The Devil's Pets

by Alex Siegel

  "Houston," Mia said. "That's where Orcus left her. She would go back there to look for him."

  "But she can't go back to her old house. Too risky, and we burned it to the ground."

  "He'll want big animals involved," Diana said. "They make him feel safe and powerful."

  "It should happen near a circus?" Brian said.

  Stony shook his head. "Circuses don't feature a lot of animals these days. A zoo is better."

  "The Houston Zoo!" Diana said excitedly. "Orcus took us there several times. Some of our favorite animals are there, including some wonderful big cats. That's the perfect place for a reunion. I just need him to know I'm headed in that direction, and he'll figure out the rest."

  "A city zoo?" Robertson said. "We're trying to avoid civilian casualties."

  "We'll make it happen at night," Stony said, "when the zoo is closed."

  "What about the security guards? We'll tell them to stay home."

  "No. Orcus might get suspicious. Everything has to be completely normal."

  The director had a disgusted expression. "This is going to be a huge mess."

  "It will certainly be challenging," Rathanael said, "but I have confidence we can succeed. The operation starts tonight. I hope you enjoyed your sleep."

  * * *

  "I still think this is a terrible idea," Mia said.

  "I have a good feeling about it," Stony said.

  The two of them were crouched on the southwest shore of Belmont Bay. The waters were black at night, and tiny waves lapped against the grassy shore. Schonenberg Air Force Base was on the other side of the Bay. The wail of emergency sirens came across the water, but Stony could barely hear them in the distance.

  He was in a city named Woodbridge, Virginia, but it was just a small part of the vast suburban landscape around Washington, D.C. A dense cluster of four-story apartment buildings was nearby. Each chunk of apartments had a different architectural style, but he could tell they were a single, massive development. The brick and stucco housing was probably as expensive as everything else in the Washington area.

  "I know about your good feelings," Mia said. "I remember your good feeling before that school in Albuquerque exploded."

  "Hey," Stony said, "no kids died."

  "Just a janitor and a night watchman. What about your good feeling in New York right before a pack of werewolves ambushed us?"

  He looked away. "That was a bad day."

  "An understatement to put it mildly," she said.

  Stony stared out at the Bay, searching for any sign of Diana. He checked his watch. She was supposed to rendezvous with him at 10 PM, and it was already 10:10.

  He turned to Mia. "She's late."

  "It would be ironic if she drowned before the mission even got started," she replied.

  She was wearing brown slacks, a yellow shirt, and a blue jean vest. He was also wearing bland, generic clothes that wouldn't get a second look. Their job was to keep Diana out of trouble without calling attention to themselves. Their weapons were small and well hidden.

  "You don't sound entirely unhappy about the prospect," Stony said.

  "She's younger and hotter than me, and my boyfriend likes her."

  "I'll always be faithful to you."

  "That had better be true." Mia cracked her knuckles.

  A splashing sound made him look back at the water. Diana was swimming towards him, but exhaustion made her strokes lethargic. She had just swum half a mile and had good reason to be tired.

  She crawled out of the water on her hands and knees. She remained in that position, dripping wet, while she caught her breath. She was wearing the ugly orange uniform of a PEA prisoner.

  "You made it," Stony said.

  "That was harder than I expected," Diana said. "The water is cold and has a nasty taste."

  "Your escape wasn't supposed to be easy. Get up. You have to move."

  He helped her to her feet. She tried to squeeze some of the water out of her clothes, but it was hopeless.

  "You need fresh clothes and transportation," Mia said, "and don't kill anybody. We'll meet you at the next rendezvous location."

  "What are you going to do?" Diana said.

  "Watch you. For the sake of realism, you should do as much as possible on your own, like a real fugitive would."

  Diana frowned.

  "Here is your tracking device," Stony said. "Make sure you ditch it before you run into Orcus."

  He gave her what looked like a thick, felt-tip marker. It actually worked as a marker, but a sophisticated electronics package was hidden inside.

