Chapter Ten

The drive over to the Gables was accomplished in a matter of minutes and without incident. in the rearview mirror, TJ saw Jody rub her forehead, probably out of pain and in frustration. TJ felt Kermit's gaze turn in his direction. He said, "So, the vehicles run fine as long as we are headed to the Gables?"

TJ nodded.

Kermit continued, "And if we went passed it without stopping?"

"The Suburban's engines would have stopped and not started again," TJ answered in a quiet tone, with a hint of his own frustration.

"Shit," Jody said finally.

An eerie silence settled over the group as TJ turned onto the road leading to the Gables. Kermit finally spoke up again. "Marilyn, I did some additional research once I got home from our weekend fun and I warn you, this won't give you any warm fuzzies. Your home was built over a site where a large coven of witches once worshiped. Ultimately, they were burned at the stake, back in the late 1700's."

Marilyn shivered and clasped Kermit's hand tightly. "That's something I could have waited to hear until after I have Mitch back safe and sound."

For an instant, Kermit looked stricken with guilt, but before he could speak, TJ interrupted, "Sorry, Marilyn, that might not be information you want to hear, but it's certainly something I needed to know. Any other tidbits like that one, Kermit?"

Kermit's voice was low. "Oh yeah," he paused, glancing in Marilyn's direction and sighed, "There have been reports of hauntings on this property ever since then. And speak of the devil... "

Kermit's voice dropped off as they approached the Gables from the winding driveway, its architectural profile both familiar and foreboding. No one spoke as they all looked at the building in an entirely different light.

TJ couldn't help but notice how the hollow glimmer of moonlight only added frightening shadows to the Gables' parapets and sharp angles, all places where creatures of the dark could lie in wait.

They exited the Suburban and gathered at the rear of the vehicle as TJ began to pull out items he'd packed earlier. He issued instructions to the different detectives on what to do with each piece of equipment.

Marilyn stood, silently watching them work with growing agitation, and then she put her hands on her hips. "Are we just going to stand around here or are we going to find Mitch?"

The others defaulted to TJ. He took Marilyn's hand, looking deep into her dark eyes so reminiscent of Kermit's on the rare occasions he'd actually seen them. "We have to prepare before entering the devil's den."

Marilyn's frantic gaze sought out Kermit, who reached out to embrace her as she whispered, "But – but she's just a child. She doesn't understand what's happening. We've got to get her back."

Kermit held her for a moment before pulling away. "We will get her back, Marilyn. We will bring her back safely to you. I swear we will if it's the last thing we do."

Marilyn's eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to lose either one of you."

"You won't. I'm too ornery for them to want to keep me for very long," he whispered in her ear as he took her into his arms again.

Peter moved up behind TJ, speaking low so Marilyn couldn't hear him. "It's too damned quiet out there. Something's going to happen soon."

TJ nodded. "We're as armed as we can be. You take the shotgun. You're a better shot than I am and Kermit can't handle it with his broken arm. Jody, Kermit, and I will use the handguns with silver bullets. All of you will carry flasks of holy water and crucifixes."

"What will you carry?" Peter asked, picking up on what TJ wasn't mentioning.

Avoiding a direct answer, TJ said, "I've got a gun."

Peter smirked. "Yeah, but that's not all."

TJ sighed. "Yes, a gun and a crucifix... and a hell of a lot of prayers. Speaking of which."

He motioned to the others. "Gather around me."

The others did as requested, waiting on him with curiosity.

"I'm going to recite the Prayer of St Michael the Archangel. Follow with me. St Michael the Archangel defend us in the battle."

They obediently repeated his words. He continued, "Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil."

Again, they said the words he'd said.The next bit took longer, but they managed. "May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do Thou, oh Prince of the Most Heavenly Host, by the Divine power of God, cast into hell, Satan and all evil spirits who wander throughout the world for the ruin of souls."

He finished with, "Amen."

"Amen."

