Heaven's Key (Demon Hunter Book 1) (5 page)

I opened my mouth to tell Cole about my dream. He deserved to know that his partner was either the key to Heaven or she was a mad woman, but I couldn’t do it. So I just stared out the window as the scenery flew by. Beautiful landscape marred by the ugly scars of clear cutting. We soon sailed across the bridge to Mercer Island. She lived along the shore and the driveways were all gated. The houses were hidden from the road behind giant trees and overgrown shrubs.

“It’s over there on the right. 227. See the sign?”

“Yeah, I see it.” He pulled over to the speaker in front of the gate and pushed the button. No one came on the intercom, but a few minutes later, the gate opened. I was getting almost giddy inside.

Bevie had been vague about the details of the haunting, but she had told me in detail the kind of art her friend created. I really was a terrible partner. There were colorful wooden birds dotting each side of the narrow driveway. The closer we got to the house, the thicker the bird population became. It was a nightmare combination of bold colors slapped on crudely carved birds and the best was yet to come.

“This woman is going to be off her rocker. Did Bevie say she was crazy?”

“Now, now, judging a book by its cover and all that.”

“You’re one to talk. You hate everyone.”

“Yes, but I have a very good reason for hating everyone I do. Most people are idiots.”

As we pulled up to the house, the birds thinned out and were replaced by very detailed phallic sculptures, the biggest one drooping over and tall enough for our car to drive under it. It had pretty ivy growing all over it.

“I bet she’s a nice old lady who offers us cookies and tea.”

“Yeah, roofie tea.” He shuddered and looked up as we drove under the large plaster cock.

“Judgmental prude.” I was enjoying this too much. I’d never had a hobby before and I thought torturing Cole was going to be my first.

The path to the house had been an assault of loud colors and crazy images, but the house itself was a white classic beach house. It was turned so the large windows in the front faced the south. A sign reading “My dogs are my furry children” was staked in the garden just before the two steps to the house.

“Okay, let’s see who’s right, shall we?” I knocked on the door. Two competing barks erupted immediately.

The door opened on a woman in her sixties. She had jet-black hair styled like Betty Page. Hell, she could have been Betty Page. A cleavage-plunging corset was matched with a pair of physics-defying yoga pants. The fabric was stretched so thin I could read the writing on the front of her panties. “Let’s Eat In,” with a giant red arrow pointing to her crotch, was emblazoned on the front. I thought I was going to really like this woman.

Cole was blinking at an odd rate and his mind looked like it had gone off to find some mental bleach. Her make-up consisted of black eyeliner, which had been applied for a good ten years without ever being removed, and a red stain on her thin lips from a ruby red lipstick, where she failed to color in the lines. This was the kind of crazy I wanted to be when I grew older.

“Hello, I’m Jael Allen and this is my partner, Cole Daine. We’re here about your ghost problem.”

“Oh good. I’m Delilah and these are my sons, Hamish and Russel.” She lifted each one a little higher in her arms as she said the dog’s name. Twin French bulldogs dressed in matching blue sweaters and sailor hats.

“Nice to meet you, Delilah, Hamish, Russel.” I nudged Cole, who only managed an awkward wave. I was starting to regret not warning him.

“Come in. I just sat down to take my medicine. We can talk in my gallery.”

“Of course, wherever is best.”

“I used to have to smoke it, but now they have these neat little vaporizing things. I love them. No more smoke around the house. I can take it wherever I go.”

This woman passed interesting and entered into enigma. We walked down white hallways dotted by tasteful paintings and photographs until we came out into her studio. It overlooked the water and the many windows gave her plenty of light to do her work. Her work was eclectic. She didn’t just carve birds and penises, but she painted nudes too. Every one was raw and beautiful. She exposed their souls and their bodies.

Women, men, old, and young. All walks of life were represented. It was beautiful in its realism. Cole’s head swiveled back and forth with his mouth open. His mind was having a hard time taking in all the startling visual stimuli. I nudged him. Mister I’ve Been There Done That was looking awfully naïve.

She had a cute little sitting area. The sofas were covered in canvas, making them part of the artwork in the room. Delilah set Hamish and Russel on the ground and they scurried off. Picking her medicine up off the coffee table, she inhaled a very large dose and then leaned back into the sofa.

