by Claire Marta
Kneeling down, he scooped up the prone form. The child lay like a broken doll in his arms. Vulnerable. Exposed. Tenderly, the man wrapped her tightly in his arms. He had no intention of hurting her. That was clear.
“Thanks for helping us out.”
“I suggest you hurry. Zook and Nellianthia will be waiting for you.” Barely sparing them a glance, the male strode off towards the mouth of the alley.
“Twitch, who was that guy? What is going on?” Lexi sucked her bottom lip into her mouth in nervousness.
“A friend of a friend. I’ll explain later. Come on.” Entwining his hand with hers, Twitch hurried her along. They needed to get to the pier. With his magic down they were sitting ducks. Hopefully Zook was on his way there. If the kid they had seen was what they had to go by, they did not have long to act as bait.
Scanning the street as they existed the alley he noted the sign pointing in the direction of the pier. Music was playing loudly from one of the local pubs they passed. With the football match over the crowd had ebbed.
“We like this game of hide and seek.” A voice called from behind them. “But now it’s time for the real fun.”
Quickening his pace, Twitch shot a look back. Stella, the psycho cheerleader, stood illuminated beneath a lamp post. She was tugging on one of her blonde pigtails with enough force to wrench chunks out. The smile that graced her face was manic. Around her, the other children were crouched. Their heads swivelled in unison. Lips peeling back over their teeth, they snarled. They bounded along the path. As they reach parked cars they scurried over them like a pack of famished rats.
“Cockwaffles.” Twitch broke into a run. “Run Lexi! Don’t look back. Trust me you don’t want to see what’s coming.” He warned as blood chilling inhuman shrieks grew nearer.
Dashing onwards, their clattering footsteps were pursed by smaller ones. As they hit the sea front they could make out the darkened shape of the pier to their left.
“Twitch, if we go up there we’ll be trapped.” Lexi panted.
When she tried to slow down he continued to drag her along. “Trust me, our ticket back to London is waiting for us,” he assured her. If they stopped now they would be overwhelmed.
The portal lay open. A grey mystical door hovering in the air. Zook and Nelly stood waiting just inside its boundaries. He could see their silhouetted forms against the brightness; one hunched with age, the other standing tall.
“Hurry up!” Zook shouted as their feet beat a rhythm across the wooden planks. The Pomeranian in his arms began to bark excitedly.
“We’ve got company!” Twitch yelled back. “And I really don’t think playtime is an option.”
“Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And down will come baby, cradle and all.” As the children sang the planks beneath them shook.
With an adrenaline infused burst of speed, Twitch threw himself forwards, towing Lexi with him. Plunging through the entrance, they both landed with an oomph on the white gravelled path.
Pink hair was tickling his nose. Cushioning her fall, Lexi’s weight lay heavily on top of him. Her magnificent breasts were squished against his chest as she heaved tired breaths from their manic run.
“You ok, Lexi?” Twitch asked as she raised her head. Grey eyes wide, she stared into his own.
“Thank you,” she whispered. A grateful smile lifted the corner of her tempting mouth. “For coming to save me.” Squeezing him tight, she embraced him in a hug.
Warmth spread to his heart. “Hey, you know I had to make this date memorable, right? I don’t think you’re going to forget tonight anytime soon!”
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Nelly said from above. “The door won’t close for another five minutes and they can follow us in.”
Beside her, Zook crouched down to set the dog free. Shaking its fur, it sniffed the ground below them with interest. It looked completely unfazed.
“What do you mean it’s not closing yet?” Helping Lexi roll off him, Twitch got to his feet.
“We did not know how long you were going to be and I had to factor time into the equation.” The old woman huffed as she hobbled away down the path. With a yap, the mutt trailed after her. It’s stubby tail wagging as it went.
“Twitch?” Lexi’s hand tightened around his. Now standing, she studied their surroundings. The Nether.
