The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Jake pounded on the door. Who knows what was taking these guys so long. This place was really giving him the creeps.

"Damn, where the hell have everyone gone? The old man's almost done for," Jake grinned.

"Don't worry, his one leg is already in the grave, so let's send the rest of the body too and let's be off with it," a voice boomed which was only audible to Jake.

"Oh, knock it off, Bill!" Jake said, "We can't just let him die. He knows who I am, the only person in the world, who knows my true identity besides us and maybe the ONLY one who can kick you out of my FREAKING body and send the rest of you inside that amulet!"

"Just because I'm not barbecuing your brain doesn't mean you are in a position to quarrel with me, you big bad bum!"

"Oh, is that so? What happened to all the If you die, I also die type of pep-talks?" Jake argued.

"I only need a body," Bill showed counter logic, "Not a thinking mind with it."

"Who's it?" a voice roared and opened the majestic door. It was that elegant looking man, but obviously Jake couldn't identify him.

"It's your Great-great-grandfather three times from your mother's side you eenie-meanie-nanny!" Bill was being savage, lucky that none else could hear him.

"Frank didn't show any sign of noticing Bill, but his eyebrows winked, "Is that Mr. Hans, the famous…"

"Exorcist?" Jake completed him, "Yep, and he's in a pretty bad shape."

"So seems you, my boy!" Frank touched his ring on Jake's cheek, "What's troubling you?"

An old savage demon, you caring uncle PECOS!" Jake thought, but didn't say it, "What? Me? What could possibly be wrong with me?"

Frank looked behind them, like he was expecting to find someone, but couldn't really see them. Jake was glad he couldn't see Bill, or things would have gone sideways.

Frank called his servants and brought Hans to a bed room. The room was very big and full of rich accessories. Even a chandelier was hanging from the roof. Judging from the abundance of feminine accessories, Jake could guess this was a girl's room, belonging to Frank's daughter or wife maybe.

"Ugh! What's that stench?" Bill asked.

"What stench?" Jake sniffed, "I can only smell woodroses."

"That's what it is…" Bill hummed, "Demon physiology works differently than humans."

"Really? Then it must be very sad for you, not to be able to enjoy the world as it is…"

Good thing, Frank wasn't paying attention to them, as he was checking Hans' condition.

"Don't worry," Frank checked his vitals, "He's gone into shock, probably witnessing some unpleasant events. I'm giving him my…special meds…I think, he'll be awake within five…four…three…two…"

"Arrgh!" Hans opened his eyes, face twisted in disgust almost about to vomit, "Are you feeding me maggots?"

"Wow, that worked even faster than I thought," Frank chuckled, "So, did you reconsider my proposal?"

"Proposal? What proposal?" Hans' face was burning with anger, "You think sending a beast after me will make me HELP you?"

"Hmm, let me see," Frank examined his wounds, "Deep wounds made from scratching. Touched the bones, nail must be five to six inches long. Three claws in each hand. Got evident similarity with the THINGS I saw in the basement with my daughter," he looked at Hans.

"What, now you want me to go after your daughter?" Hans said, "As I look closely, it is too suspicious that hound attacked us as soon as I turned you down. Like, it was waiting for us," he sat on the bed straight, "Looks to me as if you're trying to frame her."

"I'm afraid," he replied, "I mean, I really AM…afraid."

"Oh, and now you want us to save your ass, by stopping your daughter?" Jake asked, "That's ridiculous,  and cowardly!"

"I'm afraid for my daughter," Frank said, "I'm afraid what might befall her if she remains in this path any longer."

Hans let a long sigh, "Alright, we'll talk about this matter, ALONE."

"As you wish," Frank stood up and bowed, "And one more thing, I've already fulfilled my end of bargain. Now, it's your turn."

"WHAT?" Hans couldn't believe his ears, "How? When?"

"I told you that you'll recover or, stop my daughter, in return I'll give you what you need," Frank explained, "And in that moment you needed saving. So, we're even, RIGHT?"

"Now I'm getting the vibe, that this wager was too biased!" Hans sighed.

"I'll leave you to your privacy then," Frank left.

