The Raven Flies At Night (Father Gunter, Demon Hunter Book 2)

by Janine R Pestel

  Back at the hotel room, the reporter, and her cameraman prepared to leave their room.

  “Are you sure you wanna do this,” asked Dave, as he put his windbreaker on, and grabbed his camera.

  “Yes. I promised her I would give him this message,” Belinda answered. She turned to face him and gazed at the camera Dave had picked up. “What are you doing with that,” she asked, pointing to the device.

  “In case something happens that we should report on,” Dave answered. Belinda's gaze lingered on him for a moment. She couldn't believe he would think something might happen the general public should be informed about. She made a small facial gesture to infer an unspoken “seriously?”

  “Bad idea,” the cameraman asked, placing his equipment back on the desk.

  “Yes. Very bad.” answered the reporter, “We might be investigative reporters, but some things should remain unreported.”

  As the two made their way out of the hotel and into the parking lot, they were unaware of their movements being monitored by the occupant of the sixth floor. This nocturnal activity did not sit well with him. He turned and gave his attention to a man who had recently joined him in his suite.

  “I hope you know what you're doing,” he said to the man, as he poured some wine into two wine glasses, and handed one to his guest, “You are aware, are you not, she's going to tell that priest what she learned.”

  “You dare to question me,” the man said, puffing his chest out in anger, to intimidate Raum, “I am second in command, and therefore outrank the likes of you. Do not second guess me. Besides,” he said as he moved a little closer to his companion, “You stick with me, and do as I say, I can promise you this - one day…soon…perhaps you, yourself, will be second.” Raum hesitated for a moment before he spoke. He returned his gaze, once again, out his window, and followed Belinda and Dave with his eyes, as they exited the area.

  “And, if I became second, what would you become…Malphas,” he asked, as he again turned back to face his friend.

  Malphas raised one eyebrow and took a sip from the wineglass he held. All the while, he kept eye contact with Raum. They raised their wineglasses as though preparing to make a toast, and the two began to laugh. The two demons rejoiced in the plot they had devised together.

  Minutes later, Johann and Robert pulled into the mostly dark parking lot of the Mountainview Food and Fuel. The scorched gas pump, where Alexander Quinton had set himself, and his car, on fire just days earlier, still stood, blocked off by the police. Also, still roped off; the spot where Mister Quinton died his excruciating death as a result of that fire.

  A few inches outside the tape, which marked where the death occurred, people started placing flowers and crosses, as people often do when a loved one is killed in an accident. He glanced at the pump, and police tape, and Johann became gripped with a pang of sorrow for the poor soul who had died.

  The radio news channel the two were listening to was currently reporting about yet another suicide which took place in town, only a short while earlier. Another apparent gunshot wound to the head. Johann shook his head slowly, as he listened to the report and searched for a place to park. The news reporter struggled, as he interviewed a police officer from the scene. Johann recognized the voice of his apparent nemesis, Officer Phil.

  “That guy is everywhere, isn't he,” Johann said, half muttering to himself in disgust.

  “Don't let him get to you,” Robert said. Johann looked at his friend and made a facial gesture.

  “He's a jerk,” he said, “I'm hoping for the opportunity to put my fist in his face.”

  “Temper, temper, Johann. We have more important things, and more immediate concerns to tend to,”

  “I'd like to give that bastard an immediate concern.”

  As Johann started parking the car, Robert caught sight of two people standing alone under a light in the far corner of the parking lot. As he studied them, the two recognized him and began waving their arms.

  “I think that's them over there,” said Robert, as he pointed at the two, “Kind of an odd place to meet us, though.” Johann nodded in agreement. He pulled out of the spot they were in and drove to a spot nearer to the two.

  After they parked, the two demon hunters got out of the vehicle and walked over to Belinda and Dave.

  “Come on, let's go have a cup of coffee, and talk,” Johann said, as he started to walk toward the restaurant.

  “No,” Belinda shouted, as she ran to him, and grabbed his arm to stop him. Puzzled, he turned to her.

