Home Sweet Base camp ASH.

Finding a spot that was secluded and deserted wasn't too hard; Spring in Vermont leaves chalets virtually empty until summer kicks in full swing and hiking replaces slaloms. We rented a little 2 bedroom cottage on the far part of the property to ensure privacy and get down to business. Helena gave me a call while at Stellas, with some not so great news. Keeping up a secret relationship with my girlfriends deserter mom doesn't make me happy, but it's the only way to ensure information flow that only a Register employee could access.

According to her sources, we have one thing to fear right now, which doesn't sound too bad, but if you knew anything about the third wick you'd shudder. Apparently word got out to many a folk and it spread to different demon dimensions which caught the unfortunate attention of an Ubiquatar demon who illegally portaled into Michigan about a day ago. Then word got out on his arrival and the rest of the earth wick demons went scurrying. I think that explains his bad a.s.sedness enough. Helena is sending over all the info they have on the guy in the next hour or two, so I start setting up the laptop in a mad huff.

"Whoa there bro, do I dare ask what that computer did to you to deserve that beating?" Hunter saunters in the front door carrying a bucket of chicken and 12 pack. Tossing the chicken on the counter and popping the case in the fridge minus one, he heads over to the round dining table that Ash has spread out on. Flipping a chair around, he sits down backwards and gives Ash a big grin.

"So I ask you to go get some food and you come back with a bucket and beers? Great job as always," I say with more edge to my voice then perhaps warranted.

"So now you're going to take it out on me, geez bad day princess?"

My anger was boiling at this point. Whether it had to do with Hunter or not, his att.i.tude was my tipping point. "I guess this is your idea of a little fun eh Hunter? Get some humans killed and watch some horrible demon eat Stellas face off. Great entertainment I know." I turn back to my monitor and start downloading some files.

"Yeah well Asher, if memory serves, this might have been up your alley a few years ago too, so p.i.s.s off."

"Well thankfully some of us grew up a little."

"You know, I'm all for helping you out. We've known each other for a few decades now, and I think we have a bit of history between us, seen each other go through some s.h.i.t, but seriously, this new you really sucks a.s.s." Hunter downs the rest of the beer in a swift motion.

I remain planted in my seat, trying to work out a plan, ignoring him is better then egging him on I am well aware. As he gets up and heads back to the fridge he starts up again.

"And secondly, I don't even get why we are doing this? I mean, WE could be the ones to sell her off. We could make so much cash on this deal, it would be quite lucrative."

That's it, I've had enough. "What did you say?" I turn in my seat to face him, anger seething through me, nausea filling my gut with the thought of selling Stella myself.

"I'm just sayin'. Don't tell me the thought didn't cross your mind Ash. You might be 'turning over some self righteous new leaf' but I know you better then that." Opening another beer he tosses the cap in the sink. The clink sounds like a sledgehammer in my brain signalling me to attack.

Quickly the room starts to shake as items tip off the edges of the shelves in the kitchen, dishes crash to the floor and a wild wind whips through the living room even though no windows are actually open. I stand to face Hunter as he breaks out into a huge grin.

"Oh so that's how we're gonna play. I got ya, I get it." In a heartbeat a decorative dish that was placed on the coffee table comes whipping at my head. I dunk a second before it hurls past me and crashes into the wall to my right.

"You don't want to p.i.s.s me off Hunter, I think even you know better then that." We are having a stare down as the room continues in hurricane mode.

"I would have thought you knew better as well Ash," exclaims Hunter as a dining chair is lifted into the air and thrust into my backside. Now this I wasn't as lucky to dodge. Hurling forward, I fall to my knees but jump back up to my feet, raising my hands as a mini twister forms around Hunter pushing him into the range and back against the wall, pinning him there.

"So high school." Hunter screams through the loud wind storm affecting only him. I turn around just in time to see about 15 pieces of cut wood coming towards my face. Dropping to the floor, my concentration is shot and Hunter breaks out of the wind and comes at me.

"C'mon now, perhaps we had finish this like gentlemen, no?" Hunter leans over me and grabs my shirt, pulling me up and slugging me right in the jaw.

"Since when were you a gentlemen? I hardly think conning your way into the sack with helpless young ladies const.i.tutes admirable behaviour." Hunters expression turns so dark he looks like a wild beast which essentially I guess we all are, deep inside. I kick my legs forward and knock him on his back, crushing the coffee table in one fell swoop. Jumping back on my toes, he quickly retaliates with a large sofa levitating right at me with enough speed to knock me back again hard into the wall, pinning me underneath.

