by Mina Carter
“Henry,” he says, though I’m wearing Jaime’s skin.
My already dark mood becomes pitch with his appearance in my life. I know why he is here. I shoot a death glare over my shoulder, a spark of my internal fire lighting within. “Get away from me, Reaper,” I snarl, drawing eyes from some nearby students. Whatever they see makes them scurry away like roaches when you turn the lights on.
“I’m surprised,” this shadow of a man speaks in a voice twisted by his lack of humanity. A voice that cuts to the very soul of a person, feasting on the fear it creates. He towers above me, long and lank and dangerous. There is no description to do him justice, as most never see him. Even now, my eyes struggle to remain locked on the shadowed void before me. The compulsion to avoid his fiery, green eyes is that strong and my mind erases his image just as quickly as it commits it. It is a power reserved only for the dealers of death for the head of the sect I now regret giving my soul to. “Not many can face the bringer of death.”
For once, my fear emboldens me, not that I ever considered myself a sniveling coward. My skin tingles as it stretches to accommodate the form I’m most comfortable in. I grow at least eight inches, which puts me eye level with him. I also age about eighteen years, adding more authority to my appearance. Jaime’s sandy-blond hair darkens to my preferred brown, a few shades lighter than the love that I somehow lost, and my build firms. This all takes place in the darkened corner of the school’s library, where I had retreated to drown in my misery.
“Do your worst!” Spit flies from my lips with the ferocity I put on the words. I’m tired of feeling so… human.
The openings, that I guess are his eyes, sweep over me in an appraising manner. “It will be a shame to lose you, Henry,” his oppressive voice acknowledges, “but I have my orders.”
I’m sure they included a limitation on witnesses, but what he says next freezes me to the depths of my soul.
“I’m supposed to bring the both of you in, to control the situation.”
“Both!” I squeak like an idiot, the fear of the identity of the other person breaking the weak hold I had on courage. These last few days have made me realize that nothing I’ve ever done would be considered brave. I lied to myself about my mission setting the stage for our superior race to rule was some twisted form of justice, that we would just preside as fair rule. Lies! All of it! We wouldn’t rule. We would enslave, possess, and own, if we won.
“You don’t need to bring us in to get control of the situation,” is my substandard alternative. I just can’t think clearly in order to formulate a counter plan. My fear that another exile is going to be put in charge of controlling Charlotte leaves me mentally paralyzed.
Those empty orbs of death sweep over me again. “You are fond of the muse,” he correctly concludes. “Interesting fact that somehow got left out.”
I swallow hard. I don’t want him to find either one of us any more interesting than he already does. “I can get back control.”
“Can you?” The doubt rings clear.
“I c–ca–can,” stumbles from my tongue. I clear my throat. “I can,” comes out stronger this time. “I have a plan.” Shit! I don’t have a plan!
His eyes do another search of my soul. “You don’t,” he astutely argues, “but you will. You have twenty-four hours to get this whole mess back on course, or you’ll both be dead before you even know I’m there. I don’t believe that losing such valuable tools aids in our future domination.”
He takes two steps back into the shadow cast by a bookcase over in the corner. I move to follow him only to find he’s vanished, swallowed whole by darkness. A light fixture flickers above from the ceiling, bathing me in a light that manages to singe my skin and burn my eyes.
I sink to the floor and fall back against the shelving unit. I have no idea how long I sit there, wallowing over my impending demise and agonizing over Charlotte’s. I am no hero.
“Everything alright, professor?” the youthful voice of a man fills my ears as a hand clasps my shoulder and gives me a shake. “Do you need me to have someone call 911?”
“What?” I ask as I come out of my depressing daze. “Are you talking to me?”
The young man flashes me a smile, but concern fills his eyes. “Well, sir, you’re the only professor on the ground clutching his chest, so yes, I’m talking to you. Are you having a heart attack?”
Seconds go by as his words sink into my consciousness. I look down to find that my hand is indeed sprawled over my heart. “No,” I answer with a small shake of my head, “I’m not having a heart attack.” Although, that would be preferable to the deadly fate in my future.
His brow narrows in confusion and he offers me a hand up, quizzical eyes meeting mine once I’m on my feet. “Well, what was on your mind, prof?”
“What makes you think I’m a professor?” I can’t help but ask. Even with the constant references to what he thinks is my position, I can tell he is a student, maybe only a year ahead of Jaime.
“I don’t know many thirty or forty somethings who hang out in the library except for the occasional professor.”
My jaw drops before I remember that I changed into my preferred flesh after the reaper’s sudden appearance.
He mistakes my shock and says, “And sorry about the age thing; I’m terrible at guessing.”
“Oh, um, no, I’m right around there,” I say in cover. Our eyes meet and a lifetime of kindness swims in the depths of his baby blues. There are no dark secrets lurking in the hidden recesses of his mind, no sinister intentions. He is nothing but hopes and dreams, idealism perfectly balanced with realism. His soul is the true mirror of Charlotte’s.
