The Promises of Demons (The Witch of Whitebridge Book 1)

by Keith Keffer

  "Listen," she said. "It's been a long day and I don't have time for this. How about you give me your phone number and I'll call you later. We can do whatever it is that you think you need to do then." As she talked she kept moving forward. She went over in her mind how she blew the tires in the police cruiser. The same principle would probably work on the Gandalf looking guy, but she didn't want to watch him burst at the seams. Hopefully, the same sort of magic would let her push him back. Or, she would just need to run her SUV through the car wash before going home.

  "Miss Star," said Gandalf-guy. "That won't be necessary. We are here for your companion. Step aside and no harm will come to you or Henry."

  She was almost to her car. She slipped off her backpack and handed it and the equipment bag to her cousin. The two bags were heavy, but they probably weighed less than the book bag Henry carried back and forth to the library. She needed to get him somewhere safe and putting the bags in the car seemed like the simplest solution. "Get in the backseat and put your seatbelt on." She then turned back to Gandalf, putting her hands in her pocket so that he wouldn't notice them shaking. "Who are you and what are you talking about?"

  Gandalf waited until Henry got into the car before speaking. "Miss Star. Your cousin is safely out of harm's way. That thing has no place in this world. He is an aberration, a violation of the natural order, and must be dealt with." Gandalf was pointing his staff at Bob now. His attention was focused on the demon, who looked even smaller in the dim light of the SUV's tail lights. Henry leaned out of the open car door so that he could watch what was happening behind him.

  The other four robed guys hadn't been idle as Morgan talked. They were creeping closer. Bunching together to block her escape. If she waited much longer it would be too late. Her right hand closed around the cylinder in the pocket of her sweat jacket. Aunt Helen had gotten it for her when she started to work the night shift at the diner. Morgan had carried it around with her ever since, but she never had a need to reach for it. Until tonight.

  "Bob," she shouted. "Go!" Morgan jumped forward, pulling the canister of pepper spray out of her pocket. She pressed the trigger and a stream sprayed under Gandalf's hood. He screamed and covered his face with both hands. His staff clattered to the ground. Before it stopped rolling, Morgan spun around to face the four figures behind her. They were running at her with their arms out. She dropped the empty cannister. It wasn't going to help against the other four.

  She'd only have one shot at stopping them.

  Summoning the same magic that she used on the tires, she pushed with her hands toward her attackers. A wave of force shot forward and slammed into them, sending them tumbling backwards. They were like leaves caught in a breeze. An alarm went off when one of the hooded figures hit a dark SUV car. He stopped, but the others kept rolling.

  Again, she didn't wait. She ran for the driver's side of the car. Her shoe hitting something as she opened the door. Gandalf's staff was lying at her feet. Without thinking, she reached down and grabbed it, tossing it through the open door into the back of the car. Henry was pulling his door closed as Bob crawled across his lap into the other seat. The staff flew right over the demon's head.

  "Hey, watch it," he said as he pushed the staff into the gap between the back seats. It was a snug fit, and the staff wasn't rolling anywhere. Bob sat on one side of the big stick and Henry the other.

  The boy took one look at the staff and said, "Cool. We got his magic staff."

  Morgan started the Explorer, put it in gear and pressed the gas. The car jumped the curb in front of the laundromat, and she spun the wheel hard to the left. One wheel ended up on the sidewalk as she swung a tight U-turn in the parking lot.

  There was a thump against her door. The one she pepper-sprayed was on his feet and clawing at the handle. She slammed the gas pedal all the way to the floor and the car shot forward. Gandalf couldn't keep hold on to the door and tumbled across the pavement as she sped away.

  "Woohoo!" said Henry. "You did it, Morgan. When did you become so awesome? I can't believe you stood up to those guys. What did you do to them? Wow. You're like a superhero. Can I pick your superhero name?"

  "Henry," snapped Morgan. "Not now." Her eyes kept flicking back to the rear-view mirror, looking for signs of pursuit. The road was clear. She started to slow down. The robed guys had gotten to their feet, but no one was sprinting after them. They had escaped.