He knew she was probably having a hard time grasping what she was seeing. Fuck, so had he at first. For someone who was used to inter dimensional portals this should have been a walk in a park. But yet again he stared at the undulating landscapes, mouth hanging open in awe. It was still ripping itself apart in numerous colourful ways before meshing back together in a continuous circle of beauty and chaos.
“We don’t have time to stand around gawking. He can explain later,” Zook placed his palms on the small of their backs, urging them forwards. Twitch could feel the hard press of his rings. “Come on, move.”
Footsteps heavy on the gravel, they hurried after Nelly and the dog. Twitch could see the corresponding doorway in the distance. Flapping on the horizon, it looked like a large, grey moth beating its wings in place.
Behind them, the voices of the children continued in an unintelligible garble. Their shrieks and screams of insanity chilled him to the bone.
Keeping Lexi in front of him, Twitch stole a glance back. They were crawling through the portal still fluttering in the breeze. Limbs bent at strange angles, they scuttled on all fours.
“I hate to point this out, but they’re catching up.” He informed the others, unable to keep the thread of panic from his voice.
With a deep sigh, Nelly halted. “These younglings are twisted beyond repair. There is no hope for them now. I will deal with them.” Expression stern, she circled around.
“What are you going to do?” As the Pomeranian whimpered, Twitch scooped it up under the crook of his arm. “Screaming; you shall not pass and hope they listen? Because right now, this is more like a scene from the fucking exorcist!”
“Nell...” Zook’s tone warned. Muscles tense, he watched her with a vigilant stare.
Scowling at him, she waved his concern away. “No arguments, Zook.”
“You know I won’t leave you.”
“You have no choice.” She pointed out as she eyed the bloodied makeshift bandage on his thigh knowing she was right. “Now get moving.”
The air around them changed. Bowing her head, a white glimmer emanated from Nelly. As it became an incandescent, ethereal glow a harrowing chill sent the hairs on the back of Twitch’s neck rising.
The ravages of age dropped away from the old woman’s face. Cheeks plumping, the gauntness vanished. Her thin lips filled out. As they watched in astonishment, her youthfulness returned with all its haunting beauty.
A ghostly spectre now hovered before them. Her gauzy, gossamer dress swirled below her long, lustrous, white hair in a phantom breeze. Unearthly eyes regarded them before she gracefully glided away.
“O-kay...” Twitch’s attention slid sideways to the cursed God’s. “What the fuck did I just see?”
“Nelly is a banshee.”
“I thought they were just a fairy-tale.” Lexi peered around Twitch, who had positioned himself in front of her.
“No, just not many left around.” Zook explained, shooing them towards the exit awaiting them in the distance. “Come on. Let’s not waste this change she is giving us.”
Lifting a hand, Nelly beckoned to the children. They raced towards her. They’re bodies now twisted with the demonic genes Celion had forced to the surface.
Around them, the bleeding colour of the landscapes swelled. Forms they has only glimpsed at before shifted still unstable; dark shadows moving closer.
Like sprouting plants, tips of blue fingers rose on both sides of the path. Squirming, they lengthened into long-limbed arms. Connected to these were shoulders. Next came hairless heads. They had no eyes. N
o noses or ears. Just mouths that opened and closed, greedily. Jagged teeth gnashed together within the orifices of their volatile forms.
“Fuck.” Zook stamped on a hand groping too close to his boot. “We’ve drawn too much attention.”
As bony finger closed around Lexi’s ankle, making her squeal. Shaking her leg, she tried to dislodge the creature. “It won’t let go.” She panicked.
Clinging to her waist, Twitch smashed his boot into its elbow. The creature appeared delicate, but the blow revealed its steel like grip. Slamming into it repeatedly, it took six strikes for it to release her. Wiggling frantically, it withdrew back into the chaos beyond the path.
“Run!” Zook shouted, herding them on.
Footfalls crunching on the gravel, the three of them broke into a wild run.
Throwing a look behind them, Twitch saw some of the children tumble over the edge into the Nether. Blue hands were anchored to their legs. As they vanished, screams of agony echoed as blood splattered across the path. The pristine white quickly became tainted with red.