I step back and take in the corporeal embodiment of his soul. His form is healthy and muscular, but not so much as to indicate he will put himself before her. Broad shoulders, a barrel chest, and strong arms leave me with images of her safely encased in his loving embrace. My eyes then travel to his face, which is open and warm. This is a man who will watch over her for me, someone who will love and protect her, not use and abuse her. Then everything clicks. He is my plan. He is the one who can hold onto her and keep her from the dangers of her friendship with the boy.
The thought of handing her off to another, even someone worthy of her, cuts too deep, and my knees buckle. He catches me at the shoulders to keep me from collapsing on the ground.
“I think you need a doctor.”
I get my feet back under me and stand. “No, I’m good. It’s just been a stressful couple of weeks.”
“Want to tell me about it?” he offers. “I’m told I’m a good listener.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Isn’t that a line more for the ladies?
He laughs with me. “It works on them too, but I mean it.” And, I know that he does.
“Well, before I spill all the secrets of my baby sister, Charlotte, I should probably get your name first.”
“The name is Giles, Giles Grace.”
Salvation, thy name is Giles.
Chapter 23
It’s hard to be with people and be happy…
Being amongst humanity is work. Being happy amongst humanity requires dedication. Watching my happiness find hers in another requires sacrifice.
The only lie I told to Giles Grace that day in the library was that of the nature of my relationship and affection for Charlotte. Everything else was truth: the innocence and purity of her soul, the depth and commitment of her love. I told him I was tired of seeing her throw her heart and soul away on the wrong men. I told him my baby sister deserved better.
“And she’s a student here, I take it?” he asked with reined in interest. He continued after I nodded. “You got a picture?”
I dug my wallet out of my back pocket and pulled out the one picture I still carried of us together from when I was Henry. “Who’s the guy?”
“One of the tools she dated.” It was still truth, even though it was about myself. I didn’t truly care for her the way I should have. Oh, I
loved her. I just didn’t take care to show her, as a man in love should.
“She looks happy, though,” he countered, disrupting my reminiscing.
“Aren’t they all in the beginning?”
He nodded in understanding.
“See, the problem, Giles, is that I’m getting called back to active duty and–”
“And, you worry about some asshat coming along and sweeping her off her feet for two seconds before turning on her,” he finished for me.
The connection I felt to this soul astounded me. I locked eyes with him, tapping into my power to give him just enough of a nudge to ensure that he would pursue her. “She needs a good man to look out for her.” My voice cracked on the words, but they had to be said.
“Let me guess, she can’t know you orchestrated everything, right?”
I nodded before whispering melodically, “Right. Oh, and Charlotte doesn’t have a brother. Now, you’re going to follow me to the Honors College to meet her after class, and the second we say good-bye, you will forget I ever existed.”
We stood in silence and made our way across campus. Not a sound crossed our lips until she came out of the building. Just as she passed us, I whispered in Giles’ ear, “Good-bye,” then bumped him into her.
I watched that initial meeting, committed the purity of it to memory. The way her eyes swept over his exterior reminded me of the way she once looked at me. For once, the memory of her love didn’t tear my heart to shreds. Seeing her smile again, the sparkle of life that came back into her eyes, made this sacrifice worth it.
An intense heat erupted in my gut. I lifted my forearms to get a look at my palms, terrified that they’d be green and pulsing. There was a hint of the flames wafting from my skin. Charlotte stumbled and Giles caught her, but her color never changed.
“I found a plan!” I gasp out in panic.
“Another boy,” Reaper hissed on the wind, “that’s your solution?” I don’t turn in the direction of his voice. There is no reason to. There won’t be anything to see.
Giles wrapped his arms around Charlotte’s waist and I hear him ask her, “Are you okay?”
My skin began to glow a brighter green. “I’ll watch her. I’ll keep her from Wesley. She’ll take to this guy!” The whispered promises flowed through my lips as if set free from a dam.
“She’s young,” the argument blew past my ears. “Young girls tend to change their minds often. How are you going to guarantee their fidelity? You’ve never been willing to influence her decisions.” A light chuckle seasoned his question.
“Whatever it takes!” I exclaimed when our knees buckled.
“Charlotte!” Giles cried out in concern. He was still holding her up.
“Reaper, please!” I begged him not to kill her. I didn’t care what happened to me.
“You better!” The breath of his bodiless command taunts me from the shadow. “Always.”
I didn’t understand until a puff of green smoke wafted out the ground beneath Giles’ and Charlotte’s feet. My heart stopped with the fear that they would both disappear along with the smoke. However, when it cleared, they were both standing upright, starring happily into the eyes of the other.
“That’s it?” I whispered, the wind sweeping the question off my lips the second it passed.