  "Bob, who were those guys?" she asked.

  "I have no idea," said the little demon. He was standing up in the back, looking over the seat, watching the road behind them. "Mortals, I guess. Your kind is always forming covens to serve some greater power. It's hard to keep track of all them."

  "They knew my name and they knew about you? Do you think they are the ones who sent the Hunter after you?"

  "Hunters can be summoned by mortals just like demons, but it showed up only a few hours after I did. It's hard to imagine mortals finding out about me that quickly. It's more likely that the demon was sent by an Overseer capable of tracking your spell. If those guys in the robes are working with him, they are probably just lackeys."

  "Wait," said Morgan. "They can track my spells?"

  "Only that spell you used to summon me. It would have left a trail leading back to you. Sort of like the haze we saw behind the library. Don't worry. The path leading back to you would fade quickly. They would still know you cast a spell, but as more time passes they lose the ability to follow it."

  "But, they already followed it."

  "It's not as bad as it sounds. The Hunter followed it. Nothing else in the underworld would have known where the trail ended, and since you banished it, they'll never know. It's too late now for them to try that again."

  "Can't he just tell them?" asked Henry. His wide eyes swiveled back and forth between Bob and Morgan.

  "Nope," said Bob. "Hunters are an ectoplasmic entity. When they are banished, they return to the void."

  "You mean they are made up of the goo from Ghostbusters," asked Henry.

  "Something like that," said Bob, "and they return to the goo when they are defeated."

  "Cool." Henry laughed and said, "Morgan, your superhero name could be Goo Girl."

  "We're not picking superhero names," said Morgan, "and if we did, it sure as hell wouldn't be Goo Girl."

  "Language," said Henry and Bob at the same time. They both laughed and did a knuckle bump.

  Morgan shook her head, amazed at Henry's ability to deal with all of this. He wasn't freaking out or crying. He was treating this like an adventure, like something out of his video games. He was also asking too many questions. She wasn't ready to admit she summoned a demon to help find him, and if they weren't careful, he'd figure it out on his own.

  "Alright, you two. Settle down. We'll be home in a minute. We can grab something to eat and get cleaned up while we figure out what we should do next."

  "Moda," said Bob. "There isn't much to figure out. Henry's safe. The sooner I head back, the sooner you'll be safe. Those clowns back there were looking for me, not you."

  "No," said Henry. "You can't leave now. I'm just getting to know you, and besides. You and Morgan are like partners. You know, like Batman and Robin."

  "Not Robin," said both Bob and Morgan. Henry laughed.

  "See, you even think alike. You can't leave, Bob," said Henry.

  "I'm afraid I have to," said Bob. "It's the only way to keep you and her safe. I guess you'll just have to be her Robin for me."

  "Bob, is that really what you want? To go back?" asked Morgan.

  "It's not about what I want," he said. "I need to do the right thing. When I arrived here, all I wanted to do was get away, but you gave me an opportunity that I never could have imagined. I got to help you rescue this brave, young man. I got to laugh and feel a cool breeze on my skin. You defended me when it would have been easier to give up. Henry's right. You are a superhero, and I was lucky to be your sidekick for the last 24 hours. Whatever happens next, I'll never forget
what you did for me."

  CH 13 - This Might Sting

  Morgan parked the Explorer behind the house. A light burned in the kitchen, but otherwise her home was dark when she turned off the headlights. It would be good to just sit down and relax for a few minutes with no one chasing her and nothing crazy going on.

  "Alright kids, we're home." She hopped out of the car as Henry and Bob climbed out on the opposite side. Bob struggled with the backpack, but Henry gave him a hand and together they got it out of the backseat. For a second, she considered leaving the tool bag on the passenger seat where Henry had tossed it, but it had her notebook in it and the portal anchor. Bob had grabbed that and tossed it to her as soon as they emerged behind the library.

  She reached across the seat and dragged it toward her.

  "I'm hungry," said Henry. "Can I have a Pop Tart when we get inside?"

  "You can have whatever you want," said Morgan as she locked the car doors.

