Practical Demonkeeping Chapter 16-18

16HOWARDHoward Phillips, the owner of H.P.s Cafe, had on the dot settled drink in the study of his st genius cottage when he looked tabu the window and axiom roundthing moving done the trees.Howard had spent most of his adult life act to prove deuce-ace theories he had formulated in col peglege one, that before opus had walked the background in that respect had been a personnelful race of in spread abroadigent beings who had achieved a senior high level of civilisation, and so for some un receiven reason had disappeargond both, that the remnants of their civilization keep mum existed underground or under the ocean, and through extreme dodgy and guile had escaped detection by humans and three, that they were planning to deliver as masters of the planet in a very unfriendly way.What lurked in the woods outside Howard Phillipss cottage was the first physical assure of his theories that he had of all time encountered. He was at once elated and terrified. worry th e child who is delighted by the idea of Santa Claus, then cries and cowers idler its obtain when con looked with the corpulent red-suited existentity of a departwork forcet-store Santa, Howard Phillips was non fully prepared for a physical manifestation of what he had eagle-eyed hoped extant. He was a scholar, non an adventurer. He preferred his experiences to come secondhand, through books. Howards idea of adventure was assay whole wheat toast with his daily ham and eggs preferably of the usual w crape b depict.He stared out the window at the creature moving in the bootleg. It was very such(prenominal) give care the creatures he had read about in ancient manuscripts bipedal like a man, only(prenominal) with long, apelike fortification reptilian. Howard could see scales reflecting in the moonlight. The one inconsistency that fazed him was its size. In the manuscripts, these creatures, who were say to be kept as slaves by the white-haired angiotensin converting enz ymes, had always been sm both in stature, no much than a a couple of(prenominal) feet t altogether. This one was enormous four, maybe five meters tall.The creature halt for moment, then turned slowly and looked havely at Howards window. Howard resisted the urge to dive to the narration and so stood staring straight into the eyes of the nightmare.The creatures eyes were the size of automobile headlamps and they glowed a faint orange approximately slotted, feline pupils. Long, pointed scales lay lynchpin against its head, giving the impression of ears. They stood there, staring at each other, the creature and the man, incomplete moving, until Howard could bear it no longer. He grab sock the curtains and pulled them shut, almost ripping them from the rod in the process. Outside he could hear the sound of laughter.When he dared to peak through the gap in the curtains, the creature was gone.Why hadnt he been more scientific in his observation? Why hadnt he run for his camera ? For all his usage at putting together clues from arcane grimoirs to prove the macrocosm of the Old Ones, people had labeled him a crackpot. One photograph would bring convinced them. only when he had missed his chance. Or had he? of a sudden it occurred to Howard that the creature had seen him. Why should the Old Ones be so careful not to be disc overed for so long, then walk in the moonlight as if out for a Sunday stroll? Perhaps it had not locomote on at all unless was circling the house to do away with the witness.First he vox populi of weapons. He had none in the house. M either of the old books in his library had spells for protection, solely he had no idea where to start expression. Besides, the verge of panic was not the ideal intellectual state in which to do research. He expertness still be able to bolt to his old Jaguar and escape. indeed again, he might bolt into the c rights of the creature. every(prenominal) these thoughts passed through his mind in a seco nd.The phone. He snatched the phone from his desk and dialed. It seemed forever for the dial to spin, save concludingly there was a ring and a womans express at the other end.Nine-one-one, emergency, she tell.Yes, I proclivity to report a lurker in the woods.What is your name, sir?Howard Phillips.And what is the address you are calling from?Five-oh-nine Cambridge Street, in Pine Cove.Are you in all immediate risk?Well, yes, that is why I called.You say you view a prowler. Is he enterpriseing to engrave the house?Not yet.You deplete seen the prowler?Yes, outside my window, in the woods. croupe you describe him?He is an abomination of such abysmal hideousness that the mere reminiscence of this monstrosity perambulating in the dark outside my domicile fills me with the weird chill of the charnel house.That would be about how tall?Howard paused to have in mind. Obviously the law enforcement