Sutton entered the bathroom, the lights a dim yellow glow against sage green walls. One of the lights flickered, the fractured electricity crackling. A large mosquito buzzed in the upper corner of the wall, its wings an erratic flutter. Sutton walked down the line of sinks and mirrors, stopping in front of the one that called to her….the very last one along the wall. Her light green eyes lifted, studying the reflective glass. She placed her hands on the sink, and let a slow breath out through her lips.
The excited thrum of the football game echoed in the distance. Tonight was the first home game of the season, Ivy Hawn’s Wild Cats vs. Kreagon High’s Timber Wolves. The sound of the Ivy Hawn marching band carried on hot humid air. Hundreds of feet stomped on bleachers, creating a rumbling thunder made of metal and sneakers. Sutton ignored the clamor, tightening her grip on the sink, her gaze never breaking from the mirror. Despite the danger that awaited her, Sutton’s heart beat steadily, calmly, not one drop of sweat breaking across her caramel toned skin. Her curly brown hair was tightened into a French braid that hung down her back. She was dressed in a Kevlar vest, with leather arm guards, tactical pans and boots.
Harper appeared in the entryway, a large leather bound book tucked under one arm. Harper was dressed in similar gear, her long black hair pulled into a pony tail. The dark material made her fair skin seem even more pale, as if she had been coated in milk. Both young women had the same tattoo on their upper arm, an eight pointed star, set above the head of a lion.
“First quarter just started,” Harper said. “We have until half time.”
“You’re late,” Sutton said, her gaze still locked on the mirror.
“Sorry,” Harper said. “I lost track of time.”
Sutton arched an eyebrow. “What’s his name?”
Harper frowned, her voice dry. “His name is chemistry homework and I hate him with the fury of a thousand suns. Did you find it?”
“Yes,” Sutton said. “It’s this one. I can feel it, radiating down to my bones. Malevolence. A desire to rip and feed. Its hungry.”
Harper opened the leather book to an already marked page, her light brown eyes focused. “Most reflective demons are. Ready?”
“Ready.”
Harper began reading in ancient Sumerian, her pronunciation perfect. The words tumbled from her plump pink lips as if it were her native language. A cold wind began to stir, rustling the contents of the garbage can. Harper continued to chant, her words pulling into the space that existed between worlds. A guttural scream pierced the air and the mirror in front of Sutton cracked.
Sutton smirked. The bastards hate being summoned. She tightened her hold on the sink, her smile widening. The fragments of the mirror began to shift, moving until a large hole appeared. Black taloned hands emerged from the rift, digging into the frame of the mirror. A deep throated growl sounded from the emerging creature. Long black hair fluttered around its narrow face, caught in an invisible pull, as if the thing were on the ocean floor, it’s hair sweeping back and forth with the tide. Black saliva dripped from bared teeth, its upper and lower incisors three inch fangs that promised pain. Sutton didn’t move a muscle. Harper continued her steady chant in ancient Sumerian, her words forcing the creature from its hiding place. The demon dug into the sides of the mirror and pushed in an attempt to stop from crossing over. It hissed, it’s sinewy muscles tensing. The cement around the mirror crumbled under its strength, the mirror frame cracking.
“Hold it Harper!” Sutton demanded.
Harper’s voice rose, beads of sweat breaking across her brow. The wind in the bathroom increased, swirling around them like the funnel of a tornado. Garbage was pulled from the can, landing around them like confetti. The demon snarled and began receding back into the mirror, the fragments of glass slowly converging.
Harper screamed. Her hand shot out, her fingers curled. Black bled into her eyes, until they were two solid orbs. Power cascaded through the room as ancient magics crackled on the air. The demon whipped frantically, it’s howls terrible, as it was pulled forward against its will. Sutton waited until it’s shoulders were through and then grabbed it around the throat. A determined yell slipped past her teeth as Sutton yanked it the rest of the way through. She twisted, throwing the demon with all her might. It crashed into the stall doors. The metal dented in with a loud screech! A pipe burst, releasing a torrent of water that shot to the ceiling. Harper dropped the book and ran forward, pulling two long blades from thigh holsters. Her eyes cleared, returning to brown.
