Avenger

by Su Halfwerk

  “I can understand your anger,” Jason said. “I would be if I were in your shoes. But I’m not.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets, each had a wad of tissue balled in it.

  Why does he need two tissues at the same time?

  Jason lunged onto the bodyguards, the tissues on Uncle Emanuel and Steve’s faces. They slammed against her again, trapping her. Uncle Emanuel punched Jason, she thought Steve kicked him in the leg, but Jason didn’t budge. Two experienced, muscular, and big bodyguards weren’t a match for Jason’s strength. Even his eyes, usually filled with care and affection, were barren, lifeless.

  Jason’s surprise move had made both guards inhale deeply in preparation for a fight, breathing in whatever those tissues were doused with.

  Uncle Emanuel’s weight on her became lighter, his knees buckled.

  “Uncle Emanuel!” She cried.

  He tumbled to the ground, unconscious.

  Steve withdrew his cell phone, but instead of dialing a number, he followed Uncle Emanuel and dropped to the ground, his head bouncing off the pavement. The cell phone slipped from his hand.

  Stunned out of speech and thought, Pru stared in confusion. They were both out cold.

  A black van screeched to a stop right before her, she tried to back out but the SUV blocked her way. Jason shoved her in the van and closed the door, but not before she glimpsed his thin lips stretch in an unfamiliar sneer.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Like every time, the offensive animal waste stink dragged Luke out of a dark tunnel and into wakefulness. Opening his swollen eyes gradually didn’t reduce the pain and swelling in them. How long had it been now? Days and nights merged in one endless parody of pains, hurts, and shrieks of his and some other playmate of Barney’s in another room.

  Luke had tried to break free of the chains when they first brought him, except it turned out breaking free of shackles was beyond the Spirit Within’s powers. Strapped on a wooden chair in the middle of a windowless and gray-walled room—its only source of light a perpetually switched-on strong light bulb positioned above his head—his future appeared nonexistent. If Barney didn’t awaken him, then hunger and thirst did. The chair was a sturdy one, Luke had tried to break it by knocking it to the side but all he got for his efforts was a bruised and banged up wrist. The chain wrapped around him remained secure.

  How are you doing? Celestine asked.

  Great. Can’t you tell? Luke thought back. Talking hurt his tongue and lips, the pain would shoot into his head and explode into jagged pieces of glass lodged in his brain. Barney had become his personal dentist during his last visit and pulled out a wisdom tooth. In addition, Barney was his acupuncturist, boxing partner, and mad scientist, all rolled in one big sick parcel. And of course, Luke’s healing powers impressed Barney, he’d tested how long it took Luke to heal totally. Giddy with discovery Barney had announced the recovery process was slowing down lately.

  Why am I hurting so much? I’m supposed to heal, Luke asked.

  Lidwien needs to replenish his powers, Celestine said. He has not had enough time to restore his energy to augment yours.

  I guess I should thank Barney for feeding me grub and drenching me in foul water. He’d said he won’t allow anyone or anything else to end my misery. It should be him.

  Celestine sighed without commenting.

  Luke tried to pull on the sturdy industrial chains anchoring him to the chair and failed, his only reward a symphony of agonies from his dislocated shoulder. Since Lidwien had been leaving noncrucial parts unhealed, Luke wondered how long before he left him alone. He sniggered then winced from the action. Barney, the idiot, didn’t know he would lose him the moment Lidwien took off.

  The only regret eating at Luke was Pru. He had dared dream of a life and a future to share with her, even if they couldn’t be intimate. They could become good friends, right? Perhaps this was for the best. When she woke up, he hoped she wouldn’t remember him. It would be easy to doubt he ever existed. He closed his eyes, hating self-pity, yet wallowing in it nonetheless. There was no one in the world for him. He never knew his father and his mother died after Luke’s death. He’d attended her burial by standing far away at the edge of the cemetery.

  The door opened and Barney clumped in accompanied by someone who remained in the shadows. “Your precious Pru has the luck of the devil. We were forced to change our plans for her several times.”

