by Michael Todd
“Embrace it.” Damian pushed a bible and a cross into Patrick’s hand. “It doesn’t have to be a bad one. It can be rather fulfilling.”
“Right. Like an enema without lube.”
“Please don’t talk anymore.” Damian gave his apprentice a stern stare, eyebrow raised for good measure.
After grabbing his bible, Damian reached into the deep inner pocket of his trench, making sure he had his cross. He had been using the heavy, special-metal cross since one of the mercenaries, Katie, had given it to him. He doubted he would be pushing it through any demon skulls that night, but he had gotten in the habit of always going to calls prepared for anything.
“Come on, this one should be educational if nothing else.”
“I shouldn’t have been making fun of bloody Mary.” Parker glanced up at the sky as if praying.
Where did you find this cat? Does he think the guy in the clouds controls this bloody chick? How fucking stupid can you get! Vista laughed loudly before snorting. It was one of the only cute attributes she had.
Damian smiled, leading Patrick up the stone walk and through the pillars on the large front porch. He reached forward, tapping the handle, making sure he didn’t have another instance of a fire demon on his hands. As his fingers touched the handle, the door flew open, and wind whipped around them.
Parker clasped the bible closer to his chest, taking in a deep breath and putting on a brave face. From the back of the house, a bellowing deep growl echoed loudly. “Welcome, please come in... priests.” Which was followed up by a deep menacing laugh.
Damian shook his head, no longer phased by the theatrics. He grabbed onto Patrick’s arm, and the two went through into the foyer. The door swung shut, slamming loudly behind them.
Parker jumped and let out a squeal. “I don’t want to die!”
“Hush.” Damian looked around the dimly lit room, everything seeming to be in order, but he knew better. Nothing was what it seemed.
“The heart of this demon is said to be on the second floor, third bedroom. That is where we will perform the ceremony. You want to be at the heart of it so you can fully drive it back down to hell.”
“All right, noted,” Patrick whispered, his voice shaking. “Remind me why I signed up for this shit.”
“To help the innocent and save the world.” Damon shook his head and started his ascent slowly up the creaking stairs to the second floor before moving down the hall. Several pictures still hung on the walls, paintings of old tenants, their eyes moving and watching as the two walked. Patrick stopped and looked at one of them, tilting his head and leaning forward. Damian grabbed his shoulder and pulled back just as the person in the painting moved, snapping his pointy-toothed jaw at him.
“Don’t get too close to anything. It’s always a fun time at exorcisms until someone loses an eye.”
Patrick nodded wildly and walked with Damian to the door, watching as he tapped the handle again. “Why do you do that?”
Damian flipped over his hand, showing Patrick a gnarly scar. “Bad run in with a fire demon. Always check your handles.”
“Got it. Teachable moment. Wish I had my iPad on me. I could take note or call a friend or write out my last will and testament.”
“Are you done?” Damian glanced over his shoulder at the kid. “Did you piss yourself?”
Parker glanced down and back up. “Nope, and if you smell shit, it wasn’t me.”
Damian smiled and pushed open the door, putting his hand in front of Patrick. Inside, the room was lit red, and wind whipped around like a cyclone inside. Pieces of furniture flew through the air, slamming into walls, and blood ran down the windows. That same menacing laugh echoed through the room, and the sheets covering the old furniture were stained red.
“That isn’t a good sign,” Parker mumbled, moving close to Damian’s back.
“We found the heart of the beast. I’d say that’s an excellent sign.”
Patrick looked slowly over at Damian as he stared straight into the room, his eyes glowing bright red. “We really need to talk about what you consider a good time, Father. I’m starting to think you’ve been at this too long.”
Yay, retirement, more sleep and booze! Vista replied in a sing-song voice.
Damian ignored them all and walked toward the demon, ready to do what he did every night of the week—kicked ass and took names.
Slave to Many Stories,
Laurie Starkey
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Books by Michael Todd
PROTECTED BY THE DAMNED
Torn Asunder (01)
Killing Is My Business (02)
And Business Is Good (03)
Sit Down, Shut Up, And Pull The Trigger (04)
Welcome To The Jungle (05)
Metal Up Your Ass (06)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (07)
For Whom The Bell Tolls (08)
WAR OF THE DAMNED
Resurrection Of The Damned (01)
Books written as Michael Anderle
For a complete list of books by Michael Anderle, please visit
www.lmbpn.com/ma-books/
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