Chapter Text
Sparrow sighs as she combs her wet hair, looking at the other motel bed with her brother in it. She gently massages the curly hair mousse into her hair and plugs in the hair dryer and diffuser. Once she finally has her hair dry she steps up to her brother's bed and pulls the covers back.
“Up Lark we got a demon to exorcize.” She threads her fingers through her hair and starts to pull a braid together. Lark rolls over onto his back and glares at the ceiling.
“Why so early.”
“It’s 9 o'clock.”
“I was up late doing research.” Lark's feet hit the floor, he tugs at a knot in his hair.
“You really need to stop sleeping on wet hair.” She walks over to the bathroom and grabs her eyeliner.
“I’m not getting up early just to take another shower when we get back covered in blood.”
“Okay but can you at least brush your hair and maybe put a satin cap on. I’m tired of you complaining about all the knots.”
“Then I’ll shave my head.”
“And look like an idiot?” She chuckles, “we match silly. That’s the point.” In the mirror she sees him roll his eyes and smiles.
Lark stands up and slowly drags himself to brush his teeth.
“We’re having oatmeal today.”
“No, we're having oatmeal again” he mumbles through his toothbrush.
“Well when eggs aren't fragile and 5 dollars a dozen we can have some.” She plugs in the water pot and turns it on. As it starts to boil she turns to start packing their things, tossing the box of oatmeal over her shoulder at the water pot, along with their to-go cups. Lark walks out picking up the things Sparrow tossed and setting them on the counter, dumping the oatmeal into cups followed by the water. “We’re out of chocolate chip oatmeal”
“There’s still brown sugar oatmeal.”
“Yeah, but I want a chocolate one.”
“Too bad. We gotta finish that pack before we get more. Maybe you shouldn’t eat all your favorites first.”
“I’m not eating the plain oatmeal with your sunflower butter.”
“Sunflower butter is good. And once I’m out I’ll buy peanut butter again I promise.” She smiles, zipping up the bag and taking the cup from her brother. They sit down at the small table and quietly eat their oatmeal, Sparrow clicking through her research.
“Lightning storms and fast moving black clouds have been spotted downtown.”
“So we start downtown.”
“Yes and they have a pet shop we can stop in.” Lark acts annoyed at this but he’s glad to go someplace that will bring his sister some joy. He finishes his oatmeal and picks up his Sparrow’s empty cup, walking over to wash them out and shake them till it’s dry. Sparrow closes her laptop and grabs Lark’s tablet, putting them into bags.
“Right, ready?” Lark shoves the clean cups into his bag.
“Yeah whatever.” Sparrow smiles and hops down, moving to the door. They sign out and drive down the road in the jeep. Once they finally find a spot to park, Lark gets out and sighs, making it to the back of the jeep and tucking his knife into his coat. He’s been on the hunt for a demon killing blade, he once had backup from someone with one but he hasn’t been able to find any since. He looks at his knife collection and then grabs his flask of holy water putting it into his cargo pants pocket. As Lark was getting ready, Sparrow stood in front of the pet store beaming.
“Lark! They have puppies! Look at the front window!” She bounces on her toes, looking at the little mixed breed puppy in the front barking in the window. She puts her hand against the glass, it was cool, and smiles as the puppy jumps around. Lark walks straight past her into the shop. He could smell the stale empty bedding and the dryness from the heat lamps on the lizards. Then the smell of sulfur. His walk slows as he starts looking around more intently, searching for the smell of sulfur near the windows and vents.
A woman walks up to him, her black hair tucked away under a headband. “Hello, welcome in. Is there anything I can help you with?”
He hears the bell on the front door jingle as Sparrow starts to walk over. “Has there been smoke nearby?”
“Sorry what do you mean by that?”
“He means has like anything been off. I know the thunderstorms have been a pain.
“I would hope none of them turned into fog.” She studies the girl, also smelling the sulfur as well. Sparrow shifts a little.
“Nope. I don’t think that’s how thunderstorms work. But if you need anything I’ll be right at the front.” She turns quickly heading to the front counter.
“You think it’s here?” Lark leans in to talk quietly
“Maybe. Or we’ll need to call animal welfare on this place if that sulfur isn’t a demon.” She leans down near a vent.
“Nope, it's a demon. Look,” she holds her finger up. Sulfur dust.
“Lucky today are we?” He huffs.
“Oh shush.” She wipes the sulfur off on her pants and stands. “Let's check upstairs with the reptiles, and the kittens.” She smiles when she mentions kittens, quickly walking up the stairs. It was smaller up here and hot. Snakes and lizards sat in their terrariums, basking under their lamps. As Sparrow passed the snakes she noticed how all the creatures were hidden in their small caves. She trusts the animal’s instincts so she looks back at her brother. He makes eye contact seeing her very serious expression, her head tilts slightly at the animals and he nods trusting his sister wholeheartedly. He moves down the three aisles till he sees the tall man's hair pulled into a ponytail. Sparrow walks the other side walking right up to the man.
“Hi can you help me?” The man turns to Sparrow smiling, she looks at his name tag, Nick. She takes in any personal information, pronoun pin, he/him, cute cat pin, works retail.
“Can you point me to the live crickets?”
“Well hello there. Can I take you down to the live crickets now?” Lark starts walking towards him.
“Oh yes please I have a beautiful bearded lizard named Alex and we just moved so I’m looking for a spot to find good food for him.”
“Oh that’s so fucking cool,” Nick glances behind himself and jumps. “Oh my god you scared me dude.”
“I'm so sorry about my brother, he has that effect.”
“Nah, it’s all good. Damn you're both beautiful.” Lark scowls and Sparrow gently chuckles.
