Chapter eighteen

The Next morning Derek was taken to the airport by Erick and flew back to San Francisco.

Nick seemed to be in a cheerful mood and since Phillip preferred to be alone most of the time he and Kristin got to know each other better, and spent most of the time together exploring various areas of the small but beautiful country.

The demon did not show his face just yet, but Abi was sure he was gonna appear and soon.

The members of the house have all returned to their homes. They knew the demon would only strike once and at the only place that matters, the legacy house.

Friday Morning

On Friday morning Abi went to the hospital to release Ethaniel and bring him home.

"Good morning," she said cheerfully entering Ethaniel's room. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Hey Abi. I feel fine. Are they letting me out of here today?"

"Yes. I spoke to Dr. Gruner, she'll be here any second with your release papers, and we can go home."

"Thank you Abi," he said.

"For what?" she asked surprised.

"For all the help, for caring, for being here every day so I won't feel so alone. Just thank you for being my friend."

"You're most welcome old friend. I have to admit I don't know how I would have gotten along if you hadn't recovered. The house will not be the same with out you," she said sitting on the bed next to him holding his hands.

"Hey Lizi," she heard him say to the Dr. who came in.

"Morning Ethaniel. How are you feeling today?" asked the Dr.

"I'm great. I just want out. I wanna go home."

"Hi Abi." Greeted the Dr.

"Hi Lizi. By the way, as long as you're here, are you coming to dinner tonight?" asked Abi.

"Yes. I cleared my schedule, and I'll be happy to have dinner with you guys."

"Good," said Abi. "Can I take this guy home now?"

"Sure. You can leave just as soon as one of the nurses gets here with the wheelchair." She barely finished her sentence when a nurse rolled in a wheel chair.

Abi and the nurse helped Ethaniel into the chair and he was wheeled out to Abi's car. On the way they ran into Dr. Gordon.

"Hello Mrs. Adler," he greeted.

"Dr. Gordon, how are you?" asked Abi. She then remembered her invitation to dinner and asked, "Are you coming to dinner tonight?"

"Are you sure about that?" he asked.

"I wouldn't have asked you if I wasn't sure Dr. Gordon," said Abi.

"Then why don't you just call me Mooli, or Samuel like most people do?"

"Ok, Mooli it is. I'll see you later then." She waved at him and went on with the nurse and Ethaniel to her car. Once out, they helped him in the car and soon were driving home.

"Abi, is everything ok?" asked Ethaniel since she was silent. They usually talked about all kinds of things when together.

"I'm ok Ethaniel. Just have a few things on my mind," she said smiling at him.

"Anything I can do to help?"

"I'm afraid not. Not this time anyway. Just some personal stuff I'm going through. Thoughts and feeling I need to sort out," she replied.

"Ok," he said. "Just remember I'm here for you."

"I know. By the way, I noticed you called the Dr. Lizi. Is there something you wanna tell me about?" she asked.

"Well. She is really nice. When you were not here, she spent all her spare time with me. We talked a lot and gotten to know each other. She is from Los Angeles as well. We seem to have a lot in common."

"You like her?" asked Abi.

"I think so. I really would like to spend more time with her. And I know, you'll probably wanna check her out before things get to serious."

"I'm sorry Ethaniel. It is a necessity in our line of work," answered Abi.

"I know. I don't mind. You do what needs to be done. Just please don't make me do it. And I don't want to know anything you find out unless…. Well you know."

"Ok. I'll ask Eti and Erick to do the background check this time," said Abi.

When they got to the house Erick and Nick were waiting for them outside, and as soon as Abi stopped the car, they rushed over to help Ethaniel.

"Hey guys, I'm not an invalid you know. I can walk," he said a bit amused.

"We know. But you were seriously wounded. You need to take it easy, and we are here to help," said Erick giving his friend a big but gentle hug.

The two men supported him as he walked slowly inside the house. He saw the wheel chair Abi got to help him get around until he will be able to walk by himself, and sat in it. Abi signaled him to follow her.

"We converted this study into a temporary bedroom for you," she said as she showed him the room.

"Thanks for all the trouble guys," he said.

"You are welcome," said Erick and Abi at the same time. They looked at each other and started laughing. Things seemed to be getting back to normal around the house. Abi left the three men alone and headed back to her office. She knew the staff was working on preparing the dinner and from experience, knew she had nothing to worry about. She sat at her desk and called Ben.

"Hi Abi," he said as he picked up the receiver.

"Hi Ben. I just called to remind you about dinner tonight. Please come home early. Don't be late," she asked of him.

"Honey its Friday. I only work half day today remember?" he said grinning.

"Oh, yes. I forgot," she said laughing. "Ok then. I'll see you later."

"Bye sweetie," he said and hung up the phone.

Abi sat in her office and felt unease for some reason. She couldn't say what was bothering her. She went into the control room and from there into the vault. She went in and picked up the crystal pyramid. She had no idea why but she felt she needs it to be by her side.