Taking a deep breath, TJ said, "Now, Peter, from what you were telling me earlier, what you called the gateway to hell was a door at the base of the staircase on the left-hand side as you faced the stairs?"

Peter nodded. "Yeah, that's right."

"And the other entrance you and your father used was accessed from the attic?"

Again, Peter nodded. "Yeah."

TJ turned to Kermit. "The hallway where you were accosted by the demons was downstairs leading to the basement?"

Kermit nodded once, pulling away from Marilyn.

TJ looked at her. "Any other entrances or openings that you saw the demons use?"

Marilyn wiped away her tears and shook her head. "No, I never saw anything like that until the door flew open and the demons pulled that murderer back in with them. After that, everything stopped."

Her eyes teared again as traces of panic began to echo in her voice. "At least – at least, that's what I thought. Oh my poor baby, what is happening to her while we stand around talking?"

She began to sob, pulling away to head for the house. TJ stopped her by taking one arm, and Jody took the other. "Why don't we just go in there and get her? Why wait?" she asked, her tone becoming more desperate.

TJ's expression turned dark. "I've heard it said like this, 'It is easy to go down into Hell; night and day, the gates of dark death stand wide; but to climb back again, to retrace one's steps to the upper air-there's the rub, and the task.'"

TJ looked deeply into her eyes. "I want to make sure everyone can get back out once we have her."

Jody stepped back, allowing Kermit in to comfort his sister again. Marilyn folded into his arms and cried.

Peter ran a hand through his hair. Agitation now fueled his movements. Peter glanced over at TJ and whispered, "What's our odds of getting out of this thing alive?"

TJ merely shrugged, his tone now quiet as he explained, "One cannot discount a gathering of demons. They come and go of their own accord. The soul of the murderer they took at the climax of the events this weekend, namely a living soul of evil, apparently wasn't enough to satisfy their hunger. But all of that amplified when one of their own went missing. They are restless. They are angered and want satisfaction. They want you, Peter, and Mitch. You two are the only payment they are seeking."

Kermit stepped forward. "Well, they will just have to keep on shopping. Peter and Mitch are NOT going with them – not if I have anything to do with it."

TJ nodded his head. "Then, it's time to get moving."

He caught Kermit's eye and held it for a long moment. Kermit took Marilyn to the driver's door of the Suburban. "Marilyn, honey, you are our ace-in-the-hole," he started, but she interrupted him before he could finish.

"Oh, no, you don't. You aren't going to make me stay in the car, out of harm's way, while you risk – "

"Marilyn!" Kermit shouted so abruptly that everyone, including Marilyn, went silent. He lowered his voice and gently rubbed her arm. "Marilyn, you have to do this. If we don't make it out, you need to go for help. TJ left phone numbers on the dashboard of the car of people you can call, people who know how to handle situations like this."

Marilyn shook her head, obviously rejecting the information Kermit was telling her, but he kept on talking to her, low and steady. Minutes of resistance passed, but then she finally agreed. She brought a hand to his cheek. "You just make sure you bring her back, along with yourself and the rest of these good people. You make sure you do that," she said with a trembling voice.

Kermit merely nodded and TJ wondered if Kermit wasn't speaking because he didn't trust his voice to conceal the depth of his current emotion. In the end, it didn't really matter; words weren't necessary for the one final embrace he gave Marilyn before they headed toward the house.

oOoOoOoOo

Peter waited for the others outside the front door, working hard to suppress the fear building inside of him. He rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. The fear rumbling inside him was strong enough to shut down all thoughts if he allowed it to worm a foothold in his head.

But there was a little girl trapped inside this house – a little girl without anyone to watch out for her or tell her everything was going to be okay. For that reason, and that reason alone, he was going to walk into the lion's den and face the worst of his own fears.

Jody joined him, lightly brushing her hand against his good arm. "You didn't use that arm sling Marilyn made for you for very long," she chided.

Peter frowned, complaining without looking in her direction, "I can't move very much with that thing on."