  “No. I don't want anyone else around who can hear what I have to tell you. I think this is very important, and I don't want any distractions,” Belinda said, “Besides, I think it would be best if we're the only four who know about this right now.”

  “Okay. We'll stay out here. Is this about the new suicide that happened today,” Johann asked. His curiosity now definitely piqued. What possible reason would she have to keep the conversation out here? It was on the news, so surely, everyone in town knew about it.

  Belinda glanced at Dave, who made a gesture to give her encouragement.

  “No, it has nothing to do with that, I don't think. It's something more important,” said Belinda, “I…uh…I spoke, tonight, to someone I think is close to you. At least, they said you are,” the reporter said, slowly. She began to tremble as she prepared to tell Johann what she had to say. She knew he would react, but had no idea what kind of reaction. She attempted to maintain eye contact with him, but couldn't. She continually glanced around at each member of the little group. Her glance went from David to Robert, back to Johann, and finally, the ground. Her heart started racing, and she breathed as though being chased. She wrung her hands, which she often did when she became nervous.

  “Easy, Belinda,” Johann tried to comfort her, “Just tell me. I don't bite.”

  “Much,” Robert said, teasing. Johann leered at him, and Robert simply rolled his eyes and turned away.

  “Okay,” said the newscaster, “Here goes. Dave and I got back to the room a little early, and, as usually happens after a long day, I was beat, so I laid down on the bed. I started to have this…dream…or something.”

  “ 'Dream, or something,' ” Johann asked.

  “Yes. It started out as a dream, but after a while, even in my sleep, I realized there was more to it. It was a message.”

  “Tell me about this 'dream,' ” Johann said, now even more interested than a few minutes ago. Belinda took a deep breath, as she prepared to tell Johann about her dream.

  “The dream started in a field of flowers. I remember the sun shining in a sky as blue as ever. It was beautiful.”

  “Dreams in color usually mean something,” Robert said.

  “Yes, I know,” Belinda said, “Anyway, Dave and I were the only ones in this dream. Then, all of a sudden, I heard a loud sound. Almost like thunder or something. The sky turned black. I looked around and realized I didn't hear thunder at all. It was the sound of a motor.”

  “A Car motor,” Johann asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Did you see this car?”

  “Yes,” answered Belinda, “I could see a black car on a road, near the field. It was just stopped there, idling. I wanted to find out who was in the car, but the windows were all blacked out, or something. I couldn't make out anyone. Not even through the windshield. Something told me I had to approach it, so I did.”

  Belinda stopped for a moment, to try and gather herself back together again. Johann took her hand and felt her trembling. His eyes met hers.

  “Relax, Belinda. You're okay now,” he said, as he tried to help calm her.

  Robert excused himself and started walking toward the restaurant.

  “Where are you going,” Johann asked.

  “She's terrified. She needs water,” Robert answered, “I'll be right out.”

  Near where they were standing, a fence defined the parking lot boundaries. It was the height of an average roadside guardrail and con
sisted of what appeared to be railroad ties on metal supports. Johann walked Belinda over to it, and Dave followed.

  “Here,” Johann said, “Sit down and relax. When you're ready, you can continue telling me about your dream.” She sat on the fence, and Johann sat next to her. Dave sat down on the other side of his distraught friend. They sat there silently for a few moments, trying to enjoy the peaceful sound of crickets in the nearby woods. Johann wanted Belinda to tell him the rest of the dream but did not want to rush her. The curiosity pulled at him, and his mind raced wildly with all the possibilities, as to what this message was that she was to give to him.

  A moment later, Robert arrived toting some bottles of spring water. He opened one and handed it to Belinda.

  “Thank you,” she said, as she brought the bottle up to sip the liquid. The cold water brought much-needed relief to her tortured, dry throat, as she drank from the plastic container. She didn't realize she was so thirsty. Johann watched, almost in amazement, as half the water disappeared in one, long, drink.

