Dawn painted the wide windows of the suite at the Regency Hotel golden, the ocean shimmering like a mirror under the rising sun. Cassian was seated in a white leather armchair, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand, while Susie still slept in one of the suite's rooms, her calm breathing audible through the slightly ajar door. The luxury of the place—silk curtains, a table with fresh fruit, and silver service—contrasted with the tension that still weighed on his mind after the events with the Lamberts. He had planned a quiet day to begin teaching Susie how to control her gift, but the sound of his phone vibrating on the table broke the silence.
Cassian set the cup down and answered, seeing Daniel Hargrove's name, his contact at the Vatican, on the screen. His voice was firm as he greeted him:
"Daniel, it's early. What's going on?"
On the other end of the line, Daniel's voice sounded grave, heavy with an urgency Cassian recognized instantly.
"Cassian, I hope I didn't wake you, but this can't wait. Are you alone?"
Cassian glanced toward Susie's door, ensuring she was still asleep.
"Susie is resting in the other room. Speak, Daniel. What did you find?"
Daniel took a deep breath, the sound of papers shuffling in the background.
"It's about what you told us after the Perron case, that phrase: 'he is coming.' We investigated, reviewed files, consulted exorcists and theologians in Rome. We didn't call you earlier because we wanted to be sure, but now… have you heard it again?"
Cassian frowned, his hand tightening on the phone as the echo of those words resonated in his memory.
"Yes, Daniel. Last night, with the Lamberts. The red-faced demon didn't say it aloud—I felt it in my mind, just like in Harrisville. I didn't tell Elise; she was in the astral plane when it happened. What does it mean? What did you find?"
Daniel paused, his tone growing darker.
"It's not just an isolated case, Cassian. Since you started reporting activity in the U.S., we've noticed an abnormal increase in paranormal phenomena worldwide. It started there, in your territory: the Perrons, the Lamberts, smaller cases we didn't assign to you because you were on vacation. That's why we sent you to America first—we thought it was the epicenter. But now… it's spreading."
Cassian stood, walking toward the window, his gaze lost on the horizon.
"Spreading? Where, Daniel? Give me details, don't leave me hanging."
"Alright," Daniel replied, his voice tense. "In Japan, we have reports of an abandoned school in Hokkaido where students say they see a girl with her mouth slit to her ears, chasing them with scissors. They call her Kuchisake-onna, like in the legends, but she's real, and bodies are turning up, mutilated. In Korea, a building in Seoul is infested: shadows whispering in the walls, employees throwing themselves out of windows. They say it's something like the Gwisin, a vengeful spirit, but stronger, more physical. In Thailand, a village near Chiang Mai reports a woman with a mangled body floating over the rice fields, killing anyone who looks at her. They call her Phi Krasue, and the victims are found without organs. In Russia, near Siberia, an entire town heard laughter beneath the snow, and then they found the local children hanging from trees, their eyes ripped out. They think it's the Leshy, a forest spirit, but it's never been this cruel."
Cassian swallowed, his mind processing the magnitude of what he was hearing.
"That doesn't sound like local spirits, Daniel. Kuchisake-onna, Gwisin, Phi Krasue, Leshy—they're legends, but what you're describing is more than folklore. What does the Vatican say? What connects all this?"
Daniel lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard even in Rome.
"We believe it's a demonic prince, Cassian. Not a lesser demon, not a mid-level one like the red-faced demon or the Praetor Infernalis. Something greater—a lord of hell—trying to cross into our world. 'He is coming' isn't an empty threat; it's a declaration. For something like this to enter, it needs to prepare the ground: more paranormal presence, more fear, more deaths. It's opening doors, using lesser demons and spirits like the Black Woman to weaken the veil between worlds."
Cassian gripped the crucifix under his shirt, his tone hardening.
"A demonic prince? Are you talking about something like Beelzebub, Asmodeus, one of the seven? If so, the cases I've faced are only the beginning. What have you done about it?"
"We sent exorcists," Daniel replied, his voice breaking slightly. "To Japan, Father Rossoni, an expert in Eastern spirits. To Korea, we sent Sister Kim, who knows the local rites. In Thailand, Father Chai, and in Russia, Father Ivanov, a veteran as tough as ice. They were all good, Cassian, among the best—but we lost contact with them days ago. Most likely, they're dead."
Cassian fell silent, the weight of the words crashing down on him like a stone slab.
"Dead? All of them? That's no coincidence, Daniel. If a demonic prince eliminated them, it's clearing the path. What do you want from me?"
Daniel sighed, the sound heavy with resignation.
"For now, nothing immediate. You still have a month of vacation left—use it to rest and help Susie with her gift, as you wanted. We're not asking you to prepare her for us, Cassian, just to help her for what she is: a good person with a rare gift. After that month, she'll go back home to finish her studies, and we'll handle the rest. But if this keeps growing, we'll need you—not just in America, but in those countries: Japan, Korea, Thailand, Russia. You're one of the few who has faced major demons and survived."
Cassian looked toward Susie's door, relieved that she wasn't destined for his world yet.
"I understand, Daniel. A month to teach Susie how to manage it, just for her, not for the Vatican. Then she goes back to her life, and if you call, I'll go alone with Helen. Any clues about who this 'he' is? A name, a seal?"
"Not yet," Daniel responded. "The theologians are reviewing the grimoires, and the surviving exorcists are looking for patterns. What we know is that 'he is coming' appears in ancient texts, always linked to global chaos. When we have more, I'll tell you. For now, rest, but stay alert."
Cassian nodded, though Daniel couldn't see him.
"I will. Thanks for letting me know, Daniel. If anything changes, call me immediately."
He hung up, placing the phone on the table as he ran a hand over his face. The luxury of the suite—the expensive coffee, the ocean views—felt trivial compared to the storm brewing on the horizon. He approached the window, staring at the horizon, when Susie emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes, her pajamas rumpled but her face more rested.
"Cassian, who was that?" she asked, sitting on the sofa. "I heard you talking—you sounded serious."
He turned, forcing a smile to avoid alarming her too much.
"It was Daniel, from the Vatican. They're saying there's an increase in paranormal phenomena worldwide: Japan, Korea, Thailand, Russia. Bad things, Susie—spirits and demons killing, more than usual."
Susie paled, her hands clenching in her lap.
"All over the world? Like what you faced last night? What's happening?"
Cassian sat across from her, his tone calm but grave.
"They believe a demonic prince, a lord of hell, wants to cross into our world. To do that, it needs chaos: fear, deaths, paranormal activity. It started here, in America, which is why they sent me. Now it's spreading, and the exorcists they sent to those countries… didn't return."
Susie swallowed, her eyes widening.
"Dead? Cassian, that's horrible… What do we do?"
"For now, nothing changes for you," he replied, leaning his elbows on his knees. "I have a month of vacation, and I'll use it to teach you how to use your gift—but only so you're safe, so it doesn't torment you. Susie, after that, you'll go back home, finish your studies, live your life. If during vacations you want to come with me, to help like last night, it'll be your decision—but that'll be years from now, when you're ready, if you ever are."
Susie took a deep breath, her voice trembling but determined.
"I want to learn, Cassian. I don't know if I'll fight demons like you, but I want to understand this, control what I see. If someday I can help, like with Dalton, I will—but… thank you for not pushing me now."
Cassian smiled, genuinely this time, impressed by her clarity.
"You're wiser than you think, Susie. We'll start today, slowly: how to sense without being overwhelmed, how to protect yourself. A month is short, but it'll be enough for you to find peace. Now, order breakfast, something good. We'll need strength for what's coming."
She nodded, reaching for the room service menu with a small smile.