CHAPTER FIVE

The chaotic day didn't mean the world stopped at night. The Ramirez twins were patrolling Salem Willows Park with Clarissa. As Lori and Clarissa chased after an especially ambitious vampire who was trying to kill a tourist, Lucy stood guard over a teenager who'd been knocked unconscious by a couple of the vampire's friends. She was working on healing him while trying not to empathically take on his injuries.

"Oh my goodness," a familiar voice said in horror. "Let me help."

"Pam?" Lucy asked in surprise.

"I'm a witch. I know some strong healing spells," Pam explained. She immediately set to work.

"I'm here, too," Devi said as she hurried toward them. She joined in the magickal efforts.

"What are you guys doing here?" Lucy asked.

"I was trying to clear my mind after today," Pam admitted. "I did a small ritual to help Thomas cross over and find peace."

"I came here to calm myself, too," Devi added. "My familiars like to meet with me here."

"Your familiars?" Lucy repeated.

Devi closed her eyes. As she opened them, an owl flew toward her and perched on her shoulder. "This is Rishi," she explained.

"He's beautiful," Lucy said in surprise.

"Absolutely," Pam agreed.

Suddenly, the ground shook slightly. Lucy was stunned as an elephant raced toward them.

"Holy goodness!" She cried in shock.

"Daivey, say hello to Lucy and Pam," Devi said. The elephant made a traditional trumpet sound enthusiastically. "Good boy... Don't worry. He's friendly," she reassured her friends as she stroked Daivey's trunk.

"Devi... You have a pet elephant?" Pam asked in surprise.

"Daivey's my soul's familiar. So is Rishi. My soul is Lakshmi and Brahma's daughter."

"You're a Goddess," Lucy realized.

"Technically," Devi replied cheerfully. "I'm a second generation deity, so I'm not the sort of Goddess who was deliberately created by Vishnu and is worshipped in mythology. Anyway, our friend here is waking up." She motioned toward the teenager. He was fully healed and starting to stir.

"Devi, he might freak out if he sees Daivey," Pam pointed out gently.

"He'll just think he's dreaming. I'm going to put it in his head to go home. Don't worry, he'll be fine."

Sure enough, the teenager smiled as Devi looked into his eyes. He walked away without a word, still smiling peacefully.

"Okay, you're scary powerful," Pam said with a laugh.

"And she has an elephant," Lucy reminded her.

Lucy noticed Danny and Rhonda coming toward them. "Lucy, can we, um, borrow you?" Danny asked.

"Sure," Lucy replied. "What's going on?"

"Lori just needs help cleaning up a mess," Rhonda replied.

"They're not mortal, guys. You can speak freely," Lucy explained.

"Clarissa and Lori took out the rogue vamp, but more showed up, and there are a lot of bodies," Danny clarified. "I know Pam's a witch, but what's Devi's deal?" He paused before adding, "Is that an elephant? And what's with the owl?"

"They're my familiars," Devi replied with a smile. "Daivey likes to be pet, if you want to stroke his trunk."

Danny didn't have to be told twice. He eagerly approached the elephant and started stroking his trunk with the eagerness of a little kid at a petting zoo.

"So you're a witch, too?" Rhonda asked.

"And a second generation deity," Devi replied.

"That's good to know. I'm a vampire. Danny turned me when we were kids."

"You let him turn you?" Devi asked.

"He was dying," Rhonda explained. "He got attacked by an older vampire who didn't like the way he ran his mouth. I found him bleeding out and recognized him from school, so I tried to stop the bleeding. He bit me."

"That was rude of him," Pam joked.

"At least I stopped myself from killing her," Danny said. "I had no control over myself at first, but then I realized what I was doing and that she was just a kid like me, and I forced myself to stop."

"But not before he marked me four times and I ended up with fangs," Rhonda said with a laugh. "He's looked out for me ever since."

"And she makes sure that I don't do anything too stupid," Danny added.

Rishi the owl suddenly flew into the air. He began circling around them frantically. "Is that a bad sign?" Danny asked.

Daivey moved protectively in front of them. "If it isn't, I'm pretty sure this is," Pam replied.

"Shhhh, my friends," Devi said as she tried to comfort her familiars. "What troubles you?" She fell silent for a moment before her eyes widened in surprise. "We need to leave," she said firmly.

"Leave? What's going on?" Lucy asked.

Before Devi could answer, a man walked into view. He radiated with dark magick, and so did the people who followed him. They were covered in blood.

"Crap..." Danny said. "Girls, get out of here."

"We're not damsels in distress, Danny," Pam protested. "Tell us what we're dealing with so we can fight."

"They're devil worshippers," Rhonda explained. "And from the scent of all that blood, they've sacrificed at least six people tonight." She hesitated as she sniffed the air. "Mel..." She said in horror.

"You bastards! I'll kill every last one of you!" Danny declared before running straight toward them.

"Danny, stop!" Johnny said as he came running into view and grabbed Danny's arm.

"They killed Mel, Johnny!" Danny snapped.

"I know. I saw it... Attacking them won't help, but you'll get yourself killed."