  She examined the device. "What's the range?"

  "No limit," Stony said. "It uses the cell networks. And here are some maps so you don't get lost." He gave her a stack of paper maps. "Now, go! The military police will be here any minute."

  She jogged around the apartment buildings and came to a street where cars were parked. Stony and Mia followed at a safe distance and merely observed. They made meaningless conversation to look more natural, but there were no witnesses anyway.

  Diana went to a nearby window of a first-floor apartment. The lights were off inside. She transformed the fingernail of her right index finger into a long, sharp claw. She tapped the glass hard enough to crack it. She quietly pried out shards until she had a hole a few inches across. She reached inside, turned the latch, pushed open the window, and slipped into the apartment.

  "I like her direct approach," Mia said, "even if it's a bit noisy."

  "Brave," Stony said. "She doesn't know who or what she'll find in there."

  "All she needs are clothes and car keys. Those are in every apartment."

  The lights came on in the apartment. An instant later, he heard a thump. Curiosity overcame him, and he jogged over for a peek through the window. A man in boxer shorts was lying on the floor of the apartment. His eyes were closed, but he was breathing. He had a kitchen knife in his right hand, but there was no blood on the blade. Good girl, Stony thought.

  He didn't see Diana at first, but then she reappeared with a roll of duct tape. She quickly bound the man so he wouldn't be able to move even if he woke up.

  She noticed Stony staring through the window. She waved, and he waved back.

  He went back to Mia and told her what he had seen.

  "She's competent at least," Mia said. "Did you touch the window?"

  "No," Stony said.

  "Good. We can't leave our fingerprints behind as evidence. If Orcus has any reason to think we're involved, it's game over."

  A few minutes later, Diana ran out of the apartment building. She was wearing men's clothes which fit very loosely on her, but at least they were less suspicious than the orange prison uniform. A scarf covered her iron collar.

  She was holding a set of car keys. She ran up and down the street, pressing the button until a car beeped. She got in the car and drove off.

  "First task done," Stony said. "Let's go."

  He and Mia walked down the block until they came to an unremarkable gray Honda. Stony took the driver's seat, and his girlfriend sat beside him.

  He had just started to drive away when cars with flashing blue lights intercepted him. The cars had white and blue markings. The words "Schonenberg AFB" were printed on the side.

  Stony hit the brake.

  A soldier in gray camouflage fatigues stepped out of the lead car. He ran over and pointed a bright flashlight at Stony's face.

  "Hey!" the soldier said. "We're looking for a woman!"

  "Any woman in particular?" Stony said.

  "Red hair, blue eyes, medium height."

  "I haven't seen anybody like that around here. What did she do?"

  "Escaped prisoner," the soldier said. "Extremely dangerous."

  He pointed his flashlight at Mia and then the back seat.

  "Gosh," Stony said. "I hope you find her. Can we go now?"

  The soldier reluctantly backed away. The military police cars shifted around until Stony could proceed.
r />   He drove off. Here we go.

  * * *

  Stony pulled into a large truck stop in Tom's Brook, Virginia. The time was well past midnight, but all the lights were still on. Truckers were filling their gas tanks at pumps specifically made for semis. The facility had a convenience store, a restaurant, and private showers, according to a sign.

  Stony drove behind the truck stop. Lines of trucks were diagonally parked, and he assumed truckers were sleeping inside. All the trucks had large cabs with room for a bed in back. It was cheaper and easier than finding a motel every night.

  Stony spotted the car that Diana had stolen earlier. She had tucked it behind a dumpster where it would go unnoticed for a while. He didn't see Diana though.

  He parked his own car. He and Mia stepped out into cool, humid air.

  She looked up. "Nice night."

  Stony turned his attention to the thousands of twinkling stars above. They had driven far enough from Washington to escape the city lights.

  "Yeah," he said. "Beautiful. Let's find our fugitive."

