Chapter 8
Michael recalled thinking, not so long ago, that this big house seemed lonely. He was actually glad his family thought he needed a babysitter while Aurora was off visiting Skye. He didn’t have a craving for demon blood at the moment but they didn’t need to know that.
Kane slammed his hand down on the table and flipped over his cards, laughing wickedly with his green visor glinting in the light. “I win!”
“Damn it!” Damon growled and threw his cards at him. “Why do I always lose to you?”
“Because I’m just that good,” Kane bragged and pulled all the money that was in the middle of the table toward him. He knew reading his brother’s mind was a form of cheating but he liked the theory that it’s only cheating if you get caught.
“Um, excuse me,” Alicia muttered, “but I don’t know if my hand is any good or not.”
Kane paused and slowly turned his face toward her. “Well, what do you have?”
“Ohm,” Alicia began with a small voice, “I got a bunch of hearts… a ten, Jack, Queen, King, and an Ace.” As she read off each card she placed them down on the table face up, then grinned so maniacally it made Misery’s little girl form look like an angel. “I win!”
Kane could only stare in horror at the Royal Straight Flush Alicia had just pulled out of her hat and wanted to cry when she began gathering up the few hundred dollars spread out on the table.
Michael and Damon cracked up laughing and Tabatha merely arched an eyebrow at her mate.
“Don’t be a sore loser,” Tabatha admonished, doing a damn good job at holding in her own laughter.
Kane’s phone rang making the platinum haired Sun God almost sigh in relief. He stood up from the table just as Alicia took the deck and began shuffling. A frown appeared on his face when he saw it was Chad and flipped it open.
“And how is my favorite cop doing tonight,” Kane answered.
“Hey,” Chad said. “Listen, there’s some activity at the Wal-Mart just a couple blocks from your house that we think might be demon related. Would you mind taking a quick look and filling us in when we get there?”
Kane shrugged, “Not a problem… I was getting bored taking everyone’s money here anyway.”
“Don’t lie,” Michael exclaimed. “You’re losing your ass and just need an excuse to leave the game.”
“Demons at Wal-Mart,” Kane informed his brother, as if he were bored and waiting on paint to dry.
Everyone at the table looked at him like he was crazy.
“Say what,” Alicia demanded with a raised eyebrow.
“Demons… at… Wal… Mart,” Kane repeated very slowly.
“This might prove interesting,” Damon stated, rubbing his hands together. “I need to get out for a few hours anyway.”
“We’ll check it out,” Kane informed Chad and abruptly hung up.
Tabatha winked at Alicia, “Well, I guess a midnight shopping excursion is in order.”
“I got money,” Alicia crowed and stood up, stuffing the cash in her pockets.
“Oh sure,” Kane grumbled. “Just rub it in why don’t you.”
***** Kane, Michael, and Damon just stared at the mayhem around them inside the store. People were screaming through the aisles, trying to get away from what appeared to be demon possessed children, who were running around like they were doing a reenactment of Gremlins.
The grocery department was trashed… jars of pickles, jelly, and honey were spilled all over the floors. Bags of flour looked like they’d just exploded all over the place. The clothing area had been transformed into large piles of torn up merchandise and mangled racks. Some of it looked like makeshift tents that children were known to build out of a couple of chairs and a sheet.
They could see that the destruction encompassed at least those two departments by the front doors but if the shrieks were any indication, the chaos was all over the store.
Alicia and Tabatha stood a few feet behind them, looking around, trying to figure out where to start. Neither one of them could comprehend why a group of demons would even want to do this… it just didn’t make sense.
“Where do we even start,” Alicia asked with wide eyes.
“I would suggest just walking around,” Storm said from right beside her.
Alicia couldn’t control her startled squeak when the beautiful man suddenly appeared out of thin air. She blinked when he just as suddenly disappeared, leaving Damon in her line of vision and he was glaring at the now empty spot between them.
“He’s right,” Michael agreed with a shrug. “If we walk around, we’re bound to run into something that will give us a clue as to what started this mess.”
“KANE, LOOK OUT,” Tabatha yelled.
Kane turned his head and his eyes widened just as a half empty bag of flour hit him square in the face. Michael and Damon looked at him with barely contained amusement as Kane sneezed violently, sending flour everywhere. He opened his eyes, glaring towards the sound of mad giggling coming from the grocery aisles. Shaking himself, he sent even more flour flying, creating a flour dust cloud.