“Bevie is quite worried about you, Delilah. She asked us to rush here ASAP. Tell me a little about your ghost so we can get started as soon as possible.”

“Bevie is the sweetest. I knew if anyone could help, it would be her. Let me see… well, it seems to me it started about two months ago, but at first, I blamed the little things on the dogs. My underwear drawer would be open and my panties thrown all over the house. Knocks and bangs, all things I could explain away. It put me on edge, but I was coping, then the worst of it happened and that’s when I called Bevie.”

“What happened?”

“He showed himself. My ex-boyfriend was sitting on the end of my bed looking at me. I had been sleeping, but the bed started to shake, and when I woke up, he was there staring at me, naked as the day he was born and stroking himself.”

If I kept a diary, masturbating ghost would definitely be going in it. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. This was going to be a juicy story for the next time I got together with the other hunters. “Did he die here?”

“Yes, we were having one of my parties. Couples come and whatever happens, happens. You know what I mean?” She gave Cole a toothy smile. His eyes widened and he wiggled a little closer to me. If he did it again, I’d have him on my lap. “The party was in full swing and, usually, Harold and I didn’t choose each other on those nights. That’s the point of having the party in the first place, as you know.”

Giving Cole a wink, she took another puff of her medicine. “Harold was dressed in his pony costume and I loved my Harold when he was a pony. So handsome and majestic.”

“Pony?” Cole finally found his voice. A tiny squeaky voice, but he spoke.

“Yes, he wore a bridle, butt plug with a tail, and he even had this corset that had a small saddle on the back. Some people even have shoes that turn the foot into hooves, but Harold had terrible bunions and couldn’t wear them. When I saw him across the room, I just couldn’t resist. So we went to my room and started to fuck, but Harold was a naughty man and he took his dick pill against doctors’ orders. He had a bad ticker, you know.”

She took a long drag off her pen. “He just kept going and going. I only wanted a quickie, not a marathon. So I started to humiliate him. He loved that, so please don’t think me cruel. He went crazy. Fucking me so fast, I was sore for over a week. He just couldn’t cum. My Harold never gave up, though. He was a gentleman. He always made sure the lady got hers, but he needed to finish too; it was only fair. It was just too much for him. He had a heart attack and died right in my bed.”

She looked at me, waiting for a response. My brain raced to find something suitable, but what do you say after a story like that? “Sorry for your loss, Delilah.”

“Thank you, dear. Harold was a nice man and a good lover. He wasn’t my only, but I did have a special place in my heart for him. I don’t believe in monogamy. It isn’t natural. Variety is the spice of life and all that, but now I have him in my room every night. I haven’t had sex since he showed up. I could go elsewhere, yes, but I feel like I can’t leave him. He needs to move on.”

“We’ll do our best to make sure he does just that, Delilah. Is there a specific time he shows up?”

“Yes. One a.m. like clockwork. It was the time of his death.”

“I don’t think he’ll be hard to get rid of. Cole and I will be here tonight. Simpler is better and sometimes just telling them to move on works, but if it doesn’t, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve.”

“If I’m to stay up that late, then I must go have a nap. If you’d like to relax, have a shower, you can use my boathouse. It’s the building down by the dock. You’ll find fresh towels, whatever you need.”

She took her dogs and left the room. Cole’s eyes never left the woman until she was out of sight. I was happy to see the back of her panties said “Please Cum Back.” I wondered if she would adopt me. Gently taking his hand, I led him out of the house and down towards the boathouse. He just shuffled along beside me. I tried to be as patient as I could, but the woman wasn’t a monster; she was just a little kinky.

“Cole, you were in Iraq. There are much scarier things than Delilah.”

“So much make-up. Those yoga pants were so tight I felt I had to watch them in case they snapped.”

“She’s a character, but I like her. I’d love to have one of her pieces, but I’d have nowhere to put it anyway.”

“Of course you like her. She’s a pervert.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you love this stuff.”

“True. I just didn’t think you knew that about me. I thought I was professional around you.”

He smiled, laughed, and changed the subject. “I guess a masturbating ghost is new, right?”

“Totally. I’ve never come across it before.”

“Jael, are you okay? You look really tired. Maybe we should have waited longer to do another job.”

