by Tanya Simon
Seth stared in amazement as the man’s mouth slid out of place.
“I was ordered to take on human form for this. I’m afraid it’s very hard to duplicate, for a demon of my order.” The gravelly voice apologized as he pushed his nose back into place.
“Will I suffer?” Seth asked, as he tried not to gag on the demon’s fecal-like smell.
“No.” He came a little closer, “But you will die.”
“Is Mystery happy?” Seth whispered. “Will Ryan die?”
“Yes, the holy man will die. Yes the princess is happy and all of demon kind with her.”
“I’m ready.”
A few minutes later, lights came on all over the neighborhood and several dogs barked as a man’s high-pitched scream split the night air.
Ryan said a prayer and ran the red light, silently apologizing to the angry driver who had to swerve to miss him. He took the corner on two wheels, stopped the car and bounded out. He didn’t know why Seth was at the house, but he knew he was in danger. Mystery and he had tried calling Seth to let them know the plan, but he never returned their calls and had changed hotels. Ryan had not gone back to the house after Mystery left, he knew Cain had probably given orders anyone who entered the house was to be killed. If Seth was there… The feeling of disaster had only gotten stronger as he got closer. He unlocked the door and gagged as the smell of frying meat slammed into him.
“Seth!” He screamed and started for the stairs only to be pushed back down.
“You’re too late, preacher man.” A gravelly voice said from somewhere in the shadows.
“In the name of Jesus!” Ryan shouted as he climbed the stairs, “Demon be gone!” He smiled as an unearthly shriek filled the air. He didn’t hear his brother screaming. His heart shattered when he could feel no one living inside the room.
“Seth!” He screamed as he tried to open the door. He kicked at the door and cursed when it wouldn’t open. He tried using his mind to unbolt the lock, but the door wouldn’t budge. Finally, in frustration he banged on the door and mouthed wordless prayers. He sank to his knees and wept.
Sometime later, demonic laughter filled the air as the door crept slowly open. Ryan took a deep breath and stood. He begged God to give him strength as he stepped into the room he and Mystery had shared. The stench of human entrails and frying flesh assaulted him.
“God, no, please, sweet Jesus!” He wailed as his eyes took in the bloodbath. Deep inside he knew there was no way Seth still lived, but he prayed for it anyway.
Tears of frustrated rage coursed down his cheeks, when he turned to the dresser and saw what had once been his brother’s scalp atop it. The blond ponytail matted with blood and thicker things. Sighing, he turned and went downstairs to call the police.
Seth opened his eyes to find himself standing at the end of a long hallway. There were several doors opening off the hallway and an eerie green light shone from under each door. Seth jumped as a cold hand clamped on his bare shoulder.
“You must choose a door.” A voiced said from the shadows.
Seth turned, but he was only able to make out two eyes shining with the same eerie light, which leaked from under the doors.
“Where am I?” Seth asked, though he knew the answer.
“Why you are in the Master’s workshop, on the third level of the grand city of Acheron. Welcome.” The voice was filled with pride.
Encouraged by the friendliness of the disembodied voice, Seth stepped forward and gingerly turned the knob on the first door. At first all he could see was a swirling mist and the green light; as he focused he bit down on his lip to keep from shrieking at the sight before him.
A woman lay tied to a stone slab, her clothing gone, she looked at him beseechingly. Her mouth was sewn shut with leather threading, her legs were splayed and Seth could see a raw steak had been stuffed inside her. Seth turned his head at a hissing sound and a low growl came from the corner. A devil dog was bound to the wall with a thick rope. The hissing sound was coming from the acid, which was slowly dripping onto the rope, eating it away.
As Seth watched the dog began to strain against the rope, aching to get to the feast on the other side of the room. He jumped as the rope broke with a ping and the dog leapt toward the woman. He closed his eyes to escape the carnage and stumbled back through the door, slamming it shut behind him.
“You must choose a door.” The voice said as screams filled the dank air.
Ryan sat on the curb and stared at the whirling lights on top of the police cruiser closest to him, if he let himself get lost in the movement it almost didn’t hurt to breathe. He tried not to think about what might be happening to Mystery right now. He realized how arrogant they had been to believe she could go to them and still find a way to fight them. They had brainwashed all of the young girls before they killed them, they had probably begun brainwashing Mystery the minute she said yes. Ryan knew he couldn’t lose his brother and Mystery; he wouldn’t survive it. He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and looked up to see a tall, Hispanic woman sitting down on the curb beside him.
“I’m Felicity, Ryan. We talked on the phone briefly a while back. I am a friend of Mystery’s.” Ryan didn’t say anything he just kept staring at the whirling lights. “I know Mystery has gone to them. I wish she had asked me before she went, she isn’t strong enough to keep them from infecting her psyche.”
Ryan looked over at her. “I realize that now. She was supposed to contact me, you know telepathically. I haven’t even been able to feel her.”
