Last night I had a sore throat. Today, it became a full-blown cold. Please patient with me.
Chapter Four:
Simms quickly recovered Spencer's chest as she heard the rushing of footsteps. Two nurses appeared.
"Someone should check on the policy regarding those 'shatter-proof' windows," she said casually.
"Dr. Reid, you're awake!" one of the nurses whose nametag read "Beth" said with delight.
"I'll page Dr. Regis," the other said.
"Let's get you into another room and in a clean gown," Beth said. "Why don't you agents go to the main waiting area while we get him cleaned up? Someone'll tell you when we've found a new room for him."
The dark-haired female agent put a hand on Spencer's arm.
"We'll be right back," she said.
Reid nodded, and the nurses went to work as they left.
They filed into the main waiting area where other people sat. It seemed that the agents understood that what they just saw was not something to be discussed in public. They sat in silence and waited.
Forty-five minutes later, Dr. Regis appeared jubilant and beckoned them all to follow him.
After taking two lefts and a right they ended up in Spencer's new room. He looked like he was in much better shape and waved slightly when they came in.
"It looks like he responded to the beta blockers much better than expected," Regis said. "I expect he'll make a full recovery, though I don't recommend any strenuous activity for two weeks."
"I'll be sure to arrange that," the dark-haired female agent said.
"I plan on discharging you tomorrow morning," Regis said to Reid and then turned to the team. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like."
"Thanks," she said.
Simms watched Regis leave and then turned to the agents.
"I know you have a lot of questions, but first, can I get your names?"
"I thought you'd be able to read our minds and find that out," the older man with graying hair said.
She stifled a sigh. "Okay, let's start with a basic magic lesson then. Magic is not a reliable tool. It takes time, practice, effort, and a little luck to work."
"You seemed pretty powerful when that demon thing attacked Spence," the blond woman said.
"That's because, I was able to harness the magic of the demon and use it against him."
"What did you put on Reid's chest to summon it to the surface?" a man of Hispanic descent asked.
"It is going to sound ridiculous, but it was just paprika. I could have used talcum powder if I wanted to, but paprika's warm color summons more energy."
"Why me?" Spencer asked quietly.
"It has been my experience that demons feed on energy of people who have an abundance of compassion," she said.
"You've done this before?" the dark-skinned woman asked.
She nodded. "I have had experience dealing with this sort of thing back in Los Angeles."
"Who are you?" Spencer asked with a slight edge to his voice.
"I am Ruby Simms, from Los Angeles," she said slowly. "I left the city after an ugly divorce to pursue a new life as a witch and fantasy novel editor here. The night I moved in next door to you, I could see almost every rotten thing that ever happened to you when I slept. I felt the presence of the demons feeding on your spirit. I hate to admit this, but I'm the reason the demons are manifesting this way."
Her voice shook slightly at the end.
"How?" he asked.
"The magic was mainly dormant in your body until I, a practitioner of magic, acted as a match. It's not that different from chemical reactions. I quite literally, set the demons off."
"How did you know where to find me?"
"I put a tracking charm on you once I realized what was going on," she said simply.
"Why was the demon speaking in Latin?" the dark-haired woman asked.
"I am guessing Spencer, you know Latin, and the older the language, the more power it carries."
"Yet you responded in English," the man with graying hair said.
"It takes power away from the demon," Simms said. "I wasn't going sink to its level."
"What was the word you used after you said the incantation?" the dark-skinned woman asked.
"It was an anagram of my full name backwards: Ruby Jane Simms."
"Why didn't you tell me demons were feeding on me?" Spencer asked.
"I didn't know how," she said sadly. "I really was planning on figuring out how to tell you at some point, but first I wanted to identify the demons, so I had a fully-formed explanation. I am not sure how you would have taken: 'Hi I'm Ruby, and I believe you're possessed by demons.' I was worried you would have thought I was crazy."
"I can see why you might have thought that," Spencer said. "But I wouldn't have."
"The last thing the demon said before it dissolved was: 'Others will come after me,'" the dark-haired woman said. "How many demons are in him?"
Simms sighed. "At least two."
"How could I not feel them?" Spencer asked, looking horrified. "What would have happened if you hadn't sparked them?"
"Most likely, they would have taken years off your life without knowing it," Simms said. "They might have also caused something that felt like depression as you got older. Making old memories and experiences feel worse is what they do best. The bloody sweat is something they do when they're agitated."
"What now?" the blond-haired woman asked.
"The next demon is going to take time preparing how to attack Spencer," Simms said. "I'm sorry to say this, but last one was easy. I am not exactly proud to say this, but the demon I destroyed wasn't expecting me to be so powerful. The next will be ready to face my attacks."
"I think we've spoken enough tonight," the dark-haired woman said. "We should all try to get some sleep."
"What will happen when I try?" Spencer asked.
"Nothing is going to try to hurt you tonight," Simms said. "The demons are currently in shock. We'll take it day by day to tomorrow."
"Just one unrelated question," the man of Hispanic descent said. "Is David Copperfield real?"
Simms laughed. "One: Women are more predisposed to possessing the ability to practice magic. Two: Magic doesn't work well in the presence of high-tech cameras, which is why there is so little recorded evidence of real magic."
"How did you develop your craft?" the blond-haired woman asked.
"My grandmother supposedly was a gifted witch. My mother could barely tap into the power and merely mimicked her and used standard illusionist tricks. I studied my grandmother's writings and joined a coven in college. There are a lot more nuances to the craft, but I think that is a decent start to explaining my powers."
The team began to make themselves comfortable in their chairs. Simms watched Spencer.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
"Even though I know your reasons for lying, I still wish you would have been honest with me," he said. "But I'll get past that eventually. Just give me time. We have demons to destroy."
"I understand," she said. "We'll get through this, I promise."
"I know," he said and closed his eyes.
"I'll do anything for you Spencer," Simms said in a soft whisper. "Anything."