The First Demon (Cards of Death Book 1) Read online

  “It’s not your fault, Mom.”

  She shrugs. We both know it’s just a reassurance. We don’t know why she got those fits. No one does.

  “That’s all over now,” she says firmly. “It started without reason, and it has stopped without reason. We can move on, Dante. We can finally have a peaceful life. I can even try to find a job again.”

  I think about Dad, burning people. About the Shield, Darkwood Manor and the Cards of Death. Mom might be cured, but my life will never be peaceful again.

  CHAPTER …

  You probably know the number 13 means bad luck. People have been saying so for years, centuries even. You can find tons of research on it, but I can tell you none of it is correct. Yes, it’s a bad number, and yes, you should avoid it wherever and whenever you can. How do I know this? I don’t. The Shield told me. They said I should skip this chapter in my story. They made it pretty clear that I would have to face the consequences alone, if I added it anyway. I’m just hoping it isn’t one of their jokes. That being said, better safe than sorry, so, let’s move on to the next chapter.

  CHAPTER 14

  My mood darkens when I reach Darkwood Manor. The front doors are hanging off their hinges and there’s broken glass everywhere.

  I dive inside. “Guys?”

  They appear instantly. I don’t know how it’s possible, but they look battered. Wounded.

  My voice is high-pitched when I ask, “Are you okay?”

  They nod, but I’m not convinced. “Are you sure?”

  Taylar shrugs. He looks even younger with his white hair all ruffled. “We’re still here.”

  “Hardly,” Jeep grumbles, wiping dust from his hat.

  I gesture towards the mess around us. There’s more than just broken glass. Long scratches line the stair banister, and the arch to the kitchen looks like it has been half eaten. The desk in the office is turned over and one of the floorboards sticks into the air. “What happened? Were you… attacked?”

  “Yes,” D’Maeo says. His frown is deeper than usual, but other than that, he looks unharmed.

  “By what? I thought you guys were strong. You all have powers…” I glance at Taylar, who flinches, “so what was it that attacked you? It must have been pretty powerful.”

  No one answers. They all seem uncomfortable, scared even.

  “What?” I throw my hands in the air in exasperation. “Tell me!”

  D’Maeo opens his mouth, but Maël speaks up first, straightening her dress. “The threat we talked about earlier is more grave than we thought. We were visited by a demon. It was looking for you. We were lucky.”

  Jeep snorts.

  I register his disagreement, but decide my next question is more important. “Why did a demon attack you? Did someone send it? You think it has something to do with the Cards of Death?”

  Maël gives Vicky, who is leaning against the banister with an even paler face than usual, a stern look. The small shake of Vicky’s head makes the hairs on my neck stand up. “It wanted to prevent you from saving that man. And it is prepared to do anything to reach its goal. Unfortunately, we have no idea who sent it.”

  Vicky must have sensed that. I try to meet her gaze, but she looks away.

  I sigh heavily. “You couldn’t kill it?”

  “Kill it?” Jeep yells. “We could hardly hurt it. We are not up for this, Dante. You the least. We need a plan.”

  “A plan?”

  D’Maeo has recovered slightly and is taking the lead again. “First of all, this house needs protection.”

  I can’t argue with that. “I’ll drive back into town to get a new front door and windows.”

  Taylar laughs. “That’s a good start, but that’s not what D’Maeo meant.”

  I must look confused, because the boy and the old man explain it at the same time: “You need magical protection, Dante.”

  Maël waves her staff around. Her cape slips from her shoulders and she fastens it quickly. For a second I think I see a scar on her neck, but when I blink it’s gone. “A solid door and some glass won’t keep out evil creatures from the other side.”

  I gulp. “The other side?”

  Maël and D’Maeo exchange a look. The old man shakes his head. “He’s not ready. His gift hasn’t revealed itself yet.”

  “I’m ready,” I respond eagerly, although I’m pretty sure that I am anything but.

