Seven Come Eleven

Chapter Ten

Alan had a bad feeling that he couldn’t explain. The new security recruits had vanished with no trace. He had searched the bathrooms, the bar, the restaurant, and even around the pool. Alan made his way into the office and clicked on the screens. Screen by screen he clicked through footage, looking for the missing men.

After several moments, he found a frame of one of the men, Griffin, standing by the elevator. He was headed back down to his post after answering a call to a room on the third floor. Suddenly the door of the elevator opened and Griffin vanished. It appeared there was a glitch and the frame of him stepping on the elevator was missing. It just cut to the doors closing. He frantically clicked to find the next frames, the elevator door opened on each floor going down and there was no one on the elevator.

He found Barry on camera; he had simply gotten up from the chair Alan sat in now and walked out of the office door. But he never appeared on the hall camera.

“What the f**k is this s**t?” Alan exclaimed. More disturbingly, why was he the only one left? Like bolts of electricity, fear rattled through his veins. For a moment he considered calling Jake. But that would be fruitless, he was hours away at least. Glancing towards the office window, he saw dawn breaking in the east. Pink light stretched across the sky and brought the earth to life. Alan went to the window and rested on the sill. He was tired. Had it been one night or two since he’d last went to bed? He could no longer recall.

“Excuse me,” a voice from the slightly ajar door caught Alan’s attention.

He pivoted, startled by the sound of someone so early. There should be no one here but employees and this definitely was not any employ. This was a well dressed man, no hair, but his head was as shiny as the ring on his pinky. “Who are you?”

“I am an associate of the owner of this establishment.” Boldly, he pushed the door the rest of the way open and let himself in. “My name is Richard.”

Alan frowned, “Jake is out right now. I can take a message.”

“My business with him is private.” Richard replied, but didn’t move. It was then that Alan noticed his eyes, they seemed unusually dark.

Alan pulled the spray bottle from his pocket and spritzed the surprised Richard in the face several times. “Surprise, mother fucker!”

Richard winced and wiped the droplets from his chin. His brow furrowed into the most confused fashion. The water droplets had barely stung. “What the hell?”

Alan raised a brow and stepped back. “Oh, you’re not one of them?”

“One of who?” Richard snapped. “This was a three thousand dollar suit that you just sprayed with water!”

“Oh, so you went for the cheap one. Look, I’ll tell Jake that you stopped by.” Alan turned around to roll his eyes. “I got to get back to work, I got better things to do. Like find my missing security officers.”

“Missing? You mean vanished?” Richard replied, his lips turning up on the corners.

Alan couldn’t see the smile but the tone of voice Richard used sent a chill up his spine. He turned around, raising his brow. “I’m sure they’re out having a smoke or a snack.”

Richard shrugged, “Maybe. Maybe they’ve been teleported to another plane of existence.”

Alan resisted the urge to growl. He kept his face smooth and unreadable. “Why would someone zap them to another plane?”

“Ransom.” Richard chuckled. “You know how it works. Right? Someone has something someone else wants so they kidnap someone until the debt is paid.”

“Your man already got the brief case. I don’t know what else they could want.” Alan was growing weary of the head games. He wished Richard would get to the point, if there even was a point.

“There are other items besides money.” Richard replied and turned to go. He left Alan and his multitude of unanswered questions alone in the office.

“It’s Alan,” Nadia said, holding up Jake’s phone which had just vibrated the console against her leg.

He sighed and hit the speaker button, “Yeah what’s up?”

“Your friend Richard stopped by here looking for you,” Alan said, watching out the window for signs of this Richard guy heading to a car in the parking lot. He saw nothing, which further raised his suspicions that Richard wasn’t human.

“Richard? Richard Hollingsworth?” Jake exclaimed, weird vibe going through him. Richard was a big timer on the crime circuit. What did he want with him?

“How the f**k should I know? You’re the one who knows all these bad guys.”

“Was he bald?” Jake asked suddenly.

“Like a cue ball.” Alan raised an eyebrow.

“That’s Richard Hollingsworth for sure. He’s a big name on the streets and I have no idea what he wants with me.” Jake’s brow furrowed deeply.

“I don’t know either, he wouldn’t say. But the new guys have vanished and I think he knows about it.” Alan pursed his lips. “He said something about ransom.”

