Free Demonic Designs (To Absolve the Fallen) by Aaron Babbitt

much love just prior to this.   He wondered what the message could possibly be.   Something was calling him by name.   It took a while, but Alex realized it was Jeremiah.
    “Looks like your reason won’t help you here.”
    “I saw something—something that’s going to happen,” Alex replied, “but I don’t know what it was.”
    “Just relax.   It’ll come to you.   Besides, it will give me time to tell you about the past, before you start telling me about the future.   Anyway, I’ve grown accustomed to telling this story, and it would disappoint me if you didn’t hear it all.”

    ***

    “We have them, boss.”
    Patheus looked up slowly from the computer on his desk, “Shule, this one had better work.   You’re running out of luck, and I’m running out of patience.   You’re planning an ambush on Jeremiah’s lackeys, with which I have no problems.   However, it is possible that you aren’t considering the ramifications of your actions.   By making a move on them, you gamble with your life.   If you go, the runts might kill you.   If you stay, and the mission fails, I will kill you.   Either way, I will eventually get your soul.   Now, do you feel completely comfortable with that?”
    “I don’t know, boss,” Shule stammered.   “I don’t want you to kill me.”
    “Then, don’t fail me.   Okay?”
    “Okay.”
    Patheus stood up and waved his hand.   “Leave me,” he commanded.   “Tell Eva I wish to speak with her.”
    “Yes, boss,” Shule said, bowing his head as he backed out of the room.
    Within a few minutes, Eva was standing in his doorway.   She never knocked.   One of these days, Patheus thought, that little habit is going to get her killed.
    “Eva, your nose seems to be healing up nicely.”
    She smiled and gave him the middle finger.
    “How vulgar,” he responded with a sigh.   “Couldn’t you have thought of something a little more clever?”
    “Well what could I say that would impress or intimidate one of your prowess?” she asked.   “I am completely enthralled by your ruthless attempts to bully people who are obviously subservient to you and abuse those who aren’t.”
    “Are you implying that you aren’t subservient?”
    She snorted a fake laugh through her slightly misshapen nose.   “Do you really think you could control me?”
    “Yes, in a very literal sense.”   And with that, a force lifted her off the ground and pinned her against the wall.
    “I’m sure this is how your fantasies start out,” she spat at him.
    “Actually, you’re right.”
    She narrowed her eyes; they flashed blue.   “You pin me against the wall to prove your dominance over me in the form of rape.   How human.”
    “Wrong.”   He smiled and walked toward her.   “In my fantasy, I pin you up to a wall and scoop out your brains through a hole I made in your head.   But you were half right.   In any event, making my fantasies into reality will have to wait.   I have a mission for you.”
    “And what would that be?”
    “You will use your gifts to seduce a young man.   You’ve done it before, and you’re so good at it, Eva.   Or do you prefer Delilah?   Men have always been weak for you, no matter what your name.”
    That stung.   Even Eva felt a little dirty for some of the things she had done.   She turned her head away.
    “You are who you are, Eva.   It may be the only thing you’re good at, but at least we’ve got that avenue available to us.   Come on, it’ll be like old times.   Jeremiah’s new pupil will be the target.   From Shule’s report, we know that Jeremiah was at the house last night with Alex.”
    She spun her head back to him.   He had a calm smile.  
    “Then, you’re insane,” she hissed.   “Even if it were possible, Jeremiah would kill me before I could get within yards of the boy.”
    “I know how he operates, Eva.   He’ll give the boy some training.   Then, like a good mother bird, he’ll make the boy fly on