"Mel Caruso?" Lucy asked softly.

"I can smell him on them!" Danny confirmed.

"He was a baby... Barely ranking age," Lucy said in horror. The young vampire was thirteen and had debuted as a ranked slayer six weeks earlier.

"Are you going to avenge the toddler, vampires?" The powerful cult member asked.

"You bet your a-" Danny began.

"Danny, stop. Don't take the bait," Rhonda said. "You're better than that."

It was Devi who acted, moving in front of the cult members and wagging a finger at them like they were naughty children. "Harming children will not stand," she informed them. "Your luck just ran out."

"What are you talking about?" The man demanded.

A tree was suddenly struck by lightning. It split in half. The left side fell on him, crushing him and killing him instantly.

"Oh dear... Yes, that was quite unlucky," Devi said. She turned to his panicking followers. "Your luck is also looking poor, but perhaps you can change it. Make better choices, my friends! Toddles!" She waved after them cheerfully as they ran in fear.

"Damn, Devi!" Lori said with a laugh as she and Clarissa stepped into view. "Remind me not to mess with you!"

"We were going to help, but you don't seem to need it," Clarissa added. She smiled at Pam. "So you're not mortal... Good to know, Roommate!"

"I'm a witch," Pam confirmed. "You can tell me anything."

"And what's Devi?" Lori asked. "A wielder of lightning? A splitter of trees?"

"No, not at all," Devi replied with a laugh. "I am the daughter of Lakshmi. Luck and prosperity are kind of my thing... And I am also the daughter of Brahma, who does not like when people harm children, and who saw fit to allow someone to end this monster's life."

"Brahma?" Clarissa repeated. "You're my soul's half-sister through him... My mom is Hecate."

This made Devi's face light up in excitement. "We're sisters! How lucky!" She declared as she flung her arms around Clarissa.

"You're clearly the perky one," Clarissa said dryly.

"Lakshmi is a benevolent and joyful Goddess," Lucy pointed out. "Hecate is a dark Goddess of magick and the crossroads. I'm guessing you both take after your mothers."

"This is great," Devi decided.

"So, is Margo supernaturally inclined, too?" Pam asked.

"I don't think so," Rhonda replied. "She's sheltered, though... She could have latent gifts that never triggered."

"We'll just need to be careful what we say around our pet mortal for now," Lori decided.

"What about Mitchell and Gregory?" Lucy asked.

"Mitch is cool. He's psychic and knows all about this stuff," Danny replied.

"Greg hasn't exactly announced it to most people, but he's definitely aware of the supernatural," Johnny added.

"Alright, so we can speak freely around everyone except Margo," Clarissa said. "That's good to know."

"What about George's roommate?" Lori asked. "George hangs around us often enough that we might cross paths with him."

"Carl's mortal," Johnny replied. "And a creep. You should stay as far away from him as you can, Lori."

"The guy sure can party, though," Danny chimed in.

"Yes, and he's even worse when he's drunk," Johnny insisted. "I don't know why George is friends with him."

"They grew up together," Rhonda replied. "Along with Tommy." She sighed.

"We'll find out who killed him, Rhon," Danny promised. "We'll make them pay."

"We could just unleash Devi on whoever did it," Lori joked.

"I can ensure that they are most unlucky," Devi replied with a mischievous grin.

"I took care of the bodies, and there's nothing else going on here tonight now that Devi ran off the cult... We should head back to campus," Clarissa said. "They don't want us coming and going at all hours right now."

"At least we're all sober," Lucy replied.

"Speak for yourselves," Danny said.

"Which is why I'm driving," Rhonda said, shoving her hand into his pocket and stealing his car keys. Danny didn't bother protesting.

"Does anyone need a lift?" Johnny asked. "I've got my car."

"Us, please," Lori replied, motioning toward Lucy and Clarissa.

"Of course... Pam?"

"I'd love a ride," Pam replied with a smile.

"Devi, you can ride back with me and Danny," Rhonda said. "Unless you want to ride the elephant?"

"As fun as that is, it might draw some attention in Salem," Devi replied. "Go home, Daivey. I love you." She kissed his trunk before the elephant vanished. Rishi stayed, perching on her shoulder again. "Do you mind if Rishi accompanies us? He's worried about me."

"I think we can fit an owl in my car," Danny replied. "Just don't let it crap on the backseat."

"I mean, with all the girls you go through back there, how would you even notice another stain on the upholstery?" Rhonda teased him.

"Did you just call me a slut?" Danny asked.

"Do you deny it?" She asked.

"Not at all," Danny replied with a laugh. "But I just redid it. I'd hate to destroy it already."

"Come on, guys," Clarissa said, looking uneasy as a storm started to roll in. "Let's get out of here."

~*~

Liora sensed that something wasn't right. She rushed downstairs and found her mother lying on the couch with an empty bottle of whiskey beside her. Cautiously, Liora moved the bottle onto the coffee table. She was about to cover her mother with a blanket when she heard someone moving in the kitchen.

She tensed and suddenly wished that her father was home. She reached out to Clarissa telepathically.

