by Jill Cooper
The sidewalk was lined with soft grass when as Jessica’s boot flattened it, the green blades withered to brown. What was once filled with life turned to death and decay in her presence.
Up ahead was the grand steeple church and there was no sign of anyone.
Odd. No guards? No one watching the entrance? It smelled like a trap, but Jessica couldn’t retreat. Her feet pounded up the marble staircase and she placed a gloved hand against the brown ornate door. It’s pattern so intricate that it had to be for something other than decoration.
Even through the leather, Jessica’s hand sizzled. She pulled it back and memories of this place trickled through the wall Lourdes had built up in her mind. A sweet girl’s voice screamed out in terror echoing from so long ago, “Get down, Mandy!”
Now she was here to hurt her? How could she—.
“Pull the door open,” Lourdes’s voice rang through her mind. “Go get her, Jessica. You think too much.”
The demon queen’s words weren’t wrong.
Jessica pulled the door wide and stepped into the church foyer. When her boot met the carpet, the smell of the place reminded her of something. Inside it was warm and the glow from memorial candles danced against the darkness. So far there was no sign of the enemy. Jessica glanced back at her demons and signaled them on with her hands. “Stay close. We don’t know what they have planned.”
She walked down the aisle. On either side, she was flanked by pews. Up ahead the white altar was illuminated by a golden glow and a woman stood in front. With the bright lights behind her, the woman’s face was indiscernible, but her feet were bare and soiled. She stood with her head bent down, as if in prayer, the silhouette of her hair, bouncing cheese curls.
It was Amanda. She was so close that Jessica could smell her. Taste her. Jessica’s steps slowed, the tattoos on her neck and shoulders burning so intensely that she shuddered in her place. With a hiss of a breath, Jessica wobbled to one knee. She gripped the edge of a pew to steady herself and Amanda nearly left the alter to help her.
She saw the way Amanda’s face twitched and the way her leg moved forward, but Amanda fought the urge.
Jessica thought dear sister would help her, but Amanda didn’t. Disappointed? A little. She thought baby sister would charge for her. Standing upright, Jessica saw the gleam on the carpet from the windows, but outside it was dark. So what made the windows shine so bright? What sorcery was this?
“If you want me,” Amanda’s voice echoed like notes from a bell through the church chamber. It was stronger than Jessica gave her credit for. “You’re going to have to come get me.”
So little sister wanted to fight? Wanted Jessica to get close? Why?
Then Jessica remembered through the fog of Lourdes. Jessica sneered to her two demon pets. “Take out the windows.”
Before the demons were able to open fire, Duncan and some priest stepped out from the shadows. Guns ready, they mowed down her demons before they had a chance to change position. The demons’ gunfire went wide, and two windows were shattered. The church itself groaned as if in pain as the windows were broken. The multi-colored glass fell in shards against the carpet. Jessica’s boots crunched the pieces beneath her and she threw her hair back with satisfaction.
It was better than nothing. Jessica could avoid the rest of the windows. She turned and stared right into Duncan’s eyes. They were hard, steeled against her as if he didn’t even care, so why should she? “Going to fight me, baby?” her voice drawled, flirting with him.
“We’re just here to make sure you don’t escape, that’s all,” Duncan said, but he never lowered his gun. “You guys have a dance to do, so I say you get to it, darling’. Go see your sister.”
Jessica’s heart ached to see him, hear him, yet he was unattainable. Again. Wasn’t he always?
Amanda couldn’t defeat her. She had the fires of Lourdes burning in her soul. It was Amanda that would end up burning, so why did everyone have such faith in her? Because they were in this church? With the demon trap in the basement?
“Did you really think I wouldn’t remember?” Jessica extended her arm and flame shot from her hand, forming a sword of burning ash. The fire flowed up her arms and shot down her legs like a firestorm. The rage of the flames made her skin tremble and sweat flowed from her brow. “You’ll join me in hell tonight.”
“You only brought two demons with you?” Amanda asked, a slight edge of taunting in her voice.
