by Megan Hepler
“This is a really beautiful place.”
“You are very beautiful,” Kearne said. “What are you doing out here all alone?”
“I came for a walk. I heard you singing and thought I would see where that amazing voice was coming from.”
“Thank you for the compliment,” Kearne said. “I bet you have a beautiful voice yourself.”
“I don’t sing,” Demona said. He reminds me of Felix.
“Well I am sure I can teach such a lovely lady, as you, to sing in just mere seconds.”
“That sounds good!”
Kearne drew closer to her. He smelled of honeysuckles on a warm summer day. Kearne stood in front of her. Demona knew that if it was not for the charm around her neck she would have done anything to be close to him. She stared him in the eyes and felt the charm convulse against her skin.
Kearne placed his hand over her lower ribs. “Here.” His handed lingered on her stomach. “Breathe in and sing from here.”
She looked him straight in the eyes. Kearne you are suave. I bet you have done this trick hundreds of times.
Kearne reached up to brush her cheek with his long elegant fingers. With the touch Demona felt the charm convulse again. Even with the protection charm, she felt the desire to be near him, smell his scent, listen to him, and touch him.
Kearne must have noticed with that touch that Demona was not a living being. He hesitated for a moment and smiled at her. She wondered if he could seduce any woman… alive or the living dead.
Demona slipped the charm out of her pocked and around one of her wrists. Demona leaned in ready to kiss him and reached up with both hands as if to pull his face closer to hers. She managed to quickly put her other hand around the charm’s chain and slip it over his head.
The impulse to actually kiss him was starting to take over. Demona managed to retrieve the vial from her other pocket, uncorked it, and quickly drank the lukewarm liquid inside. Slowly she felt the potion spread throughout her body and what little control she had lost she had regained once more.
Kearne stood there humbly looking at her. The charm lay gently against his chest, a look of contentment was visible across his face.
“Alright Kearne, we’re going back to the parking lot. You first,” Demona said.
They continued to walk along the trail through the park.
“I love singing,” Kearne said.
“That’s great,” Demona replied.
“It makes me feel so joyful. I started singing when I was very young.”
“Keep going.” Demona nudged him forward.
“I am going to teach you to sing. You will sound like the beautiful humming of the bees wings as they labor hard at work.
“We’re almost to the car now.” Does he ever shut up?
Kearne skipped. “Wonderful! Does the radio work?”
“No!”
“That’s a shame. I’m sure I knew the lyrics to every song playing. Maybe I can fix the radio.”
“Get in the car Kearne.”
Kearne went to the passenger side door and began to open it. “Okay!”
“No, the back seat. Ugh!”
Kearne climbed in the back seat and began to whistle. His whistling was responded by several bird calls. Some fluttered into the trees nearby and chirped along with him.
Demona stood against the side of the car and waited for Kerrick to return.
“What a lovely summer day,” Kearne said. He stuck his head through the open car window.
Demona continued to try to ignore him as she had for the entire walk back to the car. He sat and chatted idly, and sang nonstop while they waited for Kerrick.
“You’re eyes are worthy of poems,” Kearne said.
Demona was becoming worried about Kerrick. What is taking him so long? “Kearne. Do not move a muscle from that spot,” Demona said. She walked down the path in pursuit of Kerrick.
She soon found herself at the location where she and Kerrick had separated and turned in the direction that Kerrick had gone. She walked farther and farther into the dimly lit forest. The tree canopy covered the sky above her. Crickets and birds chirped all around. Demona walked farther along the path. Where is he?
As she walked along the path, her pants got snagged on a pricker bush. She bent down to free herself. That was when she noticed tiny fish bones scattered about the forest floor. Demona began to get an eerie feeling with the sight of them. She knew she needed to continue on her way more cautiously than she had before.
A few more yards down the path and she spotted more white bones scattered about. Some of them were not just fish bones, but larger animals. Kerrick you better be alive!
She crept down the trail for fear that making a noise might alert the wrong creature to her presence. She soon began to hear crashing sounds as if something tore through the trees ahead. As she continued a foul smell filled her nostrils. She noticed bits of rotting flesh still clung to several of the skeletal structures.
Demona sprinted quietly to the nearest wide tree trunk and peaked around. She saw Kerrick down on the ground. He coughed and blood splattered from his mouth. Demona heard, whatever creature had done this, was coming in their direction. It made such a ruckus that Demona dared to yell out to Kerrick.
“Kerrick!” Demona said. His head snapped up in response to his name. “Kerrick!”
This time Kerrick was able to locate her voice. He looked at her. Owe! Demona groaned as she saw his face. Kerrick looked as if he had been someone’s punching bag. A dark blue bruise covered the left side of his face. His clothes were torn in various locations. Kerrick managed to get to his knees.
“There’s a scroll somewhere over there,” Kerrick said. He pointed to a patch of brush growing on the other side of the path. “And a vial. Uncork it and recite the incantation, before this thing whips me to death.”
Kerrick’s kataphraktos reflected the small beams of sunlight that shone through the trees.
Whatever had done this to him must have been very strong.
