Demonicus (Overworld Underground Book 2) (24 page)

"What the fuck?"

I flicked my head toward the new voice and saw Vatna leaning against a concrete column. He pushed himself off and strode straight toward us.

I felt Tyler's arm tense where it touched mine. Freeing my hand from his grasp, I readied the lancer.

"Where did you get a bow and swords?" Vatna asked.

"Who has a bow and sword?" Xasha said.

Vatna pointed to Victoria. "Right in front of you, you blind idiot." His gaze shifted and found Tyler. "
You!
"

Before he could shout for help or do anything, I shot him in the throat with a dart. Xasha saw his friend fall and spun around. Before he went two feet, an arrow pierced his leg and he went down in a howl of agony. I raced up to him and shut him up with another dart.

"Won't be long before someone comes to investigate," George said.

"We need to take these two." I bent down and tried to lift Xasha, but failed to even budge him.

"Dragging a bloody unconscious person across the road to the condo is going to be a bit of a trick," Tyler said.

"Would you rather leave them on the loose?" I looked around furtively to make sure other possessed weren't coming up the stairs.

Tyler slung Xasha over his shoulder. "If anyone gets a picture of this, my company is toast."

"I have an idea." George motioned toward the other body. "Mr. Glass, please carry that one. I'll go get my car and fly it in here."

Patrick bent down and tossed Vatna over his shoulder. "I'm ready."

George raced away in a blur. The rest of us moved cautiously across the site, using cover whenever possible, until we reached the fence. George's car shimmered into view and the trunk popped open. Tyler and Patrick dumped the bodies into the spacious interior.

Once Tyler shut the trunk, the car rippled into invisibility. We arrived at the Gregorian a few minutes later and found George sitting in the car just outside the closed gates.

He got out and approached us. "I'll take the three possessed back to the Templar holding facility until we can properly exorcise them."

"We spoke of doing an Abyssal banishment," Patrick said.

George nodded. "Yes, Miss Glass spoke of her desire to make sure these demons never visited the mortal plane again." He scratched his arm and looked at my parents. "Are either of you familiar with the procedure?"

"Yes, but it's rather complex." My father ran a hand down his face. "At the moment, however, all I can think about is sleep. It's been a long, trying day."

"I know someone who needs sleep." My mother put an arm on my shoulder. "I was afraid you might reveal us when you took my bow and tried to shoot Karak."

I almost clenched my fists, but didn't want to accidentally discharge a lancer dart into my foot. "Of course I was upset. Abaddon devoured the souls of innocent people! Anyone who believes in God should be upset at such an abomination."

"I assure you, we are extremely upset." And yet, Victoria's face remained calm. "It isn't wise to lose control of your emotions during a mission, Emily. You nearly gave us away with your outburst."

"You don't feel what I feel," I spat back. "I glimpsed the true horror of this new demon lord. I felt her putrescence all over those innocent souls. I felt her sickening aura in my guts like nuclear radiation." I gagged just thinking about it. "Karak was bad enough, but now we have two highly powerful caustic demons loose in our world. How many more people need to lose their souls before we stop them?"

"Perhaps you shouldn't come on other missions until you learn to control your emotions." Victoria put a hand to her chin. "I believe that would be the best course of action. You're simply not ready for the field."

Tyler wrapped an arm around me. "I think if you could feel someone's soul being eaten, you might be a little more sympathetic, Victoria."

She shrugged. "Perhaps. Then again, I would learn to control it as I have my other emotions. It is an unfortunate but necessary part of being in the field."

My mother was right, but I was too angry and stubborn to admit it. I realized with a strange sense of detachment that I
had
led a sheltered life. There were horrors in this world I never could have imagined, and now there were plenty I had no problem imagining.

There was no point in arguing with my mother about this or anything else. She would always be right even if she wasn't. "Well, I'm glad you're at least taking an interest in my welfare now, Mother. Goodness knows you've rarely shown any until now." I knew it was a low blow, but it was also true. Though I hadn't realized the reason for my mother's long absences during my childhood, I now knew it was because she put her duties to the Exorcists first.

