A Demon tried to kill me once, now I hunt down demons (Part 8)

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
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Trish was struggling but didn?t seem at all capable of dealing with Xei. This became even more clear as Xei put a little more force onto the back of Trish?s neck with her foot.
?**** what the hell do they feed you!? Trish shouted.
?Blood,? Xei said, ?now, out with it!?
Colin shouted, ?She?s in The Temple!?
I grumbled, ?Colin you, idiot.?
Colin turned to me, ?She won?t be able to walk in.? he glared at her, ?Evil cannot enter that holy place.?
?Spare me the religious nonsense!? Xei hissed.
?At least we can agree on something,? Trish grunted. Trish kicked at Xei?s knee.
Xei lost her footing long enough for Trish to escape, and Trish ran towards her pistol with her good hand, her other one seemed to have dislocated something.
Trish took aim at Xei, but before Trish pulled the hammer back Trish flew backward and crashed against the side of the house.
Xei now stood in her place, glaring at Trish as she cracked her head on the wall.
Trish staggered to her feet for a moment, having difficulty lifting the gun before collapsing to the ground in a heap.
Xei regarded Trish, ?Tougher than she looks,? she turned to me as I backed away towards Colin. ?Now, where is this Temple and how do I gain access to it??
?With faith,? Colin shouted.
Xei, once again in a blur, was now in front of Colin, lifting him by his neck, ?I want to know how to gain access to it, physically, you little zealot!?
?Suck on this yah? leech!? My father?s voice shouted and the sound of something heavy cracked against the back of Xei?s head.
Xei flew forward, face-first into the dirt, a bloody mess on the back of her head.
I looked up from Xei?s body to see my father. Gray short hair, his beleaguered hazel eyes, wearing a white tank top and a pair of old work jeans and brown boots. He had a sledgehammer in his hands, which now had blood on it. ?That won?t keep her down,? my father grunted, hefting the hammer up over his shoulder, ?Tie her up boys.?
I hugged my father out of pure instinct, ?I was afraid you were dead!?
My father laughed, ?If Belial didn?t kill me this vampy bitch wasn?t going to.?
Colin was now tying Xei?s hands behind her back.
?Hogtie her Colin, the bitch is fast, she might try to run away,? my father turned to the house.
I glanced at the house to see my mother looking over Trish, mom?s hand had bandages and a splint wrapped around her thumb, ?She will be okay. She?ll have a hell of a headache but she will be okay.? my mom smiled when she saw me, ?Trevor! Oh, thank goodness you?re okay!? she walked over and hugged me.
I sighed, ?Barely.? I looked to her hand, ?What happened??
Mom glared at my father, ?I had to dislocate my thumb since your father was too squeamish to do it to himself! That crazy woman tied us both up you know??
My father nervously turned to Billy?s white pickup, ?Hey, where?s ol? Bill??
Colin frowned as he got Xei?s legs tied up, ?no longer with us.?
?What?? my father shouted.
?A herd of possessed goats killed Billy? uh, Tanner?s goats,? I explained.
My father frowned, ?Goats? Goats can get possessed??
My mother spoke up next, ?Fred, help me get her into a bed, okay? She needs some rest,? she said as she knelt next to Trish. Mom looked to me, ?Who is this??
?That?s my friend from college, Trish,? I did my best to introduce the unconscious Trish.
My mom shot my father a look, ?I told you!?
My father shrugged, ?It was possible, all I was saying!?
?What?s possible?? I asked.
?Your father thought you were gay,? my mother chortled.
My fists clenched to the point my nails dug into my palms. Colin?s hand on my shoulder did not help the matter.
?Nah, Trevor?s always been into girls' mom, though Trish is only a friend,? Colin shot me a commanding look, ?or so he says.?
My father picked Trish up and headed to the backyard, ?With things as they are, we?ll head into the shelter.? he carried her towards the back where a large mound peaked out of the ground.
My mother ran on ahead as Colin dragged Xei into the house.
I turned to Colin, ?What are you doing??
Colin grunted as he pulled Xei inside and shut the door, ?keeping her on the side until we can ask Saint Timothy what to do with her.?
?Yes, I?m sure he?ll be pleased we knocked out, and likely killed his half-sister,? I pointed out.
?Not the good one,? Colin defended as he walked ahead of me, ?he may reward us both.?
Mom opened a door in the mound and we all headed down a long staircase until we got into an equally large room.
?Dad,? I asked, ?How much did you add to the shelter??
