Shadow Keeper (31 page)

She let out a howl. “Good god, I’m not a wishbone.”

“Lisa, your mom needs to sleep this off.”

“I’m not that drunk.” She shrugged off both our hands and flopped down in the recliner.

“Good.” Lisa stood in front of her mother. “Because I want to know what’s going on.”

“Nothing’s going on.” I swiped the back of my hand across my mouth to remove the lie. “Your mom just had too much to drink and she needs to go to bed.”

One blonde eyebrow lifted as she glanced at me. “If you want me to be your girlfriend, you’d better quit treating me like a little baby.”

I took a step closer. “I just don’t want to upset you.”

“I’m already upset.” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “So tell me what happened back there.”

“It was nothing.” Monica licked at her lips. “A small electrical fire.”

“I thought it was an overturned candle.” Lisa glanced at each of us. “If you’re going to lie, at least get your stories straight.”

“Oh, darling.” Monica let out a heavy sigh. “It’s not a lie if it’s done to protect someone.”

“I’ll remember that. Now are you going to tell me what actually happened?”

“Get me some water, please. Drinking wine always dehydrates me and my mouth is dry.”

Her eyes rolled. “Fine, but when I come back in here, you are going to tell me the truth.”

Monica turned to me after Lisa disappeared into the kitchen. “I have to tell her. She helped me study her father’s research notes, and she already knows that I suspected Kyle was possessed by a demon. She even knew of the exorcism I attempted with Father Lester.”

“It’s your call, Monica.” I shoved my fingers through my hair as I paced around the room. “I think Lisa is probably stronger than either of us realize.”

“I’m glad you figured that out.” Lisa stood at the kitchen entryway. She walked across the room and handed her mother a glass of ice water. “So tell me what happened.” She sat on the couch and curled her legs beneath her.

Several long glugs of water didn’t seem to help Monica. Her voice sounded scratchy and dry. “Mr. Bishop performed a little ritual of burning a sample of your father’s hair and blood. And then…” She rubbed her hand over her face. “This giant, horrible creature jumped out of the flame and almost killed us all. If it wasn’t for Brendon, I’d probably be dead.”

“None of us were in any danger,” I said when Lisa’s mouth dropped open. “It wasn’t real. According to Bishop, that creature was only a manifestation of the demon.”

“The demon that possesses my father,” she clarified.

Monica nodded. “Brendon, you talked to Bishop the most. What else did he have to say?”

I paced across the rug to avoid looking at either of them. The information I was about to give wasn’t encouraging. “The demon is very powerful. If an exorcism is attempted, that creature will appear for real and could kill everyone in the room.”

“What are you trying to say?” Lisa’s lower lip quivered. “Are you telling me it’s too dangerous to even try, and that my father may never get better?”

“That’s exactly why I didn’t want to tell you.” I glanced at Monica, but she looked just as stricken. Her eyes closed as she shook her head.

I wanted to go to Lisa and hold her, but Monica crawled from the recliner and sat next to her on the couch.

Watching the two of them cry in each other’s arms tore me up. The truth was hard for all of us. My chest ached with helplessness. My only hope was that I could continue to protect them from the demon.

After a moment, Monica glanced at me. “Did Mr. Bishop say there was any hope of helping Kyle?”

I shrugged while trying to recall his advice. “Unless an exorcism is performed by someone who knows what he’s doing, Bishop thought it would be too dangerous to attempt.”

“Then we’ll just have to find someone who is qualified.” Monica climbed from the couch and pulled Lisa with her. “It’s late. We should all turn in.”

“It has been a long night.” I picked up my jacket. “Maybe after church tomorrow, I’ll swing by and see how you’re doing.”

Lisa slipped from her mother’s embrace and came to me. Her arms wrapped around my waist. “Goodnight. And thank you for everything.”

I kissed her on the forehead. “Goodnight.”

“You don’t have to leave, Brendon.” Monica motioned Lisa to her. “I know you planned to sleep at a friend’s house, but there’s no need. You may sleep here if you wish.”

“If you don’t mind.” I glanced at the couch. “That was pretty comfortable to sleep on the other night.”

“Not there.” She waved her hand at the couch. “You may sleep in Lisa’s room.”

My head jerk and my body twitched. “Where?” I asked, even though I was positive I’d heard her correctly.

“Good god, calm down.” Monica pulled Lisa from my arms. “Lisa is sleeping with me. You can sleep in her bed.”

“Glad you clarified that.” I glanced at Lisa. Even though her eyes were clouded with tears, it looked like she was trying to hide the same kind of smirk that tugged at my mouth.

“I know what you were thinking,” Monica said. “But that will never happen…not even in your wildest dreams.”

I shook my head while trying to suppress a smile. Monica had no idea how wild my dreams could be.

Chapter Thirty–Eight

Lisa’s room contained so much of her that it seemed she stood beside me. A single strand of blonde hair clung to a hairclip resting on the night stand. The sleeve of a pink blouse trapped by the sliding closet door peeked at me. One white running shoe lay on the rug next to the dresser. I flipped out the light and jumped into bed as soon as I pulled on flannel bottoms. Sleeping in her room would be hard enough without the constant visual reminders.

The air in the room was warm, and I didn’t need to snuggle under the covers. I flung the heavy comforter toward the foot of the bed. The cotton sheet draped around my waist, leaving my bare chest exposed. I turned my head to the side. There it was—another reminder of Lisa. Her fragrance lingered in the bedding. I slipped my hand beneath the cool side of the pillow and pulled it to my face while inhaling deeply.

Her scent stirred a response within me. I let out a long breath, hoping to calm the tightness. My mind and body were exhausted, and I needed sleep. I forced my muscles to relax. My eyelids grew heavy. The darkness of slumber crept in. Lisa would come to me soon enough.