Nelly hovered like an avenging angel. Gown still dancing in an ethereal wind, she barred the way to any who made it past the hungry snatching hands.
As they reached the door, its corners wavered like kite tails in the breeze. Raising the knuckles of one hand, Zook knocked on the surface with his strange silver rings. Immediately, it solidified. Spreading outwards, the magic imbued in his jewellery forged its way through the untarnished metal. The moment it hardened it swung open with a clunk. Beyond, lay a quiet square. Puddles of orange light from the street lamps gave a soft welcoming glow.
“Go,” Zook ordered them before swinging back.
“Twitch, is this safe?” Lexi asked, hesitating as he tried to push her through.
“It’s safe, Lexi. I promise. Safer than right here,” Twitch reassured her as he urged her through. “Trust me.”
The moment she was safely out, he turned back to his friends. “Zook, what the bloody hell is Nelly doing?”
Sending the howling wind blasting, Nelly toppled more of the demonic brood to their doom. Lips twisted in pure malice, she continued her rampage. The ghostly white that emanated from her being slowly drained away to black. Darkness pulsed around her. Terrifyingly wild and free. It was if she had lost control. So consumed with defending them she had forgotten to hold onto her inner light. Cackling, she sent another raging lash of air current taking more children off their feet into the waiting clutches of the monstrous groping hands.
“Nellianthia!” Zook’s voice was loud and commanding. “Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare let yourself go to the dark.”
His words made her freeze. Their gazes locked. A silent message passed between them before her ghostly figure soared towards the path. As Nelly made it to the gravel the light around her faded. Dropping with a thud, her youthful vigour and appearance peeled away, restoring her back to an elderly woman.
Blue hands of the creatures from the Nether tried to grab a hold of her. Zook kneeled to pick her up. Carefully, he held Nelly protectively in his arms. Her fragile, gaunt figure looked as if it barely weighed a thing.
“That was completely idiotic, but epically brave,” he told her as he pressed a light kiss to her forehead before limping towards the door.
“You know I like to scare you at least once a day,” she slurred tiredly, eyes closing. Her stained wedding dress fell bedraggled around her frame. Zook had most of it hitched up, so he was in no danger of tripping over its long, white train.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again. You hear me? “Zook responded, giving her a shake.
Flinging her arms around Twitch’s neck, Lexi hugged him close. She had a hard time believing a man she barley knew had come to rescue her or what they had witnessed through the creepy door that had sealed the moment he and his friends had stepped back through.
“Hey.” Gently rubbing her back, Twitch searched her face. “You ok?” With delicate fingertips, he brushed her left cheek.
“Yes, thanks to you and your friends.” Lexi looked towards the handsome guy and the old woman he held in his arms. Both of them appeared exhausted.
“Don’t go getting yourself kidnapped again anytime soon.” Zook told her with a half grin. “I am not sure we can cope if you make this a regular habit.”
“I should walk you back home.” Twitch told her.
“I don’t want to go home.”
Lexi was confused. Asier was not her real father. No wonder there was no resemblance between them. All these years and he had never told her. Why hadn’t he said anything? Why did he have her bound to him? If what Celion had said was true, why would he want the child of his most hated enemy under his roof? It made no sense. Unless he didn’t know.
“Do you want to come to my house? I have plenty of room if you want to stay over.” Twitch’s words drew her from her frightened feelings.
“If that’s ok,” she murmured with a grateful smile. “Maybe you could explain what we saw through that weird door.” It would give her time to think. Plus, Twitch had risked his life to save her tonight and she wanted to repay him in some small way.
“Can we crash at your place too?” Zook asked with a hopeful look.
Waggling its tail, the small dog whined as it ran around their feet in canine excitement.
Nelly could barely lift her head. Slumped against the cursed God, her eyes remained closed in exhaustion.
