Demon at War (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 3)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

Mike repeated what Demon streamed to him with amusement. Denny shifted into a fighting stance, shifting in a circle as if looking for an attack. He straightened finally with a grin and shrug. “I don’t see anything, D.”

  “I think Fluffy may want us to have his back in an immoral way,” Mike replied. “You could have confided in us, D, but instead you chose to make an illicit visit to Abby the Irish Setter without a warning.”

  “How could I know that witch was home today instead of at work where she belongs,” Demon replied, pacing around the picnic table while watching the parking lot. “Oh crap! Here she comes, boys. If you have a plan to keep me from having to rip her throat out you better step up, CD! She hit me with a broom… me… she hit me!”

  Mike had lost all semblance of seriousness as he was bent over at the waist, howling in laughter. He managed to stutter out Demon’s communication, sending Denny into his own bent at the waist enjoyment of the situation, fending off the nipping Demon unsuccessfully. In seconds, Denny was rolling around on the ground with Demon exacting penance, while also yanking at him in an effort to move him toward the parking lot. Demon resorted to dragging Denny by his pants leg while urging Mike.

  “This is not a joke, damn it! I could be locked in the canine calaboose!”

  It was then Mike noticed Abby’s owner rounding the park restroom with her broom in hand, shaking it at Mike. “Uh… what did you do to this woman, Fluffy? What’s she yellin’, Den?”

  Demon allowed Denny to roll to his feet. “It sounds like you’re toast. Man, D, that is one pissed off woman. Maybe we better make a run for it, Mike.”

  “Now you’re talkin’ Frodo. That lady’s nuts.” Demon headed for Mike’s Chevy.

  “If I don’t run from ghoul faced Haunts, I sure ain’t runnin’ from a middle aged woman with a broom.” Mike walked out to meet the gesturing woman striding toward him with his hands in a calming motion palms out. “Calm down, ma’am. I can’t understand what you’re saying.”

  So mad by the time she reached Mike, it looked like she would actually take a whack at him. To his credit Mike trusted his reflexes. Seeing the rage distorting her face, Mike came to a halt with his arms at his sides, not wanting to frighten or confront her with any threatening motion. He knew he could foil any attack she could muster with a broom.

  “Please put the broom down, ma’am. Let’s talk this out,” Mike urged as a reluctant Denny walked slowly to his side.

  “I warned you! I’m going to kill that damn mongrel of yours!” Red faced and panting like a freight train, the woman tried to maneuver around Mike to get at Demon, who was peeking out from around Mike’s rear tire.

  Mike blocked her way. “I’m not going to allow you to harm my dog, ma’am.”

  The woman did a double take at Mike, as if seeing him for the first time. Her hands dropped, allowing the broom to be retained in her left. “You…you’re that kid in this morning’s papers carrying an FBI agent to safety. It was you and the dog that saved the Kinsler girl?”

  “We helped. That’s Demon over there hiding behind my rear tire. He and I help the police. When they have someone missing locally, they sometimes ask our assistance.”

  The anger drained out of the woman completely, her eyes focusing beyond Mike or the situation. “If Abby had your dog’s puppies, would you certify they were his by allowing a DNA test?”

  “Sure, but-”

  “I read in the article about you and your dog being on some reality show on that weirdo network. Abby would be famous and the puppies worth a fortune if your show’s a hit.”

  “I guess that might be true, ma’am. We’ll be happy to give you a DNA sample if Abby has puppies. I’ll sign a certificate if you’d like also,” Mike promised.

  “I already have your phone number,” the woman said, turning back the way she’d come, her broom dragging behind her.

  “She may have a point, Mike. D’s kids would be worth a fortune. I wonder if he can actually father any, since he is definitely different,” Denny said.

  “He already told me he lives as long as we do, so it might be he can’t mate with an earth dimension dog. Hey, you big chicken! Come on out here. You’re embarrassing us,” Mike called out to Demon.

  Demon immediately raised onto his hind legs, lifted his left paw, and clamped it with his right in his version of ‘up yours’. That got a laugh, but Mike motioned him over impatiently. Demon sauntered over, not wanting to give his human comrades any indication their enjoyment of his discomfiture with Abby’s owner spilled over into their relationship with him. Mike cut to the chase, informing Demon of their planned united front with the media, and Denny’s theory about Haunt history. All levity left Demon’s countenance as Mike spoke.

