The Demon Read online

  Eventually, after what seemed like hours, Staci broke eye contact, resuming her dance and leaving Dante feeling weak in the knees. He was glad that he was sitting, for he knew without a doubt that he would have collapsed. He let out a long sigh and realized that he’d been holding his breath the whole time. Shaking the cobwebs from his mind, he turned back to the bar and downed the rest of the bottle before realizing the vampire bartender was grinning from ear to ear.

  “As I said,” the vampire chuckled, “I have never seen a man so completely struck by a woman.”

  Dante smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. “Well, you know,” was all he could manage. He resumed drinking, taking care not to get more than a slight buzz. After his fight in the street, he wanted to be ready for anything. Victor was likely behind the attack and though Dante had let the other soldiers go, he felt that they may come back with a grudge.

  Dante sat at the bar for another hour, keeping an eye out for trouble, and watching the stage for Staci more often than he was willing to admit. Before long, the bar emptied of patrons as they left for the night. After another hour had passed, Dante was alone at the bar with the vampire. From what he could tell, even the other dining rooms in the inn were empty. Dante was just about to leave when the vampire raised his eyebrows at him. Without a word, he nodded to something behind the demon and scurried away, acting as if he had better things to do elsewhere. Confused, Dante decided to shrug it off. Then, a lithe form sat on the stool next to his. He glanced at the person and nearly dropped his glass. There sat Staci, smiling at him. She wore a long, dark coat over her dress and smelled of a combination of perfume and light sweat. The scent was intoxication itself and left Dante’s mind foggy.

  “Hey,” she greeted.

  “Hello, beautiful,” Dante smiled. The words slipped out before he could stop them and didn’t even realize he’d said them until Staci began to blush.

  “I’m glad you came out tonight,” Staci said, trying to hide her blushing cheeks with her hair.

  “Well, you’re quite the gifted dancer, I must say,” Dante complimented. “I’ve never seen anyone as natural at it as you.”

  Staci blushed harder and couldn’t contain a smile. “So, um… do you want to maybe… get out of here?”

  Dante nodded, pulled a few gold coins from a pouch on his belt, and slid them onto the counter for the bartender. “Sure thing,” he said, offering his arm for Staci to take.

  She wrapped her arm in his and they left the bar.

  Victor watched the whole thing, fists clenched in helpless fury. He had planned on following Dante and engaging him in battle outside the town, but when he summoned the demon’s image in the bowl, he found him sitting in the bar watching Staci dance. Victor knew he could not make a move on Dante with Staci so near in fear of Dante taking her hostage and possibly killing her. He also did not want her anywhere near the fight with Dante, fearing she could be caught in the crossfire. The thought of Staci hurt made Victor’s heart heavy. He was unable to do anything until he knew Dante was alone. It seemed he would have to wait until Staci went home and Dante went back to his own room in the inn before he could make his move.

  But watching the two of them so enamored with each other drew up even more complications. What if Dante truly could feel love, as angels or humans could? What if Staci, against Victor’s warning of Dante’s true heritage, had actually fallen in love with him? As much as he hated Dante for his crimes in the past, Victor was grudgingly powerless to stop him. Staci looked happier than Victor had ever seen her, and it seemed to be all because of this demon!

  Had Dante put a spell on her? Had he somehow coerced her into falling in love with him, just so he could get closer to Victor? What was going on? Victor paced in frustration, trying to figure out every angle Dante could be working. What if it was true love? How in good conscience could he tear them apart? How could Victor hurt Staci like that? He couldn’t. As much as he hated to admit it, it truly seemed that they were in love. There was no way, in Heaven or on Earth, that Victor could justify ripping apart what they had.

  That did not mean he would not keep a very close eye on them, however. He would be watching them like a hawk. Every minute detail, every tiny scrap of information to be had, Victor would see. And as soon as Dante messed up, Victor would be there to swoop in and end the demon once and for all.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Dante and Staci walked arm in arm through the moonlit streets. For the first few blocks, they remained silent simply enjoying each other’s company. Then, Staci spoke up.

  “So, Dante,” she said softly, “What brings you to Bethlehem?”

  “I’m traveling,” he replied. “Occasionally I take a trip around the world. Most of the time I just do it to see what’s changed or to see what’s out there.”

  “That sounds like quite the adventure,” Staci said. “How many times have you been around the world?”

  Dante paused before he answered, first to add it up, then because he didn’t think she would believe him. “Six times.”

  “Si-… What?” she balked. “How old are you?” she laughed.

  Dante smiled at her before he said, “One hundred thirty-two… -ish.”

  “So he was right,” Staci whispered to herself.

  “Who was right?” Dante asked, curious.

  “Oh, a friend of mine. He’s very… well he believes in the existence of mythical beings, like vampires and werewolves.”

  “And demons?” Dante added.

  Staci’s face turned red in embarrassment and she nodded.

  “I take it you know what I am, then,” he surmised.

  Again she nodded, confidence in her green eyes.

  “And you’re not afraid?”

  “Should I be?”