Hans waited for Frank to leave, then he grabbed Jake's collar at tremendous speed, "You lying bastard! Why didn't you say your real name before?"

"What?" Jake was surprised, "You knew?"

"He knows!" Bill also boomed.

But Hans didn't show any sign of him witnessing Bill, "If you had said YOU were the kid that I saved many years ago, I wouldn't have to take so much pain!"

Then he took some breath, "Anyway, how did you know to trap the demon inside the amulet?"

"Well," he shrugged, "I saw YOU trapping that demon when I was young, I followed the same thing here. Maybe you already cast that spell, so I just pressed it and gave her a nice facial. Then, I got scared and sold it off at an antique shop. But, clearly you got hold of it and bought it back."

"Enough of the innocent talk," Hans stopped him, "How did you transfigure the amulet into a scythe?"

"Well, Bill told me to…" Jake started but paused immediately as he said the wrong words, "Oops, sorry!"

"Who's Bill?" Hans frowned.

"Uh, he's a…good friend," Jake made it up, "A very…dear friend."

"I'm not your FRIEND!" Bill growled, "Hey, this guy can't see me either! HA!"

"Don't bluff!" Hans spoke, "I know you got something fishy!"

Jake remained silent for a long while, then said, "Alright! Just…don't freak out!" then he said, "That demon that you imprisoned many days ago…a part of him got stuck with me."

"WHAT?" Hans screamed, "And you haven't told this to anyone? Had I not been with a few cracked ribs, I would have kicked his sorry ass outta your body!"

"Well, I tried to tell mom," Jake said in a low tone, "But, he killed her," then he spoke quickly, "But don't worry. He was a savage creature before, but now I've learnt to tame him."

"Tame me?" Bull grunted and pushed off some books from the shelf, "No one can TAME me!"

Seeing this made Hans' eyes round with amaze, "How, how on earth?"

"Well, I guess he's a little friendly!" Jake chuckled nervously.

"You dare call me FRIENDLY?" Bill said.

"No one can tame a demon!" Hans said.

"See…this guy speaks sense," Bill admired him.

"But my question is…how did you transfigure the scythe?"

Jake took out his palm and showed the burnt cross mark, "Remember this? As soon as I touched this…that miracle happened. Don't ask me how…"

"He channeled his power through you," Hans started waving his finger in the air, trying to pin-point Bill's location, "It's amazing!"

"I'm here, you old broken TOOTSY!" Bill groaned.

Hans didn't hear that, "Well now that you have control over your demon maybe you can use him to do good."

"Or, I could lead HIM to enjoy a far more interesting life," Bill said, though Hans didn't hear it, "Where everything is permitted."

"For example, we could save this mam's daughter, who may have recited the wrong verses from the wrong book and turned herself into a demon," Hans proposed, "What does your demon say about it?"

"Technically, it's not Impossible, through nearly impossible," Bill started, "Long ago, there was ONE book of Bysterion, which could lead any man to his own destruction, written by the Devil himself with the hands of man. Even demons fear its power. As it contains the secrets of killing demons too. To save the humankind from going astray, HIS," he pointed at Hans, "Kind hid it from practically everyone. Now, even I don't know its whereabouts."

Jake transferred the speech to Hans, "Firstly, he's not my demon. Secondly, he said there was once a book called whatsoever which could actually do this SHIT, but the exorcists then hid them from eyesight long ago. And now my QUESTION…what the hell's going on around here?"

Hans sighed, "Long story short, listen" he told Jake the whole story, "Now, back to the topic, I might know someone who has information regarding these. She was a…dear friend, long ago. Speaking of her, you gained that magnetic demons power when you touched the amulet, right?"

"I think so…"

"So, can you possess all their powers when you touch them?" Hans asked.

"Of course yes," Bill said, "Together with all their powers, we would be INVINCIBLE! But that would also wither your body into ashes by using all their power at once."

"Very inspiring!" Jake said without any joy, "And THRILLING!"

"Anyway," Hans continued, "That friend of mine that I mentioned earlier, she's an expert on amulets, lockets and such magic. I'll call her up and have her talk with you. She might help her in this matter," he gave him a card, "If I can't, for obvious reasons, then use this…"

"Well, I just have a question," Jake asked, "You spoke some gibberish when you use your amulets. What IS it that you say?"