  They entered the truck stop and wandered through the impressive facility. A convenience store was as large as some grocery stores and offered everything from hot pizza to repair tools to air fresheners. Stony spotted Diana eating in the adjacent restaurant. She had ordered a double hamburger, French fries, a large drink, and a milkshake.

  "Stocking up on calories," Stony murmured to Mia. "Veteran move. You never know when you'll eat again."

  She nodded.

  The two of them went to the counter and ordered for themselves. A young man with bad acne and a dazed look in his eyes took their order. Working the graveyard shift was tough.

  After receiving their trays, Stony and Mia sat at the table next to Diana. They didn't look at her or acknowledge her presence in any way. They were close enough to talk though.

  "Where did you get the money for the food?" Mia whispered.

  "The guy I mugged at the apartment had a wallet full of cash," Diana said. "I also pick-pocketed a guy in the store."

  "Careful," Stony said. "You have to get to your destination without being arrested."

  "Don't worry. My hands are quicker than the eye."

  "How are you planning to continue your journey?"

  "Hitchhiking," she said. "A pretty thing like me shouldn't have any trouble getting a ride."

  "True. We'll follow in our car using the tracking device, but just in case we lose you for some reason, the next rendezvous is the McDonald's in Beckly, West Virginia."

  "Got it."

  "One more thing," Mia said, "you can hitchhike tonight, but this is the last time. By morning your face will be all over the news. If you appear in public, it has to be in disguise."

  "I understand."

  Diana went to the restaurant counter and spoke to the cashier for a moment. He went to the back of the kitchen and returned after a short time with a piece of paper. She came back to the table. She placed the paper in plain view of anybody entering the restaurant, and words on it read, "NEED RIDE. GOING WEST." She unbuttoned the top of her shirt to reveal a teasing view of her breasts. Then she continued to eat her hamburger.

  Stony was keeping an eye on the door. He was a little worried about police coming in and recognizing Diana from her description. That scenario could get ugly.

  The sight of a familiar face surprised Stony instead. Rathanael walked into the restaurant as if he were a regular customer. A black trench coat covered his wings. He came straight over and sat at Diana's table.

  "Hello," the angel said softly.

  "You're far from home," Stony said, "and I know you don't like to leave your roost. To what do we owe this honor?"

  "Just wanted to clarify a few things. I was confident during the meeting, but that was a bit of a deception. The truth is I'm worried about you three."

  "Oh?"

  "You have violent habits and volatile tempers," Rathanael said. "You must control your worst instincts. Think twice before lashing out. Don't make me a fool for putting my faith in you."

  "We'll do our best, sir," Stony said.

  Diana and Mia nodded in agreement.

  Rathanael took his usual wad of chewing gum out of his mouth. He picked up a French fry and nibbled a bit off the end. He made a face. "Holy mother of Jesus. How can you eat this swill? It's been fried to a crisp in putrid grease."

  "Tastes fine to me," Diana said.

  The angel placed a napkin on the table and waved his hand over it. Three white cookies appeared on the napkin. Tiny, sugar-like crystals gleamed on the surface.

  "Enjoy some proper food."

  He stood up and walked out of the restaurant.

  Stony, Mia, and Diana each took a cookie.

  Stony bit into his, and the most wonderful sensation flooded his mouth. It was like a thousand desserts rolled into one, but sweetness didn't overwhelm all the other subtle flavors. He quickly gobbled down the rest of the cookie. He couldn't stop himself, even though he wanted to savor the experience. When he was done, his appetite was completely satisfied.

  "I think that was manna from Heaven," Mia said in a tone of wonder.

  "Regular food will never taste the same again," Diana said sadly.

  An obese man wearing a plaid shirt walked up to her. His baseball cap desperately needed a good wash.

  "Hi," he said, revealing yellow teeth. "Is that sign right? You need a ride west? I'm headed to Oklahoma."

  Diana smiled. "That's perfect. Can we leave now?"