  Again, a flash of Staci’s corpse in the past entered Dante’s mind. “I won’t hurt you,” he replied.

  “I believe you. I’m not exactly sure why I do, seeing as we only just met, but I do.”

  Dante smiled and continued walking. The night air was beginning to cool off from the day’s mild heat. He felt Staci shiver, though she tried to stifle it. Without a word, Dante slipped his coat off and wrapped it around her shoulders.

  “And they say chivalry is dead,” she teased.

  Dante replied with a playful smile.

  “So what do demons eat?” Staci asked at length.

  “Babies, mostly,” Dante replied flatly. “Though unborn fetuses are particularly delicious.”

  Staci looked up at him to gauge his face. He kept a straight face for a few seconds, then a smile crept across his lips.

  “I eat what humans eat,” he stated. “I like my meat a little more raw than some, but I still want it cooked. Otherwise, I grew up on a diet of normal food.”

  “That’s relieving to hear,” Staci sighed. “But from what I read in my history books, demons are ferocious and cunning beasts who dine on the flesh of mortals.”

  “History is written by the winners, though. If you read a demonic text, it may paint demons as saviors and angels as the true evil. I think.”

  “You think?”

  Dante shrugged. “I’ve never been to Hell, so I don’t know. I was raised by my parents until they died in the war, then I was raised by my instructor in his orphanage. When I came into adulthood, I struck out on my own. Eventually I settled on the coast near Manhattan and continued my training as a soldier, just in case war broke out again.”

  “So… You were born during the war?”

  Dante nodded. “I was born… oh, maybe twelve years before the war ended.”

  Staci did some mental math and looked up at him in confusion. He almost looked amused. “But that should make you ninety-two-ish…”

  Dante nodded again and took a deep breath. “I was chosen for an important task by Lord Death.”

  “The reaper?” Staci asked, incredulous.

  “The same. He asked me to undergo an important, and very secret, missio
n. He sent me back in time, and it took me forty years to complete.”

  Staci shook her head in amazement. She almost could not wrap her head around what she was hearing.

  “Don’t believe me, do you?” Dante teased.

  Staci opened her mouth to say something, but closed it. “I just got proof that demons actually exist this morning, so I’m trying to keep an open mind. What was the mission?”

  Dante sighed, knowing she wouldn’t like his answer. “It’s classified,” he replied.

  “Something bad?” Staci asked. Dante was trying to hide his displeasure about the task, but she saw right through that. “You’ve done things you’re not proud of…”

  Dante nodded, looking deep into her eyes for comfort. It worked. He knew that looking into her eyes would calm whatever storm raged in his heart. Without a thought, his hand came up and cupped her cheek, gently tilting her head toward him. He leaned in, eyes slowly closing, as his lips softly brushed hers.

  As they made contact, time stopped. Her soft lips against his own was all he could feel. His heart pounded, his pulse raced. Adrenaline pumped through his body and he lost himself in the moment. Nothing else mattered.

  After an eternity, Dante finally pulled away. Staci almost didn’t let go, her lips trailing after his for a moment. Her eyes fluttered open and looked at Dante, seemingly disappointed.

  “So that’s a demon’s kiss,” she grinned breathlessly.

  Victor threw his scrying basin across the room in rage. Water splashed and soaked the far wall. Fists clenched in white-knuckled fury, the angel punched a sizeable hole in the wall next to him. How could she do this? How could Staci fall in love with a demon? How was it possible? He was pure evil! He had murdered several of Victor’s best men.

  Victor took several steadying breaths, trying to calm down and remind himself that he would watch over her in case Dante tried anything to harm her. The angel felt so helpless. He wanted nothing more than to kill this demon, but all he could really do was sit back and hope for the best. He was playing with fire and he knew it. He hated leaving Staci’s safety up to chance.

  A soft knock on the chamber door interrupted Victor’s thoughts.

  “Sir?” came a hesitant voice. “Is everything alright?”

  Victor took a moment to collect himself and smoothed back his disheveled hair. “I am fine,” he answered.

  The door cracked open and a young woman, one of the nuns overseeing the care of the church, entered. She kept her gaze low in deference to Victor. She was one of the very few who knew what he truly was, and she was one of a much smaller number who was implicitly trusted by the angel.

  “What is it, Sister Maggie?” Victor asked politely.

  “The families of the fallen soldiers are here,” she bowed. “They wish to speak with you about the funeral arrangements…”

  “What troubles you, my dear?”

  Maggie sighed, hesitantly saying, “They are demanding justice be served to the one who did this.”

  Victor shook his head, irritated. “The men were soldiers. They died to protect the town, as they were prepared to do from the first day they picked up a weapon.”

  Maggie nodded. “I am aware of that, sir, but these people are grieving. They lost loved ones today and those men were murdered in the street. Have you never lost a loved one, sir? ‘Tis heartbreaking.”

  Victor began to shake his head again, but stopped, realizing the nun was right. It had been nearly a century since the last of his own family had died. Living among the humans who had such short lives had left him in a state of constant vigilance. He had no recent memories of loss in his own life. He felt ashamed by his lack of compassion in that moment.

