by Spear, Terry
Hunter drove out of the parking space. “I don’t think she believes us. Maybe you ought to read up on our culture before you do something you’re not ready for.”
“So arrogant.” She jammed her seatbelt in place. Yet she wondered what other demonology there was that she didn’t know about. How did they know? Jared. She guessed he’d done the research in the demon world and relayed the information to Hunter. She glanced over the seat at Jared’s laptop. He was bent over the monitor.
Maybe she could get him to make her a copy of his information for her flash drive. Or not. She hated to ask him for anything and knowing what little she did about him, he probably wouldn’t give up anything anyway unless she bribed him again.
Feeling anxious, Alana tapped her fingers on the door rest. “Do you think she’s seen us?”
“No, I think wherever she’s staying isn’t close to the store.” Hunter smirked. “What? Don’t think I can be a super sleuth? The demons don’t expect any others to be cataloging their movements. I’ve never had any problems in the past.”
“None?” Alana didn’t believe it.
Jared chuckled. “Maybe Alana’s a mind reader also.”
Hunter gave her a sharp look. She grinned. Of course she couldn’t read minds. Though she wished she could. Telepathic communication was as close as she got. But she didn’t have to let Hunter and Jared in on all her abilities or lack thereof if it kept them on their toes.
The Elantus led them across the city and into the Dallas suburbs when Jared said, “A Matusa. Straight ahead.” After a few more minutes, the demon drove into a driveway and parked inside a triple-car garage. The place was huge, sprawling with a park-like setting out front with a statue of Atlas holding the weight of the world on his back right in the middle of the front yard. Ironic that a Matusa would have claimed this house? Or had the statue been the reason for his choosing it?
“A Matusa is in the main part of the house,” Jared warned.
Hunter parked a couple of houses down from the white stone home. “Can you get a fix on who owns the house?”
“Looking into it already.”
Jared might not be as strong physically as a Matusa or Kubiteron, but he certainly made up for it in smarts. She had to admire him, despite the way he annoyed her most of the time.
“Harold Weaver, bank vice president of First Texas, out of country on hiatus.”
“Dead, more likely,” Alana said, her stomach clenching. “Would he have summoned the demon?”
“Maybe. Or maybe not. Anyone could have summoned him, then he picked a home he wanted and set up shop, killing the occupant,” Hunter said.
“Yeah, he liked Atlas.”
“What?”
“You know the story of Atlas carrying the…” Hunter gave her such an incredulous look, she shook her head. “Forget it. I guess you two have never read anything about folklore to know much of anything.”
“Different strokes for different folks. I bet you’re not into demon lore.” Jared pointed to the house. “The Elantus is in the same place as the Matusa.”
“I would be, but it seems the only kind I could read was ancient cultures’ perceptions of demons, and I doubt any of it comes close to the real thing. Now if I could see what the demons really say...”
“You can check out Seplichus’s main library. They have a ton of literature on it.”
“Folklore, too, or the real thing?”
“They are the real thing.” Jared gave her a small smile. “Course, I could share the information I got if the price is right.”
She knew it! “Does it say that Elantus are money-grubbing—”
“Traders and barterers from ancient times.”
“Let’s make a house call.” Hunter jumped out of the truck, ending their bickering. Glancing at Alana, his look willed her to stay behind. She ignored him and Hunter let out an exasperated breath. “You know, you could be more cooperative sometimes.”
“Ditto,” she said.
When they reached the house, a man and woman’s voice reached her ears, but she couldn’t make out the words.
Hunter twisted the brass doorknob with care. Alana held her breath.
Chapter 17
The door to the bank manager’s house clicked open. Hunter hesitated. The talking inside the house continued.
Alana tensed and she struggled with self-doubt that froze her in place. After the experience with the Matusa battling her uncle and the rest of the wizards and because Ferengus had injured Hunter so badly, she wasn’t sure they’d manage.
