by Judi Calhoun
A kiss is a powerful thing. Connections are created in the realm of the soul. I had kissed Rick or he had kissed me. Something very intimate had passed between us. It was because of this link that I could feel Rick’s anger.
The moment he walked into English class and took a seat by the rear door, I knew that something was wrong. He buried his face in a book. Yet, he felt my watchful concern, because he kept glancing up from his book to look my way.
I turned when Amanda brushed past me to take her seat and again as Mr. Baker came in the room. I tried to get my mind back on my work, but I couldn’t help thinking of Rick and glancing back every few minutes. He returned my gaze only once more, for just a split second, an aggressive, angry stare, that sent a chill through me. Did I do something wrong?
I thought about the last time I had seen Rick, spying on me at Water’s garage. I should be the one who was irritated. The bell rang, and poof, Rick was gone. I didn’t know exactly why, but I had to follow him. I threw myself into the crowd of moving students, and spotted his leather jacket in the sea of bodies. He had stopped at his locker, tossed something inside, and slammed it hard with his fist. He glanced back once before heading off. I hoped he hadn’t seen me.
He swiftly turned left, down the short narrow corridor that led out to the rear parking lot. I cautiously approached the corner and waited until I heard the outside door open and close, before I slipped around and headed for the same exit.
Turning the knob, I opened the windowless door just a crack, and squeezed outside, plastering myself against the inside wall of the door alcove.
I glanced at my watch. History had just started, so I would be late. I didn’t care. I needed to know what troubled Rick. He stood surrounded by a group of tall guys. His body language told me he was tense.
The tallest in the group looked to be around twenty-five with brown, spiky hair. He wore a silver pentagram from a chain on his neck. “I DON’T GIVE A DAMN!” he bellowed, slamming his fist into Rick’s chest. “Do it! I want Shonna. Don’t waste my time with any of these other little girls...we need her, understood?”
I gasped low when I heard my name.
I pressed my face against the rough cement and yet I still couldn’t hear what Rick said, his voice was too low. He stared at them defiantly, not bothered by the group’s aggressiveness.
The taller man leaned in closer. “Don’t mess this up, Steel!” He turned to leave. “By Friday! Got it?”
Rick barely nodded, as he watched them pile into a white Cadillac SUV and drive off. A second later he headed back for the door. I slipped inside, my pulse pounding as I sprinted down the hallway around the corner and ducked into the girls’ bathroom, my forehead moist with sweat. I dabbed paper towels on my face. I made a note to myself to fix my blotchy makeup job before lunch period, before I saw Jake.
I waited a full five minutes before I dared open the door. The halls were deserted. I hurried without stepping lightly, fearing at any second I’d run smack into Rick, or worse, Ian. I turned left, relieved to find the hall empty. I dashed toward my classroom, a short five doors down.
My heart rate spiked with the sound of footsteps drawing closer, were approaching from the opposite end of the hallway. A thin shadow darkened the polished wooden floors. Ian. I tore open the door and practically dove into my seat.
The entire class turned to gawk at me and Mrs. Gilbert stopped mid-sentence. “You’re late, Ms. Wells. Where were you? Do you have a slip?”
I was never a good liar; my face always gave me away. “My locker jammed,” I said, with a wispy voice.
“Okay,” she seemed a tiny bit annoyed, but thankfully didn’t pursue the need for a late slip. “We’re on page 159 in your workbook,” she said. “Catch up.”
Relief washed over me. I exhaled a long breath and settled into my seat. Gabby had been watching me closely. “Locker trouble?” she whispered, raising one eyebrow. “Really?”
“I’ll tell you later,” I whispered. Why did I say that? I didn’t want to explain anything.
When I sat down at our lunch table, my eyes met Gabby’s. “Okay give? Why were you late for class?” she demanded. Some best friend she was, forcing me to tell all in front of Jake.
All eyes turned suspiciously in my direction. I gulped hard, shifting nervously in my seat. “It was nothing,” I said, hoping that would suffice, even though it had been eating me up inside all morning. What did those goons want with me? What is Rick’s part in all of this? Should I tell Jake? My practical side was in denial. I tend to overreact to everything. Perhaps it was nothing but I knew better. I knew he was involved in something way over his head. Rick was a confessed Satanist, and now I half wondered if Ian might somehow be connected with those parking lot goons. Only it had looked to me like Rick was being forced into doing something he didn’t like or didn’t want to do, and that something involved me.
Everyone was still gawking at me, waiting for me to answer Gabby’s question. So I did what I always do, I casually changed the subject. “Hey, does anyone know how Joey’s doing?”
“My dad called his dad,” said Jake. “They said he’s doing better.” He shook his head and looked at me. “They think we saved his life.”
“We almost ended it,” I said.
Jake Frowned. “Exactly. I feel horrible.”
“The police called my house Saturday morning,” I said. “They found the black bear and they’re going to put it down.”
“Great,” Jake dropped his head back, his eyes staring up at the ceiling, “Now I’m responsible for the death of a bear!”
“You’re not responsible,” I whispered, “I am.”
“When you think about it,” said David, “it’s Ian’s fault that Joey got attacked.”
“Speaking of being attacked,” Gabby chimed in, “I just need to know if that demon will come after me again...I mean, I’m not like you guys... I’m a little scared.”
“Don’t worry,” said Nate, “I’ll protect you.” He kissed her gently on her forehead.
“Demons generally prey on the weak,” said Jake. “Now that you know they exist and you’re friends with Slayers, I doubt they’ll ever consider attacking you again.”
“And I’ll be there if they try,” said Nate.