My mother's eyes went rock hard.

"I believe we all need some sleep," my father announced in a loud voice. He gave me a pointed look. "We'll be in touch." Before Victoria could say anything, he put an arm over her shoulder and guided her away.

George didn't look the least bit fazed by the family drama. "I'll speak with Professor Zuba about Abyssal banishments."

Tyler gave him a confused look. "Why wasn't he the first person you asked when we requested it a couple of days ago?"

"A Custodian I met in Colombia referred me to him, so today was the first chance I had to speak with him." George motioned to the lancer. "You may hold onto that, Miss Glass. Despite your sensory overload, you performed very well tonight."

"My mother is completely overbearing." If I'd hoped to hear a statement of sympathy from George, I was disappointed.

He simply nodded to each of us and said, "I'll be in touch." With that, he climbed into his car and drove away.

Tyler took my hand, opened the pedestrian gate, and led me into the lift and upstairs. "You and your mother are like oil and fire, aren't you?"

"Whatever made you think that?"

He chuckled. "I didn't really see it until tonight."

"Yes, well, I suppose we're too much alike." I tugged off my clothes and slipped into one of Tyler's T-shirts.

He pressed me to him and kissed the top of my head. "Do you feel like you have to make her proud of you?"

I drew in his scent and snuggled my head against his chest. "Sometimes, I just want her to tell me that I did something right. Instead, she always points out what I did wrong."

"I don't think that's true." Tyler lifted my chin and kissed me. "I'm pretty sure she complimented you at least once today. Maybe you tune into the negative too much."

"Maybe." I was willing to concede that small point. I really couldn't remember if Victoria had given me praise today or not. "On the bright side, we caught two of your tormentors."

A broad grin stretched his lovely lips. "Now we just have figure out when Barboar finds another host."

"I wish I hadn't killed him." I sighed. "Now it'll be doubly difficult to track find him again."

"Maybe." He traced a finger down my cheek. "Maybe Barboar will be compelled to join Karak's army when he finds another host."

I hadn't really considered that, but it made perfect sense. "What do you suppose Karak and Abaddon intend to do?"

Tyler bit his lip. "I'm not sure. Even with all those souls sustaining them, the mortal plane still holds a lot of risk for a demon lord. Domathus must have some ultimate goal in mind, but whatever it is, I don't know."

"Would he be after wealth or power?"

"Demon lords are always after power, but not the kind of earthly power men enjoy." He kissed my cheek and let me go so he could remove his shirt.

"The lesser demons like Barboar do enjoy earthly power, though," I said.

He nodded.

"Could a lesser demon become a demon lord?"

Tyler ran a hand down his chiseled abs. "You know, I'm not that familiar with how it works. Some demons have an insatiable lust for spiritual power, while others like myself don't care so much."

I couldn't stop staring at his lovely muscles. "Are the lustful ones caustic spirits?"

"As far as I know, yes." He tossed his shirt into the hamper. "Until Zuba classified the different types of spirits, I didn't even realize there was much variety. I just figured we were all identical except for the amount of power we accrued. I thought our colors had to do with power and not compatibility with mortals." His lips curled up. "I feel like I've got a new perspective on life, you know? I feel like I belong."

I ran a hand along his chest. "Maybe you're not really a demon but something else."

Tyler pulled me against him. "The only thing that matters to me is you."

"Aww." I kissed him. "You're such a sweet talker."

"Thank you, Em."

I leaned back. "For what?"

"After Barboar, I couldn't stop questioning myself." He ran a hand through my hair and gazed at me adoringly. "I thought maybe I was just as bad, that maybe my good phase was something temporary." His jade eyes locked onto mine. "You made me realize how wrong I was."

"I believe in you, Tyler." I pressed his hand to my cheek. "I love you."

"Without you, I wouldn't be the person I am now." He leaned down and hugged me. "You make me feel complete."

I felt tears burning my eyes and knew with all my heart he made me feel the same way. I never wanted us to be apart.

