Amry stood up. “I’m not trying to be a pain in the ass, but I’d like to go with you and Alex. Kyle can go with Ophelia and Bethany. This piece of work has made my friend miserable for decades, I want a little piece of him.”
Zachary shook his head, “No. You are a woman, we do not need for you to be an added problem. We need the strength of men.”
Margaret shot Alex a glare, this is exactly what their conversation was about earlier, only Zachary was in 16th century battle of the sexes mode. A time when females were helpless and obeyed. What little Margaret knew of Amry, she wasn’t the type to be submissive.
“Amry’s right.” Alex agreed. “Things are different now, Zachary.”
Zachary grunted but didn’t argue.
"Wait. Shouldn't Alex stay with us. You know, being a breather and the possibility of being a permanent student at the Academy if something goes wrong." Margaret was in protection mode.
Alex took Margaret's hand and they walked a few feet away for privacy.
"Ciucciamia, I have to do this. Zachary's very strong, but he needs a guide to use his powers. I can help him. This is what I do. You know that. LaBoccetta’s don't walk away from a fight, we run head on into it."
"Yeah. Well, you're also a McKenna and this is very dangerous."
"More dangerous than going toe to toe with two dark spirits, a maniacal old lady, and a demon that breaks through my living room floor from hell?"
Margaret turned away.
"I'll be all right. I promise." Alex brushed her hair from her shoulders.
"Again—don't die."
"I won't. You know, you say that to me a lot."
Margaret glared.
"Okay. I get it. No dying. I promise."
Joining the others, Alex sighed to himself. He made an impossible promise to the girl he loved.
"Zachary, we'll need a spell to break the veil. I know one if you don't mind."
"It was my hope you would.” Zachary half-heartedly smiled.
The boys walked warily closer to the patch of barren land. Lining up with the center of the parcel, they raised both hands to release the magick to accomplish their deed.
"Repeat after me," Alex instructed.
"Moon and tide help me now, I seek the truth here not yet found, for underneath the fog there lies, the vision clears for open eyes. Peel back the veil from which it hides, show me the truth of what resides."
With each word that escaped from the lips of Zachary Abernathy, the half-dark sorcerer's intensity of powers grew. Small sparks pinged off his fingertips with the first sentence. By the spell’s completion, balls of light circled the edges of his hands, illuminating the space around them. Alex widened his eyes, reveling in the magnitude of power his new friend possessed. Both boys repeated the spell.
The curtain slowly drew back. Peeling away like a page being torn from a book. Underneath revealed a small, wooden cottage with a thatched roof made from straw. The charm of smoke billowing from the chimney gave the look of a Thomas Kincaid painting, not the home of a soul stealing sorcerer.
The teens crept up beside the two boys, and the band of the living and dead enacted their strategy.
Zachary held on to the popping energy still coursing through his fingers. They would use it to knock down the door. Once inside, the three boys would focus on securing the sorcerer. If he's restrained, the rest of the plan should work—they hoped.
Crashing through the front door, Alex expected everything else but what was waiting. Sitting by the fire was an old man. His long gray beard draped down the front of his chest, like a bib. Thick, bushy, white brows canopied the pale blue eyes that were fixated on them. Alex pointed toward the stairs and Margaret slipped by with Ophelia, Bethany, and Amry.
"Alex, so nice to see you again. It's been so long. You were a baby, the last time we met."
"You know him?" Kyle turned to Alex.
"Never saw him before." Alex studied the old man.
"Ah. You don't remember. As I said, you were no more than two years old. How's your great grandmother? What a beautiful woman she is."
"I don't know who the hell you are, or if you really know my grandmother, but we're here to get Haven, and any other souls you've trapped."
"Nonsense. I haven't trapped anyone. They stay of their own free will."
"Really? Because it didn't look like that to me when I spoke to Haven the last time."
"An unfortunate misunderstanding. She's better now. They're all fine."
"Where is she?" Alex raised his voice.
