by Aline Riva
Owen sobbed again.
“Shit... Oh, shit what have I done? He's still breathing...I'm going to call an ambulance...”
“No!” she yelled, and then he heard a brief struggle and a thump that sounded like Melody hitting the floor as she gave a cry of pain.
“Stay there!” Owen said sharply in a voice cracked by tears, “It was a mistake, I'm getting help...I changed my mind, I don't want him to die!”
Then the scene faded out, Drake blinked and he was back in the front room with Cherry as the firelight flickered warmly, her head was still turned. He gave a sob and his grip on the china mug slipped, sending it crashing to the wooden surface of the table, where the mug shattered and tea spilled. Cherry looked around at Drake. His face was streaked with tears.
The mess on the table could wait. That was Cherry's first thought as she got up and went over to Drake, moved the table aside and knelt in front of him, put her arms around him and held him tightly as he buried his face in her shoulder and wept. With every sob, for every moment he clung to her, she felt a strange sense of relief because she had guessed he had remembered everything – she had caught the haunted, shocked look in his tearful eyes, at least now he would be able to name his killer, now they would have a bargain to make with the demoness...
It was a while before Drake calmed down, even then after his tears had stopped he was shaking, the look in his eyes made her heart ache to see such deep hurt at such a terrible betrayal. He spelled it out right away, as soon as he found the strength to speak again:
“It was Owen. And Melody, she was in on it too! They wanted my money. They wanted the museum! He was my best friend, I forgave him for so much, even when he slept with my fiancée -”
“He was the friend she cheated with?”
“It's in the past.”
“And now what, he's with Melody? The two of them planned this?”
“He watched me collapse. He said it was for the money, he said he'd been poisoning me for six weeks... she extracted the poison from a rare plant. He watched me get worse and worse but right at the end he changed his mind, Cherry! He regretted it. I heard him say so, he was crying!”
No sympathy for Owen reflected in her gaze as she shook her head in disbelief.
“But he planned it for six weeks, he poisoned you slowly and sat back and waited for it to work! You can't pity him! Hand him over to the demoness and this is over!”
He blinked away tears as he took hold of her hands and looked into her eyes. In that moment all her hopes for a future with Drake seemed about to plunge into a hole as deep as hell itself as she realised he held nothing but compassion for his killer.
“Listen Cherry, Owen hasn't had an easy life. I've been his best friend for so many years I've lost count. We made a good team, too – he was good for the business – most of the time! I forgave the affair. I only limited his control over the finances after he made a few bad mistakes. I had to put the museum first. I am shocked at what he did, but you didn't see the look in his eyes when he saw me dying on the floor. I saw it! He regretted it, if he could have gone back and changed it, he would have!”
“And what about Melody?”
More tears blurred his vision and as he blinked they ran down his face.
“She just wanted me out of the way. She never cared about me!”
“Neither did your best friend!” Cherry said firmly, gripping his hands tighter and locking with his gaze as she told him a truth he could not bear to hear:
“He was not your friend, he wanted you dead. He regretted it because he was afraid of getting caught! They were in on it together, two people you trusted, Drake! Are you going to let the demoness come back and drag you to hell just so those sorry bastards get to live and spend your money?”
Her words had been harsh, but they were solid truth and although it was the last thing he wanted to hear, murder being something that did not come to him easily, he had to agree because he knew she was right.
“No, it's not what I want. I just want my life back!”
“Then we will take it back,”she vowed, “This is what we're going to do, Drake – first, we call Raine Zinck and tell him we need his help. Then we go to the museum and I ask Owen and Melody to meet me there – we'll get Raine to call up the demoness if she hasn't already followed, and then she can have them both – two souls of murderers, that's more than enough payment to keep you in this world for the rest of the life you should have had! We can do this, okay?”
He was thankful to be holding on to her hands as he looked into the eyes of the woman he loved, right now the only source of his strength as he nodded in agreement.
“Yes, you're right,” he said in a hushed voice, “We will do this – we have to, there's no other way...”
Chapter 9
Raine Zinck had been busy, mainly spending his time devoted to pleasures of the flesh - but he had not forgotten that a woman at the museum had used black magic to bring the owner back to life because she was in love with him. That was something that was pretty hard to forget, that a corpse had been restored to life. Mainly it was the part about the demon that haunted him, while the streets were lit up with seasonal cheer and kids went door to door singing Christmas carols, he had it on his mind that someone with no occult experience had messed with dark forces to bring their loved one back to life. Demons were hard to forget at the best of times, especially at this time of the year when it was all about light and warmth and the coming of the new year. Instead, he had a demon on his mind...
Raine was snoozing in bed when he heard his phone ring. Tatiana picked it up and then passed it to a girl whose name he couldn't recall who had stayed over for the Yule celebrations and was yet to leave. They were both in his bed and it had been a good morning and an even better start to the afternoon...
“Thanks,” he said wearily, taking the phone as he turned on his back and tried to avoid eye contact with the other one because it would be embarrassing to admit to a woman he had screwed multiple times in less than a day, that he had forgotten her name.
