The Trouble with Demons

by Spear, Terry

  “No,” her uncle countermanded. “I can’t believe you used such a powerful spell without any previous training. In fact, I don’t recall ever seeing such a spell. I’m proud of you, but until you’ve had more practice, you can see how fatigued you can become.”

  “Where exactly is Gryndal?” Alana asked, irritated with herself that she had to ask.

  Hunter exchanged looks with Jared and gave a shadowy smile. “You need to stay here like your uncle says.”

  Alana scowled at him, wishing she hadn’t passed out before she’d found out from Jared about Gryndal. Without Hunter’s coercion, she was certain Jared would have told her what she wanted to know. Fine, she’d explore her uncle’s books on attack spells while the boys were playing chase. And next time she had an encounter with a murderous demon, she’d be prepared.

  But when she had a chance, she was sneaking back to the bank guy’s house and searching his computer for the information concerning Gryndal’s whereabouts. Maybe she could play a little chase, too.

  ***

  “What did your parents say about you flying to Orlando?” Jared asked Hunter over the hum of the jumbo jet’s engines.

  “I’m eighteen, I reminded my mother, who was the one most adamant about me not leaving. I told her my birth father gave me information on an uncle I had to look up. What about your parents?”

  Jared shrugged. “You know what they’re like. Loads of money. Always off on one trip or another. No real home life as in Mom, Dad, and family get-togethers. They expected me to tour Europe all summer like they did between their junior and senior year of high school. So when I mentioned Orlando, they seemed surprised and a bit dismayed. But anything is better than me hanging around Dallas all summer.”

  “With me,” Hunter reflected.

  Jared laughed. “They think you bring me out of my geek role and are a good influence.”

  Hunter couldn’t contain a smirk.

  Jared ripped open his complimentary package of peanuts. “Do you think we should have brought Alana?”

  “No.”

  “She was sure pissed.”

  “That part doesn’t bother me.” Hunter stared out the window at the dark thunderclouds boiling up thousands of feet into the atmosphere. “It’s when she gets quiet and agreeable that worries me.”

  “You don’t think she’d learn where we’re going and try to follow us, do you?”

  Hunter faced Jared. “In her place, what would you do?”

  Chapter 18

  Alana had put her contact lenses in to conceal her eyes, knowing full well they’d be red as mad as she was that Hunter and Jared left her behind. Lying on her uncle's couch, she felt fine. She was fed up with her uncle for making her take it easy. She needed to learn all the spells she could to protect herself and Hunter and Jared, if need be. Hiding in her uncle’s house while everyone did all the work was totally unacceptable.

  “Alana, I’ve got to meet with Yolan and some others about this business of canvassing the States for those demon summoning books which will take several hours. Will you be all right?” Uncle Stephen asked, stalking back into the living room.

  “Sure.” Alana lowered The Beast Within that she was pretending to read and gave her uncle a bored look. “You’re not teaching me anything anyway. So go have some fun.”

  “It’s business, and you need to rest. By the end of the week, I should be able to work with you on some more spells. I still can’t believe you could create a wall of water when you couldn’t even make more than a pond before.”

  “Maybe my life has to be threatened.”

  Her uncle gave her a dark look. “I’d rather you learn some more skills before you have to face a life and death situation.” He patted her shoulder. “See you later. Just call me if you need anything. Fridge is stocked full, so eat lunch when you like.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Stephen.”

  As soon as he left the house, Alana bolted from the couch. She was certain her uncle would get over being mad at her after a while. Hunter would not leave her behind. What if he and Jared needed her defensive spell again?

  Intending to locate the demon on the dead bank vice president’s computer like Jared had done, Alana called a taxi this time. She didn’t want to repeat the bicycle fiasco, though after her uncle had returned it home, she’d been grounded from riding it again.

  When the taxi neared the banker’s house, she had the driver park a couple of houses down. She paid the driver with some money she’d found in her uncle’s quick cash reserve and sent the driver on his way before she headed for the house. When she reached the front door, she twisted the knob and to her relief, found it still unlocked. Already, the demon’s body was beginning to decompose just like a human’s and the stench of rotting flesh was nauseating.

