by Megan Hepler
“That is okay. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Thanks, yeah I’m okay,” Demona said. She began to thirst for blood and Hannah smelled good. Oh no! I forgot to get dinner rations! “Hey are you doing anything tonight?”
“Not much, just making dinner and watching some TV.”
“Well do you want to come over? I was going to order a pizza.”
“Sure, do you want me to bring anything over?”
“Yeah, do you have any wine?”
“Sure, I’ll just go grab some real quick.”
Demona closed the door behind Hannah. She was glad that Hannah had wine in her apartment, it would make the night bearable for her. Since human food held no sustenance for vampires Demona had been placed in a difficult situation. Luckily, one of the first things vampires are taught is to drink wine to prevent starvation. The wine acts as a blood thinner, to hold off the thirst before it becomes uncontrollable.
Demona went to call in an order of pizza. She remembered that Hannah’s favorite was pepperoni. Human food did not have any nutritional value for Demona anymore, but she liked to eat it and try to imagine what it tasted like. Just as she turned off her phone, Hannah was back with a bottle of white wine.
“Is this okay?” Hannah asked.
“That’s fine,” Demona said.
Demona opened the bottle and poured some wine into glasses for both her and Hannah. As they waited for the pizza to arrive they sat around the kitchen island chatting and sipping wine.
“Did you see the new guy who moved in on the fourth floor?” Hannah asked.
“No, but it looks like you did. Give me details,” Demona said. She rested her elbows on the kitchen island and she waited for Hannah’s response.
“He is so gorgeous!”
“And did you talk to this Mr. Gorgeous?”
“Not yet, but I’m going to. He also had a super cute friend helping him move some stuff in. Maybe I can arrange a double date?”
“Oh, no. I don’t date.”
“Come on, you need to get out. I never see you do anything, but work and sit around your apartment.”
“I’ll think about it. But, you need to talk to Mr. Gorgeous first. How do you even know he’s single?”
“You’re right… But I will find out.”
The pizza arrived and they made plates and went to sit on the sofa. Demona plugged her mp3 player into her laptop so that they could listen to some music.
“How are things at the animal shelter?” Demona took a gulp of wine and a nibble of the pizza.
“Pretty good, we had a really sweet black and white dog come in today. I wanted to bring her home so badly. It’s disappointing that we can’t have dogs here.”
“Yeah. I had this pretty realistic dream the other night about a dog. She was large and muscular. She had long, brindle fur. She was beautiful and powerful, with a big nose and floppy ears.”
“Awe. That kind of sounds like a Bouvier, not too many of those around.”
“Hmm…If you ever get one at the shelter would you let me know? I’d love to see if a Bouvier is like the dog from my dream.”
“Sure.”
Demona and Hannah talked a couple of hours longer before realizing the time. Hannah got ready to leave as Demona cleaned up from dinner.
“Don’t forget your wine,” Demona said. She grabbed the bottle as Hannah was about to walk out of the door.
“Save it for next time. Who knows, maybe we can finish it when I arrange that double date,” Hannah said.
“Ugh!”
Hannah laughed at Demona’s expression, as she closed the door.
Demona put the bottle of wine in her fridge and headed towards the balcony door. Demona sat in the dark staring at the brilliant stars that sparkled above. She could see the outline of the building around her in the moonlight. A couple of windows were illuminated from within the houses.
Then she remembered her earlier conversation with Darius. I just don’t believe it. There’s no way that I’m this woman from the prophecy.
Chapter 5
An Illegal Possession
Demona and Balen spent part of the day checking in on a witch who had broken probation, as well as some other trivial matters. Needless to say it was an uneventful day. Neither one of them had said much to one another. They finished their work and returned to Balen’s junker car.
Demona had been quiet all day and the silence between them continued. Demona stared out the window watching the blossoming trees flash by as they drove. She turned to look at Balen and studied him for a moment.
“I-I’m sorry,” Demona said.
“For what?” Balen asked. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
“I shouldn’t have been so rude to you yesterday.”
“You just found out about your mageia, that’s not easy. It was hard to control my feelings when I discovered mine. I was in a huff all of the time.”
“You have a mageia?”
“Yes, I can sense the future. I can’t see what is going to happen like with people who have premonitions. I get a sense about a situations I am about to deal with. It comes in handy with the job. It isn’t always accurate, and it’s still hard to determine what I’m feeling. It is easy to misread, but it gives me enough to know when I’m going into a sticky situation or when something dangerous is nearby. Like with Lobo, I could sense he was there and that we were going to have a row. I don’t think there is a proper term for my mageia. I just refer to it as instinct.”
Demona stared out the window as she listened to Balen. “That’s kind of cool.”
“It was not cool at first. It was confusing with all of the new senses. I had no idea where the mageia was coming from, or how to shut it off. Have you had any problems controlling yours?”
“No, I haven’t had any mageia uh… symptoms. That’s why I don’t think Darius knows what he’s talking about. If I’m so powerful, why don’t I experience it more? Why haven’t I destroyed stuff?”
