The Demon Dealings

I’m not sure what made me want to figure out the Ian and Carys situation so bad. Maybe it was the detective in me that had to solve everything that came my way or at least have some evidence to suggest something.

That’s why I found myself knocking on the simple white door to Ian’s house, hoping that Spiros wouldn’t answer. I held my breath. When the door opened I let it out, relieved to see Ian instead of his brother Spiros.

“Can I come in?” I paused a moment. “I wanted to ask you something…” He reluctantly opened up the door wider so I could get in and followed me to the living room.

His house was fairly simple. It had white walls and cream carpets. The living room was rather spacious and I was surprised at how clean the house was in general. I knew that Ian lived with his brother, it was something Carys had mentioned and for some reason it stuck.

There has to be a chick somewhere to clean this place up… I thought as I examined my surroundings. Or maybe someone is just OCD.

“I like you house.” I commented to Ian as we sat down on the leather sofa.

“Thanks... So what did you want to talk about?” He asked straight to the point. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, hands folded and eyes on me. For a brief moment I saw what Carys saw in him. Maybe they’d make a good couple after all.

“Well, I wanted to ask about you and Carys…” I paused a moment to gauge his reaction. He shifted slightly. This could be interesting…

“Sure, what do you want to know?” He was relaxed, moving from his forward position to lean back with his arms stretched over the couch.

“From what I hear your relationship started rather suddenly.” I commented, and narrowed my eyes slightly.

“I guess you could say that.” He shrugged.

“And Carys isn’t even really sure what spurred you to ask her out in the first place. It seems like there always has to be something with guys…” I raised my eye brow at him suspiciously. I knew what I was insinuating and hoped that he did to.

“I’ve liked her for a while I just figured it was the right time.” He was trying to be nonchalant but I knew that there was more to it than what he was giving me.

“Yeah, and you never just decided before, what the hell! I’ll just ask her out…” Again I paused and he started fidgeting. “I mean the worst she could do was say no. You weren’t really super awesome friends with her so it would be easy to avoid if she said no.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Well, I wasn’t ever really sure how she felt. Why take an unnecessary risk?” he moved his arms to cross over his chest in a manner that I considered somewhat defensive. I decided it necessary to push more.

“And when you asked her out it was a necessary risk?”

“Yes.” He stated blatantly.

“And why was that?” I leaned closer to him and ignored the squeak of the leather couch as I moved.

“I felt threatened.” He stated shortly.

I wasn’t so sure he’d like me after this but I didn’t really care. “You felt threatened because…?” I kept pushing, gesturing with my hand for him to tell me more.

“Because my brother kept hitting on her, so I asked her out before he could do the same thing.” He was almost glaring at me but I on the other hand was almost laughing at him.

“Did you ever think that was what he was trying to do? Trying to help you out.” I wiggled my eyebrows at him and he huffed.

“Not him.” Ian looked away; this time he was actually glaring thankfully I was out of the line of fire.

“That wasn’t so hard was it?” The stupid smile was still on my face.

He didn’t say anything and continued brooding in silence. I actually laughed at the situation. “I’ll stop harassing you now.”

He stood up. “I guess I’ll see you at school.” He didn’t wait for me to get up as he turned away and walked towards the stairs.

“I guess you will.” I almost laughed when he left me in his living room, not bothering to see me to the door.

I wanted to laugh again. Guys were so weird. They get all sensitive about things like hats and asking girls out but complain when girls are sensitive about normal things like puppies and hair… ok, so I thought all those things were pretty dumb but hey, people are weird.

I stood up ready to leave, the smile still on my face, laughter squashed in my belly. I remembered, suddenly, the fact that I hadn’t heard from Jane about Cade. In fact no one had heard anything from Jane all day which was weird because she always said something if she wasn’t going to be at school. Even if she didn’t say anything about skipping she would have went off about Cade the second she was away from him.

I was about to make my way to the door, intending to go to Jane’s house to check on her but before I could go anywhere Spiros entered the room.

