Deamhan (17 page)

“Thanks.” Murphy rubbed his tattoo.

“What is it?”

“Just an ancient symbol I found in a world history book,” Murphy answered.  “I don’t remember what it means.”

“It’s nice work.”

Murphy’s eyes moved from Sean and to Veronica. “Sorry if I interrupted you guys.”

“No, I just can’t believe I forgot about the comedy club.” She nudged Sean in his stomach.

“Oh.” Murphy nodded and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Are you a researcher, too?”

Sean shifted to Veronica. “You told him?”

She smiled shyly. “I had to.”

“Those Deamhan things attacked us,” Murphy said.

Veronica whispered to Sean who looked away in disbelief. “Don’t brood, Sean. I hate it when you brood.”

“I can’t believe you brought him into this.” Sean didn’t look at her.

“I was going to tell you. It’s just that Murphy was with me when it all happened.”

“It was just her and me”—Murphy raised his hands in defense—“I swear.”

Sean walked back to the couch. Veronica looked back at Murphy and shrugged. This wasn’t the way she wanted to reveal it to Sean, not at all.

“I’m so, so sorry, Murphy. He came into town today unexpected and—”

“It’s okay.” Murphy smiled, reassuringly. “You’re busy, I understand.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, it’s fine, really. It’ll give me more time to look up the rest of those Deamhan names.”

“Deamhan names?” Sean questioned.

“Maybe we can do something another time?” Veronica suggested.

Sean crossed his arms and slumped over, shaking his head in disappointment.

“Yeah, another time.”

“Sure.” Veronica looked back at Sean. She had to end Murphy’s visit. “I have to go.”

“Have a good night.” He waved. “And it was nice meeting you, Sean.”

“Same,” Sean slowly replied back.

Veronica closed the door.

“You shouldn’t have told him,” Sean blurted.

“What was there to say?” Veronica approached. “‘Oh, never mind the evil twin with the sharp teeth, Murphy. It’s just a trick with the shadows.’” She sat next to him. “Sean, he saw it, and even if I lied to him, he would’ve figured it out anyway. I thought it was best to warn him.”

“By telling him about researchers?”

“What’s the matter?” She couldn’t understand why he was upset. “If it’s because I didn’t tell you earlier, then I’m sorry.”

“It’s not that. You haven’t known him that long, Veronica,” Sean explained. “Remember, you can’t trust anyone here, including him.” His words were a ghastly reminder of himself.

“So far you’re the only one acting different around here.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what I said.” She exhaled. “What’s wrong with you, Sean?”

“Nothing. I just don’t like him.”

“You don’t even know him.”

“And it’s in his best interest that I don’t.”

“Fine.” Veronica reluctantly agreed. “Maybe I shouldn’t have involved him, but it’s too late now.”

Sean stood up from the couch. “Then maybe we should get to know him.” He scurried over to the front door and unlocked it. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“Out.”

“Out?”

“Yeah, why not.” He opened the door. “We deserve some time to relax. You deserve some time to relax.”

Veronica hastily agreed, not because she thought he was right, but because she needed the extra break.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Murphy joined Sean in humming along to the intro of “Renegade” by Styx that blasted from the jukebox. It was the tenth song that he had requested earlier in the night after their sixth pitcher of beer.

They clashed their filled glasses together in the air and raced to see who could finish their amount first. Veronica watched them in their act as drunken brothers, laughing and belching loud enough to carry over the song.

Being the only patrons at Bar 69, just down the street from Veronica’s apartment building, gave them a legitimate excuse to sing at the top of their lungs. The small bar had four round tables, three booths, and three pool tables. Sean liked the fact that the cost for one song from the Jukebox was only seventy five cents and the beer prices didn’t break his wallet.

With the alcohol traveling through his system, Sean found it easier to ignore the main reason he came to Minneapolis. He wanted to tell Veronica everything at her apartment. In the bathroom at her apartment, instead of using the toilet, he sat on it with his face in his hands contemplating if he was doing the right thing. He thought about what her father wanted him to do; give her false information about her mother. But he had already broken that rule. The paperwork he showed her was information he’d stolen. He couldn’t bring himself to blindly follow what her father wanted of him, no matter if it was his duty as a member of The Brotherhood. Before he had left the office, Kenneth handed him an envelope stuffed with money and a small sheet of paper, pointing out his objective. Before Sean boarded his plane, he threw the paper away without reading it. He didn’t care about the consequences. He wanted Veronica to find the truth and he believed he could help her while pretending to follow his orders.

