Demon's Doorway (36 page)

"Call me when you get done," she said. "No matter how late it is."

Cindy smiled at Alex as she opened the front door. "No kiss for you. Not until you clean up."

"Bye, now," Jack said, forcing a smile. "We'll miss you so much."

They left, and he let out a relaxed breath.

"Good, now we can get to work."

The four headed to the basement, Jack leading the way. Alex and Kevin glanced at each other with curiosity, watching Jack's enthusiasm.

"I didn't think you'd give us a hand," Alex said. "You don't seem to be the hero type."

"I'm not, but Victoria is my friend. Now, you might not know much about friendship, except for the little demon critters you like so much, but friends help each other when they need it."

"What happened?" Victoria asked, not waiting to get to the basement.

Alex filled everyone in as they walked down the stairs. He gave them every detail he could, even though he was fighting for his life, and didn't remember everything.

"Anatol was there?" Victoria asked. "And they took your blood?"

"It wasn't him. It was another projection of his."

Alex went to the bathroom to clean up, but left the door open so they could still talk. Kevin sat at the desk where he'd been working, while Jack and Victoria stood.

"Kevin," she said. "Do you have anything on how he's projecting?"

"No, sorry."

Jack scowled.

"What did they do with your blood?"

"They put it in a box, and it disappeared."

Alex stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a pair of borrowed shorts, and all eyes went to Kevin again. He turned red.

"What?" he said defensively. "You want me to explain a magic box? I don't know. Can you at least draw it for me?"

Alex leaned over the desk and grabbed a notepad and pencil. He sketched the lantern-shaped object and handle while Victoria waved dismissively.

"The box doesn't matter. We can assume Anatol has Alex's blood. The question is why." She looked at Kevin. "Why would a witch want his blood?"

He couldn't believe she was seriously asking him that.

"Why do you think I know?"

"Kevin, you're the only one who might have a clue as to what Anatol wants to do."

The world suddenly felt big again.

"No, I don't. I'm not some evil vampire with witch magic."

"Glinda, it's time to put your big-boy pants on, and stop crying. Stop having wet daydreams about the blonde, and think."

Victoria sighed. "That's not helping, Jack—"

"All you sick witch bastards think alike. Now, look at Alex over there. What could you do if you had some of his blood?"

Kevin wanted to help Victoria, out of sheer loyalty. Still, part of him wanted to escape. He tried to figure out how he got where he was, being questioned about the motivations of a witch, surrounded by the strangest of supernatural creatures.

He ignored Alex and Jack, and looked into Victoria's eyes.

"I really don't know. I just don't think about anything like that. My spell-book barely mentions demons at all. And really, what do you even call Alex? He's in a category all by himself. It's just that…."

Kevin's eyes fell on the simple sketch Alex drew. It was a six-sided contraption with a handle. The sketch sat on the desk, just below the drawing Kevin made of Anatol's yellow sphere, taped to the wall.

A thought struck him, but it was gone before he could latch on. An image of a cauldron popped in his head. What did a cauldron have to do with anything?

He sat at the desk, trying to focus. It was like a dream fading after a night's rest, almost within reach.

Something was coming.

"The box…it's a teleporting gadget. He has Alex's blood."

Jack nearly pounded the wall, but stopped his fist an inch short. "We know this. What's he doing?"

"Just shut your mouth for a second," Kevin said. "Put your big-boy pants on."

Jack smiled.

Kevin grabbed a pencil and paper, but nothing came. He was so close. His mind kept reaching out, but missing the target. He stared at the sphere, and then it hit him. It was so simple he wanted to slap himself.

"Alex," he said. He kept drawing spheres, over and over. "That demon stuff you do, how does it work?"

"Uh, you mean my wings?"

"No, the way you control demons, bring them here. You just think about it, and it happens?"

He shrugged. "Pretty much. They have to stay close to me, or they'll be sent back. I'm their doorway."

"A doorway. Just like that sphere."

Victoria was saying something, gently encouraging him, but Kevin didn't hear her. He continued to draw spheres and scribble randomly. A few ingredients came to him. Alex's blood, heat, maggots, a rat or two. The rest was a blur, but ultimately not important.

"He's already shown us what he wants to do," Kevin said. "He's making his own doorway. A very
big
one. With Alex's blood—"

"He's bringing more demons over," Victoria finished.

"What else?" Kevin asked Alex. "Are there any other little tricks to it? Is any place easier to be a doorway than another?"

"Not for me, no." Alex thought for a moment. "But if he's really trying to do something big, he'll go somewhere haunted. Demons can sometimes poke their head through in the really crazy places. Mass murder sites, places like that. The church I was born in was one hell of a gateway."

"So, where?" Jack said. "You haven't narrowed it down at all."

"Lochlyn, Illinois."

Only Alex heard the voice, and he looked to his left to see Bradley, standing next to Victoria. A chill ran through him as he watched Bradley try to speak. His mouth was moving, but there was no sound, like the vampire was muted. Bradley faded in and out, and almost seemed to be in pain.

"Sturgeon…Prison," he said. "Go…."

Bradley faded out completely, and didn't return. Alex stared into thin air, saying nothing.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Jack asked. "Victoria, would you smack him?"

"Alex? Are you okay?"

Alex blinked, and looked at Victoria. "Uh, yeah, yeah. I'm fine. We need to go to Sturgeon Prison."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "What's so special about Sturgeon Prison?"