  “Feeling a little better,” Johann asked, after she had finished, and took the almost empty bottle away from her mouth, and gingerly wiped her lips with her fingertips. She nodded and put the top back on.

  “So, I'm standing in the middle of this field, looking at this black car. The daytime sky had turned to night time. All of a sudden, the window began to roll down, and this woman was sitting in the passenger seat. For some odd reason, It was then that I recognized the car as being a black Dodge Challenger. The woman called me over.”

  Johann's heart raced. He had become as anxious as Belinda.

  “She told me her name was Theresa,” Belinda said, as she studied Johann for his reaction, “I've had dreams like this before when a woman said she was Theresa. That would usually be the end of the dream. This time, it didn't end.”

  “What happened next,” asked Johann, his heart racing at the thought that perhaps, this time, contact had really been made with his lost sister.

  “After she said who she was, she wanted me to tell you something. She said she feared for your life, and you should leave this town immediately. She said to stop hunting demons and stop trying to find her. She said the war has started, and she doesn't want to lose you like she did Danny.”

  Johann found it difficult to listen to what he was being told. He could tell from what Belinda said, that she did make contact with Theresa. He was half relieved because he knew she was still alive somewhere. But, at the same time, he was horrified by the thought that his beloved sister is in the clutches of a demon. His anger, once again, began to well up inside him as he listened intently to the story Belinda was telling him.

  “She said 'the war has started'? What war,” Robert asked, as he sat on the fence next to Johann. Belinda turned to him.

  “She didn't say. She just said, 'the war.' But, something makes me think it has something to do with heaven and hell, maybe,” Belinda answered.

  “Of course, it does,” Johann said, “Did you recognize the driver? Were you able to make out anything about who that was?”

  “All I could see is he appeared to be a businessman. He had a suit on, and he was, maybe, in his forties or fifties,” answered Belinda

  “Did Theresa mention his name?”

  “She whispered to me he was the one who abducted her. She said who he was. I think it was Mal…something or other.”

  Johann jumped to his feet. His anger hit a fever pitch. Almost blinded by so much rage, he was sure he was going to explode.

  “Malphas? Was that the name? Malphas,” Johann asked, shouting in anger.

  “Yes, I think that was what she said. Malphas,” said Belinda, as she cowered in fear of Johann's reaction.

  “That son of a bitch,” Johann yelled, as he turned, and punched at a nearby wooden sign, splintering it into fragments.

  “Johann,” Robert shouted, trying to gain his friend's attention so he could try to calm him down.

  Belinda screamed and slid into Dave's arms, who moved both he and Belinda further away from Johann, who had become so infuriated with blind rage, it appeared he'd lost control of his actions. He slammed his fist down hard on his car, almost denting the roof. The skin on his knuckles split open, spilling his crimson blood onto the metal of his Mustang. Johann grabbed his injured hand, and kicked at the tires, almost as though he thought his beloved car had injured him on purpose. The whole while, he screamed like a man who lost his mind. Robert, not at all at ease with approaching him, did so only because they were friends. He tried to grab Johann's shoulders, in an effort to console his angry friend. Johann pulled away, and walked toward the back of the car, still clutching his hand.

  Robert looked over at Dave and Belinda and could see the reporter had completely lost her composure as well. She sat limp, and almost collapsed in the arms of her cameraman, crying almost hysterically. Dave also visibly trembled. The former coroner walked over to the frightened couple to try and console them.

  “I'm sorry for this,” he said, “Everything will be okay. I promise. His anger is not directed at you. This is probably a good thing for him; to finally let it out, anyway.” Belinda turned to Johann, who was sitting alone on the fence, with his face buried in his hands, visibly sobbing.

  “I didn't mean to hurt him,” Belinda said, as she wiped tears from her eyes.

  “You didn't,” Robert said, trying to help her feel better, “The bastard who took his sister did. But, at least now he finally knows who it is. The funny thing is, when you called us, we had just finished having an encounter with Malphas. I think that's why Johann went off the deep end the way he did. We had him in our grasp, and he got away.”

