They crossed bridges and endless orange-lit motorways. Slipped through the silent council estates and high streets. Turned narrow corners and raced steep hills. Took wrong turns and right turns. Before Wraith finally stopped his car outside the only place he could stop.
Thornville cemetery.
For a long time, they both sat in silence before the Duke began. "You're the best damn occult detective in London Wraith."
Wraith went to speak but the Duke held up a thin white finger. He then got out of the car and motioned to Wraith to follow him into the cemetery.
They stopped at the grave of Pamela Colman Smith. The Duke leaned down and brushed the dry leaves off her grave before saying. "I know your first duty is to protect your mother. I get that."
Wraith was fit to burst from the moment he saw the Duke by his car. He knew he should have told him about sending the devil back to hell. But he felt like it was only him who could solve the problem. Only he, the great Wraith Macabre, could feel the dread of the devil. Feel the creeping disaster.
He felt foolish and ashamed the Duke had been good to him over the years. "I am sorry, I should have told you." He said in a childlike whisper. "I just can't shake this feeling that hell is coming to London. I should have told you."
The Duke put a hand on Wraith's shoulder. "We have time to prepare for the war."
"What should we do?" Wraith asked.
The Duke gave a slow smile. "We win it of course."
Suddenly a torchlight shone on them both.
A voice called out from behind the light. "Ok, what are you pair of lovebirds up to?" The torch lowered to reveal a police officer. "We get a lot of prowlers around here. Can I see some I.D. gentlemen?" The police officer said.
The Duke calmly reached into his inside pocket. "What's your first name officer?" He said as he pulled out a slim black leather wallet.
The policeman looked ruffled but replied. "Morgan. My name's Morgan Berry. Why do you ask?"
The Duke flipped opened the wallet to reveal a policeman's I.D. "So I can tell your sarge that you're doing a grand job Morgan."
Lowering the torch, the police officer stepped forward and read the Duke's I.D. and exclaimed. "Oh sh#t, sorry. I mean, sorry Sir!"
The Duke laughed. "I once stopped Princess Melinda." He shook the policeman's hand. She laughed it off too. "Good night Officer Berry and keep up the good work."
The police officer gave a nervous smile before leaving the cemetery.
Wraith looks at the Duke, the Duke looked at Wraith and they both burst out laughing.
Sniggering Wraith said. "I can't believe people still fall for that BS spell."
"Ah, but people always see what their heart wants to see." A laughing Duke replied. "It's the weakness of the human race."
They both began walking back to Wraith's car. "Look Wraith." The Duke said. "What's done is done. But just promise me no secrets next time ok? Not while hell is acting like this."
Wraith gave a nod and drove the Duke home.