My father laughed, ?it?s four converted storage containers, reinforced from the outside, two living quarters, with three bedrooms, a storage room, and a grow room for food.?
?A Grow room?? I asked.
Dad nodded, ?Yep, solar-powered and it can simulate the sun with those special UV lights. The best part is when the grow room gets going it can give us clean oxygen down here if the vents get blocked. Not to mention the solar panels outside and the geothermal power underneath for power everywhere else.?
Mom complained, ?Pretty much no mortgage left your father with far too much money to do as he pleased.? she crossed her arms in a huff. ?We could have moved to Cancun or bought a bigger house, but no, we had to make the world's greatest shelter.?
Dad laughed, ?yep.? he walked into another section of the large room which had a kitchen, TV, couch, and even a full dinner table. ?She can chill out in your bed, for now, Trevor,? my father shouted from the other section of the shelter.
Colin nudged me in the ribs, ?Come on man, you said they marked you, we can head to the temple, get you unmarked, and put a stop to this madness going on.?
?I doubt we will make any difference,? I frowned, ?Didn?t make a difference to Billy and Tanner. All they did was try to help us, now look at them.?
Colin shook his head, ?So you want to stop and make it so they died in vain??
My father looked to the two of us, ?Listen, boys, I dealt with this ten years ago and I had hoped by the time it ever reared its ugly head I?d be dead from old age.? he sighed, ?but this is serious, what if you get killed! These demons don't mess around. Stay in the shelter with us??
Colin shook his head, ?Dad we can?t just sit by and do nothing!?
?I hate to agree with Colin, but he is right.? I looked at my ring, ?Something has to be done.?
My mother hugged us both, ?Be safe.?
My father did the same, ?lock the door on your way out.?
Colin and I headed out and walked into the backyard.
I took the opportunity to light up a cigarette. It felt like forever since I had one, and my stress was demanding a smoke at that moment.
?Really man? Now? You better not light one of those up in the temple,? Colin complained.
With a deep inhale, I pulled the cigarette away from my mouth, the filter in my fist, and I turned it to Colin, simulating a middle finger with the cig, ?**** you."
Colin stopped, and knelt on the ground, he turned to me, ?Put that thing out and, pray with me, together we should both be able to do this.?
I looked at the empty yard and deep down I thought about the words Trish always said. About the door being make-believe and all of it in my head.
?Trevor!? Colin shouted, ?Come on!?
I glared at Colin and looked at my ring, I turned to Colin, ?You?re wrong about what Tasha told us, just to clarify.?
Colin glared back at me, ?You need to have faith in what she taught us!? he shouted, ?She?s a saint, we have to trust her teachings!?
?She?s no saint,? I glared ahead of me, ?You can?t trust her, nor her words,? I held my right hand out, the ring on it began to glow. ?You want to put your faith into something Colin? You put it in God and you let Him do the rest.?
Colin?s face softened.
?That?s how I cast out demons,? I closed my eyes, imagining the door appearing, ?you put your faith in God and pray to Him. No one else.? I opened my eyes to see my ring was just its usual iron color again, and the doors had appeared before me. I turned to Colin, ?I?ve been waiting for this for a long time,? I walked towards the doors, ?I can put everything that has been torturing me to bed,? I threw what was left of my cigarette on the ground and crushed it under the ball of my foot.
Colin got to his feet, ?And when we see Tasha you can apologize for insulting her,? he looked to me, ?Tasha?s a Saint, I know to trust in God, but she?s my pathway to God.? he grinned, placing his hand on the door. ?Besides,? he said wistfully, ?she?s my sin to keep me grounded.?
?I?m sorry your what?? I asked, turning to Colin in shock, my hand on the door.
?My sin is lust for her,? he turned to me, ?Everyone of the Palatine Guard has to have a single sin. I lust after what I cannot have because she?s celibate.?
I shook my head and pressed my hand against the door. It was real, I was certain now, it was real.
What I thought I would see were the same darkened halls and marble flooring. But what we saw nearly blinded us both.
The same room, but illuminated in bright white light coming down from the high ceiling filled it to the brim with a lightness that I didn?t remember. Before us were the two huge statues of angels, one of Saint Dinah, Timothy?s Grandmother, just as I recalled. Another of an angel with its face covered by a cowl. In the brightened room, the face of the second statue was still hidden. I looked around in awe of the differences, and the familiarity.
?Holy ****, it?s real,? I said as I walked in. ?It was real, it?s not just a dream I had.?
Colin chuckled, ?I told you brother, not to lose faith.?
