Demon Ex Machina: Tales of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (20 page)

“Monroe incorporated all sorts of demonic symbolism into the house once he got his hands on it,” Bernie was telling Pete, who clearly wasn’t aware of the bad apple on the founding father’s family tree. “The guy was into black magic. A total nutcase, of course, but it’s fascinating to read about.”

“Where did you find it?” I asked, flipping through the little book.

“Under the floorboards of the eastern bedroom,” he said. “We were working in there this afternoon. Who knows how long it’s been there.”

I glanced up at Stuart, then back down at some of the drawings and phrases that popped out from the page.

“My wife’s first husband was a rare books expert,” he said, with that political smile. “And she’s developed a bit of an interest along those lines, too. Mind if we keep it for a while? We can skim through it and see what we can pull out to go in the ultimate sale brochure.”

“Sure, sure,” Bernie said affably.

“You’re going to push the black-magic connection when you put the house on the market?” Angie asked, her nose wrinkling.

“Don’t knock it,” Pete said, patting her hand. “The more they push it, the more inclined I am to invest.”

She laughed, but I could tell that Bernie realized Pete was serious. He leaned in closer and spoke directly to Angie. “You probably don’t believe in that kind of stuff, but trust me. People get a whiff of demons and danger, and prices start soaring. All that spookiness just makes a thing more interesting.” He shifted his gaze to take in me and Stuart. “Don’t you agree?”

I met Stuart’s eye and that was all it took. We burst out laughing, leaving Pete, Bernie, Angie, and Lila to stare at us and wonder what exactly it was about demons we found so funny.

If only they knew.

 

 

“I don’t think I’ve
been so uncomfortable since I first decided to run for office,” Stuart said. “All I kept thinking was that there was a body in the garage. Did it show?”

“You were the epitome of cool,” I said. We’d changed into black slacks and T-shirts and called Allie back from Laura’s, since I wasn’t going patrolling with Stuart without backup. I’d left Timmy with Mindy and Laura with a promise to call me if so much as a stray dog ran into the yard. And, yes, to call Eric if for some reason they couldn’t reach me.

Eddie was a no-show on this adventure, which I assumed meant that his and Rita’s date had gone well. Now Stuart and I were creeping along the western edge of the Coastal Mists Nursing Home, while Allie was doing the same on the eastern side. “I’ll have Eric come by and pick the body up tomorrow.”

“I’m not entirely sure that’s the best idea,” Stuart said.

I shrugged. It wasn’t as if I had a lot of options. “So you choose. We dump it in the landfill, sneak into the crypts, or pass it off to Eric.” Now that Father Ben was dead, I was no longer able to easily hide dead bodies in the crypt under the cathedral. Fortunately Eric—or rather, David—had been able to step up to the plate. As the chemistry teacher at Coronado High, he had developed a foolproof way to dispose of the bodies. A way, frankly, that I didn’t care to think too much about.

I aimed a smile at Stuart. “Landfill or Eric. Your decision.”

“You’re cocky when you’re right,” he said, but he said it with a smile.

“I’m also right that you don’t need to be out patrolling tonight, either. You need more training before getting in the field.” We’d had this argument at home once already, but Stuart had won by pointing out that any newly made demon was undoubtedly going to be drawn into the service of Odayne and the She-Demon. While he’d been right about that, I’d been less inclined to agree with his assessment that he should help me track down and terminate the new demon.

In the end, though, I’d given in. I didn’t want to go alone, and I didn’t want to call Eric. And, yes, Stuart could use some practical training. And since newly made demons are more easily slain than their counterparts who’d had time to settle into a body, I figured this was as good a practice case as any.

“I know you’re worried about me,” Stuart said. “Don’t be.”

“You’re that confident?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Flexible,” he said. “If we don’t meet any demons, we can pick a spot with a view of the moon on the ocean and I can make out with my wife.” He nodded toward the rolling lawn that extended beyond Coastal Mists, ending at a sheer drop-off overlooking the Pacific.

“I can tell you’re going to be a very productive patrolling partner.”

“Depends on your definition of productive,” he said, and planted a kiss on me. “If we make out with our eyes open, the demons can’t sneak up on us.”