”Hello...” he said, sounding as tired as he felt.
Then he heard Cherry's voice on the other end of the line and suddenly all trace of sleep was gone. As she explained what had happened he sat up sharply, pausing to push the nameless woman away from his body as she slid under the covers.
“Not right now, no thank you... No! Oh no, not you, Cherry... Listen, are you sure about this? He's actually remembered who did it? Is he certain?”
“He's very sure,”Cherry replied, “And he's devastated.”
“He would be...”
Tatiana was running her fingers through his hair.
“Stop it, I'm busy, this is serious!” he said sharply.
“Stop what?” asked Cherry.
“Never mind, I was talking to a friend.. Listen, I'll meet you at the museum in one hour. Best if we do this in daylight, and get it over with. I know what to do. I'll explain everything when I get there. And I don't actually want to be doing this, by the way – I just feel I should. It seems to be the right thing to do, the only thing I can do to help. Tell Drake not to worry. I'll be along shortly.”
He ended the call then climbed over Tatiana, got out of bed naked and looked back apologetically at the two women in his bed.
“Sorry ladies, I have to go. Keep the bed warm for me!”
He gave them a wink and then headed off to the bathroom to freshen up, but as he reached the doorway, now his back was turned his expression changed to one of seriousness as worry darkened down his gaze. He closed the bathroom door, locked it and leant against it as he fought off a rising sense of dread that was building inside him at the thought of facing a demon.
“Why me?” he muttered, “It's a bloody demon, why do I have to deal with it?”
Then he turned on the shower and stepped inside, hoping the hot water would be reviving enough to help him focus on getting his mind straight and his nerves steady.
He wondered if perh
aps on some level he wanted this challenge even though it terrified him, maybe it was because he knew there were very few mortals on this earth understood how to take on a creature from hell. Possibly it was because he was a good bloke who just wanted to help even though the demon terrified him. But what ever his true reason was, Raine wasn't entirely sure of it, all he knew for certain was that he wanted to get this done and finished with and then go back to having a nice, pleasurable, risk-free existence once more...
On arriving at the museum, Drake paused by the locked doors and looked back at the empty parking area. One glance at him told Cherry he was not seeing here and now but thinking to a far off time, when life had been so much easier before all the pain and the heartbreak and the terrible fate he had suffered had changed everything.
“Let's go inside,”she said, gently touching his arm, “It will be okay, Drake. It ends today.”
He met her gaze as doubt reflected in his eyes.
“It could end badly.”
“No,” she said firmly, “Not for you. Keep remembering you didn't deserve any of this. But Owen and Melody deserve everything they have coming. There is no way you can justify giving up your second chance of life and being taken down to hell for all of eternity just to let your murderers live. You can't do that, we both know it. This is the only way.”
He gave a heavy sigh and stepped back, she unlocked the doors and then went inside but he lingered there for a moment, glancing over to the empty parking area recalling times past, happier days in summer weather, days that he would never look back on again without recalling the two people who had been closest to him and the terrible betrayal caused by both of them, a betrayal that had tainted his life and would taint it for ever more. It was not something he could forget even if he could forgive – nor could he forget the fact that he was about to hand them both to a demon, that was something he could never wipe from his mind, either. He was sure this day would haunt him as much as his own murder would, for the rest of his days in this restored, darkly enchanted life...
Drake joined Cherry in the entrance hall, the door closed behind him and then he glanced at the clock. It was almost three in the afternoon and Raine would be along shortly.
“I still keep thinking this is wrong – it's murder! What makes this any less of an evil than what they did to me?”
“Being philosophical about it won't stop the demoness from taking you to hell with her. Just remember who deserves to make that trip, Drake. Keep on remembering – because this is the only chance you get to save your life. Evil won't be reasoned with – it can only demand a price. We both know that, we looked into her eyes and there was nothing there! That creature is demanding to be fed!”
Everything she had just said made horrible, undeniable sense as truth. His face paled as he nodded.
“I know that,” he replied quietly, “But maybe it's a good thing I'm finding this so hard to do – I'm nothing like Owen or Melody. I'm not a killer.”
“And this doesn't make you a killer!” she reminded him firmly, “It's up to the demon – not you. The only say you have in this, is whether you choose to save your own life or not. You got it back thanks to me - now you need to hold on to it. Just remember they had no right to poison you in the first place.”
“It still hurts,” he admitted as he looked about the vast hall, recalling the years he and his best friend had worked side by side on his life long dream, “I mean, to think someone who was that close to me could have planned it for all that time and slowly poisoned me...Every time I think about it I feel so angry, so hurt...” he blinked away tears as he shook his head, “Seeing him again, after knowing all I've remembered... I feel devastated.”
“Not as devastated as they will be when they see you alive and well,” she reminded him, “Just stay strong. Remember what they did to you. One look at that demon when it shows up should be enough to remind you how much you want to live!”
