Demon Hunters 3: Tainted (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.)

Demon Hunters 3: Tainted

Published by

Broken Gate Publishing

PO Box 6241

Maroochydore BC 4558

Australia

978-1-925131-28-4 (Kindle)

978-1-925131-29-1 (Print)

Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy/Horror

Copyright 2015 © Avril Petersen

Cover design by Caitlyn Petersen

All rights reserved

For you, Cat. Since it’s currently your favourite.

Cassidy is sick of her father looking for a miracle cure. He should accept there is none, instead of believing the lies told by those who prey on the desperate. But he doesn’t and Cassidy finds herself in an abandoned industrial building staring into the flame streaked eyes of a demon. Only a thin line of salt keeping her alive.

This novel was written by an Australian author using Australian spelling.

Like many names there is more than one way to pronounce the following ones. These are the pronunciations used in this story.

Ibaelcaurzanon [ib-ail-cause-ah-non]

Iulia [oo-lea-uh]

Cassidy Wells dropped onto her bed, falling into the multi coloured pillows piled up at the bed head, staring at the posters on the wall opposite her. “I don’t know.” She held her mobile phone against her ear, twisting a strand of long reddish brown hair around a finger. “Dad’s been working from home a lot lately, Amy. He’s been a real pain about the slightest noise.” It was getting harder to come up with valid excuses. She knew that eventually Amy was going to get fed up and stop bothering and she had no idea how to prevent that from happening. She let go of the strand of hair and it straightened immediately. Curls probably wouldn’t suit her anyway.

“Aww come on, Cass. It’s been forever since I’ve slept at your place.” Amy paused. “Actually, I can’t remember the last time I slept there.”

Cassidy could. Very clearly. It was back when life was still kind of normal. Eight years ago when she was nine. Before they’d realised what was going on. “I’ll ask him.”

“You say that every time.”

“It’s not like it’s any fun having a dad who works from home. It’s like living at his workplace.” If only her father wasn’t so determined to keep the promise her mum had pleaded with them to make years ago. No one would care. And after all this time, who was still in their life who’d known her mum before?

“Just keep pestering him.”

Frustration arrowed through her. As if that would make a difference. “Amy I-” Her door burst open, interrupting her words. Obviously she’d forgotten to lock her door again. She pressed her phone against the bed. “Dad! How many times have I told you to knock? I could’ve been getting dressed or something.”

Her father, Tony, who was almost six foot, looked like he needed to eat more and had dark shadows under his eyes. His hazel eyes, that matched hers, currently gleamed with excitement. Normally they were filled with worry. “Grab your bag. We’re going out, baby.”

Cassidy stared at her father for a moment, trying to remember the last time she’d seen him this excited. A frown creased her forehead as she remembered the so called miracle doctor he’d found about a year ago. She guessed once again it would be up to her to be sensible. When she nodded, her father spun on his heel, closing the door behind him. As she put the phone to her ear, she could hear Amy demanding if she was still there. “I have to go.”

“What’s happening? Who were you talking to? Was that your Dad? Did you ask him?”

“I’ll call you later. After I talk to him.”

“Later tonight or later tomorrow?”

Who knew how long it would take to convince her father that it was probably only another person preying on the desperate. “Tomorrow.” Weariness washed over her. They couldn’t keep living this life. None of them. Somehow she had to convince her father to accept the inevitable. She didn’t want to watch life pass her by as he chased after nonexistent miracles.

“Okay.”

Cassidy could hear the disappointment in her friend’s voice. She knew that feeling well. Along with anger, frustration and often wanting to scream at the world and demand why them. “Sorry, Amy. I will ask him. But I can’t promise he’ll say yes.” She already knew he’d say no. Already knew it was going to be a complete waste of time asking him. Maybe she was more like him than she’d thought.

“Okay. I’ll see you at school tomorrow. But ring me first thing in the morning to let me know. If I have to wait until I see you at school I’ll probably die of curiosity.”

“Alright, I’ll call you then. Bye.”

She disconnected, dropping the phone onto her bed as she rose from it. Grab her bag? What did he have planned? Were they going far? And who was going to look after Mum? They never went anywhere together. Someone always had to stay home to look after her. Well, maybe not never, but it might as well be.

Cassidy strode to the mirror in her wardrobe door. Her lime green shirt and white jeans looked fine. Luckily she’d put off having a shower. She checked the time. After ten. What was he thinking dragging her out at this time of night? When he’d burst into the room, she’d expected him to order her to bed. She shrugged, grabbing her handbag. What did it matter? It was a school night and she was going out instead of being sent to bed. Whatever stupid idea he’d discovered, she’d deal with it. At least this would get her out of the house for something other than school or grocery shopping. Slipping her phone inside her handbag, she headed for the front door.

