Yay, chapter 10. We're certainly getting a move on! OH and I'd love to thank everyone who takes times for a review.
I've gotten so many emails about how my readers are practically begging for the next chapter. On that note, I'm sorry it's
taken so long; I've had the stress of exams and what not, but I passed all of my courses, so expect chapters much sooner. :)
Chapter 10: In Suis Manibus IV
Kathryn and Martin sat in the kitchen as Dr. Rutherford looked over the pages of her childhood diary and viewed the recordings on the laptop in the living room. He insisted that he had solitude while studying the footage, obviously not wanting any disturbances as he worked. Both teens assumed he was one of those people whose minds could only operate well in total silence.
Within a matter of minutes, the Demonolgist's faint footsteps could be heard approaching the kitchen before he stopped by the door, glancing at the two of them, "Come."
The two teenagers paced behind him before they sat down on the leather couches. They merely sat together without a word being spoken between them as Dr. Rutherford drummed his fingers against the armrests, staring idly at the floor.
"..I suppose the demon requested for you call it Adra because at the time you were only a child, and you probably wouldn't have been able to pronounce his name." He said bluntly, almost to himself in thought whilst still in his trance.
"His name?" Martin inquired slowly, sparing a look to the brunette across from him, "I thought his name was Adra."
Dr. Rutherford finally averted his sight to the brunette near him who sat attentively, "No.." He began, "Though I'm simply… Shocked, to say the least."
Done with beating around the bush, Marty pressed, "So, what is the demon's actual name?"
A moment passed before Terry sighed exasperatedly and caressed his temples, feeling a slow tortuous ache coming on, "Adramelech is his full name, and he is an Arch demon of Hell in Christian mythology. The name literally means 'King of Fire'."
The mere sound of the name radiated with menace. She shivered as she felt the temperature in the atmosphere change slightly, "Adramelech..?" Kathryn murmured, allowing the syllables to roll off her tongue.
"I'm baffled," Dr. Rutherford exhaled tensely as he reclined into the seat, "Why would the demon go so far as to shorten it's own name for a child to be able to pronounce it? Why even bother telling you its name? It isn't common for demons to relentlessly attempt to converse with mortal lives…"
Shaking his head, he continued on, "When you retold of all the specific occurrences around the house, I created a checklist to slim down the possibilities of whom this demon might be, and most unfortunately, the demon following you happens to be Adramelech."
"Unfortunately? I understand any sort of haunting is horrible, but you're speaking as though there is something peculiar with thisdemon." Marty inquired as he leant forwards in the seat.
Sighing, Dr. Rutherford glanced at the blonde teen briefly before looking to Kathryn, "... The fact that youare still alive is a miracle. Throughout history, Adramelech is known to have a sporadic temper, more so than most demonic entities. I would have never thought he would follow someone for as long as he has with you; since your very first days of life until now. Eighteen years, am I right?"
She nodded, cradling her head in her hands, "Please Doctor, you have to help me.. I'm having hallucinations of things that I know cannot be real. I feel like I am going mad.."
The older male laced his fingers together, "The reason you're hearing and seeing these things is most likely because they arereal, Kathryn. This stage is very difficult for most to grasp. The things you once thought could not be reality have become the reality. Do you understand my meaning?"
"Yes.." She whispered soundly, trying to absorb the situation.
"We still don't know why Adramelech wants Kathryn, or what the strange language on the notebook means." Martin spoke up suddenly.
Dr. Rutherford took the heavily marred notebook from off the coffee table to examine it quickly before showing it to the teens, "The words numquam noceo are in Latin, a fairly abandoned language, one of which most entities use to converse. The phrase means, 'to never do harm to' or 'to never inflict injury upon'…"
"Never do harm to?" Marty repeated, entirely puzzled at the hidden message, "What in the hell does that mean? I thought the only thing demons ever did was reign havoc on human lives."
The demonologist set the book down before drumming his fingertips against the armrest again, "Exactly. The only conclusion I can come to is that Adramelech wishes to befriend Kathryn again, now that she is old enough and capable enough to comprehend him. Demons can trick those who they follow, and lead them into a state of safety and security. Those words that were written by him were most definitely an aim to beguile Kathryn."
She felt insane for even considering the thought that arose in her mind, yet she still burned to ask it. "What if it was possible?" She drawled, "What if it truly has no wish to hurt me?"