“Oh, hi.” I said awkwardly…

The surprise on his face was quickly covered with a friendly smile. “You find Ian?” He asked me, he halted my exit.

“Yeah… I was just leaving, though.” I said almost as awkwardly as I greeted him.

For a brief second an image of the dream I’d had flashed through my head. And I couldn’t help but pause a moment.

“Have we… have we met sometime before?” I asked almost hesitantly, not wanting to mention the dream but also not wanting to leave without some semblance of an answer.

“Perhaps we have.” He winked at me and somehow I wasn’t surprised.

“That was a dumb question. We met when you answered the door last time.” I scratched the back of my head sheepishly.

“I don’t know if I’d call that a real meeting. I still don’t know your name.” The look in his eye told me that he actually did, it was mischievous yet informed. I figured he was being formal. Trying not to freak me out too much but I had no idea why.

“Uh… Natasha.” I answered slowly.

“It’s good to meet you Natasha.” He didn’t offer his hand to shake, just nodded his head as a friendly gesture.

“I should probably…” I gestured to the door ready to leave.

“She won’t be there tonight.” He told me after I’d turned to leave. There was a certain tension in the air as he said it.

I turned back to face him hesitantly, “Um...” I paused not entirely sure what to say.

“Don’t worry about her.” He stared into my eyes without blinking. “There’s someone else you need to worry about more.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” I said slowly.

“You know, you just don’t realize it yet. Just... don’t worry so much about things you can’t control.”

“It’s not Jane I’m worried about.” I don’t know why I said it and tried not to flinch when the words came out. “It’s her.” This time I didn’t hold back my confused expression. This word vomit was coming out of nowhere.

“As you should be.” He nodded as if signaling that our conversation was over.

I looked away, at the ground. “I’m going to go…” I turned on my heels, determined to leave no matter what cryptic thing he responded with.

“There are more than words in a deal.” He said cryptically as I walked out the door.

Shivers ran down my spine when I closed the door and I had no idea who this mysterious “she” was or why I was worried about her. I wasn’t sure if it was what Spiros has told me or if it has been the sudden feeling that something bad was coming but I knew that I had to brush it off if I was going to be at all productive.

I focused on walking to Jane’s house in order to get Spiros’ words out of my head. Everything in the neighborhood was so put together. The houses were uniformly built, the colors were all similar. I couldn’t help but be annoyed at the uniformity of it all that so clearly was the opposite of our chaotic world.

I hoped that Jane merely lost her phone or was in the process of getting a new one. Maybe her mother grounded her and as retaliation Jane skipped school. There were many possibilities but I couldn’t help but feel the need to figure out why I hadn’t heard from her. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I almost missed someone calling for me.

“Natasha!” Someone called from behind me. I almost jumped but turned around instead to find Cade sauntering up to me in all of his “tall, dark and handsome” glory.

“What are you doing out here? I’ve never really seen you around…” He said as if implying something. I didn’t care to know what.

I grunted noncommittally in response and shrugged. I could ask him the same thing.

“Still looking for Jane?” He quickly asked me changing the subject.

“Yeah well…” I stopped and almost felt bad for being grumpy with him. I finished with a shrug it was starting to feel like a noncommittal gesture day.

“Maybe I could help. When was the last time you saw her?” He stuck his hands in his pockets.

“At school. She ran off to go to talk to you. She wanted to pounce on the recently single heart throb.” I deadpanned.

“Oh… I guess I won’t be much help after all… Come on, I know a place that we could go to figure this out.” He nodded his head for me to follow him.

“I also know a place. As a matter of fact I was headed there now…” I said slowly and stepped away from him.

“Really? Where were you headed?” His eyes lit up, like I was actually inviting him somewhere.

“Jane’s.” I said shortly.

“Well, come on then. Two heads are better than one.” He started off in the direction of Jane’s house which made me really want to know how he knew where she lived but also not at the same time.

“No sir!” He stopped and turned to face me, “The last time she saw you, you kind of rejected her. So if she is at her house, it would be better if you didn’t go…” I responded quickly.

