I suddenly felt very alone. I walked towards the edge of the gathering and kept going until I came to a river. Its waters sparkled in the moonlight, but its beauty was lost on me. I found a cold, hard rock, sat down, and cried. There were no tears, of course, though my sadness was not lessened one iota by their absence. I thought of my mother, not as she was in real life, but how I imagined a real mother to be—baking cakes, sending me to school in boy’s clothes, and then helping me with my homework afterwards, giving me cuddles and reading me stories at bedtime.
I’d never complained about my lot in life. Apart from my gaffe minutes earlier, I’d never even vocalised my feelings. I’d missed out on a lot in life. That’s for sure. I hadn’t gone to school nor had I ever had a friend. I’d been abused one way or another until the eve of my eighteenth birthday, and then, just as the whole outside world was about to open up for me, I was murdered.
I sobbed and sobbed until I’d exhausted myself then I lay down in the leaf litter and closed my eyes. I didn’t sleep, because the sounds of Nocturne, of the river, and of the creatures of the night were too loud. But a sense of peace came over me. I felt as though my moment of self-pity had purged me of the horrors of my past for good, and for that I was grateful.
* * * *
By the time I returned to Nocturne things were starting to wind down. Those remaining were speaking in whispers now that they didn’t have to shout. The luminescence of the flowers had all but died and even that of my fellow spirits was beginning to fade. As I noticed the faint, powdery light of a new morning sprinkling down over the forest canopy, I heard someone call my name.
“There you are!” said Rosamond. “Where have you been? We’ve been so worried, darling boy.”
“I’m sorry. I was down by the river.”
Rosamond draped an arm over my shoulder. I felt her breast squash against my shoulder. “As long as you’re okay,” she said. “Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk to me about? Before?”
I’d almost forgotten the conversation with Naal, but now I’d been reminded, it all came flooding back.
“Do you like being in Hell?” I asked. “I mean, you keep escaping.”
Rosamond shrugged. “Yes, I do. I’ve told you. I escape every now and then for a bit of excitement.”
“But wouldn’t it be better if you could come and go as you please? Like Reginald and I can?”
“I’ve never thought about it.”
“But wouldn’t it?”
She shrugged again. “What if it would be better? There’s nothing anyone can do about it.”
I turned and grabbed her arms. She flinched. Her eyes widened.
“Yes, there is,” I said excitedly. “The Court of the Night. Reginald and I were talking about it earlier. You can appeal the decision that sent you to Hell.”
Rosamond considered the information. “They wouldn’t overturn the decision to send me to Hell,” she said. “Remember how wicked I was? I did everything I shouldn’t have done. And I’m not sorry about any of it. Well, some of it maybe, but…”
“You only did it because you had to,” I said. “You wouldn’t have done those things if you hadn’t been forced to.”
“Hey, you two!” It was Reginald and he was riding Duchess. “I’d nearly given you both up as lost,” he said, dismounting.
I rushed up to him with Rosamond following behind. “I was just telling Rosamond about the Court of the Night. I was telling her we should go and put her case to them.”
Reginald looked at Rosamond then cocked his head to one side. “Morgan, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “And why not?”
“It might not turn out the way you expect.”
“And I’m not sure I even want to,” said Rosamond, moving closer beside me.
“But we have to try. We’ll never know if we don’t try. And what about the demons who are probably right at this moment searching for you? Imagine not having to worry about them.”
“Darling, I haven’t been worrying about them,” she said with a flick of her head and a laugh. “I’ve been far too busy.”
I felt my blood beginning to boil. “Alright then! Forget I said anything!” I pushed by Reginald. “See if I care.”
“Wait!”
I heard Rosamond call out to me, but continued walking. I was too angry to stop and face either of them.
I felt her grab my shoulder. I shrugged it off.
“Morgan, if it means that much to you, I’ll do it. I just don’t see what good it will do.”
I spun around to face her. “Don’t do it for me!” I snapped. “Do it for yourself! If you don’t want to do it for yourself then what’s the point of doing it at all?”
I could see Reginald watching us in the background. I had no doubt he’d heard what I said.
Rosamond closed her eyes. “I’ll do it, Morgan.” She opened her eyes again and smiled. “Will you help me?”
I couldn’t stay angry at Rosamond. At least not when she was smiling at me like that. I suddenly felt very silly.
“Of course I will. If I can.”
“Right then,” she said, grabbing hold of my hand. “Let’s go and tell Reggie the good news.”
I laughed. “Okay, but don’t let him hear you call him Reggie.”
“What have you decided?” he asked upon our return.
“We’ve decided to try our luck,” said Rosamond, winking surreptitiously at me.
We spent the day resting in the forest. I returned to the river because I found the sound of the water running over the rocks soothing. I felt lethargic and kept drifting in and out of sleep until I was roused from my slumber, sometime around mid-afternoon, by an ungodly shriek.
“You know your idea about the Court of the Night?” said Rosamond as she raced past. “I think it’s a brilliant idea.”
She ran into the river and dived beneath the water. A split second later the sound of heavy footsteps running towards me drew my attention back to the forest path and what I saw froze me to the spot. I had never in my entire life, or death, seen anything as truly frightening as the beast coming down the path.