Sutton planted her feet, yanking a sword from the sheath on her back. The demon rose from the rubble. Sutton and Harper stood shoulder to shoulder, their heads tilting back as they watched it stand to its full height, easily over eight feet. Its skin was a deathly white, purple veins snaking across muscle. The demon opened its hands, brandishing its talons like a collection of deadly knives.
“Can you believe Proctor and Evers tried out for the football team?” Harper asked as she ducked a swipe from the demons talons. It roared and advanced on her. Harper landed a front kick to its chest, forcing it back. Sutton threw her sword arm forward, aiming for the heart. The demon swatted it away and reached for her. Sutton pulled the sword back, cutting its hand off at the wrist. Black blood spewed across her face, splattering onto her hair like hot tar. The demon howled.
“That’s the difference between us and them,” Sutton said. “They think they can belong to the order and have a social life.”
The demon shot forward, landing an uppercut to Sutton’s chin. The hit lifted her off her feet, throwing her into the wall of mirrors. Glass exploded from the impact. She landed on the floor with a grunt, covering her face as the pieces rained down on her.
The demon’s severed hand grew back within seconds, black talons glistening. It latched onto Harper’s shoulders and forced her through the remaining stall doors at a run. Harper gritted her teeth as the creature punched holes through the stalls with her body, finally slamming her against the far wall. Cement cracked around her, the back of her head smacking the hard surface. The demon reared back, striking at her neck with its fangs like a venomous snake. Harper dropped her blades and gripped its face, stopping it before it could bite into her. Black saliva dripped onto her hands, her fingers digging into its skin.
Sutton got to her feet and raced forward, jumping onto the demon’s back. The creature felt cold, and hard, something dead that was moving. Sutton bit back her disgust and tried to put it in a headlock, but before she could tighten her hold, it reached back, ripping Sutton off. She crashed into Harper. Both young women were knocked against the wall, sending more cracks into the cement. Water from the broken pipe surged across the floor, the displaced garbage floating on it.
The demon bounded towards them, snarling in ancient Sumerian. It’s voice thundered throughout the bathroom, as if many deep voices were speaking. Goosebumps broke across Sutton’s skin at its words—Enemy of the Legion. I will bathe in your entrails. I will drag your soul into darkness, enslaving you in torment. Sutton stepped in and swept her sword upwards in a large arch, dragging it across the demon’s torso. The cut was deep, releasing a torrent of dark blood. Harper flanked her, her long blades a blur of metal. The demon sliced at them with its vicious talons. Sutton and Harper blocked and twisted, their movements precise and powerful. They fought like two vicious panthers, attacking their prey, working together to bring it down. Their blades bit into the demon repeatedly, until the creature was riddled with bleeding wounds.
The demon staggard, momentarily dropping its hands. Sutton seized the opportunity. She jumped and spun, landing a roundhouse kick to its face. It smacked against the wall, its chest heaving. The demon’s wounds were mending, the skin kneading back together. But healing took energy. And the creature was weakening from the effort. The beast took two steps forward, its hooved feet crunching on broken glass. It’s muscular shoulders sagged. Sutton took in a cleansing breath. Now is the time.
She gave Harper a small nod and then surged forward, dropping at the last moment. Sutton swept her leg out, catching the creature behind the legs. The demon landed hard on its back, the floor shuddering. Sutton did a flip up. Harper was already on its chest, cutting into its sternum, her blades cracking bone. Sutton came around towards its head, securing the arms while Harper carved deep into the demons chest. The creature screamed, its deep voice booming like angry thunder. Its hooves scraped frantically against the floor. Blood gushed from the hole in its chest like a geyser, bathing Harper in inky liquid. Harper plunged her arms into its massive chest. Harper dug for it’s heart, her brown eyes ablaze.
Sutton struggled to control the demons arms, its talons inches from her face. “Hurry!” Sutton yelled.
