Host Chronicles Volume 1: Devil's Offspring

by D.L. Cox

  “I won’t,” Nat promised.

  “She likes men,” Lamont muttered to himself as he walked out.

  Nat locked the door and said, “She likes me.”

  Nat had thought a lot about Sheba since they met. He had seriously considered backing out of going to Lamont’s party. The only reason why he hadn’t backed out was because Sheba had agreed to attend. At first he had tried to convince himself that he had to attend because Sheba only agreed to go because he was going, but then he realized he was really looking forward to seeing her again. Now he was both excited and touched by the fact that she invited him to lunch. He skipped to his bedroom like a boy in a candy shop and hopped in the shower. He washed up and did something he had never done before: he sang.

  ***

  Phil, Tess, and Kim sat in PJ’s living room while PJ’s six-foot-four husky frame lay hogtied on the floor. PJ had answered the front door of his Upper Westside, Manhattan condo expecting to sign for a package when Tess knocked him out with a stun gun. Phil then hogtied him and killed him by placing a bag over his head. Everything went according to plan until a demon possessed PJ’s body. The demon that showed up was a true rogue. He refused to cooperate.

  “What are we going to do?” Kim asked.

  Tess got up, kneeled beside PJ, and told him, “Search the human’s mind and give us something we can use and we’ll let you go.”

  “Untie me first,” PJ barked in a demonic sounding voice.

  “No,” Tess said. “Help us and Princess Saleena will grant you the body of your human vessel.”

  “Princess Saleena?” PJ asked astonished.

  Kim stood. “Yeah, she’s summoning an army.”

  PJ thought about it. “I get to stay on earth?”

  “For good,” Phil announced.

  PJ closed his eyes and searched the corners of his mind. “Fine,” he muttered. “There’s a safe built into the floor of the walk-in closet. Just pull back the rug. There’s over four million in cash and a flash drive with a list of locations for some research labs.”

  “What kind of research?” Tess asked.

  “This human isn’t sure,” PJ answered. “But it had something to do with crystal technology and the military or soldiers.”

  “The military?” Kim mouthed.

  PJ explained, “This human was responsible for transporting scientists to secret labs all over the country and making sure they got paid under the table. He’s overheard the scientists talking about how amazing the crystal technology is.”

  Tess thought about Greg and Tarsha. “What about cocaine?”

  “There is no more,” PJ revealed. “This human has cut off all ties with his cocaine and heroin connections.”

  Phil frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “Yes it does,” PJ insisted. “This human has been shifting all resources to the research labs. And all Simon’s human assets have been doing the same. Simon’s about to make a major move with this crystal technology. Now untie me.”

  ***

  Sheba closed up her boutique at noon. She wore a waist length chinchilla coat with matching earmuffs, a blouse and jeans by Louis Vutton, and a pair of knee high boots by Marc Jacobs.

  “Keep it together, Sheba,” she told herself, clutching her Louis Vutton purse.

  Her heart raced and she had butterflies in her stomach when Nat pulled up in a dark green BMW 745Li. Nat got out, walked around the car, and held the front passenger door open for her.

  “Thank you,” she said before climbing in.

  Nat got back in the car and asked, “Were you out there long?”

  “No, I just locked up,” she informed him and nervously looked straight ahead as if to avoid making eye contact.

  Nat stared at her for a moment and then told her, “You look nice.”

  Sheba turned to him. “Thank you.”

  Nat pulled off without another word. He took Sheba to a small restaurant in SOHO. The place was empty and dark when they walked in. Sheba curiously looked around as they stood at the unmanned hostess’ desk.

  “I don’t think they serve lunch here,” she pointed out.

  Nat chuckled, “What makes you say that?”

  “For one,” Sheba said as a matter of fact. “I don’t live far from here, and I’ve eaten here a few times. And two, there’s nobody here. I don’t think they’re open.”

  Nat smiled. “Under normal circumstances you would be correct.”