  D’Maeo smiles knowingly. “Let’s take it one step at a time. You go back into town to order glass and a door. You will also need some herbs for the protection spell. Vicky will go with you.”

  She is by my side before he even finishes.

  I hold up my hand. “Wait. What if this demon comes back while I’m out? Won’t you need Vicky’s power? I can take Taylar with me.”

  I shoot him an apologetic look, but he just shrugs.

  Vicky squints at the white-haired boy. “He doesn’t know which herbs to get.”

  “Then tell him,” I argue.

  Maël slams the end of her staff on the ground. “We all go with him.”

  I stand in front of Phoenix, wondering how this will work. We can’t all fit in it.

  But the ghosts solve the problem by appearing inside. Vicky and Taylar are sort of merged, which looks odd.

  “Let’s go,” Jeep says from the front seat. Half of his bowler hat disappears into the roof.

  Already regretting my decision to agree to this trip, I open the driver’s side door and plop down behind the wheel.

  “So…” I clear my throat. “I’m the only one who can see you guys, right?”

  They all nod.

  “Good.” I shift and hit the gas.

  We drive past the same things I see every day. Same people, same roads, same trees. Same useless patches of grass in the middle of the streets. It’s all pretty normal to me, but the Shield watches every detail with longing. It has never been so hard for me to concentrate on the road. Until now, I hadn’t really thought about it, but it must be dreadful to be stuck in the same place day after day.

  “How long have you been living in Darkwood Manor?” I ask.

  Jeep shakes his head. “Way too long.”

  “When was the last time you got out?”

  He shudders and I silently curse my stupidity. Now they are probably thinking about the last time they saw my father. Who knows what horrible thing he made them do then.

  “How did you get in the house in the first place?” I continue, turning left towards Rodney’s DIY-shop.

  “We were summoned,” Vicky answers, her face a blur, because Taylar is still sitting in the same spot. “By Jonathan Banner. In 1969.”

  I almost hit the brakes in surprise. “You were summoned by my grandfather?”

  She nods with a smile, which makes it look as if Taylar is a manic clown with a split face.

  “Well, not all of us,” she continues. “Taylar and I were added to the Shield by your father.”

  D’Maeo finally tears his gaze from the outside world. “Your grandfather was a great man.”

  “So was my father.”

  The silence that follows is heavy with unsaid words.

  When I finally reach Rodney’s shop, I turn around to face Vicky. “If you were all summoned by my father and grandfather, you must have lived a long time ago. How come you look so… modern?” I glance at Maël. “Most of you.”

  Vicky shrugs. “We adjust to the times we live in. A Shield always adapts easily to its surroundings.”

  I frown at Maël and she raises her chin. “I like the way I look. My people should not be forgotten.”

  Somehow that makes sense.

  I enter the shop alone and order the most solid door I can find. Rodney will come and fit it tomorrow. The windows may take a while, so I also order some boards to keep rain and animals out. And demons, but I can’t say that out loud. While I’m at it, I take everything I need to install new locks. Good thing Dad taught me a few things
.

  When I get back outside, Phoenix is empty. I look around frantically. Just in time, I remember I can’t call out, so I whisper, “Guys? Where are you? We have to get going.”

  There is no answer, and no sign of the Shield anywhere. My throat tightens. What if I was wrong? What if they are evil after all? I just let them out into the world.

  I should do something. Find a way to lure them back to the house. Maybe there’s something in Dad’s notebook I can use.

  I get in my car and take out the book. I flip through it and scan the pages as fast as I can.

  Then a voice makes me jump out of my skin. “Looking for something?”

  It’s Jeep. He’s sitting beside me again, resting his head in his tattooed arm. The others are in the back seat, regarding me silently.

  I whirl around. “Where the hell were you?”

  Taylar leans back with his hands around the back of his head. “We were right here, master. Just invisible. Why? Were you worried?”

  I stare at him with the coldest look I can muster.

