The Complete Protected by the Damned Series

by Michael Todd

  He was sitting in a chair by his fireplace reading a book and drinking a cup of coffee. He looked up and smiled, then closed his book, stretched his arms over his head, and gave a loud yawn. Katie wasn’t used to seeing him so relaxed. He was usually ready for battle or the next bar fight.

  “For you, I’m always available,” he said. “Is this religious or personal in nature?”

  “A little of both, I suppose,” Katie said, walking in and, with Damian’s permission, shutting the door. “But it’s not really about me. It’s about Garrett.”

  “Ahh,” he said, shaking his head. “Have a seat.”

  “Thanks.” She nodded and sat down in the chair across from him.

  “What prompted the visit?” he asked, with his hands folded in front of him.

  “I saw him in the library last night,” she began. “He had created a fake Facebook ID to check up on his family. It was torture for him; complete and utter torture. I could feel his pain like it was my own. I don’t mean just sympathy, either.” She paused for a moment before admitting, “I cried myself to sleep last night.”

  Damian took a moment to consider his answer. “When we become Damned, our senses heighten,” he finally replied. “It seems you have gained the Empath gift. You feel what others are feeling, and almost pull it from them. You attract pain, happiness, sadness, and any other emotion they’re feeling. I’ve only met one other person like you, and it was hard on him—especially in this world.” He gave a small smile. “Made an excellent tracking device for demons, though.”

  Katie barked a laugh. “Well, at least now I know I’m not losing it completely.”

  “No, you’ll learn how to handle it,” he told her. “You’ll eventually be able to block it when you choose to do so.”

  “Good,” she said. “But that wasn’t really what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to find out about exorcism and why Garrett hasn’t attempted it.”

  Damian rubbed his chin. “That was his first thought when he saw me,” he said. “But things are difficult with his demon. His is a fire demon, and quite a powerful one at that. He’s quiet inside Garrett, but at the first sign of anyone even thinking about removing him he begins to fight back. It almost killed Garrett the first week he was here.”

  “Do you think he is strong enough now?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I would bet that he is. The problem with it is, you have to kill the demon inside him. You have to lure it out enough to be able to kill it. That’s where it gets tricky. The demon still is somewhat in the body, so it has the ability to use magic and such, but that also means it can kill its host. This particular demon has been a thorn in all our sides since Garrett arrived. We don’t know how to kill him without killing Garrett too, so in his eyes it was always too risky. He didn’t want to be away from his family, but at least here he is able to watch them from afar. There would be nothing he could do to protect them if he were dead.”

  “What would it take to kill him?” Damian’s eyebrows rose and Katie clarified, “The demon, I mean?”

  Damian smiled to let her know he had been joking. “We aren’t quite sure,” he said. “He doesn’t react to scripture. I can’t cast him out, leaving his aura to hover until he is sent back to hell, and outside the body there is no way to kill him since he isn’t tangible. I know demons can kill other demons, but we haven’t come upon any demons chomping at the bit to do us any favors.”

  “I see.” Katie chewed on that for a moment. “So he is just kind of stuck for now?”

  “For now,” Damian said. “But that is why we do research…to figure out cases like his. Korbin issued a directive to our research department to focus on that exact problem, but there haven’t been any breakthroughs.”

  Katie cocked her head to the side. “What if you transferred the demon to someone else?”

  “Well, good luck finding a volunteer for that.” He chuckled. “It would be immoral to Damn another, and Garrett would never agree to it—not to mention it is in direct violation of every law we operate under.”

  “Right,” Katie said.

  He leaned forward and looked her in the eyes. “Look, I know you want to save people one person at a time, but Garrett is not in a place to be saved…not yet. You would do better to focus your efforts on those you can help right now, those who are fighting for their souls. You have a gift—well, many gifts—and I see you getting stronger and smarter every single day. You are special…you should know that. I think the Damned have been waiting for you.”

  “I don’t understand,” she said.

  “You don’t need to right now,” Damian told her. “Just have to be open to it.”

  “So, exorcism… Is it something that happens a lot?”

  Damian leaned back and adjusted himself more comfortably in the chair. “Not really. There are a lot of risks involved. You could die, you could not die and be consumed, or you could end up being dragged down to hell with the demon if it is done incorrectly, which isn’t usually good for either of you. In the beginning, many attempts were made by priests in my religion and Catholicism—many failed attempts. The higher-ups put a stop to it, only allowing a select few of us to attempt them, and only on those who have volunteered and been told the risks that go along with it.”

  “Have you ever failed at one?”

  “No,” he said. “But I am selective in who I perform them on. I worked under a priest long before I was Damned who failed at one, and what I saw will haunt me for the rest of my days on this earth.”

  “Wasn’t the girl before me exorcised?”

  “Cassandra?” he asked, a little surprised. “She was. She knew the risks, and I felt comfortable in my ability to perform the exorcism. The demon was young, weak, and inexperienced. He fought me for a bit, but in the end biblical text and the hand of God sent him back to Hell. We wiped Cassandra’s memories and dropped her at a local hospital. When she woke she had no recollection of any of this, and went back to the world she knew before.”

