Humans were preoccupied with that hobby.
Of course, what could one expect from individuals who blamed a woman in a garden with a piece of fruit and a talking snake? Laying blame came second nature to humans..
And that made The Brotherhood’s job that much easier.
They were stupid, humans were.
Turning to watch the scene from the past unfold, Balic knew he deserved his place in the annals of evil. He had managed, with one broken young man, to shake an entire nation to its core and make it tremble in fear. That had not happened since the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
As the young demons watched, one little guy raised his hand. “Sir?”
“Yes, Zar?”
“All of this chaos and damage...from one human. It is amazing one human could affect three million. The humans will never be the same, will they?”
Balic shook his head. “Oh, they gnashed their teeth and pulled their hair, and there was a brief concern over the weapons’ laws, but that was it. They fixated on the weapons, as they always do when these types of crimes are committed, and not on how broken their spirits are. They are simple, stupid creatures who think guns kill people.”
“The
weapons
, sir?” Zar shook his head. “I don’t understand. The weapons were merely a tool...a tool that can do nothing alone.”
Balic nodded. “Yes, Zar, but the humans would rather examine the tool than their inability to evolve.”
“But sir, if they really wanted to fix it, wouldn’t they work on trying to figure out why so many of them are broken?”
Balic grinned. He liked Zar. He would be a very good addition to The Brotherhood.
“Very good question, Zar. Humans have yet to grasp that evil is hard to perpetrate in a healthy environment. India, the second most populated country, has the second lowest crime rate, even though they have so many poor. We are not there nearly as much as we are in the United States.”
“Who’s the first?”
Balic grinned. “Iceland. Apparently, those people are incredibly well-balanced. I believe only three of us are assigned to the whole of that country.”
“Have you ever been there, sir?”
“I have no desire to go. They are difficult to shove toward evil. There’s more than enough work for me in the United States and Europe.”
Zar pondered this a moment. “I hope I get stationed there...the United States, though even that isn’t a correct label is it, sir?”
“No, Zar, it is not, and you probably will get your wish. Every year they become more unbalanced, more broken. There is much for us to do there.”
Balic let the human tragedy play out for the students, all the while knowing this was just the beginning.
***
D
enny made a beeline to the coffee shop after class and sat down at one of the tables. She couldn’t think anyone else to talk to about what was happening to her but Brianna.
Brianna walked from behind the counter with a cup in each hand. “Awake tea latte for you, vanilla latte for me.”
Denny looked up and smiled at her. “Are you always so chipper in the morning?”
“Actually, yes. I am chipper most of the time. Being alive is truly a gift too many take for granted, don’t you think?”
“I’m sure your roommates love that.”
Brianna shrugged. “I live in a...sorority of sorts.”
“Really? Do you like it?”
“I love it. Quiet neighborhood. I’m able to study and do my own thing without any hassles. I have a...like minded sister.”
“Do your own thing with sisters? What kinds of things? Witch things?”
Brianna grinned. “Wiccan and yes.”
“What’s you major?”
“Double major of History and Philosophy. You?”
“Mass Comm.”
Brianna sipped her coffee, her eyes unabashedly surveying Denny. “I know you live at the Holbrook House, but you’re not from the south, are you?”
Denny shook her head. “My family moved here from California when I was six. I fell in love with the ambiance, the trees––”
“The bugs in the summer?”
Denny laughed. “Yeah, that, too.”
A comfortable silence hung between them.
Brianna lowered her voice and asked, “I got the feeling when you called that this isn’t a social visit. What can I help you with?”
Denny set her tea down. She felt bad for giving off such strong antisocial vibes. “Forgive me for just jumping in here, but I don’t have a lot of time. What do you know about demons?”
Brianna didn’t flinch. “Ah. Demons. You think that because I’m a witch, I’d know about all things evil?”
Denny shook her head. “I need a starting place. I thought you might be a good point. I’m sorry if––”
Brianna smiled. “I’m just messin’ with you, Golden. Geez. Lighten up. Of course I know a thing or two about demons. I’m a Wiccan. I know far more about them than you’d want to. What would you like to know?”
“I need an introductory lesson into demons and demonology. The
Cliff Notes
version. Don’t get too bogged down in the details.”
