Demonicus (Overworld Underground Book 2) (33 page)

I grabbed fresh clothes for both of us and we slipped into them.

The roof door was locked, so I called Jack and asked him to come unlock it.

"How in the hell did you get on the roof?" I heard him snap his fingers. "Ah, a helicopter."

I didn't correct him. "We'll be waiting."

He showed up with a laptop in his hand and didn't look the least bit surprised to see Tyler there with me. "Whatcha got for me?"

I handed him the thumb drive. He set his laptop on an air conditioning unit and played back the video. Though the image wasn't high definition, there was little doubt the man entering the apartment wasn't Tyler. The intruder, Barboar, put away a set of lock picking tools and shut the door then snooped around the den.

A knock sounded on the door. He opened it to reveal my neighbors. Before they could say anything, he slammed their heads against the doorframe until they dropped to the floor. He dragged their unconscious forms through the den and out of sight down the hallway. A moment later, Barboar returned and took a large butcher knife from the kitchen. He tested the edge and grinned before returning down the hallway.

Awful screams and the chopping of the cleaver echoed down the hall.

Jack gagged and stopped the video. "Holy shit, that's awful." He looked up at me. "This is a slam dunk, though. I'll make sure the news gets it."

I gave him the contact information for David Cornwall. "That's the chap who interviewed me for the BBC. Be sure he gets a copy too."

"I'll send it to him first." Jack emailed David and then switched to another screen. "Tyler, I've got another present for you."

"Oh yeah?" Tyler watched with interest as Jack pulled up another file.

"I tapped into the webcams on the computers that opened the virus I created."

"Virus?" Technology wasn't Tyler's strong suit.

"Yeah, I planted fake programs on my work computer so the people monitoring the spyware on my computer would think those programs were something I was working on." Jack spoke as if he were instructing a kindergartener. "When they opened the files, they infected their computer with a virus that gives me control of their computer."

"Ah, okay." Tyler took no issue with Jack's tone and actually seemed to appreciate it. "I'll get better with this stuff one day."

Jack grinned. "Job security."

"So what did you find?" I asked.

"Let's just say I wasn't surprised by the person I found on the other end of the webcam this morning." He clicked the file. "Their computer was just infected this morning."

A leather chair appeared on the screen. Jack fast-forwarded the video and soon the torso of someone dressed in an expensive business suit appeared. The man sat down. Jack paused the image of Brandon Rock and crossed his arms.

Tyler glanced at me. "Just as we thought."

I was sad it had taken us so long to prove it.

"Does this video have sound?" Tyler asked.

"Sure." Jack turned off the video and flicked to another window that showed a spreadsheet. The mouse seemed to move by itself. "This is also a live image of Brandon's desktop. As you can see, he's looking over the fake financial report he stole from Kevin's computer."

"Look, he's activating a video conference call," I said as the mouse pointer clicked on the program.

Detective Long's face appeared on the screen and moved his lips, though no sound emerged from the laptop. Brandon's image took up the top right corner of the screen. Jack adjusted something and the audio sprang to life.

"Tyler was here. I even have the camera footage," Long said. "From what we can tell, he and his little bitch ran out to the balcony and vanished."

"What did they use,
parachutes
?" Brandon snarled. "I paid you for results, not excuses."

"Look, the evidence is planted, and everything points to your brother," Long said. "He can't run forever."

"I need him arrested
today
." Brandon looked at his watch. "All the pawns are in place but the king is missing."

"Are all your plants keeping an eye out for him?" Long asked.

"Detective, do I look like a fool? Of course they are." Brandon bared his teeth. "You have twenty-four hours before I find someone else who can do the job right."

"I'll find him," Detective Long said.

Brandon ended the call without another word.

"Please tell me we recorded that," I said.

Jack chuckled. "Everything is being recorded. We've got that asshole dead to rights."

Wicked delight brought a smile to my face. "Let's email that to the news as well."

Tyler held out his hand. "Can I use your phone, Jack?"

"Sure."

"I need you to look up the number to my stock broker." Tyler motioned to the computer and gave Jack a name.

