Chapter Seven. #2
Luckily, they hit the salt circle, which protected us, and Merrick snatched several objects out of the air, or we might all have been skewered. The kitchen had taken five hours to seal, and the living room a further six. The sunroom had been a quick job, a mere four hours.
Now, as I wiped sweat from my brow, I battled for control of the foyer.
I’d already guessed the demon had its power base in the basement.
Slowly, we were trapping it. The demon was putting up a solid fight and showed no signs of weakening.
For five hours, I’d been trying to force its presence from here, but it met me at every turn.
I was tired, while it seemed to have limitless energy.
“Michelle,” Hugo said. “It’s time to rest.”
After twelve hours had passed, Phil, Connor, Jack, Merrick, and Hugo had all taken turns resting. For thirty-three hours now, I’d been awake. Hugo was right, I needed sleep. The energy drinks and bars weren’t working anymore.
“Just a couple of hours,” I said, yawning.
“At least five, Connor and I can hold it,” Hugo insisted.
I nodded and headed into the living room as Callum’s protégé’s voice rose in prayer.
◆◆◆
Forty hours.
I’d rested for five hours and rejoined Hugo in battle. We’d finally reached the basement, and the stench was awful. This was the basis of the demon’s power, as I’d expected.
“What’s dripping down the walls?” Phil exclaimed, filming.
“That’s not ectoplasm,” Connor stated, moving closer.
“It’s thick and black, like tar,” Jack contemplated as he scooped some samples up. Harry had sent bottles over for the ectoplasm and sent spares too.
“The camera’s still recording down here; it’s almost as if it wants to be seen,” Connor said.
“The demon’s overconfident,” Hugo stated.
“Should we call Callum in?” Connor asked.
“No. We have this. If we bring Callum in, weak from his own fight, the demon might use it against us somehow,” I replied.
I grabbed fresh supplies and started the exorcism.
Howls rang out through the basement as we began cleansing the area.
As we fought, the demon tried a multitude of tricks.
Shrieks and screams abounded, and shadows moved of their own accord.
The black substance thickened on the walls and spread. The basement door slammed shut as the demon sought to strengthen his influence. Hugo swung the incense as the others used the Holy Water and Dragon’s Blood.
The demon shoved forcefully with a surge of power, and all of us were flung away. We hit the floor and walls hard, and Jack yelped.
“This is disgusting!” he exclaimed, rolling away from the wall and the substance that now coated his clothes. I couldn’t blame him.
“Gah, the sewage smell again. That trick’s a bit old now,” Connor stated.
“Don’t tease the big meanie,” Jack retorted with a wince and a forced smile.
“Why not?” Connor asked.
I appreciated their trying to lighten the atmosphere, but the demon didn’t. It sent out another pulse of power, knocking us back down. Puffing my cheeks out, I struggled to my feet and held my cross out.
“In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I demand your name,” I yelled.
“I’m going to fuck you in every hole,” the demon hissed.
“Your name, spawn of Satan!” I cried.
“Take a red-hot poker and shove it in your cunt,” it replied.
“Charming,” Jack quipped, and his head snapped back. Shit, the demon had just punched him.
“Focus on me, I’m your foe!” I shouted.
“Slut of God. False priest. Whore of Babylon.”
“I command you to tell your name,” I ordered.
“I command you to strip and spread your legs.” The demon cackled.
Right, now we were on the sexual insult part of the programme. “By the power invested in me by God, give me your name!”
“Never, whore,” the demon responded. “I’ll eat you alive, starting with your liver.”
“I’ll send you back to hell,” I replied.
“Fuckin’ cunt.”
“Try to come up with some new insults. You demons are so repetitive,” I murmured and began praying again.
Something rattled in the corner, and a paint can flew toward me. I barely moved out of the way. Phil grunted as it grazed his hip, and he moved out of the way.
“Spread the salt, trap it down here,” I said.
“Already done that,” Hugo replied.
“Do it again, please; he’s up to something,” I responded as I glanced around.
I was shoved hard in the back, and Jack caught me. I rolled up my sleeves and prepared to fight.
◆◆◆
Eight hours later, I was reconsidering my decision to bring Callum in.
Connor and Hugo were napping, and Jack regarded me grimly.
This was no lesser demon, but he was weakening.
It was now a case of who weakened first—me or the demon.
Phil had managed to get the door open and wedged it so the demon couldn’t lock us in.
We’d all stripped down to tees and jeans as the demon turned the heat up.
I was soaked in sweat and needed a shower, a change of clothes, and a good night’s sleep. None of that looked likely.
“Give me your name!” I demanded once more. I felt like I should have that phrase recorded; I’d said it so often.
“Fuck you!”
“You’ll be so lucky,” I quipped.
A shadow moved, and I struck out with the crucifix. A pained squeal assaulted my ears, and I stared in disbelief. The cross had stabbed the demon. It formed in front of me, my crucifix forcing it to materialise. This was my chance.
“Your name! In the name of God, I command your name, foul creature!”
“Chax!” it screeched, and I blinked.
Finally!
“Chax?” Phil asked as he and Jack gazed over.
Hugo rose and approached the demon, who remained imprisoned by the cross. He quickly sprinkled a circle and stepped away.
“Chax is a male demon, a Marquis of Hell. No wonder it’s been so difficult to fight,” I replied. Relief swept over me; with his name, I could now banish him back to the pits of hell he’d spawned from. Chax flung himself at the salt barrier and howled as it trapped him.
“Bitch. I’ll tear your innards out!”
“You will find that hard to do from hell,” I stated.
With a surge of fresh energy running through me, I began the binding and banishment prayers.
Chax threw himself constantly at his prison walls, trying to smudge the lines, but Hugo doubled up on them.
It took another hour, and everyone chanting prayers, but Chax finally disappeared.
“Is he banished?” Jack demanded.
“Yes. But I don’t believe he got here accidentally. Higher demons rarely leave their homes; they like commanding their armies too much. Chax was probably summoned. Once we’ve cleaned this place, we need to search the house for any books around summoning demons,” I said.
“Was Chax behind the murders?” Connor asked.
“No. Chax would have opened a portal to hell by now if he’d been here since then. I think he’s a recent summon, and we caught him just in time,” I replied. “Let’s finish this, and then sleep is in order!”
“Sounds good to me,” Phil yawned. He wasn’t wrong.