“Who says that it’s over?” the reaper taunted me from the shadows. “You know it’s never over. Remember, I am here. I will always be here, and there are others. The bounty for your lives still stands. She holds the true power to tip the scales, though there is some argument on that. It truly would have been a mercy for you both to have me kill you.”
I glance down at my letter as the memory fades. It is an expression of my love that I’m not brave enough to give her. Years have passed since I met Giles, and everything got back on track. He and Charlotte began a stable and safe love affair. Alyssa got a handle on the boy. Charlotte moved into an apartment with Paige. I lived in the one across the hall as Jaime in order to keep an eye on her. The reaper’s threat weighed heavily on my soul, and I refused to relieve myself of the duty as her champion. I prepared for death every day, knowing that it forever lurked in the shadows, eagerly waiting to seize her.
My life was forever tied to Charlotte’s, from then until she takes her last breath. She captured me, though she never realized the true depths of my servitude.
I am only alive through you, by your love and your faith. You gave me more than I ever deserved, and for that, I am eternally grateful. Take care, carissime.
Yours forever,
Charissimus
About PM Briede
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Tales of an Adorkable
Remote Paranoia
PBI Case Files # 5
By
Jami Brumfield
Copyright @ 2015 Jami Brumfield
Proofreading and editing by Michele E. Gwynn
Introduction
In this episode of the PBI Case Files, the team is called in to investigate a string of suspicious deaths. It seems a team of retired Order agents are being picked off one by one. The Order is a team of alien and supernatural being that are called in by the Fates to keep people on the right path. It is a great honor to be called in to serve on this team. What the Paranormal Bureau agents discover will keep them up at night! No one is safe while these rogue killers are on the loose, especially not while they're sleeping.
This is the fifth episode of PBI Case Files. It is not necessary to read the previous episodes to follow the story as there is back story devices used in the body of this book but it can really enhance your understanding of the characters and larger plot that carries through the first season of this series.
This book, as well as the rest of the episodes in the PBI Case Files is written like a weekly television show. It is a paranormal mystery serial.
Chapter One
Words are powerful. They can make you soar through the clouds in a state of utter happiness, paint pictures that can take your breath away, and sometimes they can destroy your world.
“It is terminal, Libby.” The female voice echoed into the phone receiver. Libby Good’s slender fingers went limp, and the phone fell to the carpeted floor as those few little words sunk into her psyche like an anchor in the sea. She felt like she’d been punched in the gut or thrown into a brick wall. She wanted to argue, to kick, scream, punch a hole through something, anything but face the cold truth of the words that shattered her heart. The world around her started to crumble.
“Libs, what’s the matter?” Her younger sister, Abigail, asked as she tossed the grocery bags on the counter and rushed to Libby’s side moments before her legs turned to custard and she collapsed to the ground.
Tears sprung in Libby’s hazel eyes, and Abbie pulled her closer into a tight embrace. “She told you?” Abigail’s soft, concerned voice covered Libby like a warm blanket on a cold day, and the dam of tears burst forth, falling over her cheeks onto the floor below. The sheer emotion she felt pushed Libby to sobs.
She’d finally been released from her commitment with the Order. She was excited to come home and spend time with her family, learn more about the craft only to find out she’d stayed away too long and her mother, her only surviving parent, was dying of cancer. It was unreal. Her heart felt like it was being wrung out like an old d
ish rag.
The only comfort she had was Abigail. At least she had her sister. They were once thick as thieves. They’d help their mother through this, and then each other. The last five years had built a divider between them larger than the Great Wall of China. It was her greatest fear coming home, that they wouldn’t be able to reconnect. She couldn’t have imagined that her greatest fear had just been told to her in a cold, heartless way over the phone. What was Dr. Maze thinking?
Worse, how was she going to help her mother get through this? She’d battled demons, angels, aliens, and various other types of supernatural creatures. None of that prepared her for the emotional turmoil she was feeling or the battle she knew she’d be facing at her mother’s side.
She’d read, she’d research, do whatever it took to make this easier on her mother. She knew the pain she was going to have to face would be internalized, and needed to faced when it was over, but for now she needed to be there for the people she loved. She would be the strong one. It was her place in this family.
Pulling in her breath, forcing down the tears, she inhaled deeply. She counted to ten, and let the pain melt away with each number she envisioned until she brought herself back to center and allowed herself to feel numb. Numb was a good place to be in at the moment. “It’ll be okay.” Libby told Abigail. “We’ll get through this stronger than we were at the beginning.” Breathe deeply. Don’t focus on the potential loss. Keep the positive thoughts in place. Feel the strength take hold. She wiped the tears from her eyes and splotchy, red face. “We need to support mother now.”
Abigail turned somber blue eyes on Libby, the look almost broke her heart. “You don’t have to be strong for me.”
