Demonic Designs (To Absolve the Fallen)

by Babbitt, Aaron

  “Some guy,” the lieutenant moved a few feet backwards, “about here, caught on fire.”

  “Caught on fire?”

  “Don’t ask me,” the lieutenant said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Those are the only two things they all agree on.”

  “So some guy burst into flames, and I guess that explains the pile of ash.”

  “Actually, no. The popular story is that (and here’s where it gets weird) the guy on fire battled the two men with guns. They were eventually consumed; he was extinguished, and then he just walked out.”

  “Who extinguished him?”

  “No one. The flames just died down as the two men were writhing in agony on the ground.”

  “Has anyone checked to see if there are drugs in the coffee?”

  The lieutenant raised his eyebrows. “Not yet.”

  “Are there any security cameras?” she asked, looking around for her answer.

  “Well,” the lieutenant pointed, “there was.”

  Up in one corner there was a scorch mark and melted plastic, dried to the wall. Sara walked over and examined the corner. There was a melted wire running into the wall.

  She pointed to the wire. “Where does this lead?”

  The least hysterical of the waitresses stepped forward. “It feeds into a VCR in the office.”

  “Well,” Sara noted with a sigh, “we may not be able to watch the incident, but we could see what happened prior to.” She looked to the lieutenant. “Try to find out if any of the cars in the parking lot belong to our gunmen. I guess that would be a good place to start. Then, see if there have been any sightings of a man with a flamethrower walking around Baltimore. We’ll also need to dust for fingerprints and get these guns to the lab. I’m going to find out what we have on video. Get everyone out of here.”

  She thought back to the boy nailed to the studs in his apartment. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the two scenes were connected.

  ***

  Alex put the car in park and looked at Matt. “I guess we’re here.”

  “Yes, we are,” Matt affirmed. “Do you remember where your classes are?”

  “Uh, I remember what my classes are but not where.”

  “This first day will probably be a little disorienting, but it’s okay. I’ll walk you to each of your classes. Hopefully, tomorrow, I won’t have to. It draws too much suspicion.”

  Alex nodded. “My first class is English, right?”

  “Yeah,” Matt said. “Your professor is Dr. Verias. Make sure to address her as doctor; they really hate it when high school kids come in calling them ‘Mrs.’.”

  “Okay.”

  Matt handed Alex a backpack. “Remember that everything you need for today is in here, including the toys I showed you earlier and what you will need for your classes. It may be best to avoid talking to anyone today. I mean, don’t be rude, but don’t start up any conversations you don’t have to, either. What’s your name?”

  “What?” Alex asked, perplexed.

  “What is your name,” Matt repeated.

  “Alex--”

  A scowl appeared on Matt’s face. “Wrong,” Matt hissed. “And a mistake like that could get you killed. Your name is Thomas Kinsfield. You are the only son of Robert Kinsfield. Say it.”

  “My name is Thomas Kinsfield.”

  “And?”

  “I’m the son of Robert Kinsfield.”

  “The only son,” Matt corrected. “And?”

  Alex looked away. “And a mistake like that could get me killed.”

  “Right,” Matt agreed. He wanted to be kind to Alex. He wanted to tell Alex that it would all be all right; he was in no danger. But that simply wasn’t true. “Give me your wallet.”

  Alex looked back at Matt, surprised, and reached for his wallet. Matt took it out of Alex’s hand and replaced it with a shiny black trifold. It felt like leather, and, to Alex’s surprise, it was scuffed up some.

  “There’s four hundred dollars cash in here, along with three major credit cards. There’s also a driver’s license and social security card in here. I hope you won’t need your new social security number today, but I’d suggest that you learn it quickly. You will also find other odds and ends in here that will make it seem more realistic.” Matt smiled and added, “Including pictures of me and Liz.”

  Alex opened the trifold, sifted through the different credit cards, membership cards, and identification cards, and found two familiar, smiling faces. He smiled, too.

  “Remember,” Matt continued, “your dad...What’s his name?”

