Obsessions: A Monster Squad Novel 7 (21 page)

“Yes and no, my queen. Each wave will do more damage, but there are still many more inside. And we have to cut off every avenue of escape.”

Lilith sighed heavily. “Fine, just make sure that any bombs left over are redirected toward the churches. I want them flattened.”

Gaius stepped forward again and set the tablet down. “My queen? If I may be so bold? Once you have stepped in and have offered to ‘save’ the humans…wouldn’t that be a good time to destroy the churches?” He saw her eyes widen with anger and he quickly added, “I’m just saying that you could easily blame the bombings on extremists from the church. The populace would believe it if it came from their savior and then you could simply
outlaw
Catholicism.” He stepped back and studied her.

Lilith considered his words and slowly she began to smile. “I like the way you think, Commander.”

Samael pushed past the Roman demons and walked jerkily out of the room. His face had a pained and contorted look about it. Lilith watched him with confusion for a moment then stood in his path. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Samael continued to walk, slowly, his body fighting his commands to stop. “I…do…not…know.”

“What is going on here?” Lilith opened her mouth to demand that he stop when Samael pushed her aside and marched past her. “Guards!”

11

Mark stood with his hand raised, knuckles poised to rap on Mitchell’s office door. He paused and squeezed his eyes shut. Counting to three did no good so he counted to ten and slowly lowered his hand. He stood in place a moment longer then forced his feet to step away from the closed door and toward his own office.
What the hell? I think Doc is up to something, so I’m gonna run off and ‘tell’ on him?

Mark shoved his office door open and fought not to slam it behind himself. He fell into his chair and pulled the bottom drawer open. He had the bottle open and to his lips before he realized what he was doing.

He pulled the empty bottle back and stared at the last drop clinging to the threads. He exhaled hard and dropped the bottle into the waste basket next to his desk. “What the fuck’s come over me?” He dropped the lid in next to the clear glass bottle and stared at it. Thoughts raced through his mind as he continued to stare, his eyes not really focusing.

What the hell is Doc up to? Or is he up to something? Am I just being paranoid? What if I’m not? The guy fought like hell to save my life when I was bleeding out. Then again, he did infect me with the vampire virus. Maybe he did it on purpose? Maybe he wants to control me?

Mark sat up and stepped to the window of his office. He stared down into the labyrinth of workspaces and zeroed in on Dr. Peters diligently working in his lab. “What did you do to me, Doc? Were you trying to make me your slave?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Mark rolled his eyes at his own comment. This is Doc he was talking about. He watched the spineless man going through the motions and shook his head. There was no way the guy had an agenda. His brain simply didn’t work that way.

He walked back to his desk and rifled around in the bottom drawer again. There had to be another bottle down there someplace.

The phone on his desk rang and he nearly jumped. He snatched the phone off the hook and had to fight from barking into it. “What?”

“Duty officer, sir. Mister Thompson and his team checked in. They’ve retrieved the weapons, but he reported there wouldn’t be a need for transportation. They’ll be back at sundown.”

“Very well.” Mark slammed the phone down and turned back to his drawer. He stared at the mess he had made then caught a glimpse of the empty bottle in the trash. “Why do I bother?” He kicked his drawer shut and clenched his jaw.

He took a long cleansing breath and tried to relax. It did no good. He turned and grabbed the pot of coffee from behind his desk and poured a cup. He stared at the steaming brew and watched in stunned fascination as his hand reached out and grabbed the cup, brought it to his mouth and he gulped the steaming hot liquid down. He waited for a pain that didn’t come.

He gently placed the cup down and stared at it, waiting for a reality check. He waited for the nerves in his mouth to start firing and send the message to his brain that he had just fucked up. They didn’t come. He ran his tongue across the roof of his mouth and everything felt normal. He sucked in air and it felt surprisingly cold, the taste of the coffee finally biting his taste buds.

Mark turned slowly in his chair and stared at the coffee pot behind his desk. Slowly his hand reached out and grasped the handle, bringing the pot to his mouth. He took three long gulps of the steaming hot liquid before setting the pot back on the warmer. He smacked his lips and blew out a hot breath.

“This is messed up. That should have set my world on fire.”

