by Carl Alves
Monsignor Curran was waiting for them at the top of the driveway. He appeared to have aged ten years in the past week. Not that Andy looked any better. His reflection in the mirror this morning had not been a pretty sight.
When Andy opened the door, Monsignor Curran wrapped his arms around him in a tight embrace. "I've been worried sick about you. Are you all right?"
"Yeah, thanks to this guy. He saved my ass twice. Where did you find him?"
"I have my resources." Monsignor Curran removed his glasses and wiped his eyes. Dark rings had formed underneath them. Must not be sleeping well. Andy, on the other hand, had slept like a baby last night, beyond exhausted from the day's events.
"Well, thanks for getting this dude to protect me; otherwise I'd be toast."
"I'm thankful that Lucas arrived in time to foil their plans." Monsignor Curran greeted Lucas, who maintained a watchful eye on the surroundings.
"You ever hear of this Legion business?" Andy asked.
"I've heard rumors. There are things that go on that we aren’t privy to."
"No shit. This has been eye-opening."
Monsignor Curran frowned.
"What is it?" Andy asked.
"The situation runs deeper than I thought. The pieces of the puzzle are falling into place, and I don't like the picture they are forming."
"Say that again, this time in English," Andy said.
Monsignor Curran folded his hands. "It troubles me to find out the lengths they're taking to kill you. Obviously, it bothers me on a personal level because you’re like a son to me, but, in a larger scope, it's even more troubling."
Andy jumped at the sound of Lucas's voice. "You think Legion has some bigger plans, and Andy stands in their way. That's why they want to eliminate him."
Monsignor Curran nodded.
"I'll relay this to my superiors at the Vatican," Lucas said. "If you're right, they're going to want to take steps to counteract Legion. The most important thing now is to keep Andy alive."
Monsignor Curran stared at Andy with gentle eyes. "I would like you to reconsider your attempts at exorcising Kate. Lucas seems more than capable…"
Andy raised his hand. "Not gonna happen, so just drop it. I abandoned that little girl once, and I felt like the worst person in the world for doing it."
"But you said that there was little you could do," Monsignor Curran said. "You were overmatched in Kate's soul."
"Don't matter."
Monsignor Curran closed his eyes. "Very well. If Kate lapses again—and I am sure she will—what will you do to stop the demons possessing her?"
Andy put his hands in his pockets. "I don't know. I was hopin' you'd help me out with that. You're always good at planning."
"Of course, I’ll do whatever I can to assist you, but I have as little understanding of these new developments as you do."
"I was planning on heading to Jersey to see Holly and Kate," Andy said.
"Good. I would like to meet the young girl and her mom. Perhaps it will provide me with some insight. I'll be right back."
Monsignor Curran emerged a few minutes later with a cooler containing bottles of water. "Hydration is very important, even in these trying times. Good for the mind and body."
They got in Lucas's car, a BMW 335i that was way cooler than Andy's rental. Andy asked him if he could drive.
Lucas gave him a cold stare. "You ever been in a high-speed chase?"
Andy smiled. "Damn straight. The other day those Legion guys ran me off the road."
"And how did that turn out for you?" Lucas asked.
"Not so great."
"My point exactly. If there's going to be trouble, then I’m going to be behind the wheel."
"Can I at least shoot your gun if they open fire on us?"
Lucas got behind the wheel. "You ever fire a gun?"
Andy shook his head.
"Probably not a good idea then."
Andy got in the back seat. Just once, he was going to win an argument with Lucas.
As they drove, Monsignor Curran asked him for every detail of what had happened, no matter how minor. Andy tried to remember as much as he could, but his memory was not what it used to be, old age and everything. For the most part, the monsignor let him talk, occasionally asking questions or probing for details. Monsignor Curran's face turned ashen when he mentioned the part about the big boss demon telling Kate that his son was coming.
Despite the car's air conditioning, Monsignor Curran began to sweat. His eyes looked sunken and his hands shook.
