Demon Hunters

by JKMelby74

  “Old mind masking trick I picked up a long time ago. I’ll be in touch.” He calmly walked right out what was left of the front door. I looked back over to Gwen. Lowell was walking away toward the back. Gwen looked over at me like I was an alien. I couldn’t quite translate her emotion. There was anger and rage but also a bitter sadness. She came over to me as soon as Lowell let her go.

  “Gwen.”

  “What was that?”

  “What?”

  “When you turned into that monster! What the Hell was that?”

  “Oh. That.” I realized Gwen didn’t know about me. For all our conversations, I never got around to telling her that I was possessed.

  “Yeah! You just hulked out there.”

  “The thing is; I’m kind of possessed.”

  “Huh?”

  “It’s a long story, but the Cliff’s Notes version is I have a demon inside of me and when certain things happen, it kind of takes over. It’s something I’ve had my whole life. It’s totally in control, but when some big monster starts pounding me, it can get a little crazy. It doesn’t always come out like that, though.” Her face blanked on me.

  “You’re possessed.”

  “Yes.”

  “By a demon.”

  “Correct.”

  “I want to say I don’t believe you, but after seeing what I saw, I can’t.”

  “I’m sorry if I scared you.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”

  “I meant to at first, but it kept slipping my mind.”

  “Could you just give me a second to take this in?” She turned away from me. I could see she was thinking hard about something. I found it interesting how other people could look upon something so common, such as demonic possession, as unusual.

  After a long while, she finally turned back to face me. “This demon. It doesn’t get you to kill people or anything, does it?”

  “No! You don’t think I had anything to do with this, do you?”

  “Of course not! I was there the first time, remember?”

  “So, you’re good?”

  “This is just a lot to absorb.”

  Gwen sat down by me and her eyes landed upon Tyler’s corpse in the middle of the room.

  “What is going on?” She asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You were sure he was dead?”

  “Yes. I guess Jackal dug him back up and...”

  “What?”

  “I know. It’s horrible, but Jackal is that kind of sick.”

  “None of this makes sense.”

  “Maybe it does. I have one theory. Jackal wants me out of the way. What better way to do that than to pin a murder on me? I should be snug in a padded cell before the day is done.”

  “What about Demonica?”

  “She’s the only one who knows how to destroy the dagger. He must have gotten her. Which means right now, he’s holding all the cards.” I then felt Gwen’s hand take mine. I looked over at her.

  “It’s going to be okay.”

  Sometime later, the police were done investigating and Lowell did me the honor of escorting me to one of the patrol cars outside. He stuffed me in the back and slammed the door shut. I looked out at Gwen. She was standing alone outside. I kept my eyes on her as the car pulled back and started down the street.

  “What about Gwen?”

  “She’ll get an escort back to her home. Right now, you should spend all your worry on you.”

  Chapter 29

  The Escape

  It wasn’t like I had never been arrested before, but traditionally I was arrested for laws that I actually broke. I was in the back of the police cruiser and we were speeding along to the nearest station where I was going to be booked for murder and possibly kidnapping and about a half dozen other trumped up charges that were sure to keep me behind bars for the rest of my unnatural life. Demonica was missing and for some unknown reason, Tyler’s body had shown up again and to top off the whole day, the Dagger of Sira was gone too. There have been better days.

  I looked out the window watching the traffic run by. The sun was going down and the sky was changing from blue to purple. The officers in front were speaking to me, but I was tuning them out. I was more worried about Gwen than anything else. The Reborn and Jackal had us on the defensive. They knew our strategy and I could only assume they also knew where Gwen was. Jackal would run out and skin her alive just because he felt like it.

  The car pulled into the front of the station and one of the officers got out and yanked me from the back seat. I looked up at him, but his eyes were dead and expressionless. I had the distinct feeling I was about to enter the company of people who did not have very good senses of humor.

  I was escorted into the station and was surprised to see the lobby was quite crowded. There were teams of convicts all around waiting to get processed. The officer began to direct me along when I heard a loud crashing sound behind us. I turned but before I could see a thing, I was slammed to the floor. I heard a chaotic storm of screams coming from all around me. I flipped over and I saw a large hulking beast standing in the middle of the lobby. It turned and I could see its face. It was some kind of wolf with great big ears and a long, grinning muzzle. Its eyes found me and it stooped down before me. It took hold of my arm and turned me over. I then felt a sudden jolt and then my arms were free. I jumped to my feet and saw that the creature had managed to break my cuffs off. I looked at the monster again and there was something about the eyes that seemed familiar.

  “Venris?” I asked under my breath. It nodded slightly and without any more communication than that, Venris grabbed me, threw me over his shoulders and dashed back out the way he came.

  I could hear gunfire ringing behind us as Venris leapt high up into the air. He landed on top of a nearby apartment building and then climbed down onto a dark quiet street off the main drag. He then sprinted forward leaping over houses and alleyways. He kept to poorly lit areas. I could hear the police cars closing in on us. Venris increased his pace and I could feel the force of his speed. He was moving so fast; I could barely hear what was going on around me.