He glanced around his office and finding no other source of torture, his eyes fell on to the letter opener at the edge of his desk. He pulled it from the wooden block and slowly slid it into the flesh of his hand. Very little blood escaped as he withdrew the nickel plated dull blade and he watched in shocked fascination as the flesh stitched together and healed before his eyes.

“Aw, hell.” He dropped the letter opener and quickly stood up. “I think something’s broken.”

*****

Thorn stood in shocked silence as the creature stepped into view below, numerous humans suddenly surrounding it. “That does not look like Damien.”

Foster swallowed hard and shook his head. “I do not believe that it is.” He turned frightened eyes to his brother. “I think I’d remember if he had fucking
wings
!”

“Release him!” Thorn tugged at Foster’s shoulder, pulling him back from the skylight. The two fell to the roof and sat quietly, each listening to the excitement below as the humans tried to stop the demonic looking creature from answering Foster’s call. “We need to vacate this area now,
mon ami
.”

“Try and stop me!”

Foster turned and ran for the edge of the roof. He leapt for the parapet and pushed off as hard as he could, Thorn beside him as they practically flew through the chill air. Both vampires landed with a roll in the parking lot then came to their feet and made for the fence as quickly as they could.

The enforcers saw the two running toward them and pulled the chain link up to allow them to slip under. Foster dove headfirst and slid under while Thorn slid feet first under the metal fabric. “Get the car! Now!”

“What did you see, m’lord?” One of the enforcers asked as he helped pull Thorn to his feet.

“The devil!” Foster tugged at Thorn’s coat. “Quickly!”

The enforcers turned and stared toward the building, their eyes scanning the area looking for any sign of the ‘devil’ that Paul mentioned. They turned back when the black SUV slid to a stop behind the berm of earth they hid behind. The last enforcers stood watch while Thorn and Foster slid in followed by the other enforcers. He turned and pulled open the passenger door then glanced back toward the old factory. As the truck pulled away, he could almost swear he saw a very large man with black leathery bat wings standing beside the two guards at the far door.

“I think it’s time to call the hunters in.” Foster slid down into his seat and tried to keep his hands from shaking.

“
Oui, mon ami.
I believe you are correct.” Thorn stared out the window as the truck sped away. “As soon as we return, I shall—” His words were interrupted by a thunderous boom and the ceiling of the SUV caved inwards.

A cacophony of curses and epithets were shouted as the SUV swerved on the road, its lights crisscrossing the road, the tires squealing on the dry pavement. “The devil is here!” Foster screamed, sliding into the floorboards of the vehicle.

Thorn shifted in his seat and stared up at the roof. “Destroy it!”

The enforcer in the passenger seat pulled his weapon and turned in his seat. He pressed the button for the sunroof then stuck his head and shoulders out through the hole. Weapons fire was heard then a scream as he was pulled through the small opening in the roof, the driver swerving, trying to shake the attacker.

Thorn shoved his shoulder, “Get us out of here! Now!”

The driver pressed the accelerator to the floor, doing his best to avoid obstacles in the nearly deserted part of town. He slammed on the brakes hoping to throw the attacker off the roof, but he clung to it like a magnet.

Rufus pressed himself tighter to the door of the SUV, praying that they did not lose control and that their attacker would soon be satisfied with the carnage he had already inflicted. He should have known better. He heard the screech of metal being rent and torn, large fingers tearing through the material of the truck as if it were tinfoil. Suddenly the top folded back and Rufus saw the demon in all of its horror.

The beast floated in the air, its wings extended and catching air like a sheet in the wind, the roof of the SUV caught between massive arms and clutched with taloned fingers. But what caught his attention the most were the glowing green eyes. As if lights shone from behind those glowing orbs, the light cast an eerie green hue to the scene below.

Thorn watched as the demon cast the roof of the SUV to the side then folded its wings and dove for the car. He grabbed the driver by the shoulder and jerked his arm. “Turn, damn you!”

The massive truck jerked to the right, its tires skidding, screeching into the night as the demon swooped in and missed. Rufus could almost feel the wind breaking off its body as it sailed by then arched back into the air for another assault. “Go! Go! Go!”

The driver mashed the accelerator again and tried to cut down a smaller street in hopes of limiting the mobility of their airborne attacker. The demon sailed overhead then swooped once more. With nowhere to turn, the truck would be easy prey. Rufus squeezed the driver’s shoulder. “When I tell you, stand on the brakes!” The demon dove once more and Rufus yelled, “Now!”

