"Roy's right about the demons," Steven said. "I think the woods are full of them."

"Did you see one?" she asked. "Was it Aka Manah?"

"I don't think so," Steven said. "It saw my markings and it turned away."

"Interesting," Eliza said. She had started up a small propane burner and was boiling some water for coffee. "So we're surrounded by demons and hanging bodies. Great. Those markings are going to come in handy while we're here. I'm sticking close to you! So, congratulations...was that the first time you initiated a trance on your own?"

"Well," Steven said, "the second. The first time was when Roy and I were dealing with Lukas. He set it up, and I did it without even realizing it. But I hadn't been able to do it again, until today."

"Well," Eliza said, "everything happens for a reason. I'm glad you weren't able to trance when we were focusing at the Unser Estate. It's what saved you and saved us all, really."

Darkness was settling around them. Eliza turned on a camping lantern, and Roy joined them. "All done?" Eliza asked Roy.

"It's ready. Can I show you two the setup?" he asked.

"Sure," Steven said. They walked with him over to where he'd been working. Eliza brought the lantern.

"Here's the ropes. I've tied them off on these branches," he said, grabbing one. "When Steven has the demon anywhere in this area," he said, pointing to a spot on the ground, "Eliza, you and I will each pull a rope, and hold it in place. Let's give it a try."

Eliza handed the lantern to Steven, and grabbed one of the ropes Roy had indicated. "Ready?" Roy said. "One, two, three pull!"

Two large mirrors rose from the forest floor, facing each other.

"Steven," Roy said, "you can see exactly where you've got to position the demon for this to work. Eliza and I can only hold these mirrors up until you're done with the amplification. That's it." He lowered his mirror, and Eliza did the same. "I'm going to cover them with leaves. Any questions?"

"No, I don't think so," Eliza said. "I'm worried about getting the demon positioned though. You've only got a narrow s.p.a.ce to work with."

"About fifty feet square," Roy said.

"I think," Steven said, "I should set up right here, facing the spot."

"That's a good idea," Roy said.

"Let's get something to eat before we start," Eliza said. "I'm starving, and I left a pot of coffee boiling."

They all walked back to the tent, Steven leading the way with the lantern. The last of the light was leaving, and it was becoming difficult to see the edge of the clearing.

Once they reached the tent, Eliza poured them all some coffee and Roy pa.s.sed around some MREs.

"Usually I'd expect to see some insects buzzing around that lantern," Roy said, looking at it. "Not even mosquitoes seem interested."

"Nothing normal wants to be near here," Eliza said.

"From what I saw in the trance," Steven said, "I'd rather not be here either."

"So you did it?" Roy asked.

"Yup," Steven said. "It was just like you said. Can't get distracted or you lose it."

"Now you know why I use the blindfold," Roy said.

"I should try that," Steven said.

"Did you move around?" Roy asked.

"Do you mean in the trance, or for real, physically?" Steven asked.

"Either," Roy said, slurping hot coffee.

"I think I stayed seated physically," Steven said. "I did stand up and walk in the trance though. There are bodies hanging everywhere, and bones in the ground. Some kind of red substance on the ground here in the clearing."

"Oh no," Eliza said. "Are we sleeping on blood?"

"Looked like it to me," Steven said. "But I'm no expert."

"Sleeping on blood-soaked ground is a guarantee for extreme nightmares," Eliza said. "So brace yourselves."

"I walked into the forest a little," Steven said. "There was a blue fog everywhere. I saw a demon. I came towards me, until it saw my markings. Then it turned and walked away from me. I got the feeling there were a lot more of them in there."

"Well," Roy said, "we only need the one. The next time you trance, once we're set up, focus exclusively on Aka Manah. It would be nice to go to bed tonight having taken care of him."

"I'll do it however you think is best," Steven said. "I was thinking I'd place a chair about ten feet in front of the spot where we need him to be, then I'd start the trance and call him."

"And the amplification?" Roy asked. "Are you prepared to do it?"

"The book says I only need to think about the markings while in a trance," Steven said, "after drinking that concoction you've made up. So I'll start with that, then go into the trance, and amplify his a.s.s if he shows up."

"Once he's between the mirrors," Roy said. "Don't do it until he's positioned. Both Eliza and I will be in the River, waiting with the ropes. We'll know when he's there. If you see those mirrors go up, you zap him, OK?"

"Alright," Steven said, finishing off the last of his meal. "I'm ready if you are."

"Me too," said Eliza. "The sooner we do this, the sooner we can leave."

"Let's go," Roy said, grabbing the lantern.

Steven had been sitting in the camping chair for over an hour, trancing.

He's becoming exhausted, Roy thought.

Why don't you have him take a break? Eliza thought.

Roy dropped out of the River and walked over to Steven. Eliza joined them.

Steven left his trance and dropped out too. "Wow, I feel like I need to sleep," he said.