  Venris was weaving through one street after another and soon I wasn’t sure where we were. As he approached a major freeway interchange, he vaulted over eight lanes of traffic and landed in a cul de sac. He found a safe passage through the neighborhood. The street was under the cover of a thick cluster of tree branches. The sirens had faded in the distance and it seemed we were safe.

  Venris finally stopped and let me down. He stepped back and I finally got to take a better look at him at his full height. Even hunched forward, he had to be almost ten feet tall. His body was thick and his fur was matted and dull. He closed his eyes and he began to transform. He soon stood before me, human and naked and standing in a pile of fur.

  “What are you doing here? I though you went to visit Tyler’s grave.”

  “I did, but when I got there, no body. Someone had come and dug him up.”

  “But how did you know that...”

  “I picked up on Gwen’s scent and found her. She told me everything. I thought I’d be nice and play the cavalry. I don’t know how much this helps. You’re a fugitive now.”

  “Been there. Where’s Gwen?”

  “Back at your place, which is about two blocks north of here,” I was a bit astounded. It hadn’t felt like we had gone that far. I did a quick look around to get my bearings. “I think you can make it the rest of the way without me.”

  “What are you going to do now?”

  “Same as I always do. If you need help, give me a call sometime.” Venris then disappeared into the shadows.

  I ran down the street and turned at the corner. I began to recognize the neighborhood. Venris had brought me close to home. I ran down a few blocks to my street. When I reached my apartment house, I hurried up to my unit where I found Ivar and Gwen huddled in the living room as I walked in. They didn’t seem too surprised to see me.
/>   “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “I’m fine. How are you? We saw the whole thing.”

  “How?”

  “On television,” Ivar added. “We saw your escape until they lost you.” I looked at the TV set and the newscast about my prison break was still on. It seemed to be just the reporter recounting the events of the chase up until Venris disappeared from their cameras.

  “They saw Venris?”

  “It was fuzzy, but yes. I suggest we get out of here because I’m sure when the frenzy dies down, this is the first place they’ll be coming to.”

  “Agreed, but where do we go? What do we do now?” Everything had spun so far out of control in such a small amount of time. I turned away from Gwen and Ivar and did my best to think. Jackal had everything he needed. Morgan’s body, the dagger and Demonica. The cops were after me.

  We took the back roads through the city as we made our way to the Black Flame’s headquarters downtown. It looked dark and deserted from the outside, as usual. There didn’t seem to be much foot traffic so it was an easy matter of breaking in once more. I pushed the door open and was not surprised to find it empty. I wasn’t sure how, but it actually seemed more empty than normal.

  “I don’t sense anyone.”

  “It’s quiet and it’s a good hiding place.”

  “You are not seriously proposing we stay here tonight, are you?”

  “No. The cops aren’t looking for you two. I’ll stay here for now,” I said. “There was a little hotel a few blocks away. Get a room there and we’ll pick this up tomorrow. Ivar. Take her and go. I’ll see you in the morning.” Ivar gently took Gwen by her arm and led her out.

  The door shut behind them and the metallic bang echoed through the dark warehouse. I surveyed the surroundings for a suitable rest spot. There were piles of old boxes and rusted out equipment all along the main floor, but nothing that seemed too accommodating. I thought of checking the break room in back, but I remembered all the bugs in there. I explored further and found a door at the other end of the warehouse. It looked as though it might lead to another office so I took a chance and investigated.

  I peered in and found an old office lounge complete with leather sofa. It seemed to be more intact than the rest of the building. The carpet seemed rather well preserved and the walls weren’t as worn and cracked. I shut the door behind me and tested the couch. It didn’t fall apart when I sat on it and that was just about all I needed to know. I lied down and tried to get to sleep, but I knew the concept of sound sleep was completely ridiculous.

  I sat up and I could hear the faint sound of helicopters high above and sirens rang out gently in the distance. It was a high crime area, so it wasn’t a surprise but it didn’t help that I knew I was a wanted man. Some of those helicopters and sirens were meant for me. I also wasn’t totally sure about my hiding place. If I was charged with finding a man wanted for murder, abandoned warehouses would make the top five list of places I would search first, and that warehouse was fairly prominent. It would not go unnoticed.

  A bright light suddenly flooded in and I dropped to the floor. I crawled toward the window and peeked over to see what was happening. The light was coming from a helicopter hovering above. The light seemed to be staying steady which made me begin to worry. Suddenly, the light vanished and the sound of the helicopter faded into silence. I stood up and sat back down on the couch. I just sat there waiting for the sun to come up.

  An hour passed without incident. I sat there on the couch aware of every little noise and creek in the warehouse. I checked my watch and I still had a good four or five hours to go. I began to feel my eyes grow heavy and before I knew it, I was slumped over, sleeping but nearly five minutes later, there was a banging sound on the door and I jumped up. My blood ran cold. There were no lights and I couldn’t hear any sirens or radios. The door suddenly flew open and I saw Dontavius standing before me.

