by Michael Todd
Max nodded, spooning ice cream into his mouth without taking his eyes from the screen. Hell, yeah, she would have. Now Troy will be heartbroken, but only until he figures this all out.
Which will take at least twelve episodes. The demon groaned. That’s two and a half weeks of these two bumbling idiots drinking champagne. I hope we are right, though. Otherwise, the studio might need to investigate the actor.
The priest shook his head. I think no matter what, she would have picked the hot, less intelligent guy.
Astaroth wasn’t so sure. I don’t know. I think she’s got a good head on her shoulders, and Troy isn’t bad-looking. I think you might be surprised at how quickly she takes him back. He’s smart, successful, and even with one hand, runs a multi-million-dollar company.
Max leaned back and continued the show, feeling a sense of home as he and his demon argued over the characters. He was finally comfortable, as if he were where he was supposed to be.
Damian sipped hot coffee as the blaze crackled wildly in the fireplace. He settled into his chair, pulled the blanket over his shoulders, and grabbed one of the journals from the stack. Although he always started out with a pile, he rarely made it past the first one most days. Things had changed since he had first arrived and had all the time in the world to do what he wanted. He worked and had missions at that point, and they sucked the energy right out of him.
Before he could open the journal, his phone rang. He set his cup down and paused, biting the inside of his lip. It’s probably the Secretary, calling to bitch me out even worse than she already has. I should ignore it and call her back tomorrow.
Ravi wasn’t so sure. I don’t know, Pops. What if there is an emergency? You don’t want her droid showing up on your doorstep. We aren’t ready for that next-level sci-fi shit.
Damian groaned and capitulated, knowing she was right. He turned the phone and smiled the minute he saw Katie’s name. He pressed Answer, and the screen flipped to the video chat feature. Her calm face appeared, drawing his smile wider. He raised an eyebrow, noting her slightly higher cheekbones and longer hair. Clearly, Pandora still put the time in to tweak her body.
“My dear Katie, I was just talking about you earlier today,” Damian began happily as he fiddled to focus his camera.
She smiled. “I thought I felt an itch on my nose.”
“What?”
Katie laughed. “My mom always used to say that whenever someone was talking about me, my nose would itch.”
Damian chuckled. “You must have been the talk of the town during allergy season.”
They shared a comfortable laugh. Katie drew a deep breath and looked directly into the camera. “How are you? I feel like we don’t talk enough.”
He nodded. “I agree, we don’t. Nonetheless, I am still here. There was an incursion the other day, and I ended up working with a merc team. It felt like old times. One of the mercs was from New York—Charlie.”
She seemed surprised. “Yeah, I remember Charlie—hell of a warrior. He left right after Incursion Day. I didn’t know he had hopped across the pond. Good for him. I like it. And as for you working with them, I’m sure you kicked serious ass. We miss you here.”
“I miss you too.” Damian sighed, knowing that was the truth. “I think I’m doing valuable work here, though. I heard about your battles in hell. How is that going?”
Katie shrugged. “Oh, you know. Faking deaths, killing demons, blowing the legs off Moloch. All the normal stuff. It’s definitely hot down there.”
Damian glanced at the book in his hand. “Hey, do you think I could talk to Pandora? The only thing is, I would like to talk to her about something private on her end. If you switch, can she make it so you can’t hear? No offense, but it’s her business to tell you.”
His friend grew quiet for a moment, and Damian could see by the look on her face she was talking to Pandora. “She said she can make it happen. Hold on one second.”
Katie’s image shimmered slightly, and her features changed enough that he knew he was talking to Pandora. The demon put her finger up and concentrated for a moment before exhaling slowly. “Okay, she is muted. What’s up, Damian? It’s not the same here without your holiness prodding at my evil fucking soul.”
Damian laughed. “I know. Who will keep you good now? Though I think you may be in more control of that than you let on.”
Pandora rolled her eyes. “Please. Bitchin’ demon through and through. So, what’s this super-secretive shit you got going on?”
“Well, I think I have something of yours.”
The demon sputtered. “Oh, priest, don’t you know I lost my virginity centuries ago? That shit is gone and buried.”
