Corviticus University: Void

by J. E. Cluney

  We entered the Salvation Army shop, and our dirty conversation died as we made our way to the clothing section.

  Emma picked out a few garments for herself as well, and once we’d both gotten an armful, we headed into the changing rooms.

  We laughed as we made remarks about our finds, popping out to show off our dresses to one another and giving our honest opinion. She’d picked some golden choices, and I’d gotten a few good ones too.

  I asked her about her mom’s business, and she went on to tell me that business was getting hectic, and she was helping her mom a lot more now to keep up with demand. She was enjoying it, and figured she’d end up continuing the work alongside her for many years.

  I told her more about the photo albums, and we laughed about my grandmother’s infatuation with Skip, and how she called them my ‘boyfriends’.

  We’d just bought our finds and headed into the street when Emma bumped into the young man exiting the computer shop.

  She stumbled, waving her bags manically as she tried to regain her footing in her heels she’d decided to wear.

  “Oh, shit, I’m so sorry!” the man caught her arm to steady her, and I just smiled as Emma had to do a double take.

  He was quite a good looking young man.

  “Thanks,” she mumbled, still staring at the man. He sported a five o-clock stubble like Lucas, and had short brown hair that was spiked up at the front. He was built like someone who worked outdoors, and judging from the fluro shirt, I assumed he must be a tradie.

  I instantly opened up my senses, curious to see if he was like us.

  He had a yellow aura with a strange brown fuzziness to it. It was hard to describe the color, but it reminded me slightly of Skip’s aura. Except Skip’s was clearly orange.

  “I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going, I’m George,” the man introduced himself as he held out a hand to her.

  “It’s okay. I’m Emma, and this is my friend, Allison,” Emma said, suddenly remembering that I was beside her. I just grinned and shook his hand, loving how he kept looking at Emma with intrigue. Maybe it was her silver hair, but I thought it looked like more than that.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly are you?” Emma asked quietly as she glanced around her.

  He just chuckled as he jammed his hands into his pockets.

  “Not a common one. I’m a quokka shifter,” he stated, and Emma just giggled.

  “Seriously?” she gaped when it was clear he wasn’t lying.

  Even I was giving him a shocked look. Quokkas were adorable little marsupials, like tiny kangaroos that could even climb trees. And they always looked adorably happy.

  “Yes, I know, it’s a funny one. Most people find it hilarious,” he grinned, finding the humor in his strange shifter.

  “I think it’s adorable,” Emma shot back, and then her face reddened. “Sorry, I didn’t mean…”

  “It’s fine. And you’re a witch, I think,” he remarked, cocking his head as he glanced her over.

  “Pixie/witch halfling,” she admitted, and I could see her instantly stiffen a bit. She clearly had taken a liking to him, and was worried being a halfling would scare him off.

  “Interesting. Are you studying out at Corviticus?” he asked, unfazed by this revelation.

  “Yeah, we both are. Well, I’m mostly just taking the pixie classes since I work with mom,” Emma said, fumbling over her words.

  “I’m going to go continue doing my shopping, but I’ll text you when I’m done,” I said, jumping in where I could. I wanted to give her the chance to talk to him alone.

  She shot me a look, and I gave her a small, knowing smile.

  “Of course, I won’t hold you up,” she nodded, giving me a grateful smile before focusing back on George.

  “I can let you go, if you have shopping to do,” he said, flicking his eyes between us.

  “Oh, no, Emma would hate to be dragged around the IGA while I struggle to find my stuff. I’m sure she’d rather chat with you,” I said quickly, ignoring the quick look she gave me as I grinned at him.

  He chuckled at this.

  “It was nice meeting you, have a good day,” I said, before turning on my heels and heading to the IGA. I did want to grab a few things, especially since my chocolate supply had run out again. And Lucas had asked if I could grab two bottles of milk as they were running low.

  I heard their voices start up again behind me, and I smiled to myself.

