Demon Hunters by JKMelby74 Page B

back up to me and
I was pretty sure my confusion wasn’t difficult to see. “Have a
seat,” I turned and saw a vacant chair nearby. I sat down and
continued trying to make sense of the situation. “We meet here for
dinner every now and then to discuss things. I find it’s easier and
far more productive to have certain conversations over a nice,
relaxing meal.” Jonathan said as if to answer a question I had
forgotten to ask. The others at the table had already begun eating.
I could hear the clink of silverware against fine China. I began to
realize there was light violin music playing from somewhere.
    “That’s great, but I need to talk to you
about,” I began but he quickly threw his hand up to stop me.
    “I know. The demon.”
    “Can you help me?”
    “I don’t know. We need to figure that out
now.”
    “How?”
    “Let me, Jonathan,” Lilith said. “I haven’t
had a chance to do this for years.” I looked over and her lips were
stretched into a wide grin. She held her hand out to me from across
the table. I looked to Jonathan and he nodded to me. I got up and
went over to Lilith. Her fingers wrapped around my hand like snakes
and her grip was stronger than I anticipated. “Very interesting,”
She closed her eyes and they fluttered gently and her grip
tightened. When I felt a bone breaking, I pulled free and fell to
the floor. I looked up at her and she was smiling down at me like
the cat that ate the canary. “Sorry. I should have warned you it
could get intense.”
    “What did you see?” Jonathan asked.
    “I’m not totally sure. It’s like nothing
I’ve seen before. His path diverges into two roads. Along one, I
see death and destruction. Horrible black skies and oceans of blood
and acid. Along another, I see salvation. Life. Love. I see great
promise in this one. Or the end of everything.”
    “What would you advise?”
    “I’m not sure. He could be worse than a
thousand plagues, or he could save countless lives. I think it
would be foolish to allow him to go and make those choices for
himself.”
    “Everyone has the born right to choose their
own path, Lilith. You know that as well as anyone.” It sounded
almost as if he were scolding her.
    “I realize that, but I think…” She started,
but Jonathan raised his hand up to silence Lilith’s protest. He
then turned his attention back to me.
    “And what do you want?”
    “I don’t know what’s going on here. Ivar
said you would be able to cure me. He said you could release me
from the demon.”
    “Is that why you are here?”
    “Yes!”
    “You, until now, have been blissfully
ignorant of your family’s history. You have come here to be freed
of a curse that was leveled upon your bloodline centuries ago. My
question to you would be are you sure you want this?”
    “Of course! My life has been Hell because of
that demon! If I don’t cut that cord now, it’s going to kill me! I
need to be freed! Now!” The sound of eating had stopped and I
noticed everyone at the table was staring right at me.
    “Life is complicated, Mr. Corba. We are
brought into it under different circumstances and we spend a good
amount of our lives dealing with those circumstances. For some,
it’s easy. For others, exceedingly difficult. Those who are tried
the hardest often find strength and purpose through their trials. I
admit that yours is a unique case. I can release you from the
demon, as you wish, but you must first decide if it’s really what
you want. It is only until we accept who we are, that life truly
begins.”
    “I didn’t come here to hear riddles.”
    “You may show yourself out now, Mr.
Corba.”
    “What?”
    “Our business is done. You are free of the
demon. As you wanted.”
    “Just like that?”
    “Just like that. I wish you luck.”
    “Thanks.” I then turned and left through the
door I had come in from.
    I emerged back in the church and I felt a
little different. The growing discomfort I had been suffering for
so long was