“Well, maybe it’s from your fear of telos that you simply had a power surge. Sometimes mageia can be connected to emotions. It’s important to learn to control yourself and your mageia. You have a newly developed power, it can only get stronger from here on out.”
“We’ll see, but I still think Darius is full of it.”
“I have known Darius a long time. Believe me; he would not be informing you of his suspicions if he was not entirely certain. The evidence is against you. You have mageia whether you want it or not.”
They stopped at the field agent office to check for new cases. Agrippa had a file waiting for them and they returned to the car.
Demona flipped the file open on her lap. “There’s no picture.”
“It’s as impossible to take an image of a demon as it is a ghost. For one, they are nearly impossible to capture in a picture. The reason is that if you take an image of a demon it would only capture the form of the energy. Demons are not corporeal, they have no body. It’s just concentrated energy that we see, unless they have taken a human host,” Balen said.
Name: Lilith Ewen
Age: 173
Species: Lilitu Demon
Description: Lilith is extremely beautiful. Her skin is light with a pinkish tint. Her eyes are amber and her hair is black. She stands about five foot tall.
In demon form, Lilith is heinous, almost unbearable to look at. She stands no higher than three foot tall. Her eyes are a fiery red and she has patches of white hair growing at random lengths from her head. She has an unmistakable appearance.
Other Notes: Lilith is a trickster. Men can be seduced by one look at Lilith in either appearance; this makes the process of possession almost instantaneous. All male soldiers are required to wear a resistance charm when sent on a case involving Lilith. Females are a little luckier, but Lilith can be very welcoming to the female gender. While in her human form she can lure in anyone with her charm. Though, in her demon form women will be repulsed and see h
er for what she is, making possession more of a challenge for Lilith. Whatever your gender, Lilith is a deceiver. Do not be fooled by anything she does!
Lilith sounds like trouble.
Demona flipped through the other pages. She read that Lilith was to be brought in for failure to register multiple possessions. Some resulted in the death of her captives, by failed exorcisms. If it were impossible to bring her in alive, execution was necessary. Under no circumstances was she allowed to escape.
“Where is she?” Demona asked.
“Agrippa said that there was a call from a witch about an hour ago. He said that he walked in on a possession,” Balen said.
“Everything I’ve heard about demons is bad. Is it true that they follow another type of being? Do you think this will be dangerous?”
“Demons work for a higher power; we don’t call it by any name. It is one that is far more sinister than any of the dark beings working for TGHC, or those residing in Terra Hollow. Assignments are always dangerous; you can never be over prepared. Lilith is good at what she does and many agents have failed to bring her in, losing their lives in the process.”
“Who’s to say we’ll have any more luck?”
“I have had a hundred years of field experience. You’re a young vampire who has developed her mageia earlier than most. Darius would not have sent us on this assignment if he didn’t think we could handle it.” Balen turned the car down a desolate road.
Shivers ran down Demona’s spine as she looked up at an abandoned building surrounded by barren trees. The building towered over its surroundings in its forsaken state. Bricks crumbled across the front and broken windows dotted the entire building. It had clearly been abandoned for quite some time.
“I was right to come prepared. Lilith is still here and it feels like she is nearing completion of the possession,” Balen said.
When they got out of the car, Balen handed her a vial full of clear liquid.
“What’s this?” Demona asked.
“Holy water, it won’t hurt you. Demons or any other dark creature cannot be harmed by holy water, but demons fear the idea of it. It’s a phobia. It may help to stop her from continuing the process,” Balen said. Then, he pulled out several charms and put them in his pocket and he placed one around his neck.
“Is that a resistance charm?” Demona asked.
“Yes, it helps to resist her influence. Try to stay calm while we are in there, don’t do anything irrational and try to listen to my orders. There will be no need to be quiet. Lilith will be too busy controlling her victim to hear us coming. Do not believe anything she says, no matter what.”
They entered the building through a side door which led to a stair well. They climbed up the creaky wooden stairs, until they reached the third story. Balen stopped in the stairwell before continuing any farther.
“One more thing, if I would happen to fall under her control call for reinforcements.” Balen tossed her a cell phone. “One is speed dial to Darius’ personal phone. Tell him we are in trouble and he’ll know what to do.”
Balen started through the door with Demona close behind. They stood in the large gutted room. There was nothing in sight. Balen pointed to a doorway on the other side of the room. “They are there.”
They proceeded across the room and into the next. Demona spotted a young man’s body that lay askew on the floor. He was bleeding and bruised.
Lilith hovered over him in her demon form. Her bright red eyes were open wide and her lips moved as she worked to posses the young man.
“I’ll distract her. Try to drag him to safety,” Balen said. “We need to break the spell first. Use your mageia.”
“Are you insane? I don’t have a mageia.”
“Demona, think about that boy laying there. If we don’t break this spell he is going to die. You need to use your mageia!”
I guess I have to prove that the powers don’t exist. “Fine, what do you want me to do?”
“Concentrate on Lilith. Look at what she has done. Think about how you would feel if he died, because of her. Use those emotions to push Lilith with your mageia.”
