Damning the Dead by Kerry Blaisdell

Author:Kerry Blaisdell [Blaisdell, Kerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Supernatural suspense; urban fantasy; paranormal; ghosts; magical realism; romance; demons; angels; quirky; death; rebirth; family
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2021-08-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“The demons that make a person afraid are the hardest to cast out.”

~Elizabeth George Speare, American Novelist

(1908-1994)

I rose from the crate and rounded on Claude. “You bastard.”

I’d spoken calmly and without rancor—this wasn’t exactly a surprise—but Jason was still startled. “What?”

Claude smiled. “Mademoiselle Finch has discovered un petit problème with our deal.” He transferred the smile to me. “Go ahead—choose your one item. But be very careful, because once the choice is made, it cannot be unmade.”

I got down from the stool and said to Jason, “There are two shards in the crate. One of Michael’s, and a really big one—of Satan’s.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. Individually, it’s hard to tell them apart. But together, their differences stand out.”

He considered, then said, “If Satan’s is bigger, take it.”

“It’s not that simple. Michael told me Satan is still connected to the powers in his rocks. So getting one of his own back doesn’t increase his power, although Michael did say it might expand his reach. But I’m not really sure what he meant.”

If only I’d asked more questions. But at the time, I’d pictured choosing between tracking down one shard versus hunting another. I’d never imagined literally having to choose between two different rocks, side-by-side.

Claude stood silently by, examining his perfectly manicured fingernails and listening to our every word. He obviously knew which one I should take, but would never volunteer the info. For one thing, part of our deal was that he “wouldn’t influence my choice.”

Damn but he had played me. I shook my head, half-admiringly. He’d laid the trap beautifully, and I’d stepped right in. Not only had I hand-delivered the rocks to him, but now no matter which one Satan got, it would increase his chances of escape tremendously.

But which would help our side the most—or do the least damage?

My cell phone buzzed—Torben. “Excuse me a sec,” I said, and Claude waved a negligent hand before returning to his fingernail inspection.

I jumped off the truck and moved a few yards away before answering the call. “What’s up?”

“Are you done? We’re ready to go, and Yvo just called. Sabine’s scouts spotted some activity at the Rommel Barracks—you know, the German army site at the north end of Sennelager. Someone’s digging. It might be unrelated, but still—we should get moving.”

Crap.

“I’ll be quick,” I promised, though I had no clue how to make this choice at all, let alone on a deadline.

I hung up and faced the truck again. Jason caught my eye, and I waved him over, while still keeping tabs on Claude in case he tried to abscond with both shards after all.

Jason said, “I still say we take the bigger shard. If it expands Satan’s reach, it’s worse if he gets it back, right?”

“I don’t know. Michael said that when Satan steals his powers, it multiplies their effect exponentially—like if Michael’s powers are a two, they become a four, or an eight, or something. He said to take Satan’s rocks if we could, but to prioritize his.”

Maybe I should just ask Michael—he’d know.

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