  Perhaps Emma had met someone, and she could stop swooning over my guys. Not that it had ever bothered me, but I wanted her to be happy too.

  It wasn’t until I got into the IGA that I began to feel nervous. I was on my own now. Something my guys never wanted me to do.

  ‘Yeah, we really don’t,’ Marcus growled. He was the only one I could hear this far away. Lucas and Ollie were affected by distance in our bond.

  ‘I’m in a public place with a lot of people,’ I reminded him as I headed straight into the chocolate aisle.

  But I couldn’t deny I was feeling a little off, and I even glanced back behind me just to be safe.

  ‘Go back to Emma,’ Marcus demanded.

  ‘I’m meeting her at the car. We parked in the main street, there’s going to be people around everywhere,’ I groaned. Besides, I didn’t want to spoil her moment with George.

  Marcus muttered in frustration, but I ignored him as I continued my shopping. He was hanging around in my mind though, as if he was on guard.

  I wondered how fast he could get here if needed? How long would flitting here take him?

  ‘Not fast enough if you got attacked. Especially not with the sun out completely,’ he grumbled.

  There wasn’t a cloud in the sky today, which I’d noted on the warm drive in.

  It was beginning to cool down with Autumn now, but still wasn’t a huge jump from the scorching Summer we’d just finished.

  I smiled at a lady who was browsing the chocolates beside me, but I still couldn’t shake the dread that had crept in. It was the same feeling I’d had since I’d screamed at Derek, but it had worn off a little yesterday. Guess it was back with a vengeance today.

  I sighed, doing my best to ignore it as I grabbed a block of chocolate that was on special and headed off to find the milk and a few other bits and pieces.

  Surely Emma wouldn’t take too long, and I was grateful all my new dresses were stashed into a paper bag provided by the op shop.

  But as I browsed, the dread only grew, and even Marcus began getting more stressed for me.

  No matter where I looked, I couldn’t see anything that threatened me, which left me with only one thought.

  Derek.

  “He actually lives in Maple Grove, but works in Maleny a lot. He’s an electrician, only two years older than me,” Emma said excitedly as we drove home.

  She’d been talking non-stop about her new male friend.

  “That’s good,” I murmured, still worried about this dread I was feeling. It was only growing stronger the closer we got to home.

  “He’s asked to take me out tomorrow night on a date,” Emma said gleefully, practically vibrating with excitement and anticipation.

  “Oh, awesome,” I smiled, trying to focus on being overjoyed for her.

  “I can’t wait, he’s just so nice, and good-looking too, which is always a bonus,” she winked.

  “It’ll be fun,” I agreed, unable to shake this growing sensation. Even my heartbeat was beginning to quicken, and it was freaking me out.

  “You okay?” Emma asked gently, sensing something was clearly off.

  “No, not really,” I admitted quietly.

  “Can I help?” she asked, all her excitement replaced with worry.

  “I don’t know, I don’t know what’s wrong,” I murmured.

  The sensation was so strong now that my chest was physically hurting.

  “Turn here,” I instantly said as we came upon the street.

  “Why?” Emma frowned. />
  “Please, just do it,” I gasped, tugging at the collar of my uniform that I was still wearing.

  She skidded around the corner a little too quickly, almost missing it.

  The chest pain let up a little, but the dread only grew.

  Great.

  “You want to tell me where we’re going?” Emma asked, arching a concerned eyebrow as she glanced at me.

  “I don’t know,” I said truthfully. I just knew we had to go this way.

  Emma followed my directions through the estate on the edge of Maple Grove, and finally, we pulled up at the small children’s park with a playground amongst the field and gardens.

  “This is where you wanted to go?” Emma’s voice was doubtful as she eyed me carefully.

  I just climbed out of the car, a chill sweeping through me.

  Marcus had been asking me what was going on, and I could feel Ollie and Lucas growing worried now that they could feel and hear me again.

  But I didn’t know. I couldn’t explain what I was feeling, how I just needed to come here.