I need you, she thought. Someone's in the house.

As Liora slowly approached the kitchen, Clarissa replied, Be right there. Don't move unless you have to.

Liora returned to their mother's side. She sat in front of the couch protectively, hoping she could hold off the threat with magick if it got too close.

She was startled as she smelled smoke. Liora immediately jumped up and tried to put out the fire that was coming straight toward them. She realized that alcohol had been poured all over the carpet as it rapidly began to burn.

"Mom! Wake up!" Liora begged her. It was no use. Desperate, she tried to lift her mother off of the couch, but she was dead weight, and Liora wasn't strong enough to carry her.

Clarissa must have split a body off, because she suddenly appeared in the house. "Li, run! Get out of here," she said.

"I can't move Mom," Liora replied.

"I'll get her out. Just go!"

Liora ran toward the front door, but before she could open it, the arsonist walked into the living room. She stared at him in shock, unable to process what she was seeing.

"Uncle Bobby?" She asked in confusion. Their mother's little brother couldn't be behind the fire... Could he?

Bobby laughed as the fire moved closer to them. Liora ran to her younger sister and shoved her out of the way of the flames.

"Liora!" Clarissa screamed as Liora's nightgown caught on fire.

Bobby looked at the ceiling. It started to collapse. Enough debris fell onto Clarissa that she immediately lost consciousness.

"Go to sleep, Liora," Bobby said. "This will all be over soon."

~*~

Lewis was driving Maggie home when they passed the burning house. Lewis immediately pulled the car over. "This is bad," he said as he realized that part of the house had collapsed.

"They're alive in there, Lewis," Maggie said, sensing the energy of multiple people inside.

"Stay here. I'll see if I can get control of the fire," Lewis replied.

"But if anyone sees-" Maggie began.

"I'll be careful, Maggie," he promised.

"Let me help. I can heal them."

"It's too dangerous... Once I get them out, you can try to heal them, but you can't go in there."

"You shouldn't go in alone, Lewis... You could be killed."

"I have to try. There's no one else around."

Lewis headed toward the front door. He kicked it down and started looking for survivors. He found one of the girls unconscious and burning. He immediately put out the flames that were attacking her nightgown and picked her up, carrying her outside to safety.

Maggie knelt beside her and started to assess her injuries. "The burns are bad," she said. "I have to risk a healing spell. If we wait for an ambulance, she'll die, or get a severe infection."

"Go on. I'm going back in," Lewis said. He raced inside and focused on getting control of the fire. After a minute, he was able to stop the flames from spreading, and they vanished. He started digging through the debris and soon found another girl. She was severely injured, but he recognized her as one of the students who had signed up to help plan the fundraiser. "Stay with me, Clarissa," he said soothingly as he picked her up and carried her out of the house. "You're going to be alright."

"Oh no," Maggie said as she recognized her. "Lewis, they're both in bad shape... I don't know if I can save them both at once."

"Do the best you can. Their mom's still inside. I have to get her out." He ran back into the house. The final woman remaining inside had burns all over her body. He hated to move her because he knew it would hurt, but he also knew that it was her only chance. He carried her outside and set her down gently.

He checked her pulse. There wasn't one. Lewis sighed and shook his head. "She reeks of alcohol," he said. "It just made her burn faster."

"I'm losing the older sister," Maggie said with tears in her eyes.

Lewis took her hand. "Use my strength. You can do this, Maggie. I know you can."

Clarissa groaned and opened her eyes. "Li..." She croaked out.

"Your sister's still with us," Lewis said soothingly. He knew he'd need to make her forget how they'd been rescued, but for now, he just wanted to comfort her.

"Ma... Mom?" Clarissa managed to ask.

Lewis sighed. "Shhhh," he said gently. "Just try to rest. You need your strength."

Clarissa seemed to understand what he wasn't saying. A single tear fell from her eye before she composed herself. She reached to her right and clutched Liora's hand before blacking out again.

After a few more minutes, Maggie had the sisters stable and significantly healed, although Liora's flesh was still burned. Both girls remained unconscious. "Who could have done this?" Maggie asked.

"There was magick in the house," Lewis replied. "It was unlike anything I've ever felt before... The entity that did this isn't someone who should be walking this realm."

"What do you mean?"

"He's too powerful. He doesn't incarnate. He must have possessed someone, or taken a human form somehow."

"Was it a demon?"

"I don't know, Maggie... But whatever it is, I don't want to piss it off. We need to get out of here before this thing realizes that we're the ones who foiled its plan."

"We can't just leave them, Lewis... They're stable, but they're not even conscious."

"I'll cast a protection charm until the ambulance gets here... And I'll make sure Clarissa forgets that she saw me." He set to work on the spells. Once he was done, he took Maggie's hand. "Come on," he said, leading her to the car. "We were never here, okay?"

She nodded, knowing that whatever had set the fire would be just as likely to kill them for helping save innocent lives as the warlocks would be. As they heard sirens nearby, Lewis drove away, and Maggie hoped that her father wouldn't figure out what she'd been up to that night.