Copyright © 2019 James Russell Stoakes. All rights reserved.
https://JamesStoakes.com
“So refresh my memory,” Jarred said and laughed. “It looks like I will be saying that a lot until we figure out my problem. What’s my quota?” he asked.
Tina, the demon that took over Emma’s body, put a finger to his lips. “Rest a little longer,” she whispered, “Recuperate.”
Jenny was laying next to him as well, she was worn out too, she heard him, but didn’t answer. His new strength extended into other areas as well, his hunger, his lust, and his stamina were off the charts. Two demon-possessed women were almost not enough to satisfy him now. He took Tina’s advice and dozed off for another hour.
When he next awoke and thought about getting up, he just pushed Tina and then Jenny off of the bed. “Rise and shine,” he said. “Let’s see if I can at least break even on my quota by the end of the day.”
Both Jenny and Tina groaned at being forcibly removed from the bed. Pleasures like these were not enjoyed in Hell, only when they were allowed to wear a humans body on earth.
“Good idea, once that’s done, we can work on the other ten thousand evil souls,” Jenny said, answering his earlier question. “That is your quota to return home.”
“Oh, that’s all? We won’t even have to leave Boston then,” he concluded. “Why so few?”
Jenny laughed again. “Are you sure your memories are not returning? That sounded a lot like your dad.”
Jarred finished dressing quickly. “Let’s get started killing,” he announced gleefully. “I’m itching to try out the new and improved me.”
“Hold on there, killer,” Jenny called pulling her skirt up over her bare hips. “There are a few things you need to learn before we hit the pavement.”
“Like what?” Jarred asked impatiently.
“Like how to identify evil,” Jenny mocked.
Jarred scoffed. “Why are we killing evil people anyway? You never said,” he asked. “It feels a lot like we are helping the causes of good and it doesn’t make sense to me.”
“It’s a test,” Jenny explained. “You and several of your brothers have been sent out to collect souls to add to Hell’s army. Your efforts will be judged when your quota is met.”
“A test?” Jarred asked. “How will I be judged?”
“I assume by how fast you achieve the quota,” Tina interjected.
“Knowing your father, there is probably more to it than that,” Jenny said, pulling on her flats.
“Sorry I asked,” Jarred said. “So, how do I identify evil?”
“Look at me,” Jenny said.
“Okay,” he said and stared at her.
“No, no. Look at my soul!” Jenny shouted.
“How do I do that?” Jarred asked. “Wait, didn’t you say you didn’t have a soul?”
“Bright boy!” Jenny laughed. “Concentrate and look at me. Souls have a color. What color do you see emanating around me when you concentrate?”
Jarred concentrated and looked at her again. “This is silly,” he said and suddenly said, “Whoa. Black lines radiate out from you,” he answered. He looked to Tina, “She has the same effect around her.”
“Good, now you can identify one of the soulless when you see them. Demons from Hell, on earth,” Jenny said. Tina Grinned.
“We ready?” Tina asked. “Let’s take him for a test run.”
“One more thing first,” Jenny said. “Feel free to kill aura’s of yellow, orange, or the most desired shade of evil, shades of red. These will count towards your quota.”
“So when you look at my soul,” Jarred asked, “What shade of red do you see?”
“I see a light pink,” Tina laughed.
Jarred frowned at the imagery, and Jenny laughed. “She’s kidding with you, demon spawn. You don’t have a soul.”
“Let’s get to the important stuff,” Jarred grinned. “How do I make her writhe in pain?”
“That would be fun, wouldn’t it,” Jenny laughed as Tina licked her lips seductively to tease him, “but your powers are a bit limited here.”
“Like my ability to possess someone?” Jarred asked.
“Correct,” Jenny answered. “That should be fixed now. I suspect you will be able to possess someone as long as you need to now.”
“I still feel cheated that I cannot satisfy my urge to punish Tina right now,” Jarred complained.
“Nothing is stopping you. There is always the old fashioned way,” Jenny said with a gleam in her eye.
Jarred smiled with understanding and stepped towards Tina with a menacing glower on his face.
Jarred and Jenny were preparing to exit the townhouse. “No one cares, Tina. You can heal as we walk,” Jarred called back to her.
Tina was trying to pull herself together after the beating she had just received. She loved every second of it though. Demons are deprived of all feeling while on the plains of Hell. Even pain is a sensation to relish and remember forever. Not every demon is privileged enough to visit Earth. She rushed to join them, the flesh would heal quickly enough.