Tony was standing by it, jingling his keys. A plastic bag, bulging with odd shaped items, was in his other hand. “What took you so long?”

She put on her rainbow coloured sneakers, which had been lined up neatly by the door. “Where are we going?” Stepping outside, she watched him lock the door. “Is it far?” He only shook his head, remaining silent. She followed him to the white sedan parked in the driveway. There was enough light cast by the streetlight to see that her father was smiling. “Dad?” Again he shook his head and when he unlocked the car, she slid into the passenger seat. Usually she was the one driving the car. But only to do the grocery shopping. Never anywhere else. Life was slipping her by, something that happened to other people, not her. Actually, it was slipping past the two of them, just out of reach while they remained a prisoner of her mum’s illness.

Tony waited until he was seated before he spoke. “You’re never going to believe me. Let’s just say I’ve found someone who can cure Sylvia. Prepare to be amazed, baby.”

“Dad-” she broke off, not sure how to word her statement. It didn’t seem to matter how many times she told him, and how many crazy people promised a cure that never worked, nothing could convince him that there wasn’t one. She took a deep breath. “There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s. Mum will never get better.”

His smile didn’t dim. “Just wait and see, Cass. Wait and see, baby. There’s no point telling you. This is something you’ll have to see for yourself to be able to believe it.”

Those words didn’t reassure her. She eyed her father, unable to remember ever seeing him so excited. None of the other failed attempts had caused this level of excitement. It was worrying. And she worried even more when, over an hour later, they pulled up in front of an empty industrial building.

“Dad, I don’t think we should be here. Whoever told you they can cure Mum wouldn’t be at a place like this if it was legit.” Outside the car the area was quiet and deserted. There wasn’t even another car parked nearby. It was the sort of place that probably wasn’t good to visit during the day, let alone at night. Her eyes scanned the area, finding far too many shadowy places for her liking.

“Come on, Cass. Trust me.”

Cassidy stared at her father, wishing she could see him clearer. But the only light that filtered into the car was from a streetlight well behind them. How could he even ask that of her? Especially after all the other times. “Who’s watching Mum?”

“Sylvia will be fine. She’ll sleep till morning. I gave her some sleeping tablets.” Tony reached out and rested his hand on her shoulder. “I need your help, Cass. Things will be better after tonight. I promise.”

She was tempted to ask him if he’d been drinking, but he didn’t smell like alcohol. It was odd hearing him ask for help. He never asked. Told her occasionally, when it came to things like doing the housework and buying groceries, but never asked. It worried her even more. “Fine.” Taking a deep breath, she swung the car door open. “Let’s get this over and done with. But you owe me a favour.”

“You’re not bleaching your hair so don’t bother asking again. No hair dye until you’re eighteen.”

“I want Amy to sleep over.” She put one foot on the bitumen and was about to rise from her seat.

“Sure.”

Her head snapped back and she again stared at the shadowy figure of her father, certain she’d misheard. “Really?”

“Really. Now let’s get this show on the road.”

She was speechless for a moment. “Even if this doesn’t work? No matter what happens, Amy can stay over one night.”

“It’ll work, you’ll see.”

Yeah, sure. Just like all the other times. Hadn’t he learned anything? Her eyes darted towards the building in front of them. Obviously not. “But if it doesn’t work, you have to promise to let me have Amy sleep over, regardless.”

“Alright. If it’ll make you happy, baby. Amy can sleep over no matter what happens.”

Cassidy grinned. “Thank you.” She leaned forward to drop a kiss on his cheek.

“Now can we go inside?” He gestured towards the building in front of them.

“Yes.” Even though she was still worried about what she’d find inside, she couldn’t help being happy about being allowed to have someone sleep over. Miracles obviously did happen occasionally. She slid out of the car, leaving her handbag on the floor under her seat. In a neighbourhood like this she didn’t know if it was safest to leave it behind or carry it. But at least if she didn’t look like she had anything valuable, no one had a reason to mug her. She waited for her father to grab his shopping bag and lock the car before falling into step beside him. “So who’re we going to meet?” She scanned the area again, trying to see what might be hidden in all the shadows. It was impossible. An army of muggers could be hiding and she wouldn’t know until it was too late.

“You’re never going to believe me. You’ll just have to wait and see for yourself.” Tony draped his arm around her shoulders as they walked towards the building. “I can’t wait to show you.” He pushed a metal door fully open and they stepped inside. “Hang on. Let me get out my torch.” He rummaged in the bag and a few seconds later a beam of light fell on the ground in front of them. He shone the light around, highlighting rubbish, leaf litter and dirt. “Not the cleanest place, but it has the space we need. And no one’s going to disturb us here.”