  Her heart beating hard, she ran down the hall to the office. She turned on the computer, then quickly connected to the Internet and checked Syg’s earlier emails. And then she found it.

  The Sunshine State is the place to be, Syg. Bikini clad women, the heat and humidity, reminds me of Chaladon. I’ll be in Orlando for three more weeks, and then I’ll hit Miami. Keep me posted on how it’s going there. Gryndal.

  Yes!

  A new message had arrived earlier that day, and Alana clicked on it to open it.

  I know we don’t agree on a lot of things, but that’s our way. I was just summoned back to Dallas. I’ll be paying you a visit before I leave for Oregon. I need help locating a Kubiteron here in the city. Ferengus.

  Alana’s heart stopped cold.

  The front door opened with a squeak. Scarcely breathing, she rose from the desk chair, trying not to make any sound. Whoever walked into the house didn’t saying a thing. If it had been a human, she was certain whoever it was would have screamed or cried out at the sight of the charred banker’s remains and Syg’s decomposing body. And then ran out of the house in horror.

  It couldn’t be Ferengus. But if it was and he caught her now, no telling what he’d do to her. As quietly as she could, Alana bolted for the office door, closed it, and locked it. Dashing back across the floor, she unlocked the window sash. When she shoved it up, she was sure the whole world would hear the grinding noise. Her heart thundered and her legs and arms shook while she climbed out through the window.

  The doorknob twisted, and she raced across the backyard. Glancing back, she saw Ferengus peering out the window in the opposite direction. Go! Go!

  She dove through a towering juniper hedge into the neighbor’s yard, the branch’s scratching at her arms and legs. Her breathing hard, her chest hurting, she kept running until she was several blocks away.

  Crouched beside a tall hedge of flowering white oleander, she punched in the number for the taxi company. Speaking low, she called for a cab, hoping Ferengus couldn’t hear her if he was following her.

  Every sound, a door squeaking open, a cat scratching in a flowerbed nearby, a water sprinkler turning on, made her jump. A car rolled in her direction and she kept hidden. The car continued leisurely down the street. She peeked. Black and old, crushed right rear fender. Was Ferengus driving? She couldn’t tell through the tinted windows from this distance.

  If only she had Jared’s laptop so she could monitor Ferengus’s movements. She still couldn’t believe someone had summoned the demon back to Earth world. But she imagined he was furious that the Matusa woman had been summoned first before he had the opportunity to arrive.

  Seconds seemed like hours since she’d called for the taxi. Where was the blasted cab?

  The rumbly engine was headed back her way. Oh God, Ferengus had to be driving it. And he was looking for her! Could he hear her heart pounding?

  She cast a spell of protection, wishing she could make herself invisible. But the car passed by at the same tired speed. When the sound of its engine faded, small footsteps headed her way, and she jerked her head around.

  A redheaded, pig-tailed girl with freckles dotted across her nose, grinned at her. “Are you playing hi
de and seek?”

  Alana’s mind was racing. Got to get rid of her before Ferengus spots the girl and Alana. The monster he was, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill the child.

  “Kind of. Can you watch for a yellow taxi cab and let me know when it arrives?”

  The girl poked her head through the oleander branches. “One’s coming down the street now.”

  “Any other cars?”

  “Yeah. A black one’s behind it.”

  Alana had a really bad feeling about this. “Thanks.” She was torn between waiting for the taxi, or exposing herself to danger if Ferengus was driving the black car, but she had to get the girl to safety. “Run inside your house in case the guy in the black car is a bad guy, okay?”

  The girl’s eyes rounded. “But…”

  Just go, already! Alana envisioned a big black snake wriggling toward the girl and transferred the image to the girl’s subconscious. “Dangerous snake! Go in your house!”

  With a high-pitched squeal, the girl dashed off in the direction of the front porch.

