Horde of the Demon Priest (Demona Book 3)

by Megan A. Hepler

We probably look like a mob about ready to loot their homes.

  A moment later, Demona gave Felix’s hand a final squeeze before releasing her grip and preparing to battle the large smoky form that had come through the open doorway where the couple had just fled from. Four members of the group formed a half circle in front of the demon as it approached. One wielding an ancient script with the words to dispel a demon, two with holy water, and a fourth that could apparently touch non-corporeal forms.

  The demon began to transform into a solid mass. The form grew into a large imposing figure of a man with horns that protruded from his head. The demon created a whistling sound and suddenly the group was surrounded by a pack of wolves. The group gathered closer together each of the members stood facing the monsters that had them trapped.

  The wolves’ eyes glowed in the light from the flaming cars. They lifted their heads in unison and howled in excitement. Kearne leapt forward and slashed his sword at the neck of one of the demon dogs. The wolf had been too busy shouting into the night to notice the danger coming at it. Kearne’s sword entered the furry form and kept flying through the beast. The wolf dissipated.

  “It’s an illusion,” someone shouted.

  Several members of the group copied Kearne’s actions and soon all that was left was the imposing figure that had conjured such realistic illusions. The demon roared in anger at the destruction of his pack. The original four members of the group that had stepped forward to confront the demon, continued with their plan as they held the evil creature back with holy water. A defender with the ability to hit non-corporeal forms lunged forward with his fist aiming at the demon’s face. Another person continued to speak the words needed to dispel the demon and slowly, but surely the demon lost his strength and dissipated into nothing.

  “Anyone know what that was?” a member of the crowd asked.

  “A boruta demon. Slavic, I think. Good thing he wasn’t in the woods or those illusions might have been the real thing,” a defender responded.

  Several members of the group clutched at their chests and attempted to steady their breathing. The wolves had seemed too real and threatening. The demon had been a thing of nightmares, and many of them had never faced such evil before. After allowing everyone to compose themselves, once more the group continued to walk down the street ready for their next fight. Screams echoed from the blocks ahead and they braced themselves for what lie in the direction they trekked.

  Chapter 11:

  The Demon Horde

  The group, which consisted of about fifteen people, walked deeper into town. They continued to stick closely together and made their way in the direction of the screams. It was difficult for them to pinpoint the exact location that the sound was coming from, because the scream seemed to ricochet off of the surrounding buildings. Sometimes, Demona was certain the sound emanated from one location only to hear it louder from farther ahead.

  The screams seemed to put everyone on edge. Those that had not recovered from their first demon encounter seemed to trail slightly behind. They walked huddled behind those members that had proven their courage against the boruta demon.

  “Stay with us,” Kaleb insisted.

  Demona was worried that their fear would get the best of them and that they would splinter from the group. It would not be good to have terrified GLC members running around Melville with demons on the loose. She hoped that Kaleb’s words would be warning enough, but just in case she decided to give her own.

  “You’re vulnerable if you go off on your own,” Demona said over her shoulder to the potential deserters.

  Their warnings must have worked, because the group remained whole even as they approached their next destination. They neared the sounds of the screams and stopped in front of a house where lights lit up the darkness around it. They were all trying to determine if the screams were in fact coming from the house in front of them, or somewhere else. Then, they knew they found the source when screams flowed from inside the structure. One of the members of the group was brave enough to walk up to the front door. The woman braced herself as she prepared to turn the door knob to see what was taking place inside.

  Before the woman could open the door, it burst into splinters of wood as a demon flew out of the house in its misty black form and knocked her to the ground. The demon screeched at the sight of the group and hurled itself into the bodies that stood staring in shock. The demon sped a few yards away and hovered there, while sizing up the group.

  The GLC members that had been knocked down regained their footing. Then, they heard a very insistent bark coming toward them. A large black shaggy dog, that looked oddly familiar, came bounding down the street towards the group. The bark seemed urgent as if the dog were telling them something. The dog ran straight for the group, while people scrambled out of its way. The dog leapt into the crowd and kept on going. Demona heard the faint hiss in a distance of several demons that came spiraling from the direction the dog had come.

  Was that dog warning us, or was he leading them?

  The misty forms paused next to the demon that had hovered nearby. They seemed to be communicating in their demonic language comprised of screeches, hisses, and screams. The group attempted to stay tight together, but the abundance of demons that suddenly charged at them caused them to scatter across the road. Demona watched as the chaos erupted around her.

  “They’re trying to isolate us,” one of women in the group yelled. “Try not to get separated from the group; we’re more vulnerable in smaller numbers.”

  Unfortunately, despite their best efforts the group splintered into smaller groups as the demons forced them apart. Demona, Felix, Kaleb, and Kearne huddled with their backs together, so that each stood facing a different side. A demon swirled around them so quickly that it seemed to be a nothing but a blur. Demona and Kearne held out vials of holy water, while Kaleb and Felix recited the words to banish the evil spirit. The demon attempted to charge at the group to knock them to the ground, but it came to a halt only inches from the group when Kearne splashed holy water in its direction. Kaleb and Felix sped up their recitation and the demon soon dissipated into the air.

