young man, probably a college student, and he deserved to die. In fact, he wanted to die and he, Seti, Satan’s servant, would be happy to oblige.
He walked towards the counter and imagined the surprise on the clerk’s face when he was shot. He’d shoot him in the guts first, so he wouldn’t die too quickly. Then he could take his time with him.
“Can I help you?” the clerk asked.
Seti was about to draw the gun when he felt the presence. It was still far away, which surprised him. He thought it would be close now that he was in this place, the place where it had led him. Still, it was closer. He paused.
No. It wasn’t time. The presence made it known to him that he must wait, must be patient a little longer. He couldn’t draw attention to himself, not here and not now. His people were waiting for him back at the campsite, and they needed direction. They needed him.
“Sir? Can I help you?”
Suddenly, Seth was aware of the clerk’s presence once again.
“Ah…. Yeah. Give me a pack of Marlboros.”
He didn’t need cigarettes, but it was all he could think of at the time. He paid for the cigarettes and left disappointed. He could have had so much fun if the voice hadn’t stopped him.
4
Erik was about to tell Vickie that they were hopelessly lost when the distant sound of crying saved him from his confession.
“Todd!” Vickie screamed, immediately recognizing her son’s cry with a mother’s instinct.
A man’s deep, voice returned her call with a muffled “Over here!”
“Where?” Erik screamed.
“Just stay put,” the voice replied. “I’ll find you.”
Sure enough, the crying grew louder.
“Todd, are you all right?” Vickie shouted.
“He’s fine,” the man answered. “Just a bit shaken up.”
The owner of the voice suddenly appeared in the beam of Erik’s flashlight. It was Dovecrest. He carried Todd in one arm, and held a rifle in the other. Todd hung on with both hands around the man’s neck, sobbing like an infant.
“Oh, Todd!” Vickie cried and ran to him, oblivious to the briar bushes that snapped and picked at her.
Todd’s arms were clenched so tightly around Dovecrest’s neck that she had to pry the fingers apart.
“Oh my poor baby!” she soothed. “What happened? You’re drenched with sweat!”
“Todd, what happened?” Erik asked. But his son couldn’t stop crying long enough to answer.
“The rock…the rock…,” was all he could manage, and Erik thought he was talking about the wrestler on TV by that name. Then Todd burst into tears again and couldn’t talk.
“I thought I heard something,” Dovecrest explained. “So I decided to come out and take a look.”
Even though Erik stood in complete darkness, he was certain that Dovecrest could see him, could see not only his physical body, but right into his very soul. The man came out without a flashlight and found his way effortlessly through these woods. Erik shivered at the thought.
“I found him running through the forest,” Dovecrest said. “He ran straight into my arms.”
The Narragansett paused for a moment.
“He was carrying this,” he continued, pulling Todd’s geologist’s hammer from his belt and giving it to Erik.
Erik looked down at the tool as he accepted it from Dovecrest. The pointed end of the hammer had broken off neatly, a full inch away from the tip.
“I don’t know how we can thank you,” Vickie said, hugging Todd close to her. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come along.”
Dovecrest shrugged. “These woods are very deceptive. Not a good place to be, especially at night. It would be very easy to get lost. Would you mind if I walked you back to your home?”
“Not at all,” Erik said with obvious relief.
The house wasn’t really far away at all. Dovecrest didn’t say anything until the lights finally came into view. Todd’s sobbing had stilled under Vickie’s hugs.
“You asked me how you could thank me,” Dovecrest said. “There are two things you can do.”
“Anything,” Erik said, sensing that they owed Todd’s life to this man.
“First of all, promise me that you won’t go off exploring these woods by yourself. I don’t think you’ll have to worry about your son going back.”
Erik met Vickie’s eyes and the both nodded.
“Second. The gift I gave you. Hang it over your door. Your back door. Do it tonight.”
“Consider it done,” Erik said.
“Good. Don’t forget. It’s very important.”
Then, just when Erik was about to ask the man to come in for a cold drink, he was gone, stepping out of the flashlight beam and vanishing like a creature of the night.
5
The pain had subsided a bit as he had called the small boy to him. But now it was back again, stronger than before and mixed with the frustration of failure.
He cursed his bad luck and his weakness. If he hadn’t been distracted and had to reach out to stop the other one from killing the store clerk, he might have won.
But the boy had gotten away. Just when he had had his prey trapped like a fly in his web, he had let his guard down, and the tiny insect had suddenly turned on him, stinging his still-sensitive consciousness hard and escaping from his jaws. And as he’d reached out to punish the boy’s transgressions, he had felt the familiar presence of his age-old enemy, the one who had put him down so long ago. Then the other one, the one he had called to him, was about to do something very stupid. Still hurting and suddenly shocked by his enemy’s presence, he had been forced to pull back and deal with the other one, which enabled to boy to get away.
He was still weak and in pain, not yet ready to take on the boy-or any other human life form, for that matter. No. He needed more strength. He would start out smaller and build his power gradually, despite his continuing pain.
After all, he wasn’t going anywhere. He had all the time in the world. All the time. The suffering would only make him meaner, more determined.
As the searing, burning pain gripped him once again, he allowed himself the luxury of hate.
He would have the boy before it was over. But not until he grew stronger. Not until he was ready. Not until his power was full. He had tried to move fast, but he’d take his time now. Then he would make the insect pay the price. And he’d destroy his age-old enemy once and for all and claim his rightful place in the world.
CHAPTER FOUR
1
The smell of freshly brewed coffee woke Erik from a sound sleep. Vickie was already up and had opened the curtains so that the sun shone fully on his face. Ever since they had been married, that had been his wife’s way of