  A loud smack echoed in the barren room. “Shut up! You’ve said too much,” a woman said.

  Barney rubbed his face. “Sorry, Ma.”

  So Barney wasn’t raised by bears? Luke cracked up aloud, ignoring the screaming bruises and bleeding cuts all over his body and face. “I wish I can see the woman who’d produced a master piece like you.”

  The woman drew close and peered down at him, a sneer spreading her perfectly made-up lips. “Do you remember me?”

  Eloise’s sneer spread further as Luke gaped at her. “I see you’ve done the math. Yes, Mack is Barney’s brother, which means you’re in for a hell load of paining.”

  Who is Mack? Celestine asked.

  His guide had never left. Luke had a feeling Celestine remained by his side the whole time, even during the torture and his unconscious hours. I was shot on the night you recruited me because I didn’t testify in Mack’s defense and he was consequently convicted and executed.

  Was he innocent? Celestine asked.

  Look at these two and you’ll have the answer, Luke said. Women found Mack very attractive and fell for him all the time. Except, sick-Mack went overboard, he killed each woman after torturing and raping her. The possibility of capturing him was weak because though he was wacko, he was very careful and left no evidence. That was until a witness described him.

  “Cat got your tongue, huh!” Eloise said. Barney wasn’t to be seen but he must be the one fiddling around with something metallic in the room.

  He claimed he was with you when that crime happened? Celestine asked.

  Yes, but I didn’t know I was his alibi. When the police picked me up, I told them where I was that night, which was not with Mack. You can see why his mother and brother would hate me a little.

  Ignoring the cuts on his lips, Luke smiled at Eloise. “You must be proud of your offspring.”

  “Say what you wish, Luke. Or shall I call you the mighty Spirit Hunter? My offspring will avenge me and put out the fire that has been ablaze in my chest since you sold out my son.”

  “How was I supposed to know I was his alibi?”

  Eloise grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled, lifting his head, and shooting spears of pain from each hair root into his brain. “We were all one big happy family with a code of honor to support each other.” Her breath smelled to whisky. “By the way, the offspring you’re making fun of are in control here. Look for yourself.”

  She stepped away at the sound of confident steps entering the room. Only the newcomer’s silhouette was visible, along with a grayish aura.

  Shit! Do you see that, Celestine?

  Yes. Having a bonded person in charge changes the rules. I should update the Pit Keeper and return with aid.

  Luke almost shook his head and thought better of it. That’ll take time. Can’t you take over Barney? He’s the biggest and meanest and frankly, I would like a break from playing with him.

  Only the High Domines can guide good people. I have not ascended yet to their level and accordingly I am not allowed to borrow anybody. I can enter a person to stop a possession from taking place, but I cannot dictate his or her actions.

  “Hello, Luke,” The newcomer said.

  That voice. “Sully!”

  “Yes and no.” This time it sounded like…

  “Mack?”

  Mack—now possessing Sully—chuckled. “I must thank you for the talented girlfriend you have.”

  Experiencing a momentary burst of panic, Luke held his breath. No woman was safe around Mack. “What are you talking about?”

  “I tri
ed to recruit her but it was impossible, what’s with her being such a goody-goody and all that. Now, all I have to do is work you up a little and she’ll do anything I ask.”

  Luke grunted and twisted from side to side. “Pru won’t fall for it. She’ll know you’ll eventually kill me.”

  “Why are you telling him so much?” Eloise asked.

  “Let Mack talk, Ma. All this information won’t do Luke any good.” Remarkably, this was said in Sully’s voice.

  Luke forced himself to focus, he took a deep breath that burned his lungs. “Sully, now you’re letting a sleazebag rapist like Mack take over you? He jeopardized your business and exposed you. You know how he loses control the moment he sees a female of any kind. He’s pathetic.”

  Narrowing his eyes, Sully said, “When a family member needs a place to stay, you give it. I did, and in return I have more power.”

  “Spirits lie. You can’t be that naïve to believe he can make you powerful.”

  “Mack’s kinds are in high and commanding places. Being one with him makes his friends mine.”

