“You’re right, child.” Capiria put her hand on Gabrielle’s arm as well. “That’s all it will take for Tim Brodeur to know we’re here. The man’s a coward and a cheat. He’ll kill Luke while he’s prone.”
The girls jumped back to the shadows as the barn doors blew open. A swirl of black and red smoke followed before the in spiritu stepped out into the night.”
“Huh,” Tanya whispered, “talk about making an entrance.”
Capiria shook her head. “Theatrics. For show and intimidation.”
“I’m not impressed.” Gabby added, “Ray and I saw better in Vegas.”
“True dat, cher.”
The demon stepped into the glare of the truck’s headlights, and Tanya grimaced. “It doesn’t look like Aaron’s body is doing too well hosting his demonic friend.”
“This kind of possession kills more than just the soul,” Raven replied. “It slowly kills the host’s physical body as well.”
Tanya wrinkled her nose. “It doesn’t halt the process of decomposition, either. He smells worse than Moe.” She paused, squinting toward the barn. “Is it me, or does that demon look like the bug dude from Men in Black?”
“It totally does.” Gabby cleared her voice, doing a rural upstate New York accent. “I know Egger and that wasn’t Egger. It’s like something was wearing Egger…like a suit.” She grinned, paraphrasing the scene from the movie.
Raven slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle a laugh. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “That’s perfect. I almost wish I could tell Moe.”
Gabrielle bounced on her heels. “C’mon. Where the hell are the guys? We’re wasting time standing here in the shadows.”
“They’re in wolf form right behind the barn, waiting for a chance to cross.” Ray gestured toward the darkest edge.
The in spiritu walked farther into the light, his human host shedding with every awkward step.
“He’s falling to literal pieces with every move,’ Capiria said quietly. “Not that I care, but I understood an in spiritu didn’t need to change hosts.”
Raven shrugged. “My research says they don’t, but they still have to feed. That’s why they are called demons with a thousand faces and no face at all. Obviously, he’s been lying low for far too long.” Her brows knotted in doubt. “Though I don’t understand why. There’s an island full of people to syphon souls.”
“He wants you, Raven,” Capiria whispered. “You heard Moe. If you ask me, this in spiritu is so obsessed, nothing but you will suffice. Even for mere sustenance.”
The demon peered at the burlap roll, its red eyes calculating and sharp despite its decomposing body. “Well? What are you waiting for? You said you brought me what I wanted.”
Luke’s wolf whined, but Brodeur ignored it. “Not so fast, demon. What are you going to give me in exchange?”
Gabby’s jaw clenched.
“Easy, cher.” Raven squeezed her hand. “You’ll get your chance soon enough.”
The demon laughed like the crypt keeper. “Give you? I could suck you dry and leave a husk where you stand, you arrogant cockroach.”
“Cockroach.” Tanya snorted low. “Now that’s the pot calling the kettle black, and speaking of pot, how come I keep smelling cannabis undertones?”
Gabby told them what Luke said about the chrism oil. “I totally get the parable of the loaves and the fishes, now. They all had the friggin’ munchies.”
“Gabs!”
“I can’t help it. When I’m nervous, I either get snarky or I ramble. Tonight I’m rambling.”
Two blurred flashes darted across the dirt road. One dark as night, the other silver and slightly smaller.
“Capiria.” Raven nodded toward the backpack on the ground by the witch’s feet. “Hand me the pack with the guys’ clothes. They stopped behind the milking shed to phase back to human. They’ll need their clothes.”
“No,” Gabby put a hand on Capiria’s arm. “They need to be in wolf form so they can stay in contact with Luke.”
Raven nodded, but she took the pack anyway, leaving it for the guys just in case.
Tim’s face had lost some of its bravado as he walked to the tarp. He unrolled it unceremoniously, sending Luke’s paralyzed form into the dirt.
The demon blinked at the wolf, a frown puckering its fetid brow. A growl came from its throat and it jerked its red glare to Timothée.
“This? You think I want a mangy shifter? That I planned all this,” he swung an arm out wide, “for a dual-natured whelp?” It stepped closer and sniffed. “One of your own, eh?” It sniffed again. “Poisoned, no less.”
The entity laughed, and Brodeur laughed as well, but the sound was rife with fear.
“You are even more insipid than the humans I keep as fodder. My quarry is a doyenne among you pitiful animals. Angelis Gloriana.” The demon’s eyes glowed, as he spoke. “If I don’t take her soul, I may savor her, and make her my queen.” He laughed again. “My own Persephone.”
“Ugh, you can’t go out there, Ray. Not without me. Gabby watched, frowning. “This dude is off his meds. He thinks he’s Hades.”
The demon’s hand darted out and grabbed Tim by his throat. It opened its mouth, and black, noxious tendrils crawled from its maw. They undulated, like snakes, working their way up Brodeur’s nose. The man screamed, but no sound came from his mouth. His body convulsed, every inch shaking until bones cracked.
Aaron Brock’s body went rigid and then sagged like an empty Halloween costume the same time Tim’s body stopped spasming. It was clear. The demon had traded one host for another.
“Fuck!” Raven exhaled. “That changes everything.”
The demon threw its head back and snarled, opening its arms as if freed. In that moment, its nose twitched, and it turned on its heel.
“Showtime, ladies,” Capiria said. “It knows we’re here.”
Chapter Thirteen
The wolves growled low, stepping to the forefront to flank the women. Raven made the sign of the cross, and the
