I hear loud voices, you would think they’d have better insulation in this place, and then a gun shot. Before I might have flinched but I have been attacked by my crazed girlfriend multiple times, tried to hold a demon back from killing a shit ton of people, destroyed a building, and so on over the last few weeks this is nothing.
I just lean against the wall, close my eyes, and focus on my hearing. I can’t make out the words but I can tell no one was happy about my demands.
There are more gunshots and I hear shit fall down. Well things are going great in there. If everyone kills each other I really will call some friends and absorb the hoard of treasures in there. Or what is not destroyed in the fight.
It is a few minutes before two people come out. One is the man that led me here. They are both bloody and carrying cases. Which they promptly hand over.
"Here are the full genitals."
I toss the money case over. "Here's the cash for what I ordered."
They open it, take most of it, and toss the rest of the case back to me. So that’s what the second case is for. They aren’t taking my case. Likely worried it is bugged.
"Take this back for your trouble."
"Looks like you had more trouble than I did."
"She was pissed I brought you here. She wouldn’t listen to reason. We had a…altercation."
I don’t care what happened as long as I am getting what I need.
"And this is the real thing?"
"Yes. The whole package so to speak."
"Good. Do you have any contact info in case I need something untraceable again?"
"You want to do business with us?"
I shrug even if I don’t I sell info. I can act as a go between and get a percentage. Plus I can make sure a lot of business goes to tards who won’t know how to use the ingredients they get from these guys.
"Sure. I have clients that would as well. I act as a go between and they pay me a fee. Safer for both sides that way. That’s sort of my job right now."
"We have your email, we will contact you when things are organized."
We shake hands and part ways. I cancel the text summoning demon wrath and text what a productive meeting I had. No answer. The demon does not understand texting, he barely likes using a phone, so likely that means he can’t get Jason to come out and respond to me. One problem at a time though. I have to get back and check in with Brisa…that is harder since she doesn’t have a cell phone. This Sherlock Holmes shit sucks.
I get back home safely glad I rode a motorcycle. A car is much easier to blow up and I wouldn’t put it past any of the shoot up assholes to hold a grudge against me for having a freaking brain.
"Brian I got the branch from the kandarian demon tree."
Brisa sets down next to me as I park. Well that is one more ingredient down. I check my list and the text I got while driving so I can check off everything they got. We have all the herbs, Jason and the demon are coming home after collecting belladonna, Alstonia scholaris (also known as the devil tree), Cassytha (devil's twine), henbane (devil’s eye), monkey puzzle tree bark, and Brugmansia also known as Angel's trumpet. Ironic a plant with the name angel in it is used for demonic contracts.
"Great. The boys…boy…Jason and his demon parasite have gathered all the other herbs and plants needed. They are on their way home now. They found a smuggler willing to get them and their plants back no questions asked for a reasonable price. And I got a partial refund on my purchase due to an unfortunate incident."
"Should I ask?"
"Do you really want a detailed account of me picking up the genitals of a holy man?"
She laughs shaking her head.
"I think I am good."
"Alright let's report to Charlotte. We need to find out if she has any leads on the witch bottle or the codex gigas page we need."
"I asked around about both. My people will contact me if there are any leads. The leaders are unhappy I am helping, but I made it clear what the demon could do if not bonded with someone that could control him. He wants to be with Beth and won't cause issues. They are willing to hand over an artifact or two if need be. So everyone's homes are being searched."
That will make us all some enemies but hell we are already down the rabbit hole. I can clink a glass to getting shit done….even if the process and end result creep the hell out of me.
The whole supernatural community is coming together to do this…no one wants a loose pissed off demon. Making it happy is far more important. I would like to think this will lead to us being able to cooperate better in the future but I know better. Everyone is going to be pissed off at having their hand forced. It is likely a good thing Beth will have access to demon power; the whole world will be gunning for her and her new second personality once this is done. Hurray for working together.
"Let's get something to eat I'm starved. Then I want to visit Beth again."
Brisa nods and we goes inside to get some takeout. Jason will be putting us all through the wringer when this is over. Nothing but junk for a month and the demon has put it in his body as well. I can see the health nut freak out now.
I smile just thinking of how it will go. Beth will roll her eyes behind his back while patting his shoulder saying it is okay they could fix everything. I will laugh and make sarcastic remarks about a slight pudgy belly that wasn’t there before.
Jason will be waking us at the oddest hours to work out and coming over to make vegan dishes a few times a week. I am not sure he knows that vampires aren’t vegans. When an idea is in his head that is the end of that…he and Beth have that in common. It makes me miss them both so I dispell my thoughts and go get some damn food. Returning to a normal schedule after this will be hell.
Chapter Twelve
After we finish whatever freaking meal our Chinese counts as we drive over to see Beth. I haven't been able to visit her the last few times because I have been healing from my torture. It took a while. I was not in any shape to move and then I had to get the genitals before someone else put in a higher bid. I know how many people can be interested in buying genitals right?