Its overly-muscled body had four powerful arms, each with a hand containing razor-sharp claws. Its eyes, which were shadowed by a Neanderthal-looking brow, were bright red. Its fang-lined mouth hung open and a thick, black tongue, forked like that of a snake, flickered in and out as it hurtled towards me. Between its legs, at the front, was a long black cock that hung down well past its knees, and at the back, two tails swished about.
The stench it gave off made me want to vomit and had I been able to, I surely would have.
It stopped beside me, lowering its knobbly head so it could sniff me.
“Where is she?” it asked, its voice so deep I felt it vibrate right through me.
“Who?” I asked.
“The girl, Rosamond.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The demon growled and hit the ground with two of its hands.
“Do not lie to me, boy.”
“I’m not lying. I was sleeping before you woke me up. If anyone else came this way then I am none the wiser. I’m sorry, but I don’t appreciate being called a liar.”
The demon snorted at me then raised its head to sniff the air. It walked a little further towards the river and sniffed the air again.
I watched the beast with wide eyes, wondering whether it had detected anything, and was secretly terrified of what it might do to me should it discover my untruth.
I almost couldn’t bear to watch as it approached the edge of the river and sniffed the air again. It roared, slapped the water with a clawed hand then roared again.
“Where is she?” it bellowed.
It spun around but I had managed to sneak behind a nearby mossy rock. There wasn’t much to hide behind, but if I lay down flat and pushed myself into the small crevice between it and the ground, it hid me completely. I waited and waited
until I couldn’t stand to wait another second longer. I poked my head above the top of the rock and when I could no longer see the demon, I stood up.
I stepped slowly and carefully away from the rock, almost at the same time as Rosamond emerged from the water.
“Is it gone?” she called in a whisper.
“I don’t know,” I whispered back. “Stay there.”
I moved with all the caution of a cat burglar. Every step was taken with the greatest of care. I moved across the grass to the dirt path. As I followed it back through the forest, I scanned the trees to either side of me and the branches overhead. A flutter in the undergrowth startled me, but it was only a wild turkey.
Through the thinning trees I could see Duchess sitting under the shade of a single tree, but there was no sign of Reginald. I moved forward slowly, scanning the grass for any sign of him, so when the demon came crashing down in front of me, I nearly passed out from fright.
“Where is she?” it roared, its reeking breath choking the response from my throat. “Wheeerrreee?”
“I told you,” I said as forcefully as I could manage, “I don’t even know who she is!”
It sniffed me again. I heard a low growl rumbling in the back of its throat. “Then I’ll take you instead.”
It grabbed me around the waist and picked me up upside down. As it lifted me into the air, my face brushed against its enormous cock. I screwed my nose up and wiped my face with my hand.
“You can’t do that,” I screamed.
“Where is Rosamond?”
I struggled against its powerful grip. I soon realised I couldn’t hope to escape its clutches, though I could certainly make its job more difficult.
“I don’t know where Rosamond is, demon,” I shouted, hoping that Rosamond could hear me from the river.
The demon growled and began walking away from the forest.
“Let me go!” I shouted. “You can’t do this. I don’t belong in Hell!”
The beast moved with surprising speed through the grass, crushing it to slime beneath its clawed feet. I continued kicking and screaming and decided to do so until I ran out of energy. I was determined to make as big a nuisance of myself as I could, and if I helped Rosamond escape at the same time then all the better. Heavens knew what had become of Reginald.
We hadn’t gone more than a mile before I became aware of the sound of hoofs galloping after us. I twisted myself around in the demon’s hand and smiled when I saw Duchess and Reginald closing in on us. Knowing help was at hand renewed my energy and I commenced a more robust bout of struggling and kicking.
Finally, Duchess and Reginald were so close I could see Reginald’s smile and hear Duchess snorting.
Suddenly the demon stopped and turned to face its pursuers.
It hunched forward, passing me to a lower hand before raising its two top arms.
Reginald pulled on Duchess’s reigns, bringing her to a stop. In an instant he was off the horse and storming towards the demon.
I watched with wide eyes and clenched fists.
“Let my friend go,” he said.
“Where is she?” the demon roared.
“I have no idea who you’re talking about,” Reginald said as boldly as only he could. “There are many spirits gathered here for the Court of the Night tonight. Perhaps you could wait around and we could take your case before them. Then I could get that very same court to make a ruling on your abduction of my innocent friend.”
The demon looked at me, growled, and returned its attention to Reginald.
At that moment Naal and his nymphs appeared, along with several sprites and forty or fifty other spirits, which ringed the demon.
“As you can see,” said Reginald with a sweeping gesture, “I have no end of witnesses. What do you think your punishment will be? For abducting an innocent?”
The demon growled. It looked nervous and confused.
“The void?” said Reginald. “You’re already in Hell so you know the only thing left is the void. Complete oblivion.”
The demon took a step back, almost staggering.
“Let him go,” said Reginald, stepping towards the hellish beast. “Let him go and return to Hell where you belong.”
The demon raised its face to the sky and bellowed before bringing a fist slamming to the ground. It leant forward and roared at Reginald.
