Curse of Shadows and Light

by Penelope King

  I nod slowly. “I agree to your terms. Thank you for taking us in.”

  She purses her lips and stands up, clasping her hands together. “Get your things. The valet will be around later to park the car, but you and your friends may go to the guest house and get settled. I’ll be along shortly.”

  “You won’t even know I’m here,” I mutter, glancing out toward the churning sea. Despite her invitation, I know she doesn’t really want us here. Not that I can really blame her.

  “Believe me, I won’t be able to forget it for a second.” She turns on her heels and stalks off toward her mansion.

  I stand there a moment longer watching her before I go back to the car. When I get there I see Kieron with his head back on the seat, snoring softly. Corrine stares at me with an annoying expression that reminds me of a balloon that needs to be popped. Of all the humans Liora could’ve picked to tag along with us, she had to pick this neurotic basket case?

  But I’m more concerned by the fact that Kieron is seemingly passed out cold. As a Latros demon, he doesn’t sleep like a normal demion; he’s awake for long stretches at a time, and then sleeps for a few days straight. And now is not his hibernation cycle.

  Damn, that witch is strong.

  I glance back at Corrine who is staring at me all bug-eyed. “What?” I snap. She has this irritating way of looking at me like a lunatic until I tell her to speak. Not that I want her getting too comfortable around me, but I wish she’d just be more normal.

  “I’m freaking out!” she whispers loudly. “You were gone for so long. And what happened to him? One moment he’s talking to me about wanting to take surfing lessons and the next he’s out like a light! Practically mid-sentence!”

  “He’s just sleepy. Long trip. Get your crap, we’re moving in.”

  I just hope the witch lowers her defensive shield soon, or we won’t even have the strength to carry our bags the distance to the guest house… a distance I could normally cover in a few seconds if I wanted. Now I wonder if I’ll be able to do it without having to stop and take a break.

  “Babe… babe… wake up.” I jostle Kieron and lean over him to grab a bag. He stirs and I shake him again. “Come on…We gotta go.”

  Finally his blue eyes flutter open and he glances around, disoriented. “What happened?”

  I shake my head. The penetrating effects of the magical shield seem to have lessened somewhat, and I can already feel some of my strength returning.

  “Nothing. I’ll tell you later. Come on, let’s get our things… we’re staying in that guest house back over there.” I point behind us and happen to catch a brief look of disappointment on Corrine’s face. Obviously she’d been looking forward to living in the palatial castle, not the miniaturized version.

  But as for me, I couldn’t be more relieved. I want to be as far away from that witch as possible.

  Chapter 4. Lucky

  Corrine’s initial disappointment vanishes the second we open the front door, and she gives a delighted squeal. Me, I’m not one for fancy surroundings; as long as I have a roof over my head, I’m fine. And truthfully, even that isn’t necessarily a requirement. But I know it’s in Liora’s best interest to have certain comforts, and this place will provide her with more than she’s ever had before.

  “Wow, it’s amazing!” Corrine sighs dramatically. “How is this a guest house? Like, someone has so much, they just have this extra house just sitting around that’s bigger and more beautiful than most peoples’ first houses!”

  Kieron looks around quietly. He seems pretty subdued… probably from the witch’s spell and the long drive. But there’s something else I can’t really put my finger on. And he doesn’t seem to want to look me in the eye.

  He wanders down the hallway on one side of the house, while I look around the family room area and Corrine investigates the kitchen. A moment later he reappears.

  “There are two bedrooms back there,” he announces. “One master and a smaller one next to it.” He crosses the house and disappears down another hallway, only to reappear again a moment later. “Yup, same over here. I think I’ll take one of the rooms on the south side of the house, and you girls can take the two on the north.”

  I stop and slowly turn to look at him. “You want your own room?” For some reason I’d just assumed he’d want to share with me. Not that we do a whole lot of sleeping, but sharing a bed would be a welcome change from the places we normally get cozy in. A girl can only put up with so many grass stains. Ya know?

  “Probably for the best,” he replies evenly. “Miss Havish is doing us a solid taking us in and offering us protection. Don’t want to offend any sensibilities she may have. After all, we’re all still technically in high school. Or we’re supposed to be.”