“I supposed it’s true.” He pauses as if thinking, “but what happens if she isn’t there?”

“I do something illegal.” I smirked at him.

“Oh no.” He said sarcastically, “I can’t be involved in those shenanigans.” He teased.

“Nope you can’t!” And I ran off. It probably wasn’t the best idea to be running away from someone who was offering to help but I was too stubborn and picky to let anyone else get involved.

“What?” He muttered to himself, “Nash!” I ignored him and bound away.

I only felt slightly bad because, who knows, maybe Cade wasn’t so bad. He was just a normal guy who happened to be attractive and therefore became popular as a consequence. He was totally normal… for a rich popular kid.

By the time I got to Jane’s house it was well after dinner, something I wasn’t quite aware of because of the suns still lighting the earth (or at least my side). No one answered the door when I rang the bell which I wasn’t too surprised about considering Jane’s parents were usually away on business. And considering Jane’s recent disappearance (as I decided to call it…) why would she answer the door?

I ignored the fact that there were neighbors who could potentially see me breaking in and went around to the side of the house. I opened the gate and started looking for open windows. Fortunately for me, I didn’t have to look too hard. The window in the kitchen was cracked open and large enough that I could shimmy through it once opened.

Once I’d pulled off the screen and slid the window open I jumped inside, not bothering to close it and went straight to Jane’s room.

It looked virtually undisturbed, just as she would have left it. The desk was scattered with papers, a mac book was sitting on top opened but not on. There was a four poster bed with the sheets a little rumpled but not yet slept in. They were pink, red and white. Her favorite colors.

Next to the bed was a night stand with a lamp and book on it. The book was a hard cover journal and I picked it up. I was unsure what to do so I stood there for a few moments debating. Did I read it and try to figure out what happened or do I leave it and leave her peace undisturbed.

Hell, I broke in to her house. I might as well... At least read the last entry.

I talked to Cade today. He broke up with his girlfriend so I thought I’d at least try for a rebound at the very least. But that was not what I got. Instead I got why he wouldn’t go out with me. He wouldn’t name anyone but I think I knew who he was talking about.

Cade said that the reason he broke up with his girl was because he liked or rather likes someone else. And I happen to know who that someone else is… I think. I mean he totally gave it away. He said that he hardly ever talks to her but he really likes her because she is good to her friends despite the fact that she hangs out with so few.

I could tell that he really liked her so I tried to push for a bit more information. The only thing I got was that he thought she’s really attractive even though she doesn’t know it.

I have a suspicion that I know who it is but I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll have Nash investigate… That would be pretty funny considering who I suspect he likes.

However fun that would be, it doesn’t stand up to the fact that I finally got a meeting. I don’t know who I am going to talk to or what they have to do with everything but I am excited and I think that this will be beneficial to my future.

I never knew that they had so many connections. I mean we always think of them as solitary and if they aren’t, they travel together. They don’t really like to make a whole lot of contact with others. But this is untrue. They are linked to just about everything from school teachers to congressmen and Police to the president himself. They all have connections.

And tonight I meet them.

There was a symbol at the end of the page that I did not immediately recognize. But what I did notice was that this had been written the day we lost contact with her. So who ever these people are they most likely had the answers.

I closed her journal and set it on the night stand where I’d found it just in case.

I looked out her window and noticed the trail that lead from her backyard to the woods. The symbol in the book had more meaning now. There was a place in the wood where we used to hang out as kids. The symbol was etched into multiple trees in a small clearing.

We had always thought it was some sort of voodoo meeting place and were intrigued by its creepy feeling but once we hit a certain age we stopped going. But I always knew that Jane went there on her own, for the thrill of it.

I looked at Jane’s door for a second and shook my head. I had to tell myself not to think too much and to go while the sun was still up. So I left her room and headed down the stairs back to the kitchen where I’d gotten in.

I jumped out the window that I had come in from and left it cracked. I put on the fly screen with a little bit of difficulty and took a step back to inspect it before I left.

I jogged through her back yard and left through the back gate just in front of the trail and soon I was off. I knew I would have to be fast if I didn’t want to be stuck in the woods after dark so I slowly jog through the trees.