The decision wasn’t easy. If The Brotherhood found out he’d given her stolen documents, they’d come for him. In the meantime, he’d try to help her get as close as possible to finding out about her mother while playing the role of “spy.”

Veronica cupped her empty margarita glass until Murphy filled her empty glass with beer.

“This is no fun if you don’t drink,” Murphy’s voice slurred.

Veronica declined his offer, and Murphy refilled Sean’s glass.

“Aw, c’mon, Veronica.” Sean slapped Murphy on his shoulder like two buddies enjoying their drunken night.

“I’m fine,” Veronica replied.

“She doesn’t like beer.” Sean leaned in close to Murphy’s ear, but he yelled above the music. He felt his eyelids slowly closing. The ground swayed back and forth and he lost his footing for a moment, using Murphy as a support.

An unfamiliar song to Veronica replaced “Renegade” and Murphy bobbed his head to the beat. “I love this song.”

Sean drank again, consuming everything including the foam that collected on the bottom of the glass. He wiped the excess from his mouth with the back of his hand and smiled drunkenly.

“I can tell.”  Veronica looked at the clock on the back wall. Two hours passed and Sean and Murphy were still embraced in their drunken shenanigans. She sipped the beer slowly through her straw and watched the bartender who was glued to a football game showing from the flat screen TV.

 “How long have you guys known each other?” Murphy waved his hand back and forth between them.

“A while,” replied Sean.

“It’s a long story,” Veronica added.

“I bet.” Murphy belched then excused himself. “You guys must have some interesting stories about these Deamhan you’re chasing.”

“Pssft.” Sean rolled his eyes. “We’re not chasing them. We want to know what happened to her mother.” He pointed at Veronica. Murphy’s body slowly leaned to the right, followed by Sean, who still had his hand on his shoulder. Veronica chuckled and pulled the pitcher toward her.

“You both are pretty wasted.” She slid off her stool. Sean watched her walk toward the bar, taking the nearly empty pitcher with her. She set it on the counter and nodded, thanking the bartender. He then heard the distinctive clinging of the front door open and he saw two women walk in.

He turned his head and watched the women approach the bar. Veronica returned to her barstool, and joined him in watching the Asian woman, wearing a sharp dress suit with high, heels walk up to the bar, followed by an African American woman wearing a white blouse and black dress pants.

“Thanks for inviting me out,” Murphy said to Sean.

“Hey, nooooo problem.” Sean turned back to Murphy. “God, those girls are hot.”

“Go over there and say something to them,” Veronica egged him on.

“Naaw,” Sean replied. “They’re not my type.”

“I think they just winked at you.” Murphy lowered his voice.

Sean turned to face them again. The Asian woman flashed him a look, winked, then looked away.

“Hey! Hey! They winked at me.” A wide grin covered Sean’s face.

“Did you wink back?” Veronica sipped from her beer.

From the corner of his eye, Sean saw the two women walking toward their table. He heard their sharp heels clicking on the floor and his eyes widened.

“Here they come,” Veronica teased Sean in a whisper. The Asian woman placed her drink on the table. Sugar crystals covered the rim of her glass containing a yellowish-orange colored drink, topped with a small yellow umbrella.

“Hey.” The woman looked at Sean. Murphy concealed his giggling by covering his mouth.

“I’m Amber, and this is Toni.” Toni waved and gulped her drink.

“I’m Sean, and this is Veronica.” He pointed to Murphy. “And Murphy.”

Amber turned back toward Toni, who immediately walked back to the bar. Amber turned back, her face totally flushed. Her demeanor changed.

“I’m sorry.” She stepped back and turned, walking away from them.

“Did I just get rejected?” Sean asked.

“I think you scared them.” Murphy slapped Sean on his shoulder. Murphy stood up from his chair and stretched is arms over his head. “It’s getting late. I think I’m gonna head back.”