  So, not evil. Just hilarious. Ha ha. Very funny. Let’s trick the new master.

  I turn back while Vicky tells Taylar to get his stinking armpits out of her face.

  I can’t help it. I laugh out loud. My life is getting crazier by the minute.

  “Let’s move on. We’ve got demons to vanquish.”

  CHAPTER 15

  When we arrive at the Silver Family Market, I am grateful to find that only Vicky is joining me inside. This is awkward enough, because I constantly open my mouth to ask her something, and then I close it when I realize she is invisible to everybody else. I feel bad ignoring her, especially when I bump into Mona again. Naturally she wants to chat.

  “We had so much fun the other night. I missed that crazy chick.”

  I flash her a smile. “I know. I still can’t believe it. But I am actually in a bit of a hurry, so I’ll see you later, okay?”

  “Sure thing, honey. Are you moving into your new house soon?”

  “No, I’m not ready for that. Besides, it needs a lot of work. But that’s okay, I’ve got time.”

  “Right. And you probably want to spend some quality time with your Mom, am I right?”

  “Oh yes, definitely.” I try to keep my smile. Her words hit me like an iceberg. I do want to spend time with Mom, but how can I with all that’s been going on?

  “Don’t feel guilty,” Vicky whispers in my ear. I can’t imagine why she’s whispering, but I don’t have time to pay attention to Vicky’s whims.

  I turn and wave at Mona. “See you later.”

  From the corner of my mouth, I ask Vicky what we need.

  “Sage, salt, oil, garlic, bay leaves, dried basil, dill seeds, anise, black peppercorns, fennel cloves, four white candles and a glass jar with a lid.”

  I frown. “That much?”

  A man in the snacks aisle glances at me like I’m crazy, and I cringe.

  “You know,” Vicky says, “talking to yourself is a sign of intelligence.”

  “Yeah,” I grumble. “Tell that to them.” I nod at the customers weaving through the aisles.

  “Okay,” she says and takes a step towards a young girl: Rodney’s granddaughter.

  I reach out to grab her. “No, don’t.”

  The girl looks around and smiles at me. I grin back. “Hi.”

  “Hey,” she says timidly.

  I turn around and walk until I find a quiet corner.

  Vicky is cracking up. “You should have seen your face.”

  I cross my arms in front of my chest. “Yes, it must have been very funny. You can’t just show yourself to people, Vicky. You’ll scare the living daylights out of them.”

  She’s gasping for air, even though she doesn’t need it. “Relax, I was just kidding. You’re so gullible.”

  “Shut up.” I feel myself blushing. “Let’s gather what we need and get out of here.”

  Amazingly, they have everything on Vicky’s list, although it takes us a while to find it all. When we’re alone in the herbs aisle, I decide to grasp the opportunity to speak up about something that has been on my mind. “So I’ve heard a bit about everyone’s past, but yours is still a mystery.”

  Vicky looks up from the jars she’s studying. “I didn’t know you were interested.”

  I try not to blush, but judging by the way my cheeks heat up, I fail miserably.

  She smirks and turns back to reading the labels on the jars. “It’s okay, I don’t mind you asking. But it’s a long story, just like everyone else’s.”

  Before I can answer, she turns her head, making her hair dance around her shoulder. “Don’t say it.”

  I pretend to check my list, hoping she’s not reading my feelings. “Don’t say what?”

  “That you only want the short version.”

  “Oh, I don’t.” I respond way too eager. “I mean, I’d love to hear the whole story.” I drop my voice, realizing I’ve stopped whispering. “But I don’t think this is the right place for it.”

  She twirls a lock of hair around her finger. “We could go to your Mom’s house sometime? Without the others.”

  A rush of heat shoots through me, causing drops of sweat to form on my forehead.

  Vicky gives me a sympathetic look. “Okay, I’ll stop teasing you. Although, some time alone would be nice.” She points at a jar in front of her and I chuck it in my basket. “What do you want to know?”

