The Devil Inside

by Heather Atkinson

  “A little too much for my liking by all the nurses. Including that male one,” she grinned.

  “Aye, he was a creepy bastard.”

  She kissed him. “And I appreciate you every single second of every single day.” Seriousness filled her eyes. “Even more so after I saw you bleeding on the ground.”

  He pulled her to him. “Let’s go to bed.”

  “You’re still recovering.”

  “I’m well enough for that. You’ll have to go on top though.”

  “Argh, too much information,” called a voice from deeper in the house.

  Cass opened the living room door to reveal Christian, Ross, Elliott, Morgan, Noah, Pete, Donaldson, Freya and Petie.

  “Welcome home,” they all called in unison, making Noah jump in Morgan’s arms.

  “Well this is a nice homecoming,” he smiled, pleased.

  “We’ve got doughnuts and the pizza’s been ordered,” announced Ross proudly. “And some red wine for you Bossman.”

  “Fantastic,” said Brodie, lowering himself onto the couch stiffly.

  “No red wine,” said Cass. “You’re still on painkillers Brodie.”

  “Fine but you cannae stop me having the pizza and doughnuts.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it. Right, I’ll fetch the drinks,” she said, disappearing into the kitchen.

  As Cass organised the drinks - making a cup of tea for herself, Brodie and Freya - she smiled as she listened to the sound of her extended family laughing and joking in the living room. The Donaldsons had slotted into their group very well. Freya didn’t find making friends easy after her ordeal in Blair Dubh, so the friendship she’d struck up with Cass and Morgan meant a lot to her. Cass had asked Freya why she’d been so freaked out when the giant they’d wrestled in the safe house had been spouting nonsense about people being tainted with evil. She’d confided in her that she’d been held hostage by the sniper who’d killed a lot of the residents in the Ayrshire village she’d grown up in. He’d talked similar rubbish about evil and it had brought back bad memories.

  Donaldson, who was now known as Craig in their group, was actually a lot more relaxed when off duty and fun to be around and the couple had become a firm part of their group after visiting Brodie in hospital every day. Craig, along with Pete and DCI Black were being praised for their role in bringing down Higher Light. There was even talk of making Black a superintendent, although there was no promotion in sight for Pete and Craig. Brodie kept trying to convince them to work for him but so far they were both resisting.

  Cass returned to the living room with the drinks to find all the men cheering at something on the living room floor, her view blocked by the back of the couch. Morgan and Freya, sat beside each other with their respective children on their knees, looked to her.

  “It’s nothing to do with us,” said Freya.

  “We couldn’t stop them,” added Morgan, repressing a giggle.

  Cass moved from around the sofa so she could see the centre of the room. Her robotic vacuum was spinning about the floor between the couches, an unopened can of lager balanced on top, the men all calling to it and making bets on who would be the one to snatch the can from it. Cass smiled at the way Brodie laughed, although he was trying to restrain it so he wouldn’t hurt his wound. He looked so happy it made her heart soar. His eyes met hers and they smiled at each other.

  “I’m no’ gonnae lie to you hen,” he said. “It was my idea.”

  She placed the tray of drinks on the coffee table and sank onto the couch beside him. “At least it’s still in the house this time,” she replied, making him chuckle.

  When his phone started to ring she moved aside slightly so he could pull it out of his pocket.

  “What?” he said, not really paying attention to the number, his attention on the whirring robot. Pete reached out a hand to snatch up the can but it whirled away from him, making him swear loudly.

  “Language Uncle Pete in front of the weans,” said Morgan.

  “Oops, sorry doll.”

  “Hello, anyone there?” said the voice.

  “Aye it’s me. Who’s this?”

  “Toni.”

  He forced himself to remain relaxed, so as not to alert the others, although Cass could feel the tension in his arm that was wrapped around her shoulders.

  “What do you want?” he said quietly.

  “To let you know that our mutual problem will soon no longer be a problem. Watch the news tomorrow morning. I promise it will be of interest to you.”