“Of course he did,” Jake sighed. “Hold down the fort, we are almost there.”

They were not almost there, they were still several hours out. Jake tossed the phone in the console and checked his rear view. The road behind them was clear. He hadn’t let the speed drop below eighty since they left Sedona. The nearly five hour drive back seemed to go much faster. That was because he was paying no attention to the speed limits; in this frame of mind he would probably run from the cops should they try to stop him.

“Why aren’t you giving them the contracts? That’s all they want?” Nadia said suddenly. Her voice surprisingly loud over the roar of the engine and wind.

“Because,” Jake didn’t look at her. He was watching the road and mirrors. “They made this personal a long time ago. I will do what Dan tried to do and didn’t have the chance to finish. If I get killed then, hell, I was going to anyway. But I am not going down without a fight. I have to keep you safe.”

Nadia raised an eyebrow, studying his strong profile in the early morning sun. “How am I safe with you? You are literally driving us into the belly of the beast here.”

“I am protecting you by not taking my eyes off you and telling you the truth. Dan tried to protect you by omission, which was the worst thing he could have done.” Jake finally met her eyes quickly before turning back.

“Do you really think you are the one for this job?” She raised an eyebrow, trying to look sarcastic but the worry in her voice was plain.

“I’m the last one alive, am I not? I am the last of the band. I guess if I have survived this long, I am pretty good at it. Don’t you think?” He shrugged, relieved that the sun was completely up now. Maybe demons wouldn’t come out in the sunlight. But time was passing, and he needed a plan.

“Are you planning to negotiate with the devil himself?” Nadia asked after a few miles, the words had been sitting on her lips for the longest time, waiting for her to give them life. She had hesitated though, fearing the answer.

“That’s exactly what I plan to do. For my soul and Dan’s,” Jake yelled over the wind. “I’ll bust Hell wide open if I have to, but I won’t live in fear of these assholes.”

It was just before noon when they arrived back at the casino. Jake sat at the kitchen table in his penthouse reading through on-line pages about demonic contracts. Nadia went downstairs to procure food and some coffee for them both since neither had eaten or slept and the sustenance would at least somewhat keep them awake for the next few hours.

When she came in with the little push cart, Jake glanced up and smiled in approval. “That looks amazing. I think I have a solution.”

“What’s that?” Nadia poured coffee for Jake and set it beside his laptop before setting the plate of eggs and bacon beside it.

Jake held up and old looking piece of paper. “This is my contract. See? My bloody finger print at the bottom?”

She looked over the paper, surprised by how basic it was. No fine print, just stating the persons name and what they’d sold their soul for. Jake’s print was brown with age, but most assuredly a bloody finger print over top of a strange ancient looking sigil.

“These are blood seals,” he explained.

“So--” she sipped her own coffee, her foggy brain trying to follow him.

“Someone will want these pretty badly. So badly, they might want to make a deal.” Jake tossed the paper into the briefcase.

“So what are you waiting for? Why can’t we just burn them and be done with it?” She tilted her head.

“Because, most of these have been called in. Only a couple remain uncalled.” He bit into a strip bacon with a satisfied sound, motioning her to look at a blue file folder to his right. “Perhaps I can negotiate a few of these be released.”

“Like bring them back to life?” She looked alarmed.

“Well, I wouldn’t get my hopes up for that. But at least I can try to get them to a peaceful resting place.” Jake turned his attention to his eggs. He didn’t want to think of where Dan and his band mates were now. There was no way he dared think he could bring them to life again as much as he wanted to.

Nadia wanted to ask what if it didn’t work. But she was afraid of the answer- she already knew it. She’d lose Jake forever as she had Dan and she wasn’t ready for that. Their bond was growing each day. She couldn’t imagine her life without him now.

Sensing she was lost in thought about something important, Jake didn’t speak. Once he finished his breakfast he stood. “I should find Alan and see what has happened since we’ve been gone. You should sage this place and get some sleep.”

Nadia nodded tiredly. Sleep sounded wonderful. “Be careful.”

Jake gave her a confident nod as he left with the briefcase in hand. He made his way to the elevator and down to the office floor. Alan was in there, looking over the camera footage one more time to determine if he had missed something because he refused to believe people could just vanish, and he was confused how Richard had gotten in or out of the casino. Maybe there was a door or tunnel somewhere?