“Yeah, we should get back.” Veronica brushed off the women’s weird behavior. Sean slid off the stool and nearly lost his balance. He caught the edge of the table, but their empty glasses crashed onto the floor, scattering into shards.

“I think I might need a little help.” He leaned against the table. He covered his mouth, feeling the alcohol regurgitating from his stomach. He rushed to the back of the bar to the men’s bathroom. He pushed the door open and hurried to an empty stall.

The alcohol gushed from his mouth and his stomach convulsed. He stared into the toilet bowl and watched the yellowish liquid pour from his mouth. After the last chunks were expelled, he plopped to the floor, leaning against the wall of the bathroom stall. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stared at the ceiling fan.

What am I doing? He again questioned his motive. A feeling of discomfort followed by the onset of jealously overcame his nausea. He didn’t want to admit to what he saw in Murphy’s eyes. He likes her. He likes my Veronica. However, something else confused him about Murphy, first starting with his tattoo. It was nice artwork, something he might consider. But it just wasn’t right. Something wasn’t right about him.

He heard the door to the men’s bathroom open, and Sean immediately stood to his feet, checking his shirt to see if some of his bile had missed the toilet bowl. Satisfied, he flushed the toilet and opened the door.

He saw Amber standing in front of the door and Toni leaning against the only sink in the bathroom with her eyes slowly reverting to black. The two women remained fixed on him with Amber revealing her sharp prominent teeth. Sean paused and he picked up on the fact that they were watching, waiting to see what he planned to do.

The years of training in The Brotherhood, especially how to act when confronted by a Deamhan, ran through his head in a millisecond. Hide your thoughts and don’t show your fear. Look for any weapon in your environment. Catching them unexpected was best, but what if they caught you unexpected? His training didn’t cover that and it didn’t cover what to do when confronted by two Deamhan in a men’s bathroom.

Amber lunged at him first. He jumped back and slammed the stall door shut. He felt the door shake, and he heard her drop to the floor. Above, he heard snarling and he looked up, seeing Toni gripping the top of the stall. Suddenly his body began to feel weak. His legs wobbled from underneath him and his arms felt as if they weighed a million pounds. His head throbbed and his sight became clouded.

It didn’t take long for him to realize what type of Deamhan Toni was; Metusba. She jumped on top of him, and he pushed her to the side. She landed, hitting her head on the bathroom seat. He opened the door and jumped over Amber.

Everything he learned about confronting a Deamhan from The Brotherhood kicked in. He searched the bathroom for any object he could use. He grabbed the hand sanitizer on the sink, but dropped it. He reached for a roll of toilet paper sitting on top of the paper towel dispenser, but he dropped that too. Finally, he grabbed the large waste can underneath the sink. He swung it at Amber, striking her across the face before she stood to her feet. He then raised it over his head and swung, striking her again. He continued his attack with each blow connecting, until he saw Toni walk out of the stall.

He swung the waste can at her but she caught it and she pushed him to the floor. Immediately Sean jumped back to his feet and he stepped back, readying himself for her attack.

“You’re not as strong as they said you’d be.” His liquid courage spoke for him. The men’s bathroom door opened, and he quickly turned to look over his shoulder. Veronica stood in the doorway with Murphy behind her. She grabbed him by his shoulder and pulled him out of the bathroom. Murphy closed the door and reached for a broom, leaning against the wall nearby. He ran the broom through the door handle, bracing the door and trapping the two Deamhan inside.

Away from danger, Sean drunkenly smiled at Veronica.

“You see that?” He pointed to the door. “I took on two of them at once.”

“You could’ve died!” Veronica screamed at him.

He stood silent then shrugged. Yes, he knew he could’ve died but not once did the thought cross his drunken mind.

Veronica wrapped her arm around him and hurriedly rushed him outside, with Murphy following slightly behind.

Sean looked at Veronica, who stared straight ahead. Not once did she look back.

* * * *

Sean didn’t remember the walk home. He didn’t see Veronica and Murphy, scared shitless, after his Deamhan encounter. What he did remember throbbed in his brain to the point that he felt like dying.

His throat cracked and his stomach growled when he rolled off the couch and fell to the floor. He stood up. It took him awhile to realize where he was. The sunlight peeped through the blinds, touching his skin.