  With that she hung up, leaving Brodie to stare at his phone.

  “What was that about?” said Cass.

  He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Toni.” Their guests hadn’t heard the word but somehow the Tony smart assistant all the way in the kitchen had. Brodie’s lips pursed as it apologised and said it didn’t understand that command. “Big-eared plastic bastard,” he said.

  “Never mind that,” replied Cass. “What did she say?”

  “I think she’s going to top Malachi. I can’t be sure but she said to watch the news in the morning, it will be of interest to us.”

  “Good. Let’s send her a thank you present,” she said before turning her attention back to the robot lager game, smiling when Ross managed to snatch up the can. He held it aloft in triumph, the other men booing.

  Brodie shoved all thoughts of Malachi aside. He was here, alive and well, relatively anyway, with his family and friends, his beautiful fiancée by his side in their lovely home. He was the luckiest bastard in the world. Malachi and his crazy didn’t deserve a second thought.

  “So have you set a date for the wedding yet?” said Morgan when the noise from the robot lager game had died down.

  “We have,” said Cass, she and Brodie smiling at each other. “The twenty seventh of April next year.”

  “But that’s eight months away,” groaned Pete. “We canne wait until then.”

  “Well you’ll have to. The weather will be milder then, which is important when we’re having the ceremony in a marquee in a garden. Plus the hospital wanted us to wait until then. The grounds can get waterlogged in the bad weather. And you’re all coming.”

  Everyone cheered and raised their glasses in a toast.

  “And is it still China for the honeymoon?” said Freya.

  “Aye it is,” said Brodie, sipping his tea. “Cass wants to see that giant wall.”

  “Not just that,” she said. “But yes, I do.”

  “What the hell are you doing?” Brodie demanded of Ross when he picked up the box of doughnuts. “You’d better no’ think you can scoff the lot.”

  “The lager game went down so well I thought we could try the doughnut game next,” he replied, gently placing the box on top of the vacuum.

  He pressed the on button and off it shot, the large box tipping off the back of it. Robbie did an immediate u-turn and ran right over the doughnuts. There was an alarming choking sound as it attempted to suck up the treats. The vacuum shuddered and spluttered before releasing one loud bang and going silent, a wisp of smoke emanating from the top.

  “You killed Robbie you total fanny,” exclaimed Brodie.

  “Oh Christ, I’m sorry,” said Ross. “I didnae mean to do it. I’ll buy you a new one.”

  “Aye you will. I’ll take it out of your bonus and you’ll get more doughnuts, you’ve ruined the lot. You’ll clean up that mess too,” he added, gesturing to the dough that had been ground into their nice carpet.

  “Not to worry,” said Cass. “There’s another box in the kitchen. But you’re cleaning up Ross.”

  “Aye, course,” he sighed, getting to his feet and slinking into the kitchen.

  Pete was the first to release his laughter in the form of a loud snigger before they all burst out laughing. The sound was overly loud and slightly hysterical as all the recent stress poured out of them.

  They all went silent when the doorbell rang, conscious of the fact that Eve was still on the loose.

&n
bsp; “Don’t worry,” said Cass, getting to her feet. “It’s just the pizza.”

  “I’ll come with you,” said Christian.

  “If you like.”

  He followed her to the door, which she opened to reveal an attractive woman with dark eyes, her long dark hair tucked under a red baseball cap. The woman thrust a heap of six pizza boxes at Cass.

  “That’s forty pounds sixty two please.”

  “That’s a bit steep,” said Christian.

  “You’ve got the Twenty Percent off Tuesday discount,” the woman told him with a look that indicated further protest would not be appreciated.

  “Oh, right. Okay.” He realised the woman was very pretty and gave her his best smile. “So, been delivering pizzas long?”

  “No,” she replied, her look making it clear that she wasn’t in the mood for flirting.

  “Oh,” he said, looking down at the floor sheepishly.

  “Take the pizza through to the hungry hordes Chris,” Cass told him. “I’ll square her up.”

  “Aye, alright then,” he said, returning inside with the pizza boxes.

