The Demon Within Excerpt

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Chapter Three Excerpt

Jay was sitting on the couch; the pup was sleeping beside him. On the TV played some documentary on Demonology. He liked that stuff. He watched things that dealt with hauntings all the time. He even visited a few haunted locations on tours. He wanted to go to the one in Iowa. But somehow, even though it was close, he had not gotten to yet. He sighed. There was nothing to do about the bombing until the crime labs came back in the next day or two. On his coffee table were three murderers. Two, the same killer. One, just some sick bastard removing organs. He had a lead on that one. And tomorrow morning would go to question who he thought was the best suspect. He shook his head; he grabbed the remote; he had to turn it off the demons. He loved them, but he had seen enough of them in the last couple of weeks. He had to catch the demons. The channel changed, superheroes. Nope. He liked the villains better. He hated the so-called villains in real life, but in the movies and shows, villains had the most character development. They were sometimes way too easy to connect with because humanity sucked.

He flipped off the man on the television who had enough mental issues to keep one doctor busy with their whole career. Good God, there had to be something on that was not an evening soap opera, a reality show, or demons. Hell, even his favorite Sci-Fi space show was annoying him tonight. There had to be more on than the normal. Or it seems Christmas movies were the next choice. It was fucking July; he did not need to watch some cis hetro business man lose his ice cold fiancée to a farmer. Who the hell thought Christmas in July was a thing. Oh, great, funny videos about gender reveals gone wrong. God, people were crazy. He stopped. Ah, funny movie about someone accidentally summoning a demon, and teaching them how to live on Earth. Fuck it. Humor is good. And it has a demon, that really is not a demon.

He laid his head back on the couch. He itched his arm. Damn cravings. His mind was running too fast. His addiction wanted him to scream and beg for the dark bliss of a high. He rubbed his palms hard against his eyes. He had to get some sleep. Take a cue from Rex and get some damn sleep before tomorrow and arrest his main suspect in the murder and mutilation of his victim, who was still a John Doe. Jay knew there would be no peace though, not until the multiple killer was caught too. Not until the bomber was caught and brought to justice. As he tried not to think that his serial killer might already have other victims. Kansas did not need another serial killer. Fuck. He did not want that notoriety once the nation picked it up. Already he was on the national news due to his undercover work. He took a deep breath and just kept his eyes closed.

Jay was in a room. He looked into the mirror. There was blood coming down his mouth. He reached up to wipe it off. He winced as something sharp stabbed him. He opened his mouth. Fangs. What the hell? He looked and turned around and blinked. There were bodies. People who he cared about. People he helped. People he touched in his life. They were all lifeless, with two puncture marks on their throats. He turned to the mirror. He was in a suit, it was all black, a silk black shirt, a silk black tie, and a blood black lily on his lapel. His eyes were black as coal. He turned and started to hyperventilate, as the blood started to pour onto the floor from where he had not drained all his victims. As he turned back to the mirror from the bodies and saw the demon within himself smirking in satisfaction at a job well done.

Jay sat up with a start. “Fuck!” He shook his head. It had been a long time since he had dreams like that. So real. He shook his head and reached up to check his teeth. Just a nightmare. He looked at the TV, it was playing a vampire show, must have but a subconscious thing. He shook his head and looked at the clock. Three in the morning. Devil’s Hour. Witch’s Hour. He closed his eyes and took a breath. He smiled when he felt the pup wiggle into his lap to give him a kiss. He pets his pup. “Come on, Rex. Let’s go lay in bed for a couple hours.” He stood and stretched, turned off the TV, and picked up the pup and made his way to the bedroom. 

He chuckled as he prepared for bed. At least he did not fall asleep on the station obsessed with aliens. He moved and settled in; Rex curled by his side. He just pets his pup for a while. It was calming, relaxing, and for a moment everything was okay in the world. It was like Rex gripped his heart and raised him from the torment and hell that he had been through the last two years. He laid his head down, he should bake a pie this weekend, and soon he was in a dreamless sleep. At least for a couple hours, the demons within left him alone and let him have a restful slumber.