  The rest of the group was being forced farther apart into different directions by the demons. Some of the group members had been able to expel a few of the vile spirits, but some of their members were injured in the process.

  Kaleb spotted a member of their group that had been separated and was laying unconscious on the ground. “Over here!” He called the other three to where the demon was attempting to possess the injured man.

  The demon was so preoccupied with its task that it did not seem to care about what was happening around him. He was in a solidified form and did not look as human-like as many of the other demons that Demona had seen in the past. While the demon had the body of a man, he had other animal-like features such as the head of a lion, wings, a tail, and gigantic talons. Demona noticed something else strange about this demon, while it was in solid form its dark skin and fur appeared to be moving. A strange humming sound emanated from the demon as it hovered over the helpless defender.

  The four friends remained stationary and surveyed the situation, before jumping in to attack the demon. All of the other demons were being dealt with by other GLC members. Demona knew that it was unwise to charge in and try to stop the possession without knowing what was in store for them.

  “Any ideas what this demon is?” Felix asked.

  Everyone shook their heads.

  Kaleb pulled his cell phone from his pocket and pressed speed dial. Ezekiel put Barty on the phone and Kaleb quickly gave him a description of the demon. “Barty says it’s a pazuzu demon.”

  He instructed the others to stand guard around the possessed and began to mutter the words to banish the demon, as Barty gave them from the other end of the call. The demon did not appreciate Kaleb’s attempts to expel it. It stopped the possession and turned in Kaleb’s direction. The pazuzu’s skin, which had seemed to be moving before came al
ive. It dissolved into locusts that swarmed around Kaleb. Kaleb’s body disappeared behind a cloud of insects. Soon the swarm turned and charged for Demona. She attempted to cover her head and swat at the thousands of locusts that threatened to engulf her.

  Felix stepped in and took control by reciting the words he heard Kaleb say moments before. The locusts drew away and hovered like a large oblong blob in the air. Their attention was now focused on Felix. Demona stepped forward with a new vial of holy water in an attempt to protect Felix from the swarm. Kearne stepped up as well, so that the four of them had boxed the demon in to the center of their formation. Both Kaleb and Felix continued to recite the words of banishment. The humming of the locusts grew louder as the demon became weakened. The swarm was being pulled in multiple directions causing the demon to lose more strength.

  “Demona, burn them!” Kaleb yelled.

  Demona did not hesitate to do what Kaleb ordered. She produced a ball of flames like she had many times before and directed it into the swarm carefully so it would not burn her companions. The swarm caught aflame and the buzzing mass seemed to incinerate from the inside out. The scent of sulfur filled the air around them; the locusts turn into tiny cinders that floated in the darkness. Nothing was left of the demon, not even a single fried locust.

  Two more demons flew at the four friends, attempting to break the small group apart. Kearne was pushed back against the red brick houses by one of the demons. The other demon occupied Demona, Felix, and Kaleb. Demona tried to fight her way to Kearne’s side without success.

  A bright glowing object shot down from the sky. The flaming creature landed near the small group and transformed into Ileana. She stepped in to aid Kearne in fighting off the demon. Demona, Felix, and Kaleb continued to battle the other demon.

  Before they could make any attempt to banish the demon, more showed up to surround the group. Demona was pushed away from Felix and Kaleb by two of the demons. She looked around frantically for a way to escape. Demona was being pushed down the road towards an alley farther from her friends. She used her elemental power to cause rocks to burst upwards from the ground at the demons that were bearing down on her. They scattered away from the upward jutting earth, which allowed Demona to flee down the street.

  Unfortunately, Demona was going even farther from the group. One of the demons recovered from the sudden interruption and sped down the road after her. She kept running as the demon pursued her.

  Suddenly, an arm shot out from a nearby door and pulled her into a building. It took a moment for Demona to get her bearings in the darkness. She huffed to catch her breath before the hand that had grabbed her pulled her farther into the building. The demon that had been following her had momentarily been delayed by the door that separated them. It soon figured out that it could seep through the cracks of the door and flow into the building.

  Demona followed the man in front of her through the building and out another door into the dark alley. The man came to a halt outside the building and turned to face the demon.

  Of course it has to be Kerrick.

  Kerrick pushed Demona behind him and fumbled for an item in his pocket. The demon burst through the opening of the building and instantly began to solidify. Demona recognized the demon as it began to materialize. It was the iya demon that she and her friends had faced not too long ago. Now was their chance to eliminate the vile creature.

  Kerrick reached into his pocket and tossed a large vial to Demona. She caught it and examined it briefly before the demon demanded her attention. At least Kerrick is useful. The demon vial is going to help with this seemingly indestructible demon.