system was not prepared to deal with perversions from the transcosmic gulfs of the nethermost craters of the underworld. Yet he needed assistance.The fiend stands two meters, he said.Could you see what he was corroding?Again Howard considered the truth and rejected it. Jeans, I believe. And a leather jacket.Could you tell if he was fortify?Armed? I should say so. The beast is armed with monstrous claws and a toothed maw of the most villainous predator. compose downcast, sir. I am dispatching a unit to your home. Make sure the accessways are locked. Stay calm, Ill stay on the line until the outicers arrive.How long allow for that be?About twenty minutes.Young woman, in twenty minutes I shall be little more than a shredded memory Howard hung up the phone.It had to be escape, then. He took his greatcoat and car keys from the foyer and stood leaning against the front openingstep. Slowly he slipped the lock and grab cope the door handle.On three, then, he said to himself.One. He turned the door handle.Two. He bent, preparing to run.Three He didnt move.All rig ht, then. Steel yourself, Howard. He started the count again.One. Perhaps the beast was not outside.Two. If it was a slave creature, it wasnt dangerous at all.Three He did not move.Howard recurrent the process of counting, over and over, each age measuring the fear in his heart against the danger that lurked outside. Finally, disgusted with his own cowardliness, he threw the door open, and bolted into the dark.17BILLY wand Winston was on the final stretch of the nightly inspect at the Rooms-R-Us Motel. His fingers danced across the calculator like a spastic Fred Astaire. The in the first place he finished, the presentlyer he could log onto the computer and become Roxanne. solely thirty-seven of the motels one hundred rooms were rented tonight, so he was vent to finish early. He couldnt wait. He needed Roxannes ego boost after being ditched by The Breeze the night before.He hit the nitty-gritty button with a flourish, as if he had just played the final note of a piano concerto , then wrote the figure into the ledger and slammed the book. billy club was alone in the motel. The only sound was the hum of the fluorescent lights. From the windows by his desk he had a 180-degree view of the highway and the parking lot, but there was nothing to see. At that snip of night a car or two passed every half hour or so. Just as well. He didnt like distractions time he was being Roxanne. billy pushed a stool up to the front counter behind the computer. He typed in his access code and logged on.WITKSAS HOWS YOUR DOG, SWEETIE? delight PNCVCALThe Rooms-R-Us Motel chain maintained a computer network for making reservations at their motels all over the world. From any location a desk clerk could contact any of the two hundred motels in the chain by simply entering a seven-letter code. billystick had just sent a message to the night auditor in Wichita, Kansas. He started at the green phosphorescent screen, waiting for an answer.PNCVCAL ROXANNE MY DOG IS LONELY. care ME, BABY. WITKSASWichita was on line. truncheon punched up a reply.WITKSAS MAYBE HE inescapably A LITTLE DISCIPLINE. I COULD SMOTHER HIM IF YOU WANT. SEND PNCVCAL in that respect was a pause while wand waited.PNCVCAL YOU WANT TO HOLD HIS POOR woolly-headed FACE BETWEEN YOUR MELONS UNTIL HE BEGS? IS THAT IT? WITKSAStruncheon thought for a moment. This was why they have sexd him. He couldnt just throw them an answer they could get from any sleazebeast. Roxanne was a goddess.WITKSAS YES. AND BEAT HIM SOFTLY ON THE EARS. BAD DOG. BAD DOG. SEND PNCVCALAgain billy waited for the response. A message appeared on the screen.WHERE ARE YOU devout? I MISS YOU. TULSOKL.It was his have intercourser from Tulsa. Roxanne could handle two or three at once, but she wasnt in the mood for it right now. She was experienceing a little crampy. he-goat adjusted his crotch, his panties were riding up a bit. He typed two messages.WITKSAS GO PET YOUR DOGGIE FOR A WHILE. AUNTIE ROXANNE allow for CHECK ON YOU IN A WHILE. SEND PNCVCALTULSOKL overlyK AN EVENING clear up TO SHOP FOR SOMETHING LACY TO WEAR FOR YOU. I HOPE YOU DONT FIND IT TOO SHOCKING. SEND PNCVCALWhile he was waiting for a response from Oklahoma, Billy dug into his gym bag for his red high heels. He care to hook the stiletto heels into the rungs of the stool while he talked to his lovers. When he glanced up, he thought he motto something moving out in the parking lot. in all likelihood just a guest get something from the car.PNCVCAL YOU SWEET LITTLE THING, YOU COULD neer SHOCK ME. TELL ME WHAT YOU BOUGHT. TULSOKLBilly started to type in a balmy description of a lace teddy he had seen in a catalog.To the guy in Tulsa, Roxanne was a shy little flower to Wichita she was a dominatrix. The desk clerk in Seattle saw her as a leather-clad biker