  A short man in a chef’s uniform walked through the restaurant and greeted Nat with a bright smile. “Mr. Brenner, sorry I kept you waiting.”

  “It’s alright Tom,” Nat said. “And I keep telling you to call me Nat.”

  “Yes Sir,” Tom nodded. “Please follow me.”

  Tom led them to a candle lit table for two. He held the chair for Sheba to sit and then attempted to do the same for Nat.

  Nat waved him off. “Don’t you got some food to cook,” he teased.

  “Just trying to be professional, Boss,” Tom told Nat and then hurried to the kitchen.

  “Boss?” Sheba asked Nat.

  Nat held up his hands in surrender. “I confess. I own a majority stake of this place.”

  “Show off,” Sheba joked. “You wanted to impress me on the first date, huh?”

  Nat stared into her eyes and said, “The truth is that I wanted you all to myself for the afternoon.”

  Sheba shyly looked away. “Stop doing that.”

  “What?” he asked, staring at her.

  “Looking at me like that,” she said, diverting her gaze.

  “I can’t,” Nat admitted.

  “You can’t what?” Sheba asked, looking at him.

  “Stop looking at you,” Nat said. “It’s instinctual.”

  Sheba gazed back into his eyes. “No one has ever looked at me the way you do.”

  Nat maintained eye contact. “I really can’t help it.”

  “I know,” Sheba said, looking deeply into his eyes. “I’ve always had a knack for reading people when it comes to how they feel.”

  “And what do you read in me?” he asked softly.

  Sheba shuddered. “The same thing I felt the first time I looked at you.”

  “And what’s that?”

  Sheba paused and said, “A powerful attraction.”

  Nat reached across the table and took her hand and they both gasped at the other’s touch. It was as if there was something magnetic happening between them. They gazed into each other’s eyes and communicated what couldn’t be expressed in a million words. Tom walked out with two plates of food, and Nat and Sheba stood.

  “Sorry,” Nat told Tom. “Change of plans.”

  Sheba held onto Nat’s hand as they headed out the restaurant. “My place is around the corner,” she told him before she realized what she was saying.

  Nat passed her his car keys. “You drive.”

  Sheba and Nat climbed into the car and pulled off with no idea that Ben was tailing him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tess, Izzy, Saleena, Phil, Kim, and PJ sat at a conference table in an office on the second floor of Saleena’s building. PJ had spent the last hour filling in Saleena and Izzy about the research labs and the scientists. After a brief discussion, Saleena decided to arrange a meeting with Simon. Tess reached out to Stacy and Tracy and scheduled a video conference. A phone sat in the middle of the table and a huge screen covered the wall directly across from the head of the table where Saleena sat. Tess hit a button on the phone and Simon popped up on the screen sitting at his desk with Stacy and Tracy standing behind him.

  “Hey Sis?” Simon greeted.

  Saleena smirked. “What’s up big Bro?”

  Simon noticed PJ and turned serious. “I see you’ve been busy!”

  Saleena laughed. “He’s not who you think he is. I had your PJ choked to death and a demon possessed his bod
y.”

  “Yup,” PJ said. “But I know everything this human knew.”

  Saleena boasted, “I have all the locations of your research labs, and I have detailed information about each scientist you have working for you. Not to mention I high jacked a large sum of money you planned to transfer to the Stanton plant.”

  Simon pounded his fist on his desk. “What do you want?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  Saleena shrugged. “I want a partnership.”

  Simon let out a sinister laugh. “Why would I want to do that?”

  Saleena revealed, “The devil has another seed on earth. I believe he’s been playing us against each other to draw out the Host. We’re decoys for his other seed.”

  Simon considered the possibility. “I’ll see about this so-called other seed. In the meantime, we need to meet in person.”

  “Fine,” Saleena agreed.

  “Good,” Simon nodded. “Call off your assassin.”

  The phone on Stacy’s desk rang and she stepped away to answer it.

  “Assassin?” Saleena asked, looking lost.

  “The human you hired to wipe out my three demon lords at the Stanton plant,” Simon accused.

