Demon: Kassidy Bell Series, #3

Demon

Chapter One

I stumbled across the gravel driveway. Ben gripped my hand, his footsteps taking on an unnatural pace. I struggled to keep up. Glancing back over my shoulder, the Bishop’s house began to fade beneath the thickening fog. I shuddered. A snapshot image of my friends and I clambering through the chimneys, trying to escape Alex, clouded my mind. It could have been the end of us – me, Jude, Raven, and Max. If Alex had got hold of us – then what? All this shit... this nightmare would be over with... finished. I wouldn’t have to face what horror lay ahead for me... Demons. The VA20 – the Cleaners – losing myself to a Demon forever – none of that would matter now. Had I really just wished that Alex had killed me? Deep down, the answer was no. I still had that human instinct in me to survive – to keep going – to not give up. There had to be a way out of this. I just needed to find that way. I stared at Ben through the swirling fog. Only moments ago, he had killed Alex. Poor Alex. My heart wept for him. He had held his arms out to Ben and pleaded for help. He had become something abysmal – deranged – a creature from the depths of despair, dangerous yet innocent of what he had become. Alex had made the same choice that I had – a life-changing choice – a no-going back choice that had led him to his death – innocently volunteering his body for a drug trial. I didn’t want to become that. I didn’t want to suffer. To become someone to loathe – to pity – to be frightened of. How did it all go so horribly wrong? I had thought my life to be bleak. No money – no job – no prospects. But what did I have now – now that I had stepped through into Cruor Pharma believing that it would be better than a regular job? I hadn’t gained anything – my life was worse. How dumb I had been. If only I had taken that cleaning job – if only I had seen through my despair and not given in to the easy option – the temptation of a get-out-quick card – easy money. I shook my head. I was angry at myself. But how was I to know that Cruor Pharma was run by Demons? That Doctor Middleton was injecting his volunteers with dark matter – some weird mix from six different Demons? How the hell would anyone know that?

The crunch from the gravel under our feet stirred me from my thoughts. Where was Ben leading me? I needed my eyes to remain open when in his company. I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn’t the real Ben who had helped me to escape the hospital. This was Ben’s body with a Demon inside calling all the shots, and I had no idea if I could really trust him. I had to stay sharp and lock away all the horrendous deaths that seemed to follow me like a stalker. I had to harden my heart to stay strong – to stay alive.

The silence of the early hours and blinding fog was overpowering. I may as well have been wearing earmuffs and a blindfold. Ben was all I could see now as he dragged me through the still Ash trees out onto the empty lane by the red phone box. Where were the others? Where had Jude, Max, and Raven gone? I took some comfort in knowing that they had escaped the Bishop’s house but how did I know that whatever the shadowy shape I had seen come into the hall and speak with Ben hadn’t got them? What was it? Who was it? And how did it seem to know about me?

I pulled on Ben’s arm, dragging my feet to make him stop. Taking a deep breath, I asked, What was that shadowy thing in the hall you were talking to?

Ben stopped abruptly, causing me to bump into him.

His jet-black eyes cut through the fog. A Demon, he simply smiled.

Does this Demon have a name? I asked, remembering the conversation my friends and I had had around the Bishop’s dining table over dinner.

It was Eras. Ben glared down at me.

I thought for a few moments. The names of the Demons the Bishop had mentioned went through my head like a shopping list until I came across the name Eras and mentally ticked it off. So if that was Eras, who are you?

Quint, he grinned, reaching out and stroking the side of my face with his long, black, twisted nails.

I could feel myself tense as his sharp touch against my skin sent what felt like needles piercing through my flesh.

Who is Doshia then? I asked, trying to move away from his roaming nails.

The cloudy white fog almost seemed to turn into grey, swirling smoke as Ben or Quint loomed over me. His face seemed to stretch out of shape and take on a completely different appearance to that of Ben. I stumbled back and fell on my arse. My heart beat so hard I thought it was going to burst out of my mouth.

Quint stretched his arms down and his black nails dug into my flesh. What do you know of Doshia? He pulled me up so I was standing face to face with him. Tell me.