  I followed the feeling, heading through the gardens towards the playground. No one was here today, which I found strange, considering it was a Sunday. Surely families would be taking the chance to get outside and enjoy the fine weather.

  I stopped before reaching the playground, instead stepping over the garden edging and wandering into the shrubs and native bushes planted there.

  “Ally? What on earth are you doing?” Emma called out from the car.

  I searched, the dread making my breath come out in gasps.

  ‘This isn’t good. I’m heading to you now,’ Lucas stated.

  ‘Me too,’ Marcus growled.

  ‘Don’t be a dickhead, I’ll go. You’ll burn,’ Lucas snapped.

  Ollie was planning on coming with Lucas too.

  I focused on what I was doing rather than the voices in my head.

  I was close. I could feel it.

  I crept deeper into the garden, a sickness washing over me as I spied some boots sticking out from under a shrub.

  I knew those boots.

  The darkness swirling deep inside me surged forth, and I couldn’t contain the high-pitched scream that burst forth.

  The darkness encased my eyesight, and I cursed as I stood in the darkness. I knew where I was this time.

  ‘Allison…’

  I spun towards him, hatred in my eyes as I spied the wendigo in the darkness. He was a fair distance from me, but those hollowed out eyes within the animal skull glowed faintly red.

  “Stay away from me!” I shrieked, the anger and rage building up inside me.

  I was not going to let this thing get me. I had my whole life ahead of me, plans, goals, my guys.

  I would fight for my life. I would not go quietly.

  The wendigo faded, and the darkness slowly lifted as I blinked.

  “Jesus Christ,” Emma gasped as she reached me, pulling up behind me. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “It’s Derek,” I murmured, already knowing full well.

  My eyes slowly moved up from the boots, and I gritted my teeth as I eyed the body for a moment before turning away in disgust and horror.

  “Oh, fuck,” Emma gaped as she pulled me backwards.

  I couldn’t shake the image from my head now, he was seared in there, even from only the small look I’d had.

  He was shirtless, but that body I’d once known was no longer as recognizable. Large bites had been taken from him, and blood was smeared all over him and drying. The flies that had been attracted to him made me wonder just how long he’d been there.

  But it wasn’t the bites or his twisted arm that was clearly broken that kept flashing through my mind.

  It was his eyes. Those cloudy, unseeing eyes, still looking utterly terrified.

  And the bite that had been taken from his cheek, that had exposed his teeth and flesh.

  I trembled, the dread strangely fading as I gasped for air.

  “C’mon,” Emma tugged me further away, but even she was shaking as she kept glancing back behind us with a terrified look.

  ‘I’ll be there in a moment. I’m calling my father too,’ Lucas’ voice came into focus in my mind.

  They’d all been saying stuff, but I was too caught up in the horrid sight to hear them.

  I jumped as cold hands closed around my waist, but a comfort washed over me before I even saw who it was. I just knew.

  “Are you okay?” Marcus asked as I turned towards him.

  Emma released my arm, just taking a deep breath to steady herself as Marcus glanced at her.

  “I’m okay, I guess. Physically,” I mumbled, goosebumps spreading across my body as I felt sick.

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured, reaching up to stroke my face softly.

  My lower lip trembled, and I tried to bite it to stave off the upset, but he pulled me against his chest and the tears burst forth.

  I sobbed softly as he murmured soft words of reassurance.

  After a moment, I managed to pull back.

  “The sun,” I sniffled.

  “It’s okay,” he said gently, but I could see the spots of sunlight filtering through the overhead tree steaming on his skin.

  He noted my concern and stepped into the shade more, still holding me tight.

  “It was the wendigo,” I stated, a pit settling in my stomach.

  “I figured as much,” Marcus sighed.

  It was then that I realized Emma was gone, and I glanced around, finding she was back on the street where Skip had pulled up with Lucas and Ollie. She was relaying everything to them, and as I stared, Mr Brady arrived in a portal.