  Take note, Luke said telepathically.

  I am.

  “Like Mrs. Lancaster,” Luke said.

  Sully’s expression relaxed and he grinned. The look was alien on him since Sully wasn’t into smiling, which meant Mack was in control now. “She isn’t possessed. I had a friend in me while on death row, so when Ma came visiting, I told her about Mrs. Lancaster’s drive to aid oppressed women. Mrs. Lancaster had an assistant who’d met with an unfortunate accident and Ma applied for the job and got it.”

  Luke studied him. “It doesn’t make sense.”

  Mack struck him across the face. “Ma is sharp, she’d finished a secretarial course in one month, applied for that job, and got it. Of course, anyone silly enough to apply for the position was hit by a bus, or is asleep at the bottom of the river, or was used for target practice.”

  “No, I meant why Mrs. Lancaster is not possessed?”

  “I think you’re blabbing too much, Mack,” Barney said in his insensate voice.

  Mack rounded on Barney. “Don’t lie, you can’t think. Besides, Sully agrees with me.”

  Barney’s eyes gleamed with distaste but he said nothing.

  Mack turned to Luke. “To answer your question, we didn’t give Mrs. Lancaster a friend in her because we want to increase our numbers. When we possess a body, we invest in it. It takes a while to know that person’s habits and contacts to avoid raising suspicion. If we possess her and she’s exposed to your likes, we risk losing one of our ranks and we risk losing a valuable resource like her. Ma controls what information she gets and she follows Ma’s suggestions.”

  “Then why isn’t the rest of your family possessed?”

  “Ma chose not to and Barney was difficult to match. He has a unique brain and personality that no friend could adjust to.”

  Or none wanted to stay in that dead zone, Luke thought. Mack was beautifying the process. Rogue spirits were no friends and they didn’t adjust, they assimilate. If Sully were in his right state of mind, Luke would have been offed without all the yapping and bragging.

  “But back to you,” Mack said and drew close. “I must admit it was a nice twist of events that you’re our hold on Pru and at the same time we get to get even. I’ll keep her alive longer than the others. There’s nothing better than debasing your woman over and over and—”

  Luke spat on Mack and called on the Spirit Within at the same time. He jerked about until his hand was close to Mack’s tie. He snagged the material and pulled Mack toward him, then bit on whatever flesh was exposed to him. He tasted blood as Mack pulled away, screaming and yelling, but not as loud as expected. Mack was blocking the pain from reaching Sully’s awareness. He growled at Luke, blood seeping through the hand plastered to his cheek. Barney appeared out of nowhere and smacked Luke with something metallic across the face.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Celestine gazed in mounting horror as Barney struck Luke with a hammer. For some time now, Lidwien hadn’t been healing Luke fully,therefore the new wound on his cheek didn’t heal and blood oozed out. Luke was unconscious, so Eloise and her sons left him alone.

  His charge was a constant annoyance during the time they were together, yet Celestine couldn’t help feeling for him. Luke had a difficult life. His father had deserted the family while Luke was an infant and his mother ruined her hands working in houses until she died of a broken heart over her son’s assumed death. It was not clear why Luke hid himself from the whole world after his accident, but he was always alone.

  Celestine was torn between reporting to the Laymour and staying with Luke.

  “I will be traveling to the Laymour.” Luke’s lips moved, yet his eyes remained closed.

  “Lidwien! I was about to depart to ask for help,” Celestine said.

  “My powers have been drained, I cannot support the Spirit Hunter much longer. If Luke were to receive another hit, I will not be able to absorb the pain and heal the wound. He will die.”

  Celestine was taken aback. The Spirit Within was leaving his ward.

  “If I am to continue helping him, I will need to fortify my force with my brethren the Domines. It is logical for me to travel to the Laymour and explain the situation.”

  “I agree, however, what will stop—”

  At that point, the door was opened and someone was shoved in the room.

  Let us turn to telepathy to avoid drawing attention, Celestine said. I fear someone will take over his body while you are gone.