  “Robert Kinsfield,” Alex answered immediately.

  “Correct. He’s a real estate tycoon. He owns a great deal of the Las Vegas Strip, and he is very influential in many circles. His name might be known to your classmates and professors. If anyone asks you about him, be vague. No one should have any reason to doubt your stories, and no one you will be in contact with has met him personally.” He handed Alex a piece of paper. “This has your cell phone number, your social security number, your license plate number, and your address on it. This is for quick reference, but get these things memorized. Any other important phone numbers you can find in your phone.” With that, he handed Alex the cell phone, palm pilot, and laptop.

  “Okay,” Alex said. He found room for the laptop in his backpack, and he stuck the other two devices in his pockets.

  Matt popped open his door and said, “Let’s go.”

  Matt explained that the building they were headed to was a bit of a walk. They had parked where they did because it was pretty close to the building the last class was in. He said that they would experiment with different lots, but today, this one would have to do.

  “Oh,” Matt added, “I almost forgot to tell you. We’ll be meeting with Abbie today, after school. You don’t start her class until tomorrow, but you will be training with her today.”

  Alex nodded, silently.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s too much.”

  “I know,” Matt agreed. “But soon you’ll find your niche, and it will all come natural to you.”

  “I hope so.”

  They came to a brick, square, rather dull-looking building.

  “Well,” Matt said, “this is it. I’ll be waiting right here for you when your class is over. Then, we go to Philosophy together. That ought to be fun.”

  ***

  Jeremiah stepped out of the car. “I’m glad you decided to show, Dylan,” he commented.

  “Like I could avoid you for long,” the young man replied.

  His closely cut black hair, along with his dark complexion revealed a partially-Latino heritage. The tight, stonewashed jeans and bright, yellow t-shirt accentuated his tall and slim figure. His face was round—childlike—but the features on it were sharp. His eyes resembled those of a marijuana smoker, half closed. The eyes and the way his mouth would hang, slightly agape, while he concentrated often made him look confused. But the pothead look and the sense of confusion were very misleading. Behind that innocent-looking face was a calculating intelligence—and a deadly power.

  He was leaning against his own car in the middle of a deserted parking lot, looking almost bored.

  “Well, it’s time,” Jeremiah said, shortly. He lit up a cigarette, indicating that he would probably be there for a little while.

  “Is it? What time is it, Jeremiah? Is it time for me to lay down everything and follow you into the depths of Hell? ...So to speak.” He smiled, quite amused by the whole spectacle.

  “I should hope it doesn’t go that far,” Jeremiah stated.

  “Me, too. So am I to go with you to your mansion in Vegas? I’ve never been there. It seems a little warm for my blood.” He grunted a small laugh.

  “That’s cute.” Jeremiah chuckled as well at the inside joke.

  “I think I’m cute in general,” Dylan replied.

  “Have any problems lately?” Jeremiah asked.

  “None that I couldn’t handle. They
haven’t felt the need to send any demons after me. Two guys broke into my apartment and waved guns around. I guess they didn’t know the extent to which my power could affect them. I think they wanted to bring me to Metatron. Maybe they thought that since I was one of yours, I could give them valuable information—after a little torture. They didn’t kill me—a mistake on their part.”

  Jeremiah leaned against Dylan’s car, too. “Well...what happened?”

  Dylan laughed. “They told me to come with them ‘nice and easy.’ I acted weak and helpless until they touched me.”

  Jeremiah took a long drag off of his cigarette. “And then?”

  “What do you mean ‘and then?’ Then, I burned them from the inside out. I think the first guy’s heart exploded before he realized what was going on. The second guy took a little longer to die. Not much, though. His eyes popped. I had to leave; I don’t think the landlady would have been too keen on the idea of my being there after she found the bloody mess.”

  Jeremiah started laughing. “They should have done their homework. Really. Making physical contact...”

  Dylan grew somber. “I don’t want to die, Jeremiah. This time, I could handle it. But if they had sent a demon, I don’t think I could have fought him off.”

