by L K Walker
It wasn't long before the next elevator dinged its arrival. They rode it down in silence. Ari felt as if her legs were dragged across the lobby, weighted down by her own trepidation. The seether once again walked a step behind, only re-joining them once they were outside.
A taxi, already loaded with the suitcases, idled at the curb, the back door open wide waiting to swallow them. Ari climbed in without any argument. Nevaeh followed her. The seether joined them in the back seat, his thick-set frame squishing them together. From the corner of her eye, Ari could see Nevaeh gently rubbing her stomach. They needed to get to Melbourne without incident.
As they walked towards the international terminal, the seether muttered, “If anyone asks, we cut our holiday short because a friend died in Australia. We’re going to her funeral. If either of you screw it up, a funeral won't be far from the truth. Am I clear?” Ari and Nevaeh nodded, acquiescing to his request.
Ari wasn’t sure what happened to the seether’s knife. A part of her hoped he’d be dumb enough to walk through security with it, but that dream didn’t eventuate. They went through unchallenged. He might no longer have the knife, but the seether wasn’t letting them out of his sight. His warning was unnecessary. Ari wouldn’t do anything, not while Nevaeh’s life was threatened.
Nevaeh and Ari sat next to the window with the seether on the aisle seat, boxing them in. Michelle had been relegated to the middle bank of seats. She sat, arms folded, with a petulant look on her face. The only enjoyment Ari got out of the flight was Michelle's irritation as the fifty-something-year-old guy, whose hygiene hadn't caught up to twenty first century standards, trying to hit on her. He seemed to be a nervous flier and was plying himself with as much alcohol as the cabin crew would give him, which was enough to make him obnoxious but not comatose. Michelle looked to the seether to help her out, but he seemed to take perverse pleasure in ignoring her. In the end, Michelle used her usual, direct charm. “Sod off and have a freshen-up.” She threw a packet of wet wipes into the nauseating man's lap.
nineteen
“It's going to be too cramped,” Michelle whined as she stood in the doorway of the hotel room. “I really don't want to share a room with these two. I should get my own.”
“Quit your grizzling.” The seether pushed Michelle over the threshold. It was harsh, even Michelle caught his mood that time. “Anyway, this way you get to sleep with me.” He tried to take the edge off his behaviour. “And during the day, you'll only have to share with the feisty one. Ari and I have work to do.” Michelle seemed satisfied, walking to him, hips swaying seductively.
“We’re here,” Ari said, as soon as they were all in the room, ignoring whatever sexual side-track Michelle and the seether were starting down. “Give Nevaeh the antidote to whatever it is you gave her in Singapore. We kept our side of the bargain.”
To Nevaeh’s credit, she hadn’t complained at all. Her face was pale but, under the circumstances, that wasn’t such a surprise. If whatever she had swallowed was starting to take effect, she hadn’t mentioned it.
“Close the door.” He laughed. “As I was saying in Singapore, what I’ve learnt about poisons over my many years is—if you don’t need to kill someone, the threat is just as good as the real thing. It was Betaine—Hydrochloric Acid—it can feel like it’s burning your stomach. Not fatal, though.”
“You bastard,” Nevaeh screamed at him, tears started falling down her face.
“Be bloody happy that’s all it was. Next time I might not feel so generous.”
“You should see your face,” Michelle cackled in the background.
“Now that’s cleared up, it’s time for a few ground rules. First off, for your stay here, you will have the lovely Michelle as your host. Now, Michelle will use all necessary force to stop you from leaving.” There was a humour to the seether's announcement, one only he appreciated.
He heaved Nevaeh’s suitcase onto the bed, unzipped it and fumbled through her belongings. Out came the knife the seether had pulled on them in Singapore. With a gentle lob, it landed on the bed next to Michelle.
“That’s for you, darling,” he fawned.
“Thanks,” she said as she picked it up.
“That was in my bag?” Nevaeh spluttered. “I could have been pulled up at customs for that.”