  Saleena shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Nonsense,” Simon shouted. “You, Tess, and Izzy met with the assassin at her boutique in Manhattan Village. You deny this!”

  Tess said, “We brought clothes from a woman, but she’s only a personal stylist.”

  Simon jumped to his feet. “You lie!” he yelled. “We cannot have a partnership if you are not—” Stacy hurried over to Simon and whispered something in his ear. He cleared his throat and told Saleena, “I’m sorry. Something important has come up. It appears I was wrong about you hiring the assassin. We’ll set up a meeting for later tonight. I’ll know more about the devil’s plans for his other seed by then. Have your security people contact Stacy and Tracy for the location.”

  “See you later,” Saleena said before the screen went black.

  Tess scratched her head. “What was that assassin stuff about?”

  “I don’t know,” Saleena said. “But I’ll find out at this meeting tonight.”

  Tess stood. “If you don’t need me for this meeting, I’d like to make a run to Atlantic City. I had arranged to distribute some of the cocaine we planned on taking from Simon. I want to personally inform my people that the cocaine connection didn’t pan out.”

  Saleena told Tess, “Fine.” She then turned to PJ, Phil, and Kim. “I want the three of you to stay at the Connecticut mansion. I’ll call if I need you.”

  Izzy waited for the others to leave and then asked Saleena, “You trust Simon?”

  Saleena nodded. “First, Simon doesn’t know how much I know about the research he’s been doing with the crystal technology or how many demons I have summoned, so he doesn’t know how much of a threat I really am. But more important, when he confirms the devil really has another seed on earth, I’ll be the only person he can trust. And he’ll need me to survive.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Izzy asked.

  “Because we both know how the devil operates,” Saleena said softly. “Another seed means Simon is expendable.”

  Izzy got up and kissed her on the cheek. “I hope you’re right.”

  “I do to, because the truth is I’ll probably need his help to survive more than he’ll need mine,” she admitted.

  ***

  Things didn’t go exactly as planned for Nat and Sheba. They were heading into Sheba’s building when Nat spotted Ben driving by. Nat abruptly ran back to his car and popped his trunk. Sheba followed looking shocked and confused. She had no idea what was going on but his body language told her it was serious.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked and looked around nervously.

  Nat grabbed the sword, closed the trunk, and threw his arms around Sheba’s waist. “I’ll explain when we get inside.”

  Nat quickly scanned a UPS truck that pulled onto the block and then led Sheba into her building. They didn’t share a word on the elevator ride up to Sheba’s floor, but Sheba turned to Nat for answers the moment they stepped into her loft.

  “Talk,” Sheba ordered.

  Nat rushed to a window overlooking the front of the building. “Give me a minute.”

  Sheba joined him at the window. “You running from somebody?”

  Nat pulled Sheba back a little. “Not exactly,” he muttered. “It’s complicated.”

  Sheba chuckled. “I understand complicated.”

  Nat started, “I had a run in with this, um guy a few days ago. I just saw him.”

  Sheba pointed at the sword. “And you’re going to cut him with a sword?”

  Nat eyed the sword. “It’s complicated.”

  Sheba smiled. “You said that already.”

  There was a knock at the door. Nat started to unsheathe the sword, but Sheba stopped him. She quickly cut across the room, pulled a gun from a gym bag full of guns under her bed, and then tip-toed over to the door with Nat on her heels. Nat stood behind the door while Sheba checked the peephole. It was a UPS delivery person with a cap pulled down low, covering their face.

  “Who is it?” Sheba asked.

  “Special delivery for Sheba Corbin,” a woman replied.

  Sheba stepped back and aimed her gun before motioning Nat to open the door. Nat opened the door and Sheba quickly pulled the woman inside while Nat closed the door.

  “Sheba wait!” the woman yelled.

  Sheba snatched the woman’s hat off and saw that it was Mary. “What are you doing?” Sheba asked.

  Nat looked at Mary and asked Sheba, “You know her?”