Dinner time 7PM

Abi and Ben were the first to come down. Soon after Kristin Nick and Phillip joined them. Erick, Eti and their spouses joined shortly after. That only left Ethaniel.

"Ben, would you go check on Ethaniel? See if he needs help getting dressed or something," asked Abi.

Ben did and a few minutes later came back rolling Ethaniel in his wheelchair.

"Ok. All we have to do is wait for our two guests and then we can get started," said Abi.

Not long after that, Dr. Samuel Gordon has arrived accompanied by Dr. Lizi Gruner.

"I didn't know you two are coming together," said Abi.

"We didn't. We met outside," said Lizi.

Abi introduced the guests to the rest of the people and they all headed into the dining room.

Ethaniel noticed that Abi arranged the table so Lizi would sit next to him. Dr. Gordon was sitting between Ben and Nick, Phillip and Kristin sitting next to the latter. The rest set each next to his spouse.

Abi started off dinner by making a toast. "I would like us all to make a toast to Ethaniel. Thank you for coming back old friend. Here's to your health," she said and everyone raised their glass and drank to that.

After that they all sat down and the staff, headed by Edna started serving dinner. The mood was good and everyone was talking and laughing. The food was excellent as Abi expected it to be. She knew Edna would not fail her.

After the dinner dishes were cleared. Coffee and teapots were served. So were the deserts. The group continued their amusing conversation.

Abi moved her leg closer to Ben's and felt the presence of the pyramid she hid under the table earlier.

Edna came in and looked at the group of people and asked, "Is everything ok? Is there anything someone would like?"

"No thank you Edna. We are fine. You can go home now if you like," said Abi smiling, then turned back to the people around her.

Edna stood there for a minute and then approached Abi.

Abi raised her head. "Edna is everything ok?" she asked.

"Everything is fine bitch. Now die," said Edna and wrapped her hands around Abi's neck, pulling her from the chair to a standing position.

Surprised, Abi tried to fight the woman as hard as she could, but she was caught hard, and was feeling rather helpless.

Ben got up and tried to release his wife from Edna's grip, but she threw him across the room as if he was a rag doll.

Nick took out his gun and shot the older woman, but it didn't seem to affect her. She suddenly let go of Abi, throwing her against the wall. Abi hit the wall and fell down to the floor.

Dr. Gordon rushed over to help Abi. "What the hell is going on here?" he asked.

"That is not house keeper," said Abi. "That is a demon."

"A demon. You must be kidding. This is an outraged woman who lost her balance," said Mooli.

"What ever gets you through Mooli," said Abi. "Ben, the pyramid," she called out.

Ben crawled under the table, where he knew Abi hid the pyramid. He grabbed it and then gathered the rest around him. Phillip kept praying through it all.

Ben stood next to Ethaniel, calling out to Philip and Nick. "Guys, we must hold the pyramid as Abi showed us before. And so they did.

The pyramid started glowing.

The demon was enraged now. The pyramid made him lose his human form and he appeared to all in his true look. It looked gruesome. It had three horns on its ugly red and black face. He had long claws, and it was tall, very tall. Its eyes were red and shiny. When he turned around you saw its back and long tail were covered with sharp fins.

"No wonder he likes to shape shift," said Abi.

"Oh my god," said Mooli.

"Oh god, what is this thing?" cried out Lizi.

Erick got up from his sit, seeing the demon was heading towards Abi again, and attacked it from behind with a knife that he saw on the dinner table. The demon was not affected by this attack. He just shook Erick off with no effort.

Abi tried to get up with Mooli's help to get away from the demon, but neither one of them moved fast enough. He grabbed Abi by the neck again and turned around to face the others in the room.

"Now you will watch her die," it said and threw her against the wall once more. Abi felt as if she was hit by a track. She was barely able to move. Mooli who was still standing there helped her up to her feet.

"Not dead yet you bitch," said the demon approaching her again. "I will kill you and your children. I will destroy you and your unborn child, and then I'll destroy your precious father. There will be no more Rayne's to interrupt me."

Abi reached her hand behind her back and under her sleeve, out of the demons sight. She pulled the gold dagger she had. With what power she had left in her, she threw the dagger at the demon.

The dagger hit his shoulder, and it was the first time since the attack started that the demon showed any signs of pain.

"Now guys," she called out to Ben and the others.

They all raised up the pyramid as high as they could. Lizi and Mooli rushed over and helped Ethaniel stand up, supporting his weight with their bodies.

The pyramid started glowing again.

Abi stood up in front of the demon her back towards the men holding the crystal. She started walking backwards, "You want me you big ugly thing," she said, "Then come and get me."

She moved back farther and farther the demon following her. She stood in the middle of the men's group underneath the pyramid. The demon laughed.

"Do you think I'm that stupid?" he asked.

"No," said abi seeing Erick and Eti moving behind the demon. She stepped a little farther leaving the circle when Erick and Eti ran towards the demon pushing him into the circle. The light from the pyramid spread a little when the demon stood under it. He started screaming in pain and anguish. Then suddenly he disappeared.