A moment later, Tyler placed a call. "Hey, Milt, I—yep, I know they're looking for me." He chuckled. "Everything is about to turn around in a huge way, though, and I want you to be ready for it." He paused to let that sink in. "I want you to put a watch on the stock for Brandon's holding company. When you think it's bottomed out, I want you to snap it up, okay?" Tyler grinned again. "Don't worry—it'll happen." He ended the call.

"Turning the tables, eh?" I said.

He bared his teeth. "You know it." He turned back to Jack. "If you find anything else, don't be afraid to post it as well. Just don't let anyone know it's coming from us."

"You got it." Jack pumped a fist into the air. "Victory!"

"Brandon obviously has spies at all the offices," Tyler said. "Let's go stir things up a bit to really make him worry."

"You mean, you're going to show yourself to Jones or Hinkle?"

"Exactly, Jack." Tyler shifted his predatory gaze to me. "Let's have some fun, Em."

We went downstairs to the office and took a stroll.

Sandra looked particularly shocked. "Mr. Rock, please tell me what they're saying on the news is false."

"You should start seeing some new evidence today that exonerates me." He flashed her a confident smile. "Don't worry, OnTech is about to recover in a big way."

"I certainly hope so." She dropped into her seat and fanned herself. "This week has been very stressful."

"I'm sorry, Sandra. I promise things will be better soon." We headed down the hallway to the sales department.

Thomas Jones tripped and spilled his coffee when he saw Tyler coming. "Careful there, Jones. Don't want you burning yourself."

It took everything I had not to burst into laughter at the comical look on the man's face.

"B-but—the cops are looking for you," he sputtered.

"Are they?" Tyler winked at him and kept on going to the programming department.

We stopped by Hinkle's cubicle. Tyler popped his head over the side and said, "Good afternoon."

Hinkle fell over backwards in his chair and a sprinkle-covered donut rolled away from his grasp.

"Careful, there." Tyler scooped up the donut and put it on Hinkle's desk. "That looks too tasty to go to waste."

We left the shocked man floundering like an overturned turtle and sneaked back to the stairwell. After making our way back up to the roof, we boarded the invisible car. Tyler flew us across town to a warehousing company he owned. We stepped inside, greeted a few people, and kept a sharp eye out for anyone who looked too surprised.

Tyler gave a short speech about how he planned to invest a million dollars in the warehouse, but asked the employees not to tell anyone. After we got back into the car, he told me that was to help him pinpoint the moles.

We visited his last business in the Atlanta area, a restaurant supply company where he planted a story about a possible multi-million dollar contract with a large restaurant chain.

Once finished, we got back into the car.

Tyler ran a hand through his hair. "Hopefully the moles will contact Brandon and Jack can figure out who they are." He drove the car down a side street, looked around, and activated the camouflage before taking off and heading back to Templar headquarters.

I kept an eye on the BBC's U.S. website and wondered if Jack's videos had reached the press yet. Tyler was parking the car when the top headline changed. A picture showing Barboar entering the apartment bore the headline:
New Evidence May Clear Tyler Rock
.

Beneath that was another headline:
Was Tyler Rock Set up? New evidence points to conspiracy.

I pumped my fist. "Yes! Look, Tyler." I showed him my phone.

"I love the smell of victory." He kissed me hard and pulled away. "Too bad we can't properly celebrate here."

I giggled. "George wouldn't appreciate the odor of sex in his car."

He barked a laugh. "We could leave the windows down."

We rode the levitator down to the housing level and dropped off our bags, then rode back up to the conference room level. There we found my parents and George poring over the map where the daemonculus was probably being blooded into the ground this very moment.

Tyler reached for his back pocket and felt around. "What did I do with my map?"

I thought back and remembered him putting it—"Tyler, it was in your jeans pocket. Did you put those in the duffel bag?"

He bit his lip and narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, I think so. I'll go grab it in a minute."

I rolled my eyes. "I really don't think you need it."