She got a whiff of a burning odor and a trace of smoke greeted them.
Without another second’s hesitation, Hunter slammed the door open and rushed into the living room filled with massive oak furniture. The Matusa male and Elantus female turned, their eyes wide and mouths gaping. The slender, brunette female backed away from the Matusa, her blue eyes anxious.
Immediately, Alana wanted to rescue her and a sense of strength and resolve replaced her insecurities.
The Matusa’s amber eyes flamed red, and he turned his attention to Hunter, the strongest demon in the room. “If you’re barging into my house unannounced and unwelcome like this, I assume it’s not a social call.”
“It’s not your house. What did you do to Mr. Weaver?” Alana asked, trying to stall the inevitable since none of her companions were jumping in to say anything. She hurriedly said to the Elantus, "Run this way and get behind us!"
The woman stared at her, but Alana quickly spoke again to her telepathically, "Hurry! We’ll get you home as soon as we can."
Dashing across the room, she slid in behind them.
The Matusa shook his head at her, then pointed to the charred remains near the fireplace in answer to Alana’s question. “Mr. Weaver played with fire and got burned.” He glowered at the Elantus. “If any of you think you’re going to live—though…” His mouth curved up slightly and he bowed his head to Alana. “…on second thought, I’ll take the Kibuteron, thank you very much.”
“He’s a fire demon,” Jared warned, noting the obvious.
Instantly, the Matusa cast a fireball at Hunter.
Without thinking, Alana erected a wall of water, dousing the ball of blue-orange flames. The fire sizzled, and the Matusa quickly cast another.
The hot flames pounded against her protective barrier, and she prayed it would last until Hunter did something. What in the world was he waiting for?
He watched the other Matusa, but didn’t react at all.
Jared shouted encouragement to her as if he was her one-man cheering crowd. “Great job, Alana. I knew you had water abilities.”
Maybe the other Elantus was helping her. Maybe that’s how she could manage. But no matter what, she had to concentrate. Sweat beaded on her brow as the heat and humidity in the room increased, making it feel like a sauna. The Matusa appeared tireless while he propelled another volley of flames at her blue water shield. Steam hissed. Beyond the wall, the Matusa seemed to waver.
Wanting to shout at Hunter to do something before she gave out, her whole body trembling with exertion, she bit her tongue.
Concentrate. She was certain he’d do something soon. Jared didn’t seem at all worried, and he’d known Hunter longer than she had.
The wall of water began to thin. The heat of the fire made it boil. Bubbles rose all the way through the wall, blurring the image of the Matusa.
Suddenly, the demon clutched his chest.
The bubbles in the wall grew smaller and disappeared. The water began to cool. Still holding his chest, the demon’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he dropped to his knees.
Not trusting he wouldn’t jump up and cast another flame their way, Alana held the water in place, her breathing hard, her shirt soaked with perspiration.
The Matusa choked out something inaudible, his face turning gray, then he collapsed on his face.
“Is he dead?” the Elantus asked, her voice worried.
“You can put y
our protective spell away,” Hunter said.
“Are you sure?” Alana asked.
“He’s dead.” Hunter walked through her wall of water and checked the Matusa’s pulse. Lifting the demon’s limp wrist, Hunter repeated his verdict. “Dead.”
Alana dropped the water spell and would have collapsed from exhaustion if Jared hadn’t caught her.
“Thank you,” the woman said. “Mr. Weaver brought me through the portal and decided he not only wanted a free housekeeper slave, but a man to do his yard work also. Except he made the mistake of bringing a Matusa through.”
“What do you know about the summoning books?” Hunter asked.
“Five Matusa—well, four now—are in this world, spreading the summoning books to stores. They have a pact to make the North American continent theirs. Europe is next on their agenda.”
Hunter growled. “Do you know where the others are?”
“One was in Dallas. Ferengus, I think his name was, but he got in a fight with another Matusa over a Kubiteron, who sent him back to the demon world. Ferengus planned on taking over the West Coast.”