  "Sure. What's your story, honey?"

  "I'm running from an abusive boyfriend. I had to leave all my things behind. I don't even have a wallet. I'm trying to get to my mother's house with just the clothes on my back and a little cash in my pocket. It's been a rough night."

  "Your knight in shining armor has arrived, babe," the man said. "I'll make sure you get home safe and sound. You know these people?" He pointed to Stony and Mia.

  "No." Diana shook her head. "They just sat down."

  "Good. My truck is parked in front. Let's get out of here."

  She followed the trucker out of the restaurant. Stony and Mia didn't move until Diana was out of sight.

  "Bring the car around," Mia said. "I'll follow her."

  She hurried out of the restaurant the same way as Diana.

  Stony jogged out the back door. He went to the car and started the engine, but he left the headlights off. He drove around to the front and found Mia standing in the open. He gave the horn a quick honk.

  She ran over and sat in the passenger seat.

  "What happened?" Stony said. "Where is Diana?"

  "She already took off with that trucker. He was eager to go. Maybe it's just my paranoia, but he seemed creepy."

  "I got the same vibe, but she didn't seem worried."

  "She wouldn't be," Mia said. "She can turn into a killer cat."

  "Use the tracker app in your phone."

  She took out her phone and opened an app that the PEA had installed.

  "Got her," she said. "Go south on 81."

  Stony turned on the headlights and drove off. A minute later, he was cruising down the interstate in very sparse traffic. The highway had two lanes in each direction divided by a wide, grass median. He maintained a speed that kept him exactly a mile behind Diana according to the tracking app.

  He settled in for a long, boring drive. He turned on the radio and found a news channel. Within minutes, he heard the story he was expecting.

  "Local, state, and federal authorities are still searching Virginia for that escaped convict," the radio announcer said. "She is five feet, six inches tall. One hundred forty pounds. Red hair, blue eyes, Caucasian. She is considered to be extremely dangerous. Civilians are advised to notify the authorities immediately if she is seen. Do not approach her. Do not attempt to subdue her."

  Stony had a thought. "She better make sure the trucker doesn't turn on the radio," he said.

  "She's smart enough to realize that," Mia said, "and i
f she tells him she doesn't want to hear the radio, I'm sure he'll comply."

  "You're right. After this is over, it will be years before she can show her face in public."

  "She'll have to wear a disguise when she goes out, but that's good policy anyway. We should take the same precaution. How many enemies do we have? How many people would love to see us dead?"

  Stony twisted his neck until the vertebrae popped. "I wouldn't mind running into an old enemy or two. Sounds like a good time."

  "You're incorrigible." Mia shook her head.

  They drove south on the interstate for two hours. Stony turned up the air conditioning so the blast of cold air would help keep him alert. He wasn't particularly tired, but he was very bored from staring at the same dark stretch of highway for too long.

  Mia checked her phone. "Diana is turning. Southeast on highway 60."

  "Not west?"

  "Nope."

  Stony frowned. "That's not the right way. We'd better check it out."

  He saw the sign for the exit, and a minute later, he made the same turn. He quickly reached a small town nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

  "Turn right," Mia said.

  "You're sure?"

  "That's what the app says."

  He shrugged and turned.

  He made several more unexpected turns until he finally found the truck. It was parked in a gravel lot behind a gas station, but the station was closed and all the lights were off. The location seemed chosen to avoid witnesses.

  Stony parked his car within sight of the truck. He didn't see any movement.

  "I told you that guy was a creep," Mia said.

  Stony sighed.

  They got out of the car and moved stealthily towards the truck.

  The overweight truck driver burst out of the cab. He staggered forward, clutching his throat. Blood gushed between his fingers. He fell face-down onto the gravel and became still.

  Stony and Mia ran towards him.

  Diana hopped out of the cab with a bloody right hand. Her fingernails were long, sharp claws.

  She looked at her friends and said, "He pulled a knife on me! He tried to rape me!"