Shadow Detective, Tome 4: Demon Dawn

Chapter One

The tires of my Equus Bass screeched to a halt as I pulled up to the imposing stone steps of the Museum of World History. Gothic arches and other majestic architectural flourishes were designed to awe visitors. Even someone as cynical as me couldn’t avoid feeling a little impressed.

I parked my car and got out. As I approached the structure on foot, I barely registered the banners announcing an upcoming Egyptian Exhibit. There were glimpses of eerie mummies, pyramids and ornately decorated sarcophagi. I used to be a sucker for that stuff until I faced my first crazed mummy back in Cairo. My job sure can suck the joy out of childhood fantasies.

The area in front of the museum resembled a warzone. Everywhere I looked I saw police cruisers, flashing sirens, armed SWAT teams and tight-lipped officers with their firearms drawn. This crowd hadn’t gathered here today to take advantage of some group discount; something bad was going down. The fact that Detective Benson had contacted me less than thirty minutes ago with an order to get my ass down here was my first clue that the threat was of a supernatural nature. The second clue was the mark of Morgal, the scar the arch-demon had branded me with when I was but a child, which flared up the moment I stepped out of the car.

Dark forces were at work, that much was certain. And judging by the armed SWAT presence, this wasn’t a mere occult murder scene. A force not of this world was still active within the museum.

My eyes searched the crowd, and I zeroed in on the tall African-American detective who was my liaison with the force. About a year earlier, an apocalyptic cult had tried to tear a hole between our world and the dimension of darkness in this very city. My mentor Skulick and I had interrupted the Crimson’s Circle infernal ritual, saving the city from a demonic invasion. But our victory had been bittersweet at best—the cult’s black magic ceremony had weakened the barrier between the two worlds. Ever since that fateful day, this place had become a hotbed for supernatural activity. In other words, poor Detective Benson had seen some crazy shit since Skulick and I showed up in his town.

For that reason—and many others—the law shared a love-and-hate relationship with yours truly. The authorities both appreciated my help and resented that I was needed in the first place. Hey, I couldn’t blame them. Paranormal trouble seemed to follow me like a shadow, infecting not just me but the people I cared about as well. Nevertheless, Benson seemed to have warmed up to me lately. He’d never admit this to my face, but I think he was beginning to realize that I was here to help. I wasn’t part of the problem but part of the solution. Just like the armed men around me, I spent my days and nights keeping this city safe from the nightmares that threatened its citizens.

I sidled up to Benson, who was barking orders at his men. A group of cops fell in step with the SWAT team, the armed men preparing for a direct assault of the museum.

“Just another night on the job, huh?”