The Demons' Door by Chris Grabenstein

Author:Chris Grabenstein [Grabenstein, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2017-08-22T00:00:00+00:00

First thing Monday morning, Hakeem, Badir, and Jamal escorted Reginald Grimes back to the basement.

This time, they led him into the vast warehouse located two stories below the theater’s scene shop. Hakeem flicked on a work light and Grimes was staring up at a brass statue of his new god.

“Is it the original?”

“No, oh Holy One. However, it is an exact replica. Handcrafted by our faithful artisans in Kairouan.”

“Are they also my devoted followers?”

“But of course. They have provided much financial assistance for our endeavors.”

Grimes stared at the metal beast. “The dog days are upon us, Hakeem!” he declared. “Sirius, the Dog Star, the brightest star in all the heavens, now rises and sets in sync with the sun. We enter a time of sweltering heat, when none will feel the hot blast from hell’s furnace door as we pry it open. This is the evilest time of the rolling year, when the seas boil, wine turns sour, dogs grow mad, and mankind burns with fevers and frenzies!”

“You have studied well,” said Hakeem.

“I took the book home last night. Reread a few chapters.”

“Then you are ready!” Hakeem held up his key. “Let us go open the final drawer!”

—

The four men scurried across the basement to the room where the trunk was stored.

“It is time, Exalted One.”

Hakeem’s brass key glistened in the sharply angled beam of sunshine slicing through the casement windows.

The birds outside ceased chirping.

“It is time!”

He slowly inserted the key into the lock on the one drawer that remained sealed.

“Hurry up!” said Grimes. “Open it!”

“Guard the door,” Hakeem commanded Badir and Jamal. “Let no infidels approach!”

They grunted. Went to the door.

Hakeem turned the key. The locked drawer clicked open.

“Show me!” said Grimes, quivering with anticipation.

Hakeem bowed, slid open the creaking drawer, and extracted a brittle parchment roll.

“What is it? Another ritual? More necro- or necyomancy?”

Hakeem grinned. “What if you could not only summon forth the spirits of the damned but restore them to full life?”

Grimes thought about that. “Bring the dead back to life? Resurrect them? Are such things possible?”

“Yes, Exalted One. Here, in this place, at this time, such things are very possible, indeed.” He gestured toward the scroll. “Behold the resurrection ritual! Your grandfather, may Ba’al rest his soul, attempted to perform it. Once.”

“When?”

“Many years ago.”

“Where?”

“Here.”

“Why here?”

“This building was erected on what some might call cursed land. What we would call sacred soil. It is a power spot. A vortex where negative energies collide. A swarming place for the foulest demons imaginable! It is land ripe for our resurrection ritual!”

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