Haures reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved a small, translucent glass figurine, no bigger than his hand, and set it on the table with a clink. Tadin wanted to sink into the floor when he saw that Haures was right. The likeness was unmistakable.
“One of a kind,” Haures smiled. “Just like your soul. What do you think of your future home?” he motioned to the statue. “You’re going to be spending a long time inside it. Normally I rotate out my collection every three months, but since you've taken so long to acquire, I decided that you'll stay on the shelf the longest. Maybe I'll leave you on my desk so I can look at you while I work.”
Tadin’s mind raced. What could he do? Was there any way to escape?
He could dematerialize and try sinking through the floor. The only roadblock was his engagement ring. The cursed object couldn’t go through the floor, and he could only run so far before the perimeter stopped him. He had to get to the ring, which was sitting on the bedroom dresser.
Likewise, Haures was also confined to the physical realm. He had a physical body, but, demons still possessed incredible power. Tadin experienced that when he fought Aleister.
“So?” Haures looked over at him. “Are you going to come quietly?”
It was now or never.
Tadin bolted from the bedroom.
He was halfway through the living room before Haures was out of his chair. The demon was still fast. Tadin turned to close the bedroom door behind him when Haures slammed into it. Tadin jumped over the bed and onto the floor.
Haures stepped into the room with a guttural roar. His eyes glowed like the embers of a campfire. Tadin scrambled to his feet and lunged for his ring on the dresser. Haures watched him with surprise and stumbled to block the doorway. He snorted out his nostrils like a bull.
“You’re not going anywhere with that.”
“Oh yeah?” Tadin replied. There was only one option left with the doorway blocked. He slipped into the spirit realm and dove for the open window with his fist clenched around the ring.
Tadin squeezed his eyes shut and plummeted to the asphalt. He landed without much fanfare, but the sudden impact caused him to lose his grip on the ring and it tumbled down the street.
“Damn it!” he said and struggled to his feet. His stomach turned and he fought against a wave of dizziness. But, he shook this off. The ring was his key to escaping.
Cars passing through him without protest. There were so many people around that he feared one of them might have snatched his ring up.
He searched frantically with his hands on the tar and spotted the ring in the crook of the sidewalk. Relief washed over him.
He barely reached out for the thing when a vice-like grip clenched the back of his neck and yanked him to his feet. He cried out in pain. His head felt like it was being forced into a trash compactor.
Haures had won.
He saw the opening in the glass figurine's base just like a vacuum, sucking him inside. He flailed his arms and tried to free himself, but it was too late. The glass prison had him in its grasp.
In seconds all the sounds of the street became muffled through the glass. The only sound he heard clearly was the click of the silver stopper being shoved into place.
The game was over. He was caught. After three decades of peaceful existence, he was a prisoner for eternity.
He saw Haures’s hand reach down to the ground, snatching up the engagement ring.
“That could have been easier,” Haures said, “but, at least now the job is done.” He walked, taking Tadin away from the waterfront. “As for my own ambitions,” he continued, “I should warn you that I am an over-achiever. I can't leave any loose ends, which is why you'll soon have company.”
Despair settled over Tadin as he soaked in that last statement.
“Miss Macyntire has a date with Aleister tonight. I granted him permission to enter your apartment, so he should have no trouble collecting her alive. I know he desperately wants to try his hand at soul extraction, but I told him that I reserved that honor for myself. I want you to witness her pain as I add her to my collection.”
With that, Haures tucked the figurine into his pocket, and Tadin found himself engulfed in total darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Two:
Monday - 5:34pm
Shelley wanted to collapse once closing time came around. Taking Sunday off really messed with her sleep cycle. With all the cuddling, she barely got any sleep. She wanted to remember being close to Tadin. Perhaps they would take a break tonight. That way she could get some rest and be ready for another busy week.
Even pushing open the front door felt like work. Maybe she was dehydrated. She made a mental note to drink more water tomorrow.
“Tadin?” She called. She set her portfolio down on the counter. The lights in the kitchen were off, so she flicked them on and walked into the living room. Tadin must be reading as usual. But, the living room was dark as well.
She was just heading into the bedroom when the atmosphere shifted. It was as if someone opened a freezer and let the chilled air fill the room.
“Tadin?” she said again, softer this time. She turned on the lights. He would have replied after two calls. Wouldn’t he? The chill became more intense. She folded her arms and stopped at the bedroom door. It was cracked open and a sliver of light sliced across the hardwood floor.
She heard a scraping, like nails raked across a chalkboard. The flesh on the back of her neck crawled with goose bumps. What the hell was making that noise? Kismit?
She pushed the door open, and was startled not by her friendly cat, but something much more sinister. A pair of hooves stood on the floorboards, covered in dirty graying brown hair. The hooves connected to a man’s body, except the head was that of a grinning goat. Its horns curled upwards in spirals.
Shelley gasped and jumped back against the doorframe when the creature spoke.
“Welcome home, sweetheart,” he said.
Shelley’s heart raced so fast, it felt like it would burst from her chest. She grabbed the wall behind her and dug her nails into the plaster. “Who are you?” she asked.