“They are blocking the signal. She can’t hear anything right now except for Jeremiah’s cooing. She won’t even know they are shifting her allegiances until it is too late.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Pray. I will work on reaching her. My magic protects her to a certain degree, I can follow my magic and maybe I can influence her to contact one of us.” She stood. “Be careful. It stands to reason, you are next on their list of tying up loose ends. I am sorry about your brother. He was a gentle, kind soul. Blessed Be, Ryan. I will call you as soon as I know anything.”
“Thank you. Protect yourself, I’m sure you are on the list too.”
“I’ve been on it for years. I will be fine.” Ryan watched as she walked away.
“Mr. Parsons?”
Ryan turned to see a tired looking man in wrinkled clothes, holding a notebook and yawning.
“Yes.”
“I’m Detective Sam Jefferies, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m sorry for your loss. Where is Mystery?”
“I don’t know. She has been missing for several days.” Ryan’s voice was flat.
“So do you think the cult took her?”
“I don’t know.”
“I can’t help if I have nothing to go on.” Sam was getting frustrated; Ryan wouldn’t stop staring at the whirling lights of the siren.
“You can’t help anyway. If you guys are done with me for tonight, I‘d like to go back to my hotel and get some sleep.”
“We’re done, Mr. Parsons.” He handed Ryan a card. “Call me if you think of anything which might help us stop these people.”
“I will. Good night, detective.” Ryan walked to his car.
Sam watched him go.
Ryan jolted each time the undertaker’s assistant dropped a shovelful of dirt on the tidy cedar box holding what was left of his baby brother. He tried to find the grief hidden in his heart and found the guilt left room for nothing else.
Ryan winced as pictures of the sweet, trusting little boy Seth had been filled his tortured mind. He’d promised to protect him. He and Mystery hadn’t succeeded in warning him of their little plan. Neither of them had thought he would be in danger because of it; Cain and the Roodmasi hadn’t bothered him since he left. They should have waited until he knew not to come to the house. He should have known once the Roodmasi believed they had what they wanted they wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who knew of them and their quest to get Mystery. Now he didn’t know
if Mystery was all right and he was standing over his little brother’s grave. He hadn’t protected Seth; he had betrayed and deserted him. Once Mystery was safely in his grasp, Cain had sent his minions to mutilate Seth. He had died screaming and alone. It had taken the coroner hours to identify all the parts and the bank had decided to tear down the house, rather than try to remove all the blood and gore.
He had no problem hating himself for what he considered his part in his brother’s death, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t hate Mystery. All he could do was wish she were here with him, that he could go back to the dreary hotel room and lose himself in her. Ryan shook his head in disgust at himself; he was standing at his brother’s grave fantasizing about Mystery.
When Ryan looked up again, the grave was covered. He looked up at the grey clouds rolling across the sky with their promise of more snow, and begged his brother to forgive him. He turned and walked away from the newly covered grave.
Later that night, Ryan lay in bed missing Mystery, mourning Seth. He prayed fervently for Mystery’s soul, he prayed she was strong enough to hold on to who she was in the midst of all that evil. He missed her, the way she smelled, and the way her body matched with his perfectly. At the thought Ryan felt him self beginning to harden. He shifted to a more comfortable position and closed his eyes.
Ryan’s eyes sprung open when the room began to shake and the foul smell of sulphur filled his senses. Closing his eyes, he prayed as unnerving shrieks split the air. Opening his eyes he fixed his gaze on the closest winged creature and it went up into flames. One by one they burst into flying balls of flame.
All of the sudden, the temperature in the room shot up and Ryan began to sweat. Laughter rocketed through the room, and Cain stepped out of the shadows.
“Hello, Ryan. Time to die.”
“God protect your warrior.” Ryan prayed as he stepped out of bed. “Let the games begin.” He pushed Cain with his mind and he went sprawling.
“Pretty good, holy man.”
Ryan threw up his hands as a chair came flying at him; it stopped and crashed to the floor. He touched his hand to the cross around his neck; taking hold of it he said a quick prayer and flung it at Cain, where it stuck to his chest.
Cain howled in pain. He pulled it off and threw it to the ground. Flames sprung up in Cain’s hands and he flung the flames at Ryan. Ryan screamed as the flames ate at his skin. He forced himself to focus past the pain and slowly the flames went out.
“In the name of Jesus Christ I command you, Devil be gone!” Ryan shouted it, pouring all of his faith into every syllable.
Flames sprung up between Cain and Ryan. Ryan watched in awe as the ground opened up and swallowed Cain.
“I’ll be back, holy man.” Cain’s feral growl echoed through the still room and he was gone.
Ryan righted the chair and climbed back into the bed. It looked like round one had gone to him. He prayed Mystery was faring as well and closed his eyes. Sleep claimed him almost immediately.
Ancient and pure, the power flowed through Lilith as she offered down her morning prayers. A secret smile lit her face with an unholy light. The early sunlight sparkled in her flowing blond hair and shone on her naked skin bathing her in light. She said the primeval words and the fire burning at her feet subsided into glowing embers. Bending, she gathered her cloak and slipped it on. Wolves howled in the distance as she hurried back into the aerie.
