by Matthew Fish
“I’m still making signs,” Emily muttered as she slid against the couch and placed her feet upon the floor.
“Any of the rooms to the right of the spiral staircase are open,” Mark said as he gestured to the hallway. “You can take your pick out of the six there…they’re all pretty different—so whatever suits you best. The kitchen is stocked, there’s a pool and a hot tub. Just really help yourself. The third floor is off limits.”
“What’s up there?” Christopher asked as his imagination flared with thoughts of unusual creatures or hidden dangers.
“The man who left me this place…that’s where he died,” Mark replied with a sad look. “So…out of respect—do not enter the third floor.”
“Sorry,” Christopher said as he picked up his suitcase and followed William and Jenna down the hallway that led to the spiral staircase. “I meant no disrespect…my curiosity often gets the better of me.”
“It was a fair question.” Mark spoke as he followed behind the others. They climbed up the spiral staircase and entered the long hallway. Mark remembered back to his first time here. How apprehensive he felt about being boarded in the strange crimson house and how Caesar would often send them to bed early. He found it rather odd that Caesar had not contacted him through dreams—he hadn’t spoken to Caesar in that form since the night that Lily arrived. He was beginning to worry that he might never get to talk to Caesar again; perhaps the time for those kinds of conversations had sadly passed. Mark lingered in the hallway for a few more moments as he watched the three get settled into rooms. In a way, he felt strangely happy to be amongst so much company. It was almost like the house felt warmer and more inviting when it was housing more souls within it. It could have been all in his mind—but still, it left him with a warm and content feeling.
“There’s no television?” Christopher asked as he peeked from the first door to the left. “Is that the same in every room?”
“There’s no television in the entire house,” Mark said as he nodded. “The man, Caesar, who left me this place, did not believe in it.”
“Well…hail Caesar, I suppose,” Christopher said dejectedly as he ran a hand through his rough beard. “I just like watching the weather channel. It calms me down…I’ll live.”
“You’re welcome to pick one up,” Mark said as he watched Christopher thump his fingers upon the doorway as though he was not sure what he should do next.
“Yeah…? Cool,” Christopher said as he nodded.
“I like the room,” Jenna said as she emerged in a tight fitting pair of red silky shorts and a small t-shirt that displayed her flat stomach.
“I like your lack of clothing,” Christopher said as he kept his eyes upon the woman. “Sorry, that’s just rude…isn’t it?”
“I’m comfortable with my skin,” Jenna said as she shrugged. “Look all you like.”
“There you are, Mark,” Maddie said as she crested to the top of the black iron spiral staircase. She was wearing a large smile and had a very content look upon her face. Her tone was almost songlike. “We have guests?”
Christopher rushed over rather spastically and placed both of his hands upon Maddie’s. “Ms. Willbell—Grand Conductor Willbell, it is an absolute pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s…just Maddie,” Maddie whispered as she pulled her hands away and let out a short nervous laugh.
“Christopher Littcott,” the man said as he bowed.
“Littcott…?” Maddie asked as she remembered back to the old man that she had gunned down. That memory made her feel slightly awkward. “Any…relation…?”
“My father,” Christopher said as he let out another sigh and nodded.
“They didn’t get along,” Mark added, knowing that a long winded and rather rushed explanation was moments away from taking place. “He’s on our side.”
“Yes,” Christopher said shortly as his eyes darted back and forth as though he was ensuring that there was nothing else that needed to be said. “That about covers it.”
“Maddie,” Jenna said as she reached a hand out and softly gripped it. “Jenna Walker, I’m an earth Elemental…and yes, I know there’s no such thing.”
“You missed the demonstration,” Mark said as he nodded.
“Well, interesting,” Maddie said as she nodded to the scantily clad woman in the tight red shorts. “Glad to have you both with us. I’ll let you get back to whatever it was you were doing.”
Maddie walked over to Mark as Emily ran up the stairs and placed an arm around Maddie.
“So…let us know the details,” Emily said coyly as she squeezed Maddie close to her. “How was it?”
“It was wonderful,” Maddie said as the wide smile returned to her face as she brushed away some stray curly locks from her right eye. “We rode on for quite a time—then we found this most beautiful place, a lake with a large cascading waterfall into a canyon. We sat and we talked for hours.”
“So, was it like, normal sized when he was in human form?”
“We didn’t do anything like that…” Maddie said as she shook her head and shot Emily an annoyed look. “We just talked.”
“Boring,” Emily said as she released her hold from Maddie and let out a disappointed sigh. Mark sat down upon his bed as Emily sat beside him. Emily patted against an empty spot as Maddie shrugged and sat down beside the others. Emily reached over with her foot and kicked the door shut.
“So, what do we all think of our new companions?” Emily said as she placed one arm over Mark and the other over Maddie.
“Interesting,” Mark said as he shrugged. “I mean, it’s good to have extra help…but yeah, you made a good point—let’s hope they don’t end up like the last two that William and Caesar got onboard to help…”
“I think they’re a little odd,” Maddie added. “I mean, they act a little strange…but they don’t seem like bad people.”