“It's not like I could take it as carry on,” Michelle retorted. “And why would we risk it ourselves at customs when we had a couple of mules to take the rap instead?”
“You’re such a …”
“Enough. Save it till later.” The seether's voice cut through their squabble. “Preferably, when I'm not here.”
Michelle glared at Nevaeh, a promise that there would be more, later.
“Right, back to the rules. The second motivating factor, for Nevaeh to stay in this hotel, is what I will do to Ari if she tries to leave.”
The seether patted Ari roughly on the head. Ari made a noise akin to a hissing cat.
“But that's not an issue right now. We're going to get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.” He motioned towards the two double beds in the room. “I'm going to have a few winks myself. I should warn you I'm a light sleeper. Although, oddly, I have a very limited amount of trust in either of you, so Michelle will stay awake to make sure you don't do anything stupid.”
“But I thought you said we could sleep together,” Michelle complained.
“Maybe tomorrow,” he replied.
Michelle groaned like an insolent child.
“Don't even let them talk to each other.” The seether's words were stern. “Wake me at two o’clock, and I'll take over. If you need help to stay awake, have the coke from the mini bar.”
The seether’s presence leached into her subconscious and nightmares plagued Ari, continually ripping her from sleep. If only she’d kept her senses alert in Singapore. She was roused at 2:00 am for the changeover, but slipped back into a disturbed sleep soon after.
She woke early. The double bed she shared with Nevaeh projected every movement, so she tried to shift as little as possible, not wanting to disturb her friend. The soft yet distinct sound of traffic hummed outside but, otherwise, the room was quiet. Ari pondered on ways to escape or to, at least, obstruct the seether’s plans. But every idea she conjured up failed when she factored in his strength and speed. They wouldn't be able to get far enough away, fast enough. She would be in exactly the same place as now but with a furious seether, and she was sure she hadn't yet seen the full extent of his abilities, or his ferocity. She opened her eyes and looked around the room. He was propped up against the door staring at her.
“Good morning, Ari. Today is going to be a very exciting day for you. We're going to find out precisely what you’re capable of. Sounds like fun, huh? I don't know about you, but I'm excited.” His pale blue eyes glittered with glee. Ari wanted to shudder, but this whole nightmare was taking its toll on her reactions. “Why don't you get your precious little arse in the shower and I will order some breakfast. We'd best keep you at your strongest.”
Ari spent a long time in the shower. It felt like delaying the inevitable, but it was a small show of defiance and better than nothing. As the water streamed down her body, she used the private moment to let her guard down, let the emotions fill her. The darkness outside the door was stinging. As he moved around the hotel room, she could feel him, trace his steps. Forcing past him, she turned her attention to outside the hotel room, further, outside the building, further, she searched as far as she could, looking for one person, one signature that would give her hope. Where was Nate? There was no sign of him. She could only sense regular people, wandering around in their everyday lives, oblivious to her pain. A couple of days and I will come for you, Nate had said. Had he even arrived in Singapore yet? What would he do if he found the message? Nate had said it himself; he couldn’t sense her, not even a void where she should have been. The one thing that had kept her safe and off the radar of the seether for eighteen years was the one thing
stopping Nate from finding her. Her cynicism made her laugh. It wasn’t a gift, it was a curse.
The last swirl of water gurgled down the drain, and Ari forced herself out of the shower in search of a towel. There was a knock on the hotel room door.
Ari's heart jumped. Perhaps, wishing to be saved might have worked.
“Room service.” Ari could just make out the words.
It was breakfast. In her worry, she had become delusional, thinking the problem would fix itself, that Nate would come rolling in and rescue her. Optimism shrunk into the dark recesses of her mind as she realised she and Nevaeh were on their own.
Dried and dressed, Ari stepped into the main room. Nevaeh, still in bed, rolled over as she came in. By the alert look in her eyes, Ari could tell she hadn’t just woken.
“Michelle, you’re going to have to stay in the hotel room with Nevaeh, all day. Go get some provisions. There’s a shop down the road. Be back here within an hour.”