The creature grinned, revealing large, yellowing teeth.
“You’re brave to speak to me,” he said. “Most people just run, and I catch them anyway. I am Aleister. I’m here to collect you.”
He chuckled and stepped towards her. She tried to back away and tripped on her own feet in fear.
“Oh, you’re going to be fun, aren’t you?” He took another step. “I didn’t know what to expect the last time that I saw you, but you’re much prettier than I first thought. And so strong.” He licked his lips. “I bet you’re a good runner. I hate it when a chase ends so soon. Still, I’m pretty fast.”
Shelley had to get out quickly, but where was Tadin? Kismit could take care of himself, but Tadin?
“Looking for lover-boy?” Aleister said, as if reading her mind. Could he read her mind? “He’s not here. We’ve taken him. It was easy. The boss scooped him up, and now he’s in the library.”
Sweat dripped down her neck and back. How could she outrun this monster? It must have otherworldly speed, not to mention strength. Shelley wished that creatures like this would stay in Greek mythology!
If she could distract the creature somehow, maybe she could get to the stairs. The back ones descended to the street and her truck was just a block away. She could make it if she ran.
She reached into her pocket and felt her keys.
“Please,” she said, trying to come up with something that would get the demon talking. He obviously loved the sound of his own voice. “You don’t have to take me anywhere, I will give you whatever you want.”
Damn it, she hated the way it sounded — but sure enough, the demon laughed and continued talking.
“So amusing! That’s what they all say, if I even give them a chance to speak. The problem is, I want them added to the boss’s collection. More souls for the big man, you know, that sort of thing. I get paid on commission
, so I can’t let you go. I need money if I’m going to play up here in the real world —”
Without warning, she spun on her heel and bolted from the bedroom. Aleister cursed behind her as she threw open the back door and took the stairs two at a time.
At the bottom she listened quickly to hear if the demon was following her, but there was nothing. She threw open the door and ran onto the sidewalk, headed up the hill.
Not even halfway to her truck, a loud crash came from her bedroom window. She looked up to see slivers of broken glass raining down onto the street, and Aleister leaping to the sidewalk behind her.
She screamed and bolted for the truck. The side street was unsurprisingly empty of pedestrians. She rammed her keys into the lock and fumbled with the door. Once it was open she leaped into the driver’s seat and struggled with the ignition.
“Come on,” she said as the engine stalled out. Aleister sprinted closer and closer. If he didn’t slow down, he would smash through the windshield. “Come on, start!”
Finally the truck sputtered to life.
She yanked the transmission into drive and tore out onto the street, barreling towards the waterfront.
The demon roared as she flew past. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw Aleister turn on a dime and lope swiftly behind her. Damn it, were demons really that fast on foot? He was easily catching up to her.
“Please,” she said through gritted teeth as she came to the intersection. “Don’t let there be traffic...”
She was afraid of running into someone.
Coming to the end of the street she saw no oncoming cars (thank goodness) and peeled to the right, heading into the business district. Maybe she’d lose the demon down the long stretch.
She pressed the gas pedal to the floor. The engine shook for a moment at the sudden increase in fuel, then boosted the vehicle down the straightaway.
Chancing a look in the mirror, Shelley saw Aleister getting very close, even with her increased speed. How fast could he run?
A horn blared ahead, ripping her attention back to the road. Her truck drifted into the oncoming lane, and a car frantically flashed its lights at her. She yanked the steering wheel to the right and careened into the sidewalk. Pedestrians leaped aside, watching in shock as the demon chased her.
She felt dizzy.
Where was she running to?
Where was a safe place to escape?
Could she even escape from a demon?
No matter the answers, there was only so much street left before she came to the end. There had to be another route. She wasn’t sure she could risk that much time, even a split second to turn — but she had to try.
Suddenly something landed in the back of the truck.
Before she knew what was happening, Aleister scrambled onto the roof of the cab. He lowered his head to look straight through the windshield at Shelley. She screamed and lost her grip on the steering wheel. Her foot slammed down on the breaks like a bar of lead.
Aleister anchored his claws into the truck’s body and laughed. He wasn’t coming loose.
There was nothing she could do. Even if she stopped, Aleister would claw his way in.
But then another car slammed into the passenger door. The window shattered and sent bits of glass raining over Shelley. She tried to duck, but it happened so fast.
Aleister flew from the vehicle, and Shelley, in a moment of panic, stepped on the gas and sent the tires spinning until the truck lurched through a chain-link fence and careened towards the water.
The land dropped off, held up by a wooden wall. The truck barreled over the edge and seemed to fly for a moment before the engine pulled it down nose-first into the water.
Her stomach turned as the truck slammed into the water. Her mind raced. Where was the demon? Did he follow her into the water?
“No, there’s no time for that,” she said, regaining her senses.
She had to focus on getting out of the vehicle. She had no idea how deep the water was.
Her seatbelt trapped her against the seat. The constant falling made her want to vomit. No, don’t do it. Don’t do it...
Water poured in through the smashed window. Before she could blink it was up to her knees.