  “Do you check on her?”

  “At times,” he said, pulling himself from the chair. “But I think leaving the past where it is does more good than anything else.”

  “I agree.” Katie stood too. “Thanks for answering my questions, Damian.”

  “You are very welcome,” he said, opening the door and putting on his hat. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a Mass to run in the chapel. You are more than welcome to join.”

  Katie smiled. “No. I appreciate it, but I’m not really the religious type.”

  “It’s always open to you,” he told her. “Sometimes it’s just nice to sit and reflect in a safe space, even if we aren’t close to God.”

  Katie smiled and walked with him to the chapel, nodding as he went in. She paused; Garrett was on his knees in there, praying with desperation on his face. As the door closed behind Damian, her face grew stern.

  Pandora, Katie said, walking fast toward her room. We need a team meeting.

  Are you speaking to me? she asked sarcastically. I figured this was coming.

  Katie walked into her room, shut the door, and started to pace.

  She could feel the pressure in her chest from sensing Garrett’s demon so acutely outside the chapel. Just like when those guys shot up the convenience store—when she had felt it was absolutely necessary to intervene—she was already brainstorming an idea for saving Garrett. She wouldn’t let him and his family suffer like that just because some sniveling little fire demon wanted a warm place to squat.

  What do you think about this demon in Garrett? she finally asked Pandora.

  He is a weak fire demon, she said. I’ve known my share of his kind. The best thing I can compare them to in this world is the kid that plays with matches, complete with the greasy hair and trench coat. They may do something momentous, but it’s never planned. They are big thinkers, but seldom act.

  Look, I know you don’t give a shit about us humans, Katie said. In fact, it’s like a double-edged sword. When you help me I kill
more of your kind, but Garrett…he isn’t right for this. He wasn’t built for this world. He should be with his family. I need your help.

  First of all, I know you humans stick together just because you share a species, but us demons…we don’t, she said. We are only for ourselves, not for each other. Even when we congregate it’s so we don’t get bored. We are harder to kill in groups, but I don’t give a shit about the weak ones like this ball sack in your friend.

  Can you kill it?

  I think you underestimate me. She chuckled.

  What would happen, just as a random question, if he got the upper hand on you? Katie asked.

  Well, we would both die, and I am attached to you, so you would spiral to the depths of Hell with me, she said. But hey, you’d be kicking it with me in eternal flames. Couldn’t be that bad, right?

  Jesus, Katie replied.

  Watch your mouth, Pandora said. Look, just let me have him. Bring him into your body, and I’ll snap his little greasy neck. I know you don’t know me, but I have battled some of the most powerful human and demon warriors in history. Let’s just say my father was one of the first to be cast from Heaven, and he made sure that I was protected.

  How did you end up here, then?

  My own stupid mistake for trusting family, she grumbled. Long story for another time. But I’m serious. Let’s get that demon out of him. We’ll make ourselves look enticing, and bring him over to me. He won’t even know what fucking hit him. He will be sent back to Hell, Garrett will be demon-free and reunited with wifey and the little humans, and we will be the heroes—or at least you will be. I will just still be the voice in your head and maybe the speed in your step. Hey, I sound like a superhero!

  I wouldn’t go that far. Katie chuckled. But if we do this, won’t it give us away? I mean, there will be no hiding how powerful you are or that we have formed something of an alliance if I go taking demons into my body and have you kill them. I don’t know what they will do to us. We could end up in research or they just might kill me, thinking you were taking over.

  Shit, if I could have taken over I would have. She laughed. You are one tough cookie for a human. I really don’t see any reason to try.

  Katie groaned, putting a hand up to her forehead. This could be really bad for us, but at the same time it could free Garrett. I don’t even know how to weigh those two things against each other.

  Sure you do, the demon said. You will always pick the other person—it’s in your DNA. You don’t know how to be selfish. That priest guy was right: you want to save the world one person at a time, and one day it just might get you killed. I can tell you this, though…it’s not going to get you killed this time. It may turn you into a guinea pig, but I doubt it. They need you. That Korbin guy, he knows there’s something different about you.

  There has to be a way to do both, you know? Katie asked. To protect us and free Garrett.

  I know, Pandora said. Isn’t Damian a priest? Isn’t there some rule where he can’t talk about what you tell him? Some kind of contract between the two of you that he can’t break? I don’t know how it works. You fucking humans are weird.

  That’s seal of confessional, she replied. And he isn’t a Catholic, so this would be a bit beyond his protection. My boss Korbin answers to people, and apparently there is something morally wrong with infecting someone with a demon.

  Yeah, but you’re already Damned; you can’t get more Damned, she snorted. And the worst thing I could do is keep him as a pet, which isn’t going to happen. I already feel suffocated in here. I don’t need the place to smell like nasty fire-demon ass.

  Maybe you’re right, Katie said.

  Of course I am, she replied. I’m always right about things like this, not that I have been in this situation before. Back in the day we could walk around among you as long as we blended in, but now we are confined to the bodies. Not sure when the rules changed, but it’s definitely not what I was expecting. Hell, if you do this it’ll give me a little excitement. I’ll get to feel useful again for a little while, stretch my claws, take out some of my built-up aggression on him.

