The Book of Dema

CHAPTER FOURTEEN + Spirits in the Dark Are Waiting

The lone figure tapping quietly on his drum in the woods would have been an odd sight if there had been anyone around to see him. He sat on a folding stool near a bramble of bushes in a large grove of trees on the other side of Tyler's creek. A door partially concealed within the bushes hung slightly ajar. He looked at it intently.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Each beat fell on a 12/8 rhythm.

"I'm waiting," he said.

Tap. Tap. Tap. There was no response.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Deborah, can you hear me?"

Nothing.

He did this twenty more times until he finally got his answer.

Tap. Tap. Tap. I'm coming soon.

That voice made his stomach flutter just a little. He was not usually susceptible to the wiles of females. But this one was different, especially this one–given that she was a Servitas Numina. He knew what she was, just as she had said she knew what he was, and so he still didn't trust her. But she had asked for his help.

Tap. Tap. Tap. "Be great if you could speed things up," he said.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Stop talking. They will hear you, Debbie's voice whispered.

Josh did as she asked, also bringing his yellow sticks to rest on his lap. He folded his arms, and stared at the door. Finally, it slowly creaked open. A small white hand gripped it along the edge, keeping it from swinging wide. This prevented Josh from seeing into wherever it was she was leaving, and it perhaps protected Josh from unwelcome eyes as well.

Then she stepped all of the way through. It was a cautious first step. Whatever trust he lacked in her she shared. He had caught her once, and she did not care to repeat the experience. Sensing no threat, she eased the door closed.

"Hello, Joshua," she said.

"Hi, Deborah." He looked at her bronze hair that peaked from under her red hood. It framed her porcelain face and made her brown eyes flicker with hints of crimson. It was simultaneously a thrilling and unnerving sight. She shouldn't be here.

"How long can you stay, Deborah?" Josh asked, looking at his watch.

"The time differences are unpredictable between our two places, but you know the rule. We're supposed to be in and out in twenty minutes. They can hold open a solid channel for at least that long. I'm allowed to stretch it if I'm doing door maintenance."

"Door maintenance?" he asked.

"Yes, the door on the other side is in a maintenance room that is not used much, but if they care to check the transfer monitors, they will notice the excess energy. I have to follow maintenance codes in the event they inquire," she explained.

"Do you think they will ask?"

"Only if they suspect something. It's a sure sign if they ask," she said.

"How will I know if that happens?"

"You won't hear from me again." Her reply was direct and abrupt.

Josh nodded his understanding, and then they both fell silent. They came from opposite sides of the battle lines. Neither knew the extent of the trust they could place in the other. Debbie, for her part, knew exactly where she stood in the cosmic drama in which she felt she had a bit role. She was on the wrong side and none of her peers have ever seen a reconciliation. Few of her kind ever dug into such matters. They had made their choice and gave it little thought. It might have been out of the fear of knowing their likely defeat, but ignoring the gnawing sensation wouldn't satisfy her. This being in front of her might be her only way out, but he could just as likely turn her over to higher powers. It would be oblivion for her.