Darkness Descends (The Silver Legacy Book 1) (31 page)

D
enny parked a few blocks from Mike Cockerton’s house in the dark. Dread washed over her. Was she too late? Had Mike Cockerton managed to lure Pure into his web?

The thought made Denny nauseous, and as she got out of the car, the hackles on the back of her neck stood on end. The Hanta was trying to warn her to be careful.

Pulling Fouet and Épée out, she crept around to the back of the house. The back door was unlocked.

Of course it was.

What did a demon have to fear from humans? Perhaps he was expecting her. Maybe he even wanted her to come in through the back door.

So she didn’t.

Instead, Denny crept inside through an open window, her weapons leading the way. Her night vision seemed sharper than usual––the Hanta was alive and ready, or at least, wanted
her
to be ready.

As she skulked around the bottom floor in near darkness, she noted the kitchen counter was loaded with dirty plates. The floor felt sticky and an ominous odor filled her nostrils. It wasn’t the scent of blood or that of death.

It smelled like sex.

Denny shuddered and gritted her teeth as she started up the stairs, her heart racing, her palms clammy against the cylinders. The third and seventh stairs creaked, but she kept going until she was at the top of the staircase.

Denny moved from room to room, looking for Pure. Her heart beat in her ears now and she could feel herself get bigger. When she came to a half-open door, she heard light snoring. Pure snored like that.

Steeling her nerves, Denny flicked her wrists and opened both weapons. She kicked the door open and leapt into the room.

“Get the fuck out of the bed!”

The warm honey feeling flowed down her back. Hanta was fully awake and ready for the hunt.

“What the fuck?” Mike Cockerton leapt from the bed and turned on the light.

“What’s going on?” a young girl asked as she pulled the sheets up around her bare breasts.

Denny blinked once and slightly lowered her weapons.

“Who the hell are you?” the girl asked. “And what the hell are those?”

Denny sheathed her weapons and turned her attention to Mike Cockerton. “Where’s my sister?”

“Hell if I know.”

“
You’re
Pure Silver’s sister? What the fuck?” The girl said, pulling more covers around her. “I heard you’d gone crazy.”

Denny glared at him and ignored her.
She
was not the threat. He was.

“Get out,” Denny growled to the girl. “
Now
.”

“I don’t know who you think you are, but––”

Denny grabbed the girl’s neck in one powerful hand. Her voice was gravely and deep and she knew her eyes were glowing red. “Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

When Denny released her, the girl scurried from the room and Denny used her foot to close the door. “Where is she?”

He smiled.

Denny snapped the weapons to life once more.

“You don’t want to do that, Golden Silver. If I die, you’ll never know what happened to your sweet little sister. She was good, too. You know how fun it is for men to pop those little teen cherries. It hurt so good, know what I mean?”

Denny stepped closer, her skin bristling. “Just so you know, you’re going to die horribly when
I
pop your teeny head.”

“I think not. Your sister is still alive. You want her to stay that way, you give up the book.  Once we have the book, we’ll give you Rush
and
your sister. It’s that simple.”

“Bullshit. You think I’d ever trust a fucking demon? I know all about you. You’re a scum-sucking piece of shit who would say just about anything to get that book. I can’t wait to send you back with shame and humiliation on your smug face.

“Come on, man. Cut it with the melodrama and empty threats. You’re way outta your league. In over your head. Amateur. Newbie. Rookie. Novice. Beginner. Need I go on? You got lucky with the schmoes they sent after you, but they were just trial balloons. I’m the real fucking deal and I could end your pathetic human life like that.”

Mike Cockerton snapped his fingers.

“Just give me the book and your sister can walk away with only her hymen injured.” He flashed her a smile. “And believe me, it was injured.”

The Hanta grew angrier and Denny could feel it grow inside her, wanting to take over, wanting to kill Mike right here and now. Both Denny and the Hanta wanted to tear him apart. “Pure can recover from bad sex with you, asshole. It’s the rest of her I want unharmed. You’re not getting jack until I know Pure is safe.”