“Ferengus. Do you know the others’ names?”
“Indigo was to take over the East Coast but another Matusa demon was called forth and is now in Baltimore. He and Indigo are already fighting over territorial possessions.”
“The Baltimore Matusa isn’t one of the original five?”d
“Well, no. Originally there were four, but the Baltimore Matusa makes five. Well…” She glanced at the one dead on the floor. “…four now.”
“So that leaves one more. Any idea where he is?” Hunter asked.
“Florida, but not sure where.”
“Guess you shouldn’t have sent Ferengus back to Seplichus, Hunter,” Jared said.
“You’re the one?” the Elantus asked. “He killed ten people at the hotel he was staying at. They had it on the news this morning.”
“I won’t make the same mistake twice. Time for you to go back home.” Hunter opened the portal for her.
“Thanks for helping me with the water spell.” Alana sat on the floor, her strength gone.
“The only water ability I have is to make a light shower of rain in a small sized garden when we’re having a drought. I can’t make walls of water like you could. Really impressive.”
“Told you so,” Jared said. “You just have to believe in yourself, and it’ll work.”
“You do want to go back, don’t you?” Alana asked the woman.
She nodded. “I don’t belong here.”
Hunter gave Alana his superior look. “You’re free to go,” he said to the woman.
“Thank you. All of you.” She slipped through the portal and vanished.
Alana motioned to the dead Matusa and banker’s charred body. “What do we do about them?”
Hunter closed the portal. “Leave it. The police will discover the Matusa had killed the banker and was using his house and money, then the demon died of a heart attack.”
“Is that what happened to him?” Alana asked.
“The blood vessels constricted, lessening the flow of blood to his heart and ultimately his brain. I’ve got to search the place for summoning books.” Hunter stalked off.
“Are you going to be all right?” Jared asked Alana.
She nodded, though she felt she needed a few more minutes before she could stand.
“Just sit here, and I’ll help you to the pickup as soon as I’ve aided Hunter.” Jared stalked off.
What? No thanks for saving their butts?
She wanted to get up and search for the summoning books, too. But she felt like she’d been drugged, her legs shaky, and her heart was still beating on overdrive.
“Good thing I finally was able to summon a spell that could help us,” she muttered under her breath. “What would you have done without me?”
Drawers opened and slammed shut in other rooms in the house.
Alana grabbed the back of the sofa and tried to help herself up. The dead demon’s face was planted in the ultra-plush, beige carpeting. Thank God.
She wobbled toward him, her stomach roiling, hoping that it was only from the effects of using a spell she’d never conjured up before.
“Found some summoning books in here, Hunter,” Jared hollered from down the hallway. “Cases of them.”
What? Did she not count?
After making her way to a writing desk against the wall, she pulled open one drawer, then another, not sure of what she might find. But at least she wasn’t just sitting on the floor not helping.
Nothing. Okay, so she was barely standing and not helping.
“Found a garage full of cartons of books and more in an empty room,” Hunter shouted.
Alana headed for Jared’s location, when she spied an office. A kaleidoscope of colors splashed across a monitor’s screen, drawing her to it.
Collapsing in the desk chair, she moved the mouse and brought up the email. A message the Matusa demon must have been writing before the Elantus female arrived after delivering the books to the incense shop. Which reminded Alana, they needed to confiscate those, too.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do with these carton loads of books.” Jared stalked down the hall toward the garage.
“Stack them in the bed of my pickup. We’ll have a bonfire out in the country. Where’s Alana?”
Now Hunter noticed she was missing?
Alana read the email: I’m afraid my Weaver cover will soon come to an end. Syg.
Alana punched in the new message received. Get out before they discover the identity theft. I just learned a Matusa threw Ferengus back into our world. Know any more of the story? Gryndal.
