With Travis, Catch’s need for destruction was controlled and allowed to build inside him until Travis was forced to unleash him. Always it was someone Travis had chosen. Always it was in private. And it was never enough for Catch’s appetite.

Serving under Travis, his mind always seemed foggy and the fire inside him confined to a smolder. Only when Travis directed him toward a victim did he feel crispness in his thoughts and a blazing in his nature. The times were too few. The demon longed again for a master with enemies, but his thoughts were never clear enough to devise a plan to find one. Travis’s will was overpowering.

But today the demon had felt a release. It had started when Travis met the woman in the cafe. When they went to the old man’s house, he felt a power surge through him unlike anything he had felt in years. Again, when Travis called the girl, the power had increased.

He began to remember what he was: a creature who had brought kings and popes to power and in turn had usurped others. Satan himself, sitting on his throne in the great city of Pandemonium, had spoken to a multitude of hellish hosts, “In our exile, we must be beholden unto Jehovah for two things: one, that we exist, and two, that Catch has no ambition.” The fallen angels laughed with Catch at the joke, for that was a time before Catch had walked among men. Men had been a bad influence on Catch.

He would have a new master; one who could be corrupted by his power. He had seen her that afternoon in the saloon and sensed her hunger for control over others. Together they would rule the world. The key was near; he felt it. If Travis found it, Catch would be sent back to hell. He had to find it first and get it into the hands of the witch. After all, it was better to rule on Earth than to serve in hell.

14

DINNER

Travis parked the Chevy on the street in front of Jenny’s house. He turned off the engine and turned to Catch.

“You stay here, you understand. I’ll be back in a little while to check on you.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Don’t play the radio and don’t beep the horn. Just wait.”

“I promise. I’ll be good.” The demon attempted an innocent grin and failed.

“Keep an eye on that.” Travis pointed to an aluminum suitcase on the backseat.

“Enjoy your date. The car will be fine.”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” Catch grinned.

“Why are you being so nice?”

“It’s good to see you getting out.”

“You’re lying.”

“Travis, I’m crushed.”

“That would be nice,” Travis said. “Now, don’t eat anybody.”

“I just ate last night. I don’t even feel hungry. I’ll just sit here and meditate.”