“Do you need anything?” her response was sickly-sweet, the question for the seether only.
“No,” he replied, signalling her towards the door.
On her way past, Michelle locked onto his lips with a passionate kiss, her hand holding his strong jaw in place as she worked his mouth. His cold, pale blue eyes remained open, staring vacantly ahead, seemingly unmoved by the contact.
Once she had left, the seether went to the small kitchenette tucked away behind the front door. He filled the white plastic kettle from the bathroom tap, turned it on and left it to boil. He wandered to the small window on the opposite side of the room, leaning up close to it, looking down into the street below, perhaps, waiting to see Michelle. Rays of light spilling around him illuminated the dust in the air, which floated gracefully as if the passage of time had slowed. In this light, it was easy to think he wasn't as menacing as he had seemed two minutes ago. He stood still, as if in thought.
The sight calmed her nerves, so Ari took the opportunity to ask him the questions, that up until now, she had been too scared to voice.
“Why are you doing this? I mean, I know you are a sadistic bastard, but this seems like a lot of effort to recruit a few more like-minded individuals to share your pain with.”
The insult slipped out. Antagonizing a captor was generally not productive, but he brought out the sarcastic side in her. The silhouette turned to look at her, and he leaned his broad back against the window. His features were now visible although dipped heavily in shadow.
“So judgmental. You look at me, and all you see is an invader into your perfect, pathetic life. I've been walking this earth for centuries. I belong more to this world than you. Do you know what I’ve found out about you in all those long years? You breed greed, all of you.” He indicated the door, which Michelle had departed through. “Look at how you would betray others to get something nice for yourself, or because a man smiled nicely at you. And then you judge us for doing the same.”
Steam rose from the jug and it automatically switched itself off, seemingly breaking the seether out of his speech.
“I would like to do a little experiment.” He pushed himself off the glass. “I find it strange I can't sense you. It's not like you even leave an empty space. I have heard stories about others like you, Ari.” He walked over and ran a finger down her cheek. It wasn't an intimate touch but more inquisitive.
Ari recoiled in disgust.
“They never last long, though. I really do hope you have a bit more stamina. I would hate to think I went to all this trouble for nothing. Especially, when it might draw more attention than I’d like. Come on Ari, on your feet.”
Ari didn’t move. Whatever his intentions, this wouldn’t end well for her. Then, his hand grabbed onto her upper arm, showing hardly any strain as he pulled her from the bed. It all happened so quickly. Nevaeh’s voice bounced off the walls. The seether shouted at her to shut up. As he tugged her across the room, Ari’s feet dragged behind her. She desperately scrambled to get some of her weight on them. He pulled her over to the sink and pinned her in front of him with his weight, leaving his arms free. He held Ari’s arm over the sink. Steam still emanated from the kettle’s spout. Ari looked from it to her immobilized arm. Realisation sunk in. She yanked vigorously, panicking, trying to free it.
The seether took hold of the kettle, pulling it from its base.
Ari intensified her efforts, trying to fight her way free. He didn't give her any room to move. Instead, he pushed his body harder against her, so the rim of the bench bit into her hips. All she could do was watch. A column of boiling water tipped out of the spout, falling, splashing down over her hand. The sounds of water sloshing in the kettle and of the boiling water striking the stainless steel sink, expanding it, making it pop, mingled with Nevaeh’s screams, begging the bastard to stop. There was a delay before the pain registered in her brain as she watched the water drain over her. Finally, it hit her, pain so white hot it felt ice cold. Her fist clenched, and every muscle in her arm went rigid. She let out a wail of agony. Movement out the side of Ari's eye drew her attention. Nevaeh was rushing at the seether. His body partially obscured Ari’s view. What she did see was the kettle drop into the sink, moments before she heard a grunt and the rushing of air as it left Nevaeh’s lungs. Nevaeh landed at the foot of the bed where she sat in a heap, holding her stomach.
Then the pain increased, coming in waves, anguish spreading through her hand as it burned layer after layer of her flesh. A scream was building in her chest, held in by her clenched lungs. They released and the noise tore from her throat, a gut-wrenching noise, too big for the small room.