“Who said I only brought two.” Jessica advanced with wide steps as the windows all around them shattered. Like scurrying little bugs, demons crawled into the church, ready to take Amanda straight to hell and it was Jessica’s orders they were ready to follow.
“Mandy!” Duncan’s voice rang out in fear and Jessica’s heart quivered for a moment to hear him so worried about someone—someone that wasn’t her.
“Stay back! Keep the demons at bay, but stay back.” Amanda’s hands were both glowing gold, but that was impossible. She wasn’t able to generate power in both hands.
“Ready yourselves!” Jessica stood steadfast, gripping her wrist to steady the sword as her foot met with the carpeted cushioned steps leading up to the dais.
Time to take what she came for.
Amanda slammed her open palms onto the top of the altar. It came alive and threw white sparks in all directions. The electrical current traveled in all directions; to the four corners of the church, up the arc behind the altar and across the crucifix; it raced up the walls toward the ceiling. Charging straight into the chandelier right above Jessica’s head.
It began to shake and a groan of power built up, glowing evanescent. The hum was building, charging something that wouldn’t be able to contain it for much longer. Jessica didn’t have much time. She darted out of the way. The flaming sword vanished deep inside her body and she charged at Amanda with outstretched hands.
Amanda’s face was set like stone, her eyebrows furrowed tight like a Neanderthal, but she didn’t flinch. Not the little girl that Jessica remembered her being. Where was the fright, the vulnerability?
That was the trap, wasn’t it? It was too late to stop herself, Jessica’s hands slammed into Amanda, as Jessica seized her throat, a flow of power traveled from sister to sister. Jessica groaned as Amanda’s energy traveled through her skin. Lourdes, deep in the underworld, screamed too, sending torment through Jessica’s body.
Amanda moaned and they both fell to their knees together. Demons charged up the steps and around the sides. They closed in on Amanda like a football huddle, but their advance stayed. The chandler erupted in a brilliant display of light. Electricity flowed freely through the church, racing along the ground in search of its prey.
Hungry it floated back and searched through the interior walls of the church, looking for its targets. It lit up the demons like the fourth of July and they crashed to the ground before their bodies exploded into green mist.
Jessica was rolled over on the ground by her dear sister. Amanda’s chest heaved for air. “Don’t fight me on this, Jessie.” Amanda pleaded, holding up a hand. Her power grew between her fingers, intertwining until it formed a tightly knit ball of swirling light.
Eyes lidded, Jessica shook her head. “You really think you can defeat us?”
“Us?” The quiver in Amanda’s voice was evident.
Outside motorcycles hummed. More demons were about to crash their party. Amanda inhaled with fright and Jessica took that moment to slam Amanda under the jaw with her open palm. Amanda fell backward, the arc of her back cracking on the step.
“Amanda!” Duncan screamed and it was his voice that steadied Jessica’s hand.
“Meet the demons outside. We have to protect the circle, Duncan!”
Duncan, and even the priest left the protective confines of the church and Jessica smirked at them. “Fools,” she hissed as the sword grew out from her arm. Amanda’s lips were drawn together and Jessica recognized the tired wrinkles around her eyes. “They really think you can
take me on your own? You’re barely powerful enough to toast bread right now.” Jessica laughed a rolling mocking tone. “You’re so weak, you’re going pasty, girl.”
The hurt was evident in Amanda’s eyes. To see it, a deep pang cut through Jessica’s chest. Part of her screamed to stop, while the other—louder—part of her soul burned just to keep going. Jessica swung her sword overhead to strike, but Amanda was fast.
She lifted her head and a brilliant light shot out, meeting Jessica’s sword in a magical blow. Jessica strained to move her sword downward, to continue the forward motion of her strike, but the light consumed her sword and then it engulfed her. So bright, Jessica squeezed her eyes shut, but even then the painful glow seeped under her eyelids.
Screaming was the only thing that kept the agony at bay. The light grew even brighter and a definite CRACK echoed through the church. The sword broke clear from her arm. The pain from it set tears aflame in her eyes as Lourdes bellowed loudly.
You’re losing the battle! You’ve lost my sword. Failure!
