“So how long are we going to be out on the sidelines? You pulled me over here for a reason. What are we going to do?”
“For now, we wait. Abby and Roc are pretty beat, so they’re calling it quits for the rest of the day. At least that’s what they said. We’ve been firing on all cylinders orchestrating the raid and handling everything that came with it, and now with that witch racking up bodies, we need to pump our breaks before we do something irrational. That witch is counting on us not finding him, and that’s something we can’t let happen. We’re going to meet up with them tomorrow evening at seven, pending developments in the case. Be here about five so we can carpool. I’ll drive. That sound okay? Your expression changed. What’s on your mind?”
"What if this guy wants to be found? Like, how does a covert killer all of the sudden make such a critical mistake, and also so close to where there's been a lot of supernatural activity. He has to know that hunters are around… What if he's doing it to get to us?”
"That's always a chance, but having a duo as resourceful as Abby and Roc is hard to come by. You have to consider that Roc wasn't making that much progress until Abby came along, and then, on top of that, there are hunters in every state. If he's fishing for monster hunters, he would have been better off tracking other supernatural events and ambushing us. All of these guys are just as resourceful as us. If they weren't, the world would have found out about them centuries ago."
"True... I'm just worried. I don't like the thought of an unseen enemy."
"Neither do I...but we're going to change that once we find him and figure out what his endgame is. Demons are the only ones who kill just to kill."
"Fair point. Maybe this guy’s possessed.”
“Maybe, Sailor. We’ll figure out soon enough.”
“Yeah, we will.”
“Tyson’s picking up where you left off, so you’re free to go if you want to rest up before tomorrow. I think we’re good here for the night.”
“Okay, yeah, I’ll be on my way. Did anyone tell you about what happened today?”
“With Janelle?” Blaze furrows his brow. “Yeah, it got back to me. Multiple times, actually,” he confesses.
“How do you feel about it?”
“I honestly don’t know. I can see where she’s coming from, and she has every right to feel that way, it’s just that having that kind of bravado along with it can be dangerous. I don’t want her getting hurt or leading others to their deaths.”
“Same. She was giving off the same vibes when I was talking to her in her room… Do you really think she’ll go through with it?”
“Now, no. But nothing’s stopping her from going all out the second she’s made a full recovery. Hell, maybe sooner. It’s not our job to police people, Sailor. When we send her on her way, she can do whatever she wants. All I ask is that she’s educated before making the jump. I have her set up with some contacts that volunteered to check in on her and reach out to her if she needs anything. If she’s going to hunt monsters, we at least want to make sure she’s doing it right. It’ll save her a lot of heartache, and possibly her life.”
“I agree. Another thing…”
“Yeah? What’s on your mind, Ray?”
“You okay? I know a lot’s going on.”
“No lie, I was going to ask you the same thing. I’m fine. I’m just stressed, but what else is new? There’s a lot going on, and we’re all trying to keep it together. But other than that, I’m good. You doing okay?”
“For the most part, yeah. A little roughed up from last night, but it’s good to be back on the horse.” We’ve known each other for years, but we still keep secrets. I can tell something’s bothering him still, and I haven’t exactly come clean about my own shit. I guess that’s just the way it is with us. Now isn’t the right time. It never is. There’s a witch in the wind and we’re dealing with the fallout from breaking up a supernatural trafficking ring. Out of all the things that can possibly take precedence, our feelings don’t rank high on the list. It’s a vicious cycle but we do it for the good of the team.
Bury it down, and hope it goes away. Live to hunt another day.
Chapter 10: Vagabond
You can’t run from me forever, Ms. Ray. I’ll find you, and when I do, there are matters that must be addressed. You betrayed me, and for that, you must be punished.
“Vartal!” I grab for my gun and aim it directly in front of me, in hopes to slay the insidious bastard once and for all. I almost pull the trigger at the patch of darkness in my room, but I come to my senses and realize that no one’s there. It was another nightmare. Fuck.
This time, it was Vartal sitting on some kind of throne, talking to me telepathically with a creepy smile. That couldn’t have been him, right? We’ve been able to communicate telepathically before, but under special circumstances. Is he getting stronger? My room’s warded… No. It couldn’t have been. I place my Beretta on my nightstand and run my fingers through my hair, ignoring the sweat beaded across my forehead. Even when I sleep it doesn’t really feel like I’m sleeping. My mind’s in overdrive looking for closure.
After getting up to get some water, I climb back in bed, determined to put my nightmare behind me.