“You think everyone’s odd,” Emily said as she squeezed Maddie tightly. “Especially for someone that waits until everyone’s asleep and masturbates in the pool.”
“Oh god,” Maddie said as she got up to her feet. “Did Lily tell you?”
“Bahaha,” Emily laughed heartily as she kicked the back of her heels against the chair. “Did she catch you? That’s golden. Nah, I saw you one night…I get restless and project about the house. This one gets worn out and falls asleep.”
“Well I’m never doing that again,” Maddie said as she covered her eyes with her hands and shook her head. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“It’s kinda hot,” Emily added. “How you’re just hanging out there…and then you go for it.”
“What?” Mark asked as he was growing increasingly uncomfortable with the conversation.
“What?” Emily repeated.
Cain entered the large metal entryway. He walked quietly as she attempted to find William—he passed into the long hallway and found Bradley in the kitchen.
“Bradley,” Cain said as he startled the man who was fixing himself a drink.
“Yeah…?” Bradley said as he steadied his hands and wiped up a bit of spilt whiskey from the counter. “You always go around sneaking like that?”
“Could you kindly go and retrieve Captain Dickson and Christopher and meet me outside?”
“Yeah, they’re upstairs—want me to get Mark and the others?” Bradley asked as he took a sip of his whiskey and coke and placed it down upon the marble counter.
“A little discretion,” Cain said as he shook his head. “Bring just those two with you.”
“Alright,” Bradley said as he shook his head. “If this is some kind of secret meeting…then Mark isn’t going to be happy if he finds out.”
“It needs to be…”
Cain paced outside nervously as a gentle rain fell. He pulled up his hood as the sound of crickets loudly filled the air. Moments later, William, Christopher, and Bradley emerged from the entryway and they took shelter beneath the carport.
“What’s all this about?”
William asked as Cain handed him a crumpled piece of paper. The others gathered close by beneath a dim light.
“It’s a job flyer for Perpetuals,” Bradley said as she shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve seen them before—nothing big really.”
“I went to the poor section, where many of our kind live,” Cain said as he pointed down to a section regarding the pay. This is far too much money as a salary to be a simple flyer looking for Perpetual help—even for the illegal kind.”
“That is ridiculously high,” William said as he nodded. “To be held at the great hall….tomorrow at three p.m. in the basement of the old church in Naperville. You think this is another setup like what we saw earlier?”
“I would count on it,” Cain said as he nodded.
“So why am I here?” Christopher asked as he ran a hand through his spiky, messy hair. “I mean shouldn’t we go in and show this to the others?”
“You want us four to check this out on our own…” Bradley added as he began to put everything together. “Mark ain’t going to like that at all.”
“The White Stags will not be able to enter this part of the city,” Cain said as he attempted to defend his rather controversial decision. “We do this for them—we spare the young ones. Perhaps with our powers we can put an end to that eventual battle before it even happens.”
“I’m still a young one,” Christopher said as he raised his hand. “I mean…I’m onboard and all, but—we should really bring this to Mark and Lily…let them decide.”
“They’ll say no,” William said as he let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t think I can get Jenna onboard on this one—she’s still traumatized from surviving the first massacre.”
“The four of us will do just fine,” Cain said as he nodded confidently. “This time, we have to act—then bring Mark and the others in. We will have a firsthand account of what we are facing, we can really do some damage to his ability to gain others to his side. I’ve already scouted out the church. We will wait until after the meeting begins, sneak into the kitchen area—lock the door behind us and watch from the serving window. Once we get a handle on what is to transpire—Bradley can use his big guns on the Ankou, I can protect us from any Conductors while Christopher can take care of any Perpetuals or Elementals we might run into—William will carry a heavy, high caliber sniper rifle and provide support. I do not know if we can kill this Ankou, but we will gain important intelligence.”
“Alright,” Bradley said as he let out a frustrated sigh. “It doesn’t feel right, but—yeah, let’s poke the hornet’s nest.”
“Well of course I’m in,” Christopher said as he nodded. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“I don’t like it,” William said as he placed his hand to his head. “Mark and the others might want to come along—we should really bring them in on this mission.”
“But they are needed for the battle, if it comes,” Cain objected. “They have the tools to defeat the Ankou—we will be simply going on a mission to cause a bit of trouble for him and to come back with some valuable information. Something that they can use when it comes time—we need to figure out how he is able to kill Perpetuals at the least…”
“I still don’t like it,” William said as he let out a sigh. “But, yes, I’ll do it. Can you project all four of us out if it gets too bad in there?”
“I can,” Cain said with a nod.
“Well, alright.”
“If you make it back alive,” a small voice announced from behind them. “Make sure that you are followed.”
“Lily…” William said as he turned to the girl and lowered his head. “We did not want to keep this a secret from you, but…we feel it’s the right thing to do.”
“Remember you are needed,” Lily said as she nodded and began to pace around the small group. “What you are about to do may prove helpful—but if you all die, or are severely injured it may compromise our ability to defend ourselves when the Ankou does come for us…but Cain is right—I cannot meet him on his terms. He must come for me and we must do battle. My brother tells me that he has found a prime location, if we can get him to agree to settle things there—then we do increase our odds of success…also the sooner—the better.”