Demona put her hands out in Lilith’s direction as if wind would shoot out of her palms. After a minute she dropped her hands to her side. “This is pointless.”
“You are not trying! Close your eyes and concentrate! We are running out of time!”
Demona closed her eyes and stuck her arms out once more. In her mind, she visualized the man lying on the floor. She could not allow someone to die, because she chose not give her mageia a chance, even if it was not real. After minutes of silence, Demona heard a roaring wind.
“Good!”
Demona’s eyes flew open. It was just in time to see Lilith’s body being slammed against the wall by a forceful wind. The possession had been broken.
Lilith rose back into the air where she floated and regained her composure. Her head turned in their direction and she focused her eyes on Balen. Her form began to change. Her skin smoothed and new black hair fell from her scalp. Her body filled out in all of the right places. Lilith had taken the form of a beautiful young woman. Lilith was physically perfect in every way, and it made Demona feel homely in comparison.
“Why don’t you come a little closer, Kerrick? Together you and I can do anything!” Lilith said.
“No, Lilith. You need to stop attempting this possession and come with me. Under Darius’ orders, I am to bring you in,” Balen said.
“But Mr. Balen, I just want to have a little fun. Don’t you?” Lilith asked.
Demona could see that even with the resistance charm Balen was fighting against Lilith’s siren. His kataphraktos rippled across his body, but never fully took hold. Balen struggled against the temptation and he reached into his pocket and brought out another vial of holy water.
Lilith spotted it and shrieked. Her human form lowered towards the ground and she backed away from him.
“Kerrick, my love I know you are in pain, I know you are lonely. Throw that vial away and come to me I will make it all go away. Let me help you. Just come to me and everything will be okay, the world will be yours,” Lilith said. She reached for Balen to embrace her.
Balen moved toward Lilith and made a signal with his hands for Demona to go to the young man. He kept the vial of holy water in his hand outstretched.
As Demona reached the young man she saw he was unconscious. She checked to see if any bones had been broken before grabbing both of his arms and began dragging him away.
Lilith suddenly shot into the air, once again in her demon form. “NO! The innocent is mine!” She rushed at Demona and knocked her across the room.
“Are you okay?” Balen asked.
His fangs and nails had lengthened with his rage. The silvery metallic kataphraktos quickly took hold this time and coated his body where his pale skin had been. Balen threw the vial of the holy water in Lilith’s direction. She quickly moved out of the way.
“Fine, get her under control or I won’t be able to get him out!” Demona said.
Balen approached Lilith as she spun to face him, once again in her human form.
“I know what you desire, Kerrick. I can make your dreams come true,” Lilith said.
“You are only making this more difficult for yourself. I will be forced to destroy you if you do not obey the orders,” Balen said. He faltered. His kataphraktos rippled as if it were uncertain of being in fight mode or not.
“I do not follow Darius. Kerrick, my love, don’t you see. I follow someone more wonderful and perfect. He can give you anything and everything you desire. Embrace me and I can show you his wonders. Come to me and you will never have to fight again. You can have your body back the way it was long ago. You can have me,” Lilith said. She rubbed her hands up and down her body.
Balen reached to embrace Lilith.
Demona took advantage of the opportunity. She was across the room and next to the young man within a second. She grabbed both of his arms and dragged him o
ut of the room to safety. She managed to get him to the top of the stairwell, when she heard screams and crashes coming from behind her.
Demona knelt beside the man protectively. She was not sure what was happening in the other room, but she hoped that Balen was able to resist Lilith. She looked at the young man; he was exceedingly handsome. His dark brown hair was a mess and she found herself sweeping it away from his face. Demona reached to check his pulse, his heartbeat was strong. She studied his face for a moment, while listening to the crashes coming from the other room. It did not look like he would wake up anytime soon, so she left him to return to Balen’s aid.
Balen was wrestling with Lilith. It looked like he was fighting to keep himself away from her and at the same time wanting to give in.
“What should I do?” Demona asked.
“The holy water… show it to her!” Balen said.
“Hey, Lilith I have some nice blessed holy water for you,” Demona shook the vial in the air.
Lilith’s eyes darted to Demona. She released Balen from her grasp. Lilith returned once again to her human form.
“You don’t want to hurt me child. I’m harmless,” Lilith said. She was completely distracted by Demona and the holy water. Lilith turned her back to Balen and he gained his footing.
Demona could tell his will was failing, despite the resistance charm. The length of time in Lilith’s presence was wearing him thin. Demona uncorked the bottle and flung the water. Lilith quickly backed away.
“You will not stop me!” Lilith said. She once more rose into the air and flew across the room behind them.
Both Balen and Demona spun in the direction Lilith had gone. She was already facing them by the time they had turned around.
Lilith raised her hand quickly and the door they had come through slammed shut. “You’re not leaving here alive!”
“We need to do something fast. I can’t take much more of this. She is so beautiful!” Balen said. His expression was one of emotional agony.
“She’s hideous!” Demona said. “Should I call for back up?”
“No, we may still have a chance,” Balen went to the door and tried to pull it open, to make sure their escape route was still available. “It’s jammed. Lilith just cut off our exit.”