Chapter 4

When Mel’tek lunged, Demas screamed like a little girl.

The demon’s glistening talons was all Demas saw before the sharp tips pierced his side, gripping then flinging him over his shoulder. As he soared through the air, everything seemed the go still; the frozen look of horror contorting the faces of his brothers, and the woman pressed to a corner with wide watery eyes fixed on him and the dark grin on Mel’tek’s face.

Demas slammed to the ground, pain exploding at his wounded side upon impact. His jaw clamped over his tongue as he skidded and collided with a wall. The coppery taste of blood flooded his mouth as he groaned and tried hard to blink away the stars that dotted his vision. The demon was heading his way, he could see his bare feet approach in an unhurried gait.

“I and myself would enjoy this. It has been a while since we had so many toys to play with.”

Demas groaned again, fighting to sit up. A slow flow of blood was steadily soaking his side. He spat blood then gritted his teeth.

“I shocked you all to silence.” Mel’tek’s gravel-like voice held a proud tilt that seemed to snap his brothers out of their stupor. They rushed at him.

If the demon heard the sound of their approach, he did not let it stop his leisurely approach or wipe his grin for that matter.

When the first of his brothers, Joanan, got to him, Mel’tek slapped him away with a vicious backhand. Joanan slammed into the rest, causing them to tumble to the floor in a heap of limbs and confusion.

Mel’tek finally stopped in front of Demas and grabbed fistfuls of his robe. Lifting him clean off the floor, he stared at him with those black eyes. Demas blinked to tear himself from the hypnotic feeling it evoked.

“You are a foolish, foolish human and I will enjoy teaching you a lesson tonight.” Mel’tek smirked. Fangs flashed. “I have a sweet feeling generations to come would read of this moment and laugh.”

Demas trembled, his swollen jaw hurting too much to let him plead for his like. He could see it—sense it even. Mel’tek meant every word he said. The treat in his coal black eyes, the way his muscles seemed to move like something was roiling beneath the stretched skin… anticipating.

The woman whimpered in the background and Mel’tek snapped his attention to her. “You want to see something entertaining, mother?”

“No please…”

Mel’tek focused on Demas once more. “I would show you anyway.” 

Demas gulped. His brothers had gotten to their feet, but instead of coming to his aid, they rushed for the door. The blow of their betrayal could have hurt him if his terror wasn’t doing a better job.

“Don’t bother with the door.” The demon said, lethal gaze still pinned on Demas. “None of you can leave until I am done…until I get what I want.“

His brothers paid no heed to the demon’s words. They clamoured for the door, each fighting to get through. The door remained shut, refusing to budge.

Mel’tek chuckled again, then turned with Demas still in his grip. His sharp nails rent the garment as he pulled him forward, hardly allowing his foot gaze the floor. He stopped when he was fairly close to where his brothers still pressed against the door.

“Look at me.” Mel’tek commanded.

They obeyed, each reluctantly turning to face him.

“I told you, you insult me. I might take it kindly but I cannot say the same for myself.”

“I have encountered many, many exorcists but I have never come across a band as pathetic as you lots.” The demon spat and grabbed at the band across Demas’s forehead. The thing snapped away with a burn and the demon promptly chucked it into a dark corner of the room.

Through the blur of his sight, Demas saw his brothers foolishly take threatening steps forward. Their pride would kill them.

“Why don’t you come at me?” Mel’tek asked/

Don’t take the bait.

“Seven—” he looked down at Demas then shook his head “—no, six against one. Your number is far greater.”

Then they foolishly took the bait.

They rushed forward, bounding at Mel’tek with a mixture of fear and determination alight in their stupid—stupid eyes.

The demon stood firm, twisted his neck with a pop then loosened his shoulders. He swiftly grabbed the first that got to him by the lapel of his robe; it was Joanan. Slamming him to the ground, he snatched another. Levi’s scream was muffled by the clawed hand that latched on to his face. Mel’tek refused to let go even as the rest crashed into him. He remained an unyielding wall as he received showers of blows and kicks.

Finally seeming to get bored of their antics, he threw his arm in a wide arc, flinging Demas aside in the process. “I will take your strength.” Kenan and Amos went flying. “I will take your pride.” He easily flung Levi aside, discarding his body like a used towel. “I will bless the eyes of the world with the shame of your nakedness.”  Esli was the last standing. He trembled before the demon, eyes wide as he mumbled and tilted farther to the right.

Get away, boy.

 Mel’tek rushed forward and grabbed Esli before he could flee. The boy wailed and attempted to struggle free. The demon laughed, lifting their youngest brother by the tattered remains of his robe and flinging him about. Esli’s frame went slack as his tall frame hit the floor over and over.

At the sight, rage tore through Demas. He sprung to his feet and rushed at Mel’tek. Without turning, the demon easily clamped a large hand around his neck, stopping him dead on his track. His claws dug in. Demas eyes budged as his air supply ceased.

“You shouldn’t have come here, but the money tempted you.” When Mel’tek turned to him, his eyes promised pain. “You have given us a gift.”

Just as Demas tried to make sense of his statement, he was smashed to the ground right next to a very still Esli. Was he dead?

Then it all turned for the worse. The candles flickered and went out, then the flames awoke again. As the cycle continued, horrified shouts filled the room. Claws ripped through his skin, shredding his clothes in the process. Mel’tek tossed him upon the floor, upon his brothers, upon the basin. Water splashed. Confusion. It was as if he was going mad. Nothing made sense.

The pain was maddening. Every joint burned and his skin sang with the agony of numerous wounds. And blood… it was the only cloth still clinging to his body. Everything he had worn—the elaborate robes, Persian sandals, his perfectly woven silken sash—everything was destroyed. Now he lay naked on the floor, slipping on blood as he dragged his battered body towards the door.

Escape.

He knew it was futile, yet he hoped like a fool that the door would open when he reached it.

Just a little bit more.

The candles flicked off again. When the warm amber glow returned, Mel’tek was there, grinning down at him like a friendly demon.

“Have you learned? Be glad I killed none of you.” Then he strolled to the door, opening it with flourish.

“I believe there is an audience awaiting a parade.”

Demas looked beyond the door. People had indeed gathered. They would see him naked. No. He turned to his brothers and to his everlasting shame, they were also lacking any sliver of attire.

“Get out.” The demon’s voice was like a whip.

They pulled themselves to their feet. Demas noticed Esli. He stood straighter and with almost impossible ease. It seemed as though his body had received no damage from the bashing Mel’tek dealt him.

I will consider that later. Face this humiliation now.

When they stepped out, the shame was like a blanket—a blanket that offered no covering. They walked past donkeys pulling burdens, Roman soldiers speaking in their accursed tongue, and poor people—poor people everywhere laughing at them.

***

Mel’tek revelled in the silence, sitting on the floor with folded legs as he looked through the eyes of the new host. When his lid flew open, he settled coal black eyes on the small figure at the corner. The widow stood, her shawl falling away from her stringy brown hair.

“Fools.” She smirked as her eyes reflected the same black glint in Mel’tek’s. “You did well.”

“I know.” Mel’tek grinned. “Esli would be changing family soon.”

She chuckled, the sharp sound far removed from the trembling woman she pretended to be moments ago. “Make him meet us at the border of Jerusalem. We head East at the setting of the sun..”

“Yes, Myself,” Mel’tek answered with a broad satisfied grin on his lips.

The end.

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There you have it humans. I bet none of y’all saw that bit about the poor, weak mother being myself. Haha.

What do you think of the story? First work on exorcism. I doubt I’d write another, though.