"You were in there a long time," Roy said. "Most trances don't last that long."

"You did attract a lot of them, though," Eliza said. "At least a dozen by my count. All turned away."

"There's a dozen more watching, too," Roy said. "They might be waiting to see what happens."

"Yeah," Steven said, "but not the one we need. What now?"

"We take a break," Roy said. "A night's sleep will restore you. I'd rather do this in the daylight anyway."

"Alright," Steven said, standing up and grabbing his chair. The three of them slowly walked back to the tent.

"Did you sense anything at all that might suggest he's here?" Eliza asked Steven.

"No, nothing," Steven answered. "You saw all the demons that did approach. But none of them were him."

"You were concentrating solely on him?" Roy asked. "Not letting your mind wander?"

"As best I could," Steven said. "I used the image from my bedroom the other night. I could picture him perfectly. Didn't know what else to try."

"That should do it," Roy said. "We'll try again in the morning."

"I'd like to suggest that we construct some protection around the tent," Eliza said. "And swallow some before sleeping, too. It only lasts a few hours, so I'll set an alarm for us to get up and drink some more throughout the night. The blood in the ground and all those yellow eyes at the edge of the forest are really creeping me out."

"Thank you for helping," Steven said. "I know this is a huge risk."

"When this is over," Eliza said, "you've really got to spend some time figuring out those markings. It sounds to me like they might be different for each person. You need to know what yours do."

"I intend to," Steven said. "Just haven't had the time the past few days."

"That's the same excuse you've been using with Jason," Roy said. "It's a bad excuse."

"Jason?" Eliza asked. "Your son?"

"Yes," Steven said, a little upset that Roy had raised the subject in front of Eliza. "He's been showing some interest in the gift lately."

"He's approached you about it?" Eliza asked.

"Yes," Steven said. "Says he's had dreams. Knows that I and Roy are keeping something from him. Wants to know what it is."

"Are you going to tell him?" Eliza asked.

"Yes," Steven said. "I'm going to talk to him about it, as soon as we're finished with Aka Manah."

"I know it's a hard decision," Eliza said. "My son Tony is ten now, he might start developing an interest in it any day."

"You're a lot more prepared to tutor him than I am," Steven said. "When I start with Jason it'll be like the blind leading the blind."

"Not that bad!" Eliza said, laughing. "I saw you trance today. You were perfectly fine."

Even though he knew she was being kind, Steven marveled at how Eliza's confidence was infectious. He actually felt good about it.

"I'm tired," Roy said. "I'm going to turn in. Go ahead with the protection, Eliza." Roy slipped inside the tent.

"Good night, Roy," Eliza said as she rose from her chair and walked behind the tent. Steven slipped into the River and saw her sprinkling something on the ground. He decided to back off and leave her alone while she worked. He went inside the tent. Roy was already in a sleeping bag, his eyes closed.

Steven grabbed the thermos near the tent's door and opened it to take a mouthful of protection before slipping his shoes off and stepping over to his sleeping bag. He crawled inside, wondering if he'd shaken it out sufficiently before he rolled it up the last time.

There's demons in the woods, he thought. You've got bigger things to worry about than bugs in the sleeping bag.

Chapter Thirteen.

Steven opened his eyes and saw the top of the tent. He thought he'd heard someone or something walking outside.

He wasn't sure how long it had been since the last time Eliza had woken them all for some additional protection. He strained his ears to hear. There was nothing.

He turned to look at Roy. His sleeping bag looked flat in the dim light.

He sat up. Roy was not there. He looked over at Eliza's bag. Hers was empty, too.

There was a noise outside something cracked, like a twig snap. He unzipped his bag and slipped out of it. It was cold he put on his coat and walked over to the tent entrance. He slipped his feet into his shoes. He noticed that Roy and Eliza's shoes were still there, next to his.

The flap to the tent was unzipped. He figured Eliza and Roy must have woken early and decided to make some coffee. He didn't have his watch on, but it was still dark.

He lifted the flap and stepped out.

There was enough light from the moon that he could see the clearing. Something was floating in the distance he could see two shapes, hovering several feet off the ground, about thirty feet away.

It was Roy and Eliza.

Steven sucked in air and was about to call out to them when he noticed a black figure sitting in one of the camp chairs just outside the tent. He jumped, then froze. The figure was no more than five feet from him. He turned to look at it.

It turned its head and looked back at him. It smiled.

It looked like a man, just like the man he'd seen in his bedroom. Steven slipped into the River and the figure transformed. It was Aka Manah.

s.h.i.t, Steven thought. How do I get him to the mirrors?

Steven dropped out of the flow.

"Have a seat," the man said, pointing to one of the other camping chairs.

Steven looked out towards the clearing, looking for Roy and Eliza. They appeared to be still sleeping. They were gently floating about five feet off the ground. Roy's head had fallen forward to his chest.