Without a word to anyone, Kane started walking toward the grocery department, like a man on a mission.
“Uh oh,” Alicia muttered. “I think someone is gonna get a spanking.”
“Well, this is obviously demon related, so it might be wise for us to see what we can do about getting the rest of the customers out of here,” Tabatha suggested and made a point to look at Damon. “We need to split up into pairs if we’re going to get anything done and, since my normal partner went that way,” she glanced in the direction Kane had gone, then back at Da mon. “I call dibs on Alicia.”
“You can’t call dibs on my mate,” Damon argued, then noted the way Alicia’s smile vanished as she turned brooding eyes on him. “Fine… but be careful.” He was instantly rewarded with a quick peck on the cheek from both girls before they blurred and disappeared into the store.
Michael couldn't help but laugh at the way Damon stared after them like he was fighting the urge to chase them down and take back the freedom he’d just given Alicia.
“Guess that leaves us,” Damon said, wanting to get this the hell over with, so he could reclaim his mate. “Since the demons have possessed children… I would say there is a good chance that the problem started in the toy department.”
A tiny giggle sounded from their left and they looked just in time to see a little boy dressed up in a Batman costume, run up to Storm with a carton of eggs in his hands, ready to throw them. Storm merely reached out and touched the little demon with his pinky finger right between the eyes making the little one stop in mid-motion. There was a tiny flicker as the two stared each other down before Batman dropped the eggs and ran away screaming.
“I have to learn how he does that,” Damon exclaimed and then frowned when Storm flickered back out of existence.
Michael’s eyes widened when he saw two children run out of the ice cream aisle covered in the creamy substance and screaming like the hounds of hell were after them. They were immediately followed by two huge airborne mounds of melting ice cream.
Kane reappeared at the end of the aisle with a smug smile on his face, sliding to a stop on the slick floor.
“Sinking to their level,” Damon asked, as he approached. “Why Kane… this is an all new low for you.”
Kane’s phone went off and he put it on speaker, “Hey Chad.”
“We’re just pulling into the parking lot. What’s the verdict?” Chad asked.
“Mini-demons galore Chad… little blighters,” Kane confirmed. “Shadow demons have possessed a group of children and are in the process of trashing the store and terrorizing the humans… some of which have already evacuated, but many of them are either searching for their missing children, trapped, or crazy enough to stay for the show.”
“Well… we needed this about as much as we need a hole in the freakin head,” Chad complained. “Thanks Kane, we’re coming in and more back-up is on its way.”
Kane shut off the phone and tucked it away. “You know, this wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t playing Halloween music over the store intercom system.”
“It is kind of creepy,” Michael agreed. “Seeing you white as a ghost isn’t helping anything either.”
Michael’s observation was met with the tip of Kane’s finger dabbing ice cream on his lips and the end of his nose.
“Definitely sinking,” Damon observed and vanished down one of the aisles before Kane could do the same thing to him… or worse.
Michael stuck out his tongue to taste the ice cream and made a face, “Ew, raspberry.”
“Would you like me to add some chocolate to it,” Kane threatened with a wicked smirk.
“You’re a cruel man Kane,” Michael muttered, before grabbing the front of Kane’s shirt and wiping his face off with it.
***** Alicia and Tabatha made their way down the aisles and ended up in the pharmacy department, near the blood pressure medicine.
“I know a lot of mothers who are going to need this tomorrow morning,” Alicia said, pointing sideways at the aspirin.
“Half of them are probably in the men’s clothing department hunting the perfect belt as we speak,” Tabatha smirked.
“Get your hands off of me you little hooligan,” a woman’s voice shouted from the next aisle.
The two women rushed down the aisle and rounded the corner thinking they were going to have to rescue someone but came to a stop when they recognized who it was.
Alicia covered her mouth to stifle her laughter when she saw Mrs. Tully gripping one of the possessed children by the shoulders and forcing it to turn until it was facing away from her, before giving it a swift kick in the butt to send it on its way. The little one skidded several feet before glaring over its shoulders at the older woman with black eyes and a trembling bottom lip.
“You’re a mean old lady,” the little girl cried out before darting away.