“Hard at work, I see. Did you find the new guys?” Jake went to push the file cabinet aside so he could open the cash room to store the briefcase.

Alan raised his eyebrow at the case. He shook his head at the question and the pointed at the briefcase. “I assume that’s what Richard was looking for?”

“Most likely,” Jake shut the door and returned the file cabinet. “You never answered my question.”

“I still haven’t found them. I haven’t found out how Richard got into the hotel or out. Has the elevator turned into some kind of portal that devours people?” Alan motioned him over to see the footage of the men vanishing.

“Maybe. Richard is one of the head honchos around here in the organized crime circuit. Somehow I am intrigued, yet not surprised, that he didn’t show up on camera. I am beginning to think half of Vegas is some sort of supernatural entity,” Jake said carelessly as he removed his own contract and folded it down to fit in his pocket.

“I’ve never believed in this s**t until now,” Alan yawned and rubbed his face.

“You may as well get some sleep. We will be up late tonight, I am sure of it.” Jake sighed and glanced at the locked cash room to reassure himself that it was safe.

Alan took Jake’s advice and left the office for his suite. Jake dismissed the wait and service staff for the next couple of days, he instructed the front desk to get out the people who were staying with them under the guise of a gas leak making the place unsafe. Thankfully there was only a handful since it was midweek. When they were refunded, and the hotel was empty of everyone but he, Alan, and Nadia- Jake posted a sign on the door that read “closed until further notice for repairs.” He wasn’t sure what was going to go down, but he wanted no one else involved, nor did he want the publicity. The press would have field day with this place if they knew what went on in here, and it would ruin him. As it was, there was enough coverage of the murder that had happened here, though murder and robbery was a daily occurrence in Vegas and no one batted an eye at it.

Jake let himself out the back door of the hotel and set the alarm. He quickly found his car around the side and headed out onto the boulevard. In his studies he had come across some information about breaking demonic contracts and he had an idea. It was a dangerous one at best.

He had learned that sage could create a space that no evil thing could enter uninvited, which wasn’t enough for the higher level ones he was dealing with. He had learned demons, unless invited or holding a blood seal, could not inhabit or control a person. But in some cases they were notoriously cocky and would try. So he had saged his clothing while Nadia got breakfast and gotten the address to a nearby church. If he burned the seal he was free, but if he did that, they could still attack him; unless he was purified. A priest would be able to purify him, and instruct him how to handle these demons and even defeat them.

He’d always believed in a higher power. The laws associated with such belief didn’t resonate with a teenage rock star, but they had later in life when he realized he could be so much worse off. Being loyal as he was, he realized this meant a few things for him, most importantly that this wasn’t a choice made lightly and he would have to follow this path the rest of his life. Maybe not as a priest but he would definitely be on a different path.

A chapel stood alone at the edge of town, not one of those flashing lights with Elvis impersonating priest places, but an honest to God church. The bells rang on Sunday morning and sometimes if he was awake he could hear it. He took a deep breath before walking in, the serene atmosphere at the church swallowed him like nothing he’d ever seen. The place was beautiful. Mahogany paneled walls and pews to match, an ivory and gold altar near the front with flowers around it. From high above a stained glass window depicting Jesus walking on water beamed rainbow colored lights all over the pews.

A door suddenly squeaked and then closed as the priest came in. He was older, his hair was as white and snow. His face was kind, the kind of grandpa face that was calming and reassuring. When he spoke, Jake heard none of the judgment or scorn he’d expected. “I know you, you’re from the casino. What can I do for you?”

“Father,” Jake stopped. Was this man a father? “If I can call you that-”

“Of course, come into my office and lets talk. You look troubled. I am Father Cresson.” The elder man waved Jake through the big wooden door. The office was large but it was cluttered with file boxes and papers of all sorts.

“I am, Father.” Jake sat down at the chair he was pointed to on the other side of the desk. It was strange, the words didn’t want to come out. How was he supposed to explain to the priest he was a damned soul? “I’ve done some things and I- I need help.”

Seeing his struggle, Father Cresson realized this wasn’t the usual ‘forgive me Father, for I have sinned’ type of visit. He leaned forward, “Go on, my son.”

