Double Down Demons (A Ghost Adventures/Zak Bagans Story)

Chapter 80: A demon's motives

The very mention of Hatchi brought Zak crashing back to earth, the veins in his neck stood out as he clenched his jaw.

"Focus on the light." I whisper to him and I watched as he relaxed slightly and squeezed my hand. Amber nodded her approval at me, not that it made me feel any better, I was still freaking out about this whole witch business.

"You know Hatchi's origins so you know he was not born a demon but that his inherent evil in life created one of him in death. His driving force is punishment and vengeance and you my darlings are at the top of his hit list." For the first time since we got here Amber's smile falters making me realise that shit just got real. "This is where things get strange." She continues.

"What do you mean 'get strange'? This hasn't been strange enough already?In my boring mundane life this is maximum weird arse shit!" I burst out, unable to hold my rising panic, I was on the edge of full freak out. It was Zak's turn to provide comfort and calm me down. He strokes my hair and hushes me, kissing my temple. Even Aaron reaches out and gives my shoulder a reassuring rub. I took some deep breaths and did as I had just asked Zak to do and focused on the light, in doing so I felt a sense of calm envelope me.

"How are you doing sweetie?" Zak asks me as he brushes my hair back over my shoulder.

"I'm good, thank you." I give him a small smile and turn to Amber. "I'm sorry Amber please carry on."

"Its ok Tracy, we all understand, just remember that you don't have to fight alone anymore." This hits a nerve and I clench my fist but Zak continues to massage my scalp and I release the tension once more.

"Hatchi is particularly conniving even for a demon. It is true that he has attached to you Tracy and it is you that he wishes to harm the most. You represent all that is abhorrent to him. You are a strong, unmarried, independent woman, a gifted and intelligent woman who in his eyes is promiscuous and indulges in liquor and last of all you're a witch, the very thing he fought to rid the world of in life." I can't help but flinch, it really is going to take some getting used to this whole witch thing and then to be persecuted by an evil entity because of it? Well ain't that just peachy?

"But Zak?" I ask wondering why he has been attacked and probably more affected than I have so far.

"That's what is unusual about your case, Hatchi hates you Tracy but because of what you are he also fears you and doesn't have the control over you that he would like. His hatred for Zak is almost as strong and worse is that he knows that Zak is your weakness and he is using that knowledge to full effect. Somehow Hatchi is able to oppress Zak while he is attached to you and I suspect that this is because of your shared histories. He is a particularly powerful entity and he is capable of wielding that power over both of you. However, what he doesn't bargain for is that the two of you together are so much stronger." I have to admit what Amber is saying is making a lot of sense.

"Is that why Father Gwynne was unable to perform a full exorcism?" I ask, I had wondered why the priest had struggled only affording us protection instead of a full cleanse.

"That's exactly right. Its also how Zak knew you were in trouble in the pool,how you were both affected simultaneously in Picton and Zak's partial possession." Thinking back it seemed kind of obvious. I could tell Zak was drawing the same conclusions too, the coincidences, the hopping between us, picking on one then the other, making us witness each others' suffering or even being the cause of it. It was all a part of his plan to weaken us, maybe even try to part us but he really didn't reckon on who he was dealing with. We were two of the most stubborn and tenacious people you were ever likely to meet. We found each other across oceans and clung to each other as though we were a lift raft saving each other from the storm. There was no way he could win, each hit we took only made us stronger, at least so far. But could we remain steadfast against the constant battering? I would like to think so. Love conquers all right? But surely we would sustain damage eventually, nothing is unbreakable. Zak was watching me closely, I could tell he was worried about how I was taking all this but by now I was feeling fired up. I wasn't going to let this evil, petty, despicable thing destroy the best thing I had ever had.

"So how do we beat it?" I asked Amber and I only hope that she has an answer.