“Learn to respect your elders,” Mrs. Tully fumed. She heard snickering and sighed when she saw Alicia and Tabatha trying not to laugh. “You liked that huh?”
“That was awesome,” Alicia nodded with a bright smile.
“Are you okay Mrs. Tully,” Tabatha asked with respect.
Mrs. Tully waved her hand at them. “I’m fine… I’ve had my share of run-ins with little monsters before.”
“You might want to get out of here,” Alicia said seriously. “There’s a whole bunch of possessed children all over this store.”
A noise that sounded like a bicycle bell suddenly came towards them and they quickly moved out of the way. Mrs. Tully lifted her purse and swung it at the same little black eyed girl that had just run away. The child was too fast this time, since the shadow demon was lending her small body speed as she peddled.
“I was done shopping anyway,” Mrs. Tully said, well aware that the children could become very dangerous if the one controlling the shadow demons desired it. She reached up and touched the small pouch hanging around her neck that kept her safe from possession of any form. She glanced at the two women knowing they were protected in their own way and better suited to deal with this situation.
“You young ladies be careful in here… and you two,” she continued, giving Alicia and Tabatha a playful glare, “It would be nice if you gave an old lady a call once in a while.”
“Yes ma’am,” Alicia saluted while Tabatha nodded.
“Oh dear,” Mrs. Tully made a face. “I hope the little rascals leave me alone long enough for me to check out and get back to my patients.”
The two women watched the older lady rush down the wide aisle toward the front of the store with more speed than they thought she should be capable of.
“Do you think we should give her an escort,” Tabatha asked worriedly.
Alicia grinned having known Mrs. Tully all her life. “I’d worry more about the child that is dumb enough to get in her way… possessed or not.”
Tabatha peered back at the old lady that was hurrying away, trying to see whatever it was that Alicia saw in her. She frowned and made a mental note to ask Kane if he could teach her how to tell if someone was human or not. So far, all he had taught her how to do was to have great sex… everything else she’d learned on her own.
Movement near her feet caught Alicia’s attention and she glanced down only to squeal and jump behind Tabatha. “Holy mother of pearl!”
“What,” Tabatha asked, now on high alert. She could feel Alicia shiver in fear against her.
“I don’t do snakes!” Alicia responded with a horrified look on her face.
“A snake… here,” Tabatha asked in disbelief, but immediately looked down examining the floor. “Where?”
“It came out from under there,” Alicia stuck her hand around Tabatha and pointed to the shelves on the right. “And then went under there,” she added, pointing to the shelves on their left. “It was so fast I almost didn’t see it. My God, it was huge and long and, and slid right over my foot!”
Both of them froze when they heard the bicycle bell chime again. They looked up just in time to see the little girl that had fought with Mrs. Tully, pass by the opening of the aisle they were still standing in. She looked exactly the same except for one big difference… that difference being the little girl now had a huge black snake wrapped around her small body and the smile on her face could only be described as creepy.
***** Damon had made his way through the store and rolled his eyes when he entered the costume department. Like the rest of the store, this area was a complete disaster. Pieces of costumes were scattered all over the place, with masks missing from some of the outfits. Empty packages that once held plastic swords, light up blaster pistols, and other Halloween paraphernalia lay everywhere. He did a double take when he noticed an empty box of vampire teeth.
“It looks like we have a fan running around in here somewhere,” he muttered, kicking the box toward his brother. “Maybe we should go break some broom sticks and put a stake through his heart.” He rubbed his chest remembering the feeling well.
“Or you can just find a broom and fly around on it,” Michael said, placing a tall pointy witch’s hat on Damon’s head. He smirked when Damon sent it flying down the aisle.
Something slithered along the top shelf next to him causing Damon to turn his head and glare in that direction. He barely caught the glimpse of a long black shadow, before he was distracted by a large clown horn, which was suddenly honked right in front of him.
He glanced down at the child that was wearing a brightly colored clown wig and a dress that was about ten sizes too big for the little boy… or girl? Damon honestly couldn’t tell because of the make up the child was wearing. However, the dark expression on his face didn’t deter the child from continuing to annoy him, as he blew the damn horn again.
Michael shook his head when Damon stepped forward, “Hold on… let’s see what the shadow demon is up to.”