  “I’m no history buff, but I can think of a few instances just in my lifetime that would fit Frodo’s theory. It makes me wonder how many people in the upper echelons are carrying Caspers on your world already.” Demon paced around for a moment, clearly bothered by Denny’s suppositions. “Damn it, I like it here. I love you guys. We have to kick this Haunt kill operation into high gear. I can’t wait until me and you go over and hose those suckers down. We have to find out quick if we can launch a real war across dimensions.”

  “That’s how Denny and I figure it too. We have the FBI with us on this, so we’re hoping it will be soon. Do you have any thoughts on our media handling problem?”

  “Think about it, Cap. We’re talking about your world at risk and yet we have to deal with your news media? Freedom of the press takes a hit when they have no conception of common sense and logic.

  “You’re talkin’ to the choir,” Mike replied, and relayed the conversation to Denny.

  “Hey, CD, your newsmakers are here.” Demon went into his pointer stance towards the parking lot where a news van arrived. “I hope you brought your A game to the park today, Cap. Oh man, look at the way that news broad leaped out with her microphone held like a sword. She means business. Juice her, Cap, juice her.”

  Mike started a sarcastic telepathic retort, only to hesitate and look at Denny with a conflicted grin. “D wants me to juice her.”

  Denny laughed. “Oh hell yeah, let the darkness flow, CD. We’re up to our eyeballs in unknown crap. One thing is known – you got the juice. I say spread it around. I want to see her face go slack like she just woke from a summer’s nap.”

  Demon snorted his amusement, nodding his head in agreement. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about.”

  “I’m going for it. Don’t say anything. I’m going to try and alter her attitude without the touch. Stay a little behind me.”

  Demon moved behind Mike’s left leg and Denny stepped a foot behind Mike to the right. The woman reporter with a local station’s logo jogged straight at Mike, her cameraman hustling to stay alongside her while figuring the best angle to achieve a clear clip. He picked a position where his four targets were in the camera’s eye but still allowing close-ups between Madge Thayer the reporter, and Mike. When Mike saw Thayer reach a few yards away, he clenched his right fist and bore down on her with everything he had, his concentration locked on her face to the point her surroundings began to blur. It buckled her knees.

  “Mama Mia,” Denny whispered as Demon pranced in a circle, snorting.

  When Thayer straightened with her cameraman running over to find out if she was okay, it became clear to him she had no idea where she was. Thayer looked around at the park, the microphone in her hand, her companion, and finally at the teens and their dog. Nothing jolted her into any realization of what she was standing there for. Thayer was an increasingly popular reporter doing local bits for Channel 5 News. In her late twenties, with blonde hair, and a model’s figure, she was a rising star. Her ambition had already catapulted her into a nightly spot during the evening news.

  Denny stared at the befuddled reporter with fear creeping into his consciousness. He felt goose-bumps pop out on his arms, and a tingle at the back of his neck as if something was crawling there. “Mike, did you
just mind wipe that reporter?”

  Mike met Denny’s fearful look with a shrug. “Sorry, but this is an inexact science. She seems to know who her cameraman is, so I think she’s okay.”

  Demon head butted Mike’s leg. “Damn, Cap, that was impressive. Have you thought about trying out the juice on a Haunt?”

  “I am now,” Mike replied out loud repeating Demon’s suggestion to Denny. “Boy, she’s really feeling the burn. Let’s get the hell out of here before she remembers what’s going on.”

  Demon and Denny followed Mike’s lead to the car, but Thayer’s cameraman jogged over between them and Mike’s Chevy. “Hey guys, we’re with Channel 5 News. We’d like to interview you for the evening news on Demon Inc’s participation in the rescue of Tina Kinsler. You’ve probably seen my partner, Madge Thayer on the news before. She’s a little under the weather but we really need to get something for our evening spot. Can she lob a couple of softballs at you and get a five minute piece?”

  “Sure,” Mike agreed. “Are you interested in our SyFy Channel features with the inter-dimensional attacks from what we call Haunts?”

