Corviticus University: Void

by J. E. Cluney

  ‘Relax, it’s nothing, you’ll feel the magic but nothing much will happen,’ Lucas assured me.

  Hell, I hadn’t even known there was a local police station.

  I turned back to Mr Brady, drawing in a deep breath before I took his hand.

  I felt the electrical charge course through me, not as exciting and fun as Lucas’, more honed and controlled.

  And then I was sitting in the passenger seat of a luxurious Mercedes, my body tingling as I blinked. I hadn’t even seen him open up the portal.

  So the Mercedes fascination ran in the family.

  “Some officers will be following us, they will handle Mr Barlow and presentation of the warrant,” Mr Brady said as he started up the car.

  “Mr Barlow?” I murmured. I finally had a name for Samantha’s attacker.

  “John Barlow. A dingo shifter,” Mr Brady informed me as he pulled away from the parking lot.

  I took the chance to look at the police station behind me, wondering where it was located exactly. Why hadn’t I even known about it?

  It wasn’t until we turned a few streets that I began to realize where we were. It was located on some backstreets not too far from my place of work. Strange, I would’ve thought it’d belong in the puny main street.

  “Has he had any other offenses?” I asked softly.

  “No, just a parking ticket and one speeding fine,” Mr Brady answered as he kept his eyes on the road. He sensed my unease though and sighed. “Relax, you won’t have to deal with him. I’m hoping you can provide more insight into exactly what happened, and where we can find her.”

  “Her body,” I murmured.

  He didn’t say a word, and I glanced in the side mirror to see the police car behind us. No flashing lights or anything, just following along.

  My chest tightened as I clung to Samantha’s brush.

  “A few officers will meet us there. We believe he is at home,” Mr Brady added.

  I just nodded, unable to think of anything to say.

  I sat silently for a few minutes, watching the houses pass us by. I wanted to know why he’d hurt her. What had made him hurt such a sweet young girl?

  “We’re here,” Mr Brady broke the silence, and my eyes shot to the house we were pulling up in front of.

  Whatever I’d been expecting, I was sadly disappointed. The stylish, modern looking home was set in one of the many estates around Maple Grove, and it fit into the neighborhood easily.

  The gardens were cared for, and I couldn’t picture an evil man living here.

  But the dread that washed over me proved otherwise.

  Two officers exited the car parked before us, and they faced our way before nodding towards the house.

  “Wait here,” Mr Brady instructed.

  “What if I see something?” I asked softly.

  “Yell out,” he answered instantly with a serious look.

  Great, I’d just scream out if I saw something terrible.

  He shut the door and headed over to join the officers, giving me a brief glance before the trio headed up towards the front door of the modern white home.

  The other police car had pulled up behind me, and two officers were standing outside the vehicle, waiting as they watched the others knock on the door.

  I looked back at Mr Brady and the officers, my heart skipping as the door opened up.

  My throat tightened as the balding man from my vision greeted the officers, looking quite confused.

  It was most definitely him, he’d lost more hair since my vision, but it was definitely him.

  The officers spoke to him while Mr Brady hung back, and I could see his confusion deepen as he shook his head and spoke with them.

  I couldn’t hear anything from here.

  He stepped to the side, and the officers entered his home.

  Mr Brady cast me a look, nodding reassuringly as I clenched my teeth.

  Were they going to arrest him? Why were they going into his house?

  I glanced out the back window at the two officers conversing beside their vehicle.

  I had to just wait, that’s all I could do.

  I hated waiting.

  I looked around his front yard, at the neat shrubs and well-cared for rose bushes. How could a man who cared so much about his plants be a killer? I guess they came in all shapes and sizes.

  My eyes landed on the young girl standing at the side gate, smiling as she beckoned me over.

  Samantha.

  I sucked in a breath, the urge to go to her overwhelming me.

  I shot a look back at the officers, but then the banshee side reared her head, and I felt myself slip into the void.

  Across the expanse of darkness, Samantha stood before the side gate, although it wasn’t attached to anything, just a lone gate behind her in the void.

  I felt my real body open up the car door and step out, but here in the void, there was only the darkness.

  “What’s wrong?” I called out as I closed the gap between us.

  She didn’t say a word as she turned and pushed through the gate, and I followed her. She ran out before me, leading the way in the void, and I kept in step with her.

  I nearly ran right into her when she pulled up abruptly, staring down at the ground.

  “I’m here,” she murmured as she collapsed to her knees, a patch of earth coming into perspective beneath her, the darkness fading to reveal it.

  Samantha clawed at the ground, and I knelt down beside her, seeing the wretched look on her face.

  “It’s okay, I’m here,” I murmured, and she sniffled as she turned to face me.

  “I want to go home,” she murmured, the tears twinkling in her bright blue eyes.

  “I know sweetie, I know,” I sighed, reaching out to stroke a strand of hair behind her ear.

  She smiled at me, her eyes falling to the earth once more.

  “Please, make sure I see my family again,” she said.

  I didn’t get a chance to respond as she dissipated, along with the void.

  I sat in someone’s backyard, and I glanced over my shoulder to where the two officers from the car had followed me. They hung back, watching me carefully.