  "Bob, would you like a Pop Tart too?" asked Henry.

  With the car between them, she couldn't see Bob and Henry, but she had no problem hearing them. "Sure thing, kid," said Bob. Although Morgan didn't like Pop Tarts, her stomach growled at the thought of food. She and Bob had been going non-stop since the middle of last night and she couldn't remember the last time she had something to eat.

  "Bob," she said, "Why don't I order Pizza when we get in. You have to be starving. I know I am."

  "I'm fine," said Bob. "I never get hungry, but I have to confess the thought of a slice of pepperoni pizza sounds great. Do you think they have any root beer? I haven't had a root beer in ages. It would be nice to have one before I go back."

  "Sure, Bob. We'll order root beer too." What was she doing? Pizza and root beer with a side of Pop Tart hardly seemed like a fitting last meal. That's what this was going to be. Once she released him, Bob would return to wherever it was he came from. Hell. He'll go back to Hell.

  She didn't know what to do. Bob was a demon. They lie and cheat and do whatever they need to in order to get what they want. Is that what he was doing now, or was he really different, someone who was looking for redemption? If she sent him back was she condemning him to an eternity of suffering? If she let him stay, would she be putting everyone she cared about at risk? Hell, she thought. Even if he was on the up and up, letting him stay would put everyone at risk. Someone or more likely something would come looking for him.

  First, she would order Pizza and relax. She didn't have to decide right this second what she was going to do, although she really already had. If it came down to protecting Henry or protecting Bob, Henry would win every time. The worst part of that decision is she was pretty sure that's the same one that Bob would make.

  Morgan reached the back porch. The kitchen door was closed. The Hunter had slithered its way under it, so it was exactly the way that she had left it. She turned to look at the yard, but it was too dark to see the spell circle she had spray painted when she had banished the creature. Even though she couldn't see it, she knew it was still there. Just like the door, exactly the way she had left it. Well, she'd take care of that tomorrow. She might kill some grass using the pressure washer, but that would definitely clean up the paint.

  A bright light blared in her eyes. She couldn't see anything but spots.

  "Freeze! This is the police. Don't anyone move." Ignoring the order, she put her hand in front of her face to cut down on the glare. Morgan had recognized that voice, and he sounded mad. He was probably pissed about what happened to his car.

  "Jimmy," said Morgan. "What's going on? Get that light out of my face."

  "Morgan Star, you are under arrest for kidnapping and obstruction of justice and whatever else the D.A. wants to charge you with." The nervousness normally in Jimmy's voice was gone. He was all business now. "Morgan, drop the bag. Get on your knees and put your hands behind your head."

  He shifted the flashlight and focused it briefly on Bob and Henry. "You kids move away from her." As the light shifted, Morgan saw the outline of a gun in Officer Jimmy's hand. He really wasn't kidding.

  Morgan dropped the bag and took a step away from Bob and Henry. She wanted his attention focused on her. Wherever he looked, the barrel of his gun probably pointed, and she didn't want that aiming anywhere near Henry.

  "That's Henry," she said as she raised her hands, placed them behind her head and locked the finger together, just like Jimmy had told her to. "And his friend Bob. Why don't you put that gun away, Jimmy? You're scaring them."

  "Don't try that innocent act with me," said Officer Jimmy. "I saw what you did to my car. I saw the symbols in your backyard. Grams used to tell me story about the witches of Whitebridge, but I always thought she was just making them up to scare me. I was wrong. That's what you are, aren't you? I don't know what sort of satanic ritual you had planned for the kids, but you won't get away with it."

  The police officer took a step forward, keeping the light focused on Morgan's face. "I'm so stupid," he said. "I should have seen it earlier, but whenever I got around you I'd get nervous and clumsy. I wasn't thinking clearly until I saw you blow out my tires. What did you do to me? What sort of spell did you use?"

  "Listen here, Jimmy. I didn't cast any spell on you. When you and the rest of the Whitebridge police force threw in the towels, I was the one who kept searching for Henry. He's safe now because Bob and I found him. You're right. There are witches in Whitebridge, but I'm not the one you need to worry about. You should be going after the one who really did take Henry and leave me alone."