I grumbled under my breath, ?I didn?t ?lose faith? in God, I lost faith in myself, thanks to you.?
A shiver ran down my spine as Tasha?s voice shouted happily.
?You boys came back!? she said laughing as she ran towards us.
While seeing Tasha again had me unnerved, it was Timothy off to the right that caught my eye.
He was standing there dressed similar to how I remembered, though it seemed he had gotten a new trench coat.
Timothy didn?t unnerve me either. The source of the shivers running down my spine and uneasiness in my gut was the woman standing next to him.
She was small, sure, maybe she was an inch shorter than Trish. A Latino complexion, long light brown hair, and a blindfold on. She had three sets of wings, six in all, each pair a different color. Descending from white, to red, and then black.
Despite the blindfold, she was looking right at me. Looking me right in the eyes, I could sense her looking at me. Like she was staring deep into me, it left me feeling naked, violated, and bare in front of her gaze.
As Tasha approached us Colin?s eyes were wide with lust, ?Tasha! Okay, you, I thought was a dream.? he grinned stupidly as he walked towards Tasha.
I shook my head, ?She hates when you compliment her looks, remember, Colin?? I reminded.
Tasha hugged him all the same, ?Oh I have missed you!?
The blindfolded woman was speaking to Timothy, Timothy and her standing away from us. But her gaze never left me.
Colin hugged Tasha back, grinning wide, and looking her over.
Tasha?s smile faded a bit as she turned from Colin, and then to me. ?Trevor! You?ve grown so much!? she beamed at me as she moved in for a hug.
I took a step back, ?yeah, happens over time.?
Tasha?s face fell, ?Trevor are you okay??
?No,? I said plainly as the doors shut behind me, ?No I?m not.?
?What?s wrong?? Tasha asked with concern.
?The boy bears the Mark of Cain, drawing Demons towards him,? the blindfolded woman said. She had walked towards us when Tasha was distracting me, startling me with her sudden announcement.
?The mark of what?? Colin asked.
?That?s only partly why I?m not okay,? I said.
?Show me the mark.? Tasha urged, ?We can remove it.?
I narrowed my eyes to Tasha, ?I don?t want-? my hand was being moved by an unseen force, forcing it up and opened.
The blindfolded angel smirked towards me, ?She did not ask you.?
?Let go!? I shouted as I struggled against something unseen.
?Sofia! Enough!? Timothy shouted, placing his hand on the blindfolded woman?s shoulder, ?Stop it! Let him explain.? Timothy looked troubled.
Sofia smiled at me, ?as you wish my love.?
My hand was free, and I felt my wrist, looking to Timothy and Tasha, keeping my distance from Sofia.
Timothy cleared his throat, ?Trevor, Colin, I?m happy you?re both here,? he smiled to us, ?Let me introduce you to my fianc?, Sofia V?zquez.?
Sofia nodded to us, ?I apologize if I was forward with you,? she pointed to my hand, ?but we must remove the mark? it?s like a beacon to the damned.?
?I?m sure Trevor wouldn?t mind it removed,? Colin looked to me, angrily, ?he?s likely just overwhelmed by seeing the temple restored and, well, all of you again!?
To my shock, Tasha was the one to push Timothy and Sofia away from me, ?why don?t you two prepare them each a room, and I?ll get the boys settled? We?re crowding them.?
Timothy nods, ?That?s for the best, Sofia, you can show me how to do that??
Sofia smiled lovingly to Timothy, ?My love,? she took hold of his hand, ?we?ll get those eyes opened yet.?
The two of them walked off, and Tasha turned back to me, concern washing over her face, ?Trevor? What?s wrong??
I clenched my fist tightly, and I did my best to hold my voice even. I?d dreamed of what I would say to her for so long. ?You, you?re what?s wrong with me. Because of you, I?ve suffered for years.?
Tasha?s face only grew more troubled and sincere, ?Because of me??
I imagined calling out a pious and overconfident zealot who would vehemently defend their teachings and actions despite the clear flaws in their approach. Yet here was Tasha looking contrite, confused, and beyond all almost hurt.
?Trevor, how could I have hurt you?? she asked.
I pointed to Colin, ?Because this one took what you taught us as law,? I turned back to her, ?and since then I lost my brother and got nothing but a sheep chasing after what you filled his head with!?
Tasha turned to Colin, ?What is he talking about Colin?? she looked to his hand, ?Where is the ring I gave you??