  “Is he going to be okay,” asked Dave. Robert glanced at him, then over to Johann.

  “I don't know. I hope so. We need him to get rid of these demons. Especially if what we've all been told about a 'war' coming is true.” Robert stopped and thought a moment, “Now that I think about it, when we were with Malphas, he said the same thing to us. He mentioned a 'war' coming. He also warned us to not get in the way.”

  Robert noticed Belinda's eyes had widened, and she appeared to be very frightened. She began pressing harder into Dave's arms. Robert turned and saw Johann walking toward them, almost stumbling, as though drunk.

  “I'm sorry,” Johann said, weakly, as he reached the small group, “I don't know what came over me. When I heard that son of a bitch's name, I just went blind with rage. Bob and I were just with that shit bag right before you called. I wish I would have known then, that he was the scum I've been looking for all this time. I would've taken his head right off.”

  “You gonna be okay, buddy,” Robert asked, as he placed his hand on Johann's shoulder.

  “Yeah. I'll be alright,” Johann answered. He moved a little closer to Belinda and Dave, who instinctively backed away from him.

  “I'm sorry for scaring you so much. Thank you for the information. At least now I know who, and what, I'm up against. Now I have a name, which is way more than I had an hour ago,” said Johann. He brushed Belinda's hair “I really do owe you a lot for that,” he said.

  “You're welcome,” Belinda said, as she began to pull herself together enough to unwrap herself from Dave's embrace, “In my 'dream,' I promised Theresa I would get the message to you.”

  “And you did,” said Father Gunter, “So now the war begins.”

  -11-

  The four arrive back at the hotel, once again under the watchful eyes from the sixth floor.

  “They've returned,” Raum said, dryly. He held the curtain, so the slightest slit allowed him to peek out at the group in the parking lot.

  “So, they did,” answered Malphas. He sounded almost as though making light of the situation, “The two hunters want to try to make their way up here. We must make sure they do not find us.”

  “What do you propose?”

  Malphas' eyes met the eyes of his associate, and he raised his eyebrows only a hint. This caused Raum's lips to
curl into a small but guarded, smile.

  “I've had dealings with him before. He may not be as easy to handle as you may think, Prince,” said Raum. His tone almost inferred he found Malphas' rank in Hell, as something most distasteful. Alas, such was life in the underworld.

  “Don't underestimate me, Earl. We would destroy him, and his chubby little partner,” Malphas said, as he moved closer to his host. Raum glanced at him for a moment, then back out the window at the four below. In his mind, he contemplated the plan he and Malphas had devised. He had his doubts but did not dare let on to the Prince. In the case of a dispute, he would be sure to lose.

  Down in the parking lot, Belinda and Dave entered the hotel. Johann and Robert remained in the lot, standing next to Johann's car.

  “I can't shake this feeling that every time we step out of that damned hotel,” Robert said, as he shuddered.

  “Like somebody, or something's, keeping tabs on us,” Johann asked.

  “You feel it, too,” asked Robert.

  “Of course, I do. Because he'd watched us from the moment we got here. The dirtbag on the sixth floor knows all about us, and why we came here. He's not about to leave us alone to our own devices without knowing what we do, where we go, and what we think.”

  Robert glanced up at the top floor of the building.

  “Think he's watching now?”

  “You can bet on it. He's spied on everything we did, so far. When we think we're alone in our room; we're not.”

  “How can we plan anything,” Robert asked.

  “Not sure,” Johann answered, “We need to play this by ear, somehow. Go with our instincts.” Johann gazed up at the building's top; anger welled up inside him. Father Gunter clenched one of his fists. He thrust the fist up, in front of him, in a gesture of threat to the enemy. An enemy, he knew, who most assuredly had watched their every move. “We're gonna get to you, Raum. You, and your pansy ass partner Malphas, too,” he shouted. He then turned to Robert, and the two walked into the hotel and boarded the elevator to go up to their room.