Then the door opened and Raine walked into the hall. He was dressed all in black and by the small flakes that stood out on his dark coat and started to melt now he was out of the cold, it seemed the snow had started to fall again – a very light flurry from the last of passing clouds. He took off his coat and hung it up, then ran his fingers through his hair to brush off droplets of melted snow.
“We're going to play this as safe as we can,” he said as he looked to Drake and then Cherry, “Call Owen and Melody, make sure they both come over. While you're waiting for them Cherry, I will be preparing the ritual to summon Ezaroth. There will be a large salt circle at a distance from the first that you cast for the resurrection – you must both stay inside that circle as a precaution – if one or both of the guilty party make a break for it and you run too, an angry demon would find it hard to distinguish which soul was on offer and which was not – and would take the nearest within its reach. When they turn up I want you to stay out there, Drake – in the room beyond the archway, in the circle – don't come out, wait for Cherry to join you. As soon as she leads them into that room and they see you, they will know they've been caught. We need the demon to be ready and waiting.”
Drake's face was still pale.
“Will it be horrible? I mean, will she eat them?”
He shook his head.
“I don't know, I've never had the misfortune to have to deal with a creature like this one before. I would imagine it won't be pleasant. It might be best if you both look away – you want to walk away from this with as little trauma as possible. Once the demon has the two souls she should be more than satisfied and very easy to dismiss. But this is dangerous. You must both do exactly as I say.”
Cherry nodded. Drake glanced at him nervously.
“I just want this over with,“ he said in a hushed voice.
“Then you need to move this plan along – Cherry, give Owen a call. Mention that Melody needs to be here too and it's urgent. Leave the rest to me, I'll go and set up the ritual.”
Then he walked off, heading for the archway and the darkened room beyond.
Cherry looked to Drake as a sudden thought hit her that she didn't have a clue what excuse she could think up to get both of them over here so urgently.
“What do I say?” she wondered as she drew her phone from her pocket.
Drake no longer looked pale. He had been thinking over all that he knew, he had considered all that Cherry had said, and now his eyes reflected sorrow but a firm resolve to see this through.
“Put your phone away, use the office phone,” he told her, “We don't know if that thing from hell will leave the bodies behind. Tell Owen you need to see him here, right now – with Melody. Tell him you know everything. He'll soon show up then.”
As Cherry made the call, her throat was tight. In the darkened room through the archway, Raine was preparing the area to summon the demon. She didn't imagine it would take much effort after the way it had pursued them the day before... It had also crossed her mind that once she told Owen that she knew about the murder, he would certainly turn up here with Melody – the pair of them would want to kill her. She felt sick as the ringing tone stopped and Owen spoke up.
“Cherry?” he said in surprise, recognising the number, “Why are you calling me from the office? Is there a problem?”
She gripped the phone harder but it did nothing to stop her hand from shaking.
“Yes, there is a big problem. I know you and Melody killed Drake.”
There was a shocked silence and a long pause and in that pause her heart hammered as she waited for his response.
“I...I don't know what you mean...”
“You poisoned him. Melody helped you. I know you did it to get him out of the way because this place makes a lot of money and you were sick of being controlled financially. You're a murderer, Owen. You killed your best friend and I want you and Melody here at the museum right now!”
He laughed nervously down the phone.
“You have no proof! And I'm not walking into some kind of a trap. I do
n't doubt you called the police and told them about your crazy fantasy! You're grieving, Cherry. Get some perspective!”
“I have proof,” she added, now sounding stronger as she worked towards her goal, “And I haven't been to the police – that's not part of my plan. You inherited the museum and a lot of money on Drake's death. I want half of it. You'd better be here within the hour!”
Then she hung up the call. As she put the phone down, she breathed in and out unsteadily as she fought off a wave of panic. She had just threatened to blackmail the pair of them. Of course they would be on their way – they would be here fast – to kill her...
Cherry was still feeling shaken up as she went through the archway and into the darkened room where most of the spotlights had been turned off, leaving the light focused only on the large summoning circle Raine had created in the middle of the room. The other circle where Cherry had stood to resurrect Drake had been recreated with another, thicker layer of salt and as she watched, Raine took minutes to draw the intricate symbols on the five pointed star to call up the demon – something that Cherry recalled had taken her a long time, yet he did it with no reference to diagrams. Seeing this gave her a little more confidence in his ability to handle Ezaroth despite how tense he seemed as he stepped back from the circle, inspected his work and then began to set out the candles, accidentally knocking one over in the process and swearing under his breath.
“He said he's on his way,” she announced, and as Drake saw fear in her eyes and heard it clear in her voice he moved from the window where he had been watching Raine set up the ritual and joined her, taking hold of her hand as he stood beside her.
“Don't be scared,” he told her, “Neither of them will get a chance to harm you, they'll have me to deal with if they try anything at all!”
Raine got up from the floor, the circle now completed.
“No, they won't have you to deal with,” he said, looking around at Drake, “You have to stay in the circle no matter what happens – you both do, or all four of you could wind up being chased by a soul hungry demoness.”