The Balance: Darkness Unchained (The Chaotic. Order Book 1)

by Richardson, James

  "I think we should leave and give John his privacy," Catherine said quickly shutting off the camera encase he walked out. "So tell me how did you come to meet John," Catherine asked setting down the camera on the kitchen table. Sarah set down across from Catherine her nails tapping on its surface.

  "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Sarah said her eyes drifting up the stairs.

  "After what I've just seen I'm willing to go out on a limb," Catherine said pushing the camera aside.

  "This was about three years ago now," Sarah said looking off into the distance. "The partners in my firm were into some bad hoodoo. Trading their souls to a crossroad demon. Things started to happen after hours but I didn't think much of it at the time. Seeing how no one was getting hurt by these pranks. Yet things got steadily worse as time went on. I began to notice changes in my partners. Their eyes were cold and lifeless as if the spark that made them who they were was no longer there. Then people started to disappear, strange odor's and sounds started to fill their office's. It got so bad I rarely went into work preferring to handle my cases at home. Then one night I had to go into work I had forgotten an important file, I needed for the case I was representing the next morning."

  "It was ice cold in the lobby yet it was a sultry ninety five degrees outside. Frost had begun to form on the glass doors, my breath came out in clouds of mist. Cold fear ran down my back yet I ignored it. Instead of getting out of there like I should have," Sarah said her hand rubbing her thigh underneath the table. "Something took hold of my leg jerking me off my feet. I tried frantically to beat the thing that held me to the floor. As it's teeth and claws tore into my skin, however my fist hit nothing but air. I felt my life spilling out on that marble floor then suddenly a green mist filled the loddy air. If I had the strength to scream I would have," her hand gripping tightly to her leg. Remembering the terrible pain she had suffered through.

  "It's skin hung loosely to its body as if it was rotting from the inside. Red glowing eyes stared down at me, filled with the very fires whatever hellish realm it belong to. Its snout was covered in my blood. It's pink barb tongue ran over it's lips savouring its taste. It's bloody snarl foretold that my life was at an end. Yet as I laid there waiting for my end, a high pitched whine and the sound of a wet thud. Was the only thing that sounded my false doom," Sarah's auburn hair spilled out to hide her blushing cheeks. "Then out of the blue a soft warm hand brushed against my cheek. I didn't want to die in the very lobby of my office," Sarah sighed hiding past pains.

  "Strange and foreign chanting filled the eerie gloom. When I awoke my leg throbbed painfully, my vision was blurred and the world spun around me. Yet I was still alive and in no longer endangered from crossing over. As my mind cleared I felt the plush carpet underneath me, not the cold waxed marble of the lobby. With my head spinning I couldn't trust what my eyes were showing me," Sarah said looking up the stairs once again.

  "His golden mane shone in the weak emergency lighting. His blue eyes scanning the darkness for things to nightmarish to name. He had a look of a fearsome warrior about him. I didn't know if I could trust this man, that had saved me from that hellish beast intent on ending my life. Yet his warm gentle hands worked magic on my weary soul," Sarah said pressing her hands together beneath the table. She had not thought about that night since it happened. The horrors she had seen at the hands of the people she once trusted. Catherine sensed this reaching across the table. Her hand grasping Sarah's arm lightly offering her support through the painful memories.

  "Who are you and what are you doing here," asked the man. His voice was calm but full of sin," Sarah smiled weakly at Catherine knowing she understood what she meant. "I work here," I said with as much authority I could muster in my weaken state. "Now tell me why I shouldn't call the cops on you for breaking and entering," I said to him. I watched him fight with something that was brewing behind those blue eyes of his. "Listen I think you should forget about all of this, and get yourself to a hospital. I've stopped the blood flow as much as I can but you have lost a lot of it," he whispered to me."

  "Not until you tell me who your are and why your here," I told him. He bit down on his lower lip while his body remained tense. Ready to spring into action if the need arose. "Listen I've been following a string of murders around the city," he said as he leaned into me. "Not the kind that gets reported in the papers. If they were the whole populace would be in a frenzy. The parent's of the the girl they murdered came to me a few weeks ago. Unable to get a straight answer from the police. They found me through my many dealings with people like me. Someone told them of the things I hunt down in my line of work. So they thought I would be best to find their daughter," he said pulling out a picture of a fifteen year old girl. "My name is John Adams and I tracked the murderer's here to this office building. I was to late to save the last girl I just hoped I'm not to late to save this one," John said rechecking my bandage."

