The Devil's Apprentice by Patrick Stewart (polar express read aloud TXT) 📕

“What’s that supposed to mean? It’s about a merchant that has to save the princess. It has dragons, sorcerers, giants and two-headed lizard men. What more does it need to qualify for the fantasy genre?”

That sounded like something Alex would read. “I only read one chapter,” he told her. “And uh… it was about a woman who’s at the beach and she…”

“And she what?” Chrissy asked impatiently. Her cheeks suddenly reddened. “Oh… I sent you the wrong story.”

Yup, Alex figured that was what had happened. He wanted to put her at ease, so he said, “Your writing is very good. The scene setting was brilliant. It was like I was there.”

Chrissy mumbled something incoherent, then cleared her throat. “There on the beach as the girl stripped and lay exposed, waiting to be taken?” there was a sparkle in her eyes.

Whilst reading the story, he’d imagined Chrissy taking her clothes off. He saw her lying on the soft cold sand naked, her skin pale, smooth. She’d always been cute, like the very fuckable librarians. She was his first crush too. Now she appeared to be flirting with him. Her eyes didn’t have that hazed look. She was not under the influence of his aura.

Alex was thinking of something witty to say back when Chrissy glanced past him and waved. He looked back to see a familiar, if unwelcome figure step out of a red Mercedes Benz. Jamie wore skinny black jeans, a white vest and black shades. His hair was black, his exposed skin was red. He was all demon.

Jamie didn’t seem that big as he walked into the cafe. Alex had grown taller and his arms were as big, if not bigger. The demon did not intimidate him. But he didn’t seem to notice Alex either. Jamie stopped by the counter opposite Madeline. Her eyes glazed, he grabbed her by the hair and kissed her deeply.

Chrissy should have been furious, but she watched on with a lopsided smile. Alex noted the lack of clarity in her eyes. Jamie was using a form of hypnosis, one more powerful than Alex’s aura. His dislike for the demon increased. He wanted to march up to him and pummel him with his new found strength. He held back his anger and waited.

Jamie held Madeline by the hair and whispered something in her ear. She nodded whilst smiling. He let go of her hair, sneering as he walked down the cafe. Chrissy climbed to her feet, her arms spread out, she rushed to hug him.

Jamie was much taller than her. Chrissy stood on tiptoe as they kissed. He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her in. With his other hand, he squeezed her ass as he lazily glanced past her.

Alex wondered if the demon recognised him, if Jamie knew that he was a Demon Hunter now. If he did, he didn’t seem to care. It was illegal for demons to interfere or interact in the affairs of humans, to use their powers over said humans. Jamie had no remorse or fear in the balls of black that were his eyes.

“Alex is a writer too,” Chrissy said.

“Yeah?” Jamie asked, obvious derision in his tone. “What are you writing about, Alex?”

He wasn’t going to answer that. There was a higher chance of him punching Jamie in the face.

“He writes fantasy,” Chrissy answered. The lopsided smile gone, she stared at him with intrigue.

“What do you do, Jamie?” Alex asked.

The demon smiled. It was fitting, appropriately evil. “Hey babe, wait for me in the car. I’ll only be a moment.”

Without any objection, Chrissy grabbed her laptop and handbag, then turned and strode out of the cafe.

“You’re a Demon Hunter.”

Alex nodded. “I might be new, but isn’t hypnotising humans the sort of crime that gets you sent back to hell?”

Jamie spread his arms out, laughing. “You want to send me to hell?”

Alex’s hands into curled into fists. Jamie wasn’t even denying it, the arrogant fucker. The only thing stopping him from striking was the uncertainty. How exactly was he supposed to send the demon back to hell? Did he have to kill him? Could he kill him? Alex didn’t have any weapons on him. A fist fight with Jamie, how strong were demons?

“Didn’t think so,” Jamie said, his arms falling by his sides. “I can do whatever I want with Chrissy, or the whore working here. Maybe later tonight I’ll enjoy them both. There’s something you should know, Alex. You don’t have authority over me. I can do whatever I want. I could kill a human, and you can’t touch me. Ask Satani. She’ll tell you. That’s if she has time to see trash like you.”

And with that, Jamie turned and left. Alex watched as the demon passed Madeline. Her eyes still glazed, she waved at him. He ignored her. The little bell on the door rang as Jamie stepped out. He climbed into his car and revved the engine before roaring off.

Alex wished he’d punched him.

Chapter 17

The week that followed wasn’t eventful. Alex went to the café a few of times to do some writing. He didn’t cross paths with Chrissy or her demon boyfriend. Madeline was almost normal around him. She managed to keep her skirt on. Maybe his aura was fading. Or maybe he just wasn’t in the mood for sex.

Karen came to see him a few times. She was supposed to take him to the Red House of Satan to choose a weapon. Alex told her he wasn’t going to do that. He didn’t owe the devil any loyalty like the rest did. Satani stole his soul. She didn’t exchange it for anything. Demon Hunters were assholes. Alex wasn’t going to be one. Surprisingly, Karen didn’t press the issue. She told him to take his time and think it