"What is it?" Andy asked.
Monsignor Curran pursed his lips. "Maybe nothing. Maybe everything."
“Can you be any more cryptic? So, what am I going to do the next time I tangle with these demons?”
Monsignor Curran sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. "There's no history or examples we can use since, to my knowledge, nobody has ever had anything resembling your extraordinary gift. In the past, you have been able to defeat your foes using your power and ingenuity. If that is not enough, then the road will be quite difficult. However, I think you will find that your strength in the world of the soul will grow considerably during this conflict."
Andy furrowed his brow. "Why?"
"Call it a hunch."
"If you say so. Let me tell you, I need all the help I can get."
Monsignor Curran's eyes narrowed. "That's right. You can use some help."
He fell into a contemplative silence, so Andy decided to bug Lucas.
"Come on, bro, you must have gone on some wild missions. What's the craziest thing you did, military or working for the Church?"
"Agreeing to protect you."
"Come on," Andy said. "You can tell me. It's not like I'm going to blab to anyone."
"It's classified. Since I can't kill you afterward, I can't tell you."
"Oh."
Lucas smiled. "That's a joke."
"With you, I can't tell. I saw how you took out those two thugs and then beat Cesar's ass at the bar. You could splatter me like hamburger if you wanted."
"It's a good thing I don't want to do that."
"You ever meet the Pope?" Andy asked.
Lucas nodded.
“That must be cool.”
“It goes with my job.”
“So is it hard to whack people like you did last night? I mean, you seemed like you did it with no problem.”
Lucas glanced at him. His eyes softened. “The day it becomes easy to kill people, I’ll be just like the monsters I’m fighting.”
“I feel you.” Andy stared out the window. “I couldn’t imagine actually killing someone. I mean, I’ve killed demons before, but they’re, you know, demons.”
“Some of the people I deal with aren't much better than demons. They just walk among us on two legs.”
When they crossed the Walt Whitman Bridge into New Jersey, a smile crossed Andy’s lips. He was going to see Kate and Holly. It was just what he needed after last night.
Lucas seemed reasonably satisfied that nobody was following them. He told Andy more than once that he expected Legion to attack him again. They would not be easily swayed.
When they reached Holly's street, everything looked as it had the last time. It was a bright, sunny day. Kate was riding her bike in front of the house. Andy looked at his watch. Holly should have finished her shift at the hospital. Had her babysitter not been available, Andy would have volunteered to take care of Kate again.
Holly walked out of the house and waved.
Kate ran up and hugged him, nearly tackling him to the ground. Andy winced as she wrapped her small arms around his injured ribs.
When Holly saw Andy's reaction, she frowned. "Are you okay?" She gently touched his face. "What happened to you? You're all bruised up. Did you get into a fight or something?"
Monsignor Curran put his hand on the girl’s shoulder. "You must be Kate. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. You're a very special young lady."
Kate smi
led as Monsignor Curran introduced himself and Lucas.
Holly held Andy's hand. "So what happened after you left here last night?"
Andy kept his voice low. "Um, well, they tried to kill me again."
Holly's eyes went wide. "What happened? Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. Can't say the same about the bastards who attacked me. Lucas here saved me."
"Thank God you're all right. Who did this?"
"The same guys who went after me the other day. Look, I don't want to scare Kate. I'll fill you in later."
Holly nodded, but the fierce determination did not leave her eyes.
Andy spent most of the afternoon playing with Kate. They picked up where they had left off the last time. Still, Andy could not shake the feeling that something was troubling her. When he asked what was wrong, she would not respond.
Unfortunately, there was business to be discussed among the adults, and as much as he would have enjoyed playing with Kate all day, he had to break away from her. Holly put on a movie for her to watch inside, and she led Andy outside where Monsignor Curran and Lucas awaited.
Once they were sitting at her picnic table, Holly said, “I need to get a handle on what’s going on here. Why do people keep trying to kill you?”