  "Now I must leave you," my hands grasping his shirt unwilling to be left in that horrifying place. I heard his sigh under his breath. Reaching into his coat pulling out a foot long silver dagger. " If you must follow me then it would be wise to stay behind me," he said sighing handing me the dagger. With his help I was able to stand uneasy and painfully on shaky legs. I was not about to be left behind. I hobbled along the best I could as we snuck down the hallway. As we crept deeper into the interior of the firms office, muffled screams drifted on the incense laced air."

  "Pushing his back against the wall John peered around the corner into the conference room. Four small bronze blazers where ablaze lighting the room in an eerie orange yellow glow. Their shadows danced along the walls distorting into wicked things that are better off left unsaid. Cold sweat ran down my spine as the bound girl pleaded for mercy. I could not believe these were once my friends, how could they become such fiends I asked myself. John's hand grasped my shoulder pushing me back down the hall. I tried to fight him but my body was still to weak. I don't know what kept me going was it the fear I felt for the girl or for myself. Was it because John was there beside me I don't really know," Sarah said shrugging her shoulders.

  "How John hid that sword of his I can not say. It seemed to form in his hand from thin air. John put a finger to his lips telling me to remain silent. Slipping silently into the room like a cat. I tried to move as quietly as I could so I could peer around the corner. Somehow John went unnoticed by the four men. To busy preforming their spell to realize he had intruded upon it. Iron chains clinked against the wooden table they were using as an altar. Joe stood with his back towards the door. His hand raised clutching a dagger posed over the girls heart. My hand flew to my mouth to keep my scream from escaping my lips. At that same moment John sprang into action. John's sword arched through the air severing Joe's hand. The chain's yielded to his blade like butter as he freed the girl. The men clawed at him to retrieve their prize. Yet John's blade danced so perfectly in his hand."

  "John held back the men while protecting the girl from becoming another of their victims. Pushing the naked girl out the door, she stared up at me with doe like eyes. "Get her out of here," John whispered to me.

  "No one leaves this place alive," they cried in unison. Their arms raised to the heavens. The floor, walls, and the ceiling groaned as it shuddered under the quake. Wicked chains plunged from the ceiling, blood covered hooks lined the chains at six inch intervals. Walls of flesh and bone rose from the floor enclosing us. The chains began to swing violently threatening to ensnare us in their deadly bite. John reached into his coat pulling out what I thought was a gold necklace. "This was not the time to worry about ones attire," I said. "Here," John said reaching back to me. In his outstretched hand was a strange medallion. A triangle within a circle in its center a half closed eye. I stared dumbfounded at John for I had no clue what to do with it."

  "Take it will keep you safe," I nodded as my hand wrapped around it. The metal felt warm as I pressed it to my chest, not the kind of warmth of body heat. Yet at the tim
e I didn't really care. I eyed the flailing chains as they swung about never coming within a foot of us. As John plunged back into that room with his sword raised, " Sarah said shaking the disbelief from her head. She knew everything that happened that night was real. "Fireballs streaked across the room after John. My eyes could not determine who to pay attention to. John rolled underneath the table as another fireball struck the table. Joe went ridged as the glint of metal protruded from his spine. As Joe's body fell to the floor yanking the sword out of his hands. I wanted to rush in there, and help him yet my body refused to heed my orders. The others circled around John thinking he was defenseless. Thinking it was time to deliver the killing blow. John had this devilish smirk as the fireballs raced towards him. His hands were like a blur in the glaring light."

  "Suntious!" John yelled as the fireball's struck his body. The three stood there in stun silence at the fact their spell had little effect on the man. John's movement's were so fluid as he retrieved his sword," Sarah's hands moved on their own giving depth to her tale.

  "Master," Mark cried out as John extinguished his vile existence. Steven and David fell to their knees praying to the demon they sold their souls to. Cold evil laughter filled that room. I nearly gagged on the things perfume it seemed to bathe in the stuff. To rid itself of it's overwhelming sulfur stench. The plaster wall rippled like the surface of a like. John held tightly to his sword as a slender shapely leg protruded from the wall."