Not much, I glared back. But I’m pretty sure it was Doshia who killed my friend, Hannah. I tried to pull away from Quint but his hands seemed to have an endless hold. His fingers had stretched and snaked their way around my arms like black vines. I felt my feet lift off the ground as Quint held me up like I was nothing more than a ragdoll. His dark, angry eyes bore into mine like he was searching for the truth inside my head – like he was seeing through my eyes and reading my inner thoughts.

Quint lowered his arms slightly, bringing me towards his face. What did Doshia look like? I could feel his hot breath against my lips. A searing pain shot through my head and behind my eyes. My vision blurred – or was it Quint’s face that seemed to change? I couldn’t be sure of anything other than the pain filling my head. I want to know about Doshia – you tell me now!

I... I... you’re hurting me... my head... what are you doing? I felt my eyes shut. Or had I passed out? There was nothing but darkness – like I was lost inside myself. Please stop... Quint... Ben... I can’t stand the pain... it’s blinding me... My voice seemed a long way off as if it wasn’t a part of me anymore. All of a sudden, Hannah jumping from her balcony filled my head. It was like I was there again – watching her fall – hearing her call my name and then the crunch of her body landing on her car. Then, as if on fast forward, I was hearing Doshia – Better run, Kassidy – I’m coming – Doshia is coming. I could hear Jude’s voice now – That’s not Hannah – we have to go. The pain inside my head had me spinning – I felt sick – I felt pissed. Please just stop this... Quint... stop... My voice was drowned out by Doshia. I know you... you thought I’d gone, but I’ve been with you all along. Then, as if it had all been a dream, the pain left, my sight returned, and my feet were now standing back on the ground. I stared at Quint. He looked troubled. I lunged at him – my fists smacked into his chest.

I pushed and kicked and grabbed hold of his shirt. Don’t you ever do that to me again... I don’t know what you were doing, but you fucking hurt me... that pain in my head... you did that... you made me watch my friend die all over again! You’re a fucking arsehole. I turned away – blood pumping fast through my veins. I could feel myself shaking, my breathing laboured. My veins, I gasped, yanking the sleeve of my top up. The thick, black fluid pulsed under my skin. It was like it had been activated. I could feel it moving. My heart thumped – it hurt. I struggled to breathe. What’s happening? I spun around and looked at Quint, only it wasn’t him. Ben stood staring at me. His blue eyes misty through the fog. Ben?

He seemed to snap out of a trance, a frown on his face. Or was it confusion?

Kassidy? Where are we...? His voice trailed off into the fog.

Ben, something’s happening to me, my veins... I can’t stop shaking... I can feel it moving through me... the VA20... it’s moving. I looked down at my arm, the black fluid bubbled as it squeezed through.

Sit down, ordered Ben, placing his hands on my shoulders. You need to calm down, breathe slowly... in, out... in, out. He crouched down beside me.

I trembled, fearful that any sudden movement may send it racing faster. What’s it doing to me?

I don’t really know, he said, taking hold of my arm and gently rubbing his fingers over my veins. But it’s slowing. It seems to reduce its flow when your pulse slows. Just sit quiet for a few minutes. He stood up and looked around him. The fog is getting worse. We need to move on soon. Do you feel better?

I stared up at him as he brushed down his waistcoat and straightened up his shirt. A bit shaky still. Peering through the fog, I could just make out the red phone box but nothing more. That familiar feeling of something bad crept through me. I had felt it when I’d walked through the canteen at Cruor Pharma. I knew what drew close. I looked up at Ben.

The Cleaners are coming, we both said to each other as if our thoughts were entwined as one.

Ben pulled me up, holding me steady, I wobbled on my feet. My heart rate had slowed a little, but that inner sense of dread kept it just above its normal beat.

We need to get out of this fog, whispered Ben. He spun around as if searching for the right way.

I grabbed his arm as he took a step back towards the Bishop’s house. Not that direction. We’ve just come from there. I think we should go this way. I pointed through the fog, not really knowing if it would take us out of this village, or if it were even safe, but it had to be better than heading back to the house where all those dead police officers lay.

Ben turned and stared at me. Can you run? He took hold of my hand. Kassidy, we need to outrun the Cleaners. They’ve caught up with you, just like I said they would. We need to put as much distance between us and them.

