“I hate rats! So much! Foul, nasty creatures!”
You’re a foul, nasty creature, Val thought as she rushed to Barlow’s side and put a protective arm around the old man.
Finally, Julian managed to pry the rat’s chompers out of his ankle. He staggered, sweating and harried-looking. Julian, that is. Reggie simply looked rather proud of himself as he ducked under the TV.
“Doesn’t matter,” the demon said, his voice a little pitchy now. He cleared his throat. “I have what I came for. When I require some entertainment in the future, I will return. You can depend on it.”
He disappeared suddenly in a column of flame.
Val helped a weakened Barlow to his armchair, then knelt by his side and looked up at him with concern.
“He vanquished Alexa,” he said sadly.
“I know.”
His eyes had a faraway look. “I cared for her, you know. Not as she did for me, but there was something there. I’d grown accustomed to her visits over the years. Something I could depend on. She sacrificed herself to save me.”
“Was he lying about what he said? Are you really sick?”
He leaned back into the chair. “It’s true. I fear I have very little time left.”
Val felt her eyes begin to well up again.
He shook his head. “No time for tears, my dear. You have to go after Julian.”
She blinked. “And why would I want to do a crazy thing like that?”
“You must get the key back. Alexa was a fool to bring it to the earthly realm from wherever she acquired it in the first place. But what’s done is done. You must find it before it’s used. If you don’t, then it will be the end of everything.”
“What do you mean, ‘the end of everything’?”
“Julian spoke the truth. Whoever holds the key holds the balance in their hands. A great amount of energy goes into keeping that very balance in check, and it is vital that it remains that way. If a demon uses the key to enter Heaven and darken it with his very presence, then the balance will be irreparably upset.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Barlow met her gaze. “Do the words the end of the world mean anything to you?”
Reggie scurried over to them. “What’s going on? Who was that creep, anyhow?”
Val looked down at him. “Julian. A demon.”
“Tasted like a demon.”
“And how would you know?”
“He tasted like I would imagine a demon would taste. If I’d ever given that sort of thing the slightest thought before this very moment. First witches, now demons. This is one hell of a day so far.”
Barlow looked at the rat. “Reggie?”
“That’s right.”
“You’re late with your rent again.”
“Oh.” Reggie’s eyes shifted and his whiskers twitched. “So why was I able to get rid of him with just one bite? Aren’t demons supposed to be tougher than that?”
Barlow gave a small smile. “Are you trying to change the subject?”
“Is it that obvious?”
The old man sighed. “Demons have a natural aversion to that which is pure. Doves, holy water, acts of self-sacrifice . . .”
“And rats?” Val finished. “Rats are considered pure?”
He shrugged. “I don’t make the rules.”
“That’s just weird,” she said. “But let’s forget about man-rat for a moment. I believe we were talking about the end of the world? Kind of important, if you ask me.”
Barlow nodded. “Get the key back as soon as you can. Do whatever it takes. And you won’t have to worry about the end of anything.”
Her mind was working overtime. Find Julian. Find the key.
The Key to Heaven.
“And if I manage to find the key before the world explodes—”
He shook his head. “It won’t explode. The earthly realm would cease to exist. Heaven and
Hell would press in on either side in an unstoppable fight for dominance. A celestial smothering, if you will. And since Heaven would be tainted with the presence of a demon, the balance would already be askew. Hell would spread to cover everything. Take over everything. Until there is nothing left.”
Val stared at him in shock for a moment. “Oh, is that all? Not too much pressure then, is there?” She took a shaky breath. “And, if by some miracle I find the key before that happens, then can we use it? Send you back before . . .” She stopped. She didn’t want to finish the thought.
“If there is time. Yes, we shall use it ourselves.”
Use the key and go back to Heaven. Just like that. Easy. She liked the sound of that.
“But how would I know where to start looking for Julian? He could be anywhere.”
Barlow shook his head. “I honestly don’t know.”
Valerie immediately pushed away the first thought that entered her mind. Nathaniel would know where to find Julian. If she asked him, would he help her? Could she risk being in his presence again if it meant potentially saving the world?
There had to be another answer. But what?
Seraphina. She could go back to Seraphina’s office and have her channel Garry again. Tell him it was an emergency. If she let Heaven itself know there was a threat, then they could do something about it, couldn’t they? Yes, that made sense. Perhaps all she needed to do was let
Garry know and he could handle it from his end. Or at the very least help her find Julian.