"That's the whole idea, Einstein, to take the pressure off your injured shoulder."

"It's too confining," he grumbled, giving her a defiant stare. "So I tossed it."

Jody responded by giving him a dismissive shrug. "Whatever."

She turned toward the house and shuddered. "This is it, isn't it, partner?" Her voice was now low with trepidation.

"Yeah, this is what separates the men from the boys," he said, attempting a little humor to lighten the moment.

Jody played along, shifting moods as quickly as he had and chuckled. "Well, that lets me off the hook. Women are much tougher than any man or boy. We've always had to be in order to survive. So, see ya!" she said with a wave goodbye.

She stopped and turned when Peter didn't call her back. "Hey, that was a joke."

Peter still didn't react, prompting her to lean into his line of sight. "I can't leave now, or I never will get the respect I want at work. Just imagine Royshack's face when I tell him I've faced down the demons of hell."

She waved a hand in front of his face. "Hello? That was another joke... Man, I must be losing my touch."

Peter turned to her, his gaze hoping to reach through her humor enough to understand the gravity of their situation. He took her hand in his as he began speaking in a low, grim tone, injecting as much caring and concern as he could.

"Jody, you don't have to do this. You weren't here this weekend. You don't have family involved. You don't an emotional stake in what's going on. You don't even know what you'll be facing. I won't hold it against you if you just walk away and join Marilyn in the car."

Peter wasn't prepared for the eruption of fury that came from her. "I don't have an emotional stake in what's going on? Like hell I don't! You're my partner. Kermit's my friend. You completely toss away the importance of that friendship and our partnership when you say bullshit like that, so don't ever do it again!"

She leaned close enough for Peter to see the rage sparking in her eyes and poked him in the chest with a pointed finger. "I'm going and that's it."

Peter swallowed, and then nodded. "Okay."

"Damned straight," Jody threw back at him and took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Jody?" Peter asked as he heard TJ and Kermit approaching them. "If we get cornered by evil demons threatening to take our eternal souls, promise me you'll give them the look you just gave me. That'll send them screaming back into hell and they'll never come back again."

Jody started chuckling, and then shook her head. She reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "It's a promise."

"Enough fraternizing among the ranks. It's time to get to work," Kermit said.

"Got that right," Peter whispered to himself.

Jody must have noticed Kermit's quiet demeanor, because she asked, "What are you thinking about, Kermit?"

Kermit never shifted his gaze as he recited a passage, "'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out contagion to this world.' Hamlet. Very appropriate for our situation."

"Well, hell better be careful," Peter said as he stepped forward, "because this contagion is about to kick hell's demonic ass."

oOoOoOoOo

TJ pushed the front door open and waited for an attack. When nothing came, he proceeded inside. The other three followed behind him with weapons drawn. It was so quiet, they weren't even breathing, or so it seemed.

Peter watched TJ as he moved cautiously ahead; one hand holding a crucifix, the other holding a gun. There was some sort of twisted irony in that image, but the significance escaped Peter at that moment. TJ had his duffle bag slung over one shoulder with the zippered opening easily accessible if needed.

"Keep your eyes open, people. The demons will try any way possible to distract, and then attack. Nothing is above what they will do to cause you to hesitate. They could even go so far as to tempt you over to their side. Just remember we're here to save Mitch and that's it. Keep at least one of us in your sight at all times."

TJ had barely finished speaking when a low rumbling started in the wall next to them. The sound's momentum swirled around and through the walls, picking up speed in a whirlwind of sound and hysteria.

It sounded like a runaway freight train speeding through the night, Peter thought, and he jumped when the front door slammed shut behind him, even though he was prepared for trouble. He ventured a glance at his companions, noting the different degrees of fright in all of them.

Grinding his teeth against the flare of pain the jumping movement caused his shoulder, he kept his eyes open for more trouble. Just like the others were doing. Peter broke open the shotgun, checking the half-dozen specially made silver-riddled shells that were loaded into the shotgun, ready for action just in case the need arose.