  The cameraman glanced back at the slowly recovering Thayer, who was talking animatedly on her cell-phone. He turned his attention back to Mike. “Look, I’m not really aware of the inter-dimensional warfare angle. I’ll level with you. As I understood it coming over here, we were going to explore your rising star individually. Your picture on the front page carrying that FBI agent to safety has gone viral across the nation. Everyone wants to know who you are.”

  “That’s the angle we’re not interested in. What’s your name?” Mike stuck out his hand. “I’m Mike Rawlins.”

  The cameraman shook with Mike. “Clark Falcroft. I don’t know what happened to Madge, but I know she wanted to pursue the solo angle you seem more and more finding yourself in.”

  Mike shook his head. “I have a team behind me I depend on every time I’m called into a case, or we go out on a mission against the Haunts. Not to mention Demon, my dog we named our outfit after because without him, we’d be a bunch of high-schoolers without a clue.”

  “I believe you. Want to take a shot at some of Madge’s questions so it can make the broadcast.”

  “Yeah, but I don’t think your partner’s doing so well. She just went toward the bathroom. Maybe it would be better to schedule this for another time.”

  “She’ll be fine if you can just hang on for a few more moments. Madge was amped on it this morning all the way over here. She figured you’d be thrilled singling yourself out after those headlines and picture of you got published.” Clark kept glancing toward the Bonaire Park restroom. “Listen. Stay here guys. I’ll be right back.”

  “You really zapped her, Cap.” Demon watched the cameraman jog to the restroom with all his gear, calling out to Thayer. “What do you have to say for yourself, Captain Darkness, you unfeeling wanker?”

  Mike chuckled and repeated Demon’s input to Denny.

  Denny returned Mike’s amused look with a serious one of his own. “What do you have to say about it, Cap?”

  “Hey, let me get this straight, Frodo – you and Fluffy order the juice, and then when things get a little darker than you like, all of a sudden it’s Mike, you scumbag? What do I have to say about it? I say boo hoo! I get a kick out of media parasites that decide to highlight their career by toasting someone, and then if it doesn’t work out, they pretend to be the victims. Gee, that’s really tough. You campfire girls need to figure out how dirty you want to get your little skirts before slamming me. That decision comes before ordering the juice, not after.”

  “Sorry, Mike, I didn’t mean it that way,” Denny said. “I shouldn’t have made a joke out of this. I took my cue from Fluffy. I won’t do that again.”

  Demon immediately went into a snarling retort with Denny backing away, his hands held in a placating motion, trying and failing not to laugh. “You’re about to become a tasty treat, Frodo! I don’t care if CD blasts the broad into a mental ward.”

  Mike took a folded arms, grinning posture at Denny warding off Demon. “Okay, okay… enough of the playacting. Here comes our intrepid reporter and her cameraman. Let’s go with our original media plan with her.”

  “No more juicin’ though, right Cap,” Denny asked.

  Mike pointed warningly at Denny. “Careful Frodo. You should keep in mind, what I did to Thayer a few minutes ago, I can do to you. Want a little taste? It’ll grow hair on your little hobbit chest.”

  “No thanks, CD. Me and Fluffy have your back, right Fluff?”

  Demon yanked Denny’s right leg out from under him, spilling him flat out on the sidewalk. “I got your back, Cap, but tell Frodo here, he’s on his own.”

  “Let’s hold this therapy session on our own time, my brothers. For now, let’s see how far my juicing actually worked. She looks a little more clear headed now. Don’t be hatin’ but I’m going to try a little something.”

  Denny and Demon exchanged worried looks with Denny voicing the first verbal response he knew both of them shared. “Uh oh.”

  “Mike Rawlins!” Thayer cast a questioning look at Denny as he scrambled to his feet while she shook hands with Mike. “I’m really sorry about zoning out on you. I’m interested in finding out more about your ambitions to star on the SyFy Channel’s paranormal specials coming up. Quite the public introduction this morning with your picture in the headlines carrying an FBI agent to safety.”

  Mike put out his hand. “Hi, you’re Madge Thayer, right?”