Failure? Jessica had never failed, never, but as she was thrown clear into the pews, she wore that failure. She owned it. It was hers, but she couldn’t give up the fight. As the light faded, she rolled out. Her chest heaving with exhaustion. What was that? Amanda was passive, her powers had always been to protect, to heal, so what the hell was that?
She cradled her hand. The skin was still charred and brown from the sword. Broken off, the place it had fallen on the carpet was singed black. Amanda now stood in front of Jessica, her hair stringy and covering her face. Her limbs shook and fatigue dulled her eyes.
“You were wrong about my power. I hid from the pain for so long, I turned a blind eye. I crept from the power because it was too strong, but I’ve learned to embrace the pain.” Amanda nodded her head. “Just like you, big sister.”
“What—.” Jessica started the words but was cut off as Amanda placed her palm against Jessica’s forehead. Pain, a gentle hum pulsed out against her hand and Jessica felt the way it moved through her body, through her brain as if looking for something.
Jessica pushed her back. “Get off of me! Keep your damn hands off of me, you—you freak.”
“I know you’re afraid,” Amanda’s voice was soft as she knelt beside her sister. “But you’re going to let me touch you. You don’t have any choice here. Trust me, Jess. Trust me.” Amanda’s hand returned to Jessica’s forehead and inside, Jessica quaked. Amanda had trouble holding herself up and her back rounded under the strain. She wrapped her free hand around her wrist and kept the intensity up. Kept everything moving in the right direction and then gasped like she found something. Gasped like she knew exactly what it was she had to do.
Jessica peered at her sister and wanted to ask a question, but Amanda kept interrupting her whenever she wanted to say something. “I’m sorry,” Amanda mumbled.
She pushed against Amanda to get her away, but Amanda grabbed her arm with a powerful grip. “You can’t get away.”
“Don’t do this to me,” Jessica begged. “Let me finish the job. Let me—you don’t know what she’s going to do to me. You can’t know the torture. The pain?” Tears filled Jessica’s eyes.
In response, Amanda’s chin warbled. “I know. I only know too clearly, Jess. We’re—I’m going to save you.” And then a jolt shot out from Amanda that was so powerful, Jessica was pushed back; flattened on her back.
Consciousness ebbed and flowed. Jessica fought to hold onto herself as the ceiling dragged by. She realized it wasn’t the ceiling that was moving, it was her. Amanda had Jessica by the ankles and was dragging her through the church, toward the basement steps.
“No!” Jessica clawed at the rug, desperate to grab onto something as the door to the basement was opened. To do that, Amanda had to let her go. Jessica took that moment to scamper onto her feet and charge away.
Amanda responded fast, hooking her arms around Jessica’s middle and picked her up like a screaming petulant child. “No!” Jessica clawed at the door frame, it rocked Amanda off balance and they both tumbled down the stairs. They landed in a pile at the bottom and everything was dark. Only the light from a giant window caused a faint glow, but off in the corner, Jessica saw the outline of a cage. A scary, confining looking cage.
Was that for her? Was that what Amanda was planning on doing?
Jessica raced to her feet first, and like a crab scurried up the stairs. Her heart was pounding, but why was she so afraid? She was a warrior, always had been. She could defeat some passive healer if she wanted to. Jessica Blood could do anything she set her mind on, so why run when she could face her sister and just kill her.
Kill her.
Kill Amanda Blood? The thought turned her veins ice cold.
“Jessie!” Amanda cried out, pain in her voice. Jessica yelped as Amanda’s power yanked her like a grappling hook and flung Jessica back onto the hard basement floor. Her back knocked some sort of kneeling bench out of the way and Jessica slid right into the light of the giant window.
The gleam of light shining on her burnt Jessica’s face, charring her flesh. She screamed and her back arched as her body spazzed in a fully-fledged seizure. Powerless to keep her limbs calm, powerless to keep anything steady, Jessica contorted in pain with no hope for survival.
Amanda scooped up her sister and as one carried a lover, she carried Jessica over toward the cage. “I’m sorry, Jessie, but it’s for your own good. You’ll see that soon.” Amanda latched the door shut as outside, gunfire erupted.