“Cole, I’m fine. I don’t think a masturbating ghost is going to be that dangerous. I’m going to have a shower, then I’ll take a nap. The cut was bad, but it’s gone now. I just need a little rest.”

“Are you sure there isn’t anything you’re not telling me?”

“No. What could I not be telling you? We spend almost every second together.”

“Like how your cut miraculously healed all on its own.”

“How about you tell me how you got morphine and antibiotics.”

He just shook his head. I didn’t care how he got them; I was just happy he did.

“Cole, you have to drop this. I don’t know any more than you. I’m trying not to think about it, to be honest. It was freaky to wake up and have my arm as good as new.”

His eyes narrowed and he shrugged. I left him to his suspicions and went for a shower. I’d tell him, just not until I had to.

The shower worked its magic on all my knotted muscles. It was one of those showers where you were surrounded by jets and sprays. My long hair was treated to a shampoo and conditioner I couldn’t afford and the towels were heated. It’s amazing how stiff you can get while sitting in a car.

When I came out, Cole was already sleeping in one of the overstuffed recliners. The couch looked inviting, but I paused before lying down. I needed to do some research and maybe call in a few favors. Get some information. Opening the laptop, I logged into my email. There was mostly junk and a few requests for help that I would absolutely get to later.

A friend of mine was a professor of theology at McGill in Montreal. He wasn’t a hunter, but he was an expert on demonology and I needed an expert. He was also a believer. There were lots of experts in the world, but unless you were a believer, most of my questions would lead me to a straitjacket and padded cell.

Dr. William McLaren had been an online friend of mine since I started hunting. When I was a newbie trying to get as much information as possible, I wrote him after seeing his name on a bunch of different sites dedicated to demons.

It took almost two years before we admitted to each other that what we were discussing was real and not just two scholars sitting around chewing the fat. After that, he upped my game immensely. Will had never fought a demon, but he had seen possessions and he had shadowed priests who had performed exorcisms.

If anyone could give me information about Cain that I couldn’t find on Google, it was Will. I was worried this might push the limits of his open mind, but I couldn’t think of anyone else who might be able to help.

I gave him a quick summary of what had happened and sent it off. He was pretty good about getting back to me. I’d confide in Cole after I had more information. Confiding about things that scared the shit out of me wasn’t something I was very good at. I was more the stuffing it down inside and drowning it with gin type.

The couch was more comfortable than most of the beds I’d slept in and the cashmere throw I pulled around myself was the final piece to my nap. It took no time for me to drift off.

A fine mist sprayed my face and I opened my eyes to find myself in a large dory. Cain sat in the middle of the boat, propelling us further away from shore with the large oars. I was dressed in the same clothes I had been wearing when I fell asleep, except I now sported a raincoat and sou’wester.

This time, I was seriously pissed. Could you take a restraining order out on a stalker who only talked to you in your head? Every time I drifted off, he was there. He smiled at me when he noticed I was watching him.

“Do you like this setting better? I thought it might remind you of home.”

“Nothing about home makes me feel better.” He nodded and we were in a cabin in front of a fire, both of us under a blanket and holding hot chocolate. I set mine down. “I don’t like hot chocolate.”

“You’re awfully picky.”

“Having you let me nap in peace would put me in a better mood.”

“I won’t stay long, then.”

“Am I naked under this blanket?”

“No, of course not. You’re wearing underwear. I’m not a monster.”

Turning to him, I could see a faint glow in his eyes. I didn’t know if it was him or a reflection of the fire. They looked kind, but that wasn’t possible. “I’m never going to fall for your charm because I know it’s all a lie. I’m never going to be convinced to open the gates of Heaven because I know when it comes to Heaven and Hell, the only real loser is man. So what can I do to get you to leave me alone?”

“I’m no fool, Jael. I know you loathe me. I know convincing you to open the gates of Heaven is a long shot, but I also know you find me attractive, and even though you don’t believe the things I say, it’s harder to ignore me than you thought it would be. A part of you wants to believe me.”

I stayed silent. He was more right than wrong, but I had free will and I didn’t have to act every time my panties got wet over some handsome man.

“…But I’m not here for any of that this time.”

“Bullshit.”