And so would the demon.

****

The door opened and Lisa stepped into the room. A slight breeze ruffled the long blonde hair hanging over her shoulders. The shimmering white nightgown she wore clung to her body, revealing soft curves. Her slender arm extended and her fingers beckoned for me.

I threw back the sheet and reached for her. The tips of my fingers brushed against hers. I propped my body up on one elbow and tried again. Her fingertips curled around mine.

Darkness formed behind her. “No,” I shouted when the demon materialized and wrapped its scabby arms around her body. I tried to crawl from the bed to rescue her, but my legs were tangled in the sheet. “Lisa!” I closed my eyes, not wanting to see her face when the creature ripped her from my grasp.

My eyelids flew open when its hot, putrid breath stung my face. The demon crouched down and leapt onto my chest. I clenched my hands around its throat. My thumbs pressed into its windpipe. I would put an end to this. Tonight would be the last night that filthy creature would ever take her from me.

I squeezed as hard as I could. My fingers cramped. My biceps ached. Just as I was about to force all life from the demon, he vanished into a puff of smoke.

I awoke, my heart hammering and my body drenched in sweat. I kicked the sheet loose from my feet and staggered from the bed. My legs wobbled. I bumped into the dresser on my way out of the room. When I reached the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face. I grabbed a hand towel and wiped away the moisture. As I straightened from the sink, I glanced into the mirror.

Instead of my pale, blood–drained face, a tanned one stared back. The man resembled me, but not exactly. His bare chest didn’t carry the red mark, but his reflection had the same dark hair, only longer. Thick, dark, and straight, the strands were pushed back from his face and hung down his neck. Laugh lines creased the skin around his eyes—brown eyes without a hint of green.

I pressed my hand against the mirror. “Dad.”

“Yes, son.” His hand touched mine.

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I’ll always be with you.”

“I know.” I bowed my head as my anguish grew. “These nightmares won’t end. Night after night a vicious demon attacks me. Or worse, he rips Lisa from my arms and drags her away. I don’t know how much more I can take.”

“I feel your pain, but the dreams will fade.”

I glanced up. “How long will I have to wait?”

“I can’t give you an answer, but it’ll end when one of you wins.”

“What do you mean?”

“Either the demon succeeds in driving you away so you’re no longer a threat, or you win by sending him back to Hell.”

I studied my father’s face in the mirror. He waited for my reply. “I want that filthy demon back in Hell.”

“That will be a difficult task.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” I swiped one hand across my face. “I feel so helpless. I want to help Lisa’s father, but I don’t know how.”

“Son, I know what lies ahead of you. That’s why I’m here to show you the way.”

I glanced into my father’s eyes. “You can see into the future?”

His head shook. “Not the future, but I can see the path you’ve chosen for your life.”

“Demon fighter?” There was nothing funny about it, but I had to chuckle at the concept.

“If that’s what you chose to call it.”

“Then you’ll help me?”

“No, but there is someone who can—your mother.”

“Mom?” The muscles in my jaw jerked and my mouth flopped opened. I snapped it shut so I could speak. “She hates that I might do this.”

“You have only to ask her.”

“I can’t.” I shook my head. “If I tell her what I plan to do, it’ll upset her too much.”

“You can’t do this without her. The demon is too strong and this is your first encounter. If something happened to you, the pain she’d suffer would destroy her as well.”

“You’re right.” I nodded in acceptance of my father’s wisdom. “I’ll talk with her in the morning.”

“Just one thing.” Dad swished him arm behind him.

The reflection of the bathroom wall changed to an outdoor setting. A ring of oak trees merged into the background. A hollow tree grew near the center. Dried grass covered the ground.

“I know this place. I’ve been there.” My eyelids squinted while I studied the landscape in the mirror. A red circle was drawn in the dirt near the lone tree. Two white parallel lines were drawn outward from the circle. At the end was a hole dug in the ground.

“This is where you’ll face the demon. You’ll need courage and strength. I know you have both.”

“You have a lot of faith in me.”

“Always.”

“So what am I supposed to do?”

“The spirit of Kyle Stratton dwells in the center of the hollow tree, waiting to reunite with his body.”

“What?” I glanced at my father. “He’s not in his own body?”

Dad confirmed it with a shake of his head. “Drive the demon out so his spirit can return to the body.”

“Stratton told me I had to kill the man to destroy the demon.”

“Complete death isn’t necessary. But the demon will only leave if the body begins to die. Then you can send him back to Hell.”

I struggled with the contradiction. “How am I supposed to almost kill somebody?”

“You’ll find a way.”

The wooded landscape behind my father blurred, and then vanished. His image faded. My own reflection was cast over his. “Wait. I don’t think I can do this without you.”

“You’ll never be alone.”

I slapped both hands against the mirror, hoping to keep his vision in the mirror, but only my reflection stared back. My hands slid to my sides. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Well,” I asked the image remaining in the mirror. “How are you going to tell Mom you want to be a demon fighter?

Chapter Thirty–Nine

Daylight shining through the purple curtains woke me from a peaceful sleep. After speaking with the reflection of my father, a calmness had settled over me. The thought of facing a demon terrified me, but the path I chose to follow would take me into the future. Demon fighting was my destiny. A gift handed down to me by my father and his father. I would not refuse my birthright.

I glanced at the digital clock on Lisa’s dresser. Time to get up and get the day started. A hard task lay ahead. Telling Mom of the decision would not make her happy.

No sounds of anyone stirring in the house echoed into the room. I hopped out of bed and grabbed my toothbrush before heading to the bathroom. I needed a shower to rinse my body. Even though I’d only dreamed of fighting a demon, I still exerted energy.