Demons at the Doorstep

By Rachael Bell-Irving

Jessica has better things to do than run for her life, but that is the least of her worries. Powerful magic is being unleashed in her city, causing unnatural northern lights to coat the sky. As a Beata, a balance keeper of magic, it is Jessica's duty to uncover the potential threat. Standing in he

• Language: English
• Publisher: Firelight Reads
• Release date: Jan 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781777048112

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The sky was not supposed to look like that. Sunset had been an hour ago, and yet the horizon was lit by a mosaic of colours. Psychedelic northern lights coated the air with hues of reds, purples, pinks, and greens. The twisting of Jessica’s stomach had her paused on the sidewalk, forcing the slow stream of people to move around her. She stared up at the colours until her neck began to cramp. The sight was mesmerizing, but also filled her with a heavy feeling of dread.

A tingling sensation spread from her heart down into her arms. Rivulets of energy flowed under her skin, pooling in her hands. Her own magic was reacting to the power in the air. She tensed her fingers to rein it back under control.

Only strong magical spells could cause a natural phenomenon like the one lighting up the night. Considering the magnitude of what Jessica was witnessing, it had to be something powerful. Any magic that amassed that reaction from the natural world was almost undoubtedly malicious.

She was part of a small handful of people around the world who knew what those colours really meant. It was her duty as a Beata, a balance-keeper of magic, to investigate the strange magical occurrence.

Jessica focused on the magic rushing through her body. "Aimsigh," she whispered. Locate. Droplets of golden light pulled free from the skin of her palm like sparkling fireflies. They coagulated and moulded into the shape of a tiny arrow, hovering above her hand. She kept it close to her chest with her fingers curled slightly inward to protect any passersby from the sight.

The arrow spun, flinching back and forth in multiple directions. It was unable to settle on one location. Jessica frowned, her heartbeat quickening slightly. Despite the sporadic movement of the guiding light, it did seem to focus on the south.

Jessica began to jog. She continuously checked her palm as she ran to see if she was going at least slightly in the right direction. Maybe. Her confidence was continuously dropping as she twisted her way through the city.

Toronto was huge and full of scattered suburbs, each with its own identity. She was still learning her way through the metropolis. As she jogged through the streets, the plain concrete buildings around her morphed into apartments of aging red brick, weeds decorating the lines where brick met the earth.

She slowed to a walk and checked the guiding arrow in her palm again. The stupid thing was still sputtering in confusion. There was too much power around, and the arrow couldn’t settle on the source of the energy. Her heart pounding from a mix of adrenaline and concern, Jessica closed her hand into a tight fist to dissipate the arrow. It would run her in circles if she kept up this pace.

Jessica stopped around the next corner. There was a man down the block who was waiting in front of an alley between two of the edifices. An icy flush settled over her skin. Even though a streetlight illuminated him from behind, Jessica knew in an instant who it was.

Damien Crowe. Second-in-command to Connor Crowe, the leader of a group of witch hunters that called Toronto their territory. His broad frame cast an imposing shadow that stretched all the way to Jessica’s feet.

She slowly backed away. The witch hunter pulled a circular object from his pocket and examined it in his palm. Jessica’s heart dropped. If he was checking his magical compass, then it was too late for her to slip away unseen. Damien’s head turned sharply in her direction. His glare locked her in place.

Her muscles tensed. If it was just him, maybe she could get away cleanly, but witch hunters never travelled alone. Damien motioned to someone in the alleyway beside him without taking his eyes off her. She heard the distant sound of voices rise up and grow louder.

Jessica cursed. She turned and ran.

The last thing she wanted to deal with was the witch hunters. She had better things to do than run for her life. She could hear feet pounding the pavement behind her. Three — no, four people from the sound of it. She urged her muscles faster. Above her, colourful hues still floated gracefully across a sky that should be black by now, and Jessica realized she was running in the opposite direction of the powerful magic the arrow had been leading her towards.

Wherever there were witches, there were witch hunters. They described themselves as a sacred band devoted to bringing justice to the world by correcting the imbalance of power created by the existence of magic. It was quite the motto.