I nodded my head. Yes, let’s go. My eyes darted left then right. I peered over Ben’s shoulder into the fog, fearful that I would see those black shadows of the Cleaners emerge from the murky haze. I felt so vulnerable from all directions – not being able to see what lurked in this miasma. I reached down under the neck of my top and pulled out Father Williams’ cross. It glinted in the gloom. It wasn’t much protection, but it may be enough to stop the Cleaners and give me some time to get away. Yanking on the strap of the satchel to make sure it was secure over my shoulder, I let Ben take the lead. We ran blind.

CHAPTER TWO

We hadn’t been running long when Ben stopped dead in his tracks. The fog still swirled around us like an angry swarming crowd, trying to keep us contained within its cold, icy grip. The sound of muffled whispers filtered through on the air. I huddled close to Ben, my fingers clinging tight to his shirt – my face almost buried against his chest. I didn’t want to see what, or who those haunting voices belonged to. I wanted to shut my eyes and hope that whatever it was would just go away.

What is it? I whispered, afraid of Ben’s answer.

Shhh, Ben said, wrapping his arms about me like a protective shield.

The whispers came again, only this time closer. The sound of footsteps along the lane seemed to stop, start, then stop again like they were lost in the fog. I pulled away from Ben. That’s not the Cleaners, I whispered. They don’t have footsteps, they glide.

Wait. Ben snatched my wrist. We don’t know who it is – it could be the police.

They’re dead – Alex killed them all back at the Bishop’s – with your help, I whispered.

What? Ben frowned at me.

You opened the door knowing that Alex would kill them all. I don’t know how you did it, seeing as you were pinned to the ceiling with me, but you somehow opened the door, I said, trying to pull away from his hold.

Ben stared down at the ground and nodded his head slowly as if this was all news to him. He took a deep breath and whispered, I don’t remember.

Well you did, I said. So whatever is whispering and making footsteps can’t be the police.

There’s always more from where they come from, Kassidy. Ben glared, pulling me back towards him. Inspector Cropper has plenty of bodies to work for him.

I looked up into his blue eyes. Do you really not remember what happened at the Bishop’s? You really don’t have any knowledge of that bloodbath – that massacre? Because that’s what it was.

Ben stood silent for a few moments. He looked puzzled – his memory obviously blank. Whatever I did, I must have done it for you – so don’t stand there with that accusing look over your face. Did I save you from being a part of the body count?

Yes... but... I stammered, trying to find the right words. That doesn’t excuse the fact that I’m only caught up in this shit because you injected me with VA20.

So you don’t want my help then? You don’t want me to stay? Ben let go of my arm.

No, I spat, suddenly feeling angry at Ben’s attitude and lack of guilt. I don’t need you.

Ben shrugged and turned slowly away, his head bent down.

Cursing myself for being emotionally weak, I reached out and took his hand. I don’t want you to go – I do want your help.

Ben shook his head and groaned. Kassidy... you know you’ve just told the Demon in me that you want him... you want him to stay... Ben cupped his hand under my chin, and a tiny ripple of black swam across his eyes. You need to remember it’s not just me you’re talking to... you’re dealing with a Demon... I’m not always Ben.

I reached up and took hold of his hand. I don’t care anymore. I’ll deal with the Demon when he shows up and I’ll deal with you when you’re with me. I pulled away from Ben and let my hand slip from his. Was I making a big mistake having Ben and Quint stay with me? That little voice of reason inside my head told me it was better to have them close and know what they were up to than have them working alongside Doctor Middleton and the Cleaners. Having Ben with me might just get me into Cruor Pharma’s sister company and a chance to speak with Doctor Langstone. And if it did all fuck up, then hopefully Ben or Quint would help me. It was all ifs and maybes, but right now I didn’t see much hope of doing it all by myself. And besides all of that, those feelings I had been having about Ben were niggling away at me. Every time I looked at him, I wanted to kiss him – feel his lips on mine. It was like a temptation I had never felt before – a dangerous one. But I just couldn’t seem to shake it off.

The footsteps had come closer and my attention swapped from Ben to the approaching sound of clattering feet. I strained to hear what the whispering voices were saying.

It’s not my fault I can’t run as fast as you two wearing these shitty shoes with bows on them.

I smiled to myself. For once I was glad to hear Raven’s voice. She appeared through the fog, followed by Jude and Max. They stopped abruptly when they saw me.

Max gasped. Shit, you scared me. His look of fright