"No need to get worked up. They're all upstairs. I'm sure your girlfriend will be reassuring you of their safety in a few minutes."
"Zachary, hold him."
Zachary rolled a ball of current between his hands and pushed it forward. It exploded in midair.
"Zachary, you will be a very powerful sorcerer someday, but right now your powers are wild and uncontrolled. Alex can help you a little, but neither one of you can match my millennium of experience. Let's not fight. Wait, you'll see everything's going to be fine."
The thumping of footsteps drew Alex's attention toward the stairs. Margaret slid her hand down the top of the banister as she glided down, an enormous grin from ear to ear plastered on her face.
"Tesoro, where's the others?"
"They're upstairs resting. They needed to recharge."
"Did you find Haven?"
"Uh, huh. She's fine. They're all fine. It's lovely upstairs. Why don't you come up and see?"
"Not right now, my dear. But you go ahead and rejoin your friends. Alex will be up shortly." The old man waved his hand in dismissal.
Margaret turned around and proceeded to climb the stairs.
"Wait, Margaret. Don't go up there."
Alex walked gingerly toward her. Placing his index finger under her chin, he looked into her eyes. His love was not in there.
"What the fuck did you do to her? Margaret—snap out of it!"
"She's happy. And you will be too. But first, I really would like to know how your Grandmother is doing. Did she finally drop that weak excuse for a husband?"
"You mean my great-grandfather?"
"No offense, but he really was a weight around her neck. She had so much potential but traded it for that human. Well, I guess that's love."
"What's your name, old man?" Alex snarled.
"I believe all of you refer to me as the Soul Gatherer."
"Your real name."
"I guess it doesn't matter if I tell you. None of you are leaving this place. Vincenzo Fiorelli. Although I have no idea how that helps you. You said it yourself, you don't remember me."
"That's true. But my Gram will."
Vincenzo laughed from deep in his belly.
“You are so amusing, Alex.”
Alex clutched Margaret’s hand, keeping her from going back to the second floor.
Vincenzo rose from his seat and carved through the air with the precision of a sharp blade. Hovering behind Alex, he leaned in close, his words grazed the teen's ears, stinging with every syllable.
"Get away from him!" Zachary yelled.
"Alex what did he say to you?"
"Candela strega, candela strega, luminoso di fuoco convocare gli spiriti per portare il mio desiderio. Candela strega, candela strega, lascia che la tua magia si leghi candela strega, candela strega, lascia che siano miei."
"What does that mean?"
"Witch candle, witch candle, bright of fire summon the spirits to bring my wish. Witch candle, witch candle, let your magic be tied. Candle witch, candle witch, let them be mine." Alex continued, "I believe that's the spell he's using to hold everyone here. They're in a trance. I think the only thing they feel is a love for him."
"So how come it's not working on you?"
"I don't know, and I don't care."
"You are a very special soul, Alex. My power is strong, you surprise even me with your resistance. No worries. I'll just have to bind you to this realm."
Vincen
zo mumbled under his breath, but Zachary was swift. Letting go of all his doubt, he allowed the fire to grow within. Sparks formed once again at the tips of his fingers, molding a large ball of white light. Pulling his right arm back like a pitcher on the mound, he released, sailing the energy right into Vincenzo's back. The force slammed him into the ceiling, dissipating his essence into a trail of smoke.
"We gotta hurry, this state won’t last long for Vincenzo. Kyle, go get everyone and bring them down here. Zachary, get ready with another blast. I think we're gonna need it." Alex directed.
"How can we get them to abide?" Zachary asked.
"I don't know yet. I'm hoping I can at least reach Margaret. If I can bring her back, she'll get them to move, I know it."
Zachary brought his hands within inches of each other. Circling them in small motions, he created another weapon of light. Locked and loaded, he waited.
Footsteps shuffling on the wood floor alerted Alex, and he ran to the base of the stairs. Ophelia was first, then Haven and the rest of the girls followed. Four other young, male souls trailed along with Kyle at the rear. Alex recognized one of them, Leon.