In reality, this particular group was a cult dedicated to eradicating all things magical. Witch hunters were all over the world, just as witches and magical creatures were. She had faced witch hunters in the past. The anxious thudding of her heart at the thought that they could catch her ignited memories that echoed in the back of her mind: the feeling of bare feet crunching sticks and leaves while she ran through a dark, endless forest, the world around her silenced by the pounding blood in her ears and her sight blinded by tears.

Jessica turned another corner and left the memory behind her. That was a shade from long ago, and she was older now. Stronger. She had faced the witch hunters in Toronto before, and she could outrun them again. She needed to stay alive.

The alley she ducked into turned left into another backstreet. Jessica had to weave through the dumpsters, choking on the smell that wafted off them. As she sidestepped another dumpster, she came to an abrupt halt as a brick wall appeared in front of her. Oh, shit.

She had been in the city for just over a year, and she was still discovering new unique traits and quirks of the urban hub. Including new dead ends.

Jessica bent over and gripped her knees, gasping heavy breaths. Clouds of hot air rose steadily from her lips, while dread pooled in her gut. She could hear the hunters approaching, their stampeding feet indicating their lack of finesse. Why did they have to find her tonight? Whatever spell was causing the weird lights in the sky, it wouldn’t last forever. If she couldn’t get away from the witch hunters soon, she might run out of time to uncover the source.

Jessica heaved a heavy sigh once she managed to catch her breath. The crisp October air made her lungs fill with frost. She turned to face the way she had come.

This way, a deep voice shouted in the distance.

Jessica backed against the brick wall and looked up. She felt the sunset colours were taunting her now. Stay alive first, she reminded herself.

Down here! another male voice called out. It was much closer than before.

Jessica growled under her breath. How stupid was it that a band of people who wanted to destroy all things magical used magic to hunt her down? She had no idea how they managed to get a hold of such a powerful magical relic. Their cursed compass directed them to anything with a powerful aura, which made the instrument go haywire around Jessica. She would love to destroy the thing.

A team of four entered the alleyway, their shadows clawing up to Jessica’s feet. She scowled instinctively. Damien was flanked by two men and a woman Jessica didn’t recognize. He didn’t say anything at first, but that was no surprise. The shadow blurred his facial features, though she imagined he was feeling smug.

What took you so long? She smiled as the hunters approached.

Damien was a man of few words, and Jessica had learned early on not to underestimate him. In their first fight, just over a year ago, he got a knife to her throat and gave her a scar on the side of her neck. Beneath the quiet exterior was deadly strength and precision. Despite his bulky, broad frame, Damien moved with a calculated intelligence that made it clear he was more than just muscle.

Connor call in sick today? she scoffed. Secretly, she was relieved the other brother was absent. Damien was intimidating enough as it was. Being around the other Crowe brother always made her skin crawl. What Connor lacked in physical power he made up for with his words. The leader of the witch hunters was never shy about sharing his appreciation (or serious lack thereof) for her and her kind. Both brothers were equally deadly. She was thankful she only had to deal with one and his little army rather than the whole fleet.

Training new recruits, Damien grunted.

So, you came to test them out on me. She chuckled, rocking slightly back and forth on her feet.

How thoughtful.

Is that one of them? one of the men blurted out, gesturing at Jessica.

Jessica felt her blood pressure rise. A nervous opponent was easier to overcome, but his fear of her was infuriating. No doubt their leaders instilled the belief that witches were horrid creatures that needed to be put down like animals. She was a person, just like the rest of them, and, like most people, she would appreciate being left alone.

She shook her head at the enemy. Can’t you go find a vampire somewhere to slay instead? I’m a little busy.

In response, Damien moved slowly to the side of the alley and leaned lazily against the joining wall. His stoic face betrayed nothing, and Jessica hated that most about him. She could read Connor easily, but Damien was a different story. There was no way to tell what he was thinking, and that made him all the more dangerous.

