by Amanda Fleet
“Mum, I’m gonna have to go. I’ll see you soon. Sorry! Love you.”
He finished the call, tossed his phone on the side, and caught my other wrist. “Reagan Bennett, get your sorry ass back up here!” He hauled me steadily towards him, eyes light, kissing me soundly.
I eased back and propped myself up so that I could look at him. “Have we missed the news?” Lovely as it was to be lying here with Finn, I had to know if we’d just lost our best friend.
Finn held his wrist up behind my head. “We’ve missed the main news. Local is just about to come on.”
I squirmed over him, eliciting huffs and squeaks from him as my bony joints caught tender parts of him, and retrieved the zapper from the floor next to the arm of the sofa.
“Christ, woman. You could have just asked me to reach it!” He rubbed his palm over his thigh where I’d accidentally kneed him.
I clicked the telly on and wriggled a bit more until I could see the screen, prompting more sighs from Finn. The only silver lining in the headlines was that no more bodies had been found. The death toll from flu had risen to fifteen, though. The murders were still the main article. The police said they were keen to speak to a man who’d been seen with the last victim – Toby Hall – and showed some CCTV footage of him with a man about six foot two, with dreadlocks and thick stubble. I kicked Finn. “That’s Rick.”
The TV had paused on a fuzzy still from the footage. Finn squinted at the image, frowning, his bottom lip stuck out. “Yeah, it does look a bit like him.”
“It’s not just like him. It is him.”
Well, I would swear that it was Aegyir, shape-shifted to look like Rick. The clip finished and the hotline number came up on the screen. I elbowed myself up, grabbed a scrap of paper and a pen and scribbled it down. Finn’s eyes widened.
“Rea? You’re not gonna call them are you? That’s not Rick. I know he’s been acting weird, but he hasn’t turned into a murderer! If it had been Stephen I’d be phoning the police myself, but for one, I don’t think it is Rick and for two, I know Rick wouldn’t kill someone.”
“Rick might not. But he’s not Rick. He just looks like Rick.”
Finn stared. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Finn, it’s not Rick. It’s Aegyir.”
“Jaysus. I don’t believe I’m hearing this. Are you seriously saying you believe Rick’s been taken over by a demon? Can you hear what you’re saying?”
“Finn, I’m telling you, it’s Aegyir. And he’s going to try to kill you, and me.”
I picked up my phone but Finn reached across and snatched it from me. “Rea, stop! Think about it. You’re honestly saying you think there are these things that kill people and steal their bodies?”
“Yes! And it looks like Rick!”
“Jaysus. You have completely lost it.”
I could feel tears of frustration springing. “How can I make you understand? He killed Rick, and he’s going to kill you.”
Finn held my gaze, his jaw bunching as he clenched his teeth. “How can you make me believe my best friend’s been taken over by a demon and is killing people? You can’t! You’ve lost your mind!”
I glared at him. “You have to admit that it looked like Rick. If he’s not been possessed and he’s not involved, then he can be eliminated from the police enquiries.”
“Let’s watch the clip again.” Finn held my phone out of my reach. “If you’re still sure it’s Rick, my best friend, the man you’ve known for years, then phone. But you are not phoning the police with some fantasy about demon possession. They’ll have you committed!”
He tipped my feet off his lap to retrieve his laptop, booted it up and navigated to the police pages. We watched the clip, stared at the still, and watched the clip again.
Finn screwed his eyes up. “I accept that it’s a bit like Rick, but I don’t reckon it is him. He’s not wearing his bandana for a start.”
“He wasn’t today.” I gulped, my breath catching in my chest.
Finn stared at me, breathing steadily, then his eyes slid back to the frozen image on the screen. He tilted his head, his face scrunched up, then he replayed the clip, watching closely.
“It’s not him. That’s not how he walks,” he said. “Rick doesn’t walk as stiffly as that. He’s always a bit loose in the joints.”
I peered at the image again. The more I looked at it, the less certain I became. It might be Rick but the posture was all wrong.