I laughed, feeling only slightly uncomfortable. Having never been on an official patrol with Stuart before, I hadn’t really known what to expect. But if this was a preview of coming attractions, I had to admit I liked the scenario.

The walkie-talkie on my hip buzzed, interrupting the moment. I snatched it up, still amused by the fact that Allie had presented it to me in the car and insisted I wear it. “We’ll be in constant communication,” she said. “And it even has a GPS chip. You know. In case we get separated.”

“Where’d you get this?” I’d asked, but she’d only smiled.

“Mom, do you copy?”

I gave a little shake of my head, amused by the military tone. “Roger,” I responded, my voice low. “Do you see something?”

“Negative,” Allie responded.

“Well, then what happened to radio silence?” I asked. “It’s hard to sneak up on a demon who can hear us coming.”

“You really think he’s outside? I figured we were gonna go in and wander the halls. You know, skulking in the shadows and stuff.”

“Skulking is on the agenda,” I admitted. “For me, anyway. I want you and Stuart to wait out here.” This, naturally, raised a protest from both my protégés. “Hey,” I demanded, eyeing Stuart and hissing at Allie. “Who’s in charge here?”

“Fine. Whatever. And that’s not why I buzzed you, anyway.”

“It can wait,” I said. “Radio silence, remember?” We’d arrived at the rec center window, and since I wanted to have a peek, I passed the walkie-talkie to Stuart, then pressed my face up to the glass and peered around. Not surprisingly, the room was entirely empty, the facility completely quiet.

“So I was reading through some of the notes that Bernie brought,” I heard Allie say over the tinny speaker, making me grit my teeth and shake my head in exasperation. “And it’s the coolest thing. Did you know the house has a safe room? An honest-to-God safe room.”

I stepped back from the window, frowning at both the walkie-talkie and the expression of bafflement on Stuart’s face. “Ask her what part of ‘radio silence’ she doesn’t understand,” I demanded, but he merely waved my words away. Honestly, was I the leader here or wasn’t I?

“What do you mean ‘safe room?’” Stuart asked. “The place was built almost a century ago. Safe rooms weren’t a standard feature.”

“Not for home invasions,” she said, the trademark Alison Crowe eye roll coming through just fine orally. “A Theophilis Monroe-style safe room. You know. To keep out demons.”

That
perked me up, and I tried to snatch the walkie from Stuart. He scowled and held it tight. “What are you talking about?” he said.

“I guess he wasn’t as keen on the demons as everyone thought. Either that or he wasn’t as cocky about keeping control of them as we thought.”

I tried again and this time managed to snag the walkie. “A demon-safe room? As in consecrated ground.”

“Relics. Holy water. Everything blessed by the pope. Pretty cool stuff.”

“Which room.”

“That room down the hall from the kitchen. The one we figured was servants’ quarters that’s only got a bed in it,” Allie announced, and I could practically hear the grin in her voice. Honestly, I had to agree. Theophilis Monroe, the big bad black-magic aficionado, running and hiding under the bed when the demons got out of control.

“You’re right,” I conceded. “That is a cool fact. But right now I need you focused and right here. I want you and Stuart watching each other’s backs while I do a round inside.”

“Roger that,” she said, but before she clicked off, I heard her sharp, terrified intake of breath.

“Go!” I yelled to Stuart, and we both hauled ass around the side of the building toward the thick stand of trees where Allie had been hiding.

“Dammit!” I yelled, when I saw her standing next to Eric, his arm tight around his daughter’s shoulder. “Dammit, Allie, you scared me to death.”

“What?” She glanced down at the walkie. “Oh. Sorry. I squealed, huh? I just wasn’t expecting to see Daddy.”

“No,” I said dryly, looking at Eric. “Neither was I.”

“I saw the article in the paper,” he said. “I figured you’d be hunting.”

“And you thought we needed help?” I asked, my arms crossed over my chest.

“I wanted to tell you not to bother. He came after me earlier. I took care of the problem.”

“You go, Dad!” Allie said.

He grinned and kissed her forehead as my chest tightened. I so desperately wanted Allie to know her dad. To hang out with him and be pampered by him and listen to all of his stories. But right then, at that moment, I wanted her the hell away from him.

And I couldn’t say a word.