  Keeping low, Alana used the high hedge to shield her from the street but peered out to see if the driver truly was Ferengus. The man had the same long, dark hair. She couldn’t see his face. But she was pretty sure it was him.

  Alana dashed off to the next block and heard a vehicle honk in front of the house where’d she’d been. Probably the taxi, but too late now.

  She spied a little blue sports car parked in a driveway. Stick shift or automatic? Steal it and make a fast get away or…

  The faint rumbling of the engine of the black car headed her way. It was now or never.

  ***

  Hunter stopped pacing, glanced out the window of the suite of the Paradise Lodge overlooking the theme park, then began walking across the same stretch of carpeting again. The place didn’t hold the kind of magic he thought it might. Wonder what all of the fuss was about?

  Seated on a jungle print covered sofa, Jared searched on his laptop for the signature of a Matusa anywhere in Orlando or the surrounding area. “You know, I won’t find him any sooner with you wearing track marks in the carpeting.”

  “Alana’s got me worried.”

  Jared tapped on his keyboard some more. “Her Uncle Stephen will keep an eye on her.”

  “What if she’s drawn to another portal?”

  “She’s not really physically there. If a Matusa crosses over, he can’t get her.”

  “What if Ferengus manages to be summoned?”

  Jared continued to monitor his screen and didn’t respond.

  Hunter couldn’t curb the nagging frustration he felt where Alana was concerned. Yet, he didn’t want Jared to think he had any interest in the Kubiteron. She was more like a sliver in his finger, annoying and not wanted. But he’d promised to keep her safe.

  He let out his breath. Ever since he’d seen his dad, another question kept swirling around in his brain. “Do you think demons who are related recognize they are?”

  “Treikal, who is head of the court of records, said so. Did you feel something between you and your father?”

  “Yeah. At first, it was just the family resemblance and the look of recognition in his eyes. I was too near death to sense anything else. But then, well, yeah, there was something. Like a sense of familiarity when I’d never met the man before in my life.” Hunter stared out the window, watching the monorail gliding by like a long snake on steroids. “Do you think there’s something like that between…” He paused.

  Jared glanced up from his laptop. “Between?”

  Shaking his head, Hunter shoved his hands in his jeans pockets.

  “Between you and Alana?” Jared asked, his tone amused.

  “I can’t help feeling like she followed us here.”

  “Open the portal.” Jared concentrated on the computer monitor again.

  “What?”

  “It worked before. If she’s nearby, you’ll draw her to it. Then you can give her hell.” Jared gave a sinister smile.

  Hunter snorted. “She wouldn’t be that foolish. And her uncle wouldn’t allow it.”

  “Or that resourceful?” Jared asked. “Open the portal and see. If I could, I would, just to satisfy my curiosity.”

  Hunter opened the portal, the blue-green light illuminating the whole room, but Alana didn’t appear. He felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. Which was ludicrous. Yet, he couldn’t help wishing she was with them so he could keep an eye on her.

  “See?” Jared said. “She’s not here and now you know it for sure.”

  “Unless she’s figured out a way to block my summoning her.”

  Jared laughed. “She’s gotten under your skin. Who’d have ever thought?” He pointed at the monitor. “I see one Elantus demon north of the city, but no one else.”

  “Gryndal has to be a Matusa.”

  “Maybe he’s out of town. Want to send an Elantus demon home?”

  “You got it.” Hunter headed for the door with Jared on his heels.

  “We make a pretty great team, don’t we?” Jared asked as they jogged down the five flights of stairs.

  “Yeah.” Sometimes, Jared could be a royal pain like when it came to his comments about Alana, but he was a good tracker.

  Hunter led the way to a yellow rented Mustang parked in the tower. Ever since he and Jared had hooked up, though Hunter hated to admit he needed anyone, he was glad to have found a friend in Jared. Who else could understand the demonic side of him better than another demon?

  “She’s not here, Hunter.” Jared jerked the car door open. “Quit worrying.”

  “I’m not worrying.”