  Jeremiah placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “That’s why you should come to the mansion. It’s as safe I as can make it.”

  “I could meet your new protégé.”

  “Alex.”

  Dylan nodded. “I kept thinking you would come get me. I kept thinking that I was at least that important to you. Why did you just leave me on my own for so long?”

  “Dylan, I didn’t mean to,” Jeremiah said. “And I thought you were safe enough where you were. I am here, aren’t I?”

  “It’s been almost four years since I last saw you. You were working with that...oh, what’s his name?... Matt.”

  “Yeah. Matt’s there.”

  “Oh. So, he could stay with you, but I had to live out on my own?”

  Jeremiah shook his head. “You had a job to do.”

  “I know. I know. But that kid couldn’t have been protected by someone else?”

  The demon threw his cigarette on the ground and snuffed it. “I knew I could trust you. Besides, you were never alone. You had assistance, if you should ever need it.”

  “Great lot of help that was. Those assholes could have killed me. Who else was assigned to David?”

  “Some friends,” Jeremiah answered. “Friends who were probably looking for demons and didn’t even notice two mortals. They told me you had left. So, I thought I’d look you up.”

  “Jeremiah, that was almost four months ago. You certainly took your time looking me up. Had I known that there was someone else assigned to him, I guess I would have told them, but you never bothered to reveal that to me. ...Prophets?”

  “Four of them,” Jeremiah said.

  “Four? And I never sensed them?”

  “You probably did, but you didn’t take any notice of them. None of you were ever all in the same place. I made very sure that you remained incognito.”

  “You think the five of us could have taken a demon?”

  “I think there’s more than a good chance,” Jeremiah affirmed.

  “Are they going to be able to protect the boy without me?” Dylan smirked.

  “You think you’re that important?” the demon queried.

  “I would like to think so. I did take two of Metatron’s goons by myself.”

  Jeremiah cocked his eyebrow. He decided not to pursue the issue any further. “I summoned them to Nevada, too.”

  Dylan’s face turned serious. “You put so much into that project. Do you really think that five-year-old boy will be able to defend himself against Metatron?”

  “No,” Jeremiah replied. “But I don’t think that he will be a target. Metatron is more focused on what’s happening in Las Vegas at the moment. Besides, David isn’t my concern anymore. After this little to-do, I’m done. Let Abbie protect him.”

  “She’ll like that,” Dylan laughed. “A going away present. Why is he so important, anyway? He’s too young to help in this battle.”

  “Evidently, this isn’t what he was meant for. Whatever he does will be after my time. I was just told to make sure he didn’t die. Now, though, I need those prophets a little closer to the mansion. He’ll just have to do with the mortal guards I left for him.”

  “Your mortal guards are inept, at best. Let’s hope you’re right that Metatron isn’t concerned with him. Anyway, I don’t think anyone realizes that the kid is important, yet. Mine was the only attack I know of, and it was directed at me.”

  “Well, that’s all over now,” Jeremiah said. “Are you going to join us for the party?”

  “I don’t know,” Dylan teased. “You did leave me.”

  “Get in the car,” Jeremiah ordered.

  “Are you going to take me there?”

  Jeremiah nodded. “We have some stops to make, but I could use the conversation. And, I have some pretty interesting stories to tell you, too.”

  “After four years, you’d better.” Dylan laughed. “What are we going to do with my car?”

  Jeremiah turned and looked at it. He pulled out another cigarette and lit it. “I don’t care,” he replied as he took the initial drag. “Leave the keys in it, and leave the doors unlocked. It’ll make someone a nice gift.”

  Dylan shrugged and walked with Jeremiah toward the other car. “You’re a weird fuck. You know that, right?”

  “We’ve talked about your use of that word,” Jeremiah chided. “I really don’t like it.”

  “But it’s so versatile.” Dylan thought for a moment. “I remember the first time I met you. You had actually tallied the number of times I said it that day.”