chick. The old man in Arizona thought she was a struggling single scram of two, barely making it on a desk clerks salary. He always treasured to send her money. There were te n of them in all. Roxanne gave them what they needed. They loved her.Billy comprehend the double doors of the lobby open, but he did not look up. He finished typing his message and pressed the SEND button. Can I help you, he said mechanically, still not looking up.You betcha, a voice said. Two grand reptilian hands clacked down on the counter about four feet on each side of Billy. He looked up into the open mouth of the giant coming at his face. Billy pushed patronise from the keyboard. His heel caught in the rung of the stool and he went over book bindingward as the giant maw snapped shut above him. Billy let loose a long, sirenlike scream and began scrambling on his hands and knees behind the counter toward the back office. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw the demon crawling over the counter after him.Once in the office, Billy leapt to his feet and slammed the door. As he turned to run out the back door, he heard the door fly open and slam against the wall.The back doo r of the office led into a long corridor of rooms. Billy pounded on the doors as he passed. No one opened a door, but there were angry shouts from inside the rooms.Billy turned and saw the demon filling the far end of the corridor. It was in a crouch, moving down the corridor on all fours, crawling awkward and batlike in the confined space. Billy dug in his pocket for his pass key, ready it, and ran down the vestibule and near the corner. Making the corner, he perverted his ankle. White cark tang up his leg, and he cried out. He limped to the closest door. The images of women in horror cinemas who twisted their ankles and feebly fell into the clutches of the monster raced through his head. Damn high heels.He fumbled the key into the lock while looking back down the hallway. The door opened and Billy fell into the room just as the monster rounded the corner behind him.He kicked the stiletto heel off his good foot, vaulted up and hopped across the empty room to the slip glass door. The gum elastic bar was set. He fell to his knees and began clawing at it. The only light in the room was coming from the hallway, and suddenly that was eclipsed. The monster was functional its way through the doorway.What the fuck are you Billy screamed.The monster stopped just inside the room. Even crouching over, its shoulders hit the ceiling. Billy cowered by the slip door, still clawing under the curtains at the safety bar. The monster looked somewhat the room, its huge head turning back and forth like a searchlight. To Billys amazement, it reached around and turned on the lights. It seemed to be studying the bed.Does that have Magic Fingers? it said.What Billy said. It came out a scream.That bed has Magic Fingers, right?Billy pulled the safety bar loose and hurled it at the monster. The heavy steel bar hit the monster in the face and go to the floor. The monster showed no reaction. Billy reached for the latch on the door and started to pull it open.The monster scutt led forward, reached over Billys head, and pushed the door shut with one clawed finger. Billy yanked on the door but it was held fast. He collapsed under the monster with a long, agonizing wail.Give me a quarter, the monster said.Billy looked up into the huge lizard face. The monsters grin was nearly two feet wide. Give me a quarter it tell.Billy dug into his pocket, came out with a handful of change, and timidly held it up to the monster.Still holding the door shut with one hand, the monster reached down with the other and plucked a quarter from Billys hand with two claws, using them like chopsticks.Thanks, it said. I love Magic Fingers.The demon let go of the door. You can go now, it said. sooner he could depend about it, Billy threw the door open and go down through. He was climbing to his feet when something caught him by the leg from behind and dragged him back into the room.I was just kidding. You cant go.The monster held Billy upside down by his leg while it dropped the q uarter into the little metal box on the nightstand.Billy flailed in the air, screaming and clawing at the demon, ripping his fingernails against its scales. The monster took Billy into its arms like a teddy bear and lay back on the bed. Its feet hung off the end and nearly touched the dresser on the black eye wall.Billy could not scream there was no breath for a scream. The monster let go with one arm and placed one long claw at Billys ear.Dont you just love Magic Fingers? it said. Then it drove the claw though Billys brain.18RACHEL subsequently merle died and Rachel sight a respectable period of mourning, which was precisely the same amount of time it took the courts to transfer Merles property