Andy glanced at Monsignor Curran.
Monsignor Curran folded his hands. “As best we can tell, what is going on with Kate is part of a larger conspiracy. The demons occupying her soul are using her to lure Andy. He is a threat to their existence and perhaps their larger plans. They have managed to infiltrate her with a convergence of demons that has thus far been too difficult for Andy to overcome despite his unique talents, and believe me, his talents are quite unique. However, they are not content to use Kate as a single attack point and have used human assassins as part of their plot.”
Andy looked into Holly's eyes and found great sorrow. It made him want to cry.
Holly said, “I’m really sorry. All I’ve been thinking about is my predicament and Kate's well-being. I’m sorry that you have to go through this.”
Andy waved his hand. “It’s not your fault, and it sure isn’t Kate’s fault. These thugs would try to kill me regardless.”
“I appreciate what you’re doing. I really do.”
“Their last two attempts in the mortal realm have failed thanks to Andy’s resourcefulness and Lucas’s significant talent in the area of personal protection,” Monsignor Curran said. “That can only mean that they will be possessing Kate again, and I fear it will be sooner rather than later, which is why I wanted for all of us to be here.”
Andy buried his face in his hands. “So what should I do the next time it happens?”
“Lucas, what would you suggest?”
Lucas removed his shades. “Without knowing the terrain and background, my instinct would be to take them by surprise. Go on the attack. They’ll be expecting you to retreat.”
Andy thought back to the last encounter in Kate's soul. They had been collectively too strong for him. He had tried to retreat, divide, and conquer, but he could only evade them for so long.
Andy took a deep breath. "I guess it's worth a try. Things can't go much worse than they did last time."
"But they can," Monsignor Curran said. "Keep in mind what their ultimate objective is. They want you dead."
Andy slowly nodded. "Yeah, I guess so.”
"Remember, it's better to live to fight another day than to not live at all," Monsignor Curran said.
"What's going to happen to Kate?" Holly asked.
Monsignor Curran folded his hands. "I'm afraid that's the delicate part. There is only so much her body, mind, and soul can take. It will eventually destroy her."
Andy stared into Holly's eyes. "I'm not going to let that happen. By God, I won't let that happen."
The front door opened. A look of sheer terror entered Holly's eyes. She covered her mouth.
Andy did not have to turn around to know what had just happened. The demons had once more taken control of Kate, and the battle was about to begin.
Chapter XXI
Andy took a deep breath and stared at Kate. Her skin had turned an unnatural shade of blue. Her nostrils flared. Her pupils were red. Her hair looked wild and unkempt.
He was expecting to hear a demonic voice, but instead she sounded like the same lovable Kate. “What’s wrong, Andy. Don’t you want to play with me?”
Andy shook his head. He felt like crying. Kate was the sweetest, nicest kid he had ever met. It wasn’t right that they were doing this to her.
Kate’s voice took on a harsher, more demented tone. She bared sharp teeth. “What’s wrong, Andy? Would you rather fuck me instead?”
Andy clenched his fists. His lips curled into a tight snarl. “You bastards.” He wanted to lash out in anger, but the only object of his ire was the little girl in front of him. Even possessed, she was still Kate.
In the background, Holly wailed. “Not again. Please, Kate, come back to me.”
Kate’s voice turned mocking. “What’s wrong? Little Andy getting mad?” She pretended to rub her eyes. “Boo-hoo.”
Tears streamed down Holly’s face. She looked so utterly defeated.
"I just want my daughter back. Please, Kate, come back to me."
Andy could not take the anguish in her voice or the pain in her eyes. Inside, he felt ready to fracture. He looked at Holly and wished he had the words to soothe her, but any time he tried to say something poignant, he came off sounding like a bumbling idiot.
Fortunately, Monsignor Curran always knew the right words to say. He grabbed Holly's hands. "I understand your pain, my child. We will do whatever we can to help your daughter. If there is anyone that can save her, it’s Andy."