In time, I manage to suppress my feelings towards Vartal’s return, but another string of thoughts come to replace it. The raid we did…Janelle and her future…Blaze…everything comes to a head while I’m vulnerable from my lack of sleep. Rather than deal with it, I force myself out of bed and make my way to my laptop. From there, I start my own search based on the information that Roc, Abby, and Blaze were able to tell me involving the recent string of killings. I started with the case on the playing card, and then I did some digging on the one with the teddy bear. Of course, both of the stories checked out. Roc isn’t one to lie, but what’s interesting is what people are saying over the net about these cases. They aren’t people of substantial status, so to say, but information wise, sometimes the paranormal bloggers and forums members have information we usually don’t have access to like photos or leads. It’s the internet so there’s a lot of nonsense you have to sort through, but sometimes, it’s worth it. Abby and Roc most likely hit up all of the spots I usually frequent, but it’d be nice to get some of the information myself instead of waiting for them to disclose. There’s always a chance that I can catch something that they didn’t and it’s more effective to browse the net than speak to people in real life whenever it’s possible. Pulling information without asking questions is just a matter of doing a thorough investigation. When these things happen away from technology, it gets more complicated. Demons have been known to frequent the scenes of their crimes and the surrounding areas, for example. They’re extremely prolific when it comes to keeping their secrets safe. It’s nothing to them to track down anyone who knows anything and make sure they’re silenced…so Vartal…fuck. I’m at it again. I’ve got to put an end to this. It’s going to drive me insane.
I scoot my stack of books on demonology closer to move my laptop out of the way. I stare at the first book in my stack and shake my head as I open it up with my custom-made bookmark—a sheet of paper with the symbol Vartal branded me with. I scoff at my choice, but what’s even funnier is that even in death the bastard still haunts me. Taunts me even. It’s like a never-ending cruel joke, and I’m the only one that gets it.
As I read, my eyes begin to gloss over the pages. I’m tired, but not tired enough. It’s not even my body at this point. It’s my mind. I can’t concentrate, and there’s no way I’m going to be able to go back to sleep. I glance at my clock and realize that sunrise is only a few hours away. If by miracle I was able to get some shuteye, it wouldn’t even do much in the bigger scope of things. My gaze drifts downward at the demonic mark and settles on the center of the insignia. If Vartal’s really back, I’m sure some of the other demons would have heard it by now. It’s worth a shot, and if I come up empty handed, at least I’m doing something other than twiddling my thumbs and playing the victi
m.
****
“Does this mean anything to you?” I hold the symbol up to the demon, my hand trembling with rage. I’d been able to get the upper hand on him, but not without a struggle. Capturing demons isn’t nearly as easy as it once was. Even though I got the jump on him, things are different when it comes to showing enough restraint to subdue something rather than kill it. The second they realize your intent, they’re in it for blood. It’s actually worse than that. They don’t have to realize it. They’re predators, so if you look the part, it’s in their nature to try and exploit you, whatever your weakness may be.
“I don’t know anything, I already told you! Please, let me go. I’m scared. I don’t know what’s going on. All I saw was black and the next thing I know I was—” I shoot a bullet into the foot of the devil, replacing his words with screams. Maybe if I were a novice that would have worked, but I’m far too deep now to be swayed by cheap parlor tricks. “Don’t play dumb. I don’t have time for this!” I shoot him in the other foot to prove that I mean business. I’m sure to aim for the base so that it immobilizes him, but the loss of blood isn’t too severe.
“I told you, I don’t know anything, you bitch!” he says with a scowl, dropping his act.
“Careful.” I scratch my temple with my Beretta. “If you keep that same energy, I might just aim a little higher.” The demon growls at me, but he heeds my warning. “Good boy.”
“I’ve never seen that symbol, ever.”
“Okay, let’s say that I believe you… Does it have any resemblance to anything you’ve seen before?”
“It’s...a seal for a pact. That’s all I know,” he confesses. “It’s when a demon binds themselves to a human for a deal. It ta—”
“I know what it is, and what it does. I just want to know the name of the demon who made this one.”
“I... I don’t know.” Demons are known liars, but I believe him. What he’s told me so far lines up with everything else that I already know...which is virtually nothing. I know more than him, and that’s unsettling. I know Vartal is old, but for modern demons to not know about him and for him to be so strong, it’s unsettling. Usually the demons know a thing or two about their superiors. I doubt that every demon I’ve come against all this time was just playing dumb. Vartal seems to be like some kind of old, forgotten legend. Virtually everything about him seems to be an enigma even though he has considerable power. Just based off of that alone, I can’t be certain that he’s dead unless I see it with my own two eyes.
“Fine, I believe you, but that doesn’t mean that the fun is over. We still have a ways to go.” I wipe the streak of blood leaking from the top of my forehead once I feel it creep past the eye. I thought I’d clotted a while ago, but I guess I was wrong.
“You may want to get that looked at, girlie. That doesn’t look too good from here.”
“Shut it.” The bastard got me good in the head. I had to buckle down to keep conscious, but I weathered the storm until the dizziness wore off. Regardless, I’m still going to feel it in the morning. He might have given me a mild concussion. “What do you know about human trafficking going on in the area?” I had already asked him about Sphinx, so this was the next logical step, not counting the detour that I took for my own personal gain.
“Do you honestly think that we’re the ones who’s pushing that? Look around you. Humanity is fucked.” Humans are shit—I know this—but I’m not asking about them.
“Answer the question.” I pull back the hammer on my Beretta and take aim at the demon’s shin. “If I have to ask you again, it’ll be after I shoot you…and do you really want to deal with that?” A sharp pain cuts through my head and I press my hand against my temple by reflex as I grimace. When I open my eyes, I see the demon’s cocky smile in full display, reveling in my distress. I have a migraine coming on, and dealing with this guy is making it that much worse.
