Milo...The Rings

      By Pattie Lawler            

 

            His only thought as he turned and ran was to get the demon away from Fanny in the shortest possible time.

            The keys to the Shelby were in his hand as he slipped the latch on the back door.

Behind him, the rasp of the demon’s breathing grew closer. Animal musk flowed into the short hall. Milo threw himself into the cold night air. For a second he stood, searching for the garage, and then ran for the car.

The roar of the Shelby sounded like a challenge as the demon oozed from the inn. Milo drove to the edge of the property, watching the demon pause to get his bearings. Illuminated by the car’s red tail-lights, Alistair’s father appeared the very definition of demonic.

Milo smiled and gunned the engine. The demon turned. Milo thrust the accelerator to the floor. Gravel sprayed as the Shelby leapt onto the lane, flashing past sleepy cottages until Milo stopped to allow the demon to catch up. Reaching between his legs, he felt under the seat for the loaded Magnum and sat back, placing the gun on the passenger seat. The car faced into the main road and motion reflected in the review mirror drew his attention. The demon approached.

Alistair’s comment regarding the energy of the stone circle made Avebury the obvious destination and toward it the Shelby flew.

He wasn’t surprised when his BlackBerry rang.

“Connect. Simon!”

“Busy?”

“Not really. What’s up?”

“I got a call.”

“From Fanny.”

“You read my mind.”

“Dirty-rat-fink-Carl,” Milo chuckled. “Rattin’ me out like that. Everything I need is in the trunk?”

“Yes. And I’m on my way.”

Milo burst out laughing. “I knew you wouldn’t go far! Not one of you, not even Fanny, trusts me!”

“We’re too experienced in the ways of Milo. Where you headed?”

“The stone circle.”

“Any particular reason?”

“A demon. A big one.” Milo glanced in the review mirror then shook his head. “Objects in the mirror are closer then they appear.”

“I’ll be there in five.”

“I’ll be done by then.”

“I know. But I’ll sleep better as a witness.”

“I could save you the ears and tail.”

“Nope. Not workin’.”

Milo looked at the GPS for a likely place to pull over when something connected hard with the rear of the Shelby, spinning it around. He tightened his grip and hunched over the wheel, took his foot off the gas and waited for the car to come to a halt.

Which it did in a newly planted field.

“Simon! If you can hear me, the car’s off the road.” He reached for the Magnum, but didn’t find it. With an oath, he abandoned the gun in favor of the arsenal in the trunk.

Throwing the door open, he released the trunk, heard the thunk of the latch disengaging and nothing more. With an eye on the approaching demon, he leaned forward, reaching for the spoiler. Pulling it upward had no effect. Whatever tossed the Shelby had dented the rear enough to seal the trunk. Milo backed to the open door in the vain hopes of recovering the Magnum.

“That’s one of the dangers of being a tool-user, Demon Eater,” the demon said as it moved closer. “Without them, you’re useless.”

“I’m sure you’d like to think that, but I’m never defenseless.”

“Oh?” The sound was rife with sarcasm. “Plan to bore me to death?” The demon rose onto two legs, standing well over seven feet tall, and offered Milo a moment to examine his adversary.

An impressive rack of antlers caught the light of a distant streetlight. These stood out just above deer-like ears. In retrospect, Milo realized that the demon had been running after the Shelby on all fours, like the elk he resembled.

Milo’s mind moved onto calculations. The distance to the far side of the car and his best path, how soon Simon would arrive, possible locations of the missing Magnum, would Alistair approach Fanny now that she was alone, what Albany would say if she could see him now....

The elk lunged, bellowing.

Milo threw himself backward, rolling across the hood, intending on using the car as a shield, or at least making the demon have to work at reaching him.