Andy wished he had that same confidence. Images of his last beatdown in her soul flashed through his mind.
Kate howled. Her voice took on a deeper and more sinister tone. "Look at you. You're a pathetic lot. Especially you, Andy Lorenzo. I've been waiting to tear you apart since our last dance."
Andy breathed hard. His legs felt numb. He didn't want to show weakness but could not help himself.
Kate raised her hands like claws and charged at Andy.
Andy stepped back, but could not avoid her. Despite her small stature, Kate knocked him over and began clawing at his throat.
Before Andy could think to defend himself, she was already off him. Lucas seized her and wrapped his strong arms around her small body. He held her tightly but did not appear to be hurting her.
She glared at Andy with pure hatred in her eyes. "I'll tear your throat out. You're nothing, Andy Lorenzo. I'll pluck out your eyes and eat your liver. You think you can help her. You can't. You're just a scared little boy. I dare you to fight us again, you coward. You will die a thousand deaths, each more horrifying than the previous one."
Monsignor Curran helped Andy to his feet. "Are you okay?"
Andy shook his head. What kind of ridiculous question was that? Of course, he wasn’t okay.
He wondered who was talking through Kate. This vile rhetoric sounded like Asmodeus. Malachai was too refined to speak like this, and Baphomet never had much to say.
Kate kicked and writhed within Lucas's powerful grip. When demons possessed people, they were constrained by the possessed's physical capabilities. Since Kate was just a child, the demons inside her posed little physical threat.
Holly wiped her eyes. In between sobs, she said, "When Kate gets like this, sometimes I have to strap her into her bed. I’m afraid she might hurt herself."
Monsignor Curran gave her a reassuring nod. "That's perfectly understandable given the circumstances."
"What would you like me to do with her?" Lucas asked.
The question was addressed to nobody in particular, but Andy responded. "Let her go. The demons know they can’t hurt me out here. They're just trying to goad me into entering her soul. I'll give them what they want. Let her go."
It was clear by his tightly drawn face
that Lucas was not keen on the idea, but he did as instructed.
Andy walked up to Kate. "Asmodeus, I’ll fight you, but not here. Walk inside the house, and I'll follow you."
Kate smiled widely and held up her hands as if she had just won a prize. "It's so nice of you to join us." She skipped toward the house and spoke in a sing-song voice. "Oh, how I'm going to enjoy eviscerating you. I relish your suffering. You have caused me such pain. Now it's time for revenge. You won't make it out alive."
Andy grabbed Holly's hands. "I'm going to get your little girl back. I'll die if I have to."
Holly hugged him. "I know you will."
As Andy followed Kate into the house, he felt like he was walking to the executioner's chamber. There was no time to come up with a game plan. He would have to figure it out inside her soul.
Kate glanced back at him and batted her eyelashes. "You're not going to back out like a sniveling coward? If you do, my friends and I are going to have so much fun torturing the girl."
Andy shook his head. Despite his dread, there was no backing down.
Monsignor Curran grabbed his arm. "Do what you need to, but remember that your safety is paramount."
Andy shook him off. How could he possibly think about safety with what he was about to do? There was nothing remotely safe about it.
Kate skipped, humming an unfamiliar tune. She opened the door to the house, and he followed her inside.
Lucas walked next to him. "You're going to be all right, kid."
Andy glanced at him. "I'm scared."
Lucas put a hand on his shoulder. "Nothing wrong with that. I've been scared plenty of times. Don't let it beat you. Go in there and take the fight to your enemies."
"I’ll try." Andy opened the door and went inside.
Facing him, Kate smiled. "This is going to be so much fun. Where would you like to do this?"
Andy stared at the possessed girl. When she opened her mouth, he spotted sharp, jagged teeth. "Sit at the table, Asmodeus."
Kate shrugged. "If you insist. Whatever makes you comfortable."
Andy looked back at what he now thought of as his crew. There was nothing left to say. He would be alone in Kate's soul. They could not help him.