  Corrine chuckles as she examines the pantry. “Yeah, because that’s the biggest problem we have right now—worrying about some demons having premarital sex. Wouldn’t want any demon babies popping out, would we. Or maybe MTV could make up a new show: Teen Demon Mom. It’d be a hit.”

  Between Anastasia’s cruel welcome and Kieron’s sudden indifference, I finally reach the end of my patience. “Do you ever shut up?!” I snap at Corrine. “God, could Liora have picked a more ANNOYING sidekick?!”

  I grab my things and storm off. If Kieron wants to be by himself, fine. So be it. I pick the larger of the two rooms on the north side and slam the door shut, throwing my bags on the floor. I flop myself down on the bed and stare up at the ceiling, and try to regain some composure. But even the sound of the ocean crashing along the shore below does little to soothe my frayed nerves. Everyone has their breaking point, and I fear mine is getting dangerously close.

  I ponder my circumstances and realize I have absolutely no idea what to do next, or even where to go. Normally at this time I’d be discussing with Tatiana my plans for the evening, whether it be demon hunting, toll collecting, or finding humans that deserved my services as a Justice Demon. Then I’d dress accordingly, find Diablo, go to Dryndara where I’d see Bones, and more recently Kieron, and go about my night. That had been my life and my routine for years.

  But now I have no place to go to. Bones is dead. Dryndara and Demon Bar are off limits to me. I’ve been reduced to hiding out at the home of a witch who would probably rather kill me than help me, and my powers feel as reliable and strong as a dead battery. I have no friends or allies other than Kieron. And even he seems to be pulling away.

  How did I get here? What have I done to deserve this?

  Hours pass as I lie on the bed, just thinking about everything. Trying to make sense of it all. Finally, as I feel my time drawing to an end, I force myself up and make my way to the hallway, trying to be quiet as I open the door to the room next to mine.

  Corrine is snoring gently with her comforter wrapped around her like a cocoon. I gently shake her back and forth.

  “Hey… hey, Corrine. Wake up a minute. I need to talk to you.”

  “Liora?” she murmurs groggily.

  “It’s Lucky. I need to talk—”

  “Oh!” Her eyes fly open, and she immediately props herself up with her hands and scoots away. I let out a deep sigh and remind myself to stay cool.

  “I need to talk to you. I only have a minute.” I glance over to the window where the dark sky is beginning to turn a light grey.

  Corrine rubs her eyes. “What’s up?”

  “I need you to give Liora a message for me. I need you to talk to her the second she wakes up. You need to tell her something for me, okay? It’s very important.”

  “Sure… yeah. What is it?” She reaches for her glasses on the nightstand and puts them on. I’m not sure why she needs to see better in order to listen to what I have to say, but whatever.

  I sit down on the side of her bed, and she inches away some more. “I need you to tell her that Tatiana is okay. That she’s fine and well. It was all a trick.”

  She frowns. “What happened to Tatiana?”

  I roll my eyes. “Nothi
ng! Don’t you understand English? She’s fine! It’s important you tell Liora that the second she wakes up. Can you do that?”

  She nods. “Yeah… of course.”

  “And there’s another thing.” I stand up and make my way over to the window. Pulling back the curtains, I peek outside, where the lights of the mansion glow in the distance.

  “Tell her… tell her not to trust Anastasia. Even though she might want to, tell her to keep her guard up. I’m not sure she’s on our side.”

  Corrine’s eyes widen, and she pushes up her glasses. “What do you mean not on our side? Is she bad? Are we in danger?”

  I shake my head and walk over to the door. “No… you’re fine. Just tell Liora exactly what I told you. Nothing more, nothing less. Tell her the moment she awakens. Got it?”

  Corrine nods enthusiastically. “Tatiana is fine and dandy. Her twin sister, not so much. Got it.”

  My hand is turning the doorknob when she adds, “Wait, Lucky… Can I ask you something real quick?”

  I glance back to the brightening window. “Make it fast.”

  She squishes her mouth to the side and bites her lip. “Who is Bones?”