  “Yeah,” Jeremiah agreed. “That’s a habit of mine.”

  ***

  “It looked like I surprised the hell out of him when I started talking about Descartes’s Evil Genius Argument, didn’t it?” Matt asked, chuckling as he and Alex walked out of the Philosophy building and made their way toward the Psychology Department.

  “Yeah, I guess,” Alex responded. His head was still swimming. His fear that he might not be able to handle it all had been confirmed when the Philosophy teacher explained some of the projects they would be completing throughout the semester.

  Matt clapped Alex on the back. “What’s wrong? You aren’t getting overwhelmed, are you?”

  “Kinda.”

  “Well, don’t,” Matt said. “That course is going to be a piece of cake. I doubt you’ll hear anything in that class that you haven’t already thought about. You’re a smart kid. He acts all pompous, thinking that he’ll run off the weak ones and have less papers to grade, but you just hang in there.” Matt chuckled. “You can ask Abbie about some of the things he talks about. She’s been around long enough to remember when some of those philosophies came into being.”

  “I’m kind of scared to talk to her,” Alex admitted.

  “You’d be an idiot if you weren’t. She takes a little while to warm up to, but she’s the greatest ally you could wish to have, and she’s a fantastic teacher. Don’t worry about it.”

  Alex’s head turned as he noticed the girl he’d seen the previous day. She was walking the other way, and, as she passed them, she made eye contact—if only for a moment—with Alex. He felt his heart almost stop beating. She was so beautiful. Alex stopped walking and followed her with his eyes. Matt also stopped walking.

  A scowl appeared on his face. “It won’t do for you to ogle her if you plan to hook up with Liz.”

  “What?” Alex asked, almost dazed.

  Matt shook Alex by the shoulder. “Wake up. We were doing something.”

  Alex looked back to him, confused, and nodded.

  “Jesus,” Matt exclaimed, disgustedly. “I thought you were going to start humping her leg.”

  Alex could feel his ears getting red. “There’s just somethi
ng...”

  “Yeah,” Matt replied. “I know what it is. Look, are you going to be able to stand next to some pretty girl without creaming your jeans? It’s called finesse, man.”

  Embarrassment gave way to a defensive anger. “I don’t need relationship advice from you,” Alex could hear himself saying.

  Matt looked positively stunned. “What?”

  Alex couldn’t believe he’d said it. He felt it, but his mouth had just made a move he hadn’t been counting on. He mentally attributed it to the stress. “Nothing,” was his reply.

  “Oh, no,” Matt insisted. “If you have something to say, by all means...”

  “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “Yes,” Matt corrected, “you did. I suppose that, because I’m gay, I can’t understand things the way you do?”

  Alex’s eyes went wide. “I didn’t say that.”

  “Well, what were you saying?”

  Alex felt like he was being cornered. He started looking around him. In his experience, loud arguments were often the best ways to draw attention. “Let’s not talk about this,” he said, lowering his voice.

  Matt hadn’t missed Alex looking around. “What?” he shouted. “Am I embarrassing you?”

  “You’re making a scene,” Alex responded, resuming the walk toward the Psychology building. It didn’t take him long to realize he was walking alone. He turned and Matt wasn’t even looking at him.

  “C’mon, Matt,” Alex pleaded. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  Matt shook his head. “Dr. Martin’s expecting you, Tom. You’d better go talk to her. I’ll meet you back at the apartment later tonight.” And he walked away in the opposite direction.

  Alex watched him walk away, trying to figure out what had just happened. Matt was far too sensitive. Alex knew that he hadn’t meant to be offensive, but Matt didn’t want to hear it. He supposed that there was nothing more he could do. He turned and walked to Abbie’s office.

  ***

  “Come in,” Abbie said after the knock on her door.

  The door opened, and Alex was standing there. She smiled warmly at him, but she could sense that there was something wrong. Then, she noticed that Matt was not with him. She motioned for Alex to sit in a chair by the table.