  "Her blood red dress flowed like water over her body. Her hair was so red I thought it was soaked with human blood. Those eyes of hers held no light within them only malice and hate. They were as black as the starless night. I could have sworn I would have fallen into that vold if it was not for that medallion. I held on tightly to the quivering girl and prayed that John would be alright."

  "Her high heels clicked on the marble surface as she walked around the room. Surveying John for what seemed like hours to me. Her fingers trailed along John's shoulders. Yet John never shuddered at her touch for I surely did. I wouldn't find out until later if he had, it would have giving the demon an opening for an attack. John always says when facing a demon never show fear. At the time I was sure I would be demon food if John hadn't shown that night."

  "So it seems that my pets are having trouble with you," the demon said kicking Steven in the ribs.

  "It would seem," John said flexing his fingers around the hilt of his sword. Blood dripped endlessly onto the marble floor counting the seconds as they passed.

  "Enough of this there is no reason for you to fight us," she cooed. Walking seductively over to John, her arms draping over his shoulders. Her tongue darting out trailing along his neck. Her lips capturing his earlobe. "Why not join us I can give you more power then these fools knows what to do with," she said nibbling on his jaw.

  "And dirty my hands on a lesser demon," John said looking down at her. "No thanks have enough as it is," he said shrugging of her embrace.

  "Foolish mortal I could kill you with the snap of my fingers," she said scowling at him.

  "If you could I doubt I still be standing here," John said preparing himself for an attack. "But do go on I'd love to see you try," he said taunting the demon.

  "Not today," she smirked at John before plunging her hands into the knelling lawyers chest. "We will meet again John Adams for I know what you truly are," John stood in silence as her blood chilling laughter faded. "I stood there in awe as the world around me returned to normal. I told John I would handle the police. We found some spare clothes for the girl as the sirens blared in the distance. With the girl safely returned to her parents and the investigation into my partners began. I watched as John walked off into the night. The medic fought to keep me restrained I managed to slip pass him."

  "I hobbled after John I couldn't let it end like that not after everything we had just gone through," leaning back in her chair Sarah couldn't believe how she acted. "When I caught up to him on the corner of the street, it seemed the events of the night didn't phase him. Then again I doubt that was the first time he ever dealt with such things." "Wait a minute," I called out to him. As John turned a smile formed on those fine lips of his. I'm sure you have seen it," Sarah said wiggling her eyebrows.

  "That I have," Catherine said in a low whisper.

  "I bet it makes your heart beat faster as it did mine."

  "Where are you going I thought we could get a cup of coffee or something," I said catching my breath and fighting through the fog of the painkillers.

  "Home and off to another job in Charleston," John said catching me in his arms. "Come let's get back and let the medics take care of you," he said waving to one of the paramedics.

  "How will I found you," I asked as they laid me down. John slipped his business card into my hand as I passed out," Sarah said letting out a breath. "Is that what you wanted to hear, or is there anything else you want to know."

  "Does John have any friends here within he city," Catherine asked opening her notepad.

  "As far as I know he doesn't he never spends that much time in the city. Even if he did they wouldn't hang around long enough for John to remember their names. Then again John does need to stay in one place long enough to make friends," Sarah said her fingers drumming on the table.

  "So then there isn't a girlfriend in the picture," Catherine hoped not.

  "Why do you ask," Sarah asked arching an eyebrow.

  "To see if she could tell us his whereabouts a week ago," Catherine said he pen tapping on her notepad.

  "Well let's see," Sarah said pulling out her BlackBerry. Sarah began to scroll through pages of John's activities for the past month. "Well last week from Sunday the 8th at 11:42 am to Wednesday the 11th at 00:22 am. John was in the Texas badlands rounding up Hetpheas horse's," Sarah said scrolling down.

  "What horse's," Catherine said losing her grip on her pen.

  "From what John told me they're fire breathing, meat eating horse's bred in the underworld," Sarah said looking up from her screen.

  "What kind of meat," Catherine was afraid to asked yet the words came out of her mouth.

  "John said their favorite food is long pig," Sarah said setting down her BlackBerry. "Though he didn't tell what that meant. I've tried to look it up yet so far I've found nothing on it."