“It is better to face him with what he has no rather than wait until he grows more powerful,” Cain said as turned his attention to Lily. “I promise I will do my best to get us in and out of there safely.”
“Then go and do what you must,” Lily said wrapped her fingers together and looked to the Red Manor. “I will tell Mark of your plan well after you have left.”
“Thank you,” Cain said as he bowed to the girl.
Chapter 4
The small force of four left early that morning in William’s black SUV, thunderclouds filled the sky as arcs of brilliant purplish lightening came down from the sky and illuminated the dark morning air. The loud booms of thunder could be heard in the car. As they neared the Chicago skyline the sprinkling of rain that they had been driving through turned into a deluge. William had to bring the SUV to a crawl as the rain beat down fiercely against the windshield.
“So,” Christopher said as he folded his arms against his chest. “Any idea of what we’re expecting?”
“Well,” William said as he attempted to speed up a little to get out of the storm. “Jenna said that there was a man who spoke with a strange accent and she took special notice of his suit—I’d imagine that was Tany Zampa…a particularly slippery Perpetual with a gift for always being where he should not be.”
“My sources said he fled west,” Cain said as he shook his head.
“Many very reliable sources told us his date of Birth was 1933,” William retorted. “It’s really 1932—a trick he used to keep alive. He has a talent for remaining amongst the living when he shouldn’t. Let’s see if we can fix that today, Christopher.”
“I’d like to see that piece of shit turned to ash,” Bradley said as he nodded. He had a rather long standing feud with the man—plus a rather large history of dealing with his hired thugs.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Christopher spoke as the heavy rain abated, allowing William to speed up once more.
A loud booming thunder filled the air as Emily jolted awake. She reached for Mark’s arms and placed them tightly around her. “Fucking storms…”
“It’ll pass,” Mark whispered as he kissed the back of Emily’s neck.
“We’ve slept in pretty late—“Emily spoke as she looked at the clock. It was nearly noon.
“Blame Maddie,” Mark said as he rubbed at his still tired eyes. “She kept talking about that ride—even after you embarrassed her…then we had to wait until she went to sleep to…be, well…together.”
“Do you think she’s into that Justin guy?”
“Possibly…?” Mark said as he shrugged. I mean…they both love nature—outdoors and all that.”
“Yeah, I wonder if that’s allowed…I mean I guess her father did something similar. I hope he turns her into a stag before he mounts her…I imagine there’d be some tearing otherwise—that stag is hung like a fucking sausage beast.”
“I wasn’t really looking,” Mark said as he let out a short laugh. “Of course, then again, I wasn’t the one that kicked Leaf in the penis.”
“It was an accident, jeez.”
“Of course…”
“By the by, you remember William had Maddie destroy her cell phone…well, because we kinda didn’t want to give ours up?”
“Yeah,” Mark said as ran his hand through Emily’s bright pink hair. “That was right before that battle.”
“Remember that she said she’d need to call her parents whenever she got a new one right? Well she got a new phone—and she never made the call. Her parents aren’t even in her contacts…”
“You went through her phone?”
“She was asleep,” Emily said as she reached for Mark’s hand and kissed his fingertips. “You don’t have many contacts either—a rather interesting porn colle
ction. Is that what you used to jack it to, before you met me?”
“You really have some privacy issues,” Mark said as he let out a sigh.
“You were the one that said there were no secrets in this house,” Emily said in a justified tone.
A hurried knock came upon the door. “Are you guys…dressed?”
“Come in Maddie,” Emily said as she pulled down her long white shirt to cover her exposed bottom.
Mark gave himself a quick glance as he covered up his black boxers with a blanket. He was wearing a shirt—he was technically fully covered. He still felt rather vulnerable in the company of others dressed only in his boxers—aside from Emily…who was probably the cause of his insecure feelings due to that little house fire she set a while back.
“Everyone’s gone,” Maddie said as the door flew open and she emerged into the room. She was fully dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a white tank top. Her shoulder length medium curly blond hair hung around her face and framed her pretty features.
“What do you mean?” Mark asked as he quickly got out of bed and slipped into a pair of jeans. “Everyone is gone…?”
“Well shit,” Emily said as she got to her feet. She pulled off her shirt and tossed it onto her floor exposing her slender nude body. She rummaged through a dresser and pulled up a pair of blue panties. “What?” Emily muttered as she clasped a bra around her firm, perky breasts and shot Maddie an odd look. “We’re like sisters…”
“Right,” Maddie said as she shook her head and turned her attention back to Mark. “I woke up an hour ago, went down to get some breakfast—no one was down there. Thought I’d peek in the rooms—well, they’re all empty, except for Jenna’s. She’s lying naked in bed cradling an empty bottle of vodka…but, Williams SUV is gone.”
“What the hell?” Emily said as she pulled up a black skirt and climbed into her black hoodie and allowed the cat eared hood to fall beneath her hair. “Someone could have told us they were going out.”
“Unless they didn’t want us to know,” Mark added as he narrowed his eyes and sat on the bed and pressed his fist against his chin. “What about Lily?”