I was amazed at how brave Reginald was. He stood his ground despite the strings of snot and mucous splattering across his face.
“Let him go, now!” he demanded.
Finally I was released. Free at last, I sped through the air to Reginald and once I was safely behind him, I peered around as the demon turned, roared again, and bounded off across the grass, sending spirits scattering in all directions, including up.
Reginald wiped the demon’s secretions from his face as best he could.
“Thank you, Reginald,” I said hugging him tightly. “Thank you. Thank you.”
Reginald hugged me back then kissed me on the lips.
“One good turn deserves another,” he said. “I was watching from the branches of the tree. I know what you did for Rosamond.”
I looked over my shoulder, towards the forest. “Where is she? Is she alright?”
“I have no idea,” said Reginald. “Let’s go and find out.”
We walked back to the leafy coolness of the forest, leaving Duchess to roam the grassy field. I hurried ahead of Reginald, hoping and praying that Rosamond was okay.
“Rosamond,” I called out. “Rosamond.”
I ran out of the trees, towards the river, to find Rosamond still in the water.
“Are you alright?”
She moved easily through the water, back to the river bank. Without an answer, she ran up to me and hugged me with such a force that both of us almost went toppling over.
“Thank you, Morgan. Thank you.” She showered me with tiny kisses until, in the end, I had to push her off me.
“That was a close one,” she said. “If I had any doubts before about attending the Court of the Night, I certainly don’t anymore.”
Chapter 7
We spent the hours of the late afternoon going over what Rosamond was going to say at the Court of the Night. I thought she stood a good chance of getting her judgement overturned. Then, towards sundown, we took a break.
“We don’t want to sound too rehearsed,” cautioned Reginald.
The members of the Court of the Night were seated around a semi-circular table made of something blacker than the night. In the middle of those seated was a glowing ball of golden light—God’s representative—and on either side were a collection of spirits, along with a single vampire, and Naal, the satyr. Before them, sitting or standing in reverential silence, were an assortment of spirits, sprites, nymphs, and other creatures of the night.
Upon our arrival, Reginald registered our case with a tall, willowy spirit standing at the edge of the gathering. When he’d finished with the particulars, we went to the front of the group and found a spot on the grass.
“I’m nervous,” I said.
“Imagine how I feel,” said Rosamond, without any of her usual devil-may-care zeal.
Reginald put his arm around me and kissed me quickly on the lips. “You don’t have anything to worry about, Rosamond.” He redirected his attention to her. “What’s the worst that can happen? They send you back to Hell. You’ll just escape again.”
We all laughed because it was true.
There were three hours of appeals and grievances before Rosamond was finally called to approach the bench.
The tall spirit Reginald had registered Rosamond’s case with stepped forward. “Are you Rosamond LeSeur?”
“I am.” Rosamond shifted uncomfortably on the spot.
“And please tell the court why you are here.”
Every atom of my body was tense. I wanted so badly for Rosamond to be granted her freedom.
“I’m here because I would like the decision that sent me to Hell
for eternity to be overturned. I feel it is a wrongful judgement and that there were extenuating circumstances which were not taken into consideration when the original sentence was handed down.”
“She sounds just like the lawyers on television,” I whispered.
“Shhhh!” said Reginald with a frown. Then the frown disappeared. “What’s television?”
I smiled.
“I don’t know where to start.” I could see Rosamond’s fingers twisting around each other by her sides. “I know my life wasn’t anything to be proud of. I’m certainly not proud of it. I admit I lied, stole, and cheated. I sold my body for money. But, you see, what choice did I have?”
She fluffed her auburn curls.
“I was born into a poor family. My father was unemployed more often than not. We barely had enough to eat and whatever we did have, it was because of my mother. I was a sickly child. I rarely attended school and dropped out when I was fifteen. My father used to rape me, which was bad enough, but when he did it in front of my mother, and she just stood by and let him, that’s when whatever good was in me died.”
I was numb. I had suspected her life had been no bed of roses, but this! I’d never complain about my own mortal life again.
“I know other people come from similar backgrounds and do well for themselves. I don’t know. Maybe I’m stupid or something. But I think I did well enough. I prostituted myself. I had to. It was either that or starve.”
“Could you not have got a more respectable job?” asked the willowy spirit.
“I had very little education. What job could I have got?”
“It doesn’t take an education to clean offices or to make hamburgers.”
Rosamond shrugged. At least I thought it was a shrug. But when I saw her shoulders move again and again I realised she was sobbing.
She shook her head. “I know that now. Of course I know that now. It’s just…my father had showed me what my body could do and I just took the easy way out. I knew I could please a man so why not earn a living from it?”
“And the drugs?” The willowy spirit walked from one side of the area in front of the court to the other.
“Yes, I took drugs. They helped me forget what a mess my life was. They took me away from my misery for a few hours. And they were the death of me. So what?” She extended her arms, palms facing upwards, imploring. “Listen, I did a lot of bad things, but I never hurt anyone. I lied to get what I needed, but my lies never caused anyone any harm. My body and my conversation gave a lot of people a lot of pleasure.”
Paranormal Lovers Box Set Page 16