Yeah, Gryndal. Will have to get back with you. Tila just returned from delivering some more books. Business is brisk. Later. Syg.
“Much later,” Alana said.
“Hey.” Hunter’s sharp tone made her jump. “Didn’t Jared tell you to stay put?”
If she’d been a dragon, her breath would have shot flames. As it was, her eyes flared, fiery red flames reflecting in his blue eyes.
He offered a small smile, which made her blood heat even more. “He didn’t tell me to do anything. Nor would he have.” She considered Hunter’s still wet clothes from walking through her wall of water and smiled.
“Did you find anything?” he asked, peering at the monitor.
“Just that one of the other Matusa is named Gryndal.” She searched through several more messages. None that revealed anything. Then a note from Ferengus.
A cold knot formed in the pit of her stomach.
Don’t tell me when to leave here, Syg. I’ll do it in my own good time. Ferengus.
Keep the killing down to a minimum. Until we have our people in place, we don’t want to alert the populace that we exist. Syg.
I’ll deal with this the way I see fit. Ferengus.
“I don’t think they get along. Where’s Jared? Maybe he can locate this Gryndal,” Alana said.
“Jared!” Hunter hollered next to her.
The sound left a ringing in her ears. “Jeez, Hunter, do you think you could yell any louder?”
“Yeah, I can. And I’m sure you don’t want to hear it.”
Jared came running, nearly out of breath, his eyes anxious as he zeroed in on Alana. “I loaded about half of the cartons in the truck.”
“Is it already full?”
“No. You hollered and I thought something was wrong with Alana.”
Hunter glanced at her, and she gave him a simpering smile.
“One of the demons was corresponding with the guy we killed,” Hunter said, brushing off Jared’s comment. “You want to see if you can locate him?”
“Sure.”
Alana rose unsteadily from the desk chair, not believing she could feel this weak, though when sitting down she’d felt fine.
Jared grabbed her arm. “Are you going to be all right?”
She leaned against his strength. “Yeah, maybe you
could help me over to that chair so I can wait while you look for this guy, and Hunter can carry out the rest of the boxes.” She gave Hunter a scathing look.
“Hurry it up, Jared. We’ve got to get out of here.” Hunter turned on his heels.
But Alana got the final jab. “Slave driver.”
Hunter gave her a backward grin, which was not what she had intended, then he stalked out of the room.
“I am not his slave.” Jared’s words were coated in acid.
“Matusa don’t know how to have true friends.” Alana closed her eyes and listened to Jared tapping on the keyboard, but the sounds, the smell of lemon wax on the desk, the touch of the velvet recliner she curled up in, all disappeared.
***
The next thing Alana heard was her uncle’s worried voice. “She’d never been in any trouble before until she got involved with the two of you.”
“Excuse me, but I am not the one who summoned her in the first place. I mean, I am, but I’m not the only one who does. The Matusa are trying to expand their powers in your world. In ours, their ruling powers are limited. They’re feared, but they’re outnumbered by the lesser demons. So they conform for the most part. In Earth world, they’ll fight each other for power, no doubt, but they’ll run everything. Humans won’t stand a chance. No more elected officials. You wouldn’t want to see what becomes of humans who don’t obey them,” Hunter warned.
“I got a good indication in your world,” Uncle Stephen said.
Alana still felt guilty when she considered how her uncle and his friends could have died when they came to rescue her. But did anyone listen to her? Still, she got chill bumps when she thought of Zoros’s heart stopping and how close to death he’d been.
“There are five of them. Were. One is back in the demon world. One is dead. Another we’ve got a lead on. Two are in Baltimore, but one will probably kill the other. We’ve got a list of stores carrying the books, all off-the-wall kind of places, none of the major chains.”
“You’ll need more help,” Stephen said.
Hunter nodded. “If you could get some of your people to confiscate, then destroy them, Jared and I will track down this demon, Gryndal, in Florida.”
“And me,” Alana said.