Harper yanked her arms back with a grunt. The demons black heart was in her hands, her fingers clutched around vessels and thick muscle, the organ still quivering with movement. The demon’s body suddenly went still, its mouth open in a frozen growl. At that moment, a noise sounded at the entrance. Sutton’s head snapped up and Harper glanced over her shoulder, still seated on top of the demon’s chest, the heart in her hands. A young girl stood frozen in the entranceway, holding a snow cone, her blonde ponytail tied with a ribbon sporting Ivy Hawn colors.
“Get the fuck out!” Sutton said.
The girl turned and ran, so fast the top of her snow cone fell. The saturated ice hit the floor with a splat, blueberry syrup mingling with water and demon blood.
“Fucking freshmen,” Harper muttered.
Sutton and Harper sat across from each other, both with a burger and fries in front of them. The pink neon light from the sign out front shone through the window, illuminating the melted cheddar cheese and the whip cream that was piled on top of two strawberry milk shakes, complete with plump cherries. They were still dressed in Kevlar, dried demon blood coating their skin. But they had left their weapons and spell books in the car. No magic. No blades. Hanks rules. Sutton had always thought that was fair. Hank’s diner was bustling with activity, students and parents pouring in after the game, craving a salty burger and a sweet milkshake. All gazes avoided Sutton and Harper. Downcast eyes were a vital part of life in Cassadaga, a place where the supernatural regularly crossed into the human realm. The citizens of the town gave members of The Order respect and space, silently acknowledging their presence, never hindering, never commenting.
Sutton chewed slowly on a French fry, the taste a soothing balm after the rush of a kill. She had replayed the fight several times in her mind on their drive from the football field to the diner. The demon knocking her into the mirrors shouldn’t have happened. She needed to be more careful.
Hank appeared at their table carrying an array of condiments, pulling Sutton from her self-chiding reverie. He was a big burly man in his late fifties. A salt and pepper beard fell to his chest, his greying long dark hair tied in a top not. He set ketchup, mayo and mustard down on their table, throwing a greasy rag over his shoulder. An easy smile crossed his face. “I heard it was a tough match,” he rumbled. A faded tattoo peeked out under his sleeve. The design was of a Sheppard’s staff, with an eight pointed star next to it.
Sutton snorted a laugh. Hank had been out for a long time, but he still loved to talk shop. “You heard right.”
Hank nodded, crossing his arms.. “Also heard there was a fire in the girl’s bathroom. The one across the field. That’s awfully close to the school.”
Harper squirted ketchup onto her plate. “It’s becoming a common occurrence.”
“Since when?” Hank asked.
“Since the constellation of Cetus shifted into view,” Sutton replied. “Two weeks ago.”
Sutton tossed her braid over her shoulder and met Harper’s gaze. A sensation of gravity passed between them, the air growing heavy with tension. For years they had primarily fought in the surrounding wilderness, battling evil in the depths of swamps and forests. But over the recent weeks, the movements of the underworld began creeping closer and closer into town, matching the arch of stars across the sky. Yes, in the past, evil had spilled onto the streets of Cassadaga. Emerging in a home. Ripping through a coffee shop. But that was often cyclical, occurring during the solstice or on Samhain. Was this new activity temporary? Or were things shifting? Would this become the new normal? Demons attacking students in the bathroom? Fighting taking place in the middle of a crowd?
Proctor and Evers were clueless, as usual. But even Uma and Jamie seemed unsure, and that gave Sutton pause. Sutton exhaled, breathing out her worry. There was one thing she could be sure of at least, and that was Harper. Her sister in The Order of Inanna. Her friend and fellow warrior against the legions of darkness. That would never change.
“You’ll let me know if you need anything?” Hank asked.
Sutton looked up at him and offered a genuine smile. “We will.”
Harper winked at him. “Thanks.”
“Enjoy the food. Give my regards to Uma,” Hank said. He turned and left, disappearing into the kitchen.
Harper took a huge bite of her burger, joy sparkling in her brown eyes. “Ugh, thank the gods,” She said around a mouthful of bread and pickle. “I’m starving. No more talking. It’s time to feast.”
Sutton’s smile widened as she watched her friend eat with rapturous abandon. “Pass me the ketchup.”
Excellent and enticing! Hope to read more. ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura!! 💗🙏
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