Cassidy shivered. And it wasn’t from the temperature. Brisbane wasn’t that cold in mid October. “Dad-” she broke off when she saw the items he’d started to pull out of the bag. “Why’ve you got your fishing knife? Salt? Candles? What’s going on?” Worry exploded through her, swamping the fear she’d felt on entering the deserted building. Not him too. Surely not him.

“You’ll see.” Tony picked up the two kilogram bag of cooking salt and moved towards the centre of the large, open, aluminium clad building.

“Dad?”

“It’s okay, Cass. You’ll see soon enough.”

She wanted to grab the car keys and leave. Instead she watched as he made a large circle with the salt, carefully pouring it from the bag, the torch shinning on the white grains as they fell. When he reached where he’d started, he straightened and surveyed the slightly crooked circle. Dropping the bag of salt, he picked up the candles and placed them in strategic spots around the circle, lighting each of them. The flames flickered, causing shadows to dance around the room. Cassidy hugged herself as she fought the urge to run. Was her father next? Hadn’t this been one of her mum’s symptoms? Doing odd things. Odd behaviours that they’d originally laughed off. No. Things like that didn’t happen. One parent with early onset Alzheimer’s was rare enough. But two? That had to be impossible. Besides, he didn’t have any of the other symptoms. She’d have noticed. So what was going on? Maybe he’d finally cracked from all the stress.

“Dad?” She wanted to cross the room and beg him to take her home.

“Nearly done.” He shone his torch on a handful of torn out notebook pages he held.

Cassidy took several steps forward but couldn’t bring herself to cross the line of salt. She stared down at it. A narrow, unbroken line on the ground, a candle flickering nearby. “Dad?” Why wouldn’t he tell her what was going on?

“Hang on.”

She wished now she’d brought her handbag in with her. She could have at least checked the time. Or sent a text to Amy to tell her the answer was yes, while she waited for her father to finish having his mental breakdown. Anything so she didn’t have to think about what was going on.

She didn’t know which would have been worse. Meeting someone in this out of the way place or the fact they were alone. Alone and going crazy. She guessed it had to happen eventually, but why now? There were only a couple of months left until she finished year twelve. Couldn’t he have waited until then to have his mental break down? She didn’t think she could cope with this.

“Okay. Come over here.” Tony stood in the middle of his salt circle. “Make sure you don’t disturb the salt though. It’s extremely important not to break the circle.”

Cassidy took a larger step than needed to cross the strange barrier. “Are you okay, Dad?” He had to be. She couldn’t look after two parents. One was hard enough and that was with sharing the responsibility. There was no way she could do it on her own. In the early stages her mum had begged them not to put her away, not to let anyone see her as she worsened. She had been terrified of losing not only herself, but them too. But there was no way Cassidy could look after her mum on her own. It would be impossible to keep that promise. “Dad?”

“Of course I am, baby.” He flicked off the torch and placed it on the ground at his feet.

The numerous candles cast enough light to show the area they were in, but there could be anything hiding in the shadows around the edges of the building. “Can we go home, Dad?” Please say yes, she mentally pleaded with him.

He ignored her, picking up the knife to hold it in the same hand as the paper. The other hand picked up a fat, round candle that had been flickering on the ground at his feet. “Come over here.”

Eyeing the knife she took several steps closer. “What’s the knife for?” The sharp blade caught the candle flame, glinting in the light and sending splashes of light across the building.

“You don’t have to worry about it.” He stared at her a moment. “You know I love you, right?”

“Dad, you’re starting to freak me out.” Starting? He’d gone way past starting. Maybe it was time to go. Although where she could go to, she had no idea. She didn’t even know exactly where she was.

“I’m sorry, baby. But you’ll be fine. I need you to stay in this circle and no matter what happens never come out. Understand?”

She shook her head. “No. Not a single thing. What’s going on? Really going on. And why are we here?”

“It won’t be safe outside this circle, but nothing will happen to you if you stay inside it. Promise me that, okay?”

How was a bit of salt meant to protect her? She met his eyes, seeing the candlelight reflected in them. What could she say to convince him to leave right this minute? She couldn’t think of a single thing she hadn’t already said. “I want to go home.”

“Soon. Not long and you can go home, but I need you here so you’ll know. You deserve to know the truth.” He paused, the candle causing shadows to dance across his face. “I love you and your mother. Make sure you tell her that for me, okay?”

“She doesn’t know who we are half the time. How can I tell her you love her? And why can’t you tell her?” She could hear her voice rising and didn’t even bother trying to stop it. What was he planning on doing?