  “Anything you want to tell me about your life, or the way you died.”

  She sighs. “Oh, I wish I could tell you that. Unfortunately, I don’t know how I died. I’ve been trying to find out. I know I have a weird symbol on the back of my neck, and it has something to do with how I died.” She pulls her hair away from her neck and lowers her head.

  I bend over her. “Oh, you’re right, it is strange. What does it mean? I’ve never seen it before.”

  I study the strange drawing. It looks like a capital I with a smaller I horizontally attached to it, just under the top on the left side. At the bottom a large raindrop spills out sideways.

  “I don’t have a clue what it means. I’ve been searching for years, but I found nothing.” She straightens up as someone walks into the aisle. I pick up a jar of pepper and pretend to study the contents. Thankfully the woman disappears around the corner without noticing me.

  “This symbol is really important to me,” Vicky continues. “Both my mother and grandmother were found dead with this symbol burned into their necks.”

  “And so were you.”

  Her blue eyes are full of sorrow now. “Exactly.”

  “So you were murdered?” The thought sends a chill down my spine.

  “I think so. I don’t remember.”

  I put a hand on her shoulder. An electric pulse makes the hairs on my arms stand up. “We’ll find out who killed you and why. I promise.”

  She bites her lower lip before flashing me a sweet smile. “Thank you, Dante. That means a lot to me.”

  As soon as I withdraw my hand, she shakes her head rigorously, as if trying to get rid of a bad dream. “I think we have everything we need. Let’s go.”

  A bit dazed by her abrupt change of attitude - okay, and also because of the lingering energy in my fingertips -, I follow her to the checkout counter.

  Although I don’t want the Shield anywhere near Mom, I stop by my house to get some tools. I’m relieved to find none of the ghosts following me inside. At least, none that I can see.

  As soon as I’m back in the car, I give them all a stern look. “Did any of you go into the house?”

  They all shake their heads.

  “Good. So listen. I think we need to establish some rules.”

  “I think you need to drive away first,” Jeep says coolly, pointing at the window.

  Mom is standing there. She waves when I turn my head. I wave back and start the car. “Thanks,” I mutter.

 
I park at the end of our street. “I don’t like to order people around, but…”

  “You’re going to do it anyway,” Taylar interrupts with a sly grin.

  “Well, yes. I have to. So, rule one: don’t show yourselves to anyone but me, unless you have my permission.” I continue before they can protest. “Rule two: don’t ever go invisible on me again. I need to know where you are.”

  Taylar huffs. “So much for playing hide and seek.”

  Vicky cocks her head, separating it from Taylar’s. “So what’s rule number three?” Her blue eyes bore into mine.

  I turn back around and start the car. “I don’t know yet. That’s it for now.”

  We drive in silence for several minutes. Then D’Maeo speaks up. “Every master needs rules.” He nods at me in approval.

  The others just stare out of the windows, pretending not to care. But I’m grateful for his comment. At least I’m doing something right.

  I turn on the radio and search for the classics’ station. Elvis’ melancholic voice fills the car.

  “Is this okay for you guys?” I ask, trying to restore the friendly atmosphere.

  Jeep sits up straight. “This is great.”

  “Perfect.” Vicky leans back with her eyes closed.

  Taylar just shrugs. “It’s fine.”

  I feel the tension fading and turn my attention back to the road.

  Before we reach the southern forest, the four of us are singing along to Born to be Wild. Or rather yelling. D’Maeo and Maël just sit in the back smiling. It almost feels like hanging out with my friends.

  But when we turn into the driveway of Darkwood Manor, the ghosts fall silent. Tension builds up again, but this time it’s not because of me. We’re all afraid of what we will find when we get back. Will the house be invaded by monsters? Will it even still be there?

  But it is, and it looks the same. Old, scary and broken. Defeated would be an appropriate description.

  I park, get out and gather everything Vicky told me to buy. “Okay, let’s get ourselves some protection.”