The demon Haagenti was in the middle of telling April about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse when he was interrupted by Talbot.
"We have to go," Talbot said.
"We were talking," Haagenti said and released a low growl.
"You've been talking for seven hours," Talbot said.
April checked her watch. Talbot was right, somehow seven hours had passed by in a blur. Her eyes were tired but her mind was racing with the new information that kept pouring in. She didn't want to go yet.
"We're not done here," April said. She looked at the caged monster for verification. "The lesson's not over yet, right?"
"The little woman is right," Haagenti said, nodding his great horned head. "Even if I give her only the most important information, the lesson shall continue for eight more days."
Talbot looked at April and said, "Do you plan to stay with us?"
April took a deep breath. "I can't imagine leaving, knowing what I know now."
"Good," Talbot said. "If you're with us, you have certain responsibilities. It's time for your first field mission."
Haagenti stood up quickly and pressed his face to the Plexiglas. "No," he said, using an unfamiliar tone. It set the guards on edge, who reached instinctively for their weapons. Haagenti said, "Lady April is not ready yet. She needs more study."
April got up from her chair nervously. "What's going to happen?"
"It'll be fine," Talbot said. "It'll be good training."
"She must stay," Haagenti said.
"If I'm going, I want you to go with me," Talbot said, putting a reassuring hand on April's shoulder.
"Do I have a choice?" April asked.
"You always have a choice," Talbot said.
Haagenti barked a mocking laugh and Talbot glared at him from beyond the glass.
April nodded, trying to summon the same courage she found when she started her conversation with the demon.
"I'll go with you," she said, "but I want to know where we're going."
Talbot said, "France."
YOU ARE READING
The Man with the Devil's Tongue (A Prologue to the End of the World and Some Other Things)
ParanormalApril Frausini can see ghosts. When she was younger, her parents had treated her like a child with a broken brain. They took April to doctors. The doctors sent her to specialists. The specialists put her on drugs. And when the drugs failed to stop t...