“You don’t really have room to negotiate. I’ve got everything you hold dear and won’t think twice about putting them down. Listen. Be reasonable here. You don’t even
want
this gig. Who would? You’ll never have your own life. You’ll never really get used to the killing. People will come to you for help all the time. Your life will be filled with evil, blood, and gore. Is that what you want? Is that how you envisioned your life?”

Denny lowered her weapons. Was that really the life that was waiting for her?

“It’s a life full of death, of hunting, of darkness that seeps into your soul. The Hanta wants to take over, and you will fight him every day of your sorry life to keep control over yourself. Did Ames Walker tell you that? He didn’t, did he?”

The weapons now hung at Denny’s sides. “He did not. He didn’t tell me about—”

“About the darkness? If the Hanta gets too strong, it can take you over just like any other demon. Not just can.
Will
. It’s ultimately what they want. They want to be alive.” Mike Cockerton pulled on some jeans and a shirt. “Ah, He didn’t. I see. Makes you wonder why he left out that little factoid, huh? What else don’t you know, Golden Silver? Did he tell you that your family has wanted release from this for decades? Decades. And I can offer it to you as a gift.” Mike jammed his feet in a pair of Van’s. “I can help you, Golden Silver. I can use the book to remove the Hanta legacy from you and your family.”

“Are you kidding me?” Denny bowed her head.

“I am not kidding. Those trainers are all the same. They guard their knowledge like a troll guards his gold––giving it out piece by piece so they have a tiny bit of power. He’s no different than the rest.”

She said nothing.

“It’s not like we’re going to use the book to take over the world. That’s not really what this is all about. Do you really want to spend your life helping people who wouldn’t lift a finger to help you? People who would spit on you if they knew what you carry within you? Why on earth would you do that? Why would
anyone
expect that of you? Is that truly what you want for your life? Is that what your
mother
wanted for your life?”

Denny shook her head. “I...I don’t think so. I never wanted this. I don’t think she wanted me to have it, either. I didn’t even know getting out of it was an option.”

“Yeah. They never share that with legacies, but the truth is your Hanta is just a demon attached to your lineage. Nothing more, nothing less. Well, they come with cool weapons and shit. I bet when you were a little girl, you never dreamt you’d grow up to kill demons and be a pseudo-demon yourself. Because that’s what you are, Golden Silver. Make no mistake about it. You are every bit as demonic as I am. Just because you hunt us and kill us doesn’t make you any better.”

Denny put the cylinders back in the inner pocket of her vest. She knew what she had to do. “You’re right. This isn’t what I want for my life. I didn’t ask for it and I don’t want it. If you’re sure you can get this fucking thing out of me, you can have the fucking book. I just want my life back.”

“I’m positive. I swear.”

Denny tilted her head at the last two words and stared a long time at the demon that was Mike Cockerton. “I’m not doing anything without Pure. You bring her home and I’ll give you the book in exchange for both Pure and Rush. That’s the only way I’ll do this.”

Mike Cockerton walked around the edge of the bed with his hand out. “If you’re being honest with me, you won’t mind handing over your weapons.”

Denny didn’t hesitate. She reached inside, pulled out two cylinders and handed them to him.

“Wow. I thought you might be bluffing.”

Denny shook her head. “I don’t want anything to do with this demon shit. I just want my sister, my lover, and my life back.”

“I’ll bring your sister to you. Have the book ready for me. You must actually
hand
it to me.”

“How come?”

“It can’t be found, can’t be stolen, can’t be taken, or it turns to dust. You must
voluntarily
hand it over.” He looked at her. “He didn’t tell you that, either, did he?”

“Apparently, there’s a pretty long list of things he didn’t tell me. Don’t worry. I’ll have the book. You just bring my sister.”

“She’s not far. I’ll be right behind you.”

Mike followed Denny to her car. Once she was in, he bent over and leaned on the open driver’s window “If you change your mind, or foolishly think you can take me out without your weapons, I’ll kill you, your sister, your lover, your other sister, and every friend you hold dear. Understand?”

Denny nodded. “Just get this thing out of me and never bother me again and I’ll give you whatever the fuck you want.”

***

S
he’d never driven the Prius so fast. In front of the house, she screeched to a halt and, almost before the car stopped rolling, she jumped out. She raced up the stairs and found Brianna and Cassandra sitting on the floor in Rush’s old bedroom.

