"Deacon Ash"

Chapter 12: Maggots and Rotten Flesh

On unsteady legs, I pushed open what remained of the front door and went inside the house. The flaming paw prints left in Chaos's wake were immediately prevalent and reeking of concentrated sulfur. He had left a burning trail on the hardwood floor to where Deacon Ash was waiting at the far end of the kitchen table.

Chaos was by his side, obedient. "Join us," he snickered.

"Yes, please do come in," Deacon Ash said.

He parted his thin lips and blew a cold mist from his mouth, extinguishing the flaming prints like candles on a birthday cake.

I had hesitated, contemplating if I should make another run for it. Though he had failing sight I had somehow sensed that Deacon Ash could see right through me. I was right.

"You won't make it far so don't even try it," Deacon Ash said.

Chaos growled, daring me to encourage his prey drive. "Let him try it," he said.

With a sharp flick of Deacon Ash's wrist the ruined front door slammed shut. He pointed to the chair opposite him where he had been sitting as my guest the day before. To his delight, I obeyed the silent command and took my seat.

"Who the hell are you?" my inside voice asked aloud, unexpectedly.

"Before we jump into all of that let's have some drinks," Deacon Ash said.

With another flick of his wrist the bottle of Jim Beam and two glasses levitated from the kitchen counter. Sailing as light as a feather, they had whisked over to him. He plucked them from flight and sat them on the table. He filled both glasses to the rim with liquor. He held one of them and shoved the other down the table at me.

Reflexes slowed to a crawl due to the alcohol and disbelief at what I had seen, I barely snagged the glass before it fell off of the edge of the table and into my lap.

"I told you who I am," Deacon Ash said.

He took a swallow of his drink.

I nodded.

"I suppose you want to know a bit more...worse yet if all of this is true and plain," Deacon Ash said.

He had that ever present smile on his wrinkled, pale face.

I nodded again and set my drink on the table without a single swig.

"Aren't you going to drink?" Deacon Ash asked.

I had had no history of any type of speech impediment until that moment.

"I...I...I...don't really feel like drinking right now," I stammered.

"He refuses you as if you are insignificant, master," Chaos said.

Deacon Ash's smile faded in to a terrible scowl. "Such a rude guest he is," he said.

Chaos bounded after me and had come within five feet of me before his master had called him off.

"Stay!" Deacon Ash commanded.

The supernatural canine had stopped at the drop of a dime, licking his teeth with his long, black tongue. Eyes on me, he slithered backwards and took his place by Deacon Ash's side.

"You'll be mine soon," Chaos said. "Limb from limb."

"You'll get your chance," Deacon Ash said, patting him on his head. "Get up off the floor, Seth."