to her, she sold the Cessna and the trailer, bought herself a Volkswagen van, and on the advice of the women at the shelter, headed for Berkeley. In Berkeley, they insisted, she would honour a community of women who could help her stay off the go around of abuse. They were right.The wom en in Berkeley welcomed Rachel with open arms. They helped her distinguish a place to live, enrolled her in example and self-actualization courses, taught her to defend herself, nurture herself, and most important, to respect herself. She lost weight and grew strong. She thrived. deep down a year she took the remainder of her inheritance and bought a lease on a small studio adjacent to the University of calcium campus and began teaching high-intensity aerobics. She soon gained a reputation as a tough, domineering bitch of an instructor. There was a waiting list to get into her classes. The fat little young woman had come into her own as a beautiful and powerful woman.Rachel taught six classes a day, putting herself through the rigors of each workout along with her students. After a few calendar months of that regimen, she fell ill, waking one morning to find that she had just enough strength to call the women in her classes to cancel, and no more. One of her students, a statuesqu e, gray-haired woman in her forties named Bella, appeared at Rachels door a few hours later.Once through the door Bella began giving orders. make full off your clothes and get back in bed. Ill bring you some tea in a moment. Her voice was deep and strong, yet someways soothing. Rachel did as she was told. I dont cheat what you hypothecate youve done to deserve the penalization you are giving yourself, Rachel, Bella said, but it has to stop.Bella sat on the edge of Rachels bed and watched while Rachel drank the tea. Now lie on your stomach and relax.Bella applied sweet-smelling oil to Rachels back and began rubbing, first with long, slow strokes that spread the oil, then piecemeal digging her fingers into the muscles until Rachel thought she would cry out in pain. When the message was finished, Rachel snarl even more exhausted than before. She fell into a deep sleep. When Rachel awoke, Bella repeated the process, forcing Rachel to drink the bitter tea, then kneading her muscle s until they ached. Again, Rachel slept.When Rachel awoke the fourth time, Bella again served her the tea, but this time she had Rachel lie on her back to receive her massage. Bellas hands played softly over her torso, lingering between her legs and on her breasts. Through the drugged murkiness of the tea, Rachel noticed that the older woman was almost naked and had rubbed her own body with the same fragrant oils that she used on Rachel.It didnt occur to Rachel to resist. Since Bella had come through the door, she had been giving orders and Rachel had obeyed. In the dim light of Rachels little apartment they became lovers. It had been two historic period since Rachel had been with a man. Trading soft caresses with Bella, she didnt care if she was ever again.When Rachel was back on her feet, Bella introduced her to a group of women who met at Bellas house once a week to perform ceremonies and rituals. Among these women Rachel learned about a new power she carried within herself, the power of the Goddess. Bella tutored her in the machinations of white magic and soon Rachel was come abouting(a) the coven in rituals, while Bella looked on like a proud mother. tone your voice, Bella told her. No matter what you are saying it should sound like a chant to the Goddess. The coven should be taken with the chant. That is the meaning of enchantment, my dear.Rachel gave up her apartment and go into Bellas restored Victorian house near the U.C. campus. For the first time in her life, she matte up truly happy. Of course, it didnt last.One afternoon she came home to find Bella in bed with a bald and bewhiskered professor of music. Rachel was livid. She threatened the professor with a fireplace poker and chased him, half-naked, into the street. He exited clutching his tweed jacket and build slacks in front of him.You said you loved me Rachel screamed at Bella.I do love you, dear. Bella did not seem the least bit upset. Her voice was deep and modulated like a chant. Th is was about power, not love.If I wasnt filling your needs, you should have said something.You are the most wonderful lover I have known, dear Rachel. But Dr. Mendenhall holds the mortgage on our house. That loan is interest free, in case you hadnt noticed.You whoreArent we all, dear?Im not.You are. I am. The Goddess is. We all have our price. Be it love, or money, or power, Rachel. Why do you think the women in your exercise classes put themselves through so much pain?Youre changing the subject.Answer me, Bella demanded. Why?They fate a sound body. They sine qua non a strong vessel to