Dr. Rutherford's expression changed due to her naivety of the situation. His voice took a slight stern tone to it, "Try to comprehend this demon, Kathryn. I don't know why Adramelech has been watching you for as long as he has, but I will do my absolute best to find what he seeks from you and relinquish you from this demon." He said, reassuringly, "All I ask is that you remain positive and strong in the process."
At that, she felt rather... Hollow. An indescribable feeling ebbed into her as she slowly nodded her head before looking away.
If there were never a time when she felt so alone and helpless in the world as this moment, now would be one..
.
Dr. Rutherford had left several hours ago, taking copies of the recorded footage with him. He said that he would call either Kathryn or Martin when he had discovered more about Adramelech and his intentions. Her parents had returned later that day as well, and Martin was preparing to go home to see his own parents. She pleaded that he say one more night, but he explained that he had a seminar to complete on viral diseases. After seeing the crystalline tears building by the corners of her hazel eyes, he promised that as soon as his seminar was completed, he would return to see how she was fairing. Martin said that if she was frightened or if something had happened, she was to either call him or keep a log and write down what had scared her. If things became unbearable, then he advised her to leave the house for a while.
She sat solemnly at the kitchen table, staring her reflection though the glass tabletop and listening to the sizzle from the frying pan which her mother currently hovered over, "So...!" Her mother chirped while she cooked supper for the family, "How was your time with Martin?"
Kathryn's eyes slid to her mother, but she chose not to bother with a reply just yet. While sitting at the kitchen table, it dawned on her that she had to be aware of everything going on in the house now, and simply couldn't relax with the tension that was building up on her, "It was fine."
She didn't plan on telling neither her mother nor father about what was happening. A part of her felt that it would be less of a burden in the household if her parents weren't aware. She didn't want to put this kind of stress on either of them, and hoped that nothing by chance would happen to them until Dr. Rutherford returned.
"Just fine?" Kathryn heard her mother snicker from the stove, "I would've thought that it would be more than just fine. I think you and Martin would make a lovely pair.."
Frowning, the brunette couldn't imagine herself with someone like Martin. True, he was an excellent friend; always coming to help her if she needed it, or always there for her if she wanted someone to talk to. But.. Viewing him as anything more than that? Unlikely..
Her mother grabbed a steel pot from the cabinet before setting it under the tap, "Think about it, darling! If I were your age, I would certainly have feelings for someone like your friend Marty. That is, if I hadn't met your father at that time.." She laughed a bit before turning to look at her daughter, "I think he could make you very happy, sweetheart. And maybe even one day, you could have children with tufts of thick blonde hair! How cute!"
Kathryn was about to retort when something nudged against her arm. She turning to look at her arm, and saw that nothing was there. In fact, nothing was even remotely near by that could have moved against her. Seconds later, a set of the dinner plates that were resting on top of the counter were thrown to the floor, shattering into thousands of pieces. The cooking meal in the frying pan, which had been set on a low temperature, had suddenly burst into scorching flames before smothering themselves out as quickly as they came.
Her mother had moved away from the stove, but was now staring at the area where the roaring fire had once been, her expression blank.
The brunette knew that what had just happened was certainly the work of Adramelech and his wild temper. Setting the frying pan into flames when he was the so claimed 'King of Fire'?
Kathryn glanced over at her mother, who had remained stoic the entire time, "Mom..? Are you alright?" She stood up from her seat and carefully approached her mother, not wanting to step on the broken pieces of dinnerware or startle the woman, "Did you get hurt?"
She gently rested a hand against her mother's shoulder, only for the woman to jolt at the sudden touch and avert her gaze to her concerned daughter. Her mother smiled, quite clearly false, "Oh.. Yes, I'm fine honey.." She turned to look at the mess of dishes on the tile floor, "Perhaps I should sweep this up now, hm?" A laugh emitted from her, but it was strained.
As her mother began to clean the remains of the plates, Kathryn took the cooking meal off the still hot burner and set it onto a cooler one, all the while wondering what had her mother so spooked. She had been staring intently at the hot flames, which was rather odd, in Kathryn's perspective. Shouldn't someone stand away if they come remotely close to fire, as a natural reflex? It was odd; her mother only took a single step back in the very least.
Then it dawned on her. Could her mother be aware of what is going on in the house…?
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I think you pronounce it like : Ah-Drah-Mel-Leck . I'm not quite sure though. If you have any other suggestions as to how you would pronounce the name, add it in a review or PM me. I'd love to know how you would say it. :)