Demon

Part Five

'Evening sir. I hope you don’t mind me disturbing you?'

Peter opened his eyes, and found himself facing Inspector Glenair.

'Good evening, Inspector. You are keeping late hours tonight. Can I get you a drink?'

'No thank you sir.'

'Please take a seat.'

'I’m fine where I am, thanks,' said Glenair, who stood half hidden in shadow.

Peter leaned back in his chair. A breeze was now blowing across the lawn, causing the bushes that bordered the garden to sway gently.

'What brings you back here Inspector?'

'We have received a report from the university, that one of their students is missing. Her name was Julia.' 

'Never heard of her,' said Peter. 

'Really? One of my colleagues spoke to students at the campus earlier today. Several of them seemed to think that you are her boyfriend.'

'They must be mistaken, Inspector.'

'Yes, I suppose they must.'

'Tell me,' Peter asked, 'Are you here with back-up, or are you on your own?'

'I’m alone,' said Inspector Glenair.

'And I notice you are not in uniform tonight.'

Glenair said, 'No, this suit is my off duty look. I’m not here in my official capacity.'

'You’re not here to arrest me then?'

'Good god no. I just wanted a chat. You see, I know who you are.'

'Really?' Peter took another cigarette from the packet, and lit it. He inhaled and said, 'So who am I?'

From the shadows, Inspector Glenair said, 'It’s more a question of what you are. Demon.'

There was a moment of silence. The breeze was picking up strength, and the night was becoming colder.

Peter said, 'I noticed that you took some books and documents from the Professor’s flat. But you’ve not had enough time to read them. What conclusions could you possibly have reached in the few hours since we last met?'

'I took the books because I wanted them, not for evidence.' The Inspector took a step forward. 'Let me tell you a little secret Peter. I am a friend of Professor Durlish too. I am a member of the sect which meets occasionally at Saint Lud’s, under the blessing of the Reverend Halpston.'

'The late Reverend Halpston,' Peter corrected the Inspector. 'But you weren’t at the ceremony.'

'No. I should have been, but unfortunately, work got in the way. I was called out to a shooting, as I was preparing to leave for Saint Lud’s. It is the first time I’ve missed the event in years.'

'A shame,' said Peter.

'Yes, or at least, I thought so at the time. But later I revised that opinion, when I visited the churchyard on my way home.'

'No doubt you were hoping for some scraps from the altar?'

'Precisely, Peter. I may have missed the beating of the drum, but I had hoped to still eat some of the sacrificial flesh. Every year Professor Durlish provides us with a suitable victim.'

'I’m sorry that I disappointed you, Inspector.'

'When I arrived, a little after midnight, the churchyard had been turned into a slaughter house. There were bits and pieces everywhere.'

'I ate as much of them as I could,' said Peter.

'Be that as it may,' said Inspector Glenair, 'I was faced with the task of cleaning up your mess. The ceremonies held at Saint Lud’s are a secret that must remain forever hidden. Fortunately, a graveyard is a good place for disposing of human remains. There are certain tombs which we have used for many years.'

'To dispose of your victims.'

'Yes. And now, ironically, I've put the remains of my fellow celebrants in the same graves. Fortunately for me, you didn’t leave too much evidence. I also had to dispose of an old bike that was leaning against the vicarage wall.'

'That was careless of me,' said Peter. 'I was in something of a frenzy by the time I had finished my meal. I don’t even remember how I got back to the university. Possibly I flew. If so, it was lucky for me that I was not spotted.'

'Yes, it would be inconvenient for all of us if a demon had been seen flitting across the local countryside.'

'It’s strange isn’t it?' said Peter. 'A ceremony originally designed to ward off evil has corrupted over the centuries into a satanic cult involving human sacrifice. And then, when a real demon has the temerity to show up, as predicted in the prophecy, your friends were rather caught with their trousers down.'

'I suppose the situation does have a certain element of black humour,' agreed Inspector Glenair. 

Peter stood up, and pushed back his chair. He allowed himself to revert to his true form, so that his wings spanned the width of the garden. He looked down upon the police officer.

'And now, Inspector, the hour is getting late.' 

'Yes, I suppose we should bring matters to their conclusion.'

Inspector Glenair, still shrouded in shadow, reached down and lifted the object that had been resting against his feet. It was the drum of Saint Lud.

'This was also lying abandoned in the churchyard,' said Glenair. 'You should have destroyed it when you had the chance.'

He brought his hand down towards the ancient leather skin of the drum as the beast that towered over him lunged, its fangs blurred by lightning speed.

End.