He laughed loudly. “I have a feeling that couldn’t be found even in the deepest depths of hell, but it’s not what I’m talking about.”
Damian opened the book and read one of the witty comments out loud. “If the devil doesn’t want us, you dick-snarfing repugnant imbecile, then why are we chilling in hell?” Damian looked at her and blinked. “Shall I go on?”
Pandora’s face deadpanned. “No. Look, I know you probably have a lot of questions about this. Anyone would, but you’ll have to wait for answers. I need to trust that you’ll keep that book secret, at least for a little while longer.”
He frowned at the idea of lying to Katie, but he could understand to a degree. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll keep the secret, but whatever you’re hiding, when it finally comes out, you let me ask whatever questions I want. You will answer them truthfully and honestly. This is a big secret, my dear, something that Katie should be told, but I know it’s your place to tell her. What do you say? Do we have a deal?”
Pandora pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, staring hard at Damian. “Priest, you drive a goddamn hard bargain, but shit, why-fucking-not? You have a deal, but don’t jerk me around on this one.”
Damian put the book down. “I will not jerk you around.”
She snickered. “Good, ʼcause God is watching those hands, priest.”
Chapter Twenty
The sun blazed through the windows as Damian stood in the kitchen, humming happily to himself. He had spoken to both Katie and Pandora the night before and had slept without his mind racing. The kettle whistled loudly, and he poured the water into his drip coffee container. Still humming snatches of a song, he stirred in sugar and milk, took a sip, and smiled as he cleaned the dishes. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the temperature soared above average, already up to sixty degrees.
The seasons were changing, and Damian loved the contrasts. Vegas basically looked the same all year round, which was his only complaint. It got cold there, sure, but only at night, and there were no trees to change color, no big snowfalls, and no seasonal anticipation of the holidays. The rest was great. Family, friends, and action always close by.
He selected a grape from a bunch on the counter and popped it in his mouth. Shall we enjoy this beautiful morning?
Ravi yawned. Is this different than any other morning? And what’s with the super-cheerful attitude? It’s giving me the willies.
Damian chuckled as he walked toward the door. I wasn’t stressed about anything last night. It was probably the most dreamless sleep I’ve had in years. I knew Max was on the right track, I knew Katie was safe and kicking ass, and I didn’t let the cardinal stuff get me in a foul mood.
I still wish you’d sleep in once in a while, she grumbled. I know I can stay asleep, but with all these happy emotions poking at me, I had to wake up. I couldn’t chance a dream about unicorns and fucking ponies.
Maybe a little rainbow sunshine happiness will melt some of that doom and gloom off your bones.
If you haven’t noticed, demons don’t really like sunshine. We also tend to eat anything that could possibly bring happiness, although I stick to a vegetarian diet when I’m in hell. I don’t do live animals, and they don’t like to cook stuff.
Damian wrinkled his nose in disgust. Strange, considering you could li
terally walk out your door and barbeque over the lava pits.
Ravi sniffed. Speaking of old cooked meat, you hear from Rose?
Damian shivered. That analogy was disgusting, and no, I haven’t. I hope she comes outside this morning. I’d like to talk to her about a few things. Maybe I can sharpen that idea of me helping her fight the demon.
He unlocked the door, whistling cheerfully, and stepped over the threshold. Something whizzed past his head and thwacked into the doorframe. Slowly, he turned to stare at a butcher knife impaled in the wood. His eyes flashed, and he swiveled to look across the courtyard. Rose rushed into her apartment and slammed the door behind her.
Ravi gasped. Oh no, she didn’t. That crazy old bat almost knifed you in the middle of this courtyard. Fuck holding back.
Damian gritted his teeth. “That’s exactly what I thought.”
He yanked the knife out of the door and strode across the courtyard, pausing only to set his coffee mug on the table. Rose’s door was locked, and he growled loudly and banged on the wood. “Ms. Rose. You forgot something…in my front door. Open up. I only want to talk.”