Brianna glanced at her watch. “I’ll need more than twenty minutes. How about lunch at the river in two hours?”
Denny checked the time. “I need to––”
“Yes or no?”
“Yes. I’ll pick you up here in two.”
“Perfect. See you then.”
After leaving the coffee shop, Denny drove over to Victor’s house. He met her at the door and together, they sat on the porch swing.
“Girl, I knew you’d be comin’ here first. Mama told me it didn’t go so good.”
“Your mother was right. I think I bit off more than I could chew. How was your mama’s visit with Sarah?”
“Yeah, what the hell was that? I thought she was gonna interview Rush?”
“Change of plans. You know how Rush can be. Sarah stepped in to pinch hit for me.”
“Jesus, Denny, you the new poster girl for ghost stories?” Victor shook his head. “What you gone do if Sarah gets a spirited woody for you? Them ghosties get all sorta possessive over they live ones.”
“It’s not like that,” Denny said. She explained how everything had gone down, from the meeting with Quick to the conversation with her mother, omitting the discussion about being a demon hunter. She didn’t have enough answers to open that can of worms yet.
When she finished, Victor whistled. “Holy crap, Denny, this is a lot to take in at the moment. I knew Mama was good, but whew-ee.”
She nodded. “I was thinking about going back to Ophelia and––”
“Cross that off your list right now, Denny. Mama said that Sarah was enough to scare her away for good. She don’t want nothin’ to do with them ghosts.”
Denny half-turned. “Sarah wasn’t supposed to scare her.”
“
She
didn’t. It was what Sarah
did
...and what she said...about
you
.”
“Me?”
Victor nodded. “Mama came right over after and she was talkin’ a blue streak about you and all the things Sarah had said about you.” He shook his head. “Ain’t never seen Mama so rattled.”
“What was Sarah saying?”
Victor looked away.
“Victor?”
When he turned back to her, his eyes looked sad. “She a ghost, Denny. She got nothin’ else to do but tell tales and I ain’t buyin’ her bull.”
“What
tales
, Victor? Come on. What could possibly have scared your mother so much?”
“Accordin’ to Sarah, they’s more to you than meets the eyes. She said she seen it befo’ and that we all should be scairta you.”
“
Afraid
? Of me? Why?”
Victor shrugged and he struggled to find the right words. “She said somethin’ ‘bout you attractin’ evil and anyone connected with you will eventually find themselves in danger.”
Denny nodded. Now she understood why Ophelia hadn’t contacted her. “That sounds ominous.”
“Scared the crap outta Mama; she tried tellin’ me to ease out of your life, but I ain’t listenin’ to no ghost. Oh hell no.”
“Thank you.” Denny felt sick to her stomach. “I gotta go.”
“You just got here.”
“I know. It’s just...I’ve got a lot on my mind, and this information doesn’t make me feel any better.”
Victor rose. “Denny.”
Hugging him, Denny said, “It’s okay, Victor. I get it. Sarah scared your mama, and given what my mother told me, Sarah probably wasn’t far from the truth. If you were smart, you’d run away from me as fast as you can.”
“Don’t say that, Denny.” Victor’s voice was soft. “They’s nothin’ evil ’bout you.”
“She didn’t say
I
was evil. She said I would
attract
it. I’d say she was probably spot on.”
“They ain’t nothin’ evil about you, love.”
Denny knelt in front of Victor and inhaled. She needed to tell him. She wasn’t ready to answer any questions, but she at least needed him to know so he could make decisions based on fact. “Victor, when I spoke with my mom, she told me something that...well...is pretty damn scary, to be honest, and I think you should know in case...in case you want to walk away.”
“Save your breath, girl. Ain’t nothin’...no ghost...no Mama...no nothin’ can make me give up on you, so cough it up, girl. I can handle it.”
Denny inhaled. “Apparently, I come from a long line of...” Denny sighed and lowered her voice. “Demon hunters.”
Victor frowned. “Demon hunters?”
“You’re looking at a prospective demon hunter. Mom says it’s part of something called the Silver Legacy. I guess it’s what my family has done for centuries and now...now it falls on my shoulders. I think demons are responsible for running my parents off the road and for landing Quick in the slammer. It’s up to me to get to the bottom of it and get my brother out of prison.”