She sized up the trainees with a scrutinizing glare as she also searched for an alternative escape route. There was a fire ladder behind them. She could reach it if she used her magic, but she would still have to get past the witch hunters first.

The recruits shifted on their feet. They inched closer to her, as if they might avoid her detection by moving slowly. Their uncertainty didn’t make Jessica feel any better. They were here to kill her.

One of the men charged forward. Jessica’s heart jumped. She blocked his left hand and thrust forward with her arm to strike him in the throat. The man coughed and staggered back. Jessica jumped and drove her knees into the man’s gut as they both fell to the ground. While he gagged on the concrete, she leapt back to her feet. Panic drew her eyes to Damien for fear he would choose to join the fight while she was distracted.

She felt his gaze through the darkness, and was surprised he was still leaning casually against the wall watching her. It was unusual for him to remove himself from a fight completely. He had been showing more of that strange behaviour lately. It confused her, but she would not let her guard down.

The female witch hunter lunged forward as the other recruit went down, and she grabbed a hold of Jessica’s long blonde ponytail before stomping on Jessica’s left calf. Jessica gritted her teeth and grabbed the woman’s wrist. Hair-pulling was an amateur move in Jessica’s opinion, but there were no rules in a street fight. For all the training Jessica had been through herself, she found the lack of discipline insulting.

She twisted the woman’s wrist until she felt a faint crack, followed by her cry. Jessica pulled the woman over her shoulder by her injured wrist and slammed her back onto the ground.

Leaping back before the woman could grab Jessica’s ankles, she saw the third recruit already charging. Jessica spun in reverse and kicked out her heel. The recruit hadn’t expected her change of momentum and tripped over her raised leg. His face smashed into the concrete with an uncomfortable crunch. Jessica winced.

She looked over the witch hunters in training, bruised and gasping heavily on the ground. It was a stark contrast to Jessica’s own composure, which was even and controlled. These moments made her years of endless and vigorous training worth it.

Call them off, she ordered Damien. The trio of bruised amateurs were trying to pull themselves up so they could mount another assault. Damien held up his hand to halt them. Jessica was shocked that had actually worked, but she tried not to show it. His eyes flashed with a look that invited a challenge.

Those colours, she said, taking a step away from the group, mean that someone is casting some seriously dangerous magic, the kind that requires human sacrifice or mutilation. She did not know for certain that the magic was evil, just that it was powerful. Hopefully the exaggeration would help to convince the hunters to stop wasting their time on her.

The trainees glanced warily at Damien, as if Jessica might be joking. Damien kept his eyes on her. His focus was unwavering, but his expression was relaxed. It dawned on her that he might not have been surprised by her words.

How about we save our little cat-and-mouse game for another night, hmm? Then I might actually have a chance to stop whatever is causing the sky to light up like a Christmas tree.

That seemed to pique Damien’s interest. She risked taking a few more steps back.

One of the recruits stepped forward. Damien shot him a dangerous look. The man froze in place.

You know I’m right, she told Damien. It didn’t take a genius to recognize that what was going on in the sky was unnatural. Still, she kept her eyes on the recruit, recognizing that he was the most immediate threat. The man backed down under the strength of Damien and Jessica’s collective glare.

She didn’t wait for further permission. Damien’s pause gave her all the time she needed. Jessica turned and took off down the alley.

She hit the main street at full speed and kept running as she looked for any indication that might lead her to the origin of the magic. Her skin tingled with goosebumps as the power in the air shifted.

A few people on the street had paused, watching the bizarre light show. Jessica was not worried about their curiosity. Humans unaware of magic were effective at explaining weird and strange occurrences in ways they could accept. Climate change would be blamed for this event, for sure.

Human beings had come to believe magic was fictional a long time ago, and magical beings let them live in ignorance. It was safer for humans if they didn’t know their neighbour could be a creature from their fairy tales, and it was safer for magical creatures to stay hidden from the scrutiny of humans.

Jessica slowed to a jog and, finally, to a walk, watching as the colours in the sky faded. By the time she stopped, all trace of the magic was gone. The hairs standing up on her arms flattened. The sky was a blanket of deep blue night again, dark against the lights of city activity.