He gathered them in a tight circle in the center of the room, to keep everyone in sight.
He approached Margaret. Her usual warm gaze was replaced by a cold stare.
"Amore, come back to me. You're stronger than this, fight it. I know you're in there, I know you hear me. I need you to push him out."
Margaret's expression remained void.
Alex moved in close, wrapping his arms around her waist, he whispered the words meant only for ears.
"I'll love you forever." He butterflied his way along the nape of her neck, across her cheek and then pressed a soft kiss on her lips. "If this is where I have to stay to be with you, then this will be our life together. A life without you, is no life for me."
Margaret folded like melting butter and Alex tightened his grip to hold her up.
"What happened?" Margaret groggily asked.
"You were under his spell. The one he used to hold Haven here. Are you okay?"
"I think so. I heard you. You were going to stay here with me."
"I'd never leave you. I thought you understood that."
"That's what brought me back. I was trying to fight him, but he was so strong. But the thought of you giving up your life, and you’re after life, to be with me in this hell hole, no fucking way."
"I love you."
"You better," she whispered.
"If you’re strong enough, we need you to take everyone out of here. I think once they're free of this place, the spell will be broken. I'm almost certain that's how Haven was able to reach me. Somehow, she must have managed to get out. His energy is tethered to this cottage. I can feel it. He draws them here, but this damn place is what fuels him, and gives him the strength. It's like it's alive. I'm beginning to think he's not a sorcerer at all. His powers are made from something entirely different. And if that's true, if we can destroy this house, then we should render his soul powerless."
Margaret took Haven's hand, and one by one, shoved the rest of the celestials out the front door.
"Remember, get them as far from this building as possible."
"I will."
Margaret held Alex's gaze as the door shut.
"Now it's up to us." Alex turned to the guys.
"What have you done?"
A deep voice roared from the top of the stairs.
In the blink of an eye, Vincenzo was in the front room with Alex in his grip.
"Either one of you boys tries anything, and I will extinguish his life. Now leave. I'd like some time with Mr. McKenna, alone."
"You are severely mistaken if you think I would leave one of my friends with a lunatic such as yourself." Zachary played with the lightening sizzling between his fingers.
"Well, I'm sure as hell not leaving either," Kyle snapped.
"Zachary. Hit him with it." Alex nodded at the light growing in sorcerers’ hands.
"No, Alex. I can't hit him without getting you."
"It's okay, do it."
"I will not!" Zachary shouted.
"Alex, it seems your friends are not willing to listen to either one of us."
"Take me." Zachary fizzed out his weapon.
"Interesting. You're willing to trade yourself for a breather."
"What the hell are you doing? Kyle get him out of here," Alex exclaimed.
"I am staying. Alex, you are the one leaving. This is the best choice. I have spent so many years here, in a way, the Underworld will be like going home. Vincenzo, take me. I will stay of my own free will. No spells."
“That is tempting. And I really wouldn't want a pissed off Mary LaBoccetta hunting me if she ever got wind, I had her precious grandson. I will accept your offer."
"No! Zachary. We can do this. Just zap the bastard."
Vincenzo released his grip on Alex. Zachary smiled and came into solid form. Extending a hand, he reached for Alex. Once their grip was solid, Zachary drew him in for a hug. Pivoting so Alex's back was toward the door, Zachary pushed him back. With a nod of the head, Zachary opened the door, and Alex flew out. Falling at the threshold, the door slammed shut before Alex could get up. A moment later, Kyle’s dazed spirit seeped through sealed entry.
"Alex!" Margaret ran to his side.
"Where's Zachary?"
"He's still inside. He traded himself for me."
"What? No. We have to save him."
"We will. I just don't know how right now, and we're running out of time. We need to get you out of here before you become a permanent resident."
"Uh. Don't you mean us?"
"You know what I mean."