Inside the woods it was darker than the rest of the world. It almost seemed shrouded in mystery but I paid no mind attempting to remain focused on the task at hand.

I wasn’t entirely sure what the mark meant and I hope that it had nothing to do with ritual sacrifice. Because if it did I would probably be screwed. But then again I don’t know why Jane would be involved in a cult that sacrificed people… We were just teens after all.

I paused for a moment. What if something had gone really wrong and I was about to stumble on to the scene of a murder? I hoped that wasn’t the case.

I kept on going, faster than before only to pause again when I heard a whisper of something on the wind. As if someone were having a faraway conversation. I waited a moment to try and pin point where it was coming from.

There was barely any light. The sun must have been going down creating night in the woods. I considered going back. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to go through the woods alone without anyone and without any light to guide me.

I decided to continue on a ways. If I knew where I was going in five minute I would continue. If not I would turn back. Thinking back on it, that was a really awful plan.

As I made my way forward there was more noise and it wasn’t coming from me. It was some sort of feral growl that made me think I was about to get maimed or bitten by something and contract rabies and die.

I stopped and took two steps back slowly, not knowing where this thing was. Or even what it was. I heard two crunches as if the thing was moving in sync with me.

“Oh shit.” I muttered seeing something very large standing in front of me, “Nice… creature. You don’t want to eat me.” I said to it.

There were more growls.

“I’m all… gross. And not tastey.” There was silence that scared me even more. “Forget this.” I muttered and then started running.

I ran through the brush, it snagged at my calves and knees I ignored the sting of cuts as I sprinted through the woods.

Bad idea whatever this thing was, was larger and much faster than me and was able to catch up in about two seconds. It took me down with a swipe to my ankle. I fell forward and landed with a “whoosh.”

“Agh…” I tried to crawl away like anyone in my situation would. My ankle was throbbing in pain and I slowed down greatly.

There was a guttural cry as the thing flipped me over. I’m not sure if it intended to or if it was the fact that I moved so quickly but it managed to latch on to my jaw for a second. It was promptly ripped off which made my jaw sear in pain.

“OWWWWW! SHIT!” I yelled as I simultaneously grabbed my face and scrambled to my feet. I could feel the blood pour onto my fingers and start down my palm. I ignored it.

There were sounds of a scuffle as I started to move away from the scene. Trying to get out of there as soon as possible. My face was throbbing and the sound of my heart pounding filled my ears as the sound of the fight grew further away.

When I got to the edge of the woods I nearly screamed when a hand latched on to my shoulder.

“Natasha!” Someone called firmly, “Its Spiros…” He said slowly.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I cried as I turned quickly to face him.

“Saving your ass.” His tone was hard and somewhat menacing.

“Saving my ass from what?! And if you didn’t notice you were saving my face not my ass.” I cried and gestured to my bloodied hand.

“This really isn’t the best place to be arguing about this.” The level of calm in his voice almost freaked me out more.

“What the hell was that?!” I gestured to the woods where we’d just left.

“I guess… there are some things you need to know…” He was cautious again he was hiding something.

“Like what?!” I was frustrated and bleeding they didn’t make a good conversation.

“Come on, we should probably patch that up.” He gestured to the gaping wound on my chin.

“What is this about?! What bit me?! It was like a freaking human but I’m pretty sure humans don’t go around biting people’s faces! Unless they’re on bath salts…” I spat.

“Look, I know what you are. And more importantly, I know what bit you and it wasn’t someone on bath salts. Now are you coming with me or not?” He looked at me expectantly.

“You mean human?! I can’t believe we’re doing this right now. I’m bleeding all over the place.” I was angry and annoyed. And wondering how the hell I would explain this to anyone.

“Look, if you want to stay in the dark about all of this be my guest.” He gave me a pointed look.

“You know what? Ef you! I don’t need this shit right now! I’m going home!” I just about stomped out of there but not before I noted his look of disapproval. I was too angry and bleeding too much to really care at that point anyways.