Page 15 of Dead Evil (Cold Case Psychic #37)

Ten felt like he was going to throw up. It wasn’t from the awful convention stand chicken nuggets or the fact that his daughter had just made friends with a doll who happened to be a serial killer.

It was from the fact that their seats were five rows from the stage.

Jude had bought the tickets early and had his choice of where to sit.

Whatever was about to happen with the Dallas Demonologists and King of Deliverance, Ten would be front and center.

He'd been shocked earlier in the day when Pastor Levi Shackleton came to the West Side Magick booth on the convention floor. Ten knew the preacher didn’t just happen to walk by.

His visit had been intentional. What Ten didn’t know was why?

Obviously the pastor was in Salem to bring more sheep into the fold, so why had he confronted Tennyson?

Jealousy? To deliver a warning? To throw Ten off his game? Or to make him feel guilty?

Thanks to Ronan Ten felt no guilt at all when it came to how he lived his life.

Not even when he and Ronan raided the fridge at midnight to refuel for what was to come.

The only logical reason Ten could think of for Shackleton’s visit was because the man was an asshole and wanted to put the fear of God into Tennyson.

“Are you okay?” Ronan asked from his left side. Everly was on his right, next to Wolf, then Jude and Cope. “You seem a million miles away. You’re not still mad at me, are you?”

“I took Everly’s advice to be Elsa and let my anger go.” Ten patted Ronan’s knee. “I was just thinking about Shackleton’s visit to the booth this morning. What do you think the point was?”

“To shake you and throw you off your game. He sure as hell wasn’t there to swap recipes with you.”

Ten snorted. “I’d have gladly given him the one for humble pie.”

“Yeah, well you served him a double helping by calling out some of the women he’d slept with.” Ronan snickered.

Ten was about to agree when a man walked onto the stage. The crowd erupted into applause.

“Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for the Dallas Demonologists?”

Hoots and hollers accompanied the frenzied applause.

“I’m Dixon Barrymore, son of our founder, Duke, and I’m here to deliver a couple of rules before I bring out the holy trinity of demonologists.”

The crowd booed.

Dixon held his hands up in an ‘I’m innocent’ pose.

“I know, guys rules suck, but don’t hate the messenger.

Please do not interrupt the proceedings with outbursts or trying to run on stage.

You will be arrested and persecuted, er, prosecuted , rather.

For all of you who bought deliverance tickets, please be aware that due to time constraints, we might not be able to get to all of you.

Lastly, video and/or audio recordings are strictly prohibited.

Security will be walking through the auditorium.

If you’re caught, you will be removed and your ticket will not be refunded. Got it?”

“Got it!” the crowd chanted back.

“Awesome, guys!” Dixon offered the crowd a winning grin.

He was a dead ringer for his father with his white-blond hair and icy blue eyes.

If Ten didn’t know better, he would have thought the young man was Duke’s clone.

“Join me in welcoming the Dallas Demonologists to the stage! Christian Dwight, Ellis Cantor, and Duke Barrymore come on out!”

The demonologist ran out onto the stage, each of them giving Dixon a high five. “Hello, Salem!” Duke called out, causing the crowd to go crazy with applause and adulation.

“Let’s get started. Where is Maria Harper?” Duke called out, his eyes scanning the first few rows of the auditorium.

“Here!” An older woman hopped out of her seat and started jumping around like she’d just been called to be a contestant on the Price is Right . One of the security guards approached her and checked her ticket, before leading her to the stage.

“Hello, Maria,” Duke greeted when she’d made her way onto the stage. “Tell us a little bit about yourself.”

“I’m a wife and mother of three sons. I work as a nurse at South Shore Hospital and my husband is a lawyer in Boston. With the boys playing all kinds of sports, we lead very busy lives.”

“Sounds like a wonderful life, Maria, but you wouldn’t be here asking for our help if the picture was as rosy as you’re painting it. Tell me why you’re here.”

“Over the last year, I find that I’m filled with rage. It comes on over nothing. I scream, throw things, and I’ve hurt my husband.”

“Physically?” Duke asked, sounding appalled.

Maria hung her head and nodded. “I’ve never been angry like this before.

I’ve managed not to let these feelings spill over at work with my patients, but I can feel myself losing the battle.

There are times when I don’t feel like I’m in charge of my body.