I had outbid four other people. Apparently it is a hot commodity…it makes me ill to think about what others could want with them, but as long as I don’t think too hard about how WE were going to use them I will survive. The demon still hasn't told us how we will be using the ingredients….I honestly don’t want to know.
"Brian your phone…"
I didn't notice I had been too distracted. I answer.
"Jason you are back in the country that’s great. Wait you have a lead on a witch bottle?"
Brisa swerves the car as she sharply turns her whole body towards me in shock. I swat at her pointing to the road. I am not about to die after surviving torture because she has the attention span of a goldfish.
"Well drop the herbs off at our place then hit up the shifter council. If they have a witch bottle I want it. You can get it from them willingly or I can get it with the demon and Brisa against their will. Feel free to mention that."
I hang up as protests start to leave his mouth. I am not hearing it. This is for his sister and the shifters are half her people. In fact more so because she spent a majority of her childhood with them. So to hell with any arguments. After the way they treated her they owe her this at the very least.
"That’s shocking. Most of them were destroyed ages ago. We assumed only a vampire or fey would have them since they are so long lived."
I nod my agreement. True. Which makes me wonder why the shifters have one and gives me yet another thing to research later. The list goes on and on…
When we arrive I slowly get out. The missing chunk in my shoulder pains me greatly after the beating with holy barbs. An already destroyed shoulder meets a tortured back and it doesn’t end well. I move slowly, very deliberately, and try to keep my pain from showing. Hence bringing Brisa with me. I am going nowhere dangerous alone for quite some time.
"You really should have some of my blood.
It will heal you faster. Over time it might even fix your shoulder."
"You aren't a blood bag so stop acting like one. Nothing pisses me off more than vampires that think they have to right to bite anyone anytime for personal gain."
"That's not what this is. I am offering."
"It would be what it is if I accepted."
I slam the car door ending the conversation. We ring the doorbell and wait to be escorted in. The place is quiet, solemn, and has an air of fear in it.
"This way you two. I assume you are here to visit and chat?"
It is our code for seeing Beth since no one knows she is here but Charlotte. We nod and follow her up to her room and down into the dungeon. I hate electrocuting Beth once a week to update her on things and give her some sanity but the demon says it is best if she doesn’t forget that life is painful and sanity is needed despite that. I personally think that is the shittiest reasoning ever. That certainly wouldn’t encourage me to hold on to reason.
"She has shown some improvement. The more frequent electrocution has made her a thinking animal."
Likely the look on my face is that of someone at their limit. What the hell is a thinking animal anyway? I mean humans are animals and we can think, but so are pigs. How do you differentiate…? I guess they know me well enough by now to know I am going to ask.
"Before she attacked the walls, doors, and anything between herself and us with no discrimination. She still attacks things however she is using logic as well. She attacks seams, weak spots in the construction. It is making it harder to hold her, but it’s a good sign that the logical part of her brain is starting to rise up. She isn't just a crazy wild animal. She is thinking. Not on a human level, but this amount of improvement is excellent. It is giving us ideas to use on the others here as well."
Hey logical reasoning is a positive in my mind. I wonder if we really have to bind the demon to her but knowing Beth if she were lin her right mind she would volunteer. Jason is the only other one who might and he would have so little control over himself she won't let him go through with that and the binding has to be willing so that still leaves only Beth to keep Samigina from going out of control.
"So this improvement will make the binding easier and more likely to succeed?"
The scientist shrugs. Horrible.
"That we cannot say for sure but it is good news. It is more likely that she can in fact control herself and hold on to her sanity even without the binding, it would take so much more time but she could come out of it."
Charlotte interrupts looking around the room and waving a hand to encompass all the others.
"Does this mean we have a breakthrough for the others?"
"I believe so ma'am. See we have Bethany on a specific set of drugs now. The electrocution is a lower setting and she's holding on to sanity longer each time. I think we can start instituting the same therapy on some of the others soon. I would like to start with the less aggressive ones, the ones that seem to have just given up rather than full on attack mode, and see if we can make any progress."
"Once the binding with my granddaughter is complete you have my full authorization to move forward as you see fit."
Everyone is in a hustle as they prepare Beth. She is not unconscious this time. She watches us as they lift the tranq guns. It is like a predator observing the unknown to figure out if the animals in front of them are predators or prey. It is true you can see intelligence in there now.
She has improved quite a bit from the last time I was here. Even the way she moves is less hurried and more planned. I look around to the others trapped down here. It means hope for them for the first time in who knows how long. Celebrations all around.
Watching Beth get electrocuted this time is no easier than the first time. I don't think it is something you can ever get used to. Who can watch someone get electrocuted and feel nothing because the person has grown used to it a bit? Has to happen so we do it, but if it were optional it would never happen.
