash box. She placed the talisman inside. There were some stones lying around and she placed them next to the talisman for added weight. She locked the box and took it to the water’s edge.

  Her father’s words came back to haunt her, You should have never been born.

  Maybe not, but she was here anyway. And she wasn’t going to waste another second thinking about him or anything else that had happened in East Falls.

  She hurled the box into the water, as far out as she could get it. It sank below the water.

  Good riddance.

  Mackenzie swung the door open to her apartment bracing herself. She didn’t exactly know what she expected. According to Taryn she was safe, but after everything that had happened she wasn’t about to take chances.