"What the c.r.a.p is going on in here?!" I hear Stella screech from the front door. Busted.

Hunter and I sit side by side on the large plaid couch, the one that pummelled me into a wall. The room is back to normal save for a bunch of broken dishes and knick knacks which were ugly to begin with. I'm ma.s.saging my arm that was dislocated during the couch a.s.sault as Hunter remains unscathed but sporting a bruised ego from being found on his back by a couple of chicks, half defeated. I must add that the couch had a pull out bed in it which made it super freakin' heavy.

"It would be real nice to have some confidence that we are all on the same page in this mess now wouldn't it?" Stella stands before us, hands on her hips, Gabs flanking her left with a big smirk on her face, clearly enjoying a good berating session. I glance over at Hunter who is staring at the ground in humiliation and annoyance. I wonder why he is still here anyways considering the way he feels about the whole deal. Maybe he's right. Maybe I have changed that much. Was I really that big of an a.s.shole? He returns my look and gives me a shrug with a lop-sided grin. It's so easy to fight with Hunter, chuck some c.r.a.p around, yell insults and share a case of beer to make up. Simple.

"I was just teaching your boyfriend here how a real man would take down a freak demon like the Ubiquatar. Wasn't that right Asher." He perks his eyebrows up to me.

I grin back at him, thankful for the fight as it has left me less angry and more relaxed then I've felt in days. Sometimes a little scuffle is all you need to release some tension.

"Ubiqua-what demon? What is that exactly? Sounds bad a.s.sed." Gabs pipes up, interest piqued.

STELLA.

Our base camp has developed quite nicely, we had a fancy supper together (hot dogs) and caught a beautiful sunset past the 'Bluebell Bunkie', yes the cottage has one of 'those' names. I might've even been pumped about spending a few days with Gabs and Ash and sometimes Hunter, if the circ.u.mstances didn't suck royal a.s.s.

Gabs has taken on her research role with a vengeance which I knew she would. Underneath all that euro-s.e.xy is a super smart, mega nerd, with an eye for facts and a great pen chance for getting the job done. While she researched, Hunter is doing whatever Hunter does best I guess, drinking, complaining, popping his feet up on the couch, and poking Gabs now and then with random objects. As a telekinetic, he technically doesn't have to lift a finger, his mind can do that for him, and take advantage he does. Little does he know about the wrath of Gabs, and I can tell her patience is waning. Once she flips out on him, demon or not, he'll cower in defeat. I hope I'm around to see that. A smile starts to form on my lips but it's quickly wiped away as I remember why we are here; some super horrific demon wants to eat me, or sell me, or do G.o.d knows what to me.

"Ok focus Stella, you look a million miles away. This is important, try again."

Ash and I have been working out on the side deck for a number of hours now, trying to get me up to par on harnessing my abilities. A crash course in demon fighting skills if you will. It's been frustrating, annoying, maddening, but I 'think' I'm getting at least a little better. I thought I had mastered Ash's power but in fact there is a lot to be said for learning restraint and control. This could have come in real handy a few nights ago with the fire demon. I'm concentrating on building up that one in particular so that it doesn't fry me like bacon.

"Ok, think about the fire, envision it in the pit of your stomach, control it, make it work for you. Don't let it consume you, no matter what. Focus Stella."

I can totally feel it, burning me from the inside, like I've eaten about 200 Redhots. But it isn't actually painful this time. It feels like pure delicious power surging through me. My eyes are closed and I'm focusing on keeping it in my belly and not letting it out until I can control where it goes. Last thing I want to do is burn a hole in the side of the cottage.

Carefully opening my eyes I focus on Ash, ever so slowly bringing up the heat into my arms and down into my fingers. I look down and my hands are red and fiery like before, but the heat isn't overtaking me, I'm controlling the surge. Like a human flame thrower.

"Awesome Stell, now try and visualize pulling the heat into your hands, forming a ball in your palms. When you're ready I want you to chuck it into the hot tub but please don't do it until you're ready. Don't rush it or you could burn your sweater right off. On second thought... "

"Har Har. So not the time for second base Ash," I say focusing my sights on the hot tub 10 feet below at the foot of the deck stairs. I've got a wee little fire ball in my hands, sweat beading at my temples and pure dread licking at my neck at the thought of losing my s.h.i.t.