She pulled open the drape covering her closet, and selected a tailored green suit and a purple silk blouse to wear, she smiled at herself, and she would have preferred to wear her robe or nothing. Somehow, she didn’t think the mortal cops would handle that too well. After dressing, she pulled her hair back into a braid. Lilith was not quite sure how to use all the cosmetics Raevanne had placed on her vanity table; so she opted for the natural look. She still had trouble walking in the uncomfortable high heels; so, she slipped her feet into the purple flats. Lilith checked her reflection in the antique beveled mirror and, deciding she looked like the typical female cop, went to tackle the unpleasant task of driving the sleek automobile Cain had provided.
She managed to drive to the station house without incident and was patting herself on the back, when she spotted Sam walking toward the door. He waved half-heartedly at his coworkers as he walked inside. For the first time in countless millennia she actually felt sympathy for a man. He was so completely alone, among all of these people. His pain was so strong it hung like a living thing in the air. She knew she wasn’t needed to make him give in to his own despair; time was all it would take.
She walked into the squad room and was amazed when all conversation came to a stop as she walked across the room. She nervously ran her hands over her head and straightened her jacket. Swallowing, she walked over to Sam’s desk and touched his shoulder. He flinched and sighing she went to sit down at the desk across from him.
“Sam, I know this is hard for you.” She said in a gentle voice, she always made sure to tone down the sound of her siren’s voice when she was dealing with Sam. “I know what it’s like…”
“No. No you don’t.” Sam growled, slamming his coffee mug on the table, “I am so sick of people telling me they understand!” He roared. He looked around the squad room. “Stop staring at me!”
“My partner was dirty.” Lilith said in a small, haunted voice. Sam looked back at her. “We were partners for ten years, through the academy, as uniforms, and we made detective at the same time so they left us partnered. I was her children’s godparent.” Her eyes filled with tears, which sparkled like jewels before they spilled down her porcelain cheeks. “Her oldest daughter was diagnosed with cancer. It took all their savings, and went through the money from a second mortgage. I watched as they poured everything into Tammy’s care, watched as she became desperate for money. Out of the blue, she had the money for the revolutionary new treatment for Tammy’s rare form of cancer. I noticed undercover cops were turning up dead, but I wouldn’t let myself believe Lauren would sell her fellow officers out.” She dabbed at her perfect nose. Sam reached for her hands, covering them with his work-roughened ones. “The Internal Affairs ghouls started circling around like buzzards after a dead animal, asking questions and following us everywhere.” Her voice hitched, “Three days after her seventh birthday, Tammy died.” Her dark eyes glowed with rage; “Those IA bastards came for Lauren at the grave site, waiting like vultures at a discreet distance for the funeral to end. When Lauren saw them, she mouthed goodbye to me, kissed her husband and her other daughter on their cheeks, took out her service revolver and blew her brains out.” Her breathing quickened. “It all happened so fast, I couldn’t stop her.” She wiped at her tears with her hands. “So, Sam, believe me, I know what it’s like to watch your partner spiral out of control and not be able to forgive yourself for not stopping her.” She stood slowly and walked to stand stiffly by him. “I got a witness to Shauna Clarkson’s abduction. I’ll be in the car.” She walked across the squad room and out the double doors.
“Brilliant, Jefferies, just brilliant.” Sam muttered to himself as he grabbed his keys and ran after her.
Sam climbed into the passenger’s seat of Lilith’s sleek, black BMW. He winced when he noticed dark, designer sunglasses covered her eyes and she was still sniffling.
“Nice car.” She didn’t say anything; she just started the car and backed out of the parking space. “I’m not usually a jackass, Lilith. I’m not dealing with all of this very well.“
“No problem. Just call me Lily. And before you start to wonder if I’m on the take, my family’s wealthy so I can afford this car.” Lilith made her voice slightly icy.
“I wouldn’t go there. Like I said I’m usually an okay guy. I just don’t have a blueprint to follow and there aren’t any manuals on how to cope with the death of your satanic partner.”
“What did you say?” Lilith asked in disbelief.
“Naomi’s last words were ‘Satan loves me, to him I go.’” He smiled a
t the incredulous look on his new partner’s beautiful face. “She died with the same sappy smile on her face as all the dead girls have had.”
“You think whoever is committing these atrocities brainwashed her somehow?”
“Yeah. No. Pull over.”
She looked at him, but she pulled into a parking lot.
Sam reached over and pulled off her glasses. “I want to see your eyes. I think a cult is committing the murders, but I don’t think they brainwashed her. I think they… they…” he paused to search for the right words.
“They tapped into the part of her which already belonged to him, the part that was inherently evil and they made her embrace it.” Her eyes grew and Sam could feel himself drowning in them. “After she did, she realized how stifled her old life was, how it felt good to serve Satan, how liberating. To keep the feeling she was willing to do anything for Satan, even kill her children.” Lilith looked away and Sam blinked for the first time since she had begun talking. “I took a statement from one of those satanic freaks after he had killed his entire fraternity.” She put her glasses on and started the car. As she pulled out onto the street she cleared her throat to get Sam’s attention. “The witness said he was afraid to come forward, afraid we’d think he had killed her. We would never believe the truth.”