“You’re in danger, Jael.”

The way he said my name, like a low, deep growl, sent a flutter through my stomach. “More danger than having Cain, the second most powerful entity in Hell, holding me in his arms?”

“I’m no danger to you. You have me under your spell. My manservant has overheard others talking about a hunter who needs to be dealt with. Not everyone feels my father should go up against God, and if you’re dead, then their problem is gone.”

“Then stop trying to convince me and I won’t be in danger.” I seriously hoped he was lying. The last thing I needed was a bounty on my head.

He put his lips to my neck and left a tingling trail of kisses up to my ear. I steeled myself against leaning into him. Demons could be some of the most seductive creatures in existence. They only showed their true face once they got what they wanted from you. “We are meant to be together, my hunter. I know you’ll fight me, but in the end, we’ll be one, and you’ll regret fighting me.”

“I would rather marry a pig and have cute little piglets. Then if he pisses me off, I can always have bacon.”

His scream was deep and rumbled through my body. His eyes blazed and I swore I could feel the heat of Hell. Then he was gone. I had angered him. Man, I had to learn to be more diplomatic. I had a bounty on my head and Cain pissed off at me. On the bright side, this was probably the most danger I could get into, so things had to get better … I hoped. The fire quickly died and I was left to sit in the dark, cold and alone.

“Jael, wake up.”

Waking up in only my underwear, I grabbed the throw and wrapped it around me. How could he fuck with my body in the real world when he was in my head?

“What the hell is going on, Jael?” Cole was angry and he had every right to be. Keeping this a secret was getting ridiculous.

“Would you believe sleep stripping?”

“No. Now what the fuck is going on? I know you don’t want me as your partner, but you’ve got me and I need you to be straight with me or I’m going to walk and you can explain why to your aunt.”

“Seriously? Look, Cole, this isn’t personal. I’m not used to sharing. I don’t share my feelings, information…nothing.”

“Then this is going to be a steep learning curve, because you either start or I walk.” His blue eyes stared at me, unblinking, cold. The decision needed to be made now and I wasn’t ready. The seconds were ticking away. I almost told him to leave, but Cain was too big to handle on my own, and as much as I hated to admit it, Cole was a good partner to have.

“I lied to you. I do know how my arm was healed or at least, I think I do. Last night, while I slept, Cain came into my head. He told me I was the key to open the gates of Heaven. He wants me to open them for his father. Oh, and after I do him that little favor, he wants me to rule Hell with him.”

“He healed your arm?”

“Yes, it was supposed to be proof that he is who he says he is.”

“Cain, as in the son of Satan, the Father of Murder?”

“Yes.”

“Is this some sort of prank, because I don’t find it very funny.” He was wary and he had a right to be. I had lied to him.

“I’m trying to confide in you. It’s what you wanted. I have a very powerful being gaining entrance to my fucking brain every time I go to sleep. I hate it. I didn’t tell you because I’m used to dealing with things on my own, but I don’t know what to do this time.”

“Is there anything else?”

“There’s a faction of demons who don’t want me to open the gate and they have a bounty out on me. Other than that, you know everything I do.”

“Lovely. Did he say who?”

“No, I may have pissed him off before he could tell me.”

“Shocker. So, in summary, you have Cain or something similarly powerful visiting you in your head. Since demons lie almost all the time, we don’t know if anything he’s saying is true, including the fact some demon is out to get you. This is fucked, Jael.”

“Pretty much.”

“Then we have work to do. We have to find out as much as possible about Cain and any other demon who’s capable of doing this and we need to find a way to keep him out of your head. The fact that you have a bounty on your head will have to be dealt with when it has to be dealt with.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

He knew what and it made me like him even more for not giving me a lecture. “Anyway, it’s getting late and Harold will soon be stroking and gawking.”

“You know ghosts get in a loop sometimes. Unfinished business and all that.”

“Are you saying he’s haunting Delilah because he didn’t get to come before he died?”

“I think it’s as good a guess as any.”

“That would be a kind of hell in itself, don’t you think? Living always on the edge and never being able to go over?”

“Don’t even say that.” I shivered at the thought.

“So what are we going to do about it?”

“That sounds like a job for Delilah. I think she has more in her arsenal than the two of us combined.”