Devil of a Ghost Tour 3

1885

Alfred Crouse waited for the stirring of energy around him. Crouse had chosen to summon the ultimate demon from the abyss, Choronzon. If he pulled this off, he would claim power over most of the unseen world. He lived in a city of vice for a price, the perfect place to draw up this malevolent power. El Paso, Texas was a sinner’s paradise with more gamblers, whores, thieves, and outlaws than everyday citizens. A good run at the poker table would support a life devoted to the study of the dark arts.

A tiny, swirl of energy appeared in the triangles, so subtle, Crouse continued with a second incantation, “...I conjure and constrain thee.... Manifest before this circle; fulfill my will in all things that may seem good to me. Should thou disobey and refuse to come before me, behold: I will curse and deceive thee of they office, joy and station. I will bind thee in the depths of the bottomless pit....”

The energy whooshed up into a full-fledged dust devil that knocked Crouse off-balance for a split second. He failed to notice the nick in the outer circle caused by a kicked stray stone. A tiny offshoot of the swirling mass towering above him found the opening and shot out of the enclosure to hide in a far corner.

A full skeletal figure and horse materialized from the middle of the dust devil. Patches of skull gleamed through an iron helmet decorated with two large horns. A skin cape with horns sticking up at the shoulders and neck billowed out then draped down to cover the horse and almost sweep the ground.

“Choronzon,” Crouse whispered.

Energy pressed against Crouse’s head. Choronzon was speaking to him. The sounds were soft and comforting one moment, thenm a thunderous scream the next. Crouse swayed on his feet as he fought not to be sick. No discernible words issued from the lip-less mouth. He decided to go on with the incantation: “Welcome, Choronzon. Welcome art thou unto me; I have called thee and thou hast obeyed. I bind thee to remain affably and visibly before this circle, within these triangles, so long as I need thee, to depart not without my license, till thou hast truly and faithfully fulfilled all that I shall require.”

The soft whispering and shrill screams continued as Crouse detailed his plan to the demon. He took the change in energy and pressure in his head as confirmation of their pact. The ceremony was finished by closing the circle: “O Choronzon, because thou has diligently answered my demands, I do hereby license thee to depart. Depart, I say, and be thou willing and ready to come, whensoever duly exorcised by the sacred rites of magic.” His ears popped and he staggered as the dust devil sucked back into itself. The basement returned to normal as he kicked at the dirt floor until all the drawings disappeared.

Crouse removed his robe and wrapped up the wand and knife before stowing it away in his satchel. When he exited the front doors of the Franciscan Hotel, he blended in with the crowd passing by. He never noticed the filmy, smoky air hovering in the corner of the basement.