  My breath catches in my throat. I pause and turn back to her. “Why? Where did you hear that name?”

  She twists the edge of her comforter and avoids my stare. “Well, earlier today you, I mean Liora, she was sleeping and kept moaning his name. Like she was calling him. And it just sounded so… I dunno… sexy. And I could tell Kieron was irritated.”

  So that explains Kieron’s weird behavior. Liora went and had herself a naughty little sex dream about Bones. I’d laugh if it wasn’t so tragic.

  “Bones is someone we both knew and cared about very deeply,” I murmur. “He recently died, so I’m sure she was just acting out something.”

  “She kept saying, ‘baby, my baby, Bones, my baby…’”

  I hold up my hand. “Okay I get it. What can I tell you? He was a hottie. Now don’t forget to tell Liora what I said to you. That’s the only thing you need to worry about, okay?” I turn and hurry out the door and back to my room before she can see my trembling hands and the tears filling my eyes.

  Bones.

  My best friend, my lover, my partner in crime, my protector, my salvation, and my ultimate heartache. Not just in this lifetime, but in many others as well. Even after his death, Bones had saved my life. It was his ashes that allowed Kieron and me to defeat the Light-angels who were trying to kill us. Kieron told me later what the ‘dirt’ really was, and that Bones had left me that final present from beyond the grave.

  But that was only partly true. It wasn’t his final present. Bones left me another gift of life… an entirely new being growing inside of me. Still probably not much bigger than the eraser of a pencil, I can feel its spirit throughout my entire body. There is a life growing inside me… and Liora.

  And I have absolutely no idea what to do about it.

  Chapter 5. Liora

  Early morning sunlight streams through the cracks of the curtains, and the oversized room shimmers under the soft golden rays. The opulent and unfamiliar décor throws me… where am I?

  I sit up and shake my head, confused by the luxurious surroundings. This is obviously no motel room. But…?

  I get off the massive bed, wander to the sliding glass door, and ease it open. The salty-sweet air of the Pacific Ocean greets me, as its waves gently welcome the new day. I take a few steps out onto the patio and see the enormous mansion off to one side.

  What? We’re still at Anastasia’s house?

  I hurry back inside and close the door. What’s going on here? And where are Corrine and Kieron?

  Suddenly I remember my last conscious thoughts from yesterday, and my stomach seizes up in a painful knot. I stagger back over to the bed and collapse on it as tears fill my eyes. Through my growing sobs, I almost don’t hear the light tapping on the bedroom door.

  “Liora? Liora, you up?” Corrine asks as she pokes her head in. She sees me, and her face crumples as she rushes to my side. “Oh no! No, it’s okay! Don’t be sad. Everything is okay! Lucky told me to tell you that Tatiana is fine… it was all just a trick or a test or something. Tatiana is fine.”

  I stare at her, my jaw hanging open. “Wh-what?” I hiccup.

  She pushes up her glasses. “Yup. I don’t know the whole story, though. I assume that’s what you’re upset about, right?”

  I nod, still unable to really process what she’s saying. Tatiana is alive and is okay? I almost can’t hope to believe her.

  “A trick? But why?”

  Corrine shakes her head. “I don’t know the details, sorry. Lucky just came and woke me a few minutes ago and told me to tell you. She was really insistent I tell you the second you woke up. Only I wasn’t really sure when that was. Sorry if I was late.” She bites her lip and looks at me apologetically.

  “I’ve only been awake a few minutes. I mean, you’re absolutely sure? She’s positive that Tat is alive?”

  “Yes.” Corrine nods, and relief floods through me. “And I’m also supposed to tell you that you’re not to trust Anastasia,” she adds in a conspiratorial whisper.

  I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean? Why not?”

  She shrugs and crosses her arms. “Dunno exactly. Lucky didn’t really elaborate. She’s not one for the details, I guess. She just said to keep your guard up and don’t trust her. She might not be ‘on our side’, whatever that means.” She uses her fingers to make air quotes. I can tell she’s getting a kick out of playing the role of messenger between Lucky and me.