  “Of course, sister,” he apologized. “It’s foolish of me to think otherwise. I will go and console them. It is late. Go and rest. I will see you tomorrow.”

  Maggie bowed and left the room, softly closing the door behind her.

  Victor sat at his desk, defeated. He longed for the day when he could return to Heaven, but with the banishment in place, he was forced to prove his worth. He had been given back his wings nearly a century after he died at Dante’s hands, and he was allowed entry back into Heaven, but at a price. He was conscripted into becoming a leading general in the war with Hell. After his crushing defeat at the hands of the king of Hell, Victor was sentenced to exile until he could prove himself worthy of admittance back into his home.

  Several minutes later, Victor left the chamber and went to speak with the families of the fallen soldiers.

  After hours of making the necessary arrangements with the families, Victor sat among them, discussing his next course of action.

  “You are our protector,” one man, the father of the sergeant, explained. “You are the one man responsible for bringing this murderer to justice.”

  Victor leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees as his hands clasped together. “I’m not unsympathetic to your pleas. However… I feel I must explain why I did not meet this man myself. Were he and I to meet in the streets of our fair town, I fear it would lead to an immense and highly destructive confrontation. Such a battle would undoubtedly lead to the annihilation of the town and all its inhabitants. I cannot allow such a battle to be waged within the borders. I sent your sons and brothers to meet with him in the street to convince him to leave in peace. Once he was far from the town, I had planned on confronting him there, away from all of you, my beloved charges. Were I to fall in battle, at least it would be far enough from here to avoid him taking his vengeance on you for my angering him. This man is a demon who-”

  “A demon?” one woman interjected. “Demons are just fairy tales, told to us to keep us in line.”

  “Then explain the war that raged on for fifty years,” Victor countered. “Explain the downfall of civilization into what we see now. This world was not always as it is now. Once, there were technological marvels that now lay dead and buried. The demons tore it all down around us.”

  “So you’re telling’ us that even angels exist?” asked another skeptic.

  Victor shrugged. “If demons walk among us, why not angels? My point is, demons are incredibly powerful, as well as vengeful. This demon, Dante, would see you all dead. He would feast on your children and use their bones to pick his teeth. He would not stop until he was put in the ground. And that is on a good day. I have faced him before, and I know how he thinks.”

  “Is that why you’re still alive?” the sergeant’s father asked calmly. “Did you give in?”

  “No,” Victor stated. “I did not. I fought him and survived. Barely. In that bitter defeat, I knew what it was to face true evil. I could see it in his eyes. There was no mercy.”

  “Did he make our men an offer?” one man asked. He seemed to be the most level-headed of all of the emotional townsfolk. Victor recognized him as one of the reserve militiamen.

  Victor nodded. “According to the report I was given, Dante offered all of them a chance to lay down their arms and leave him be. They refused. Dante then offered a counter solution. He would face a champion in single combat. If the champion won, Dante said he would leave without any further bloodshed. If Dante won, the men were to leave him in peace. From what I was told, he told the remaining men to tell the families of the deceased that they died in defense of the town and that the town remains safe. I know it is of little consolation, but I know Dante to be a man of his word. As long as he keeps to his word, he will not harm our town.”

  “And you trust this demon?” the militiaman asked.

  Victor shook his head. “No, I do not. That is why I have placed the burden of vigilance upon my own shoulders. I pledge to you, my esteemed neighbors, that I will keep a vigilant eye upon this demon. I will keep him to his word until he is far from our lands, at which time I shall confront him myself. I beg all of you to admonish me if I slip, to help me stand when I fall, and to keep me adherent to my word to all of you.” He placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head. “I
have made myself your protector in hopes to lead each and every one of you to a better life. I humbly ask that you keep your distance from this demon and allow me to do my duty. I will bring justice to the wicked.”

  Murmurs of approval rose from the gathered families. Many of them left that night with renewed hope in their hearts. They firmly believed in Victor and knew that he would uphold the law. One man, the father of the sergeant, remained in the room with Victor. He rose to approach the protector of the town and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “You will do us all proud, Victor,” the man said.

  “Thank you, mayor Flaggarty,” Victor smiled.

  The mayor nodded and said, “I knew I could trust you when I made you Bethlehem’s knight. Do us all proud and avenge our fallen heroes.”

  Victor nodded and rose from his chair, leaving the room to continue watching the demon.

  After walking Staci home, Dante returned to the inn, where Erin sat waiting. Her travel bag was packed and slung over her shoulder.

  “I don’t plan on leaving yet,” Dante said.

  “I do,” Erin replied sharply. “You seem so keen on staying here in this tiny town. Why?”

  Dante shrugged. “Because I found something here that I didn’t know I would find?”

  “Was it love?” Erin asked sarcastically.

  Dante thought for a moment and smiled at her. “Actually, yes. As odd as it is to say after such a very short time, yes, I do believe I’ve found love here. Believe me, I’m as shocked as you are.”