The seether's face was blank. He stood looking at Ari not letting go of her arm. Ari pulled against him, again trying to liberate her arm, tears streaming down her face. The seether released her.
“That's so strange. Nothing, I couldn't feel anything,” he muttered, then, let out an amused huff. “I would run some cold water on that if I was you, it might turn into a nasty burn.”
Calmly, he walked back to the window and resumed his watch on the world outside. Nevaeh screamed at him through her tears, as she dragged herself up and went to stand at Ari's side. She turned on the tap, measured the temperature with her fingers and guided Ari’s hand under it.
Ari sobbed.
They were standing over the sink, water running, when there was a loud knock at the door. Their tears had only just dried up.
“What?” the seether called out impatiently.
“Hotel management. Can you please open the door, sir?”
The seether casually walked over and flicked the latch, pulling it open. On the other side stood a young man, not much older than Ari. A navy blue vest covered a bright white shirt, and together, they seemed to dangle from his skinny frame. On tiptoes, he peered over the seether’s head, raising his eyebrows at Ari and tutting. Ari imagined it was his cocky attitude that had led to him being appointed to his position at such a young age. If he had known what he was looking at it, it might have wiped the smarmy look from his face.
“How may I help, Peter?” the seether said courteously, looking down at the gold name tag adorning the young man’s vest.
“Hello, sir. Someone notified us of a disturbance coming from this room. I wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
“Oh, dear. Sorry about that. It was actually my fault. I was a bit clumsy with my cup of coffee. I bumped it, and it tipped all over my friend’s hand.” The seether stepped slightly to one side to show the two girls standing at the sink.
His acting was impeccable. If the pain in her hand wasn't so intense, Ari might have fallen for his explanation herself.
“Tell the young man, Ari,” the seether gave Ari a threatening glance.
“Yes, what he said. Lucky for us, she’s done first aid training,” Ari signalled to Nevaeh. “And is currently fixing my arm up good as new.”
Their explanation didn't satisfy the manager. He stood on his tiptoes again to get a better view of Nevaeh dealing w
ith the burn.
“Sir, the complainant mentioned a lot of swearing and abuse—and banging.”
Ari saw the seether's face darken. It was time to move the unsuspecting guy on, for his own sake.
“How embarrassing,” she said. “That was mostly me. It just hurt so damned much my tongue got away on me. I’m very sorry. He's so clumsy, and it’s not the first time something like this has happened on our holiday. I'm worried I'm not going to make it back home in one piece. Can you apologize profusely to our neighbours? So embarrassing. And thank you so much for coming and checking up on me. That is so sweet.”
Ari gave the young man a beautiful smile and glanced at Nevaeh, who seemed to twig that she should do the same. “Thanks for stopping by,” Nevaeh said before the man could get in another word. They both turned away, a suggestion it was time for him to leave.
Without any real problem to deal with, the boy looked deflated. “You enjoy your stay and perhaps keep the swearing to a minimum.”
Nevaeh and Ari chorused. “Yes, of course, won't happen again,” as the seether closed the door in his face.
twenty
With the departure of the young manager, the atmosphere in the room calmed down. Ari and Nevaeh sat at the small dining table in the corner of the room. The bright red skin on Ari’s hand looked like a beacon against the white laminate table top. Nevaeh rummaged through her bag, hunting for the soothing cream she had packed in anticipation of insect bites and stings.
“I feel naive for ever thinking we could have a regular holiday. You shouldn't be here. You should never have been involved in any of this,” Ari said, to convey the guilt she felt.
In spite of everything that had happened to them since leaving New Zealand, Ari still wanted Nevaeh to be here with her. She knew Nevaeh’s presence gave her a strength she wouldn’t otherwise have. And she needed it to keep going, not to give up.
The seether impatiently tapped his foot while Nevaeh applied the cream. “Right, that’s enough. Time to start working. Have you searched for people before?”
