The Strange Cases of Detective Warren Stevens
The Strange Cases of Detective Warren Stevens
A Trap is Sprung
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Silus finishes setting his trap for Alex
As he thinks back to another trap and a painful memory.
Will he succeed in finally gaining his prize?
The following podcast is a work of fiction. All characters are the creation of Peter Williams. Any resemblance to someone living or dead is purely coincidental. Thank you. Alex approaches the cemetery unarmed and unaware of what Silas has up his sleeve. Because, as you kind of figured, Silas is setting a trap, hoping to return the favor for the one Alex had set for him. And Cassandra, you're melting away. And no one has splashed water on you. How ridiculous. As we turn to resolve an old conflict and set the tone for things to come. But before we do that, let me remind you that this podcast may contain images of graphic violence, adult situations, child endangerment, and of course, naughty, salty language. Now, a trap is set, a trap is sprung, and escape may be impossible. With look at that! Chapter 11! A trap is sprung! Silas adjusted the false apostle sitting on his workbench. It was the second one he had built, and based on what he had learned from the first, this one should be far more effective. He opens up the orb to reveal the empty cradle inside. Here, he had to be extremely careful. He picks up a piece of bone off the workbench and presses it into the cradle, and a spark of electricity burns the tips of his fingers as he does so. Damn it! Even in death, you're still a pain, Master Melis! He smiled at the irony. He had served Melus for 15 years, either as a spy or, and this may sound odd, as an office manager, arranging appointments with so-called Christian leaders and pastors, offering them their dark desires. They would usually sacrifice something that gave him access to their churches, their parishioners, and then he could feed them to his pet. The eternal worm that never dies, and neither do they. They burn in its stomach forever. Melus had been vanquished. But his bones, his bones would serve a new purpose. They would power his false apostles. The mistake he had made with the first one was using a fragment from Devin Winters. He wasn't a true demon, and well, that's another story. Turning the globe and closing it as he twisted it, it began to glow red. This should hold you in place, my darling Alex. Silas sneered. He had been so close to getting her. Josephine couldn't see past her own feelings and didn't realize how predators worked. Alex, however, did. She rejected everything he tried. Gifts, any attempt to get close, any attempt at even a conversation. She was cold and hard on him, and it wasn't just because the girl missed her father. He had even tried that angle. No, Silas had been blocked because Alex saw right through him. She couldn't hide her glee when the Sacred Dawn went to obtain him, with the very trap she had set for him. It had been a few days after Henry Bell had passed. Alex was placing flowers on his grave while Harmony, Josephine, and Rich were talking. Obviously, they were consoling poor Harmony. She had done her best to save Henry, and now she was alone in the world. Alex could feel Silas approaching and allowed him to place his hand on her shoulder. Alex, to his surprise, took it and leaned her head against his hand. Are you okay? Silas asked. Not really, Mr. Kelly. Henry was a good friend. I know, Silas replies. Your mother holds him in high regards and and poor Harmony. I hope one day I can find someone who will love me like that. Alex could almost see his smile, even though he wasn't looking at her. It was as if something slithered in the very air itself. Oh, I am sure you will. Silas turns Alex to him. You're beautiful. Smart and strong. Any man would be lucky to know you. You really think so? Alex looked up at him with wanting, lonely eyes. I know so. He produces a card. If you ever need to talk, I would be happy to spend time with you. You're so kind, Mr. Kelly. I would like that very much. Silas believed that he had finally cracked the code. The loss, another loss. Alex was feeling lonely, hurting. He couldn't help himself but to envision using that pain. A week later, the two of them sat across from each other at the Cat's cafe. She came in wearing a black dress with pink cherry blossom petals scattering across it, her blonde hair loose down, just reaching above her bare shoulders. Silas had to press his fork into his hand to contain his desires as her blue eyes met his own. I was surprised yet pleased when you called me Alex, Silas says, as Harmony places a cup of tea before him and then a cup of coffee before Alex. Silas then adjusts his green V-neck sweater and pulls his sleeve down a little further before reaching for the tea. Thank you, Harmony, he says, as Harmony nods and walks away. How's your mother? Silas asks. She's out of town, Alex replies. She went to visit her childhood home in Elwood. Oh. So she doesn't know we're meeting. I thought it might be best if it was kept private. Just between the two of us. Is that okay? Oh, uh yes, yes. And as long as you're comfortable with that. Alex reaches across the table and takes his hand. Yes, and I'm sorry I've been so cold to you. It's just I didn't want my desires to interfere with mom. But but I keep losing people, Mr. Kelly. Silas, please. I keep losing people. I feel so alone, so unloved. He tries to be coy about it, not to let on how truly excited he is. Her hand in his. Those longing eyes. Oh, to bet her would not only be wonderful, but it would take another tool out of the hands of the Sacred Dawn. Well, you know I care for you, Alex. And I understand I couldn't do anything with my own feelings until I understood your own. Yes. You're so A knife plunges through Silas's hand and he stands up with a shout. Alex presses the knife in harder as in a rare moment she lets loose on the man. You foolish shit, useless chip bag traitor! Bitch! Alex scatters a set of pictures onto the table around his bleeding hand. Pictures of Silas escaping to the tunnels near Tim Rogers' house. Pictures of Silas interacting with Mark, and even one where it's clear the shadow of Malus is encroaching on the wall. I knew you were a creeper, a pedo, but a traitor? What this will do to my mom? Fury raged in Alex's eyes as Silas pulls his bleeding hand up, leaving a chunk of burning flesh on the table between them. A forked tongue sloshes over his lips and extends in Alex's direction. I will leave your mom dead! He spats in a curse, intending to hurt Alex in more than just words, but in actuality, Alex jumps onto the table, knife to