Blessed by Ann Mayburn Page A

only religious class I’ve ever taken and we’re talking about earth goddesses, not demons.” The other woman gave her an openly disbelieving look. “Check my student file, I’m telling you the truth. I have no idea what the fuck is going on. One minute I’m jogging, the next second some demon dude is attacking me, and now you’re accusing me of…well I have no idea what you’re accusing me of, but I didn’t do anything and you’re pissing me off.”
    She didn’t mean to say the last part aloud, but she was getting pissed. This was such bullshit. She didn’t ask for this and she certainly didn’t deserve this antagonistic questioning.
    Finally, Mrs. Bherz sighed. “I believe you. You're holding something back, but it's not about the Satanist.”
    “I’m telling you the truth.” Eliana curled her toes in her wet shoes and a shudder wracked her muscles at the memory of being stuck in the mud and watching the demon dog approaching her, seeing her death in jaws. “How did you get rid of him? He seemed scared of you.”
    Sipping at her tea again as if they were having a normal, civilized conversation, Mrs. Bherz said, “I teach a course on demonology at the university where you're a student. Taking care of demons is what I do. What I live for.”
    “Oh,” she mumbled before she drained the last of her coffee. She stood and placed the now-wet blanket across the back of the chair to dry off, eager to get the hell out of here. The other woman seemed to flip flop between anger and calm too quick for Eliana’s liking. “Thank you for saving my life.”
    Mrs. Bherz took their empty mugs to the sink and rinsed them out. “My god has his eye on you. I trust his judgment, and he brought you to me for some reason. I'm going to do my best to honor his will and help you as I can.”
    She didn't know what to say to that. It was impossible to deny now the Gods of Creation were real, as were the Gods of Destruction. And she was hopelessly ignorant of both. After she got out of here and someplace safe she and Aiden were going to have a long talk.
    Mrs. Bherz turned around as she dried her hands on a small blue towel. “Off with you now. I'll be looking for you at the university. Try to stay away from demons. Once they become interested in you, it's hard to keep them away. Nasty things can happen to your loved ones if you're not careful.”
    Something about the other woman’s statement prickled at her. “What do you mean?”
    Placing the towel back near the sink, Mrs. Bherz closed her eyes and gripped her hands together. “When I was a young girl I had an aunt who liked to dabble in the black arts. She thought she could control the demons she summoned, that she was powerful enough to contain them. Unfortunately for her, and for the rest of her village, one night she lost control and a demon broke free. It managed to slay half her village, starting with the children, before a creation Chosen was able to defeat it.” Mrs. Bherz closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “My cousins were among the first killed and I swore then that I would do everything I could to make sure that those who consort with demons were brought to justice.”
    “I…I’m sorry for your loss.”
    Opening her eyes, Mrs. Bherz visibly gathered herself. “Yes, well that is the past and this is the present. Off with you now. I’m sure you’re eager to return to school.”
    “Thanks again for saving me.” Eliana moved quickly towards the door, wanting to get home, take a shower, eat a whole bunch of chocolate, and have a small nervous breakdown.
    Mrs. Bherz's voice stopped her as she opened the door. “Eliana, if I find out you lied to me and you are working with demons…you will be very, very sorry.”
    Eliana gaped at her, but Mrs. Bherz turned her back and began to make another pot of tea. Eliana shut the door and slogged through the wet woodchips to her car, more eager than ever to go home and she fervently hoped she never saw Mrs. Bherz