Chapter Nine
Ty's heels clacked as she walked up the stone stairs toward the large wooden door of the church. She pushed the door in with her shoulder and walked in. The late afternoon sun created strange, yet colorful reflections from the windows. She reached for the holy water and stopped short. She was not going to bless herself, when she was barely faithful. She walked up the stone aisle, looking around. It was a late Thursday afternoon; so many people were at home preparing dinner. A few people were scattered throughout the pews lost deep in payers. Ty slipped into one of the pews and crossed herself subtly.
She looked up at one of the window. It was a bright window depicting one of the Archangel Raphael. She smiled a little and then looked up at the large crucifix above the altar. Jesus was spread across it with nails in hands and feet. The dried blood looked very close to the real thing and the expression of anguish seemed too real. Ty looked down at her feet and tried to focus her mind. She didn't come church to pray. She came to clear her mind in some way. At the precinct, she was swamped with cases and at the apartment, Lily would try to help her when she needed to be alone.
"I didn't expect to see you here," a male voice from behind said.
Ty looked up and then turned around. The priest was standing her pew with a large smile. His white hair and gentle face always made Ty feel welcome; even though, she knew that sometimes he found her faith a little insufferable. She stood quickly and gave him a hug.
"It has been a long time, my child," he said softly. "Please sit."
Ty slid back into the pew with Father Harper taking a seat next to her. His brown eyes seemed to look her over, checking to see if she was well. She thought of looking away, but he would know that something was wrong.
"Work keeps me away, Father Harper," Ty said with a slight smile.
"You keep yourself away, Tyler," the father said, gently touching her hand.
Ty cringed at the name. Father Harper must have sensed it even if she didn't show it. He took her hand and laid his on top of it. Ty looked down at the simple sentiment and smiled a little. It had been so long since someone just touched her because they wanted to help her.
"What's bothering you, Ty?" Father Harper asked.
Ty shrugged. "A lot of things. Have you heard about the murders on the corner of Athens and more killings on the corner of Racine?"
Harper nodded solemnly. "The last family were parishioners here."
Ty looked at him and almost jumped to her feet. Harper quickly pulled her back down and forced to look at him a little longer. He let go of her hand and looked out at the other people that sat nearby.
"I fear that they are only the beginning of this war to come," Harper said with a heavy sigh.
Ty only nodded in her agreement. She knew that it must be true. She had seen an alarming increase in demon possession, and the demons were no longer playing the normal rules. It was hard to exorcise one without killing the person they possessed. And they were getting more cunning in how they chose their victims.
"I think so too," Ty finally admitted. "I have never seen anything like I saw at that last apartment. It was nothing but blood and the only survivor was a little girl."
"Is that why it bothers you so?"
Ty turned back to the windows. Their reflection had started to die because the sun was sitting. Yet, there was still a line of red running down the aisle like a pool of blood. She shivered at that thought and turned back to Father Harper. He was still waiting for her answer.
"That it was a little girl?" Ty asked in reply. "No, what bothers me is I know a demon that enjoys this sort of thing, and she knows me."
Father Harper put his arms around Ty and pulled her close to him. It had always been hard for him to get close to Ty, because she wouldn't let anyone. He could tell that she had come here for a little comfort and perhaps understanding of what was happening around her.
"Tyler, you made the right choice that night," Father Harper whispered.
Ty pulled free of the priest and looked at her watch. "I have to go."
Ty stood up, stepping over Father Harper. He was quick and grabbed her arm, spinning her back to him. She looked down at him, and he let go of her hand. She could see in his eyes that he was worried and wanted to help her. But she couldn't allow anyone else to get hurt.
"I have to go David," Ty said. "I have to stop her."
"Tyler Jo," Father Harper raised his voice as he got to his feet. "I know what happened that night could not have been easy for you, but you made the right choice."
Ty closed her eyes, trying to forget all the memories that had started to invade her mind. She shook her head and started for the door. She could hear Father Harper yelling her name, but she didn't stop. She walked outside and found that it was raining. She started for her car with a strange feeling that someone was watching her. She shrugged it off, reaching for her car keys when someone smashed her into the side of her car.
Ty spun around bringing her arm up only to have wrenched behind her. She cried out and brought her leg up, and it was knocked down.
"Thought you got rid of me?" the blonde demon sneered at her.
"I knew I couldn't be that lucky," Ty retorted, bringing her elbow up into the girl's face.
The girl fell back and then looked up at Ty with her black eyes shining. Ty thought of rushing into the car, but she didn't. She pulled a vial of holy water from her belt and threw it. The demon shrieked, feeling the water burn, but in the rain, the effect wouldn't last long. Ty took her chance and kicked at the girl. The demon was faster and yanked her down on the pavement with a loud slam.
"Tyler?" someone yelled from behind her.
Ty looked up to see Father Harper standing in the doorway. She saw the demon turn too. Ty quickly got to her feet and grabbed the girl, shoving her against the car. The demon only smiled at her.
"The pretty little Fallen that can't save anyone," the girl jeered as she smiled at Ty.
"I told you to go back to Hell!"
"After you."
The demon smiled and grabbed Ty by the shoulder and threw her against the back wall of the church. Ty felt the back of her head hit the bricks. She sank to the ground and looked up in time to see the demon going toward Father Harper. She forced her body up, but the muddle in her head and the slick pavement made it impossible to stay up. She fell down and began to crawl. Her vision was blurred but she could hear everything that was happening. Loud, echoing, painful screams filled the air. Then she heard another type of scream. It wasn't a human in pain. It was a demon crying. She raised her head to see what was happening. Two figures stood close Father Harper. One was coming toward her but she never got a clear picture of who it was before she slipped into blackness.
