Page 1 of My Demon Desire
CHAPTER1
ANNALISE
Pain hits the healed burn marks on my arm like it always does when something’s about to go wrong. I quickly give the customer her iced caramel latte before I drop it. The woman nods a thank you and hustles out the door.
I lean against the counter as the pain slowly ebbs, watching my two co-workers finish their customer's orders.
“Hey, didn’t your shift end half an hour ago?” Rachel brushes her blonde hair out of her eyes and places her hand on her hip over the company apron we both wear.
“Yeah.” I shrug. “But the two o’clock rush came late. I didn’t want to leave you two in a bind.”
George laughs. “Better not let the boss lady know, she hates us getting overtime.”
“I’ll take an extra-long lunch break tomorrow, okay?” I grab my purse from under the counter and wave bye to my co-workers then slip out the back door of the coffee house.
With a whispered prayer, I dig my cell out of my pocket. Still no messages from Dad. The warm summer breeze tickles the back of my neck.
I tap Dad's name on my phone and feel like I'm holding my breath with each ring until it goes to voicemail like it has lately.
"Hey, Dad, it's me." I bite my lip, trying to think of what else to say. Last time I talked to him, he'd been mumbling about an ancient ritual he'd found online. I should've paid more attention, stayed with him longer to make sure he was okay. We used to talk every day, but now I've not heard from him in a week. A chill skates down my spine and clamps around my stomach. "I'm on my way over."
My hand shakes and I click ‘end call’, letting out a shaky breath.
It's been a month since Mom died. Every morning before sunrise, she would jog down the road to the park. The drunk driver hadn't even stopped when he hit her. I squeeze my eyes shut, pushing down the pain.
She'd been taken so suddenly, that I still wake thinking she is alive only to have the bitter sorrow slam into me almost immediately.
I open my eyes and blink back tears as I hop into my Jeep. Traffic is light as I drive down the road to my parent's house. My stomach is in knots at the image of my dad doing something dangerous and all I can think of is getting to him in time.
"Please let him be okay," I chant as I weave through traffic. Worry and dread weigh down my chest and I feel like I can't breathe right.
Pulling into the driveway, I can't keep my nerves from jittering up and down my arm. I walk up to the house and pause because all the curtains are closed. Strange. My dad is always one to let in as much natural light as possible. After I knock and there's no answer, I unlock the door and step inside.
"Dad?" I call out, my stomach tightening.
But instead of a response, I'm greeted with a shocking sight.
In the middle of the living room is my mom's body, lying on the floor inside a pentagram that has been meticulously carved into the wood floor.
I cry out, covering my mouth with both hands, and my knees hit the floor. A wave of horror washes over me, and I can't believe what I'm seeing. Mom had a funeral! She’d been buried!
Her skin is gray and her feet are bare, swollen. Her toes are black. A distinct scent of graveyard and formaldehyde are choking the air, and I gag.
Oh my god, did he dig up her body? Is he actually trying to bring her back to life?
My dad is standing over her, reading from an ancient-looking book. And all around them are black candles, flickering ominously in the dim light and casting eerie shadows along the walls.
"What the hell are you doing?" I shake my head, lowering my hands into fists.
He turns to me with a wildness and desperation in his eyes. "Shush," he says urgently. "You'll ruin everything."
I clench my fists tighter, trembling. "Are you insane?" My voice echoes off the walls of the living room. "You needed help, Dad. Mom's gone..." I hiccup a cry, feeling like I'm going to vomit. "She's gone and we can't bring her back."
The words are barely out of my mouth when a chilly wind howls around us, snuffing out the candles.
Above us, a dark cloud swirls, sucking up loose papers and candles. I gape at it, thinking I've fallen asleep and don't know I'm dreaming.
A split second later, my father is yanked into the darkness in the center of the ceiling. He screams and I dive for him, grasping onto his leg.