"I know you. So, get the idea out of your head. You're coming with me. If we can't get Zachary now, we'll come back. It will give us more time to figure something out." Margaret commanded.
"You're worried, I get that. But I'm not leaving without him. He spent five-hundred years here. And the only reason he's here now is because I asked him to help us. We need to figure something out. Kyle, can you help me get that damn door open?"
"Let's do it." Kyle clenched both fists.
Kyle shot up toward the roof and then circled twice. Blazing in fully charged, he shimmered into solid form seconds before slamming into the thick wood. The door burst, spitting splinters of wood everywhere.
Alex rushed in, once again face to face with the captor of souls. Zachary was tethered to a silver chain wrapped around an iron ring bolted to the wall.
"Alex, leave us." Zachary instructed, "I am bound to him with the eternity chain. You cannot break it. Please, just go."
"Not without you."
"Oh Alex. This could have been so easy. Now I'll have to keep you. There's no other option. Mary will come. But I have other places we can go. First, look at me."
"I'm not naïve, Vincenzo. I know how the spell works. I'm not becoming one of your drones."
Alex averted his eyes from the old man.
"Babe." Margaret stood in the doorway.
"Kyle, get her away from here." Alex screeched.
Hoping the man's ego was as big as the crazy that occupied his mind, Alex tried distracting the maniacal thief with questions long enough for Kyle to pull Margaret to safety.
"Vincenzo, I was wondering, how did you get the girls under your spell? You were down here with us and they had gone upstairs."
"Over the years I've picked up a trick or two. The one I'm most proud of is my ability to astro-project. I can in a sense, be in two places at once. You never know if you're really speaking to me, or— surprise."
Alex felt the feather of wind tickle the nape of his neck. Twisting to look behind, a second Vincenzo stood with another silver chain. The boom of the closing door pounded in Alex's head like a sledgehammer to brick. Without thinking, he spun around coming face to face with the doppelganger.
After the desperate Soul Gatherer repeated the spell that turned his victim's into mindless zomb
ies, he added, "Mr. McKenna, your will is strong. My spell had no effect earlier, but it will now."
Vincenzo opened his left hand, revealing a dollop of bright blue powder. Raising his palm, he puffed the substance straight into Alex's face.
"Stop. Let him go!" Zachary pleaded as he struggled to break free from his restraint.
Alex trembled. In his mind, he was pushed further and further back. Concealed behind an iron door with a peep hole the size of a candy bar. The outside world went about its business, while he was locked away. A back-seat driver to his own life.
The stench of mildew and earth, filled with death, surrounded him. Gagging, he struggled to take a breath. Pivoting around, it became clear where the vile smell was coming from. Locked with Alex in the iron clad room, were the bones and decaying bodies of Vincenzo's past victims. Souls that had forever lost their ability to remember who they were, permanently joined to the Underworld.
Alex gasped when he recognized one of the many abominations piled on top of each other. Carol Bishop. The psychotic woman partially responsible for the death of Catherine and Ester, and the beginning of the Geranium Deaths. When a demon broke through the floor of his living room, swallowing her spirit like a midnight snack, he and his family assumed she had been obliterated from their world and any other. Apparently, they were wrong. He had no idea how she'd come to reside as one of Vincenzo's unwilling guests, nor did he care.
Pounding on the door, the fear rushed through his veins with the insanity of a feral cat. His mottled brain struggled to stay whole. Struggling to hold as pieces of his memory floated away, the shadows closed in.
"Alex! Alex! Come back! You stay with me!" Margaret screamed from the other side of the closed door.
"It is not working, Margaret. He is losing the battle," Zachary called out.
"Vincenzo, let him go. You have me, you said it yourself, you do not want his grandmother seeking vengeance from you."
"It seems Mr. McKenna is not going along with the plan. I gave him the chance, but he chose to come back. He sealed his own fate. Mary LaBoccetta will be for me to address when the time comes—if it comes. I will move us again and again; she will search hopelessly."
Alex McKenna & the Academy of Souls Page 16