  Sheba exhaled, “This is my sister.” She turned to Mary. “What the hell is going on?” Mary sighed, “I don’t have much time.”

  “For what?” Sheba asked.

  “It’s kind of private,” Mary said. “But your friend here is probably already a mark.” Sheba frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  “You botched your last job,” Mary regrettably informed Sheba.

  “No I didn’t,” Sheba protested.

  Mary explained, “They’ve got the entire conference room scene on tape. Thomas has seen it.”

  “Damn,” Nat said. “The stylist business is intense, huh?”

  Sheba ignored Nat, and asked Mary, “The police?”

  “Worse,” Mary declared. “Turns out the job was against Simon Clash’s people.”

  Nat’s eyes narrowed. “Simon Clash?”

  Mary went on as if Nat wasn’t there. “Thomas wouldn’t give up his other client’s identity to Clash,” she paused. “He told Clash you took the job on your own.”

  “He’s after you,” Nat whispered.

  Mary told Sheba, “Clash wants to know who hired you. He probably has somebody watching your place right now. Thomas ordered me and Marcus to stay away from you. Something’s not right with the whole situation.”

  Sheba frowned. “Who did hire us for the job?”

  “I don’t know,” Mary said. “I also don’t know why Thomas is covering for him.” She hugged Sheba, “Look, I have to get out of here. If I find anything out, I’ll let you know.”

  Sheba nodded. “Thanks.”

  “Be safe,” Mary said before leaving.

  Nat locked the door behind Mary and then told Sheba, “I was wrong.”

  “About what?” Sheba asked.

  “That guy I told you about. He wasn’t following me. He was following you,” Nat concluded.

  “Why would he be following me?”

  “Because he works for Simon Clash,” Nat revealed.

  Sheba hurried to the window. “Damn,” she gasped when she saw Ben standing on the corner with three other men.

  Nat looked out the window and spotted Ben and his three friends. “Well, they know we�
�re up here.”

  Sheba walked across the room and dumped the gym bag full of guns on the bed. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this,” she told Nat.

  Nat shrugged. “You didn’t really drag me into anything.” He eyed the guns. “Who are you?”

  “A stylist,” she replied flatly.

  Nat pointed at the guns. “I don’t believe in coincidences. I’ve spent most of my life investigating Simon Clash’s organization.”

  Sheba slapped her forehead. “Oh, god. Don’t tell me you’re a cop.”

  “No,” Nat said. “But I am somebody that can help. I know a lot more about Simon Clash and his people than you. But I can’t help you if you’re not straight up with me.”

  Sheba hesitated before she said, “What do I have to lose at this point?”

  She slowly sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to her. Nat sat beside her and she started to narrate her life story, beginning with how Thomas found her and took her in.

  ***

  Angela was sitting on the sofa when Simon stormed into her apartment and violently grabbed her by the neck and tossed her across the room. She barely recovered when he grabbed her by the neck again and held her up in the air.

  “Why would Nathaniel hire an assassin to take out some of my people?” Simon demanded to know.

  “He wouldn’t,” Angela gasped.

  “He did,” Simon shouted. “You also told me the Host would appear to slay me.”

  “That’s true,” Angela swore. “The Host will appear to slay the devil’s seed on earth.” Simon slowly put her down and backed away with concern in his eyes. “I’ve always assumed I was the devil’s seed.”

  “You are,” Angela said, struggling to catch her breath.

  Simon shook his head. “I am not the only seed on earth.”

  “That is not possible,” Angela said. “Nat’s destiny is to present the sword to the Host and lead the Host to the seed. He’s spent his life tracking you.”

  Simon muttered. “I’m a decoy.” He grabbed her by the neck with one hand. “I have wasted too much time playing your little game. I will kill Nathaniel and take the sword for myself.”

  “But,” Angela started.

  “But nothing,” Simon snapped and pulled the summoning blade from his waist. “Enough of your tricks. Without the sword, the Host cannot receive the message.”