Gabby smiled. I started wondering, now that Gabby knew about demons, was she just hooking up with Nate for his protection, or was she really in love?
Joey sat quietly on the other side of the table with a bowl of soup and bottled water. He had returned to school today after being gone for almost three weeks. Jake had invited him to join us for lunch. He wasn’t at all talkative, not like before the attack. I noticed part of a scar on his neck, the rest covered up under his red T-shirt. He was not wearing his glasses.
I shifted nervously in my seat rehearsing what I would say; glad you’re okay Joey, we missed you. All my words sounded empty. I remembered the horrible things I had said to him. The guy hadn’t deserved that kind of treatment. I was sure I could come up with something about how utterly remorseful I felt. Now, when I needed them the most, words failed me.
“This scar here,” he said, jerking the neckline of his shirt down, “Is over ten inches long. The doctors said it missed my heart by a fraction of an inch. Here’s the cool part. The venom in my wounds was unidentifiable. Freaky, right?”
“Totally,” said Nate.
Everyone at the table, except me, seemed to be enjoying Joey’s proud take on his injuries. I sat in guilty silence.
“Yeah, they say I’m lucky to be alive. My mom’s, like, you’re not going in the woods ever again. And forget ever hanging with your friends.” He was mimicking her voice. “I told her, I’m not giving up my friends. She finally caved. I knew she would.”
Nate lightly punched Joey in the arm. “Dude, you kicked butt. You’re, like, my hero, you know.”
Jake smiled. “So no more doctors?”
“Pretty much. I have to keep getting anti-venom shots. Man, I really hate them. They hurt…you know I ca
n take it.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I just figure they make me tougher.”
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “I am so sorry,” I blurted out.
Everyone turned. Joey’s eyes met mine. “Why?” He frowned.
His question surprised me. I was not prepared with an answer, feeling so overwhelmed with guilt.
“Shonna, tell me you saw me cut that demon?” he said. “I wanted you to see me. I killed it with Jake’s sword, do you know how great that felt? It was incredible, well, up until the moment that Dreader got me.”
“You saved my life!” said Jake. “That vampire would have drained me.”
“Dude, it was so much fun,” said Joey smiling. “I can’t wait to do it again, but, next time, I’ll be using my own sword.”
Everyone stared at Joey in stunned silence.
“You have your own armor?” Jake asked.
His smile went wide. “Ariel came to see me.”
Nate, David, and Jake all whistled really loud and slapped Joey a high-five.
Joey’s gaze faltered when his eyes met mine. “It’s okay, isn’t it, Shonna?” he muttered, his face mirroring my own anxiety.
My mouth opened…nothing came out. He was seriously asking my permission to be a Slayer? Just like that, I knew what I wanted to say. “Um…Joey, you’re the bravest person I know. You took on a demon without armor, training, or your own weapon. No demon from the Labyrinth should ever think about messing with you. Not unless he’s insane. Seriously Joey, I can’t wait to fight with you.”
His lips widened into a big smile. “I’m not a Bleater anymore? I’m one of the Warriors?” he raised his arms in triumph.
“Oh yeah, definitely, Bro!” said Nate, slapping him another high five.
Now we were five, five against thousands of evil denizens from the Labyrinth.
A blue fog almost seemed to set without moving on the grass and bushes in the cold, damp night air. The toes of my sneakers leaned up against the granite of Binco’s grave, as I stood spellbound, captured by the green light. My fingers touched the luminous glow and I watched as my skin turned sparkly green. Suddenly, like a vacuum, I was forcibly sucked into the void of darkness, my hand still out in front of me; my mind in a noiseless fog of confusion.
I didn’t remember landing. Yet, I must have, because I stood inside the throne room in the labyrinth of Hell. Dad stood a few yards in front of me. Daddy! His gentle eyes filled with concern at seeing me there. I wanted to run to him. I could not move. My voice sounded muffled and distorted in my own ears, as if I were inside a glass bubble.
Ian Corbet held a knife to my father’s chest. They were arguing, I had no idea what they were saying. Ian raised the knife. Daddy didn’t move. My breathing grew ragged because I knew the truth; I knew that Ian’s knife was meant for my torture.
Dad’s eyes locked onto my face. His lips were speaking. I wanted to hear him. I needed to know what he was saying. Then I heard a small voice inside my head. I love you Bee.
Ian thrust the blade into dad’s heart, while the words kept echoing, I love you. Dad fell down dead while his lips repeated I love you Bee.
I screamed. Mine were silent screams.
Ian’s repugnant eyes turned toward me, the blood-covered knife still in his hand. He spoke, but I did not comprehend.
My feet took a few steps back. I turned once and bolted into the dark abyss…a pointless attempt to flee, because there just was no escaping him. I felt the knife slicing into my chest. My body went heavy, and weakness melted me like butter. All sound returned; music played from far off, an eerie arrangement of violins.
When my back struck the ground, blood spurted from my chest. As my vision faded, I stared up at Ian Corbet’s face. Death’s north wind came howling, howling... my bones took flight on the delicate tips of white spirit wings.
I awoke in a cold sweat, gasping. I needed air. I had too much air. My body trembled. Chills raced through me. In a loathsome, self-deprecating way, I tortured myself, by replaying the images over and over in my mind.
Is this prophecy? I seemed to be the tormented victim here, and if this were some authentic foresight into the future, why was dad in it? No. This dream had nothing in common with my true prophetic visions.
Still, I couldn’t help wondering. Could this dream be preparing me for my own untimely death? I shuddered at the thought.
* * *
Chapter 21