  I share the same concern and this is why I would like you to step in.

  Celestine nodded.

  As Lidwien rose out of Luke, there was a gasp in the room. Celestine turned and found Pru staring at Luke in horror. He considered her and said, Poor child. I had hoped she would be the one to straighten him.

  Celestine turned to Lidwien who was standing before him in vapor form. Most Domines preferred that form to a solid one, they usually adopted a semblance of solidity when Celestine visited them.

  I believe she is looking at me, Lidwien said.

  Celestine studied Pru’s line of vision and said, indeed.

  Lidwien said, She is his Destined One, I have breathed into her the ability to see and hear spirits, I will leave you to handle this one.

  Pru approached on shaky legs, tears leaving wet tracks on her cheeks. “Please don’t go. Luke!”

  ****

  After speaking to the transparent cloud by his side, Luke’s soul had left his body. Pru didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye. She threw herself at him, weeping. He winced but didn’t open his eyes.

  “Luke!” She ran her hands over his chest. There were heartbeats.

  “He is unconscious,” the cloud said.

  Pru gasped and turned around, positioning herself in front of Luke.

  “Do not fear me. I am his counselor, Celestine.”

  Should she believe him?

  The cloud solidified and took a general appearance of a tall man. “You can see and hear me now because the spirit within Luke has recognized in you a true partner for our hunter, that you will be willing to save him no matter the cost. You will now be able to witness spirits in their true forms. It is a protection for you as Luke’s true Destined One.”

  Wow! Pru thought. “That was too much information.” She paused. “So we can be together? Your people will not have a problem?”

  “You can be together in all senses of the word only after he weds you. This way he remains pure which will allow the spirit within to remain with him. Impurity will drive him out of Luke and he will no longer be a spirit hunter.”

  When Luke moaned, Celestine said, “I must slip inside him before any wayward spirit attempts to take over him in this weakened state. I think he is coming to.”

  His form lost density, hovered in the air, and then shot through Luke’s nostrils. Just then, he opened his eyes and croaked, “Pru!”

  Gently, she cradled his ba
shed face and gazed in his eyes. “How do you feel?”

  “Like a whole soccer team just trampled me.” His eyes gained focus and he looked around. “Dammit! They got you.”

  “They grabbed me from the hospital, thanks to Jason the bastard. I don’t know what they want from me.”

  Luke closed his eyes and swore. “Can you look around for something to break this chain with?”

  The room was bare except for the chair he was strapped on, still she searched the dark corners. Maybe someone threw something somewhere sometime ago. When her search turned up nothing she inspected the chains for a weak link. Instead, she encountered a huge padlock secured close to the chair’s right leg.

  “Have I told you how gorgeous you are, you even feel—” Luke opened his eyes wide and ran his gaze all over her face.” You’re awake!”

  “Took you long enough to figure this out.” She grinned. “And I still remember every moment I spent with you.”

  He continued staring at her, all of her. Her green t-shirt and khakis a welcome change from her spirit’s black and violet outfit.

  The way he looked at her changed, worry slipped in his swollen eyes. “Did they hurt you?”

  She shook her head while her hands still sought any weak links in the chain. “They hardly spoke to me.”

  Right then, the door opened. A big, bald, and oddly impassive man filled the frame.

  ****

  As soon as Barney entered the room, Celestine sensed the increased rate of Luke’s heart beats. The hunter called on Lidwien and when he got no reply he stressed his battered body further by bunching his muscles to break the shackles.

  Lidwien has traveled to the Laymour for help.

  Celestine? Luke asked in bewilderment.

  I am in you to prevent attempts of possession.

  As Barney advanced into the room, Pru moved protectively closer to Luke. She planned to defend Luke against that huge man. The thought amused and pleased Celestine simultaneously.

  Barney stopped before her and watched Luke’s attempts at freeing himself. He pulled a key from his pocket and dangled it before him. “This is the only thing that can free you, so you better keep what’s left of your energy since no one is helping from inside. Don’t look surprised, your cheek is still bleeding and it looks wonky.”