Chapter 10
521 Words
"Over there," Anthony pointed to the concrete wall under the overpass. "She made some kind of portal there."
Father Thomas moved his hands across the wall. He stopped when he found what he was looking for.
"Ah, well done Mr. Harvey. There are definitely magical remnants of a portal here."
The priest turned to Anthony. "Thank you for coming forward with this, Mr. Harvey. Succubi are a blight upon this world, seeking only to consume all in their path. You'd best leave now. If she sees you here, she will not hesitate to kill you."
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Anthony asked, pretending to be concerned for his safety.
"I've been ridding the world of demons all my life. I'll be fine. Go now -- it's too dangerous for you here."
Anthony nodded. "Good luck, Father Thomas." You'll need Anthony thought to himself.
Anthony walked to his car and drove off, leaving Father Thomas to his fate.
The priest fingered the prayer beads that hung from his neck. He mumbled an arcane incantation. An eerie subsonic note filled the aural space. Purple glyphs appeared and spun clockwise. The portal to Angel's lair dilated open. With his beads in one hand and a golden sacrificial dagger in the other, Father Thomas stepped through the demonic gateway.
Once inside, Father Thomas warily looked around. The tidy room seemed empty. Father Thomas grasped his beads and thrust his dagger into the air.
"Show yourself, demon!" he shouted as a magical pulse shook the room.
Nothing happened. She was not here. "On a hunt perhaps,"he thought.
"You! You there! Help me! Please!"
Father Thomas turned toward the sound of a woman's voice. He saw a very young blonde-pigtailed girl chained to the wall. She wore a parochial school uniform. Her wrists were cuffed high above her head while her feet were cuffed at the ankles over her knee high socks.
With prayer beads and dagger in hand, Father Thomas carefully approached the girl dressed in the white button-up shirt and plaid skirt. This was surely a trap.
"Please! Help me!" she pleaded again.
Father Thomas touched the girl's forehead with his prayer beads. Nothing happened. She was human and very much alive. He unfastened the cuffs, freeing the girl.
"Oh thank you! Thank you!" the girl said, hugging Father Thomas and sobbing into his chest.
"What is your name? I am Father Thomas." he asked.
"Tracy," she replied. "I was on my way home from a friends house after making plans for our senior prom and then some lady jumped me. Next thing I know, I'm trapped here."
He grabbed her by the hand, "We need to get out of here Tracy, quickly!"
Father Thomas put his hand to the wall and the portal reopened. He stepped through pulling her with him.
"Whoa! That is some door!"
Father Thomas' mind was more focused on getting her to safety than trying to explain the intricacies of magic portals.
"Quick, get in my car. We must make it to my church. You'll be safe there."
The priest and Tracy entered the black Oldsmobile and sped off.
- Writer
