Chapter 25

Sheana

Kyle had found something. It was an e-mail, cockily signed straight from Damien. It was intended to be cryptic, but we figured it out quickly. We planted holy water and crucifixes in Pip's house, hoping that it would be enough to keep Damien out if he is really who he claims to be.

We decide to take it in turns to shadow Pip, knowing that we will be far more suspicious if we do it as a group. Gregory had contacted the Guild and told them we had found a job, but we needed a few extra cars. They sent us a black Mustang, a silver Avenger and a red Civic. I choose to drive the Mustang. I park outside Pip's apartment in the early morning and wait until noon before he leaves. I duck down so that he can't see me as he passes. I wait a few moments then begin to follow him. He walks the long way into town, on the backroads. I curse when he cuts through the forest, knowing that I can't drive through. I grab my phone and the keys then get out of the car and begin to follow him down the dirt road, keeping my distance all the while. It seems strange that he is taking this road, but I soothe myself by reasoning that he probably wanted a bit of fresh air and to take in the scenary. It was a pretty place despite all the crazy shit that had been happening since we arrived here. My feet start to ache pretty soon. This road is a lot longer than I thought it would be, and the bramble is getting thicker the further into the woods we go, reaching out to me with its jagged ends. I sometimes wish I had rejected Gregory and Christophe's offer and stayed in England. I could have found a good paying job in London without having to deal with literal demons. I know how to kill a person, not some kind of paranormal being. The path begins to curve up in a steep hill and I grumble quietly under my breath as I climb it, even though it makes me more breathless. I don't know how I'm getting so exhausted. I have been trained to be able to vacate an exploding building within a minute, trained in almost every fighting style that exists (or so it seems), and to scale walls and fences within seconds, yet I am defeated by a stupid hill. With that thought, I feeling of unease washes over me. What kind of powers does this Damien guy have? Maybe its being close to a demon that's doing this. I shake my head to rid myself of fear and continue climbing. If it is an antichrist he is going all the way out here to meet, all the better for us. We can get more information. I make it to the top of the hill and manage to duck down before they see me. I peer over the top of the mound and watch as Pip crosses over the clearing and catches Damien in a hug.

"I'm sorry." he says, and I am close enough to hear. "It must have been Kenny or Kyle, they are helping them."

"As long as we can still meet." the other says, then his red eyes harden. "But you didn't follow your orders."

"I'm sorry, Master." Pip simpers.

"I told you to make Bridgette DeLorn your next victim, and you failed me." he hisses, and my heart drops.

Christophe's mother?

"I couldn't." Pip says falling to his knees. "The place is filled with crucifixes and holy water. And that's where those vigilantes are staying."

"The vigilantes... The ones you mentioned earlier?"

Pip nods.

"They shouldn't be a problem. You took out the McCormick girl in front of them, did you not?"

"But it was the mother you sent me for." Pip argues. "The girl just got in the way. The demon took them by surprise."

Damien sighs, then turns away for a moment. He puts a hand to his head as if suffering a headache, then growls and turns back on his servant.

"I will forgive your mistakes." Damien snarls. "As long as you can help me get rid of those vigilantes. Without them, our path is clear."

"I can do that." Pip says, and my heart stops when his grey eyes flicker towards where I stand. "There's one there."

He points, and I run. I run as fast as my legs can carry me, but staying in such an evil being's presence for so long has exhausted me, and the antichrist is faster than light, and he has caught me in a vice grip before I can even make it to the bottom of the hill.

"Sheana, isn't it?" he hisses. "I know a lot about you."

Then I feel a dull blow hit my temple, and I see black.