“What’s with the walkie-talkies?” he asked.

“I got them from Eddie,” Allie said.

“Apparently he’s taking the control and coordination aspects of his new position seriously,” I added.

“I wondered what he was doing in Eyes Only,” Eric said.

I blinked. “Where?”

“Eyes Only. It’s a new shop in Old Town. Spy equipment.”

“You’re kidding?” I examined his face, saw only amusement, then shared a grin with Stuart.

“Eddie with spy equipment,” Stuart said dryly. “We’re going to have to start watching what we say around the house.”

That got a laugh out of everyone, including me, and in that brief moment, life seemed normal, even good. We were a family, albeit odd and extended. A team.

Then Eric cocked his head and took my arm to pull me aside. “Hold up there, buddy,” Stuart said. “This isn’t your party.”

“More mine than yours,” Eric shot back. “The party, that is. Not the woman.” Though it was clear from his eyes that he meant me as well. “I need to talk to Kate.”

Stuart took a step forward, and I stepped between them. “It may surprise you to know that the alpha wolf game isn’t helping. And I do need to speak to Eric.” I looked at Allie. “You and Stuart can get in some more training.”

I thought Stuart was going to argue, but I stared him down. He must have seen the plea in my eyes, because he nodded, then moved toward Allie. “Looks like we’ve got no targets,” he said. “What kind of practice can we squeeze in on the lawn of a nursing home?”

Allie grinned wide, and as Eric and I walked away, I heard her laugh. “Well, I could tell you to drop and give me twenty, but . . .”

“What is it?” I asked when we’d moved out of earshot. “What really happened?”

“He knocked on my door, Kate. Knocked on my door, and when I opened it, the bastard bowed and told me he was there to serve.”

“Did you question him? Ask him about Odayne, get any details at all that we can work with?”

“I invited him in, shut the door behind him, and slid a blade through his eye,” Eric said, sounding more dangerous than I’d ever heard him. More dangerous, even, than I’d recently seen him.

“Dammit, Eric, you should have held him. Should have called me.” Interrogation wasn’t my strong suit, but I could manage it when I had to. And, honestly, if I was interrogating some badass demon that was somehow involved in dragging Odayne out of my husband and into the world, then interrogating his ass would be a pleasure.

His face darkened, and I was on the verge of revising that earlier observation on his dangerous appearance, because right then he was close to outdoing even himself. Then he seemed to pull it together. “I know,” he said. “Believe me, I know. But I couldn’t. Dammit, Kate, I couldn’t stop myself.”

I nodded, hoping I looked businesslike and determined rather than worried and shaken. This lack of control was bursting forth more and more frequently, and so far, we’d found nothing to slow it down. Worse, we had no hints, no leads. No anything.

“There’s more,” he said, and I looked up at him, certain the worry was written all over my face. “I’m remembering my dreams.”

For the longest time, he could remember only that he’d had them. That they were dark. That they were filled with the demon. Impressions of evil and danger. But no specifics.

“Are you okay?” I asked, taking his hand and hating the thought that he was privy to whatever vile machinations went on in a demon’s subconscious.

“So far it hasn’t been too bad,” he said with a wry grin. “Though I feel a bit like a teenage boy.”

I scowled. “What are you talking about.”

“Sex,” he said. “Violent and brutal, but also hot. Very hot.”

Despite the fact that this was only a dream, I felt a knot of jealousy skip into my stomach.

“That’s two demons now, coming to me as if I’m part of the team.” I could hear the torment in his voice, could see it in his eyes. “And now these dreams. Wild, sexual dreams.” He reached out as if to touch me, but pulled his hand away. “I wish I could say it’s you in them, but it’s not.” He reached out and brushed my cheek, my heart fluttering merely from the touch of his hand. “Katie, I don’t know who she is, but she’s there, with me. And the demon inside. Dear God, he wants her.”

I’m not sure if it was jealousy or prudence that made me speak then, but I took that opportunity to tell him that I thought I’d seen Nadia.

“Nadia?”

I laid it all out for him. How I’d opened the door and seen her standing in the distance.

“You’re sure it was her?”

“No,” I admitted. “But I have a feeling it was. Especially after hearing about your dream.”