Free The Dark Detective: Venator by Jane Harvey-Berrick

fast.”
    “What can I say? I suppose I must be a bit more evolved than you.”
    “Nothing to do with demonic powers then,” said Max.
    “Oh, Max, darling. You’re so earnest: can’t you take a joke.”
    “Yeah, do you know any?”
    “You’re a brute,” said Sophie, pouting. “No consideration for me or my ankle which was broken in the line of duty.”
    “You just said it was better,” said Max, trying not to smile.
    “Well, honestly! If you’re going to remember everything I say,” sniffed Sophie. “But a nice meal at the Dorchester will make me feel much better.”
    In the end they settled for a bowl of pasta at a genuine Italian eatery on Greek Street.
    Sophie had turned up her exquisite nose at the Formica tables and paper napkins but even she had to admit that the food was delicious.
    “Mmmm! A juicy rare steak, practically dripping with blood! Just like mother used to make it,” sighed Sophie.
    “You never had a mother,” said Max. “You were hatched.”
    “Not true!” said Sophie, looking hurt. “I was human once – a long time ago, of course. But then I lost my pesky soul and I was reborn a demon. I had a human mother and a demon mother – they were quite a lot alike really.”
    She didn’t look like she was joking.
    “You’ve reminded me of something,” said Max. “When that Brood demon died, he screamed the word ‘Mother’. I didn’t even think about what he’d said until just now, but it’s odd, isn’t it? I’ve killed a lot of demons, but I’ve never heard one scream for his mother before.”
    “I think you’ve stumbled onto something, Max, darling,” said Sophie, yawning and stretching. “Perhaps he was a bit of a mummy’s boy demon? You know – soft – like a human.”
    “Considering he nearly tore your leg off, I would have thought you’d show a bit more interest,” snapped Max.
    Sophie stared at him wide-eyed. “You’re being a bully, Max.”
    “Oh come off it, Sophie,” said Max, testily. “You’re not a woman: you’re a vicious, liver-eating Level Two demon, so enough with the little lady act.”
    “Fine!” hissed Sophie. “Be like that. I’m just trying to be friendly.”
    “Well, we’re not friends either,” said Max, dropping his voice, then pausing, choosing his next words more carefully. “But we are colleagues for now, so let’s just concentrate on the job, okay?”
    “Whatever you say, Max, darling,” said Sophie, with just a hint of demonic anger flaring behind her beautiful kohl-ringed eyes.
    Max looked away.
    “Have you ever heard a demon yell for its mother before?” he said. “Think carefully.”
    “No. That’s a human thing to do,” her voice still angry.
    “So what was all that about?” said Max, ignoring her tone. “It doesn’t fit – that makes me think it could have meaning.”
    It paid to have hunches in Max’s line of work; they had an unnerving habit of being right.
    Sophie frowned.
    “I’ve just thought of something. When I was Down Under I remember hearing some little spawn talk about the Mother: not his mother but The Mother – with capital letters and everything. It’s a demon myth, so it’s probably just exaggerated nonsense. You know how we like to talk.”
    “Tell me anyway,” said Max, leaning forwards.
    “Well, as far as I can recall, the legend has it that once upon the time there were no demons and just Adam and Eve prancing around in the Garden of Eden, blah, blah, blah – you know the story. Well, there was all that dark stuff running around with nothing to do and it formed itself into the Mother of all Evil. Perhaps you’ve heard of her? The legend says it’s from her that all demons are born. All those little balls of demonic energy come up here, suck out the soul from some human and voila! You end up with the finished article like me.”
    “Dear God! You’re saying this Mother could be real?” said Max, softly.
    “No, I’m not saying that: I’m just repeating a legend that I