“I’m going to consult with Father Santos about the possibility of a heritage demon. We need to keep this speculation between the two of us. Heritage demons primarily are docile when it comes to people outside of the family they have bonded with. But they will protect their families much to the detriment of anyone messing with them.”
“I’ll pass that on to Cid. Do you have any idea why this demon, or Atwater himself, would want to trap spirits inside of his home?”
“I do know you can’t draw power from a ghost unless you are one.”
“What about a negative elemental?” Audrey asked, thinking of the negative elemental they had dealt with at Wolf’s Head Lake.
“I’m not familiar with negative elementals.”
“My husband says that on the rare occurrence of a demon death, they are offered rebirth as a negative elemental. It’s a demon ghost. It can have a physical form, but most times, they look like bubbling tar. Always black. Very easy to miss at night or in shadows.”
“I think we should leave dispatching demons to Father Santos and the angels,” Father Simon counseled.
“Why then exorcise them?” Audrey asked.
“Low demons who prey upon the living are dealt with accordingly.”
Audrey pointed to the stained-glass depiction of a dove with extreme talons. “That’s all about the fight for good, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“When did the clear waters of simple right and wrong become so clouded?” Audrey asked.
“When we began to understand more of the world,” Father Simon said. “You and I grew up in the faith, Audrey. Things we were taught aren’t necessarily the whole story, but I’ll die believing that in every person there is a soul worth fighting for. That’s what that window means to me.”
“Me too, Father, me too,” Audrey said.
~
Cid and Pete sorted through the pile of tiles and plaster pieces.
Pete found a complete corner mold which he was very excited about. “Do you realize how rare this is? Normally, I have to take a mold of an existing corner. It takes forever.”
“It shows the level of craftsmanship in this home,” Cid said.
“Gentlemen, we’re ready to lift the new pipe into place,” Wayne said.
Pete and Cid joined the others, and soon the job was accomplished. They moved on to Carl’s project. He was installing a new fuse box to handle the increased amperage needed for the new appliances and the renovated bathroom suites.
“I need that big battery light, Cid.”
“Go ahead, use it all you want, and then, we are going to call it a day and work in the workshop until Kiki’s daily hours are met,” Cid replied.
“You’re really getting on her bad side,” Wayne observed.
“I was born with an unrealistic sense of responsibility,” Cid said. “I can’t sit back and see my fellow workers get hurt if I can help it. If it means I burn the Pickles bridge, then so be it. At least I’ll be able to sleep at night.”
“She’s going through a phase,” Wayne said. “She wants that block in Chicago to renovate.”
“Why not take on investors?” Carl asked.
“Kiki doesn’t like being beholden,” Cid said. “That is one thing that the two of us can agree on. Except, I did and am living off my best friend and his wife.”
“But you take care of them too. I think it’s a mutual parasitical relationship,” Jesse said, moving the light into position.
Cid laughed.
“Mia gets a cook and Ted a playmate, a win for Mia,” Jesse said. “I’m going to get me a Cid when I get married.”
“Quit razzing the boy,” Wayne said.
“I can’t get upset over the truth,” Cid said. “Although, since you last audited my life, I own my property and house outright. The only bills I have are utility, and since Ted and I improved our wind-collection devices, I’m running eighty percent off the grid. I’m only using the power company for my high-end appliances and gas for heating, cooking and hot water.”
“Could you live totally off grid?” Gary asked.
“If I installed a woodburning stove and furnace, but Murphy may have something to say about all the trees I would be burning,” Cid said.
“The ghost with the axe,” Pete reminded Gary.
“I’d stick to gas for now,” Gary said.
“I like cooking with gas. You can control it better than electric.”
“Sally’s mentioned that a time or two,” Carl said. “Okay, I’m going to cut the power and attach these fuses to the new panel. It’s going to get dark where you’re at, guys.”
Jesse poured some salt and put a crate inside the large circle and sat down. “I’m ready.”
Wayne turned on the battery-powered mega light, and Carl turned off the main electrical. He then worked as fast as he could. Gary stood next to him, handing him tools and wires like a surgeon. The others looked around at the dark basement. Cid tried to discern the differences of the natural sounds emanating from the men to what may be paranormal. He kept hearing a sliding sound and opened his penlight and followed the noise.
Pete evidently had the same idea. He stepped over the salt
