The Diablo Horror (The River Book 7) Read Free Page B

know when it happens,
because it’ll bug the hell out of you to do it. Ease up on him when it does,
and be supportive.
    I’m always supportive.
    Not always. You’re a Hall, so you’re obstinate as hell.
    “Dad?” Roy heard Steven calling from the house.
    “Coming!” Roy shouted back.
    Time to go, Roy thought. Thanks for the advice.
    At least I’m doing somebody some good, stuck down here.
    You sure you don’t want me to dig you out and give you a
proper burial? Roy
asked.
    No, Thomas answered. I’m enjoying these conversations with you. If you gave me a
proper burial, I’m afraid I might cross over and we’d never speak again until
you pass. I don’t mind being right here for now. Leave me be.
    Alright , Roy said as the effect of the dirt began to fade and opaqueness
returned. Talk to you later.
    I’ll be here.
     
    ◊
     
    Steven woke to the sound of someone banging loudly on his
front door. He checked his watch – it was nine a.m. He got out of bed, threw on
a robe, and walked to the door. It was Jason.
    “Did you forget?” Jason asked, walking in the house past his
father.
    “I did,” Steven said, closing the door and following Jason
inside. “Breakfast, right?”
    Jason fell onto the couch in the living room. “Breakfast,
then lake fishing.”
    “Something came up,” Steven said. “I should have called you,
but I forgot. I have an appointment this morning, so I can’t do anything until
this afternoon. How about lunch, then fishing?”
    Steven rubbed his eyes, trying to wake up. Jason didn’t
respond.
    “How about that instead? Jason?”
    He lowered his hands and looked at Jason, who was sitting
still as a statue on the couch. As he watched, Jason began to lift from the
couch, floating a couple of inches off the cushion.
    “Jason?”
    At first he thought Jason was back under the control of the
Callers, from St. Thomas. Then he heard a familiar voice behind him.
    “He’s fine,” the voice said. He turned to see Aka Manah
standing behind him. “He can’t hear or see us. Now, do you have my objects?”
    Steven considered exchanging words with the demon over
Jason’s condition, but he thought better of it and decided to simply accelerate
things along. “The boxes there in the dining room,” Steven said. “There are
fourteen objects, that’s all I could find. Take them and go.”
    Aka Manah walked to the table and opened the boxes,
inspecting the contents. He seemed pleased as he reviewed several of the items,
but he grew increasingly upset as he went from box to box.
    “There’s only thirteen items here,” the man said, turning to
Steven. “Where is the Agimat?”
    “The what?” Steven asked, walking to the boxes.
    “The Agimat? Silver, with blood markings in the center.”
    Steven thought. He removed the list from one of the boxes and
began reviewing the items he’d checked off. “Necklace, necklace…a metal
medallion, hanging from a leather string. Dark red markings. Yes, I checked it
off, I brought it, it’s here.” He began reviewing the items in the boxes, one
by one. It wasn’t there. He counted the objects, coming up with thirteen.
    “You lost it?” the man asked.
    “No, it was here,” Steven said, panicking, going back through
each box, checking under some of the larger objects. “I know it was here. I
placed it in the box myself.”
    “Perhaps your father took it.”
    “No, he wouldn’t do that. He only helped me carry the boxes,
he didn’t touch the objects. I’m sure of it.”
    “Then give me a moment,” the man said, and his body shifted
into its natural form, growing taller. Steven saw the same figure he’d seen in
his bedroom weeks before, with wooden horns emerging from its head and a dark
leathery skin. The last time he’d seen the demon in this form, it had an erect
phallus, but this time it was soft and large. Steven immediately felt
uncomfortable. He likes me feeling uncomfortable , Steven thought. It’s
all about power with this fucker.