The next day at work seemed surreal. I had to sneak through a back door with the help of Jack to avoid the media lurking in the front of the building. Investigating who might be trying to destroy Tyler's business issues seemed trivial in comparison to the demonic menaces lurking in the city.

But it's still important.

"I planted more fake programs on my computer," Jack said. "Including a virus that will infect any computers used to open it." He took a sip of coffee and leaned back in the chair across from my desk.

"Mhm," I said absent-mindedly.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?"

I shook myself from my musings and leaned forward. "I'm sorry. Late night. What were you saying about a virus?"

"I said, it will infect the host computer and send me information."

This piqued my interest. "We can spy on their computers?"

"Yep." Jack looked pretty pleased with himself.

I couldn't blame him. "Brilliant! Maybe we can track down the source of the cretins." Tyler's original assertion that Barboar and his gang were the culprits seemed less likely after witnessing how Karak ordered them about. They likely had little time for corporate espionage. That meant our instincts about someone like Brandon or Arianna seemed spot on.

Jack stood and stretched. "I'll let you know if anything happens. In the meantime, I've been doing the real work on my personal laptop."

"Excellent. Just don't let Hinkle or Jones see you doing it."

"I know." He grinned. "I've been using your old office as a hideout." He left and closed the door behind him, leaving me with my thoughts and little else to do.

Kevin and the other salespeople were out making the rounds, trying to woo new clients. I tried to focus on something productive, but a series of jaw-cracking yawns made me want to do nothing more than take a nap.

The day passed slowly, but I managed to make a few calls and set up some sales meetings for Kevin. I even tried my hand at espionage by keeping an eye on Jones and Hinkle. They seemed nervous, but didn't engage in another secret rendezvous.

George sent me a text as I prepared to leave the office.
Our guests are in the Templar holding facility. Zuba tells me the most efficient way to banish them is with the aid of a Daemos.

The thought of using the services of a demon spawn intrigued and sent a twinge of anxiety spiraling into my stomach.
When can we do it?

George replied a moment later.
I spoke with one who is willing. Will send you more information when I have it.

I sneaked out of the building the way I'd come in and Joe delivered me safely back to Tyler's condo. While I waited for Tyler, I read the news on my phone. The investigation into the massacre at my apartment was still top news, and Tyler's name was on the lips of every reporter. Detective Long was quoted as saying, "We have mounting evidence pointing to a perpetrator and will make an announcement soon."

That sent a cold chill through my heart.

Tyler seemed to be his sole focus if my interrogation was anything to go by. I wondered if soon we might have police knocking on our door.

Chapter 21

When Tyler arrived, we had a quick bite to eat and returned to the Grotto for orientation, this time in a conventional car—though nothing else about the mystical place was the least bit conventional.

"Today we will learn about the Overworld Conclave and how it affects you," Desmond informed us once everyone was seated in the auditorium. He proceeded to show us an educational movie entitled, "The Overworld and You."

It was a long boring affair, explaining how vampires, Daemos, Arcanes, and other supers came together to protect the common good and keep their presence secret from the noms, as they repeatedly called our normal kin.

I found myself nodding off as a vampire in the movie explained how they were careful to keep their prey healthy, happy, and most importantly, clueless.

"I don't suspect they ever met Stephen," I whispered to Tyler. That vampire had wanted me dead.

Tyler chuckled. "I'm sure there are plenty of others like him."

"Desmond hasn't mentioned the vampire war in Colombia." I pursed my lips and looked at our robed teacher. "I wonder if he even knows."

Desmond concluded the class with instructions to meet the next day—as if we didn't know—and departed before I could corner him and ask him about the mysterious person with similar powers to mine he'd met in the Fairy Garden.

Angela and her friends, however, quickly surrounded us before we could leave, and I remembered my promise to her.

Once again, they gazed adoringly at Tyler and I had to take Angela by the arm and lead her away. I took her into the hallway and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you certain you don't want to be a vampire?" Never in my life had I thought I'd ask someone such a question.