Colin pulled his ring up out from under his shirt, still attached to the chain around his neck, ?I never lost it, but it won?t stay on my finger anymore.? He shrugged.
Tasha looked to my hand and then to Colin, ?what did you do??
Colin smiled, ?I kept him pure.?
Tasha?s hand went to her mouth in shock, ?How??
I lifted my shirt revealing the scars from Colin?s beatings, ?this is how.?
Tasha gasped.
?When I was in high school, I found a girl I liked, but Colin figured that would make me impure,? I glared at her, ?so he sullied my name and he beat me for nearly ruining myself.?
?I had to Tasha,? Colin said, his face falling as he watched Tasha?s reaction, ?I know it was cruel but I did it with the best intentions! He can cast out demons now without even performing an exorcism!?
Tasha?s gloved hand touched my scars gingerly, but I still pulled back at her touch. ?The worst atrocities are done with the best of intentions,? she whispered.
I let my shirt fall.
A tall black man then approached us. He wore a military uniform, I think US Rangers, his eyes? looked like Timothy?s but glowed an amber-like yellow, far different from the yellow of Belial?s eyes. These eyes seemed to comfort more than anything else. He was bald, to the point where I saw light reflecting off the top of his head. ?Tasha, are you all right??
Tasha turned to him, and hugged him tight, ?Oh, Demond, uh? no. Not really,? Tasha turned to us, ?boys this is Demond,? she narrowed her eye on Colin, ?my boyfriend.?
Colin?s eyes went wide, ?Wait, what?!?
Demond raised an eyebrow, ?Problem, kid??
I couldn?t help myself, I started to laugh.
Tasha faced me dismayed as I tried to stop myself, but just couldn?t.
The laughter was hurting my stomach, reminding me of the scars, I tried to cover my mouth but it didn?t help at all. I kept laughing, what else could I do? Colin beat me to remain virginal, like Tasha, and she had this boyfriend right here! Even more hilarious was Colin lusting after her, and this huge black guy would likely rip Colin?s head clean off his shoulders if he knew.
?Trevor stop!? Colin shouted.
Between tears of laughter, I chuckled, ?She?s got a boyfriend! Your perfect saint of chastity has a boyfriend!? I shouted, my laughter finally died down a little, as tears leaked out of my eyes. My laughing shifted to crying, and I barely got a hold of myself before Tasha was standing before me, tears streaking her own face.
Tasha placed her hand on my cheek, regarding me with compassion in her eye.
?S-sorry I? it?s just??
Before I could finish, Tasha sank to her knees before me and then bowed so low her horns touched the floor. ?Trevor, please, forgive me! I led your brother astray somehow, please, I beg of you, forgive me.?
This was not the reaction I had expected at all, I expected to argue and fight, not this.
Demond frowned to me, ?Tasha, get up, you don?t have to-?
?Yes I do Demond!? she looked up to me, ?I do.?
?I?? I closed my eyes, recalling all the pain, ?I can?t, I?m sorry I cannot forgive you, Tasha.?
?Then tell me what I can do to earn your forgiveness?? Tasha asked.
Demond eyed me suspiciously, ?Nothing funny, kid.?
I glared at Colin, ?... straighten him out. If he doesn?t have your teachings down, which it?s clear he doesn?t, then teach him right.? my fist clenched, ?... give me my brother back.?
Tasha was on her hooves quickly, and marched her way over to Colin, who she grabbed by the ear, ?You and I, young man, have a great deal to discuss!?
Colin whimpered, ?W-Wait! I was just trying to do as you said!?
?That?s the problem,? Tasha scolded as she dragged him off, ?I don?t think you listened to what I told you.?
I couldn?t help but smile as I saw her drag him off, my opinion of Tasha shifting.
Demond regarded me next, with a firm tone, ?I?m a little out of the loop, but I can tell you this: That woman wouldn?t harm a fly if she could help it. Whatever she did to you, it wasn?t intentional.?
I looked him over, ?I?m not trying to hurt her, but I can?t forgive her.?
Demond looked me over, ?you okay then??
?I?m? better, I guess.? I offered my hand, ?Trevor Macaione.?
Demond shook my hand, his grip firm. Everything about this guy screamed ?Alpha male?, ?Sergeant Demond Winter,? he said officially.
?Staff Sergeant,? Timothy chimed in behind him, ?assuming my recommendations go through.?
Demond saluted Timothy and stood at attention, ?Sir, thank you, sir!?
?At ease,? Timothy smiled to Demond, shaking his hand, ?I see you met Trevor.?