  All right, Katie said. I’ll talk to Damian about it. He will have to get the okay from Korbin and then from Garrett, but if I can get the priest on board I think we have a solid chance of succeeding.

  This is sweet, she said. I’m gonna sharpen my claws and get ready for company.

  Careful with those things, Katie said. I like my liver where it is.

  Yeah, me too. You die, I die, remember? We’re like a modern-day Jack and Rose, only with no ship and I’d let you up on the damn door.

  You saw Titanic?

  It was a dark day, she growled. I don’t want to talk about it. Just know I cheered when he froze to death.

  Katie chuckled. There might be hope for you yet.

  I wouldn’t count on that, sweetie, she said, disappearing into her own silence.

  17

  All right, guys,” Korbin said. “Quiet down. I know it’s getting late and you’ve had a long day of training, but this is important.”

  Everyone settled down, looking up at Korbin from their seats. While it was usual to have meetings, there were not commonly in the evening. The team tried to respect each other’s downtime, which provided the clue that there was something big brewing.

  “What’s up, boss?” Calvin asked.

  “I just got some new intel from our Seattle operation,” he answered, looking at his notes. “I literally got the info and walked over here, so no one knows anything about this yet but me…and I don’t know that much. We got information that leads us to believe that one of our most populated areas will be hit with a big event, possibly the biggest we have seen. This might mean pulling resources from all over the country and putting together a large-scale battle plan. It could also be a spur-of-the-moment thing we fly into and just go balls-deep trying to get our resources pinned down. I really don’t know the details yet. This was a preliminary report, put out as a red alert from the higher-ups.”

  “Do we know timing?” Damian asked. “Demon type? Anything?”

  “No,” Korbin said. “Like I mentioned, I’m standing by for more information.”

  “One of our areas,” Derek said. “That’s kind of vague, don’t you think? I mean, we’re all over the country, and there are other groups around the world. That only limits it to the whole globe.”

  “From what our undercover operatives report, they’ve narrowed the area down to the western United States.” Korbin gave Derek a look that Katie took as “don’t be an ass.” He continued, “That means we will be one of the first teams deployed.”

  “All right, guys, chill out for a second,” Calvin spoke up, raising his voice above the chatter. “This means we need to be prepared, not freaking out. Not on edge, just prepared like we are for any other call.”

  Korbin nodded. “Agreed. Focus on your training, but don’t get hurt by it. Build up your tolerances, and make sure you get enough sleep at night to always be rested. I’m sorry if that cuts into your leisure time a little, but you’ll be better off rested and bored than exhausted and dead.”

  “Makes sense to me,” Damian said. “What kind of training do you want us to focus on?”

  “Endurance as a primary,” Korbin responded. “If this thing is a war-type setting, we could be fighting for days. Work with weapons and defensive tactics, and then everything else after that. You need to be ready to go at any moment, so if you leave take your cellphone with you. I wish I had more information, but be vigilant until I do. If anyone needs me,” he jerked a thumb up, “I’ll be in the office.”

  As soon as Korbin stepped away, the team started talking.

  Calvin was ready to mount the troops, Damian started making plans for prayer, Derek went back to not taking it seriously and searching for “dark memes,” as he called them, online, and Katie sat across from Garrett and Armani with her mind on something completely different.

  Every call was huge for her, so she wasn’
t worried about a big fight. She was ready for it. What she was worried about was losing Garrett before she had the chance to free him. He was a good soldier, though, and had made it this far without any serious injuries.

  “Well, my friends,” Armani said, standing up and rubbing his hands together. “Some of us might need to get it stuck in instead of sleeping.” He winked. “If you know what I mean.”

  “Gross,” Katie groaned.

  “Right then,” he said, pointing his fingers at them like guns. “Anyone wanna join? No? I’ll be nearby, then.”

  Katie rolled her eyes as Armani walked dramatically out of the room. She cared what happened to him, but he had no fear of danger and was so far from being prepared that it was almost like he was inviting death at this point.

  He knew he couldn’t bring his girlfriend back, and that was what had really driven him to the edge. At the moment she needed to stay focused on Garrett and try to figure out a way to get him back to his family.

  This sounds like quite the party, Pandora said.

  Katie sighed. The battle or Armani?

  “You know what?” Garrett started, shaking his head. “I just don’t know how that man can go all night long with the ladies and then come back and fight demons all day. Seriously, he is going to get himself killed.”

  “I think that might be the point,” Katie replied. “He gets further and further removed every single day. He’ll never be able to let go of losing his girlfriend, and he’s going to be reckless with his life until they are reunited.”

  “I wouldn’t have the stamina for that kind of thing even if I felt like my life was done and over with,” Garrett said. “It would have to be one thing or the other.”

  It depends on what foul humans he’s sticking it in. Pandora snickered. There are a lot of loose ladies on this plane of existence. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the most relaxing thing he did all day. I mean really, all he has to do is lay there and have his d—

  All right, Katie interrupted. That’s enough. I don’t want to picture that.