Silas's throat. You hurt her, and is nowhere on earth you will be safe. Silas begins to back out into the aisle where he senses two large figures behind him. Alex sneers. Did you think I wouldn't have backup? Chief Donaldson begins to grab his arm to cuff him when Rich jumps back. As Silas sheds not just his clothing, but his skin as well, and in his stead stands a giant snake. The snake flicks his tail, knocking Rich down. The other officer fires as it barrels past Alex and crashes through the window. Not to be outdone, Melody is standing outside on the curb with a long knife in her hand. Silas puts venom in her direction before aiming himself at a drainage pipe behind her. Melody steps to her left to avoid the venom, and immediately Silas plows himself into the drainage pipe, escaping Melody, Alex, and escaping Rich Donaldson, who had just raised his gun to fire. He was a dead shot, but he didn't want to risk Melody or Alex moving into his sights. Damn it! Alex swears. All eyes turned to her. Until today, they had never heard her curse. Silas frowns at the memory. He still had to keep the one hand covered from where she had struck him with the knife. Now, with his false apostle, he should be able to return the favor. Finally completed, he exits the mausoleum, checking his phone for messages. He knew Alice would be here soon. So he looks around, wondering where he should place this. Throwing the device at her wouldn't work. She could move lightning fast. No, he'd need to place it someplace where she couldn't resist being. Ah, of course. Right underneath me. I will be my own bait. Now where to wait that will look as if I'm ready for a fight. Eyeing the road, the walkway, and the various grave markers, he spies one that suits his fancy. A pale, barkless tree on the edge of the cemetery hung over the edge the same way the half a dozen turkey vultures sat waiting in its dead branches, as if sensing something fresh to eat was nearing. Silas smiled. A dead tree for a dead girl, and soon a dead world. Eyeing the tree, he spies a hole where a branch has snapped off, and Silas places the false apostle inside. Now to climb up and he hears a car fast approaching off the highway, making sure he has one of Cassandra's cursed daggers, he climbs up and settles into one of the thick lower branches. Alex doesn't need to see Silas. She can feel him. Was it because of the time they had spent together? Or because she had spent time on the other side of the gate? Or maybe it was a residual effect from partnering with Sam. Whatever the reason, she could already feel her skin crawling. That, and something else, a nagging feeling. I better be careful. Parking the car away from the cemetery, she spies the tree Silas had prepared a few minutes earlier. No weapons, just her training. This wouldn't be easy. Silas, if he takes that snake form again, would have a physical advantage. Speed would still be on her side, but I really better be careful, she says again. She checks her cell phone one last time. Nothing. Warren, Dad, was still out of touch, and for some reason, that too felt like a shadow on her heart. She had rushed here without thinking things through, and she wasn't sure if backup was coming. She looked at the pale dead tree. Its aura had blackened to a dark purplish color. Something was manifesting a tremendous amount of evil energy. Alex, young lady, you are definitely walking to a trap. She walked carefully between the grave markers, taking in everything she could: stones, flowers, trees, and a large holly bush that created a natural fence line along the hill. That's it. An unseen weapon. Walking towards it, she looked for a good-sized branch, one that she could snap off. Finally, she broke about a three-foot piece of branch off and while walking, she began to strip the thorny green leaves and bright red berries. It's no Aus Delection, but slowly, carefully, without letting Silas see, she began to send spiritual energy into the branch. Reaching the foot of the tree, she stops and looks up at the gaunt, pale face of Silas Kelly. Your stink is worse than any of the rotting corpses here, Silas. Why don't you come down and we'll pick up where I left off? And spoil my fun? Come on, girl. I've always dreamed of you chasing me, and now I'll at least get that. I have a better idea, Silas. She takes the branch she had been charging and places it against the trunk of the tree. An explosive blue light runs up the tree and Silas lets out a yelp as it forces him off his branch. He was now falling downwards towards the waiting Alex, and with the false apostle being in the tree, was there anything he could do? Then, as if his prayers were answered, the energy Alex used to knock Silas off sets off the false apostle. Demonic energies surge out of the tree trunk, knocking Alex back onto the hard ground. Silas takes advantage of the chaos to throw a dagger at Alex, nailing her in the left shoulder, causing her to stumble back a second time. Silas looks at her pained yet beautiful face and starts approaching. Not so smug without that sword, are you? Alex pulls the cursed dagger from her shoulder, but as she does so, it lets out a charge, and this time, Alex falls back unconscious. Silas looks down longfully and begins to think of all the things he could do to her in this state. However, another presence to his right makes him stop. Don't spoil her just yet, Silas. We need her unique attributes to open the gate. Silas looks back at Cassandra. She was standing triumphant on the hillside. She hadn't forged a new body. She had taken one from oh, well, isn't that interesting? Alex could still hear voices as she fought against the poison running through her veins. It was strong. She had figured Silas had placed something in or around the tree, but never expected a flashback. Now it was as if she was swimming in mud. The last time she had felt this way was when she had begun to fade in the other dimension. Her mind kept processing options, none of them good. And then she was standing someplace, it was familiar, but not someplace she had been before. The air was sweet, full of the scent of flowers. A gentle warm breeze blew, and all types of birds could be heard singing. And just off to her right was a large cherry blossom tree with a swing, and next to that, a man in an oversized trench coat wearing a fedora. Alex? Cursed! Oh me! Oh my! But who could blame her when she's dealing with such a snake? Literally. Yet she has been caught, and Silas drools over the possibilities. But Cassandra does stop him. Wait, did we miss something? Cassandra is back in full form? How? Why? Find out in chapter twelve. One person's poison is another's salvation.