The Job

Hazy smoke coiled out of her glistening, painted lips; flashes of straight, white teeth as she spoke. Her mouth hypnotized me. Not for the first time in my career, I imagined sucking on her lower lip, pressing my tongue between her teeth, reaching for her.

Her irritated voice broke into my fantasy, “Laura, are you even listening to me?”

I shook myself free of her spell and the rest of her face came into focus. Dark green eyes flashed fire underneath thin, plucked eyebrows. My hands rose up into the air in a helpless gesture, what could I say?

“You need to pay attention, this is important. There’s something off about this one.” She glanced down at the paper in her hand and her brows knit together in concern. She took another long draw of her cigarette before tapping it out in the nearby ashtray/trashcan.

My second shrug came with a confident laugh. “There’s always something off. We’re working with the supernatural.”

“No…” her voice trailed off as she studied the document. She raised her eyes to mine and said, “I can’t explain it, but something doesn’t feel right. I don’t know. I don’t think the gentleman who called is telling me everything.”

“Should we call it off?” I trusted Elaine’s instincts. We’d been working together for twelve years and she hadn’t let me down yet.

She shook her head and slid the paper across the table. “No, we can’t leave a demon free. You’ve got to take care of it.”

“No problem.” I folded the paper up and slipped it into my pocket. I flashed her a smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll be in and out.”

She shook her head again. “I don’t think so. This isn’t an ‘in and out’ job. I’m telling you, there’s something different about it.”

“Pshaw, they’re all in and out jobs.” I winked at her but didn’t even elicit a smile out of her. Darkness stirred in the depths of her lovely eyes and her dark red lips turned at the corners. Her gloominess was beginning to impact my work attitude.

I reached over and patted her hand. “Don’t stress it. I’ll survive another day to try to seduce you.”

She jerked her hand to her chest like it had been electrocuted and stuck her tongue out at me. The semi-serious jest poked her better than the wink. “Not a chance, I’m all dick.”

“One of these days, I’m going to convince you to try it my way. You don’t know what you’re missing out,” I laughed and winked again. This time she chuckled and rolled her eyes. Thank goodness, her moodiness worried me.

We rose to our feet and left a tip for the young waiter who sometimes sauntered over to our end of the patio. We exchanged a friendly hug then she left me to my job. I pulled the paper out of my pocket and looked at the address. The temporary satisfaction of dispelling her darkness melted away as I examined the numbers. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Elaine, as usual, was right; something was off with this one.

I checked my equipment in the back of the nondescript van before I climbed on in. Unmarked and painted a plain white, the dull vehicle blended in with nearly any background I took it to. That was the point. People were funny when they found out things like demons and ghosts existed, panic and mayhem usually occurred. So, we kept my duty on the down-low, keeping my occupation hidden save to the few who needed my skills.

God, or someone else as equally imbued with a twisted humor, gave me the ability to commune with the other side and subdue evil. Thanks to the gift or curse, depending on my mood, I had a well-stocked storage of interesting memories to keep me entertained. Today would just be another one added to the growing mountain, nothing more.

I pulled in front of the address and checked to verify. Sure enough, someone had somehow summoned a demon on hallowed ground and tainted an old Catholic cathedral. The stained-glass glittered in the sunlight, saints glaring down upon me, condemning me with their silent stares.

“Yeah, yeah. We all know your kind don’t like me. I get it,” I grumbled.

The double white doors, seemed cold and ominous, almost daring me to step up. An icy finger ran down my spine, sending goose-bumps across my skin. Elaine’s words echoed in my mind, only deepening the ever growing fear pulsing in my veins.

For one brief moment, I considered running back to the van. But I couldn’t abandon whoever cried out for help, even if they’d been the dumb-ass to bring it out. I pushed the doors open wide enough to slip in.

The pews and velvety carpet between them were illuminated in vibrant shades of stained-glass sunlight. A large statue of Jesus on the cross sat at the front of the room, flickering candles full of prayers glowed beneath. Everything appeared normal, but I could feel it in the electricity in the air, an unseen tension heavy with bloodlust.

“Hello?” I called out, hoping to at least bait out the summoner.

A voice floated out from the eaves, hidden amongst the support beams lining the vaulted ceiling, “Isn’t it all so beautiful? They really outdid themselves with the architecture.”

Something about the rich tenor made my stomach tie in knots. My mouth went dry and I had to swallow a couple of times before I could reply, “Why don’t you come down here, and talk? I’m sure you can tell me all about the architecture from here.”

Something moved and I could make out a dark humanoid shape in the heavy shadows not touched by the stain-glass beauty. The urge to bolt filled me, but I felt like I stepped into a trap and it was already sprung.

I couldn’t escape, and we all knew it.

“Why don’t you tell me what you want?” the voice sang and the humanoid shadow dissolved into nothing, making me wonder if I’d even seen it in the first place. Its words echoed in the rafters, swirling in the air and choking it with malevolent intent, “True love? Happiness? Peace? Elaine…”

At the mention of my boss's name, my heart plummeted into my stomach. The notion of a trap was now confirmed. Whatever this thing was, it had come for me, maybe even Elaine. I shouted out, “You have no idea what I want. Why don’t you come down here and find out?”

The voice whispered behind me, “We both know what you want, and I can give it to you.”

I spun around to the empty cathedral, the shadows seeming to reach for me and tempt me. Elaine’s lips flashed into my mind, soft and inviting, breathing out my name. I shook my head and tried to focus on the task at hand.

Her scent, crisp and sweet, apple blossoms, filled my nostrils. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, must focus.

The voice whispered again, “Just let me in and you will have her.”

My eyes flew open, but I was still alone; desperately, forever alone.



My fingers caressed Elaine’s cheek, wiping away the moisture there. Her green eyes stared at me, wide and full of fear. I recognized the fear should bother me, but it didn’t, not anymore. The human part of me wasn’t strong enough to care ever again.

“Are you going to scream again?”

The red handprint on her other cheek stood out like a banner, the punishment for her pleas for help. She shook her head and I slid the gag out of her mouth.

“Laura…” she blubbered, but I shook my head, placing a finger on her lips.

Tasting salty tears and the waxy coating of her red lipstick, I kissed her mouth, stealing what I’d wanted to do since I met her. Her body was stiff beneath mine, no response save for rapid fluttering of her terrified heart.

A hunger stirred within me, spurred on by her tears and fear. I wanted more, wanted to feel my teeth rip into her skin and gorge myself on what lay beneath. I wanted to devour her and leave nothing behind.

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the van mirror, my solid black eyes smiled back at me, twinkling with endless hunger. I couldn’t fight the urges, I’d let it in.

Elaine’s screams tore from her. Not the desperate shrieks I agreed to or originally wanted, but pleasurable nonetheless. And I never imagined blood could taste so sweet.