  “She’s here,” I said, not sure what spurred the words from my mouth.

  They exchanged looks before one of them spoke into the radio on his shoulder.

  My eyes moved to the house, where I could see Mr Brady through the glass sliding door, a pale John Barlow behind him.

  It looked like the officers were giving him his rights as they handcuffed him, and Mr Brady gave me a nod of approval.

  I stood with Mr Brady as he spoke words of Latin as the two officers outside brought around some equipment and a body bag.

  John Barlow was inside his home, undergoing questions.

  I just watched as the earth before us cracked and caved in, crumbling into nothingness from his magic.

  My heart was in my throat as the skeletal body of Samantha was revealed, and I had to look away.

  “You found her,” Mr Brady said softly.

  I didn’t say a word as I looked through the glass sliding door into the home.

  Samantha stood there, giving me an uneasy look.

  “She’s not done telling me everything,” I murmured.

  “What was that?” Mr Brady asked as the officers got to work photographing the evidence.

  “She’s not done. She’s standing inside the house. She wants me to go in. I think she wants me to see him up close,” I murmured.

  “Are you comfortable with doing that?” Mr Brady asked carefully.

  “We need answers,” was all I could say. I felt strange, almost robotic, like my banshee side was controlling me more.

  Mr Brady nodded and said something to the officers before leading me to the sliding door.

  I could see through to the living room from here, where Mr Barlow was perched on the lounge, his hands cuffed behind him as the officers asked him a few questions. I guess the questioning process was dif
ferent in the supernatural world. I would’ve expected them to take him back to the station for questioning.

  Mr Brady slid the door open and stepped inside. He strode over to the nearest officer and shared murmured words with him before he turned back to me and nodded.

  “Who is she?” Mr Barlow barked, obviously unhappy with how the questioning was going.

  “This young lady is acting as a key witness. Can you tell us why the body is in your backyard?” Mr Brady asked, his tone firm and demanding respect.

  Mr Barlow narrowed his muddy green eyes at me before turning his attention to Mr Brady.

  “I have no idea.”

  I gritted my teeth as I felt Samantha’s presence, and I stepped up beside her as she stood at the entrance of the living room.

  “He’s lying,” she said, her sweet face scrunched up in a frown.

  “Show me,” I murmured, not sure why I said the words, but knowing my banshee was reaching through and guiding me.

  Samantha looked up at me, those soft eyes twinkling with uncertainty and fear. I just gave her a reassuring smile, and she nodded softly as she slid her hand into mine.

  I fell into the void once more, but this time, Samantha was nowhere to be seen.

  I waited patiently, the scene flickering as it unfolded before me.

  The events I saw flashed by, but I caught them all.

  He followed her home that day from the park, not for the first time either, but this time, this time would be the final time.

  I could feel his desire to claim her as his own. His first ever child, he’d always wanted his own kid. He wanted to take her and run away, pretend to be a single father traveling with his little girl. She was perfect, a fae child. He’d say her mother was a fae, and somehow she got all fae genes. An anomaly. He’d given it much thought already.

  He waited until she came out the front with her mother, being pushed on the family swing as she laughed and enjoyed the fun.

  Her mother hurried back to the house, hearing the phone ringing, and called Samantha to follow her.

  John seized his chance, shooting out of his vehicle and sweeping up little Samantha as she clambered off the swing.

  He muffled her cries, covering her mouth and rushing her back to the car.

  I couldn’t believe he was doing such a thing in broad daylight, but he’d canvassed the area well, and he was targeting her at a time when most other parents were either heading out to pick up their children from school or were still driving home from work. The street was deserted.

  He tossed her in the backseat, muffling her with a rag in her mouth and taping her hands together before leaping into the driver’s seat.

  He was already off and turning the corner of the street before her mother even knew what was happening.

  The scene changed, and Samantha was whimpering as she sat on the lounge, tears marring her soft face as she sat quietly.

  Mr Barlow was trying to get her to understand that she had to call him dad from now on.

  She wasn’t having any of it, she wanted to go home, and she began crying out for her mother.

  He panicked, telling her to shut up as he duct-taped her mouth.

  In his frantic attempts to shut her up, he’d covered her nose with the tape.

  The scene shot forward in time, and I watched as she slumped onto her side on the lounge, her face turning blue as she struggled while he paced up and down the hall trying to figure out what to do. He didn’t even know that she was dying.

  “You suffocated her!” I snapped, being torn from my void as my eyes fell on Mr Barlow.

  His face had paled, and he was staring at me in utter shock and fear. I didn’t care if he’d seen my eyes turn black, as they always did when I slipped into the void.

  I’d seen the truth.

  “What did you see?” Mr Brady asked softly.

  “You kidnapped her to become your own daughter, but she didn’t like that, and she began crying and calling out for her mother. Mr Barlow panicked and taped up her mouth, he also taped up her nose. She suffocated,” I said, my lower lip trembling as I averted my eyes from the horrid man before me.

  I spied Samantha standing off to the side, smiling sadly at me.

  She just nodded at me, giving me a soft wave as she faded from sight.