"I don't know. But that's where we need to go."

Victoria moved to her computer and searched the Internet for Sturgeon Prison, reading off random facts she came across.

"Let's see, Sturgeon Prison. It's in Lochlyn, Illinois…Shut down twenty years ago…Oh, wow."

The men crowded around her. "What?"

"Apparently a breakout attempt went wrong, and a lot of people died. Prisoners, security, staff. Real bad stuff. There was a hostage situation, prisoners holding cult rituals…."

Alex laughed smugly. "Brings back memories."

"It's rumored to be very haunted. People have heard voices, seen things move, apparitions."

"Standard stuff," Alex said.

"Some psychics even claim there's a demonic presence."

Jack slapped Alex on the back. "You'd be right at home there."

"It already has a window into those places Alex always talks about," Kevin said.

"Whoa. Wait, now," Jack said, taking a step back. "Are you sure? We're making a lot of guesses here. You just pulled that name out of your ass. Where did you hear Sturgeon Prison from?"

Alex said nothing. He wasn't sure it was the right time to mention that Bradley was dead.

"Are you positive?" Victoria said.

Alex and Kevin spoke at the same time. "Yes."

She looked at Jack. "That's good enough for me."

"Whatever. Call your pilot. Let's get on a plane and get moving."

"Right now?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah, unless you want to wait to see what he does with Alex's blood. We've got to get moving. Now. We need to fly to Illinois, and kill Anatol. Are there any questions?"

"He's right," Victoria said. "Pack light. We can't waste any time."

Alex opened his mouth to protest, but Victoria cut him off.

"I'll take care of your job, and Cindy and Leese will understand. We can stop on the way to the plane so you can say goodbye."

Jack rolled his eyes.

"Uh, guys," Kevin said. "I'm not getting on a plane."

Everyone froze, and turned to look at him.

"Kevin," Victoria said. She squeezed his shoulder gently. "I didn't want you involved in this. But we need you. With Anatol's magic, I don't think we can stop him without you."

"I'm terrified of planes. I can't get on a plane."

"Kevin, please—"

He pulled away from her.

"It's okay," Jack said. "Let Glinda stay. He can hang out with the women. When his lady asks why he's there, he can just say he's a coward. Don't worry about it. The world needs cowards, too. Let me explain something to you. I don't give a shit about the world. But I care about my daughter and girlfriend. I'd kill a thousand Anatols for them. But a little tiny plane is gonna make you run to your mommy."

"My mother and father died in a plane crash, asshole."

"Boo hoo." He looked at Victoria and Alex. "Let's go. We don't have time for therapy."

Jack turned and headed for the stairs, Alex reluctantly following. Victoria gave one last pleading look before turning around herself.

"Wait."

Kevin took a deep breath as they faced him. He tried to prepare mentally.

He looked at Victoria. "I'm guessing you still don't have any baby powder?"

*****

Kevin paced behind the couch. His hands were behind his back, his gaze pointed at the carpet. It was completely quiet except for the sound of his own footsteps. Victoria and Jack had left, on their way to the grocery store to get the items he needed.

Chili powder. Olive oil. Baby powder. Vitamin C. He already had a cup of water on the desk.

Five easy to obtain ingredients. Probably no more than seven or eight dollars. He didn't even need to heat the potion.

He felt like his life would change once again.

He knew he shouldn't have been surprised. Victoria was always trying to prepare him, constantly talking to him.

The world's full of supernatural creatures
, she said.
Witches aren't like any of them.

How right she was.

"Hey, you alright?" Alex asked from the couch. "You look like you're ready to explode."

Kevin stopped and regarded the half-demon.

"Alex, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How do you deal with it?"

"With what?"

"With everything. All the stuff you can do. Ghosts, demons, wings, flying. It doesn't get to you? I mean…how did you feel when your wings first shot out of your back?"

Alex smiled at the memory. "Victoria was actually there for that."

"You probably freaked out, right?"

"Of course. But it gets easier. You should see me fly now. And believe me, I have my rough spots. Ghosts showing up at all hours, asking weird things. One lady wanted me to fly to Japan to look for some archaeological artifact. I had to pass on that one. How I deal with it? I've got Cindy."

Kevin scowled, and resumed pacing.

"I know it's corny," Alex said. "But it's true. She gets me through a lot."

"I wish Leese was here."

"I'm sure she's thinking the same thing."

Kevin looked at him, realizing that was a conversation they hadn't engaged in yet.

"Hey, are you cool with Leese and me?"

"Would it matter if I wasn't?"

He smirked. "Not really."

"Just treat her right, man," Alex said, laughing. "That's all I ask. If Anatol doesn't kill us, we'll all go out on a double date."

"We'll be fine."

Alex smiled at his confidence. "Oh, yeah? How do you know?"

Kevin sighed sadly. "You haven't heard? I'm an all-powerful witch."

They both looked to the stairs as they heard the door open, and were joined by Jack and Victoria. Jack tossed a plastic grocery bag at Kevin.

"There's your shit," he said. "You want to tell us what you're doing?"

Victoria glared at him before giving Kevin a soft look. "Do you need anything else?"

"Victoria, for the love of God, would you cut the umbilical cord?"

Kevin ignored him and answered Victoria. "No, I'm good."

He grabbed an empty cup and poured in the ingredients.

"Do you need a measuring cup?" Jack asked. "Or you just put the crap in there randomly?"