Dammit, she muttered. A few people turned and gave her a funny look, but she didn’t care. Whatever the witch, warlock, or other magical being had been conjuring tonight, it was over.

What was more annoying was that the magic could have come from anyone and anywhere. A part of her wished she could turn her back and walk the other way, but she was a Beata. If evil was being conjured, it was her duty to stop it.

CHAPTER 2

Jessica hobbled into her apartment feeling defeated and exhausted. Failure weighed heavy on her shoulders and, even worse, she had no idea which direction to take herself in next. Couple that with her run-in with the witch hunters, and she was feeling particularly sour.

The door to her small two-bedroom apartment creaked open and shut again with an unnecessarily loud thud. It was followed by the sound of voices and background music coming from the living room.

Welcome home.

Jessica cringed internally. She had hoped to avoid dealing with people in her current mood. After kicking off her running shoes and rolling her shoulders back, she passed the narrow galley kitchen to enter the equally small living room. Her roommate Kirstin and her girlfriend Caroline sat together on the corner of the love seat couch.

How’s movie night? Jessica asked as she passed in front of the T.V., on which a black and white film was showing.

Caroline grimaced in response.

Kirstin beamed. It’s corny. How was your run? She glanced over her shoulder. Breaking the no-going-out-past-dark rule? What a rebel you are tonight.

Jessica chuckled. What’s life without a little excitement?

I told you everything fun happens after dark.

But never after 2:00 a.m.? Jessica asked pointedly, able to think of a few stories that Kirstin had shared about her escapades. It was their daily friendly exchange, a conversational dance that had become second nature for Jessica. The banter eased the tension in her shoulders, returning some normalcy to her evening.

Kirstin smiled cheekily. She was tall, with curly, fiery red hair and the strength of will that stereotyped redheads everywhere. Forming a bond was unavoidable, because Kirstin loved to be a part of everyone’s business. "You lead such an exciting life."

If only you knew, Jessica thought as she glanced at the window over their shoulders. The world outside was as black as ink, as if nothing had ever happened.

How do you keep motivated to go running every night? Caroline asked. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, which Kirstin was absentmindedly twirling around one of her fingers.

Jessica shrugged. Discipline.

She’s crazy, Kirstin cut in with a nod, but she’s also the smart one. Jess, maybe you can settle a bet for us.

Jessica listed her head to the side.

You saw those colours in the sky, right? Kirstin asked, waiting for Jessica’s nod before continuing. I think that was a second sunset, but Caroline doesn’t believe that’s possible. What do you think?

Jessica’s chest tightened. She ran her hands up her thighs to wipe off her clammy palms before resting them on her hips. Probably just a delay in the sunset from the clouds or something, she replied, sounding untroubled. Then she glanced to the T.V., which had been forgotten in the background. I’ll let you get back to your movie.

Do you want to join us? Caroline asked.

Thanks, Jessica said sincerely as she took small steps towards her bedroom on the far side of the room, but I’ve got to call my grandmother.

The women smiled in reply. Kirstin picked up the remote and turned up the volume on the television as Jessica slipped into her bedroom. She locked her bedroom door as soon as she was safe inside. It was an act of habit. She trusted Kirstin, but her roommate was also nosy, and Jessica could never risk her walking in and seeing something she shouldn’t.

It had happened once by accident a few weeks after

Jessica first moved in. She had been grinding together some herbs for a sleeping potion when Kirstin had walked in a panic because of an accident in the kitchen.

Jessica managed to explain her behaviour has an interest in naturopathy. Kirstin had accepted that and even expressed interest in the hobby, which had completely thrown Jessica off guard. They considered each other friends shortly after that. All the more reason why her friend could never know that Jessica was a witch. If she found out, chaotic panic would undoubtedly ensue.

Jessica collapsed backwards on her bed with a huff. She searched her ceiling for some kind of answer but found nothing. Her frustration grew from a simmer to a boil. The