?Yes, I did,? Demond confirmed.
?How're your folks?? Timothy asked.
?Well, they could be better, they had a run-in with your sister,? I explained.
Timothy?s eyes went wide, ?Xei??
I nodded.
Timothy turned to Demond, ?Sergeant, you?re in command while I?m out, tell Captain Sofia that I had to attend to something outside, she?ll understand.?
Demond saluted but frowned, ?Sir, shouldn?t Captain V?zquez be in command, considering she?s the senior officer??
Timothy?s face fell, ?I? I can?t trust her at the moment,? he frowned, ?Just, monitor her, okay? I?m worried, to say the least.?
Demond nodded, ?I?ll keep a wary eye out, don?t worry.?
Timothy turned to me, ?Where is Xei now??
?Tied up in our house,? I advised.
?We need to hurry then, she won?t stay tied up for long,? and with that, he rushed to the door.
?
We walked into the house to find Xei laying motionless in the living room.
Timothy looked around at the blinds, ?We might have to wait until morning? she?ll have an advantage over us during the night.?
?What is she?? I asked.
Timothy was looking over her head, and I realized that while there was blood, her head seemed fine. Like the wound on the back had healed. ?Xei is an undead, she?s vampiric, very much unlike Elon.? he stood up, ?You?ll meet Elon later, I hope.?
?If you need sunlight, my father can help.?
Timothy turned to me, an eyebrow raised, ?How So??
?
A few moments later we were inside the shelter, my father leading us down to the lowest level.
?Long time no see Timothy,? my father laughed, ?Don?t tell the Mrs I let you down here she?s still pretty ticked off about the whole ?I told them never to show up here? thing.?
Timothy nodded, ?I understand Fred, but if I can use your grow room, I would appreciate that very much.? he was carrying Xei in his arms and had even blindfolded her for some reason.
My father got to a large door and then cracked it open. It was far deeper down than I expected. Flicking on a light revealed several tables and more than a few separate compartments that were like small greenhouses.
There were six in total, five had plants already growing inside, though it was hard to make out what. Each room?s walls were semi-transparent, so I could see only the content?s silhouettes.
?For growing different food, I?ve got a few little rooms for each kind of plant. There?s one that isn?t being used yet, haven?t figured what I want in there,? my father bragged, ?Not shabby, huh??
Timothy smiled, ?I should set something like this up in the Temple, would save me on grocery runs,? his smile didn?t last, ?Fred, I would please ask that you close the door behind you and not come down no matter what you hear.?
My father nodded, ?I won?t hear you when that door shuts. The insulation in this compartment renders it soundproofed,? he pointed to a small intercom on the door, ?if you need to ask me to open the door, just use the intercom. I had to have them wired all over the shelter.?
Timothy nods, ?You?re a very thorough man Frank.?
?I?ve had ten years to prepare,? he laughed, ?also no mortgage to pay, so it wasn?t too hard to pay for,? he motioned to me, ?Come on Trevor, let's leave Timothy to whatever he needs to do.?
I nod, and as we both headed to the door, I heard Timothy call back to us, ?Wait.?
We turned around to face Timothy
?What?s up, Timothy?? My father asked.
?I need Trevor,? Timothy began, ?I can?t do this alone.?
A slap on the back sent me stumbling forward, ?sure thing Timothy!? my father smiled at me.
Before I could object, my father left the room, and the door locked. I turned to Timothy, ?what do you need help with?? I asked as he was busy tying Xei down to the table of the empty grow room.
He was using steel cabling of some sort and firmly tied down her arms and legs.
?Until I was fifteen years old, Xei was one of the women who helped to raise me, other than my mom,? he began, ?she?s my older sister, and I love her.? he turned to me, ?But she is an agent of my father?s, and loyal to him. I have to know how loyal she is to him, if we can trust her at all, and if she might join us. I need to make sure of this because my father thinks I am dead. I cannot reveal that I?m alive to anyone who might inform my father, it?s why I use a fake name in public. It?s why my name is not in any military documentation. If my father discovers who I am, he can use the tools at his disposal to determine what I am planning next, and if he does, we are all doomed.?
A shiver ran down my spine as I tried to process what Timothy was about to ask of me.
?I cannot stomach this task alone, I might hesitate and we cannot risk that,? he looked to Xei, who still laid motionless on the table.
?Hesitate with what?? I asked.
Timothy pointed to the grow lights hanging over Xei?s body, as he fixed me with a stern gaze, ?I need you to help me interrogate Xei.?


Source.