Page 92 of Coven of Corpses

It was a sheriff's deputy. Male, tall, muscular. Cody didn't recognize him, but he moved with an unnatural grace that made the hair on the back of Cody’s neck stand up.

"The demon found a new host," he said, taking another step back from the window.

“Who is it?" Clarabell asked, trying to see the edge of the parking lot.

They watched as Baron raised his hands defensively. His lips were moving, probably casting a spell, but the deputy kept advancing.

"He's trying to fight it," Tracey said.

"Good," Cody said. "Maybe they'll take each other out and save us the trouble."

The deputy lunged forward with incredible speed, grabbing Baron by the throat and hoisting him into the air, kicking frantically.

"Jesus," Jugs breathed, watching over Tracey's shoulder. "That's not something you see every day.”

"The demon's getting stronger, too," Clarabell said.

Baron broke free, a burst of energy sending the deputy staggering backward. Baron levitated again and hung in the air. His hands moved in complex patterns, and the air around him shimmered and distorted.

The demon laughed, the sound carrying through the glass and sending shivers up Cody’s back.

"You think your little parlor tricks can bind me?" the demon called, its voice unnaturally deep coming from the deputy's mouth. "I walked this earth for centuries before I was imprisoned. I was bound by five, and only five can bind me again."

Baron shouted something back they couldn't hear through the glass. Whatever it was, it made the demon laugh harder.

"They're arguing over who gets to kill us," Demmy said.

"Not exactly," Tracey replied, watching the confrontation. "Baron still wants to control the demon. The demon wants his freedom."

Outside, the battle escalated. Baron hurled balls of purple light at the demon, who dodged most of them with inhuman speed. One caught the deputy in the shoulder, spinning him around. He turned back in a crouch, the material of his shirt burned at the point of impact.

"How do you trap a demon, anyway?" Greg asked.

"According to the records," Clarabell said, stuffing her binder back inside the messenger bag, "the original coven used a combination of blood magic and consecrated ground."

"Blood magic?" Jugs said. “The fuck?”

"Just a drop from each descendant," Clarabell assured him. "Nothing extreme."

A crash from outside drew their attention back to the window. The demon had thrown Baron against a parked car, shattering the windshield. Baron rolled off the hood, his movements now more sluggish.

"He's losing," Demmy said, making a face. “I almost feel sorry for him.”

“I don’t.” Tracey’s tone was flat. “He released that thing. He deserves every ounce of pain he receives.”

"We need to go," Clarabell said. "Now. While they're distracted.”

Cody watched out the window as Baron crouched by the car he had hit, flinging balls of energy at the deputy. “Head for the back door. I’ll watch until everyone’s in the car.”

"We need to get to Margie's and pick her up, then head to the old church site,” Demmy said.

They moved as a group, gathering their belongings as quickly and quietly as possible. Cody made sure his parents were first out the door, then turned away to keep watch. The group sounded much too loud to him, and he hoped like hell the fuckers out front were too wrapped up in their fight to notice. Someone came up behind and took his hand. It was Demmy.

“Ready?” Demmy said.

“Not really.”

“Yeah, me neither. I’ll drive the Cadillac. Do you want to go with Jugs, Clarabell, and Tracey?”