  “Lucky doesn’t trust anyone, especially humans. She’s just being paranoid.” But the woman had apparently lied to me about Tatiana being dead… a callous and twisted way to greet someone, I must admit. Perhaps she does have something up her sleeve.

  I get back off the bed and start to look around. I check out the empty walk-in closet, and the massive bathroom. Nice. “So why are we still here?” I murmur, almost to myself. “And where’s Kieron?”

  “From what I could gather, which wasn’t much, apparently we’re safe here. Might need to talk to Anastasia and Kieron for more details. Lucky was in a bad mood last night so I didn’t really get much, other than the fact that we’re staying here for a while.”

  Hmph. When is Lucky not in a bad mood? “And Kieron?”

  Corrine shifts her gaze away. “He’s in another room on the other side of the house.” Suddenly she gives a big grin. “You should go see the rest of the place; it’s really something else. Even if that lady isn’t very friendly, at least we can’t say her accommodations are poor.”

  “I wouldn’t say anything about this whole place is poor,” I mutter, as I open up my bag to put on some fresh clothes. I’m a bit surprised to have woken up in the same thing I was wearing yesterday. Lucky hadn’t bothered to change or unpack or anything, and I wonder why not. She cares more about her wardrobe than I do and is usually out of mine and into hers within moments of taking over the body.

  “I know we just got here and you just woke up and all, but… ummm… I was wondering … I mean I hate to ask and all…” Corrine pauses and shifts her feet uncomfortably.

  I give her a questioning glance as I start hanging some things in the empty closet. I swear it’s almost as big as my old bedroom was.

  “What is it?” I ask, as I smooth out one of Lucky’s vintage gowns.

  “Well, I hate to ask… And I do have a few dollars. But even though this place is nice and all, there’s stuff I need… like soap and shampoo, and a razor… toothpaste… deodorant… some socks and pajamas… stuff like that. I only threw in a few changes of clothes when we left—”

  I hold up my hand. “Say no more. We’ll go shopping right after I get cleaned up and get organized. I need a ton of stuff too,” I note, rechecking the bathroom. Other than a few fluffy towels hanging on the racks, there’s nothing in it. Even cheap motels leave you with a travel-size bar of soap. Just another sign that our h
ostess is less than enthusiastic about our presence here.

  “Sounds like Kieron is up,” Corrine says, as we hear noises coming from the kitchen. “Are you two… are you and him okay?” she asks sheepishly.

  I shrug and refold a long sleeved t-shirt. “Fine, I guess. Why?”

  She heads to the door and pauses. “No reason, I was just wondering. I’m gonna check on the food situation and see what’s good for breakfast. You coming?”

  “Be there in a few,” I tell her and return to my unpacking. Why would Corrine ask about Kieron and me? Does she know something I don’t? Did Lucky say or do something?

  I shake my head and close the dresser drawer. Finally I decide to take a quick, soapless shower and let the hot water do most of the work.

  I’d learned long ago not to let my brain get too twisted wondering about Lucky and her shenanigans. If I let her, my demon half would quite literally drive me insane. As in legit, mental-institution -whackjob- straightjacket-with-the-padded-walls nutso. I can’t allow myself to feel blame or responsibility for her words or actions. She is herself, and I am myself.

  One body—separate identities.

  But as I suddenly leap from the shower and race naked and dripping wet across the bathroom floor to vomit mercilessly into the toilet, I’m sadly reminded that she and I are not as distinct as I would like us to be. I may try to fool myself into thinking that what she says and does doesn’t affect me, but obviously that isn’t the case. It was during her time that she put us in this position. Because of her, I have a life growing inside me that I had no part in creating. I have no memory of the conception, just the sudden knowingness of it.

  I feel the certainty of the new life, just as I am certain Bones is the father. I can still smell him, taste him, hear him. He is inside me in a way I never knew was possible, and for the first time since our split there is a certain sense of peace in my soul. A calmness. Feeling his energy mixing with mine makes me more whole than I’d ever been in my life. Even now, an outcast on the run, in a place where I’m not wanted and trying to find my purpose in a cruel and unforgiving world… somehow I feel like everything will be okay.