A whimper and a low snarl sounded from inside. Rose was obviously trying to fight the demon. Damian jiggled the handle again and glanced furtively around to check that no one was watching. Give me a boost of strength.
Ravi giggled. You got it.
The priest stepped back and kicked hard to slam the door off its hinges. It slid down the hall and fell in an eddy of dust, and he could see the particles floating in the rays coming from the open door. His eyes checked every shadow and crevice of the hallway. He knew she was in there but not exactly where.
Damian cleared his throat and tapped the knife against the wall. “Ms. Rose, come out. I want to talk to your demon. I have an offer for him.”
A small growl issued from the living room. Carefully, he walked down the hallway, alert for more knives or other lethal missiles. He passed the study and smiled sadly. It was obvious that the demon-induced stress had left Rose unable to really clean anything, and she had always been so neat and tidy that the current neglect was heartbreaking. It was another reminder that the church had abandoned her, leaving the poor, sweet old woman to battle the demon on her own regardless of the cost, which might even be her life.
The priest paused in the entrance to the living room, unsure where she was. “Rose, why don’t you sit on the couch? We can talk.”
A deep, menacing voice responded, “I’m not Rose.”
“No, of course not. Why don’t you tell me your name?”
Damian turned and saw Rose’s red eyes flashing from the corner. The demon growled and hissed loudly, but the priest simply sighed, shook his head, and marched over to her. “I had planned to do this nicely, but I guess you won’t let me.”
He grabbed the old lady tightly by the arm and held the knife in front of her face. Her demon growled loudly and blinked wildly at the blade. Damian dragged her to the chair and thrust her into it. He held the knife to her face and leaned in close, his eyes flashing red. “If I were you, I wouldn’t move. It’s obvious Rose isn’t here anymore, at least not in the front. I don’t have a problem releasing her soul and sending you back to hell. I know you want to be here in this body.”
The demon shut Rose’s mouth and gritted her teeth. He tried to shift her gaze to the right, but Damian grabbed her face with his other hand and forced the beast to make eye contact. “Give her back. This is your only warning. Let Rose take control of her body.”
The demon looked maliciously at him and began to spit and snarl. “Muyt esaeu suzor scum. I lizz nid esaeun entrails aeuq oth aoq yaz maen girrabbi.”
Damian narrowed his eyes. “Now, that’s rude. You know I can’t understand that.” He grabbed her by the throat and squeezed. “English.”
The fiend laughed menacingly. “Fuck you, human scum. I will rip your entrails out and eat them for dinner. You can’t do anything to me. Your precious church forbids it.”
The priest then squeezed tighter, shutting the demon up. “Do you see shackles on my wrists?”
He loosened his grip, and the demon coughed. “You will burn in the fires of hell, just like the rest of your meatsack kind. Lucifer will wear your skins as clothes, and your souls will forever roast in Moloch’s fireplace.”
Damian sighed and poked the knife far enough into the demon for him to wince. “Shut your fucking mouth, demon. You let her back, or you won’t have a soul to go back to hell. You think I don’t know that you can be killed here on Earth?”
Ravi cleared her throat. You should let me have a go at him. Maybe I can help.
Damian eased the knife back. You can speak to him? I thought—
She cut him off. It doesn’t really matter what you thought at this moment, does it? You want me to talk to him or not? I can’t promise it will do any good. I don’t quite have the fear factor your Katie does, but I’m more than some low-level demon. He will know this. It will be up to him whether he fears me or not.
The priest studied Rose and glimpsed the sweetness under the terror. All right, give it a shot.
Ravi breathed deeply, calmed herself, and pushed her awareness into the helpless woman. She spoke in demon so Damian couldn’t understand. S’es ona esaeu doing yiz? Chq yiz laezor kae. Ya priest gaeaz raeq k’oes xes ya rules aem ya khunkh aen oresaera ahza maen yoq zoqqabbi. Sa lizz zota zuna esaeu gaer’q zota iq xoyt qae sazz.
Rose’s demon went silent for a moment before he laughed again. “I don’t fear you, bitch. You have no power here. You were cast away like the others. I will do as I please.”
