Demon Hunters: Book 1 Faith [editing]

Chapter 31

*Author note:  Okay, here's another short chapter. I'm not actually certain that this chapter will appear in the final revision of the story, but I felt it was necessary to plant this idea for later. We'll see how this might play out later at around chapter 63ish.*

Sunlight filtered into the room from the blinds. Mason slept on the couch in Diego's den in his boxers because he forgot to pack shorts or pajamas. In his tossing and turning the night before, he not only tore off his shirt, but also kicked off the sheet.

When he finally woke, he felt a chill cling to his chest. He opened his eyes and focused on the figure watching over him. "Oh, my god!" 

Diego's grandmother shook her head in disapproval.

Realizing his state of undress, he snatched the sheet off the floor and huddled under it.

"Don't use the Lord's name in vain," she warned.

"Uh, sorry. I... I didn't see you."

"That is because you were asleep." She placed her hands on her hips. "You boys sleep so late. It's not healthy."

Mason almost argued back. I'm not a boy. I'm almost seventeen. In fact, he was at least one month older than Diego, but Diego's grandmother looked ancient. So, he held his tongue.

She picked up the game console from the floor and placed it back on the table next to the television. "You were up late playing these video games." This wasn't a question.

Mason shrugged. "Sorry. I couldn't sleep." He kept thinking about his sister and whether or not his father would hurt her. He shouldn't have stayed at Diego's house. The very fact that his sister made up some story about an angel saving her must have meant that things had gotten worse than usual.

"Hmmm..." The old woman inspected him. She made him nervous, especially when she stared like that—like she could read his thoughts. "No need to worry about your family now. All is well." With statements like that, Mason honestly believed that she could actually read his thoughts.

"Thanks."

"Angels come in many forms," she continued. Mason backed away from her, an involuntary reaction to the nervous energy erupting from within his body. "Sometimes they'll trick us into believing they are something that they are not. Don't be fooled. At their core, an angel is a servant of God and will watch over you and your friends."

Mason nodded, but mostly he wanted to get away. Diego had told stories about the old woman's skill as a medicine woman and about her unique abilities. He didn't care if she was religious. These things just freaked him out.

Maria de los Santos chuckled. "No need to worry about me." She held up Mason's wallet. "You will go to this dance next weekend. You will need to get a tuxedo. Diego will take you."

"The Homecoming Dance?"

She nodded and stuffed three bills into his wallet. "I have put what you need here."

Mason almost stood up to protest, but remembered he was nearly naked. "But, you don't have to do that. I'm fine. I wasn't even going to go. I—"

"Enough." She spoke firmly. "You will go. It has already been determined."

"But—"

"Silence." She held up a small piece of paper. "When you become uncertain, you are to read this note. It will guide you when the time is right." She stuffed the note into his wallet.

She stared down at him again. "Never use the Lord's name in vain again. Not in this house."

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. I won't do that again."

Finally, he breathed when she left. Quickly, he fumbled for his pants and shirt. The Homecoming Dance? What did she mean it had already been determined? By whom?

He grabbed for his wallet and found an additional two hundred and fifty dollars. He wanted to take the money and leave it on the coffee table, but an eerie feeling came over him when he almost pulled the money out. You will go, she had said. This wasn't a question.

Shoving the wallet into his pocket, he stood up.

"Hey, you're up," Diego called from the entrance of the den.

"Uh... I... Your grandmother woke me."

"Yeah, she's an early bird. Come on, let's get some cereal. We're going to meet up with Dominic at about one to rent tuxes for the dance."

"But—" I'm not going to the dance. "Uh, okay, sure." Who was he going to ask?

Zoe? His heart fluttered out of control. How in the world was he going to ask her to the dance—the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen? She was so smart and so perfect. He couldn't stop thinking about her. At the bowling alley, he marveled at the way she bowled, which was a mixture of elegance and precision, even when she didn't bowl well.

His stomach lurched.

"Hey, you okay?" Diego said.

"Uh, me? Yeah, I'm fine."

"I'm sure you sister is all right," he said.

"Yeah, she is." After what the old woman told him, Mason already felt this to be true.

"Well, let's get something to eat. I'm starving."

Mason followed Diego to the kitchen. "Uh," he said, looking around to make sure they were alone, "You once told me that your grandmother was always right. You know, about knowing things and stuff."

Diego placed two bowls and a box of cornflakes on the table. He opened the refrigerator and picked up the milk. "Always. She's never wrong."

"Oh." Mason stared at the bowl in front of him. Oh, no. How was he going to ask her? What if Zoe said no? His heart just sank at the thought of it. What if?

"Why? Did she tell you something?"

Mason bobbed his head, involuntarily.

"Well, if there's one thing I know about my grandmother is that she tells you exactly what you need to know or hear. It's just easier to trust what she tells you. I'm speaking from experience. I live with her, remember."

Mason's eyes lifted up to Diego's. "How do you handle it? Her knowing stuff?"

Diego laughed. "Oh, you get used to it." He shook the cereal into his bowl. "You get used to it."