Twitch nodded. “You know you’re always welcome, but we are grabbing food on the way before I start explaining.” As his stomach gurgled, he patted the area. “Near death experiences always leave me feeling hungry.”
One by one, they bundled out of the Taxi. The driver who held the crumpled notes Twitch had given him, watching them with an odd look in the rear-view mirror.
Ignoring him, Twitch made his way up the two worn steps to his house. Stowed under his arms, were fast food bags. They stopped at a place that was open all night. The smell of French fries and burgers wafted to his nostrils, making his hunger twist in the pit of his stomach.
The Victorian building he lived in had once been a jewel among its peers. Now faded with time, only an echo of its once glorious appearance remained. Narrow and long, it stretched back to a garden that was lovingly tended.
“Do you need so many enchantments? This place is like fort Knox.” Zook moaned irritably. His limping was more pronounced. Shoulders sagging, it did not look like he could go much further.
“I had issues with an arms dealer a while back and it left me paranoid.” Dumping a bag on the doorstep, Twitch fished out his keys. Sliding it into the scratched keyhole, he turned it until he heard a familiar click.
Bending, Lexi retrieved the bag he had left on the mat as he stuffed the keys back into his trouser pocket. Turning the handle, he pushed open the door. The dog trotted in first. Nose in the air, it seemed to be comfortable with it’s new surroundings.
Trooping in, they passed the shabby sitting room with its lumpy and well used sofa. Piles of precariously stacked DVD’s were lined up against the faded walls. A supersized, plasma TV sat on a stand dominating the space. Thick, burgundy, velvety curtains were drawn across the windows.
Two closed doors greeted them on both sides of the hallway. One lead to the downstairs bathroom. The other was a double bedroom Twitch had converted for Nelly and Zook. It was practical for whenever they stayed over. With the old woman’s arthritis, he did not want her to face his steep stairs up to the next floor. This way, they had access to a bathroom and the kitchen. He had done it to encourage them to stay over whenever they pleased. Zook had a bedsit somewhere, but Nelly tended to sleep on the streets. Twitch hated the thought of her out in the cold alone. Giving them keys to his place was something he had done within weeks of meeting them. Instinctively, he had somehow known he could trust them.
Dumping the food bag on the kitchen table, Twitch reached in to snatch up a chip.
“My cousin, Jazzy, is probably asleep,” he told th
em, as he wiggled the chip in the air. “The bedrooms are sound proof, so she won’t hear us.”
“Why are your rooms sound proof?” Lexi asked, placing the other bag on the table before capturing his chip and taking a bite.
Shrugging, he collected another. “I was bored and it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“I’ll take Nelly and our food to the usual room,” Zook interrupted them. “She’ll need to eat and sleep to get her strength back.”
Lifting the bags, Twitch nodded. “Sure, we can bring the food and get you both settled.”
With a snuffle, the dog shadowed their every step.
Once his friends were comfortable Twitch lead Lexi up the stairs to his room. This was his space. His inner sanctum. A place no one was allowed, not even Jasmine. Yet, having Lexi see it seemed natural. He could not stand the thought of her sleeping in one of his spare rooms. She would be in his bed, even if that meant he had to sleep on the floor.
“Don’t mind the mess.” Using the tip of his boot, he shoved the box that was poking out from under the wrought iron frame back beneath. She did not need to see his porn collection or the kinky stuff he had acquired online. Things he had bought in case he ever had sex.
Silently, Lexi followed him in. As the small furry beast tried to enter, Twitch closed the door. A muffled growl sounded in reply. Swivelling around, embarrassment engulfed him at how untidy he had left the place. On his work table, a pile of coloured wires and circuit boards had been left abandoned. Beside that were his magical tomes.
On another bench, his laptop sat perched, running a location spell for his cousin’s birth parents. Screen still red, he could see so far it had been unsuccessful. Huffing at the failure, he trudged across the room. Avoiding the pile of clothes he had left forgotten on the floor, he popped the food bag on top of a chest of drawers.