She becomes aware sooner than last time; another sign that she is getting her sanity back slowly but surely.
"Brian, you are here this time."
"All healed up good as new."
She looks confused and I bite my tongue wishing I had sooner. No one has told her that I'd been injured. Now I have to cover the best I can.
"You were injured? They said you were getting stuff for the ceremony. What happened?"
"Well I did just get the genitals of a priest…some virgin guy. It was a requirement…it was interesting."
"Did you get injured there?"
"No…not exactly. Nothing except my emotions was injured. That was just because I was completely disturbed by the whole process."
"So you weren't injured when looking for things for the ceremony?"
"No."
I scratch my head and try to avoid eye contact with Beth. She is insightful… sure she is drugged and losing her mind, but I know for a fact she will see right through me. Drug or not I know she can read me like an open book.
"Brian what happened?"
"I broke some Seethe rules and was publicly punished. I had to heal after…wasn't pretty but was easier than I imagined it would be."
I don't mention Charlotte. If I don't have to tell Beth that her grandmother was the one forced to torture me I will keep away from that. I know she will never forgive her and I want her to like her grandmother. Charlotte is the only member of her vampire family she doesn't hate. I do't want either of them to lose that.
"So what law did you break and why? You are always so careful…"
Well that at least I can tell her. I am sitting beside her holding her hand and lean my face on her leg. I don't look up just enjoy the closeness. Werewolves aren’t the only ones that like to be affectionate with their family…or those that they consider family.
"Someone said something about you and us being together in front of me, and I kind of lost it. Then slammed them through a wall."
"Did you take on some of my personality traits while I have been locked up here?"
I laugh pressing into her lap. I smile even though she can't see it I know she will know it is happening. We are connected that way.
"No but you know how temperamental I get when people are mean to you."
She laughs; they are giving her a little bit more leeway with her hands, now they are on a chain instead of forcibly connected to the chair. She takes her hand and runs it through my hair. A sign of contentment. I am glad to know I am not the only one who misses our physical contact. I miss the intimacy, just being together, supporting one another. I hadn't realized how much she soothes me after a hard day of work until I didn't have her here anymore.
"I missed this Brian."
I nod and wrap my arms around her legs burying my face in her lap and I feel like a cat. I want to just curl up in her lap and sleep.
"Were the injuries very bad?"
"Barbed whip, but it wasn't so bad. Once I was purged of the holy water that the silver had been dipped in I healed fairly quickly. It was just the purging process that sucked."
I don't have to look up to know that everyone in the room is avoiding looking at Beth and Charlotte. Or me for that matter. I just have to keep her attention on me enough that she doesn't figure out what the hell actually happened.
"When I get out of here I am going to make sure that doesn't ever happen again."
"Don't worry about it. Everything has been filed with the Council. The matter is settled and we never have to worry about it again."
"Still I am worried about you. Have you ever undergone something like that?"
"You survived worse torture as a kid. I think I'll survive this now. Don't worry about me. Focus on getting better."
She pulls my hair, lightly, not to create pain but so that I will know that she wants to hug my head tightly to her if only she could. She resumes running her fingers through my hair, it is a shame that her sanity will disappear. I wonder if she will be sane enough for one o
f us to be in the prison with her. Without the drugs and electrocution not making her stable.
"I can't believe how much better you are. It doesn't seem as hard to hold on to yourself anymore."
She smiles down at me as I look up at her tear stained face. She hasn't been able to bathe and she is a mess. Sweaty, sticky, dirty, but I have never seen her more beautiful. Her eyes hold hope this time instead of fear and pain. It is encouraging.
"I do feel a bit better. The medications and election help. How is the ceremony for the demon binding coming along?"
Brisa steps forward so that I can relax and enjoy my time with Beth. She can take it from here, she knows as much as I do.
“While Brian gets the grotesque things that we can only find in the underworld. Jason has gathered all the herbs we need. I myself have gathered a branch from the Devil Tree. The Fae and the vampires are looking for the two missing ingredients. But Jason said the shifter Council has a witch bottle so he is there speaking to them. If that pans out we are only missing one ingredient. Hopefully we can find it easily."
"What ingredient?"
"The Codex Gigas. We need a page of it for the spell…it doesn't have to be the original. We just need to copy the page with the spell the demon said we needed."
"You know that you can find that online at any historical library…I had to research a vampire that was going crazy. It wasn't the normal crazy because he was going around killing people that had magical or rare objects and keeping them. Like I said a special kind of crazy."
We all look at one another and then at Beth. Who the hell would've thought of all the things that she would know it would be this, the missing piece of our magical puzzle.
"Yeah he scanned them all and put them online hoping to bring about some weird ass apocalypse, flooding the world with magical ceremonies and items."
"So we can go online and find the page we need and be done with it as soon as Jason gets the witch bottle from the shifter Council. We have everything. Oh my God I can't believe it!"
Shifting Heroes Page 7