carry a strong spirit.They dont founder a rats ass about a strong spirit. They want a tight ass so men testament want them. They get out deny it to the death, but its true. The sooner you clear up that, the sooner you will realize your own power.Youre sick. This goes against everything youve ever taught me.This is the most important thing I ever will teach you, so listen Know your price, Rachel .No.You think Im some cheap slut, do you? You think youre above selling yourself? How much rent have you ever paid here?I offered. You said it didnt matter. I loved you.Thats your price, then.Its not. Its love.Sold Bella climbed out of bed and strode across the room, her long gray hair flying behind her. She took her scrubs from the closet, threw it around herself, and secure the sash. Love me for what I am, Rachel. Just as I love you for what you are. cypher has changed. Dr. Mendenhall will be back, whimpering like a puppy. If it will make you feel better, you can be the one that takes him. Maybe we can do it together.Youre sick. How could you even suggest such a thing?Rachel, as long as you see men as human beings, we are going to have a problem. They are inferior beings, incapable of love. How could a few moments of fleshly friction with a subhuman affect us? What we have between us?You sound like a man caught with his pants down.Bella sighed. I dont want you around the other s until you calm down. Theres some money in my jewelry box. Why dont you take it and go down to Esalen for a week or so. Think this over. Youll feel better when you get back.What about the others? Rachel asked. How do you think theyll feel when they find out that all the magic, all the spiritualism you preach, is just so much bullshit?Everything is true. They follow me because they admire my power. This is part of that power. I havent betrayed anyone.Youve betrayed me.If you feel that way, then perhaps youd better leave. Bella went into the bathroom and began drawing a bath. Rachel followed her.Why should I leave? I could just tell them. I know as much as you do now. I could lead them.Dear Rachel. Bella was adding oils to her bath and not looking up. Didnt you learn anything from killing your save? Destruction is a mans way.Rachel was stunned. She had told Bella about the accident but not that she had caused it. She had told no one.Bella looked up at her at last. You can stay if you wish. I still love you.Ill go.Im sorry, Rachel. I thought you were more highly evolved. Bella slipped out of her robe and into her bath. Rachel stood in the doorway staring down at her.I love you, she said.I know you do, dear. Now, go pack your things.Rachel couldnt bear the idea of staying in Berkeley. Everywhere she went she encountered reminders of Bella. She loaded up her van and spent a month driving around California, looking for a place where she might cope with in. Then, one morning while reading the paper over breakfast, she spy a column called California Facts. It was a simple list of figures that certain readers of obscure facts such as which California county produces the most pistachios (Sacramento), where one had the exceed chance of having ones car stolen (North Hollywood), and tucked amid a mlange of seemingly insignificant demographics, which California town had the highest per capita percentage of divorced women (Pine Cove). Rachel had found her destination .Now, five years later, she was firmly set in the community, respected by the women and feared and lusted after by the men. She had moved slowly, recruiting into her coven only women who sought her out mostly women who were on the verge of expiration their husbands and who needed something to shore them up during the divorce process. Rachel provided them with the support they required, and in harvesting they gave her their loyalty. Just six months ago she initiated the thirteenth and final member of the coven.At last she was able to perform the rituals that she had worked so hard to learn from Bella. For years they seemed ineffective, and Rachel attributed their failure to not having a full coven. Now she was starting to guess that the Earth magic they were accentuateing to perform just did not work that there was no real power to be had.She could lead the coven to attempt anything, and on her command they would do it. That was a power of sorts. She could extract favors f rom men with no more than a seductive glance and in that, there was a power. But none of it was enough. She wanted the magic to work. She wanted real power.Catch had sensed Rachels lust for power in the Head of the slug that afternoon, recognizing in her what he had seen in his ruthless masters before Travis. That night, while Rachel lay in the dark of her cabin, contemplating her own impotence, the demon came to her.She had locked the door that night, more out of habit than need, as there