“When I was in high school, I ran away from home to form a band in California. After a year we found ourselves broke, about to be evicted and released from the contract we had managed to secure. Miles, the singer, was obsessed with the occult and at the time I figured it was a bunch of bull—well fairy tales.” He caught the slip and cleared his throat. “So one night, at a show in Mississippi, he talked us into going down to the crossroads and making a deal with the devil.”

“Oh dear. Tell me you didn’t-” Father Cresson’s eyes were wide and concerned now. Jake was worried the guy might toss him out. Seeing that Jake definitely had done it, he nodded, “Finish the story, if you want.”

“We did it. I thought this was ridiculous and then a song that was cut as a B-side became an overnight hit. The whole album went crazy. Soon enough we were rich and famous but then just as we were getting used to it, Miles died. He was electrocuted onstage by his mic, which should have been impossible. Long story short, we broke up and I bought the casino and I live there. For the last twenty years these things, hell hounds maybe, have followed me and the rest of the band. Sort of trailing in the shadows. Then my friend Dan got killed and then Brian –I am the only one left.” Jake stopped for a moment. He was thinking of Nadia now. What was this feeling? Tears? He hadn’t cried in decades. Clearing his throat but unable to keep the small crack from his voice he continued, “I have finally found love for the first time and I am just not ready to die. I can’t let my friends sit wherever they are, they deserve peace.”

Father Cresson moved around the desk and touched Jake. “I cannot break a deal with the devil without the blood seal that binds you. There is something special about you. You are more powerful than you know-”

Jake handed the surprised man a folded piece of paper. Confused Father Cresson shook it out, his eyes widening. He performed the sign of the cross over his chest. “Oh, merciful saints in heaven preserve me. I never thought I would ever see this in person. This is the original?”

“I have several more in a briefcase in my office, father. Most already called in. I want to break mine and see if I can negotiate to move them to a more peaceful place,” he said, looking up at the priest, who had gone white as his robe. “Can you help?”

The holy man nodded stiffly. “Yes. The demons cannot enter the church. It is Holy. I can break this seal and purify you. But as for the others- I could break the seals but without the purification I cannot guarantee the safety of the one’s already crossed over, they could be attacked and reclaimed easily.”

“Understood,” Jake stood. “What do I do?”

At the front of the church in the altar, Father Cresson put the paper into a silver bowl. His clear voice, speaking in tongues Jake didn’t understand, filled the church rafters and reverberated from the walls in such an eerie fashion, Jake had goosebumps. As he brought the sing-song prayer to an end, Jake felt a rumble. From the ground or from the church itself was unclear. Father Cresson lit incense in a tiny metal holder attached to a chain and began swinging it around until a choking cloud filled the room.

Satisfied that Jake was choking on the smoke, he began another sing-song prayer in a foreign tongue, holding out his hands. Jake watched intently, though his eyes stung and watered from the smoke. He wondered if something would appear in the mans hands. Nothing did and Jake was beginning to feel strange just watching from the side of the altar.

Father Cresson drew the prayers to a close the second time. “I will burn this seal. You are released from the binds of Satan. Repeat after me.”

Father Cresson recited a few words. Jake tried to pay attention but the words were coming so fast. He repeated them though, stumbling over only a few of the words. Just when he thought they’d never end, Father Cresson put down the Holy Book and lit a match. Speaking loudly in tongues he lit the paper on fire and watched it burn. When nothing but the ashes remained he turned to Jake with a small bottle of oil that he flung at him and then placed a small mark between his eyes. Jake felt almost dizzy, warmth enveloped him, almost a buzzing feeling. He was energized; he felt like he could take on anything right now.

“You are free. They cannot kill you as long as you believe and stand strong in the faith. I know it will be hard since you are new at it, but you must.” Father Cresson explained. “You have a strong spiritual presence of your own, did you know that?”

Jake raised a brow, “Like God or-”

“More like angels. You are a guardian, my boy. You only needed to be awakened. Go now. You will soon fight the battle of your life.” Father Cresson smiled. He was exhausted after all that, it had taken a lot of his energy to awaken and protect Jake. “When you get ready to move the souls from one place to the other, fetch me. I will be here all evening.”

Jake smiled and nodded, his eyes burning with a weird energy that he didn't know what to do with. Something had definitely awakened within him, but what? “Thank you, father.”