The child grinned maniacally at them before it ran up and down the aisle, and proceeded to push every button on everything that made noise. The area echoed with everything from witch’s laughter to high pitched screams.
Damon crossed his arms over his chest and scowled down at the child, who was suddenly back and once more grinning up at him. It wasn't like he could shake the shadow demon out of the brat but that didn’t mean he was going to stand there and take it.
The horn honking clown shrieked in fright when the surrounding toys suddenly exploded. Damon took great pleasure in making the horn explode in the small child’s demon possessed hand causing it to fall backwards on its butt.
“Ha, ha,” Damon said tonelessly, and slowly smiled down at the child, as it sat up and shook its head. The wig was askew and the paint on its face was smeared into a parody of the clown Damon assumed it was supposed to be.
“Are you finished yet,” Damon asked, “or do I need to break you too?”
The demon glared up at him with pitch black eyes and threw what was left of the horn right at Damon’s face. He moved so fast the child didn’t even see him until it was too late.
“Gotcha,” Damon exclaimed, as his fingers curled into the ruffled cloth at the boy’s neck.
The small body attacked him in an attempt to get away. Damon stood up, holding the child at arm’s length away from him. He arched an eyebrow as the little one kicked its feet and swung its tiny fists at him.
“Peter Pan will get you for this,” the child cried out, in a voice that was obviously darkened by the demon that resided within it.
Deciding to play a little bit, he bared his fangs at the child and hissed viciously. “Oh yeah? Tell your little Peter to bring it on.”
“Do you plan on sucking the kids dry,” Michael inquired from behind him.
“It’s very tempting,” Damon growled, while giving the boy a little shake by the collar.
Michael smirked, “Okay, let’s see if Dad kills you like he did me.”
Damon sighed heavily and rolled his eyes before throwing the demon-possessed child at Michael, whose eyes widened comically, just as the child wrapped its arms and legs around Michael’s head.
“Not very nice,” Michael growled and sat the young one on its feet, after pulling it away from his face. He wasn't interested in fighting the kids when none of this was their fault. He ignored the child as it kicked him in the shin and then ran away. “You can’t do that in Wal-Mart Damon.”
“Can’t do what, throw demons,” Damon asked.
“No, break everything in sight,” Michael corrected.
Damon shrugged his shoulders, “The brat was annoying me.”
“TALLY HO YOU LITTLE MESSED UP MUNCHKINS!”
Michael and Damon frowned at each other recognizing the voice that was quickly followed by several high pitched squeals.
“Kane,” Damon asked.
Michael nodded, “Kane.”
“Ignore,” Damon asked.
“Absolutely,” Michael finished. “I think he’s actually playing with them now.”
Damon’s arm suddenly whipped out, crossing less than an inch in front of Michael’s face to snatch something off the shelf. Michael leaned back a little when Damon dragged a wiggling serpent into view, close enough to where he could see that the damn thing’s eyes were angry blood red slits.
“If it was a snake it would have bit you,” Damon confirmed with a straight face.
“That was a pun… right?” Michael looked at his brother, who thought he was oh so funny before returning his attention back to the snake. “It seems a bit out of place… don’t you think?”
Damon tightened his grip around the snake’s throat and brought it closer. “I’m pretty sure Wal-Mart doesn’t sell red eyed snakes… or any kind of snake for that matter.” He turned its head so that he and the serpent were staring eye to eye and glared at it. “So the question is… are you a demon, or did you just happen by and get possessed like these kids did?”
“If it answers you… I vote we kill it,” Michael instructed with a firm nod.
“I say we break it either way,” Damon grinned and the snake immediately started squirming and coiling trying to get out of his hand. To his annoyance, the cold, very real flesh in his hand vanished, leaving behind only its shadow self, that easily slipped through his fingers and hit the ground with a thud, having become real again sometime during the descent.
“That’s new,” Michael said as Damon glared at it.
This time the serpent didn’t get a chance to pull its shadow trick, as it struck at Damon’s leg intending to sink its poisonous fangs into the man that had grabbed it. Just before it reached its target, the shadow beast jerked in midair and a shudder visibly ran through it, before it rained back down to the floor in pieces.
Damon stomped on it for good measure. Both of them blinked when the pieces actually crunched under his boot sounding very much like glass.
