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But when I pushed open the door, to reveal a small but immaculately tidy cabin–it was just like the Demon–there was no one there.
I searched the cabin, looking for any sign of the Demon's presence. The small kitchen was bare, with only a few utensils and a stove. The living area had a small couch and a TV, but no personal belongings. The bedroom held only a dresser and a neatly made bed. I eased open the dresser drawer to see a neatly folded stack of shirts. The closet door stood open, and inside the closet was nothing but a few pairs of neatly hung, crisply-ironed trousers and dress shirts...and a fucking sweater vest.
But I knew for sure he had been here when I pushed the bed aside and found the chains beneath it. There were drops of blood scattered across the hardwood floor. I'd hoped that it would be the trap door down to where my men were hidden.
He'd chained my mother beneath his bed, I'd bet anything. He'd kept her close like they were still husband and wife...but put her beneath him. The thought of the pain she'd been in, the pain and suffering and fear...
I couldn't let myself think of that. I needed to find my men, and find her. They were here somewhere.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down, as I re-entered the living room. The last time I’d faced the Demon, he’d almost killed Cain and me. And now, I was alone.
“Delilah,” a voice whispered, and I whirled around, my gun drawn.
But there was no one there.
He was trying to rattle me.
I moved toward the sound, studying the bookcase. There was a small speaker here–and a camera.
I smiled into it. "Hey there, Dad."
Show no fear.
The Demon wasn't worth my fear.
I walked over to the fireplace, where the Demon was undoubtedly watching me from a hidden camera. I took the iron poker and destroyed the camera, then waited.
"Hello, Delilah," the Demon's voice echoed through the cabin. "You've come looking for me again. How many times do I have to show you that you can't beat me?"
I didn't respond. I knew he just wanted to see me crack. I walked to the window and looked out into the night to see if I could spot anyone.
"You came alone, huh?" the Demon said. "That's really brave of you. Or really stupid."
I turned to face the Demon's voice, trying to pinpoint where this next speaker was hidden. Or maybe it was the Demon, speaking over a loudspeaker. I couldn't be sure.
"I don't need anyone else," I said, my voice strong and steady. "I can finish this on my own."
The Demon laughed. "You've grown arrogant like those men of yours. They tried to goad me, you know. So foolish."
Fear tightened my stomach.
"Where are they?"
"Oh, Delilah. You're the one who thinks you're smart enough to beat me. Find them."
I gritted my teeth as I looked around the cabin. There had to be some clue, some hint of where my men were being held captive. I couldn't let them suffer any longer than they already had.
As I searched, the Demon's voice continued to taunt me. "You think you're so clever, don't you? But you're just a little girl playing dress-up in her father's clothes. You don't have what it takes to defeat me."
I ignored his words, focusing on my search.
There were a handful of framed photos amidst the books in the bookcase. One was of the Demon and me when I was a little girl, both of us smiling out at the camera. Once, the Demon had been my hero. Another photo was of the Demon as a boy, so young and bright-eyed I had to search his features to see the man he'd become. Beside him stood a tall man, also dark-haired and handsome, dressed in hunters' garb. Both of them carried rifles, with wicked hunting knives strapped to their legs.
"You never told me it was a family legacy," I told him. "You should've mentioned it."
I wanted to keep him talking as I kept searching. Maybe I could get him to give something away. But nothing I did turned up my men.
They weren't here.