A tall man whose olive skin tone and almond-shaped eyes hinted at an Asian-Caucasian heritage entered the room. His dark blue cloak tapered tightly at the waist and ended with a stylish flare near the hem. Judging from the way he carried himself, his attire would prove no hindrance should he need to fight.

Even Mr. Sticks gazed at the new arrival with respect.

"It's good to see you, Master Kanaan," George said.

"A pleasure," the man replied.

The rest of the conversation faded away as I thought about the brutal fight ahead. If Karak and the others summoned Domathus to Eden, nothing else would matter. Thousands would lose their souls, and the city would literally become Hell on Earth.

I texted Isabel.
You and Jack need to get out of town tonight. Don't come back unless you hear from me.

Her response was almost immediate.
What's happening?

A lot of people might die. Massive demon from Hell might be coming to town.

Holy shit! Please tell me you're leaving too.

I swallowed a lump.
I can't. Have to stop this. Get out of town.

Isabel didn't reply for a long moment.
I know I can't talk you out of it. I love you, sis. Please don't die!

My parents are with me. We WILL win. Love you too.
I put away the phone and watched George erase his latest battle plan from the map. Even he looked a bit frustrated.

"They know we're coming, don't they?" I said.

George nodded. "The only element of surprise will be Karak's true name."

"Then it is fortunate you have us." Vallaena entered the room in dramatic fashion. Behind her came a handsome man with thick black hair, a swagger in his walk, and a cocky smile.

He looked around the room and rubbed his hands together. "Sounds like we're having a demon roast tonight. Did anyone bring s'mores?"

"Is this your—our brother?" Tyler asked.

My parents flinched at the announcement, and I realized I hadn't told them.

"This is Daevadius," Vallaena replied.

"David Slade," the Daemos said, and held out his hand.

Tyler shook it. "Tyler Rock."

"Wow, a jade spirit." He shook his head slowly and looked at Vallaena. "I didn't think old Baal had it in him." David released Tyler's hand. "Good to meet you. Hopefully we don't all die tonight."

Tyler chuckled. "Last night was close enough for me."

Vallaena released a long sigh. "Enough with the banter. We must plan."

I took the chance to ask her a question. "Why didn't the other Daemos turn into the huge demon form you used last night?"

David answered for her. "There are very few Daemos who can manifest into full demon form and maintain control." He waggled his finger between him and his sister. "We're the only two in House Slade who can reliably do it. Anyone else risks going on a mindless rampage, destroying everything in their path until they die or run out of juice."

"It may come down to that." Vallaena slowly shook her head. "I would rather risk that than allow Domathus to wreak havoc on Eden."

"Well, I could've asked my lovely fiancé to join us." David smirked.

Vallaena's lips curled back. "Kassallandra would certainly take this more seriously than you."

He shrugged. "Well my wife probably wouldn't want me working too closely with my future wife anyway."

Tyler and I looked at each other in confusion.

David belted a laugh. "Kassallandra doesn't even have to manifest to be scary."

Tyler's eyes brightened. "Can I learn how to manifest, and to summon crawlers?"

David gave him a regretful look. "As Daemos, the demon part of our soul resides in Haedaemos while the human part is in Eden. We have a window in our souls, so to speak, that allows us to remain in constant contact with the other side." He patted Tyler on the shoulder. "You, on the other hand, are inside this body, completely inside Eden."

"Are you saying I'll never be able to do the things Daemos can?" His voice sounded so dejected, it made my eyes mist.

"I'm just saying your circumstances are a lot different." David shrugged. "Thousands of years ago, we figured out how to conjoin our demon souls with human souls. We think it's because we're sapphire spirits. It might be easier for a jade spirit than it was for us."

"I like the body he's in," I said. "Unfortunately, the previous owner died right when Tyler took control."

Vallaena pursed her lips. "Interesting. Is that not what Kassallandra did?"

"It's exactly what she did," David said. "Mainly because the human souls couldn't survive the process with her."

"Is she a sapphire spirit?" I asked.

David barked a laugh. "Hell no. She's a ruby spirit."

Tyler's eyes narrowed. "Like Astra?"