"Why? You wanna capture demons and sell them in discount at black markets?"

"Why not? It's not that bad an idea!" Jake chuckled, "Truth be told, I don't wanna be intrigued by their powers. I just wanna learn it as a backup."

"Really?" Hans made him swear, "Do you promise to use this knowledge only for the betterment of human kinds only?"

"And my own safety, I do!"

"Oh, how fun it'll be!" Bill exclaimed, "More powers!" he started dancing like a maniac.

Jake thanked God that Hans couldn't see him in THIS situation.

"Alright! The sentence is-Wujwil uh'si Ashnaj durub."

"Wujwil- what?"

"It's Wujwil uh'si Ashnaj durub."

" Alright," Jake practiced a few times, "I think I got the hang of it. Damn, it's TOTALLY like sorcery, right?"

"And what? You're my apprentice?"

"Yeah, sort of…"

"You still got some problems," Hans said, "It'll be…"

Suddenly the door was thrust open and cops entered the room.

"Hands up! On the ground!" a lot of flashlights pointed at their faces. Jake covered his eyes and could see Frank standing behind them in an anxious mood.

"You, boy!" a cop shouted on Jake, "Who are you?"

"Uh, the guy that drove him here?" Jake answered.

"Leave him, we just need the old guy," another cop spoke, and turned to Hans, "Mr. Hendrick, you are hereby arrested on the suspected murder of Mrs. Allen August on the last evening. Any speech you now make will be used in your hearing. You got a lawyer?"

"I…I do," Hans muttered, shocked in the pace of events.

"Oh, up on your feet already!" another cop pushed Hans and made him stand, "The cells are hungry for crackpots like you!"

"Don't hurt him," Jake tried to say, but he couldn't make a dent in the crowd as the cops took him into their custody.

"That's it!" Bill roared, "Use my powers! Kill them!"

"No!" Jake abstained from listening to him.

Within a few moments, Hans was tucked into the police van and gone.

"What the…" Jake exclaimed, "How did that even happen?"

"It happened so fast!" Frank sympathized, "They just got here and forced into the room. I'm really sorry for your friend."

"But I don't understand…" Jake shook his head,, "How did they know that we are here,?"

"I have…no…idea," Frank said, "But they're from the NYPD. I saw it on their badge."

"Thank you, I must be on my way if I'm gonna save him," Jake started searching for the card that Hans gave him, in his pockets.

"Let me cut you a deal," Frank said, "I'll give you a fast route to New York, and in return…"

"No time for deals…" Jake gave that card to him, "Hans told me about this exorcist, a REAL good one, who knows pretty valuable info about some old creepy book of legend which just might help in your daughter's case, who can help me. I need you to dial up that number."

"Let's see…" Frank took that card, "Hmm…" he looked at the card for a few seconds, "Alright, I'll dial up her and ask her to meet you in the NYPD."

"Oh, okay, thanks a lot," Jake started to move out, "I'll be on my way."

"Have a good trip."

Jake started to advance towards the front door. Then suddenly it came to his mind. The card, it contained no name, just a phone number. And Hans only told HIM that his contact was a SHE. Then, how does Frank know about her?

"Wait," Jake stopped.

"What is it?"

"I don't remember saying a name to you," he turned towards Frank, "Then, how do you know HER?"

Frank, after a moment started to clap slowly, then he smiled, "Very clever, my boy. You see, I've had an acquaintance with this…associate. And it wasn't very pleasant."

"You're the one who called the police, right?"

"Yes," he said, "And you know what? She won't be late to find her prey."

"You MONSTER!" Jake turned back and shouted, "You let your daughter fall in the first place…and now you try to KILL the old man? I'm gonna rip your throat!"

"Well, she's definitely strong, I'll need to keep the dog feeding, right? If you fail, then I'll need some backup plan at least!"

Jake jumped forward to hit Frank.

"Uh…enough pep talk! You'll be late. Let me give you a little boost on your trip," Frank looked at his watch, "Sayonara!"

Everything went black in front of Jake's eyes and he fell head-first into a pond.