was very little crime in Pine Cove. Around nine she heard someone try the doorknob and she sat upright in bed.Who is it?As if in answer, the door bent slowly inward and the doorjamb cracked, then splintered away. The door opened, but there was no one behind it. Rachel pulled the quilt up around her chin and scooted up into the corner of the bed.Who is it?A voice growled out of the darkness, Dont be afraid. I will not hurt you.The moon was bright. If someone was there, she should have been able t o see his silhouette in the doorway, but strain as she might, she saw nothing.Who are you? What do you want?No what do you want? the voice said.Rachel was truly frightened the voice was coming from an empty tinge not two feet away from her bed.I asked you first, she said. Who are you?Ooooooooooo, I am the ghost of Christmas past.Rachel poked herself in the leg with her thumbnail to make sure she was not dreaming. She wasnt. She found herself speaking to the disembodied voice in spite of herself.Christmas is months away.I know. I lied. Im not the ghost of Christmas past. I saw that in a movie once.Who are you Rachel was near hysteria.I am all your dreams come true. psyche must have planted a speaker somewhere in the house. Rachels fear turned to anger. She leapt from bed to find the offending device. Two steps out of bed she ran into something and fell to the floor. Something that felt like claws wrapped around her waist. She felt herself being lifted and put back on the bed. h oly terror seized her. She began to scream as her bladder let go.Stop it The voice drowned her screams and rattled the windows of the cabin. I dont have time for this.Rachel cowered on the bed. She was panting and felt herself getting light-headed. She started to sink back into unconsciousness, but something caught her by the hair and yanked her back. Her mind searched for a touchstone in reality. A ghost it was a ghost. Did she believe in ghosts? Perhaps it was time to start. Maybe it was him, returned for revenge.Merle, is that you?Who?Im sorry, Merle, I had toWho is Merle?Youre not Merle?Never heard of him.Then, who what in the hell are you?I am the defeat of your enemies. I am the power you crave. I am, live and direct from hell, the demon Catch Ta-da There was a clicking on the floor like a tap-dancing step.Youre an Earth spirit?Er, uh, yes, an Earth spirit. Thats me, Catch, the Earth spirit.But I didnt think the ritual worked.Ritual?We tried to call you up at the meeting last week, but I didnt think it worked because I didnt draw the circle of power with a virgin blade that had been quenched in blood.What did you use?A nail file.There was a pause. Had she offended the Earth spirit? Here was the first evidence that her magic could work and she had short-winded it by compromising the materials called for in the ritual.Im sorry, she said, but its not easy to find a blade thats been quenched in blood.Its okay.If I had known, INo really, its okay.Are you offended, Great Spirit?I am about to tote up the greatest power in the world upon a woman who draws circles in the dirt with nail files. I dont know. Give me a minute.Then you will grant harmony to the hearts of the women in the coven?What the fuck are you talk of the town about? the voice said.That is why we summoned you, O Spirit to bring us harmony.Oh, yeah, harmony. But there is a condition.Tell me what you require of me, O Spirit.I will return to you later, witch. If I find what I am looking f or, I will need you to forswear the Creator and perform a ritual. In return you will be given the command of a power that can rule the Earth. Will you do this?Rachel could not believe what she was hearing. Accepting that her magic worked was a huge step, yet she was speaking to the evidence. But to be offered the power to rule the world? She wasnt sure her career in exercise instruction had prepared her for this.Speak, woman Or would you rather draw your life collecting gobs of hair from shower drains and fingernail parings from ashtrays?How do you know about that?I was destroying pagans when Charlemagne was alive. Now, answer there is a hunger salary increase in me and I must go.Destroying pagans? I thought the Earth liquor were benevolent.We have our moments. Now, will you renounce the Creator?Renounce the Goddess, I dont knowNot the Goddess The CreatorBut the GoddessWrong. The Creator, the All-Powerful. Help me out here, babe Im not allowed to say his name.You mean the Chr istian God?Bingo Will you renounce him?I did that a long time ago.Good. Wait here. I will be back.Rachel searched for a last word, but nothing came. She heard a rustling in the leaves outside and ran to the door. In the moonlight she could see the shapes of cows standing in the nearby pasture and something moving among them. Something that was growing larger as it moved away toward town.