Everyone within the vehicle was pitched forward as the truck slid to a stop, its anti-lock brakes protesting and vibrating under the driver’s foot. The demon overshot and the driver accelerated once more hoping to hit the monster with the heavy truck. Just as the headlight closed on the beast, it disappeared.

“Get us out of here! Now!” Foster continued to squirm, trying to get even lower in the floor of the vehicle. He grabbed at an enforcer and pulled him over on top of him.

Thorn turned in his seat, his eyes skyward as he looked for the green eyed demon. He thought he caught a glimpse of it, but it was a traffic light ahead. He continued to watch, his head on a swivel, constantly searching for the monster.

Gunshots rang out and Thorn turned to see an enforcer firing at the rear of the vehicle. The demon had clung to the rear of the SUV as it bounced out of the narrow street. It climbed over the ruined rear of the truck and grasped the enforcer by the head, flinging him out of the vehicle as if he were nothing more than a ragdoll.

Thorn turned to Foster who was still cowering in the floor. “Control him! Compel him to stop!”

Foster had tears of fear running down his cheeks and he whimpered as Thorn barked at him. “I-I can’t!”

“Yes you can! You are his maker! This is Damien, you are his master! Control him!”

The demon wrapped an oversized hand around Thorn’s middle then extended his wings, the wind instantly lifting the pair into the night.

What was left of the SUV shot into the night, Foster cowering in the rear floor, crying and praying to whatever god would listen that he not be eaten.

*****

Laura watched as her dad sat up without grimacing. He smiled and inhaled deeply. “I smell something.”

She gave him a curious shrug. “I don’t smell anything.”

“It smells like meat cooking.” He smiled at her and waggled his eyebrows. “I’ll be damned if it doesn’t smell like meatloaf.”

Crystal leaned forward and patted his hand. “Jim, sweetie, they’re not going to allow you to eat something like that.”

He shrugged and glanced between the two women. “Why not? If my days are numbered, I might as well enjoy them right?” He gave Laura a slight wink that Crystal missed entirely. “Would you mind checking and if they have meatloaf, bring me some.”

Crystal shook her head. “I’ll check if you really want me to, but, Honey, you won’t be able to hold it down.”

“Indulge me, darling.”

She leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Anything for you.” She excused herself and slipped out of the room.

Laura gave her dad a skeptical smirk. “If you wanted to talk privately, I think you could have found something a little less—”

“No,” he interrupted. “I honestly smell meatloaf and damned if it doesn’t have my mouth watering.” He sat up taller in the bed and punched the button to raise the back higher. “Open the blinds again, Punk. I want to see some sunshine.”

Laura stood and opened the blinds, allowing the sunlight into the room. “I didn’t realize you couldn’t hold down…” she trailed off, remember her mother’s last days.

“Don’t, Punk.” He reached out for her and squeezed her hand. “It wasn’t anything you needed to know.”

“Still, I wish you had told me.”

He shrugged. “What’s to tell? Besides, I’m feeling much better already.” He gave a slight nod toward the port that she had used. “I haven’t been hungry like this in a long time.”

She lowered her eyes and nodded. “It’s to be expected, I suppose. That’s another side-effect.”

“If it means getting to eat again, I’m all for it. I really missed being able to eat.” Jim glanced to the door hoping that Crystal would come back in carrying a large tray full of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

“You might find that your taste buds change some.”

He gave her a sideways look. “Like how?”

“Like, junk food won’t taste good anymore.”

“Ha! Junk food is called ‘junk’ for a reason, Punk.” He chuckled as he stared at the door. “I just wish she’d hurry up. I can smell that stuff, and I’m starving.”

“That’s another. Your sense of smell will be sharpened.”

“Again, not a bad thing.” He gave her a sideways smile.

“Until you decide that her perfume smells like road kill or that she doesn’t shower often enough or…” Laura shrugged, “…any number of issues.”

“I’m not bitching, Punk.” He turned and gave her his full attention. “You’ve given me another chance. A chance to
live
. I don’t care if I end up chasing the paperboy on his bicycle or marking the yard at night to keep other dogs away. I’m just happy for the opportunity.”