  Cass took her jacket down off the peg by the front door but rather than produce her wallet she retrieved the black box containing the syringe Jules had given her. The woman took it from her and slipped it into her big red pizza bag.

  “You’ve found her?” said Cass.

  Raven nodded. “She’s hiding out in a house in Port Dundas.”

  “I thought she would have got well away from here by now. Actually, she probably can’t bear to be far from Malachi.”

  “It’ll be done tonight. You won’t need to worry about her again.”

  “That would be a relief.”

  “Do you want her found?”

  “Yes. I don’t want anyone who’s finally been freed from the cult worrying whether she’s coming for them.”

  “As you wish. I’ll text you when it’s done.”

  “And I’ll transfer the funds. Thanks for the discount by the way.”

  “You’re a friend of Jules, so you get mate’s rates.”

  “I appreciate that. Your pocket mirror flash device worked a treat by the way.”

  “Glad to hear it, although it’s not exactly mine. My adopted father made it.”

  “He’s a very clever man.”

  For the first time, Cass saw the stern Raven smile and it was very pretty. “Yes he is.”

  Cass watched her leave and get back in the small red Fiat she was using as part of her cover, the name of a local pizzeria emblazoned across the side. When the car pulled away from the kerb Cass closed the door, smiling at the appreciative sounds from her friends as they tucked into the pizza. The police had been unsuccessful in tracking down the elusive Eve, as had Christian, Ross and Elliott. She’d been far too caught up in helping Brodie with his recovery to assist in the search, so she’d called in Raven. Who better than a bounty hunter/assassin to get rid of that cow. By the morning both Eve and Malachi would be dead and it would all be over. Plus it was a relief to be rid of that syringe.

  “You’d better hurry hen if you want some,” called Brodie’s voice. “I’m trying to hold Pete off from eating yours.”

  “Coming,” she smiled, walking back into the living room.

  Malachi ignored the wolf whistles from the other prisoners as he was escorted back to his cell after speaking to his solicitor. He was above such petty annoyances. Thanks to the presence of Cain and Abel and several of his acolytes in Barlinnie he’d been well protected from any unpleasantness. His followers defended him with a great deal of zeal and aggression. One particular member of his church was in segregation for battering a fellow prisoner unconscious with a chair after they attempted to assault him. That had encouraged the others to back off, especially as the prisoner who’d been assaulted was clinging onto life in a coma. But there were plenty of dangerous men in this prison, but more especially men who owed Brodie MacBride favours. Already his friends were making Mason’s life a misery, despite the best efforts of his fellow disciples to protect him. Currently he was in the hospital wing being treated for cuts to his mouth after ground up glass had been mixed into the porridge he’d had for breakfast.

  If only he’d managed to absorb Brodie into his church, things would have turned out so differently. Malachi sighed. Brodie MacBride was his biggest test and so far he was failing. But he didn’t anticipate on being in here for long, not with Eve on the outside working for him. Yes, there were plenty of witnesses who were willing to give evidence against him but there were also plenty willing to renounce their evidence as lies. All his disciples who were in prison with him were preparing to defend him in court. None were concerned for their own fates, only his own, their saviour. It was vital he was back in the world, helping to save it. He’d attempted to convert some of the inmates but they were so ensnared by the devils they refused to listen. He’d asked to preach in the small chapel they had in the prison but that request had been refused. Still, there were other ways to reach people. Already he was organising his acolytes in the prison in a way that would repeat the cleansing they’d begun in George Square. It turned out Cain - who was scarred for life thanks to Cass Carlisle and her own personal devils - was very adept at fashioning weapons from seemingly benign objects. First he would cleanse this prison, then he would be released into the world to be reunited with his Eve. After that they would take care of the traitors Steven, Elaine and Neville. They were beyond redemption, the devils had too strong a hold, he saw that now. The only way to rid the world of them permanently was to destroy their earthly vessels. This would in turn free their human souls to return to the Holy Father, ending their torment. It was vital work that must be carried out to help every lost soul. He would not stop until the earth was rid of all devils and humanity could live in peace with no evil thoughts clouding their minds. It would be heaven on earth.

