Devil's Kiss

The minister met Wade's gaze. 'Dubois seems to think so.'

'That's not what I asked, Sam.'

'Yes, I do. I don't know why He picked me, but yes, I believe He did.'

'ALL RIGHT—BREAK THIS UP!!' Jimmy's sharp voice cut a warning through the crowd. 'You people get out of here—right now!'

Jimmy stuck his head inside the cab. 'Things like this have been going on all over town. For the past two- three hours. But almost no one calls in a complaint.'

'No one, Jimmy?' Chester asked. The young people had backed off the road, but were still congregated around the drive-in. The looks they gave the men were of hate. Dark hate.

'Only two people, Mr. Stokes. Mr. Word, and old lady Dornak. Some kids almost scared her to death. This same bunch of kids—some of 'em, anyway. Slipping around her house, howling like animals. When I confronted them and told them to stop, they told me to get fucked!' He glanced at 5am. 'Excuse me, sir, but that's what they said. Doctor King came to the Dornak house to look after her. She was pretty shook up. The same bunch called Tony some pretty rough names. I'm telling you, this is scaring me!'

'Have you tried for outside help?' Wade asked.

'Yes, sir. I've had a call in to the Oberlin County Sheriffs office for more than two hours, now. But I can't get through.'

'What were you going to tell them?' Sam asked.

Jimmy smiled, a sad, scared smile. 'Nothing. I wanted to see if I could get through. I'm being followed wherever I go. By the men I'm supposed to lead as Chief. Miles told me a few minutes ago that he's being followed. They're not going to let us leave, and we can't call out. We don't have to wait for the roads to be closed, Sam— we're cut off now.'

'You wish me to do something?' Nydia asked.

Wilder smiled. 'Tonight, Nydia. Kill the old priest.'

Her answering smile was full of the evil of a thousand years. 'How?' she asked, knowing full well what his reply would be. They had played this game for centuries.

Wilder's eyes were savage. 'Why, dear, have a stake driven through his heart, as Balon plans for us.'

They chuckled together, the sound a dark blending of Satanic evilness, a cacophony of horror.

'And Balon?' she questioned. 'When may I have him?'

Wilder turned his old but ever-young eyes upon her. 'Do you really feel you can seduce this man of God?'

'When the time is right, yes. Have I ever failed?'

'Two centuries ago, I recall. In Plzen, I believe it was. That young student—'

'Bah! You tricked me that night. That was your doing, Black.'

And the devil's agent roared with laughter. 'Yes, well, be that as it may.' His smile vanished. 'Perhaps you can seduce this man, Nydia, but it will not be easy. It may have to be done with coercion. You must be patient.'

'He is but a mortal man,' the witch scoffed. 'And I can do tricks with my body mortal women can only dream of doing.'

Wilder shook his head. 'Mortal, yes, Nydia, but—' he hesitated, his dark eyes seeking something in the distance. 'Balon worries me. He isn't afraid. He has no fear.'

She was not convinced. 'I will have him, and then he will die like any mortal.'

'Perhaps,' Wilder said. 'Perhaps. But at what price?'

'What's all that?' Wade asked, looking at the bottles and jars Sam had carried in. He had been to the rectory, picking up Father Dubois and what Dubois had waiting for him.

'Holy Water,' the old priest said. 'And you'll need every drop of it. Now I must return to the church.'

'Wait!' Tony said. 'What do we do, Father?'

'Fight. All of you. Follow Sam's direction. His way will be pointed out, with God's help.' He turned to leave.

'Where are you going, Michael?' Sam asked. The priest looked at him, a very faint smile on his lips. 'Home.'

'I'll drive you,' Sam said, not yet catching the subtle meaning of Dubois's words. 'No.' Dubois stopped him with a wave of his hand. 'I want to walk. I want to smell the flowers, the grass, look at the trees. I want to feel the sun on my face.'

Sam felt horror fill him as the full impact of Dubois's words hit him. The old priest was going to die—and he knew it.

Dubois cautioned Sam with a quick glance. A quick brushing of the eyes that said: Don't alarm the others. Rally them. It's all up to you.

'We'll see you tomorrow, Father, Tony said.

'Yes,' the priest said. 'Tomorrow.'

Dubois walked back to the rectory, slowly, enjoying the sights and smells of nature in full bloom. He showered, changed into clean clothes, then sat down in his favorite chair in the small living room, reading his Bible. Each time the clock would chime the hour and half hour, he would look up.

He waited.

Dubois read his Bible, savoring each familiar word, occasionally nodding his head in agreement, sometimes saying aloud, 'Yes, yes.'

He read for hours, the clock ticking, chiming. At full dark, a 'bird flew against his window, smashing the glass, killing itself, dying with a horrible screech.

Dubois raised his head. 'So you've finally come,' he whispered. 'Well, come on.'

'So you wish to play games with me, eh?' he said. 'Very well, then listen to this.' He began to read aloud. 'Yea, though I walk the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil—'

A hissing drifted through the house, reaching Dubois's ears. An evil hissing came from his back door. A thin scratching sound as the door was pushed open. A shuffling sound as feet dragged across the tile.

'Ah,' Dubois smiled. 'You don't like that, eh? Well, listen to this: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?'

'Die!' the one word was spoken from out of darkness.

'The Lord is the strength of my life, Dubois read to the darkness facing him, 'of whom shall I be afraid?'

'Die!' the voice spoke.

'But I will die only once,' the priest said, 'You are the living dead.'

The voice laughed insanely; a voice Dubois knew. He strained to place the tones. No! It couldn't be. But he knew it was. 'That is true,' the voice said. 'The Lord is my strength and my shield,' Dubois said, a small finger of fear touching him. You're only going home, he reminded himself. And the hollow, evil voice laughed at the words. 'I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him I will trust.' The lamp beside the priest suddenly shattered, plunging the room into semidarkness, the only light a small night light in the hall.

'Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night . . .'

John Benton stepped into the room, his dark burial suit rumpled, white shirt dirty from the grave.

Dubois rose in shock. 'Get away!' He held a cross up to the figure.

Benton shuffled across the room, his pale, bloodless face shining in the dim light. A hideous face, with staring, unblinking eyes. 'Do not forsake me now, my God,' Dubois prayed.

Benton raised a stake, shuffling closer. The cross Dubois held had no effect on the living dead. The priest backed away, back, until he bumped against the wall. His heart was pounding in his chest.

Dubois reached for a vial of Holy Water on the table by his chair. His shaking hands knocking the vial to the floor, the glass shattering on the tile.

Benton came closer, his walk a staggering, awkward gait. His smile was hideous.

'John!' Dubois cried. 'John Benton—can't you hear me? Don't you know me?'

'I know you,' the living dead spoke. He raised the stake.