“Maybe you should lie down. I know just the place.”
I shoot the demon twice in the shin. Each time it feels like nails scraping down my brainstem, but it had to be done. I do better this time around at concealing my pain. When I was with Vartal, torture was easy. I actually enjoyed it on a level that was disturbing. If I were being honest, it felt good. That part of me is gone, but there’s still a sense of satisfaction of bringing pain to those who deserve it. “Don’t think I’m weak just because you gave me a little headache. I’m the one in control here, and you’re going to die by my hands.” I scowl as the demon thrashes against his restraints. He’s not going anywhere and there’s no one around to save him. This abandoned building’s a spot I’ve used multiple times since I’ve been in this city. No one for miles accept the occasional car. At this time of night, the chances of that are even lower. “You done crying yet or do I need to give you something else to cry about?” I ask the demon in a mocking tone. “…What do you know about the human trafficking that’s been going around in Chicago?”
“There was an operation going on, but it got busted. The whole area’s been teaming with hunters. Your people, I’m assuming.”
“Go on,” I muse.
“What you didn’t know?”
“You don’t get to ask me the questions. That’s my job.”
“Hunters…hunters ransacked the place. It was a bloodbath. Destroyed the whole operation. It wasn’t my gig, hence I’m still here, but it’s been making waves everywhere else.”
“So, you knew other demons involved in the business then?”
“I did.”
“So, you also knew that Sphinx was being forced on the prisoners there, too?” The demon’s eyes widen and he holds his gaze. He doesn’t even try to respond with his usual backhand remarks. Just silence and that same pathetic look when you catch a child red-handed in the act. “You knew and you failed to mention it. What? Did you think I wasn’t going to find out? You failed the test, buddy. Withholding information is the same as lying in my book.” Another bout of silence ensues, but I break it with an exaggerated sigh as I begin to pace the room. “Well? Do you have anything you want to say?”
“…Sorry?”
“Cute, but sorry isn’t going to cut it, although I can’t remember the last time a demon’s apologized to me. You might be the first.” I raise my gun to the demon and he closes his eyes to brace for the inevitable. “Hey…don’t puss out on me, now. You were so tough earlier. You know what? I know it takes a lot for your kind to do something like that. I think I’m going to give you another chance to get back on my good side. What do you know about the witches in the area?”
“The witches?”
“Yes, the witches.” I scowl “We know you guys have a sort of symbiotic relationship with some of the covens across the world.”
“…What do you want to know?” the demon asks, pain evident in his voice. He doesn’t have much longer. Between what I did to him to subdue him, and how I’ve been torturing him, his vessel won’t be able to hold out that much longer.
“There’s a rumor of a witch making its way towards Chicago. He’s doing some kind of magic. We think it may be blood. People are dying—obviously—but we haven’t encountered anything like it before. When the person dies, they leave behind an item. It’s always something random. We’re not sure if it’s something the victim brings or if it’s something the witch is manifesting. The crazy thing is that it disappears after a few days.”
“Items? What kind?” the demon asks weakly.
“An old playing card, a teddy bear, random stuff that’s always with the body when it’s found.”
“Interesting,” the demon muses.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“No. It’s not nothing. Your expression changed for a second. It was there. You tried to hide it, but I saw it. Out with it.”
“It’s just funny to see how hopeful you humans get when you think you’ve won. Why would something like that befall such a quaint place like this? It’s a tragedy, really.” The demon laughs and flashes a wick
ed smile. “Do you think everything that’s happening right now is truly random? Of course, it isn’t. You humans are always just one step behind.”
“If you have anything to say, you better say it now!” I pull back the hammer on my Beretta and jut my gun in the demon’s face.
“I can say the same for you, bitch. An apology would be nice for starters. And maybe a thank you, too. And if you really wanted to show some appreciation you coul—”
“Mother—” I unload the rest of my ammunition into the demon’s chest, causing his body to jump while ensnared in the chains. Maybe I lied. That did feel good. I don’t have the time to bargain with a literal incarnation of evil. I’ve already made that mistake once in the not so distant past.
I stare at the downed demon’s body, riddled with bullets, and draw upon his final words. The idea of the witch being drawn here was right, but I’m not sure if Sphinx is solely the main culprit. There’s something else that binds all of this together. If the witch is on his way here, then it’s not by chance. So, what could he be after? I know Blaze and Abby’s hunters have a ton of paranormal items they keep under lock and key. The same goes for Roc. They aren’t crazy enough to bring them with them. The storage that hunters use in general for those types of items are warded so that the effects are nullified, too. So, a witch wouldn’t be able to track it then…even with outside help. The items that were left behind from the bodies were technically paranormal in nature, but given that they disappeared, it couldn’t be what the witch was after. The items appeared because of the witch, so he can’t be after something that he creates as a byproduct of some sort. On top of that, the items also disappeared with no sign of outside influence.
So why would a witch be after all those victims instead of anyone else? Are there more victims here? What is he looking for? There has to be a reason.
Sailor Ray and the Beginning of the End Page 8