“Thank you,” she smiles and Nick grins back at her. He leads her and Lark back downstairs,
“You said you’re new around right?. Could I offer you a coffee?”
“Oh really? I would love that. When do you get off today?” Sparrow asks, Lark standing behind her glaring.
“I’ll be off in a couple hours,” he touches her shoulder before letting go and opening a door, “How many crickets can I get you.”
“Let’s do 100.”
“Eh?” Lark makes a sound
“Of course I'll grab those real quick” Nick disappears.
“Row. A 100 really”
“He would be suspicious of anything less.” Nick walks back out holding a box out.
“A hundred crickets and a number for the pretty lady.” She giggles again seeing the number on the box.
“I’ll text you soon handsome.” She walks over to the counter to check out. Lark heads immediately out to his car sitting down and huffs.
“Don’t worry Lark, I think this is the guy. I’m not used to it being so easy.”
“Yeah but now you have agreed to go on a date? I don’t care, it's a stupid cover.”
“I’ll go out for coffee and you’ll head to his place and trap him okay”
“Fine.” He turns on the car, glaring out at the road. She rolls her eyes looking down at the box of crickets she bought.
“I here with some butter and salt those-”
“You are not frying up these crickets!” she exclaims eyes wide staring at her brother.
“Fine but it's not like we can free them.”
“I'll freeze them. If you want to eat them after you can, but first we are gonna be humane about this.” Lark rolls his eyes,
“Nah just put them down and bury them.”
“Thank you for not eating my crickets.”
“Whatever.” he grumbles, turning back down the road to the motel.
Sparrow walks down the block, her skirt swaying in the light breeze. She pushes open the cafe door scanning the room for the nerdy looking guy and grinned. He was dressed simply, Sitting at a table scrolling on his phone looking bored. She walks over quickly sitting down and smiling.
“Hi Nick.”
“Hey it’s the pretty girl from before I’m glad to see you actually came so what’s your name sweetheart?”
“Sparrow. My name is Sparrow. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.”
“It’s okay, I'm glad I know it now. You wanna go order some coffee?”
“I would love to, what do you usually get.” She stands and takes his hand pulling him towards the counter.
“Your hand is warm.”
“Yeah I run hot a lot of the time.” She orders a hot drink and he orders an iced coffee. As the coffee is being made they walk over to the books displays.
“That one is a really good book” she says, picking up a fantasy, “the blonde one reminds me of my dad. It’s a story about these dads who get lost in the future.” Nick smiles at her nodding.
“Woah. And like they have to get back on their own?”
“Basically yeah. They’re big failures and end up killing like 300 people by the end of the adventure,” she chuckles a little.
“Sparrow!” The barista calls out. She quickly turns, trying not to rush to grab the drinks, pulling them off the counter and pouring some holy water into her drink before stashing the container back in her bag. She meets Nick halfway, handing him his drink as they move to go sit down again.
“Your drink looks amazing.”
“Well it is a mocha, those tend to taste pretty good.” He takes a few sips. “Wanna try it?”
“Only if you try mine too,” she giggles. Nick smiles and takes it from her. “Be careful, I like it hot.” He breathes on it a little.
“While I like my things pretty hot.” He takes a sip and immediately drops it hissing in pain, reaching for his lips.
“Oh no. Oh no, are you okay?” She reaches out, feigning trying to help. The hunky holy water hurt him. That’s the last confirmation she needed.
“Shit. Ow yeah, yeah, you were right that was hot. And I dropped it all over your skirt.”
“No it’s okay. It’s okay. I’m so sorry it was so hot.” She reaches out for his face trying to show concern.
“I’m okay. I’m okay.” He chuckles looking her in the eyes and smiling. “Sorry about your drink, I can get you another.”
“No, it's fine. I promise.” She leans in and kisses his cheek. “I’m just sad you got hurt.” He smiles, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her a little closer.
“How about you make it up to me. Come check out my apartment. I got some good wine.”
“Should be a perfect night.” She grins and pulls him towards the door.
The small apartment door slowly opens as Nick and Sparrow walk in, giggling together. Sparrow sees the devil trap on the ceiling as she pulls him in deeper, tugging at the flannel he was wearing. He grins wide while kissing her as they step father in. She’s so close to pulling him into the demon trap. Nick reaches down to his shirt looking up to pull it off before pausing.
“Oh. Well look at that,” his eyes flick to black. Lark walks around the corner the sound of a gun cocking.
Sparrow quickly pulls at the demon, trying to shove him into the trap. He flips Sparrow over his shoulder and she hits the floor hard. Lark starts shooting, hitting the demon in the shoulder. Nick flings the door open, black smoke pouring out of his mouth as the demon escapes. The demon who named itself Nick flies off into the sky over the building probably to find another poor bastard. The man falls to the ground breathing heavily. Sparrow pulls a tissue from her bag and presses it to the man’s wounds. She heard the sirens of police from the gunshot, so she looks up waiting for Lark to come out. He does, looking pissed as he puts his gun back in his coat glaring at everything. He slams his bag into the jeep before sitting his ass in the driver's seat and turns the jeep on. Sparrow looks at the man the EMTs will handle his injuries, she stands and heads and sits in her seat not looking at Lark. This was not the plan. The demon got away. It was supposed to be easy. Seduce the demon, trap it, and exorcize it. She hits her head against the headrest groaning.
Lark slams open the motel room door, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. Sparrow starts pacing the room, eyes closed picking at her cuticles as tears prick her eyes.
“Dammit. Fuck. I’m going to tear that demon's soul apart bit by bit.” He kicks a trash can.
“Call Grant tell him to keep an eye out for this one. This is our demon. And we’ll be the ones to exorcize that fucking bastard”