“Hold up, girl. You ain’t thinking ’bout bein’ one, are you?”
“No, I’m not. I’m just trying to understand what happened to my family.”
“So you go after them and then what?”
“I don’t know. I only know what my mom told me. I have a lot to learn, but if I can help Quick, then I am going to do everything I can to do just that.”
“Jesus, Den. Huntin’ demons, sleepin’ with ghosts, visitin’ coma patients? You done entered the supernatural zone for sure.”
“No shit.”
Victor walked Denny to her car. “What can I do?”
Denny shrugged. “Honestly? I have no idea. There’s so much more I need to know. I don’t
want
to attract evil energy. I don’t even want to
be
a demon hunter, but if it’s a family legacy, I’m not sure I have a choice.”
“You always have a choice, girl.”
“Not in the supernatural world, bud. If my family is in danger, then I’ll fight Satan himself if I have to.” Denny got in the car.
“Let’s hope it don’t come to that.” Victor leaned into the window. “Where you off to?”
“I’m going to pick Brianna’s brain and see what I can find out about demons.”
His eyebrows rose. “A lunch date with the good witch Brianna? Excellent!”
“It’s not a date.”
Victor chuckled. “Whatever you say. If bein’ a hunter gets you back into the real world, datin’ real folks, I’m all for it.”
Denny shook her head. “It sounds to me like being a demon hunter won’t get me back into the real world––it has the potential to
end
my real world.”
***
“D
emons, huh?”
Brianna had a thermos of coffee and a couple of pastries to match Denny’s roast beef sandwiches from her favorite local deli. As they spread their goodies out on a picnic table by the river’s edge, Denny noticed how long and slender Brianna’s fingers were. They reminded her of Rush’s.
“Yeah...demons. I looked a bunch of stuff up online, but––”
Brianna waved her hand in the air. “Oh no, no, no. Half that shit on there is crazy people talking. The other half is speculative, at best.” Brianna pulled two mugs from her large purse and poured steaming coffee into them. “You made the right decision coming to me. Demons are nothing to play around with.”
Denny stared into her blue eyes. “So you were only busting my balls back there?”
Brianna paused mid-pour. “Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed you weren’t asking me out because you find me hot, but yeah, I was just giving you a hard time.”
Denny took the coffee cup in both hands. “Brianna, you are totally hot, but I’m in a committed relationship, so telling you that isn’t very respectful.”
Brianna sighed. “Alrighty then. Well, whoever she is, is a very lucky girl. Shifting gears back to your issue. So, you need a Wiccan’s perspective on demonology, eh?”
“I wasn’t assuming that because you’re a Wiccan––”
“Yes, you were, but that’s okay. At least you didn’t ask me if I ride a broom.” Brianna poured two packets of sugar into her coffee. “Which I could if I wanted, but I don’t. And it’s okay to use the term with me and Cassandra. We’re not into the labels as much as some of the others so, what do you want to know?”
Denny watched as an egret walked along the river’s edge, looking for lunch. “Do demons have to do with hell?”
Brianna shook her head. “You have to be careful not to place them in the Christian context of heavenly angels and hell’s demons because most of that is jibber jabber. They have little to do with religion, though priests and rabbis often blame them and then try to exorcise them.”
Brianna tore into a chocolate croissant. “When demons are spiritual in nature, they can possess a human or remain in spiritual form––such as a ghost or revenant––or live within a corporeal body until the job they were instructed to do is done.”
Denny set her coffee down. “Job?”
“Oh yes. They are well-organized like a top notch military machine. It’s not like they’re running amok without order.
Au contraire.
Minimally, they want to disrupt order and cause chaos. In essence, they want to cast their shadows into our light any way they can. Sometimes that’s in small ways; other times, it can be catastrophic.”
“You said when they are spiritual in nature. Does that mean they can be corporeal?”
“Absolutely. They’re just as often corporeal as spiritual. It depends on what kind of demon it is. Not all demons can possess. There’s an order to their powers. Like a batting order. Some are lead-off and get the ball rolling while others are clean-up and hit-it-out-of-the-park. They’re assigned duties and they fulfill those duties.”