Boston Common was an easy walk from his place on Mt. Vernon St. It was a very nice place. As they walked, Jarred recounted to Jenny and Tina, the story about how the previous owners had gifted the property to him shortly before their tragic murder/suicide. Jarred laughed as he remembered the event. He explained how a quick visit to the tax collector’s office, and a quick possession of the woman that ran it every six months, kept his tax bill marked as paid, but it wouldn’t matter much longer. He just had to knock off the required souls, and he would be home free.
“Emma?!” a man’s voice called from behind them. “Is that you?” The three of them continued to walk without replying to the man. Closer, the man called again, “Emma!” he yelled with joy. He grabbed Tina’s arm and spun her around.
“What are you doing!” Tina yelled at him.
“I’ve been looking for you for days,” he said, “and here you are!”
“Who are you?” Tina asked disgustedly.
Emma, it’s me, Jason!” he implored her to remember. Jarred and Jenny had turned to watch, and they both were trying not to laugh. Jason saw the marks on Emma’s face. “Has he been beating you?” he asked and looked over to Jarred accusingly. Jarred smiled and nodded.
“And a whole lot more,” he said, moving his hips, enjoying the emotional pain it caused Jason. Jenny held two fingers up and wiggled her tongue between them for Jason to see.
Jason looked at them with disgust and then to Emma, “Come with me, Emma. We’ll get you cleaned up, and whatever help you need, I forgive you,” he said, taking her hand.
Tina had had enough. She squeezed his hand, and he screamed as he dropped to his knees. She leaned in close to his face, her hair cascaded over his head as she whispered. “The Emma you knew is dead. I am Tina. Get over it and move on, or you will die too.” She let go of his hand and stood tall. She cuffed him and knocked the colorfully knit kippah from his head.
Jason looked at her like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing or what he had heard. “But I love you,” he said in a pleading voice.
Tina turned and laughed out loud at him. She walked past Jarred and Jenny. Jarred moved to catch up with her.
Jenny flicked her tongue a few more times. “She’s in good hands,” she said with a grin and joined the other two.
Jason remained where he was as they walked away, crushed. “What just happened?” he wondered as he began to cry.
“Hey!” Jenny said as they approached the commons. “Check out the hot dog vendor!”
“Hungry already?” Jarred ridiculed her.
Jenny scoffed, and Tina laughed at him. “Check out his aura,” Jenny said patiently.
Jarred concentrated and saw what they referred to. “Pay-dirt,” he said, noticing the reddish glow around him. “He looks like a kind old man,” Jarred said.
“And you look like a respectable young man,” Jenny said to make her point. “Looks can be deceiving. Everyone wears a mask.”
“Irrelevant,” Jarred said. “He counts, right?”
“He sure does,” Jenny confirmed sinisterly.
Even as they watched, a mother and her young daughter approached the vendor. The mother ordered for them both and paid. The hunger in the man’s eyes was obvious when he looked at the young girl. “I guess we know his sin,” Jarred said with a smile.
Jenny scowled at Jarred. “Get in his mind and look around,” she said to him. “Stop guessing, you should be able to. It’s similar to viewing his aura so give it a try.”
Jarred looked at the vendor again and his aura was visible, suddenly he had access to the man’s mind. It was a mess of jumbled thoughts but Jarred managed to find his sins. He was an active pedophile and an up and coming serial murderer. Jarred tapped into what looked like the man’s pleasure center, and made him hungry, so very hungry.
Jenny and Tina watched as the hot dog vendor began making himself a loaded hot dog. He devoured it in seconds and began making another which he again devoured. He began eating the hotdogs and bread as fast as he could. People were gathering around him as he did. He choked a few times and then continued on.
“Slow down, buddy,” one man said worriedly.
“Oh my god!” an annoyed woman said as she walked away from the display.
The vendor was choking more often now, but he didn’t let it slow him down. His belly was becoming quite distended as he ripped into more bread and began stuffing it into his mouth.
“Stop!” a concerned citizen yelled at him as he continued to stuff the food into his mouth faster than he could swallow it. His stomach was stretching his shirt tight, and the buttons burst open. A few moments later, he slowed and then stopped. His face was turning blue as he tried to push another piece of bread in his mouth.
The vendor stood there for a moment more as everyone stared and then he began to fall backward. No one tried to catch him, he didn’t even try to stop falling. He fell straight back onto his back with a loud slap against the hot pavement. Several gasps could be heard, and then everyone was dialing emergency services. Jarred knew it was far too late to save him.
“Well done!” Jenny cheered for Jarred.
“Possession?” Tina asked.
“Nope, not sure what it was, but it worked,” Jarred answered.
“Gluttony,” Jenny answered with an enormous grin. “You used gluttony on him!”