  “You really shouldn’t have come out in the sun,” I murmured, grateful that Marcus was holding me close. His sweet vanilla scent welcomed me, and I felt the fear slowly receding. But the guilt was still hanging around.

  “I felt the energy flare. I knew something had happened. And you can’t blame yourself,” he said as he caught my chin and forced me to look up into his frosty blue eyes.

  “The wendigo killed him. It’s only here because of me,” I murmured. How could I not blame myself for that?

  “You don’t know why it killed him, and it’s not your fault. It’s not like you made the wendigo do it,” he stated firmly.

  He was right, I didn’t have control over the wendigo.

  But that thought made me shiver.

  At least, I hoped I didn’t.

  No. From the story my grandmother shared, it wasn’t possible. The wendigo had killed the banshee, if she could control him, he wouldn’t have done that.

  “What if it killed him because he was a dick that day at the diner? What if it was watching and deemed him a threat to its source of potential power?” I thought aloud.

  “Then that’s on him. There was no excuse for his behavior, except that he is an arse,” Marcus said, his tone not one to be challenged.

  Still, Derek was dead.

  “I saw him again. The wendigo,” I murmured.

  “In your mind again?” Marcus clarified.

  I just nodded. “When I screamed.”

  “I don’t like that. I don’t like that it seems to have some strange connection to your power,” Marcus growled softly, but his eyes flicked over my shoulder.

  I turned in his arms to find Mr Brady heading my way briskly, with the guys and Emma a few steps behind.

  “We’ll be closing off this area as a crime scene, and I’ll need to take your statement. I understand that finding him may have something to do with your banshee ability, but I’ll need all the information you can think of,” Mr Brady said as he came to a halt in front of me. He was wearing a tight-fitting grey suit despite the warm day, and I wondered if it was just a warlock thing to be unaffected by the weather. I don’t think I’d ever seen Lucas sweat now that I thought about it. Not even during sex.

  ‘Your thoughts are all over the place,’ Lucas managed a small chuckle. ‘But we don’t feel the weathe
r, our magic keeps us at a good temperature.’

  So I was right.

  He was giving me a small smile as he spoke to me mentally, but I focused my attention on Mr Brady.

  “It was the wendigo,” I stated.

  “You’re sure of that?” Mr Brady narrowed his eyes as he took out a pen and notebook. He let them float into the air, and the pen began jotting down notes all on its own.

  “Yes, he was… eaten, somewhat,” I said, my voice hitching as I toyed with my charm bracelet. Marcus still had a comforting arm around my waist, but I turned to glance back into the garden, gritting my teeth.

  “And why are you sure it was the wendigo and not something else?” Mr Brady asked, his voice more curious than disbelieving.

  “I saw it when I screamed,” I murmured. “I screamed when I found him.”

  Mr Brady just nodded at this.

  He continued asking me questions, and I answered honestly, explaining that afternoon where he was a dick to me and then the sensation since IGA.

  By the time I’d finished, officers had arrived and were taping off the area.

  I was allowed to leave once Mr Brady was satisfied I’d told him absolutely everything.

  Marcus flitted me to the car, causing me a moment of unsteadiness when we reached it.

  He climbed in before me, which I didn’t care about, considering the steam rising off him.

  Skip was already in the driver’s seat, while Lucas was in the passenger and Ollie was in the back.

  I took a moment to say goodbye to Emma, who was waiting by her car.

  She was shaken, but more concerned about me.

  I thanked her for the day and apologized, but she just shook her head.

  “Not your fault. Besides, I’m glad we found him and not some poor kids coming to the park,” Emma murmured. “I could feel the bad vibes when we got here. Probably why no one came to the park today.”

  “Right,” I breathed, glancing back at the officers canvassing the area with Mr Brady’s coordination.

  “You try to relax and rest. Don’t blame yourself for any of this,” she gave me a soft smile as she hugged me.

  “This premonition shit sucks. I officially hate what I am,” I said, wanting to start crying again.