Damian scowled, wondering what he meant by that. Ravi snarled, Believe me, you are messing with the wrong fucking priest. If you don’t bring Rose back up, he will kill you both.
“He cannot kill me.” The fiend smirked. “I will simply come back for a new body, and then I will find you and kill you myself.”
Ravi growled again and pushed her anger into Damian. He squeezed the demon harder. It doesn’t seem to be working.
She shushed him. I need to think. What are all demons afraid of? Wait, that’s it. Ravi took another deep breath and thrust in once more. He may not be able to kill you, but he is kin to one who would not think twice of sending you to nothingness.
The demon snorted. “What? Is he friends with Gabriel?”
Ravi smirked. No, even better than that. One all demons fear. Shall I say her name? I think I will.
She whispered in a way that pierced the air, filling them all with fear. The echoes of Lilith’s name dribbled into the demon’s head, and Ravi could feel him pull back. She switched to demon again. The priest listened, waiting for any sign of success. Rose’s eyes were still bright red, and her breathing was heavy and fast.
Ravi pulled out of the body and shivers rippled through Damian. When I tell you, I want you to let her go, she said quietly
Damian frowned. Are you sure?
Positive. I don’t want her to come back with your hand around her neck. You will scare the ever-loving shit out of her. Okay, on my count. One…two…let go!
The priest released his hold and jumped back in case she attacked. He watched as her eyes closed and her head slumped forward. His chest twisted painfully, and he wondered if he had somehow killed the old woman. Is she—
No, Ravi whispered. Wait a moment.
Damian could still see her breathing, but she sat entirely motionless. He leaned forward, trying to see her face as his finger pressed lightly on her arm. Suddenly, Rose’s head raised and she gasped and lifted her hand to her chest. Bewildered, she looked around the room, her eyes fading slowly from bright red to brown. She blinked several times at the closed curtains.
Rose pointed at them. “Can you open those?”
He nodded and pulled the curtains, and the light spilled into the room. Still holding the knife, Damian waited for her to speak. Her gaze settled on the blade and she clasped her hand over her mouth and shook her head as tears formed in her eyes. He pu
t the knife down hastily. “I am not here to hurt you, Rose.”
She sniffled, shook her head, and patted his arm. “No, I know you aren’t. I remember the knife. Oh, good Lord in Heaven, I am so sorry about that. He was so strong. He wouldn’t let me eat or sleep, and finally, he took over. I was too weak to fight him. I tried desperately, but all I could do was shift his aim.”
Damian chuckled. “I appreciate that. It almost hit me.”
Rose let her hands drop into her lap and sighed. “What a fight. I’m so sorry, Damian. I don’t know why they don’t put me out. It’s dangerous now.”
He shushed her and gathered her hands in his. “We will fight for your life together. Wait here. I’ll fix you a nice cup of tea. How do you take it?”
“One sugar and a splash of milk. Thank you.”
Damian searched the kitchen until he found the teapot. The place was a disaster, so he cleaned two teacups while he waited for the kettle to boil. He was a little startled that things had happened the way they had but relieved. Using Ravi to push the demon back was the best he could do at that point. The church wouldn’t allow any more.
When the tea was ready, he handed her a cup and sat in the chair opposite her. He noticed that her hands shook as she lifted it to her lips and took a sip. She closed her eyes as the warmth refreshed her. “Leave it to an Englishwoman to take tea over water after days without anything.”
Damian chuckled. “I think we have the demon under control for now, but eventually you’ll have to let someone do something about this. Your life is too precious to be taken over by this beast.”
Rose nodded and stared out the window. “I don’t know what you did, but he is deep inside and terrified as hell.”
Chapter Twenty-One
When the conversation dwindled, Damian covered her with a blanket and set to work in her kitchen. He did the dishes, threw the trash out, and mopped the floor. As he worked, he found all the dangerous chemicals and tossed them out as well. He didn’t know how desperate the demon was to stay away from Lilith and wanted to avoid him forcing her to harm herself. He found potatoes, leftover chicken, carrots, celery, and spices and prepared a pot of hot soup. She needed something that would nourish her body quickly and help her regain her strength.