  “Corba. What are you doing here?”

  “I actually came looking for you. You weren’t here and I kind of needed a place to hide. I hope you don’t mind.” I said as I stood to meet him.

  “Of course not. You do realize I don’t live here, right?”

  “Yeah, I get that. I was just hoping you’d be here. Someone always seems to be here.”

  “Desperate. Can’t say I blame you. Not after that daring police escape.”

  “Bad news really travels in this town.”

  “It was all over the nightly news. What did you want with me?”

  “I need to know what to do next.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Jackal has Morgan, the dagger and Demonica. I don’t know what his next move is.” Dontavius looked at me thoughtfully and then walked over to a small card table sitting in the corner of the room. He pulled a folding chair out in front of him and sat down.

  “I wish I could help you with this, but Jackal’s motives are well beyond my understanding. We were hoping you would be able to anticipate his actions.” I hated the bastard, but I knew Jackal better than anyone else. I was getting rather good at predicting his behavior, but somehow I was off my game. Or he was off his.

  “Since Jackal has everything he needs, we can only assume that he will be going through with bringing Morgan back,” I said. “Only he, The Reborn and Demonica know how to do that now. If I knew, I’d know where to find Jackal.”

  “Perhaps you know someone else who would know?”

  “I don’t really know many people who can raise the dead. I mean to do something like that you’d have to be...” I suddenly stopped. A sharp pain stabbed through my head, like razor wire cutting through my brain. Once the pain faded, I suddenly realized there was one last chance, but it was risky.

  “Yes?” Dontavius asked.

  “There is someone else I can ask about Jackal, but I need you to be here. Could you do that?”

  “I suppose so.”

  The stabbing ache in my head came rolling back. I winced in pain as it tore through me. I closed my eyes and forced my mind to fight it, but that just made it worse. I heard more police helicopters in the distance and I knew I didn’t have a lot of time. I cleared the floor in the middle of the room and sat down into my meditation pose.

  “Whatever I do or say, do not touch me. Understood?”

  “Yes. What exactly are you doing?”

  “Meditating. Usually when I feel stuck like this, I just need to clear my mind. That way I can talk with the demon. It usually has a bit more insight when it comes to situations like this.”

  I tried to blank out my mind, but something kept nagging at me. Every time I felt I was finally doing it, another pulse of brain activity shot through and broke my concentration.

  “Interesting.” Dontavius said. I looked up at him. He was still sitting across from me, regarding me as a parent might a small child.

  “I’m doing this to help everyone, you know.”

  “It doesn’t seem to be working.” I felt compelled to shoot back at him, but he was right.

  “I just can’t get clear. I don’t know what the problem is.” I stood up from my pose.

  “I think I may know.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Enlighten me.”

  “Must I? I’d think the answer would be clear, even to you.”

  “Humor me.” Dontavius just smiled at me and stood up from his seat.

  “Why aren’t you with your friends? Why are you here, hiding like some lowly rat?”

  “It’s for their safety.”

  “And?”

  “That’s it.” I went back to my meditation pose, intent on breaking through my mental barrier.

  “Guilt has nothing to do with it?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You still feel guilty over Tyler’s death. You’ve been blaming yourself since it happened.”

  “So what if I have? It was my fault.”

  “No argument here. I just think that may be the distraction that
is keeping you from fully concentrating on your meditations.” I looked back at him as I realized he was talking about things I did not share with him.

  “How did you…?” He smiled at me.

  “You forget what I am. I can read your thoughts like the Sunday paper. I see everything that’s happened to you running through your brain. I know what happened at the airport. I know Jackal spoke with you and I know why you did what you did. You were desperate. I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision for you to make.” I unfolded my legs and stood up.

  “It wasn’t.” I turned my back to Dontavius.

  “But, as with all choices, there were consequences.”

  “I’ve never let anyone die before. I swore a long time ago I would never sacrifice one life for another.”

  “Tragic as it was, your motives were understandable. I’m sure, knowing Tyler as I did, he does not blame you.”

  “I doubt that. For now, the most I can do is to finish what Tyler began and stop Jackal, and right now, I can’t even do that.” I felt the weight of my words settling upon my shoulders. I sat back down on the couch as Dontavius paced across the room and I could tell he was deep in thought. He stopped suddenly and turned to me with a look of revelation.

  “I just had a thought.”

  “What?”

  “If Jackal is working with the Reborn as you say, it’s more than likely they have taken the dagger to their nest.”

  “Nest?”

  “Yes. You don’t think they walk around all day and night do you? They usually find a place to hide out. It varies greatly, though. They are a nomadic group.”

  “Do you know where they are now?”

  “I know a place they might be. I cannot say with any certainty, but it would be worth checking on, wouldn’t it?”

  “I guess it would.” Dontavius pulled out a slip of paper, scribbled something on it quickly with a pen from his lapel and handed it to me.

  “In the morning. For now, you must rest.” I looked down at the paper and saw an address written on it. I looked back to Dontavius, but he was already gone.

  Chapter 30

  Stakeout