Amber by Dan-Dwayne Spencer (e book reader .TXT) 📕

“Does your master live?”

“Yes, but his power has depleted. Phoenix’s magnificent flame has burned out. He is reborn fragile, helpless, and powerless,” the demon replied.

I turned to Roger, “Is that true?”

“From everything I’ve read in this book I’m holding, these demonized minions have very little mind of their own. They are hive-minded, linked with their angel.” Roger paused in thought. “If his minions don’t know where Phoenix is, then no one would.”

Walking to the police car, I put my hands on the hood and focused my gaze on the Demon. “Where is Phoenix now?”

“He resides at The Cumberland Circus of the Bizarre.”

I thought for a minute, before commanding, “By the word of the prophet, I break your allegiance with Phoenix. You obey me now. Do you understand?”

The demon sheriff’s anger subsided. His confusion ceased and focus re-entered his grotesque face. He had a purpose again. With conviction, he aimed his words directly at me, “I obey the prophet.”

“When you have released the girl named Rose and surrendered this form, return to the carnival. Find a new form to inhabit there.” A thought came to me. “Find Homer the frontman for the Hoochie Coochie and possess him. Do not allow the man called Kelly Carter to be harmed. It’s now your duty to protect him—forever.”

The Sheriff didn’t say a word, but got in his cruiser and left.

Roger whistled and said, “An eternal protector for a guy who will live forever in a cursed carnival. I wish I’d thought of that.”

Silently, I asked Mr. Dark, “Do you think it worked?”

“If it didn’t, you’re not out anything and if it did, you’re way ahead.”

“I’ll have to wait till I get back to the commune to find out,” I mused.

“Yes, you will.” Dark paused. “Phoenix lied to you with every other breath, but the one thing he didn’t lie about is that Ishtar is coming. That was her sword. What he didn’t say was how neck-deep his involvement in the ushering went. Ishtar made a deal with him. She would give him the power to break his bond and in return, he would usher in the antichrist’s herald.”

“How do you know this?” I asked.

“I didn’t leave Phoenix’s tent when you did. I overheard the conversation between the good Sheriff and the angel.”

“And, why haven’t you told me about this before now?”

“There was no need. You were doing fine.”

“Mr. Dark, shut the hell up,” I commanded.

Stoney ran to where I stood by the police cruiser as it slowly pulled away with the sheriff at the wheel. “Where does he think he’s going? I’m going to chop him into little pieces.”

I stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “Let him go. I’ve broken his allegiance to Phoenix and taken control of him.”

“I don’t like this plan of yours. You can’t trust demons. They don’t pledge, they lie. This is going to blow up in your face and I won’t be there to protect you next time.” Stoney replied.

“If he does half of what I commanded him to do, it will solve many of our problems for us,” I answered.

Flower rushed to me, and said, “Stoney’s right. Why didn’t you send him back to Hell? The last thing you need is a demon servant.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I insisted. “Believe me, I don’t think we will have any more trouble with Sheriff Briggs.”

Jimmy waltzed over carrying Ishtar’s broken sword.

Roger said, “That’s not a souvenir. It’s dangerous.”

“Yeah. A dangerous souvenir,” Jimmy answered as he propped it across his shoulders.

I punched Jimmy on the shoulder. “You did good, big guy.” I smiled. “When did you figure out your size is what marks you as surely as my amber eyes marks me? Those extra big muscles are a part of your gift.”

“About an hour and a half ago,” he said. “When I looked down and saw that translucent, electric blue armor over my clothes.”

“Look who’s special now.” I gave Jimmy another arm punch.

“That was some toss,” Jimmy laughed. “I told you, you have a great arm for football.”

“Stoney, will the van start?” Flower asked. “Do you think it can get us back to the commune?”

“Only one way to find out,” Stoney replied.

Jimmy took time to search for the officer’s gun and found it behind a four-foot-tall statue of a weeping angel. He returned it to the rookie cop who looked more confused than ever.

We all piled in the VW, even the rookie jumped in with us. Waiting for Stoney to get the van going, the officer finally had time to introduce himself. His name was Jeremy Barrett.

Officer Barrett eventually asked, “What just happened? Were those actual monsters outside the cemetery?” He hesitated before finishing his thought. “Is that what you were running from when you went on your crazy driving spree?”

Flower took the officer’s hand, and his whole countenance changed. He calmed down and listened. “Yes, we were running from those monsters. They are demons and they are still out there somewhere.” She put a hand on his cheek. “Listen to me very carefully, your partner and his friend are bloodthirsty demons, and you need to be aware of it. I’m sure they will ask you to do things—evil things. Resist them and when they see you won’t follow them, they will leave you alone. It is written, Resist the devil, and he will flee. Without their angel’s power fueling their evil, they won’t harm you.”

“Who was that crazy guy with the wings and a sword? Was he a demon too?” He put his hands to the side of his head and shivered. “Oh gosh, I have to tell someone about what I saw or I’ll go bonkers.”

Flower put her hands over his and pressed them close to his head. “Calm