“Can you guys get Rush out of there or not?”

Cassandra nodded “Absolutely. We’ve done a cursory evaluation of the demon holding Rushalyn, and its power has waned since our initial encounter. As a duplo, the demon loses power the longer it is away from its other half. I believe we can successfully save her if we have a diversion.”

“Good. Look. Shit’s going down in less than ten minutes. I need you both to focus on your task and––”

Cassandra held up her hand. “This isn’t our first rodeo, hunter. You do whatever you need to do to handle whatever is following you. Let Brianna and me handle this.”

Brianna nodded. “We’ve got this, hon. I promise.”

Denny returned Brianna’s nod before reentering the lair.

“Okay. Okay.” Denny ran her hands over the spines of the books to find the thickest book she had. “Come on, Golden, think. You can do this.”

There.

A book about the history of the supernatural. She ripped it from the shelf and tucked it under her arm. Her heart thumped in her chest. She knew this was a crap shoot. She knew it was a risk, but it was all she had.

“He’s coming. Are you two ready?”

“All over it, hunter.”

“Denny?”

Denny stopped and turned. “Yeah?”

“We have your back. You have to believe that.”

“Thank you.”

Denny stood on the porch waiting. Mike Cockerton finally pulled up in front of the house, and she thought she would faint from relief when she saw Pure in the front seat of the Camaro.

Before Pure could open the door, Mike grabbed her arm and pulled her out through the driver’s side.

“Pure? You okay?” Denny asked. She noticed her voice changing slightly. The warm honey feeling starting at the base of her skull. The Hanta hated Mike Cockerton.

Pure’s wide-eyed stare and her silence told Denny she wasn’t all right.

“It’s fine, sis, really,” Denny said, fighting for control of her vocal cords. “Just trust me.”  Everything’s going to be all right. I swear.”

Mike stood with his hand on the back of Pure’s neck. “That the book?”

“It is.”

“Let me see it.”

Denny shook her head. “Pure comes up here first.”

Mike hesitated a moment before nodding once and letting Pure go.

Pure ran up the steps and threw her arms around Denny, but Denny did not return her hug.

“Go upstairs and stay upstairs,” she whispered. “Lock the front door behind you. Do not come out. You understand me?”

Pure pulled away and looked at her. “Denny, your voice––”

“Go!” Denny roared. Pure scurried into the house; the ominous sound of the lock clicking told Denny it was time.

She walked down the steps, one at a time, her eyes riveted on Mike Cockerton, who waited a couple of feet below her. She could feel his excitement––his anticipation at getting his hands on the legacy book. “You’ll need to come upstairs. The lair is in the attic.”

He looked up at the house. “Once I have the book, I can remove the Hanta that plagues you and then I’ll be on my way.” He held his hand out for the book. “I gave you my word.”

When she reached the bottom step, she held the book out to him. “You know, the one thing I’ve learned from my Hanta is that the word of a demon doesn’t mean jack shit.” Denny paused and glared at him. “You’re all lying pieces of crap.” Then she dropped the book on the ground. “You want it so badly, pick it up yourself, motherfucker.”

Cockerton looked down at it for only a moment. “You stupid, stupid bitch. Do you really think I was kidding when I said I will kill everyone you hold dear?” He took a step forward. “I will tear each and every one of your––”

The sound of heavy thundering feet drowned out Mike Cockerton’s sentence. A moment later, Pat Patterson lowered his shoulder and drove it hard into Mike’s chest. The sound of Mike’s bones cracking could be heard as the two men tumbled to the ground.

Mike landed ten feet away and was struggling to get up. Pat winced as he straddled him, hitting him again and again with his meaty fist. “Stay the fuck down, asshole.”

The element of surprise gave Denny the moment’s reprieve she needed and she pulled her real weapons from her vest.

Cockerton howled a preternatural sound, but Pat tightened his arms around him as well. “Calm down, buddy, or this is only gonna get worse. You ain’t goin’ nowhere,” Pat growled into the demon’s ear. “Just calm the fuck down.”

Cockerton struggled for another moment before he stopped fighting and looked over at Denny. “Don’t be a fool, Golden Silver. I will kill every single thing you hold dear, starting with this ape.”