FILE 21: THE DAEVA PART 2

Initially, I thought he would sniff around like a drug sniffer dog, but that didn't happen. Instead he closed his eyes and tweaked his ears. 

"This way and don't trail behind, or I'll leave you," he threatened. He dares threaten me? Who's serving who? "Hey, I don't obey your orders. Just find that demon and let's get this over with. I want my money and go home. So shut it!" with a tug on his leash.

He objected but went on searching. I smirked smugly. The horses snorted at the sight of the black fox as he led us past the giant stables. 

The ranch was massive. It had two fields. There is one for grazing horses, and one for gardening. Blair pulled me along until we had reached the garden. 

I could feel an ominous presence that was hostile to intruders as the fir trees swayed eerily in the wind.

"I guess we're going in the right direction. Hey Blair, good work," I reluctantly complimented him.

"I'm an expert. Naturally I will locate him," he bragged.

"I guess you're an expert in anything demonic huh?" I asked covertly. He cocked an ear. "Master entrusted us and left everything to us. Our success rate was phenomenal."

"Even sending innocents to hell?" I jabbed mercilessly. He uttered a hiccup. "That's enough. Aren't we here to banish that demon?"

I snickered meanly and tugged his leash. We're gonna be together for a long time, pup. There will be many emotional moments like this. Heh heh.

I pulled up the collar of my red jacket for comfort as I followed Blair into the field. It's called a garden, but it's essentially a man-made forest. 

Lucan and Isobel appreciated nature, so recreated a private woodland. Large fir trees, woodland creatures and forest flora lived here.

As we clambered over tree trunks, chipmunks, shrews, and even a badger scurried away. I'm not that fond of nature myself. It reeks of wet moss, and stinging insects are everywhere.

"How much further? It's getting dark and I'm getting numb," I fussed glumly. The stupid fox slighted me as he concentrated fiercely. 

I sulked.

I was about to force him to turn around when he halted. "What? What is it?" I demanded uneasily.

We stood beneath an ageing oak tree that looked as if it was struck by lightning at one time. Blair began snarling. Feeling tense, I crouched down beside him, and initiated SENSE. My eyes glowed as I examined the bark.

Two hostile eyes glared back.

Blair leaped to the end of his leash with a snarl, filled with bloodlust. Having a bad feeling, I yanked him back and ran out of there as the demon cackled tauntingly.

"Permit me to kill him. I want to rip his throat out! Let me go!" Blair struggled in my arms as I fled further into the trees. "Not until we comprehend what we're dealing with. Now, calm down," I puffed furiously as I scrambled over large tree roots.

When I was certain we were secure, I freed the black fox, who glanced at me disappointedly.

"What cowardice," he sighed snobbishly. I glowered at him.

"I intend on taking care of it. I merely want to know what I'm up against," I maintained through gritted teeth. He gave a long sniff in discontent.

"What now?" I demanded frustratedly. 

"After thinking for a while, it might be convenient for you if I help you, is that right?" he asked contemptuously.

I trembled with anger. He was a convict, yet he still looked down on me. "I'm not that helpless that I need a puny fox to come to my rescue," I sneered.

His tail twitched. "Maybe you can fight ordinary spectres. But this is a demon, my area of expertise. No human stands a chance. Or are you counting on that cat to help you?"

"Mars is my teacher. He never interferes with my battles," I corrected him angrily. I won't allow him to have the wrong idea. "And so what if this is a demon? I can just banish him with a spell. I don't need to combat him."

Blair snorted indignantly. "This is why I said you require my help. Banishment Spell? I recognise this demon's species." He waved a limp paw. 

"Boy, he can't be banished. His species exist purely because of humanity. Don't look so surprised. It's your fault he exists in the first place!" he laughed harshly.

"Dammit fox! What are you talking about?" I snatched his collar and hoisted him. He exhaled loudly and continued solemnly, "They are termed Daevas. 

They used to be average ghosts, but you humans love to meddle with the afterlife. Séances, necromancy and other occult stuff created these demon entities. 

They are ghosts that became warped after human interaction. Demon banishment spell? Where are you supposed to banish them?" he chuckled nastily.

I lowered him as he snickered. My dad once spoke about necromancy, but I can't recall what he said. As there was no instruction or reference to Lord of the Rings in his statement I lost interest.

"Are there different kinds, or are they the same?" I inquired. 

"There are different kinds, as you put it. Some are weaker, some outrageously strong. One kind can exercise mental powers, while others use physical strength," he disclosed.

"I fancy this guy is a mental power demon?"

"As he possessed a child from the forest, we can assume that yes. If you intend to fight, you must have an aggressive mentality. 

In spite of what many people think, they're more resilient than the physically strong," he typically cautioned. I wavered.

I'm more suited for physical fights, not for mind versus mind. It's hard enough for me to handle Hunt, let alone a full-on possession battle.

I sighed. "Can you beat him?" I asked, defeated. Blair looked self-satisfied as he answered, "Let me go and we'll be back before the night is over."

Ugh, what a snob. After unhooking his chain, we returned to the towering oak where the demon lived. Despite my shiver, I felt relieved since Blair would fight, not me.

A black wind cut through, as if trying to intimidate us. My ponytail came loose and my hair whipped across my face. "It's all yours!" I shouted in the noisy wind.

The fox nodded and forced his way inside.

[You will regret it. You came only to die,] the demon threatened mockingly.

Yeah yeah, keep on telling yourself that. Although, to my dismay, the wind got stronger. To avoid falling over, I grabbed hold of a branch.

Now I'm waiting for Blair to finish the job so that I can get paid...and go home.