She doubted that. Caged like a rat, Jessica gripped the bars of her cage, her jaw grinding tight.
17: Duncan Jasper
The night was going to be a long one, Duncan guaranteed it. With a job to do, he threw the double wide doors of the church open and ran into the drizzle. Feet pounded down the marble steps as he headed to the sidewalk. Not alone, Mike followed closely behind. Tonight they’d have no choice but to be a dynamic duo.
The roar of motorcycles drew Duncan’s attention to the left corner of the church. More bright lights coming from the right put him in a tight pickle. Demons charged at them from both sides and would try to box them in. If they didn’t get this just right, both Bloods were screwed, and come hell or high water, Duncan was going to buy them more time.
“We’re going to need to split up,” Mike said, the M-4 slung across his shoulder. Things were about to get messy and fast.
Duncan slipped a toothpick into his mouth and gave it a spin. Time to test his luck. “We’re only two men, but we have to give Amanda more time.”
Mike was cool as a cumber. He had a faith that Duncan just didn’t have in lots of things. “Let the traps do their work and pick them off as they come. Whatever is left, if we can lead them away from the church and out of town before the police get involved, all the better. What we don’t need on our hands are dead coppers.”
His words reminded Duncan they were still wanted fugitives and his conscience twanged. That was going to come back to bite them on the ass, one way or another. As if they needed any more problems now that they had a legion of demons descending onto their location.
Mike escaped down the alley between the church and the soup kitchen, which luckily for them was cleared out, but still, the church was in a well populated residential area. People were going to notice what was going on and casualties weren’t just a possibility.
More like a probability.
Duncan’s chest tightened as he went left around the church. The rain was cold and the wind around the corner snapped at his cheeks. It wasn’t an ideal spot for a demon war, but if Duncan had the ability to change the location, he’d move it right off the map.
Straight into hell.
The light swinging above the intersection blinked a steady yellow as the wind picked up. Crunchy brown leaves rolled by like tumbleweeds against the pavement as Duncan squatted down behind some bushes. He took aim, steadying his hand, and waited for what was coming.
A deep slow bre
ath kept his jitters under wraps, but with Mike gone, Duncan’s own thoughts tormented him. Images of Jessica in the church flashed through his mind. Nothing about that girl was familiar. How she walked, talked. Even the way she tossed her head; it was all different. What if she was gone forever?
His heart panged. Duncan needed to stop over thinking. Stop feeling. Needed to just focus on the demons, because thinking of Jessica never did anything but distract him. Blowing out a breath, Duncan squatted—and waited.
The gang’s bikes wailed closer, their headlights traveling single file toward the church. When the back tires of the first Harley hit the rubber tube they had strung across the road, Duncan slammed the button on the hidden control box. Boom, like a surprise sprinkler the tube exploded with holy water.
Bikes skidded to the ground as the demons’ skin was dissolved, making it easy for Duncan to pick them off one by one. The bikes fell like dominos, but the riders in back had enough advance warning and took off down opposing side streets—some going the way Mike had gone. He hoped the old coot wouldn’t be taken by surprise.
Time to get the stragglers; Duncan strolled into the street to finish what he started. Demons’ contorted in pain, as their flesh was melted off their bodies; it was easy to exterminate them like vermin. Hell, Duncan didn’t even feel bad about it.
Felt pretty bad when he took an elbow to the back of the head, though.
Almost losing his footing, Duncan leaned forward. Catching himself on his forward foot, he spun, his elbow high and his shotgun swinging. He clipped the demon foot soldier under the jaw and with an overhand grip, sent the butt of his gun crashing into the demon’s gut.
His leather jacket flapping, the demon fell into a puddle of holy water. The blessed water drizzled down all around them. The demon hissed as his flesh sizzled in the pattern of Swiss cheese. If this was the type of brainy demons leading the charge, Duncan thought the night might be easier than he thought.
Flipping the shotgun around in his hand, he leveled the demons head. Brain matter, for what it was worth, splattered up, and what was left of the maggots that encased their brains withered in the puddles against the pavement.