“Stay calm,” she said, trying to breathe evenly. She didn’t want to use up all the air before taking a long breath to hold for the swim to the surface. Damn, the water was freezing!
“Wait...” she said, her body trembling with anticipation. “Just wait...”
The water rose to her stomach now.
“Wait...”
Another breath, and the truck sank deeper.
The water was dark and foreign within the vehicle. It screamed death — from the temperature, to the salty grit as she reached beneath the surface and uncoupled her safety belt.
Ten seconds, she thought.
She wrapped her hand around the door handle, adjusted her grip once more to be sure there were no mistakes. The water was up to her shoulders now, and the vehicle just touched down on the sea floor. Thank God she knew how to swim.
She took one final, deep breath that stretched her lungs and burned her throat. Ready to kick for her life, she heaved the door open and swam.
A torrent of water rushed in greedily, filling what was left of the truck. A cloud of bubbles rushed past her up to the surface. She tried to open her eyes, but the salt water stung and she found herself squinting, trying to make out which way she was going in the haze.
How deep was she? The truck couldn't have gone more than ten feet. Her ears ached, ringing with the tinny sound of the ocean. She could barely see anything as she kicked her way upwards.
She wasn’t going to make it. Her arms were exhausted, and no matter how hard she kicked, her clothes pulled her downwards.
Shelley took one last look at the blurred moonlight above, then prepared to drown.
But, just then an arm wrapped around her and pulled her to the surface. She couldn’t see who — or what — the arm belonged to, but before she knew it, her head broke the surface.
She gasped for air as the arm tightened around her shoulders and dragged her towards the muddy shore. Her arms and legs felt like lead. She craned her neck and saw that the arm belonged to a dark-haired man.
At last she crawled onto the dirt and tried to steady herself, praising the solid ground. Her whole body trembled, partially from the swim, but mostly from the adrenaline coursing through her body. The man got to his feet beside her, his clothes looking unbelievably heavy, and his black hair matted over his forehead and ears.
“Thank-you,” Shelley said between breaths. “For saving me.”
“Don’t mention it,” the man replied and rested his hands on his knees.
“Just so you know,” Shelley said, “I can usually do that myself.”
“What? That?” the man pulled a thick pair of glasses out of his pocket. “Escape a sinking truck? Oh, sure. I imagine you doing that at least once a week.”
Shelley was so distracted by her rescuer that she almost forgot about the demon. She looked around frantically.
“Is it still alive?”
“The demon?” the man said. “I don’t think you can kill those, but I’d say he’s pretty much immobilized. I’m Maris, by the way. I’m friends with Tadin.”
He reached out and shook her hand. His grip was firm.
“You’re Shelley,” he continued. “I know that because Tadin talks about you all the time.” He grinned.
“Really?” She blushed and looked away. “He’s never invited you over.”
“He didn’t want me to scare you off,” Maris chuckled.
“I don’t think we have to worry about that,” she rolled her eyes. “You can’t be worse than a murderous demon.”
Curious to see the demon up close, she stepped across the blood-splattered street and approached the monster. Maris followed her, but remained a few steps behind. She didn’t blame him. As she got within two feet of the thing a horrible aroma like micro-
waved beef wafted to her nose.
“Shit, that’s foul!” Maris said.
Suddenly the creature raised a trembling arm towards the sky.
Maris jumped, and Shelley stepped back, ready to run, but the demon merely spoke.
“Don’t worry,” it said. His breath was labored, and Shelley saw the entire area between his ribs and pelvis was crushed. Maris must have done that with his car. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Who are you?” Shelley asked, gagging on the demon’s stench.
“Aleister,” the demon smiled. “That was a very nifty trick you pulled, ghost hunter.” He looked to Maris. “Did you plan that the entire time?”
“Enough,” Shelley said. There was no sympathy for the miserable creature.
“Oh, so you’re calling the shots now?” Aleister replied.
“Since you’re plastered to the street, yes, I believe so.”
“Well, you better make it quick,” Aleister said. “I’ll be gone soon, and there won’t be any conversation for me for a long time. Haures has to find someone else to help with collecting souls. I was so close to adding yours to his library.”
“Of course,” Maris took Shelley by the arm and led her a few steps away from Aleister. “The collector. I’ve heard of him before — but, I’ve never seen him with my own eyes, thank God.”
“Talking about my master now?” Aleister called over.
“Ignore him,” Maris said.
But, Shelley’s interest was piqued at the talk of demons.
“What’s a collector?”
“It’s a demon who gathers as many souls as possible to stop them from crossing over. Their main goal is to trap the ones headed for Heaven, but they collect the ones going to Hell just the same.”
“What do they do with them?”
“I believe they get stored somewhere until they’re shipped out to the gateway.”
“Very smart,” Aleister grunted, “for a ghost hunter. I’ve heard your name mentioned over the years, Maris, but I never knew you were collecting information about demonology. The more you know, eh?”
Maris rolled his eyes and turned to Aleister.
Macyntire & Hough (A Paranormal Romance) (The Macyntire & Hough Saga) Page 13