I stare at it for a few seconds before willing the courage to flick my palm towards it. A small, but seemingly well orchestrated ball of flames shoots into the water, heaving a big billow of steam into the air with the splash.

I'm so excited I instantly lose focus and the heat starts to burn my fingers and arms. My happiness turns to panic as the intense burn trickles down my back and my hair is lifted from my neck. Ash grabs my hands and winces from the pain but doesn't let go.

"Come back to me Stella, look at me, focus on me, cool down, calm down, control the urge."

After a few minutes of steady breathing and thinking about ice burgs, I'm back to normal but clearly in need of a cold shower. My clothes are sticking to me and my mouth feels like a sand trap. The chilly spring night air blowing through my hair feels amazing as the sweat turns to little goose b.u.mps. It flows over me like a cool blanket; a welcome sensation following the intense temperature.

Ash has become a bit of a demon whisperer to me. He's the only one who can ground me before my powers take over. Hunter tried to talk me down earlier and I took out one of Murrie's tires in the process (we had a wee funeral for the poor fella). Gabs tried as well, but really just yelled at me to stop, too afraid to come too close. Only the touch of Ash's hands around mine sends instant calm vibes up my arms and into my body; like the antidote to my virus.

So much has changed in the last 24 hours, I can't even articulate the bizarreness. Gabs doing demon research, my Dad actually knowing what I am, sitting in a cabin by the woods throwing hot b.a.l.l.s of lava into a hot tub. A little bit overwhelming and a lot to take in. These last few weeks I've felt infected by this demon disease. Desperate to hurl myself into the deep end, unseeing and uncaring for anyone or anything. Willing myself to succ.u.mb to the realm and turn my back on humanity.

I feel almost relieved now with the knowledge of controlling the chaos deep inside me. Of the normalcy which I ran from before. Right now, normal is looking pretty sweet indeed. I know there are still perks about this life, but romanticizing my situation wasn't helping so I gave that up in favour of living until I was 19. A solid goal I think.

GABS.

"So apparently the Ubiquatar has a nickname. The Stepford demon. Hmm, wonder why that is?" I like to 'work' out loud, it helps me focus. I wasn't actually thinking that Hunter would reply.

Hoping up from his lax position on the couch and over to the table surprised me. "Now that I do know." Pulling up a chair he plunks down across from me. "I've heard mostly tall tales about these guys, but the reason being is that aside from being a mean s...o...b.. they have the power to control your mind - like you're a Stepford-bot, or whatever that 70's movie was about."

"Gee that sounds great. What else might that small cranium be able to remember?"

"I'll have you know, Princess, that I have a few extra years of experience over your naive little existence so show a little respect." Touche. He returns back to his spiel.

"So. If memory serves, I heard of a guy that had a run-in with one about 2 decades ago. They don't come to earth very often as they have to enter illegally and it's a bit of a pain in the a.r.s.e. Our border laws are pretty strict, which I can tell surprises you by the look on that pretty young face." He shoots me a big grin; man I hate condescension from chauvinistic a.s.sholes. I grit my teeth to control the lashing I so want to bestow. Arguing isn't going to help Stella right now though.

"Ok, ok, I'm young, point taken. Now get on with it," I fire back.

"I guess this guy was pretty unique, I think he had the ability to raise the dead, which in theory would seem like a good ability and it's pretty rare too, but it's just too dark and creepy for me. I don't have a lot of morals but I do know it goes against nature; not something to f.u.c.k with." A pen begins to float between us over the table. I'd have to say that Hunter was a guy who can't sit still for a second; attention deficit in the extreme.

"Anyways, he summoned a Stepford demon, which instantly gave the Ubi access to the earth wick, illegal or not. Sort of like an open border, but an offence which is punishable by death. No free tickets in this dimension. Something to note in case you thought about summoning a hot demon yourself someday." He gives me a wink. Gag.

"Apparently he wanted to form a partnership with this thing and had the notion that if he granted it access to earth, there would be rewards beyond belief. Idiot. He was too c.o.c.ky in his ability and too stupid to understand the lack of humanity of this demons home wick. Dude didn't stand a chance. The Stepford overtook his mind and forced him to cut out his own tongue and eat it."

Bile has risen into my mouth thinking of this monster doing that to Stella.