“Okay. You win,” I said begrudgingly.
“Thank you.”
He put the laptop to one side and I tucked back against him, scared.
I was losing my mind.
14
It was Saturday morning and Finn and I were both at work. I was on the door and Finn was on a break in the cafe and grabbing a glass of water when they arrived. I didn’t know who scared me more, Rick or Stephen.
“Morning, Reagan,” said Rick.
I didn’t like his smile. Stephen was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt and the upper part of his left arm displayed a new tattoo. The two of them leaned on the counter, their shoulders almost touching. I took a step back. Why the hell was Rick here with Stephen?
Except I didn’t really believe it was Rick.
“Morning,” I said. “Are you here for a coffee?”
The way the gym was laid out, if you wanted to use the facilities, you needed to be a member and go through the turnstiles. The cafe was open to all and needed no membership card to get access. Rick was a member. Stephen certainly wasn’t.
“Just here for a coffee,” said Rick.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Finn straighten. As soon as Stephen and Rick moved away from the desk, I buzzed Billy.
“Hi. Billy? Rick’s here. Er, with Stephen. They’re in the cafe. So is Finn. Can you come down?”
Sensibly, Finn was staying on the far side of the cafe, though he was hurling daggers at them. They sat at the table closest to me, Stephen sprawling in the seat, his pasty face sullen, his doughy middle cinched in by his jeans. He had an expression on his face that left me in no doubt that he would happily finish what he’d started all those years ago. Rick sat up straight, his posture precise, his dreadlocks loose. He had a slight smile on his lips as he stared at me. I didn’t need to look down to know that the charm on my wrist was glowing. Blue for danger alright.
Billy arrived, all military bearing and watchful eyes. “Rick! Always good to see you. Stephen. You’re barred. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Stephen sneered at Billy. “Why am I barred? I’ve not done anything.”
“You threatened one of my staff. You’re barred. Are you going to leave willingly or will you need throwing out?”
“I’d like to see you try.”
So would I. Stephen might have an inch of height over Billy and a lot more bulk, but I’d back Billy any day. Unfortunately, Rick intervened before I had the pleasure of seeing Billy physically throw Stephen out.
“No, it’s fine. Stephen is going.”
Stephen opened his mouth as if to protest and immediately his face blanked, as if someone had thrown a switch in his head and put him on autopilot. He nodded dumbly and got to his feet. He didn’t even say anything to me as he passed my desk. I watched his back as he disappeared out of the door and away from the gym, thinking about what the book had described.
Billy sat where Stephen had been, his back straight, his hands folded on the table in front of him. “Rick, you know you’re always welcome here, but don’t you ever bring Stephen into my gym again.”
Rick said nothing.
Finn joined them, his posture belying the fact he was about to explode. Billy stood again, imposing himself into Finn’s space and standing between Rick and Finn.
“Calm down.” He stared at Finn.
“I’m calm.”
“Like hell you are.”
Rick canted his head. “Are you on a break, Finn? Come and join me?”
Billy pressed his palm agai
nst Finn’s chest. “Keep your temper.”
“I will.”
Rick’s gaze swung to Billy. “I need to speak to Finn. You are not needed.”
Billy’s eyes widened. Finn dipped his head. “It’s fine. I’ll talk to you afterwards.”
Billy walked back towards me and leaned on the counter, facing Finn and Rick, his meaty arms crossed tightly across his chest. “I’m not convinced Finn’s going to keep a lid on it.”
Nor was I. Mind you, from the tension in Billy’s shoulders, I wasn’t sure he was, either.
“And Rea? Don’t get in the middle of them. I know you’ll do anything to protect Finn, but you’ll get hurt. I’ll be just over there. I can deal with both of them if it kicks off.”
Could he? All Aegyir would need to do was reach into his chest and yank out a ball of light. Sweat gathered in my armpits at the thought of Rick doing that to Finn and I swallowed hard.