But the demon hadn’t gone for the space Milo occupied. Slamming into the Shelby, he shoved it hard, using it as a weapon. The collision sounded like a cannon blast in the stillness. Milo barely danced to safety, impressed by this tactic. He dug in his pocket, withdrew a fistful of cayenne and flung it at the creature while reaching for the passenger door. The elk bellowed again, cursing as the rain of pepper disoriented him. Milo pulled on the door, found it locked and looked up in time to see the demon rise onto his hind legs and crash antlers first onto the Shelby’s rear.

The impact not only flipped the car, but spun it around. The car came to a rocking halt on its roof with the still open driver’s side door facing him.

Milo smiled. The Magnum lay on the roof beside the glowing dome light.

Headlights flashed, heralding Simon’s arrival. In the distance came the whine of approaching sirens.

Momentarily diverted, the elk stood panting. “Coward! Fight your own battles!”

“I plan on it,” Milo replied, dividing his attention between the elk and Simon. He saw Lawrence digging in the limo’s trunk. Confidence renewed, Milo moved away from the Selby, offering Simon a clear shot. The chilly wind swelled his jacket as he tugged his gloves tight in preparation.

“MILO!”

Simon threw the sword as Lawrence dropped to one knee, firing a shot into the dirt before the demon. The elk leapt to the side, missing his chance to intercept Milo’s weapon. Milo snatched the sword from the air, unsnapped the scabbard and drew the leather off the bone blade. In the presence of the demon, the double-edged weapon glowed cold gray.

“An Angel’s Finger,” the demon rumbled, taking a step back. “I haven’t seen one in decades.”

“I have one in each car.”

The elk dropped onto all fours. “Then you’re either a very busy Demon Eater, or very paranoid. It’s no wonder you’ve ignored my attempts to possess you.”

“Well, you’re either a very weak demon, or out of practice as I haven’t felt a single one.”

“Then feel this!”

The elk rushed him, antlers lowered. Milo feinted toward the car, but then spun in the opposite direction as the elk rushed by. The beast sank onto its haunches, skidding to a stop and twisting back. Milo raised the sword and crouched, ready to spring, his gaze raking the creature for weak spots.

Again the elk charged. Milo stood his ground. He couldn’t simply extend his arm and hope the elk would impale himself because of the antlers, but the correct angle... He brought his arm up and leaned forward.

The howl of the elk drowned Milo’s cry of pain. The burn of an antler puncture and the tearing as the demon jerked free wasn’t enough to blind him, but for a second, his arm lost all strength.

The demon had fared as badly. The creature stood, panting, a bleeding gash from neck to mid-back shining darkly in the flashing blue and red lights.

On the edge of the road, Milo heard the gathering policemen. Simon would have called the appropriate governmental department, but that was never a guarantee that they would arrive before the locals.

Flexing his hand around the sword’s pommel, Milo straightened. “I’m out of practice.”

The elk grinned, nodding. “I noticed.”

Milo was tempted to laugh when another car screeched to a halt on the roadside gravel. Its incongruous appearance was enough to demand everyone’s attention. The elk jerked up, his gaze passing over Milo’s head. Instinctively, Milo guessed the owner of the car and hazarded a glance in its direction. He was in time to see Alistair pull a blindfolded and bound Fanny from the car.

The sounds of bullets being chambered as both Simon and Lawrence extended rigid arms toward the young demon brought an even greater flurry from the police. Screams of, “Drop you weapons!” filled the night.

But Milo had eyes for Fanny alone. “ALISTAIR!”

Fanny’s head jerked up. “Uncle Milo!”

“Drop your sword!” Alistair called. “I don’t want to hurt her, but I will.”

Milo threw the weapon down as if it burned him.

“Clear!” Simon yelled, and Fanny screamed. A shot rang out, and the couple tumbled onto the verge.

Paternal instinct trumped posturing.

Milo was halfway to his niece before Simon lowered his arm. Behind him came the thunder of hooves. To his left, Simon, Lawrence—trailing a wake of policemen—ran for the fallen couple.

Scooping Fanny from her position on Alistair’s stomach, he hugged her to his chest.