  When Thayer shifted her microphone and shook hands with Mike, he concentrated a simple line of thought concerning the immediate danger a Haunt attack across dimensions would mean. Again, he held nothing back, but Mike focused his complete attention in the explicit theme of Haunt danger. Thayer’s face went blank at Mike’s grip, with her body jolting slightly at his touch. Mike held on to her gently but firmly, smiling as he felt their connection. He released her and Thayer stumbled back for a moment.

  Her cameraman put a hand on her shoulder as it became apparent she wasn’t going to continue. “Madge? Are you okay?”

  Thayer met his worried stare with some confusion highlighting her features. She smiled reassuringly. “I’ve got this, Clark.” Thayer turned back to Mike. “I understand this attack by these ‘Haunt’ monsters through portals, intentionally created by ignorant humans, is putting our whole world at risk. Can you give us any details about these potent threats?”

  Mike put on his delighted face, only partly marred by the Haunt scar. “I’m glad the media is taking an interest in this finally. We are at risk, Ms. Thayer. I know how hard it is to believe, but people have opened portals between dimensions that have allowed these monstrous creatures to not only enter our world, but to take over human beings. I’m part of a team that is combating these invasions with the help of my dog, Demon. He actually escaped a Haunt dominated dimension where his world lost their war with the Haunts. Denny Stossle here has created the weapons we use to combat these creatures.”

  Mike put an arm around Denny and Demon jumped to a spot right in front of them on cue. “We’re a team along with the rest of our Demon Inc members. If part of our team was missing, I’d be dead. We have an intricate battle procedure when we engage a Haunt attack where they’ve managed to invade a home in the hundreds.”

  Thayer ignored the high sign she received from her cameraman as he tried to express his displeasure. “Tell us what regular folks can do to limit these invasions, Mike.”

  “Stay away from any kind of Grimoire, Satanist, or Wiccan summoning or spell books claiming to contact the afterlife. In addition to those, another tragic error already made that led to Haunts taking over humans was the use of spirit boards, or what are commonly known now as Ouija Boards. Check out our specials which will be broadcast on the SyFy channel. They are not fake special effects tricks.” Mike pointed at the scar on his face. “This wasn’t made by imaginary creatures. We also have witnesses to the portal opening
s, and Haunt attacks. Holy water, blessed salt, and Colloidal Silver are deadly to these monsters.”

  Thayer frowned slightly. “The followers of the Wiccan religion will be outraged over being lumped in with Satanists.”

  “You have to understand, Ms. Thayer, this isn’t about making people feel good about themselves. It’s about saving our planet from monsters. Summoning spells in this very vulnerable time can be extremely dangerous. Being politically correct with monsters sporting razor sharp claws and fangs is just plain stupid. It would be comparable to showing solidarity with the global warming movement by going out and hugging a polar bear. The polar bear won’t care if you thing we need more glaciers – they’ll just eat you like a happy meal. The same goes for a Haunt, only a thousand times more dangerous. If you hug a polar bear, it will eat you and leave the rest of us people staying away from them alone. Embrace a Haunt and it will invade your body and mind, using you to bring thousands more of its kind here to destroy us.”

  Thayer’s face took on an ashen tone. Even Falcroft had given up on waving for Thayer’s attention, resigned to film the segment as it happened. “You…you paint a bleak picture, Mike. I’m sure you realize we must leave this in the hands of our viewers as to what they believe is real. In conclusion, have you any official sanctioning of your fight against this invasion?”

  “We have eye witnesses from a government organization who saw firsthand what an open portal to the Haunt world looks like. They also witnessed me removing Haunts from people who had been inhabited by the parasites. If you’d like, we’ll ask the SyFy Channel for permission to allow you and your cameraman on our next operation.”

  The offer stunned both Thayer and Falcroft. “Ah… let me get back to you on that, Mike. That’s a very gracious offer. I would personally love to confirm the viability of what you’ve revealed for us. Is there any comment you’d like to make regarding your saving of Tina Kinsler, and personally saving the life of FBI Agent Alisha Navarone?”

  “Sure. I couldn’t have done it without Demon, Denny, and the rest of my Demon Inc crew. I hope the FBI and Homeland Security will assist us against the Haunt invasion. They will have to, sooner or later. I pray it will be sooner.”