  The large grotesque baby-like demon shot lightning at Kerrick and he quickly sidestepped to avoid being electrocuted. It smiled at them both with a sharp toothy grin. Drool dripped slowly from its opened mouth and Demona got a better look at its rows of shark-like teeth. The gray boils on the skin oozed a slimy substance that ran down its body.

  Demona uncorked the vial and held it outward toward the iya. The giant stunted baby seemed to waddle carefully in their direction. Kerrick began to read the incantation on a piece of paper as the demon drew nearer to Demona. Lightning once again shot out at Demona from the demon’s arms, it struck Demona, but her body absorbed the electrical energy. The force of the current caused the glass vial to explode in Demona’s hand and cut her.

  The iya smirked wider as the smell of blood met his nose. He drooled heavier and licked his lips in satisfaction that his next meal was only feet away. The iya continued to waddle toward Demona as quickly as its short fat legs could carry it. Demona backed away as the demon approached.

  Kerrick fumbled in his pants pocket and quickly pulled out another vial. He uncorked it and began to read the incantation once more.

  The baby-like demon was preparing to hit Demona once more with its lightning bolts, but Demona was able to produce a flaming orb that seemed to distract the demon. It allowed the lightning to dissipate from its hands and gazed at the glowing ball that Demona held. Demona threw the ball of flames at the demon, before she lost her chance. It hit the demon’s thick bumpy skin and shattered into nothing.

  The demon looked startled after being hit with the fire ball, but the impact of the object broke his gaze. Now, his eyes refocused on Demona as he remembered his purpose. The demon backed her into a corner between a building with rotted wooded siding and a large dumpster as it waddled closer to her with contempt on its disgusting face.

  Demona felt like the incantation was taking forever for Kerrick to finish. He rushed the words as quickly as his tongue would allow without stuttering over them. The demon was within feet of Demona and she remembered that she could still use her elemental magic. She cast a blast of wind against the iya and it stumbled backwards. The demon flailed on its back, unable to get back onto its feet with its short arms and legs. Demona almost laughed at the sight; it reminded her of a turtle stuck upside down on its shell. She stifled the raising laughter when she was reminded that the demon was not destroyed yet.

  Kerrick was finishing up the incantation when the demon burst upwards once more in its misty form. Kerrick muttered a few final words as the dissipating demon charged toward the open vial in his hand. Seconds before the demon was ready to slam into Kerrick’s hand, the demon halted mid air and was sucked into the vial. Kerrick popped the cork back into the vial and stared at the darkness that swirled within the glass prison.

  Chapter 12:

  Kerrick’s Story

  Demona clutched her chest and waited to catch her breath. After not needing to breathe for so long, she forgot how hard it could be to fill her lungs after running long distances and also when fear threatened to consume her. She steadied her breathing, in through her nose, out through her mouth, and stood upright facing Kerrick. “Where did you come from?”

  Kerrick smirked. “After the report came in this evening that one of our field-agents died on patrol, Darius called in all of the agents. He sent everyone into town to fight the demons.”

  Why is he always doing that? Smirking, like he knows my deepest darkest secrets. Sometimes I think it’s all just in an attempt to look like he always knows what’s going on, a way to make him look tough. “I’ve got to get back to the group, they need help. Felix is going to be worried if he can’t find me.” Demona turned to leave.

  Kerrick chuckled at Demona’s comment. “Maybe separating you two will make you realize that you miss me. I doubt that guy has any idea how special you are.”

  Demona spun and scowled at Kerrick. “You are one to talk. Felix treats me amazingly. Way better than you ever did. At least I can trust that his intentions are genuine, unlike yours.”

  Kerrick waved a hand at her. “They are genuine.”

  Demona rolled her eyes. “Right,” she said. “Why did you follow me?”

  “We knew GLC would be in town doing their part and naturally I knew you would be with them. When we found your group battling the demons we decided to jump in and help out
. I saw the demon try to isolate you and followed as you ran.” Kerrick shrugged. “What can I say, I like a good fight.”

  “Why follow me then? You could have had a ‘good fight’ back there. Why are you trying to be a hero? I didn’t need your help, you know. I could have handled it on my own,” Demona said.

  “Yeah, because you were doing so well,” Kerrick frowned, then looked at the sky, and back to Demona. “I know you hate me, but you know you needed my help.”

  The sky grew darker as the crescent moon was veiled by thick rolling clouds. They moved above and a light drizzle began to fall. The droplets were freezing on an already bitter night. When they touched Demona’s skin they felt like ice running over her body.

  “Psh,” Demona said. She shook her head, rolled her eyes, and turned to leave again.

  Kerrick grabbed her arm and spun her around. “Look, at least let me walk with you back to the group. Who knows how many demons are in town right now? The only thing on their minds is finding a host. We definitely don’t want any of them getting a hold of you and completing a possession.”