"Oh and then he made him chop up the rest of his own body parts. Stepford's don't like to do the work themselves I guess; I suppose it would get pretty messy. Thankfully for that guy, he bled out pretty quick and the demon had to suck it up and finish the job. He got caught by The Register a few days later, holed up in a sw.a.n.ky resort in New York state eating another poor b.a.s.t.a.r.d with a side of caviar and a pricey merlot." The pen falls to the table between us as Hunter looks back at me with a smile. So cavalier, no fear. How are we going to get through this mess? My hands have started to shake and I feel like I could really throw up. I get up and launch myself into the bathroom before I get the chance to embarra.s.s my young myself.

Hunter yells from the other room. "Weak stomach Princess? Too bad!" I can hear him laughing as splash cold water on my face. b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Chapter 32.

D-Day STELLA.

The smell of smoke is making me cough up a lung. I'm sidestepping the rubble as best I can, but still tripping continually as I try to run down the hall. I can tell the hall used to be very pristine, like a research facility, and pure white everywhere. Right now it looks like a war zone.

I'm checking each and every small window, looking in on empty room after empty room, constantly searching. For what, I'm not so sure, but I'm frantic. At the end of this hallway is a big room, like a cafeteria. Actually I think it is a real cafeteria, I can see table trays and spilled food, and upturned chairs and tables. Over in the distance I see a row of booths with people actually still just sitting in them, playing cards?

I run over in warning to them, but they are completely ignoring me like I'm invisible. Words tumble out of my mouth but I sound like a grown up in a Charlie Brown cartoon, all wonky and distorted. No wonder they can't understand me. I turn around and try to distinguish anything else that might seem familiar to me, the smoke is so thick I've pulled up my shirt to cover my mouth in order to breathe in something less toxic.

Debris is still falling from the ceiling, but at a slower pace. It's as if there was a bomb and this is the after math. Could the whole building be ready to collapse? What am I still doing here, how do I get out?! I turn back to the poker players and try to ask this question, but again, nothing is making any sense, I can't spit out anything coherent.

Pounding my fists on their table to get their attention seems to have worked and they look up at me like I'm a rude waitress, interrupting their good times. Out of the four guys, three look very normal, mid-thirties, nerdy types, one even has on reading gla.s.ses which he takes off to clean every few minutes. The fourth is something a little different, he has horns in the side of his head, and his hands which appear to be the only bare skin showing, are covered with scales and claws, not human at all. I'm staring at him but not afraid of him, just curious. He motions behind me with his right claw, indicating something I should be interested in, then flashes a big smile, revealing row after row of stained pointed teeth. Still, this doesn't frighten me, I can sense he is of no threat.

Spinning around I see an area in the far corner of the room which I didn't before. The smoke has cleared up a bit revealing a giant crater in the floor. Racing over to it, I trip on a few chairs and slip over some spilled milk - that seems kinda ironic doesn't it? I feel magnetically pulled to the hole though, so I immediately get up and keep running.

Peering down into the gapping s.p.a.ce, I see lots of debris as it opens into another big room, this one filled with bookcases and filing cabinets, all toppled over. On the right, almost missing it, I see a pair of legs. There is something very familiar about those legs, but they are pinned underneath a big stack of books, I'm unable to see who they belong to.

Climbing down the broken pipes and jumping to the top of one standing bookcase, I quickly make my way down into the room. Flinging book after book off of the legs, I now know who they belong to. They belong to Ash. This makes my heart thud so loudly in my ears I can barely breathe. There just seems to be more and more books on top of him the faster I move. Finally I get to his torso and face; he's unconscious but I still feel a life force flowing through him, albeit very faint. Screaming on the top of my lungs I lean over him and lift his head and body into my arms. Blood is pouring all over me, mixing with the heavy flow of tears and constant dust and smoke. My voice can't get out the words, I'm screaming and absolutely no one can hear me, nor are they going to help me. This is the part when I wake up.

Sitting up in bed, slick with sweat and somehow tasting smoke on my tastebuds, I don't know if I've screamed and woken myself up, or just been jolted out of the new nightmare I keep on having. I haven't had the other one in awhile, since I met Ash actually. But this one is new. Horrible and new. I never get past that moment, it's just a repet.i.tive loop that I can't kick. How some people dream about rainbows and kittens, I'll never be able to relate. Lately they've become more intense and vivid, and perhaps now I know why.