  "It's human," John said matter-of-fact stepping into the kitchen. Catherine's heart quickened however John didn't seem to notice she was even there.

  "You kidding right," Catherine asked trying to hide the hurt in her voice.

  "I never kid about my work," John said walking over to the refrigerator.

  "I have the invoice here if you like for me to e-mail it to you," Sarah said trying to lift Catherine's mood. Catherine nodded wondering if this had put an end to anything before it started.

  "Why don't you tell her what happened during the rest of the week," John said riffling through the frig. The screen flickered on already waiting for her.

  "From Thursday the 12th at 10:30 am to Sunday the 15th John was in Kings Bay, Georgia hunting down a Banshee." Catherine scribbled down the times and dates her eyes darting towards John under her lashes. "John why don't you invite Mike over and we all can have dinner. Then the Detective can gather what she needs without drawing you back downtown," Sarah said watching John down a jug of ice tea.

  "Fine," John said sighing. "I hope you like lasagna," he said as he threw open the cabinet doors.

  "Well I'll leave you for a moment," Sarah said rising from her seat. Catherine grew nervous sitting alone in John's kitchen after she had accused him of murder.

  "Sarah said you don't have a girlfriend," Catherine said as he worked on making the sause from scratch.

  "No she didn't, I trust her more then that then go blabbing about my love life to a cop," John said over the slow simmer sause pan. "But to answer you question no girlfriend, no wife, no fiancée," Catherine's heart fluttered for a moment.

  "Boyfriend," god she hoped not.

  "No, do I look like that
kind of man," John chuckled into the pan. Catherine bit down on her lip to hide the smile that she felt was forming.

  "Sorry I had to ask," Catherine said she could fell his eyes rolling as he shook his head. "What about relatives?"

  "I don't remember much about my family. All I can recall is that we parted on very bad terms," John said blowing on the sause before tasting it. "Here what do you think," dipping a spoon into the sause. Allowing it to coat the metal yet not so much that it would drip onto the floor. Catherine blew on the spoon as John returned to the stove so the sause would not burn. As she ran the spoon over her tongue her taste buds were alive with glee.

  "Where did you learn to cook like that," Catherine asked setting aside the spoon.

  "When I was in Italy last winter I was planning to go back before you and your partner showed up," John said as he layered the pasta. "I was working this case in an old Count's castle, when a freak snow storm blocked the road for days. I found this little bed and breakfast a mile or two down the road. The owner offered to put me up for the night. As the storm grew worse I helped around the inn fixing things and what not. She taught me how to cook a few things, she also wrote down a few more recipes. I haven't tried them out yet seeing how they're mainly breakfast items. Seeing how I'm the only one here most of the time."

  "What was the job about," Catherine asked her body growing comfortable as they talked.

  "I'm not in the habit of divulging my clients personal business," John said over his shoulder. "And I don't like it when people plunge into my background." He said placing the dish into the oven. Even though she had no part in it the words still stung.

  "Listen John I tried to make my captain see reason. What happened at the police station wasn't an normal event for us," Catherine said clasping her hands together beneath the table.

  "Had it occurred to your captain that if I had not stopped the hellhound. Then all would be dead their souls fueling the beast to walk this land for years to come," John said cutting the French bread in half. Pulling out a small sause pan setting on the stove, menacing four gloves of garlic. Catherine watched as he worked over the stove. "Well good news Mike would love to come over. It's been awhile since he had some of your fine cooking. Plus I think he's grateful that he doesn't have to eat mine," Sarah said as she stepped back into the kitchen. "Well I will leave you so I can run home and change into something more practical then this," her hands running down her blouse. The bell chime jingled as the shops door opened. Stepping passed the curtain Sarah wondered who would come here at this time of the night. "John I think you need to come out here," Sarah called back to them. Throwing the dish towel over his shoulder pushing passed the curtain into the gloomy interior of his shop. Catherine followed after him thinking it might give her some insight into John. Catherine was stunned when she looked upon a the girl in her late teens. Her red suitcase sat next to her, her white leggings kept the bitter cold of the night from chilling the poor girl. Her sandy blond hair hung loosely down her back. Her sea green eyes took in all that was around her in awe. Her overstuffed coat hid her lithe form within its depths.