The crashing noises continued and Demona jogged in the direction Kerrick had pointed towards before. After a few moments of frantically searching, she found the scroll and the vial. Kerrick must have dropped them, because the vial had a tiny crack running up the side and dirt smeared the scroll. She unbound the string that held the scroll closed and gently pulled the cork from the bottle so as not to cause the crack to spread. Demona looked at the words as the crashing noises grew threateningly close.
Demon of darkness, listen to me.
Hear my command and leave us be.
Reduce thy strength and condense thy form.
Fill the bottle, thy force will conform.
As she finished reading the incantation, a monstrous being thrashed through the trees. The ground shook with every impact of his feet. The giant’s arms flailed and sent splintered branches flying across the already demolished forest. The creature stood as tall as the trees and as wide as three people. It looked almost human, but his head was wider than a human’s. It wore an animal fur loin cloth and leather sandals. A stench filled the forest fouler than that of the rotting flesh.
The giant froze as it emerged into its clearing. A dead deer was slung over its shoulder. It searched for Kerrick in the dim lighting. The giant had not noticed Demona yet, but it focused its attention to Kerrick who now stood only a few yards from its left.
Kerrick limped to a tree in an effort to hide. The giant roared as he moved away. It crouched as if ready to spring in Kerrick’s direction. Demona hastily looked down at the incantation and began to read. With the sound of her voice the giant became aware of her presence. In a rage the giant charged in her direction when it saw Demona as a new threat.
She finished the incantation as the giant grew closer and began to slow its strides. Demona thought something was wrong with her eyes as the giant began to fade into a gray swirling mist. When the whole figure of the giant was gone and the swirling mist was left it flowed in her direction. Demona
backed away, but soon realized that the substance began to fill the vial in her hand. With the last of the swirling mist in the bottle, Demona placed the cork in place.
She looked at Kerrick slumped against a tree and ran to his side. He peered up at her through one eye while the other was swollen shut.
“Thank you for the help,” Kerrick said.
“What the heck was that?” Demona asked.
“That was a nephilim demon. I wasn’t expecting to find something like that hiding in a national park. Can you help me up? I’m tuckered out.”
Demona assisted Kerrick back to his feet and they made their way slowly to the parked car. Demona and Kerrick approached the vehicle to find Kearne still inside. He was in the same spot she had left him.
“My beautiful lady has returned,” Kearne said.
“Shut it, Kearne!” Demona said. She aided Kerrick to the passenger side of the car and helped him slide into the seat.
Chapter 13
Testing
Demona pulled up to TGHC’s back entrance. Kerrick had fallen asleep and she decided to let him rest. She ordered Kearne out of the car and to follow her into the building. They walked past the cafeteria and into the lobby. She stood by the elevator doors and waited for it to arrive. Kearne stood silently behind her without any argument.
“Hi Demona, is that your boyfriend?” Persephone asked. She and Claudia had just emerged from the stairwell.
“Awe, he looks like a lost puppy,” Claudia said. She poked Kearne in the stomach.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Demona said. “We wouldn’t want to have to call a nurse witch for you.”
“Why would you need to do that?” Claudia asked.
“This gancanagh fairy secretes poison. One touch of his skin and you’ll fall helplessly in love with him. You will think of nothing else, but him, and eventually waste away to nothing. We wouldn’t want to have to call the nurse witch and explain that you had been harassing a field agent and a prisoner would we? Do you think Darius is going to approve a cure for you after such stupidity? You may be Marc’s favorite people, but I doubt Darius will permit your idiocy,” Demona said.
Claudia and Persephone stared at Demona with their mouths open.
Wow, they actually shut up for once. “Come on Kearne, get in the elevator,” Demona said.
They walked inside the elevator. Demona turned around to see Claudia and Persephone still staring at her.
Demona walked through the office as her former coworkers looked on and she puffed her chest out. She noticed a few people whispering as she passed with Kearne following behind.
I should come in here with a prisoner more often. Maybe this field agent thing is good for something after all.
Demona knocked on Darius’ door. She entered before she heard a response and Kearne tagged along behind her.
Startled by her abrasive entrance, Darius’ head shot up from his work. Darius’ usual calm and cool composure was not in check.
Demona thought she saw a look of annoyance and disapproval on his face. Demona strolled around the room. She peeked at the books neatly placed on the shelves along the side of the room. She read the names of authors that meant nothing to her. There were names such as Herodotus, Livy, Appian, and Xenophon. The collection of books seemed endless.
Why did it take me this long to realize that he needs me. Without me the dark beings are done for as soon as the prophecy is fulfilled. I’ve got to find out my worth. She turned back to Darius at his desk.
“How do I know I want to be on this side?” Demona asked.
“Why not? TGHC can offer you everything you ever wanted,” Darius said.
“Can they?”
“Certainly.”
“What about GLC? I’m sure they could too,” Demona said.
Darius grinned as he looked up at her. “I doubt that.”
“Kearne sit down,” Demona said. She sat in the chair across from Darius. Demona placed the vial containing the giant demon on the desk in front of her. “Maybe I should go meet them to find out for myself.”