Billy took up a seat a few tables away, his arms crossed, a scowl making itself at home. When I looked back, Finn had his glass of water clasped between his hands, his knuckles white. If he had a lid on it, it wasn’t fastened down tightly.
“What the hell, Rick? Why are you hanging around with Stephen? You know what he did to Rea. You know how both Rea and I feel about him. What the hell? Are you going to throw all our years of friendship away over a piece of shit like Stephen?”
“He has served his time. Paid his tariff. That is the point of imprisonment. You are locked up for a period of time and once that time is served, you have finished your punishment.”
“He nearly killed Reagan.”
“And has been punished for it. You beat him, but have not been held to account. You beat your father and have not been held to account. Perhaps you should reconsider your attitude to those who have been punished for their crimes.”
Oh, Jesus.
I sidled towards the edge of the reception counter. Billy’s chin lifted, his eyes locked on Rick.
“I was protecting Reagan,” said Finn. “I was protecting my mother. You know that.”
Rick nodded slowly, steepling his fingers. “Ah yes. Finn. The great defender of women. How far would you go to protect Reagan?”
A muscle ticked in Finn’s jaw and his face was like thunder. “Rick, what the fuck’s got into you?”
“You would fight for her,” went on Rick, who so wasn’t Rick. “What else? Would you die for her?”
“Yes,” said Finn without hesitation. My heart sank.
Rick smiled beatifically. “Would you kill for her? What would you be prepared to do for Aeron?”
Finn blinked. “Who?”
Rick bowed his head fractionally. “Reagan. Forgive me. I always think of her original name.”
Finn stared at Rick. “What do you mean, her original name? Why did you just call her Aeron?”
“A slip of the tongue. Forgive me.”
Rick pushed his chair back and stood. Finn sprang to his feet, breathing hard, his hands flexing. Billy also got up and took two steps closer to them. I scampered out from behind the reception desk, visions of Aegyir snatching balls of light through people’s chest walls flooding my brain. I interposed myself between Finn and Rick just as Billy flanked Finn’s other side.
“Rick,” I said, my heart hammering as his eyes settled on me. “I think you should leave. Go and be friends with Stephen if that floats your boat. I think you’ve probably blown your friendship with us.”
His gaze travelled slowly from me to Finn and back before he moved towards the door. I followed him. Billy put a restraining hand on Finn’s shoulder.
At the main door, Rick turned to face me. “So… you would do anything to protect him and he would protect you with his life? Interesting.” He smirked at me as he pushed the door open. “Very interesting.”
***
“He called you Aeron.”
“I know.”
“Didn’t you say that was what you were called in your dreams? And in that book?”
“Yep.”
“What the hell?”
The conversation was on repeat. We were halfway home and Finn was still in a complete funk about Rick and had been since he’d seen him. We turned to cut through a play-park, hugging the path at the edge under the street lights.
“How does he know that? Stephen?”
I dug my hand deeper into the back pocket of Finn’s jeans. “No. Stephen wouldn’t know that. He only ever calls me Cuckoo.”
I knew damn fine why Rick had called me it, but Finn was no more likely to agree that Rick’s body was now holding a soul-stealing demon than he had been before.
Finn marched straight ahead, his arm tight around my shoulders, his back taut. “Is it in your sketchbook?”
I tried to visualise my books. Was the name Aeron in my sketchbook? Could Rick have seen it there?
“Have a look when we get in.” We emerged from the park and turned on to the suburban road leading back towards the cottage. “More likely there than Stephen. He certainly doesn’t know.”
Finn chewed, his face serious. “I don’t get why Rick’s suddenly hanging out with Stephen and spouting all that shit about him having served his sentence. He knows the history. He saw the state of you after Stephen attacked you. He’s my best friend! Jaysus. He knows how I feel about Stephen. Why would he do this?”
“It’s not worth trying to fathom it out. He’s decided to be friends with Stephen, despite knowing it will wreck his friendship with you and me, and will probably make Billy end things with him.”