The rumbling in the walls stopped, and then the sound of footsteps began. Distant at first, they grew louder as each measured step moved towards them. TJ shook his head, tiring of the theatrics, and then gestured for the others to start splintering off to search the adjoining rooms.

While everyone obeyed TJ's orders and stayed within visual sight of one another, the fact they were splitting up still disturbed Peter. He knew time was of the essence and they could search the house faster by dividing into teams. it didn't change the fact he wasn't going to relax until they were out of the damned house and handing Mitch back into Marilyn's waiting arms.

As soon as Peter entered the living room, a child began to cry. Spinning around, he looked for Mitch, assuming the crying child was Mitch. He couldn't see her, but the sound of her tears was so real, it unnerved him.

"Mitch?" he called out, "Mitch, can you hear me, honey?"

The crying became more frantic, compelling Peter to search the room more closely. He looked behind each nook and cranny, but there still no sign of her. He glanced across the hallway and saw Jody exiting the kitchen.

"All clear," she called out and waved to him.

He nodded to her and starting walking out of the living room to join her when the crying turned into crazed laughter. The walls around Peter started dripping with blood and the laughter became more evil, more deadly. Peter looked up and one wall began to bleed the words, "PETER IS MINE!"

Peter shuddered and was starting to back away when Jody screamed a warning. He spun around in time to see a chair flying through the air, heading his way. He dove to one side, just in time to watch the chair slam into the wall. He rolled out of the dive, coming up ready for more trouble, ignoring the fire raging in his shoulder from the movement.

When nothing else happened, except the appearance of Jody and TJ, he sagged against the wall.

"Peter?" Jody asked, walking towards him.

He waved her back to the search. "I'm fine, just banged my shoulder," he said breathlessly.

Jody shook her head as she looked around the room. "Partner, there's bleeding walls that say 'PETER IS MINE!' and all you have to say is 'I'm fine'. That's bullshit!"

Peter straightened, preparing to argue with her when TJ stepped in. He stared hard at Peter. "You are to stay with me at all times. They have just made their announcement. They'll go for you once they gain possession of Mitch."

Peter swallowed and nodded. He wasn't going to argue with their resident expert on evil. He followed TJ out of the room, but couldn't help a few backward glances to make sure all was still quiet. His neck still burned like crazy, but he hadn't mentioned it to TJ or the others. They had enough on their minds.

As he emerged from the room, Kermit was standing on the bottom step of the staircase leading to the upper levels of the house, waiting for them to join him. When TJ paused in muted concentration, Jody and Kermit automatically stood on guard, waiting for him to indicate the next step.

TJ still had his eyes closed, but he tightened his grip on the large crucifix in his hand and began a slow 360-degree circle, before moving it up in the air, and then down again.

TJ's eyes flew open and he pointed down the long hallway to the rear of the house. They froze in place as Mitch walked across their field of vision, giving no notice that she was aware they were even there. In a zombie-like fashion, she moved slowly and without reaction, apparently on some unknown mission into the basement.

"Mitch!" Kermit shouted and started after her.

TJ grabbed Kermit by the arm and stopped him, shaking his head only once. He put a finger to his lips, indicating silence, and then whispered, "We'll follow her, because it's what they want, but try not to awaken her if it can be avoided. Once she realizes what's happening, she'll panic and I don't want to be dealing with a hysterical child while also battling the dark forces."

Kermit nodded in reluctant agreement. They fell in step behind TJ. Peter gave Kermit a long sideways glance and could tell the ex-merc was ready to cut loose on someone or something with both barrels.

Peter let a small sigh of relief escape. He doubted the forces of hell realized what they'd unleashed by making Kermit so angry. That thought comforted Peter even as the flames in the lanterns diminished to a fraction of what had once been.

"Time to lock and load," Kermit muttered.

Oh yeah, Peter thought, It's way past time for that. Now, if we can just get heaven's blessing for what is about to happen, we might just make it out of here alive.

oOoOoOoOo