  These thoughts steeled him, gave him courage as he was led back to his cell. He would get through this particular test the Lord had seen fit to bestow upon him, proving he was worthy to continue the good work. The fight against evil never ended.

  “Here we go,” said the prison officer who had escorted him - a surly, sarcastic character who was infected with a whole host of devils. Hardly surprising working in a place like this. “Home sweet home.”

  “Thank you,” said Malachi, stepping into his cell. He turned to face the officer, taking in his appearance, which was a bit more dishevelled than usual, dark rings around his eyes, five o’clock shadow staining his normally closely-shaved cheeks. His clothes were usually ironed to within an inch of their life but today they were creased. PO Watson didn’t look like the type to iron his own clothes. From what he’d overheard of his conversations with the other prison officers he believed housework was entirely the domain of the woman of the house. All these details he absorbed in seconds and he smiled sympathetically. “Your wife will recover from her illness.”

  Watson’s eyes widened with surprise. “What?”

  “The Lord has decreed she will be well again. Just have faith and his blessings will rain down upon you.”

  Watson’s mouth opened and closed before he said, “How did you know? Who told you?”

  “No one. The Lord speaks to me, he provides comfort through me. I am but his mouthpiece. There’s no need to fear, I can help navigate you through this testing time. Just open yourself up to me and allow me to heal you.”

  Watson’s eyes narrowed. “They told me you’d try and mess with my head. Well you can keep your creepiness to yourself.”

  “Whoever told you that is trying to prevent you from being healed,” said Malachi in his gentle voice. “Don’t you want to be healed Mr Watson? Don’t you want the pain to stop?”

  Watson blinked twice, eyelids feeling heavy as that warm deep voice enveloped him. He snapped himself out of it and shook his head. “Don’t you try all your hypnotism crap on me. My friend on the outside told me all about you.”

  “Friend?”
said Malachi, unable to hide his glower. “Let me guess, Brodie MacBride?”

  Watson chuckled. “I don’t think she would appreciate being compared to him, no matter how much she likes him.”

  Malachi’s throat went dry. “You…you mean…”

  “Toni McVay,” he replied with a vicious smile.

  It wasn’t often Malachi felt a situation was out of his control, so confident was he in his own abilities but when four prisoners appeared in the doorway of his cell, congregating behind Watson, one of them brandishing a noose, he thought he might be sick.

  “Now, let’s all calm down,” he said, holding up his hands and stepping back into the cell away from them. “I can help you. Wouldn’t you all like to stop feeling pain?”

  “We’ll be feeling a hell of a lot more pain if we don’t do this,” said the man holding the noose. “Having your eyes scooped out of your head bloody hurts. I know, I’ve spoken to people who had their eyes taken from them by Toni McVay.”

  “I can elevate you above such fears,” he said, voice quivering for the first time in his life. “You will fear no one ever again. Imagine the liberation in that.”

  “We’re gonnae do the same to you,” said the prisoner, his friends nodding in eager agreement. “Free you from pain. In a few minutes you’ll be feeling nothing.”

  “You don’t need to do this, I’m more use to you alive. I can free you from the devils who make you do bad things.”

  “No one makes us do anything. We do the bad things because we like them, don’t we boys?”

  More eager nods.

  “You should be saying thank you,” continued the prisoner while Malachi desperately hunted around for what he could say to keep them at bay. He’d never met a situation he couldn’t talk his way out of. “Toni wanted us to do loads of hideous, painful things to you. But she’s a smart woman. She realised the worst thing she could do to you is destroy your weird wee cult.”

  “It is not a cult,” he announced defiantly.

  “Whatever. When all your sad little followers find out you committed suicide their faith in you will be destroyed, along with your church. After all, your cult says suicide is a sin, doesn’t it? Something caused by those wee devils inside you. They’ll abandon you when they see how you betrayed them.”