  “Yeah? Why is the Marianna Trench dug into your temple then?”

  “Jared, just direct me to the Elantus. All right?”

  But Jared was right. Hunter couldn’t quit worrying. Alana was too compulsive-obsessive for her own good, and he was certain she’d follow them if she could.

  ***

  A man bounded out of his house and headed straight for the blue car Alana had targeted to borrow.

  She hid behind a massive elm, then watched until the black car with the rumbly engine skulked by. Peering around the tree trunk, she saw Ferengus behind the wheel, looking at the man getting into his car. Ripples of dread careened through her. She took a deep breath, memorized the black car’s license plate, cloaked her uncle’s cell phone number into something untraceable, and punched in 9-1-1.

  “Hello, I need to report my parents have been murdered. The man who did it is driving their black car, license plate KUW-321 and is driving down Whitaker Street, near house number 310. Hurry! He’s armed and dangerous.”

  Before the 9-1-1 operator could ask any questions, Alana ended the call. Even if Ferengus only stole the car and didn’t murder the owner, she figured the police would give him enough grief for a while.

  She headed back up the street to the next block and saw the black car idling at the curb, but no Ferengus. Where was he?

  Then she saw him searching around the oleanders where she had hidden before. Had he smelled her scent?

  Then she had another idea. Not a good one, but she’d take her chances. Running on the outside of the hedges, she headed for his car. As soon as she yanked the door open, Ferengus howled.

  She jumped into the driver’s seat, slammed the door, and hit the gas, thankful he'd left the keys in the ignition, though she knew a neat trick to start a car without keys---courtesy of her witch's abilities. It worked wonders when either she or her mother misplaced their car keys. Racing down the street, she knew she had to dump the car before the police spotted it, but at least for a few minutes, she could distance herself from the demon.

  Until he stole another vehicle.

  Either the police didn’t believe her emergency call, or they were all tied up with more important matters, but she managed to drive all the way to the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport without any trouble. Not worrying about parking the car, she pulled up to the terminal doors and left the vehicle unat
tended. Someone would quickly report it to the police.

  Before long, she was settled on a plane headed for Orlando, wishing she’d worn something warmer for the chilly air on the plane. Good thing her witch’s power of persuasion allowed her a free flight anytime she wanted though. First class, too.

  She left a message for her uncle on his answering machine. “Hi, Uncle Stephen, Ferengus, a Matusa demon who claims I’m his, has been summoned back to Dallas. He must have been too far away for the portal to call me to it. But I’m afraid he may come for me. Be safe, Uncle Stephen. I’ll contact you later.”

  He wouldn’t like it, but he couldn’t keep her safe like Hunter could. She closed the phone and when the hostess asked her what she wanted to drink, she asked for a soda and a package of peanuts. Hopefully, Jared and Hunter would not get into trouble with Gryndal before she had the chance to help them.

  When the plane finally began its descent into Orlando, Alana mentally prepared herself for her next big problem. Where in Orlando had Hunter and Jared gone?

  ***

  Not knowing what they might find, Hunter and Jared arrived at the apartment complex situated next to the University of Central Florida. Fountains shooting towers of water heavenward could be heard just a little ways away and the scent of jasmine floated on the hot, humid breeze.

  Hunter shook his head. “College kids?”

  “The apartment is leased to two girls.”

  “Demon signature?”

  “Third floor on the right.”

  Hunter and Jared raced up the stairs. When they reached the apartment, they heard blaring music and a couple of women laughing. Hunter twisted the doorknob and found resistance. He twisted harder until he broke the lock. “Ready?”

  “Yep.”

  They stormed into the house and found two women drinking wine and laughing hysterically. The Elantus, a male teen, looked relieved to see Jared, but quickly stepped back when his gaze diverted to Hunter.

  Hunter cast the portal spell. “Return home.”

  “Hey!” the darkest haired girl screamed at Hunter. “We summoned him. He’s ours!”

  Angered that the women thought they could own a demon, Hunter couched his darker emotions. He turned again to the demon. “Go!”