  "Tell it to the judge, lady," said Officer Jimmy. "Get on your knees."

  "She's telling you the truth," shouted Henry. "Morgan saved me from the bad lady. Leave her alone."

  "You're confused," said Officer Jimmy. "It's understandable after what you've been through. Don't worry, Henry. We'll have you back with your mother in no time."

  "Henry, stay out of this," said Morgan.

  "I'm not confused," said Henry. He stomped his feet like he was about to throw a tantrum. Henry hadn't done that in years.

  "Hey," said Officer Jimmy. "Where's your little friend?"

  "Right behind you, numb nuts." Bob might be small, but he still had some strength in those oversized hands of his. He swung a shovel, knocking the gun and light out of Jimmy's grip, and before the officer could scream in pain, Bob swung the shovel again, slamming the blade right into Jimmy's face. The police officer made a gurgling sound and went down like a rock.

  "Holy shit, Bob," said Morgan as she ran toward the two of them. "I had it under control. You didn't need to kill him."

  Bob dropped the shovel and picked up the flashlight and gun. He shined the light in Jimmy's bloody face. Air bubbles burst around his nose and mouth. "He's fine," said Bob, "Just knocked out." The little demon peered a bit closer and prodded at Jimmy's mouth. "Oh... Well... I may have broken his nose and knocked out a few teeth. So, let's go with mostly fine."

  "You knocked out a few teeth? Really? Great." Morgan knelt by Jimmy. Bob was right, he was alive. She grabbed the officer under the arms and started to drag him toward the kitchen door.

  "Bob," she said. "Get the door. Henry, go inside and get the first aid kit." Thankfully, Jimmy wasn't a big guy. It wasn't easy dragging him, but it was better than leaving him out on the ground. Sending Bob back seemed like a better idea with every step. Now she was in real trouble. Morgan could have talked her way out being arrested, but not with a broken nose. Jimmy was going to be really pissed when he woke up.

  "What happened?" At least that's what Morgan assumed he tried to say. He was slurring his words so bad that it was hard to understand what he said.

  "Ah... You tripped over a shovel. Now hush. Let me get you into the house so I can take care of your face."

  He said something else, but she couldn't understand him, and he didn't repeat it. Once again, he was out. He probably has a concussion too. Maybe, she'll get lucky and he won't remember what happened.

  It seemed l
ike hours later but was probably only about five minutes before she had him in the house and on the couch. Henry had grabbed a blanket and spread it over the furniture so that he wouldn't get any blood on it. Apparently, that was a worse crime than knocking out a police officer.

  Bob hovered next to Morgan. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't want him to arrest you. If he took us all in, there would be questions. It would have been bad. Real bad."

  "Look at him, Bob. That's bad. Real bad. We can't BS our way out of this."

  "Yeah," said Bob. "I know."

  "Can't you use your magic to make him better?" asked Henry. "You know, like the Cure Light Wounds spell in Dungeons and Dragons."

  "Huh," said Morgan looking at Bob. "Is that possible?"

  Bob screwed up his face like a toddler about to go poop, otherwise known as his thinking face. He started to say something, then shook his head.

  "Spill it, Bob," said Morgan. "You've got an idea."

  "You're not going to like it."

  "I don't have to like it," said Morgan. "It just has to work. What's your idea?"

  "I don't know of any magic that will let you heal someone, but it is possible to transfer their wounds to another. The person taking on the wound must be a willing recipient. The magic won't work if you force them to do it."

  "Hell," said Morgan, and Henry immediately said "Language" through a mouthful of Pop Tart.

  "So, to fix his face, I have to mess up my own?" Morgan stood up and moved away from Jimmy. She started pacing the room and chewing on her bottom lip while she thought it through. Yeah, Bob was right. She really didn't like it. Morgan never thought of herself as being vain, but the idea of breaking her nose and knocking out some teeth horrified her. As much as she wanted to make this better, she didn't think she could do it.