I’ll do and say things that are totally out of character and I can’t stop.

It’s like someone or some thing else is in control. ”

Duke nodded solemnly as Maria spoke. “What you’ve described are the hallmark symptoms of demon possession, but all is not lost. We’re going to change your life, Maria, but only if you believe. Do you believe in the glorious good power of Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior?”

“I do,” Maria agreed.

“I didn’t hear that, Maria. Do you believe you are about to be delivered of this demon and set free?”

“I DO!” Marie shouted.

“Very good. Very, very good.” Duke turned from Maria and stepped to the front of the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Duke began, a hand over his heart, “what you are about to witness may not be suitable for children or those with weak nerves. If you feel that you cannot handle the glorious power of Jesus Christ, this is your opportunity to leave the auditorium.”

No one moved. Ten remembered seeing Duke Barrymore onstage with Levi Shackleton all those years ago. The warning speech he’d given that night was identical to the one he’d heard back then. He couldn’t help but feel this was nothing more than scripted drama.

Duke raised both hands to the sky. “I call upon you, Jesus Christ. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Grant me the power to heal our sister, Maria. Allow me to absolve her of her sins! Use my body as your lightning rod! In your all-powerful and exalted name, I pray!” Setting a hand on Maria’s shoulder, Duke began to speak, softly at first, then growing in volume and intensity.

The proceedings were all déjà vu for Tennyson.

He’d seen this dog and pony show before and didn’t need his gift to predict what was going to happen next.

More prayers. Maria flopping on the stage like a fish out of water with Barrymore claiming victory over the demon.

He turned to Ronan and saw his husband was entranced by what was happening.

Looking to his right, he saw Everly, Wolf, Jude and Cope were equally caught up in the spectacle.

He turned his attention back to Barrymore, who was riled up in a frenzy of prayer.

“In the name of Jesus, I banish thee, demon! I revoke any hexes and curses you’ve cast upon our sister!

No longer will your black aura cause this woman to sin!

No longer will she rage at her family or strike her husband!

I beg for your protection, Jesus! Wrap your loving arms around this woman and welcome her into the kingdom of heaven!

In the name of the Holy Spirit, I cast you back to the fiery pits of Hell from whence you came! ”

As Duke shouted, the crowd grew louder and louder, urging the demon to be gone.

They were joined by Dwight and Cantor adding their voices to the din, shouting their praises to God’s holy name.

Ten’s body buzzed with the same energy he’d felt all those years ago in the sweltering tent in Kansas City.

He wasn’t sure if Maria was possessed by a demon or was simply a woman who had too much on her crowded plate.

He tried to reach out with his gift, but with the energy level in the room spiking and so many people shouting ‘Amen,’ and praising Jesus, Ten wasn’t able to get a read on Maria or Barrymore.

He turned his attention back to the stage in time to see the real show start.

Maria’s body jerked, as if she’d been struck by lightning.

She began spewing nonsensical words, mingled in with her own cries for deliverance.

The alleged demon fought back with a series of growls.

Maria collapsed to the floor, where she began flopping around in earnest. The frenzied crowd began to chant Maria’s name, as if they were offering the woman their own strength to fight her affliction.

After several more minutes with Duke shouting for the demon to be gone, the voices stopped and Maria lay still.

The auditorium was dead silent. Everyone waited to see if the battle had been won.

“Are you okay, Sister Maria?” Duke asked, his eyes on the crowd.

“I’m not sure,” she said, sounding as if she were in a daze.

Cantor and Dwight came to her side and helped Maria back to her feet. Both men held her elbows as she regained her balance.

“How do you feel, sister?” Cantor asked, excitedly.

“I feel lighter,” Maria said, sounding astonished. “It’s gone. It’s really gone. I feel like my old self again!”

“Let’s hear it for the power of our glorious God!” Duke raised his hands to the heavens, as the crowd burst into applause.” Cantor walked Maria back to the security guard who had escorted her to the stage. The man led her out of the auditorium.

“What did you all think of that?” Duke asked. “I felt the power of the Lord, did you?”

The crowd cheered. Ten noticed Ronan, Jude, and Wolf clapping. Everly and Cope both looked gobsmacked. He wanted to ask Everly how she felt or if she thought it was real, but Duke began shouting again.