Finn strode on, pushing our pace up until we were home in half the time it normally took. As soon as we were in, he headed for the lounge to find my sketchbooks. I followed him and sat on the chair, fingering my hairline. A headache was beginning to tap away behind my eyes, like I had a resident woodpecker. Even with sleeping pills, my nights were shattered. Either Stephen was haunting me and I was reliving the day he nearly killed me, or everyone in the Realm wanted to have me hanged as a traitor.
Finn flipped through my sketchbooks and I raised a brow in query. Finn worked right the way through each book and then started again at the beginning before stopping on a page.
“When did Rick last see your drawings?”
“When he was last over. Two Wednesdays ago. Before my interview. Why?”
Finn turned back a few pages. I dated every sketch, so he’d know exactly which drawings had been done by the time Rick and Billy had come over.
“Well?” I asked. I knew the answer from his face.
He shook his head. “No mention of Aeron until after he’d have seen your drawings. The first time you mention it is in the drawings from your interview. What the hell?”
***
I was back in the misty, featureless place. Lilja was with me, her face lined with fear. Her hair tumbled in soft waves to her shoulders and her finely drawn mouth was pinched. “You need to return to The Realm.”
“I can’t.”
She grasped my hands, her eyes full of pain. “You are in great danger Outside. You’ll be safe in The Realm. Please. You must return.”
I tried to pull my hands away. “They won’t let me back in! Or had you forgotten that I’ve been banished for all eternity?”
She held my fingers tightly, her eyes pleading with me. “Faran would forgive you. He still loves you.”
“And what about Finn? Can he come to The Realm?”
Lilja said nothing and I dipped my head towards her, demanding a response.
“No.” She closed her eyes. “He would not be allowed to cross the portal.”
“Not even if I invited him?”
She sighed. “What would he do in The Realm? He is not a Guardian or a Seer or a Scout. You are married to Faran.”
“He’d be safe.”
She tugged at my hands. “Aeron, he cannot enter. You know that. Faran—”
“Faran banished me! If Finn stays Outside, I stay Outside.”
She bowed her head, her hair falling fo
rward and shielding her face. “I know that you love him, but Aegyir is coming for you.”
I snatched my hands free. “Aegyir has found me!”
The mist swirled around us and Lilja gazed at me, her eyes bright with tears. “Aegyir will kill you. Please come home.”
“I’m not leaving Finn.”
Lilja bit her lip, blinking at her tears. “Then you will have to kill Aegyir, before he has his revenge.”
“Will you help me?” Lilja had been my closest friend for all of my life, despite our different statuses. We’d got each other out of endless trouble over the years – a devastating combination of Seer and warrior.
Lilja smiled sadly. “I’m not a Guardian. But I’ll do what I can. I wish you would return to The Realm. Killing Aegyir will not be easy.”
15
Rat-tat. Rat-tat.
I glanced over to Finn, frowning. Neither of us had seen anyone pass the window. We were the last cottage in the row and you couldn’t reach our door without us seeing.
“I’ll go,” he said.
I leaned back in the sofa, listening to see who was at the door.
“Rick.”
Finn’s tone was flat. I could imagine him blocking the doorway, a hand on each side of the frame. Rick would know not to mess with Finn when he was like that. But I was still convinced this wasn’t Rick.
“Finn. I have come to apologise. May I come in?”
“Apologise for what?”
“May I come in?”
I scrambled to my feet and ran into the hallway. “No!”
Finn looked at me over his shoulder, one brow cocked. Rick smiled at me, making me think of a crocodile. “Reagan.”
He took advantage of the fact Finn’s grip on the door-frame had dropped and pushed past him into the hallway. I back-pedalled to the lounge and searched the room for anything that could possibly be used as a weapon. Against me. By me. I’d barely started my assessment when Rick came in and I shifted my balance, ready to fight or run.
Finn was hard on Rick’s heels and invited Rick to sit. Rick took the chair, leaning back confidently.