“That lot is boring. All they do is worship their Aleph and spread joy. Let’s not forget that you are a dark being and that means you have a dark nature. You belong here, with TGHC.”
“What’s Aleph?”
“Aleph is an imaginary god. Trust me when I say that you will find nothing of interest with them.”
“You know, the more I hear about GLC the better it sounds,” Demona said. “Everyone keeps trying to convince me that they are horrible, but all I am hearing is that they are good and peaceful.”
“That is exactly what GLC wants. They would absolutely love to steal you away from me.”
“Then give me a good reason why they should be my enemies,” Demona said.
“There are things you do not understand, Demona.”
“See, you can’t give me a reason. All I know is that right now I have very few friends at TGHC. I don’t…have never fit in here.”
Darius sat like usual with his hands folded and expressionless.
“I’m starting to see that you don’t have a choice. If you want me on your side you’re going to have to make me happy, or I’ll go find this other side and see what they have to offer,” Demona said.
“Be careful Demona. Even I have limited patience. Do not get cheeky with me,” Darius said.
“Psh.” Demona said, “Anyway, I’m here to give my report.”
Darius leaned back and waited for her to begin.
“Kerrick and I were investigating that assignment you sent us on. You know the one with the fairy.” Demona pointed back to Kearne. “We separated, because Kerrick’s mageia was giving him a feeling. He sent me to take care of the Kearne while he went on ahead. Then, I captured him.” She was slouched in the chair. As she sat there she inspected her nails.
“Subdued me, she did,” Kearne said. He nodded his head.
“Shut it, Kearne,” Demona said. “I waited for Kerrick to get back, but he never came. So, I went looking for him. A nephilim demon attacked Kerrick. When I found him, he was barely able to get to his feet. As the demon was about to attack Kerrick for a second time I was able to read the incantation and trap it in the vial.” Demona pointed to the one she had put on the desk.
Darius glanced in its direction then returned his gaze to her. “My, it seems as if the once young uncooperative girl from the office has become an able field agent. Nice one, Demona. Where is Kerrick now?”
“In the car resting. I’m going to get our rations and take him home,” Demona said.
“Good. See that he has what he requires for healing tonight.” Darius’ usual sly smile had returned by now. “I will have Kearne taken to lockup and the demon dealt with. You may go, Demona. Have a good night.”
Darius pressed a button on his phone as Demona rose from her seat to leave. “Mara, have Agrippa come and get a prisoner from my office.”
“Yes, Mr. Grier. I will call down right away,” his secretary said.
****
Kerrick had slept the entire drive back to his house. Demona glanced at him slumped over in the passenger seat. Kerrick was badly injured, but a night of healing was all he required. They pulled up in front of his home and Kerrick woke. He groggily straightened himself in the seat.
Demona helped Kerrick to his door. The door creaked as it slammed behind them. Then, she helped him into the house and onto the living room sofa. She went back outside and grabbed their rations from the car. She returned to his house and closed the front door behind her.
Kerrick was seated in his living room; Demona handed him the rations. His face was mostly purple now and his swollen eye had only enlarged. After, Kerrick choked down his rations.
Demona watched him. “Okay... How much damage did it do?”
“I think I have a few broken ribs. Help me up to my room so we can wrap them,” Kerrick said. He groaned as he tried to stand. He had injuries just about everywhere.
Demona imagined that he was
pretty sore by now. She stood and promptly assisted him to his feet.
They slowly made their way up the steps, while Kerrick groaned each step of the way. They entered his bedroom and Demona helped him ease onto the bed. His room was just as sparsely furnished as the first floor. His double bed was without a headboard. There were no sheets covering the mattress, just an unzipped sleeping bag and a few pillows tossed on top. A wobbly night stand stood on one side of the bed and was stocked with copies of hunting magazines.
“There are bandages under the bathroom sink,” Kerrick said.
Demona went to the bathroom to search for them. The search did not take long, since they were the only things underneath the sink. After she found the bandage she returned to Kerrick’s side.
“I’m going to need you to wrap my chest, so that the bones will grow back properly,” Kerrick said.
Demona helped Kerrick remove his shirt. He groaned as she aided him in pulling his arms through the sleeves and pulling it over his head. His chest was bruised in several locations. Despite the bruises she could not help but admire him as she had done before. The scars did not even seem as predominate as they had when she first met him. Demona began to wrap Kerrick’s chest as he raised his arms slightly.
“This is a change,” Kerrick said. He watched Demona closely. “Usually, I am making sure you didn’t break anything.”
“Yet, I’m the one always saving your butt. It looks like my teacher needs a lesson on how not to leave your partner,” Demona said. She continued to wrap the bandage around his chest.
“Yes, I know,” Kerrick said.
“You aren’t invincible. We aren’t in some fantasy novel where vampires have super speed and heal immediately. You could’ve met telos.”
“I realize that. I have been doing this a lot longer than you have.”
“Do you? Sometimes I wonder. I know you’ve lost a lot of partners, but do you realize that you can die too? Just because you’ve made it through every other encounter with minor injuries doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to escape telos forever,” Demona said. “Yeah, I’m new to this stuff; at least I have an excuse for being careless.”