Where Evil Lurks

By Wanda Cooper and Sarah Auyon

When Serena and Colin are dared by their thrill-seeking friends to spend the weekend in an abandoned house they laugh off the stories of the evil that lies within its walls. It is all fun and games until their second visit, where it takes a deadly turn. One will not survive the night and for one, at the merciless talons of the demon, life will never be the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wanda Cooper
• Release date: Dec 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201572693

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Two Hundred Years Earlier...

B

eads of sweat trickled down his forehead as he hammered and shaped the thick, spell invoked glowing metal into a manacle that would later be used to secure his prisoner in the final stages. Swift death would not come for the demon that surely dwelled within him. No ordinary man was that brutal or sadistic to have taken his beautiful Katarina’s life the way he did. Only a monster could take pleasure in the agonizing torture he had placed upon her. The grisly memory of the day they had found him, blood spilling from his vile lips, her blood, as he fed upon her mangled body would never leave him.

The constables, full of themselves and their simple ideals to rid the land of such criminal activity sought to have him publicly flogged before hanging him. It would be a valuable lesson, they proclaimed mightily for all to see where their own ending would lie should they adopt an abomination such as murder.

Those fools! Did they not perceive his meaning as he was being led away or the maniacal laughter that followed?

Do with me what you will, and I shall return more merciless than ever and I shall bestow my wrath upon all of you!

Had they no intelligence between them to decipher that they were dealing with an entity of great empowerment instead of the fiendish mortal they looked upon him as?

Josiah plunged the circular cuffs into the bucket of water delighting in the hiss of the steam as it cooled his tools. He had not missed the frightening evil that sprang from bold black eyes as he made his vow to wreak future vengeance.

Though he was not a scholar of the occult he had heard enough stories over the years, told by elders, to know that it truly existed.

Beneath the surface of the offender disguised as a depraved human it had been proven and he had no intention of allowing it to make good on its promise. Be the thing a victim of possession or a willing vessel mattered little to him. He was going to make certain it was bound and delivered to a place he could not escape from.

A fortnight had passed since the execution date had been set after much ado and hem-hawing from men who wore blinders and congratulated  each other over frothy ale on their verdict.

The gallows were well under construction, but unknown to the band of imbeciles who charged him, the demon would not pass through the gates of hell on that day to take up residence at another time. He would see to it.

Josiah angered and torn by grief had half a mind to have the lot of them strung and quartered for their idiocy. Puffing the bellows with a heavy hand and heart he stoked the flames for the ankle and neck portions that would also be needed.

With no time to waste, this night, with the aid of his brother and wife whose ancestors were powerful witches he would foil the intended demise.

He was not fond of law breakers but considering the stakes he would do what was needed to ensure that the dangerous entity would never see the light of day again.

☽

Heed my orders, Josiah commanded his partners as the hour neared. Do not speak to him. No matter the force used to sway your minds with crafty illusions do not give in. It cannot be given a moment to seep into your thoughts.

Heron nodded gravely. He, too, remembered the tales of old. Never, though, did he imagine that what was recalled in hushed tones over the fires would ever come to be a reality.

He did not share Josiah’s strong countenance nor bravery for what would be necessary, but loyalty demanded he see it through despite his lack of courage for the task.

Do not worry so, Naromi told her husband quietly as they prepared to depart. Have faith that the grandmother of all the covens will be successful in her mission. If any can accomplish a feat such as this it is her.

☽

Under the cloak of darkness just outside of the cells where the demon was housed Naromi lifted her arms to the Heavens. While vanquishing evil was not in her abilities she was not without some spells of her own for the lesser of difficulties.

By the Coven of Algatha I command thee to slumber.

Repeating the chant three times she stood back while Josiah and Heron entered the building to find the entranced jailers and the occupants they routinely guarded fast asleep.

Knowing that the spell would not permeate the demon the two crept cautiously to the barred wooden door that held him. Once Josiah had the manacles and their chains secured by iron loops in hand they stormed the small cubicle ready to do battle.

Refusing to be disoriented by snakes and weapons of its mind-altering defense the two of them, after a lengthy struggle, managed a leather gag to silence the threats and laughter that echoed in the otherwise stillness.

A hood was placed over its head so that any daggers it sought to shoot their way to further intimidate them could be avoided. It was nerve racking enough to be in its presence and to know what still needed to be done.

Making sure the kidnapping had gone undetected they stole to the back alley with the demon in tow. Reaching the waiting wagon, it was hogtied and thrown into the back with a cover concealing their cargo. Josiah assisted Naromi up onto the seat of the buckboard before taking the reins leaving Heron to act as sentry.

Cracking the whip lightly he drove out of town traversing the bumpy road carefully and out to the furthest edge of the territory to the two-story brick home he had commissioned for his bride several years