“Alistair!” Fanny screeched, thrashing in his arms. Confused, Milo noted her wrists were not bound. She pulled the blindfold off and was trying to see the fallen demon. “I’m fine, put me down!”

“Bloody hell,” Alistair said, sitting up with his father’s help. “You could have killed me!”

“Yes,” Simon agreed. “That was the idea.”

Milo set Fanny down, but when she took a step toward the demon, he caught her arm again. “What are you doing?”

Fanny jerked free. “Trying to stop you and Maricourt from killing each other!” She glared at him. “I asked Alistair to come! He’s here to help me!”

“You? Since when can you see demons?” Milo demanded.

She blanched, retreating a step. “I... I um—”

“Answer me!”

“Leave her be!” Alistair cried.

“Mind your business, boy!” Maricourt bellowed, silencing his son. “You have too much on your plate to worry about her!”

Milo ignored them. “So you thought that making it look like Alistair was holding you hostage would do what?”

 “The only way to get you to stop was to make it look like I was in danger! Admit it!”

He was spared from having to reply by the arrival of another handful of cars, all of them black with darkened windows. Milo looked at Alistair. “That friendly warning is about to run out. I suggest you both get out of here before I turn professional.”

Maricourt looked amused as he helped his son to his feet. “We’ll call this a draw until next time.”

“There is no next time, Maricourt. Stay in your world and stay alive.”

The elk snorted, laid a hand on Alistair’s shoulder and they vanished.

Milo turned to Fanny, who cringed but said nothing as Milo tightened his grip on her arm and approached the nearest policeman. “Would you be so good as to drive us to the New Inn?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “Simon, I’m sorry to leave you to clean up—”

“It’s alright, you go. Lawrence and I can handle this.”

The officer had turned to his superior, who nodded consent. “Stay at the inn until I call,” the lieutenant told the puzzled officer. With an acknowledging nod, he escorted Milo and Fanny to a car on the edge of the activity.

<0>

Nothing was said as Milo and Fanny returned to their rooms. Once in the sitting room, Milo led Fanny to a chair beside the cold hearth and took the one opposite. They sat in silence for almost five minutes before Milo felt he had a handle on his anger.

“You never answered my question.”

Fanny studied her clasped hands. The silence lengthened.

When it became evident that she wasn’t going to reply, Milo sat back with a sigh. “I don’t know what you’re feeling, but I can tell you I’m feeling disappointed. To my soul. I don’t know you any more, Fan, and I don’t know what’s changed. I’ve never been anything but honest with you, and I’ve always treated you as an equal.”

She pursed her lips, and when she blinked, tears poured down her cheeks. “Maybe you should have tried being a father!” She looked up, her eyes dark with rage. “You don’t treat a five year old as an equal! I was a little girl! A frightened little girl.”

“Are you saying I wasn’t there for you?”

She turned away.

Milo threw himself to his knees before her, his hand on her chin, gently pulling. “Look at me, Fan. Tell me what you think you can’t! I promise not to yell, but I can’t read your mind!” He felt her trembling, but when she looked down at him, she seemed in command of her emotions.

“Am I important to you?”

“I love you, Fanny. You and Albany are everything to me. Nothing can change that.”

“But you love Albany more.”

Understanding dawned. “No. I love you equally, with different parts of my heart.” He released her. “I can prove it.” Rising, he returned to his room, found the jewelry box and knelt before her again. He suppressed a smile when she started at the sight. She sat up, her eyes on the box.

“The ruby that Albany’s ring was cut from was rather large, I’m told, so I asked Ira to find another one from the same stone.” He opened the box and held it out to her. “Fanny, Albany has asked if she can be included on your adoption papers, and I promised her I would ask. So, Fanny, I’m proposing. I’m proposing that we enlarge our family. Would you like that?”

She hung her head, nodding, as she took the box from his hands.

“That’s my Fanny,” Milo whispered, hugging her. “When you tell Albany, make sure you have tissues ready, okay?”

Fanny hiccupped a laugh, hugging him back.

 

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