Flipping back the covers, I hear a little rustle of paper that's been placed beside me. Grabbing the note, I already know it's from Ash. I guess who else would it be right? He and Hunter have gone to town to see if they can get any more news on this demon. All the info Ash gathered for Gabby to review from his Register contact has been very helpful but sometimes you need to get out there and use your street smarts for more; or if that fails, they'll beat it out of them. Nice.

Opening the door to the kitchen, the smell of coffee hits me right away with Gabby sitting where I left her last night at the kitchen table, surrounded by loads of hand written notes, her hair messily up in a bun with a few pencils poking out.

"Morning bella, how'd you sleep?" she asks, swivelling to greet me.

"Aw you know, demon nightmares, hot sweats, itchy hotel bedding, the usual. You?"

"Same." She spins back to the laptop after giving me an encouraging smile as I shuffle to the coffee machine.

"Thanks for making this, I need a good dose of caffeine this morning." Taking a seat beside her, I push the papers towards the middle, reading a few notes she's written. It seems she's learned quite a bit about the demon world in the last 24hrs. Impressive.

"So any new news?"

"Not really. I mean, I've done some background on him which wasn't too substantial, but what's been quite interesting is researching the wick he comes from. It's unbelievable really, the conditions they thrive in. Freezing cold, no sun, like ever, no human could actually survive the cold if thrown into that dimension, it's truly awful. Makes me want to hit a tanning bed and enjoy some warmth." She shrugs up her shoulders in a shiver.

"I guess The Register has it's work cut out for them, keeping those demons outta dodge."

"Ya, and that's the other interesting thing. The Register. Hunter was actually being helpful last night and filled me in on some of the work they do there, I know, h.e.l.l hath frozen over. Did you know there was like one or more offices in each and every state, including a whole whack abroad too. The number of employees is also staggering, but what is super cool is the way they've kept their existence all a secret from us humans," she says making quote marks in the air. "I mean I don't know if Hunter was 100% honest in his answers, those chances are pretty slim, but there have been some pret-ty famous demons that you and I have both heard of. The Register can actually perform a glamour on them to make it look like they're aging and then they just die off in our world, disappear for a few decades and do it all again."

"Wow, that's really neat Gabs," I say feebly, taking a long drink and enjoying the burn as it makes its' way down.

"s.h.i.t dude, I'm sorry. I'm babbling again. What I'm terribly getting at is the hope that they might be actually able to help us. Grab him before he gets to town. They've set up a perimeter watch along the Pennsylvania/New York border which is great, something to be hopeful about right?"

"Definitely. You're right Gabby, this could all blow over by tomorrow and he could be caught and sent back and all would be back to usual right?" I smile hopefully at her as a whip of wind comes at my back, the front door flinging open.

"Ok so, the s.h.i.t eater got through the perimeter, we are royally screwed." Hunter bursts through the door with the news, Ash trailing behind with a grimace.

"Alright then, Plan B. Here's to not dying today." I hold up my mug and down it all in one gulp.

Chapter 33.

Plan B "So that's it, The Register won't be helping us any further? I just don't get it?! They are going to wait until I get chopped into little pieces before they act on this? That is so effed up!" Agitated and pacing, this news was not what I wanted to hear.

Ash has been trying to calm me down to no avail, I'm furious. "Stella, you have to understand that The Register has no knowledge of you right now. You were never profiled by your mother, and so technically you don't exist. They were going on a strong tip that this demon portaled in but they have no idea why or whom he is coming after and I think it would be better if we kept it that way. They are searching for this guy but only because he somehow made it through an illegal portal. As far as they know, he came to earth and went to Disney World."

"Yeah, how did he even get through here anyways?" Pipes Gabby.

"My source tells me they don't know who helped him, just that they got tips on the portal, who came through it, and that he was heading east."

"But don't you think they would help us if they knew about me? I mean, maybe it would be better to come clean and sign me up?"

"No Stella, that wouldn't be good at all. Trust me on this, it's better that they don't know about you at all." Ash is firm and not budging an inch.

"Ash is actually right, I mean, The Register can do some good deeds but at the end of the day, they seek their own best interests and protecting demons isn't actually a priority. Maintaining control and anonymity is paramount. Right now all they care about is how this illegal portal made them look weak and inefficient," Hunter interjects. "We live mostly civilized here on earth, but sometimes the powers that be like to turn their head, let the demons duke it out and clean up their own messes."

I plunk down on the couch, with my head in my hands. Ash rubs his hand up and down my back, easing my tension a bit.

"Ok so what are we facing here?" I ask.