  She’d shown me everything. She no longer needed to be here.

  “It was an accident!” Mr Barlow shouted, and I dragged my eyes back to the sputtering man.

  Mr Brady sighed and nodded at the officers, who heaved him up off the lounge and began marching him out of the room.

  Mr Barlow shot me a terrified look, one of utter disbelief and shock.

  He had no idea what I was, I realized.

  Good. We’d leave it that way.

  “The officers will handle it from here, do you mind if I use a spell to take your memories as evidence? It won’t hurt, but it may make you queasy,” Mr Brady asked gently.

  “You can do that?” I murmured in disbelief.

  “It’s not something I’d do often, but you’re our only witness in this case. It’s best if I do it now, while it’s all still fresh. The longer you leave it and if you’re not in the same place that you had the memories created, the harder and more taxing the spell is,” Mr Brady explained.

  “Will it do anything to me? Will I forget anything?” I asked softly.

  “No, just a bit of sickness,” he said gently.

  I just nodded, still feeling numb and pained for Samantha.

  She died because some man wanted a fake daughter. She paid the ultimate price.

  And I’d seen her final moments.

  It crushed me.

  I was hoping I’d feel some sense of relief at solving her case, but I only felt grief and sadness. I could not unsee it, unsee the way she fought at her bindings on her wrists as she struggled for air, the way tears streaked down her face as her skin paled and turned blue.

  The way her eyes had glossed over as the life left her tiny body, as she lost the fight.

  All while Mr Barlow was only meters from her trying to figure out how to make her listen and submit.

  Mr Brady reached out slowly, and I just drew in a steadying breath, suddenly realizing I was shaking.

  I knew my boys were worried for me, but they hadn’t said anything yet.

  I was grateful for that, I wanted to sort through my own mind without their input right now.

  Mr Brady’s palm pressed against my temple, and I felt the zap of magic through my skull. I could actually sense the memories being drawn from my mind. Duplicated as evidence.

  How utterly fascinating and terrifying all at once. My own memories of the vision were going to be classed as evidence.

  He’d admitted to the crime too.

  Mr Brady pulled his hand away, waving his glowing blue hand over a glass jar. The magic around his hand drifted into the jar, and he sealed it before glancing back at me sympathetically.

  I understood why when the wave of sickness hit me and I staggered forward.

  “Come, let’s get you home. This will serve as your statement as well. I think you’ve been through enough for today,” Mr Brady murmured as he helped me stand up straight.

  I wanted to throw up, but I fought the urge as I allowed him to lead me from the home.

  I could only hope that Samantha’s body found her way back to her family. I’m sure it would.

  Then she’d finally be with them again.

  Just like she wanted.

  17

  I had a shower as soon as I got home, before crawling under the covers and allowing the tears to flow forth.

  Samantha had died such a stupid death. She’d had her whole life ahead of her, and then it was ripped away by a selfish fool.

  My guys had tried to talk to me when I got home, but they caught on pretty quick that I wanted to be left alone. Mr Brady headed off right away, he wanted to get everything sorted quickly so they could give Samantha’s family closure.

  The sho
wer had helped ease the nausea, but it hadn’t helped lift the cold over my heart.

  I lay in bed, curled up as I sobbed quietly.

  Samantha’s bright little smile kept flashing through my mind, followed by her glazed over eyes.

  Marcus had tried to warn me. He’d told me there were things I’d see that I couldn’t unsee if I pursued this.

  I just wanted to know if it would get easier with time.

  ‘You’ll learn to expect it and understand it more,’ Lucas tried to reassure me.

  They’d kept quiet since I’d left with Mr Brady, but I knew they’d been watching and checking in on me. They were worried, and I know they’d spoken to one another about the things I’d seen while in the void, of the toll it could have on me.

  A knock on the door made me flinch in the darkness, but I called out that whoever it was could come in.

  I managed a weak smile and sat up when Skip opened up the door.

  “How you feeling? The boys said you were feeling sick,” Skip murmured as he breezed over and switched on the bedside lamp.

  “The nausea is the last of my worries,” I sighed, although the fragrant honey drew my senses.

  “Herbal tea and honey. Selena used to make it for me when I was unwell,” Skip murmured.

  My heart pulled at the reminder of his long since dead girlfriend.

  “Thank you,” I mumbled as he offered it to me.

  I sipped at it, the soothing tea washing down my throat. It was sweet, and I could already tell it was going to help. I took a few more sips before sitting it on the bedside table.

  “The guys have been rather tight-lipped. I’m assuming it didn’t go too well?” Skip asked softly as he sat on the edge of my bed.

  He was wearing a tight-fitting grey tee tonight with his board shorts, and it only flaunted his chiseled body and bulging biceps.

  “I found Samantha’s body, saw how she died,” I said, my voice barely audible. To say it aloud made it more real, and my eyes welled up.

  “That must’ve been hard,” Skip sighed as he moved to sit closer to me, leaning forward to give me a comforting hug.

  He smelt sweet tonight, a hint of vanilla, probably from the wash in the shower. And musky, like usual. But his warm, strong arms wrapped around me did help ease the ice inside me.