“I had a nightmare. I wasn’t dream traveling, but the dream was really awful. I don’t want to talk about it right now, if that’s OK?” I wasn’t ready to relive the moment yet. They didn’t seem to mind, at least they didn’t object. “So, you’re back, Gert, what did you find out?”
I turned toward the Gnomes expectantly.
“Grrnt, Memphis, Tulsa and Albuquerque were as uneventful as our previous investigations. Grrnt, your Daeva has been and gone leaving a wake of shells in his departure,” Gert explained.
“Before you, uh, woke up… we were discussing our plans for Las Vegas. Gert thinks we should…”
Jedd was gearing up for the final destination in the quest.
“No!” I blurted before I’d realized it. Six confused faces whipped in my direction.
“What’s the matter, Liv?” Jedd worried.
“You’re not coming along this time Jedd. I can’t let you go,” I said firmly.
My nightmare would not become reality, not in Memphis, Las Vegas or any other city. Jedd was going home.
“What are you talking about, Liv? We only have one more stop. We can’t quit now,” Jedd argued.
“I say we can!” I fired back.
“Grrnt, Liv it is really important to finish the quest. We could take the boy home and return, but doing so could set us back. Grrnt, we’re so close to the Daeva. Grrnt, I can feel it,” Gert insisted.
“You see Liv? We’ve got to go. Look, I don’t know what you saw in your dream…” Jedd pushed the wrong button, I snapped.
“I saw you dead, really dead, as in no after life! I watched an Aengel devour your soul, Jedd! Do you fully understand what that means?”
Jedd’s face blanched and Gert and his brothers ducked their heads in shame. Good, now I’ve got their attention.
Silence…
“So, if you just die, your soul passes on to the next life in the Spirit World?” Jedd finally found the courage to speak. I only nodded. “Well, what happens to your soul when a Daeva or an Aengel consumes it?”
Well, he asked… “A soul consumed by a Daeva or Aengel will know what hell feels like for all eternity. For as long as the Daeva, or soon to be Daeva exists, the human soul remains trapped inside, completely powerless to escape. The Daeva feeds off the human soul again and again, raping it of its strength and warmth. I would suspect being confined within the body of something so demonic would be pure torture. A torture to endure seeing, hearing, feeling and watching the sadistic inner workings of a monster day in and day out, forever.”
This time Jedd stood up and strode away from me into the darkness of the tunnels.
“Grrnt, how about this Liv, we continue to Las Vegas but we leave Mo in the tunnels with Jedd. Grrnt, he will remain safe and we can finish the quest.” Gert suggested an easy enough compromise to the dilemma, but would Jedd be agreeable?
“Hell no!” We heard Jedd’s voice booming deep inside of the tunnel. Of course, he would have to make this difficult. Oh well, he’s already mad at me.
“That’s the deal Jedd, or I am taking you straight home. Do you want to help or hinder this quest?” I was unfairly testing his loyalty.
Jedd’s entire face was chagrined as he stepped in front of me. I would have felt badly if it weren’t for the fact that I was desperate to keep him safe. As reality set in Jedd’s disbelief transformed into anger.
Boys...
The trip to Las Vegas proved to be as valuable as the rest. Had Shy been there? Yes. Was he still hanging around? No such luck. Between the seven cities we’d counted over eighty shells. I’m sure there are more which will surface later, and we will have to send the Nature Spirits to tend to their burial when they do. Making matters even worse, Jedd is angry with me and refused to speak to me for the rest of the journey. When we left the Gnomes in Gaea’s meadow he bid them farewell and good luck, then trudged off without as much as a glance in my direction.
He’s continued to ignore and avoid me since we returned to Queens. Today is our last day of exams, the last day of school before the summer vacation. How long will he continue to shut me out?
Needless to say I was very surprised when I finished my last exam and found Jedd waiting for me outside the class room door.
“Hi,” I said warily.
“Hey, I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk for so long. Can you forgive me?” He half smiled, half pouted his apology, which was pretty lame.
“Maybe…” I contemplated.
I know this is my chance to forgive and forget, right? Well, that is easier said than done. He’s going to have to try harder than that.
“I’m still mad at you, you know?” he complained.
“Well, now I’m mad at you too,” I snapped in annoyance.
“What do you have to be mad about?” he challenged.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you haven’t spoken to me for an entire week without any explanation,” I sneered sarcastically.
“What explanation do you need? You black balled me from the quest and you know it!” he accused.
“If you are referring to the way I saved your ungrateful ass from your own delusional death wish, then I suppose you are correct!” I fired back.
“Fine, you know what? Why do I even bother?” He glared at me.
I saw a flash of something more than disappointment in Jedd's eyes. I was frozen in shock. Jedd had gone too far this time. His words were hurtful and cruel, he was being so unfair. I could feel the tears welling up behind my eyes and I refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had made me cry. When he turned his back to me, I took the opportunity and I bolted to the parking lot and further beyond. I just kept running. I ran to get as far away from Jedd as I could. I only paused to glance back once. I spied the remorseful slump of Jedd's frame in the distance, but this time something inside of me shielded my heart, forcing me to pick up speed once again and carry on. I was gone...
Learn more about Amy M. Jones at: http://amyjonesyaff.blogspot.com
Learn more about the Soul Quest Trilogy at: http://www.soulquesttrilogy.com
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Dance by Moonlight By Kelly D. Cooper
Homestead, South Carolina – Midsummer’s Eve – 1912
She winced as her hands were tied behind her back, her accusations caught in her throat, choking her in fear. Casting her gaze to the circle of people – friends and neighbors – people she had always trusted staring back at her with hungry eyes. . . glowing eyes.
The hooded figure turned, lengths of robe swirling around a thin form, the face, proud and poised turned toward her, and she gasped. “Margaret?!”
Suddenly the poised face morphed to that of a monster and the last thing she knew was the hiss of the crowd and piercing pain of fangs sinking into her jugular.
-oOo-
Homestead, South Carolina - 2012
Spanish moss dripped like dirty lace from the trees surrounding the old homestead. They drove to the back, dust billowing up in their wake and parked. Caroline felt her chest grow heavy and her stomach clench as she looked at her mother, taking note of the dark circles beneath her eyes and the strain around her mouth.
“I could help you, Mom,” said Caroline, tone pleading.
“I know, darling. I know you could but-” her mother paused briefly, “your Aunt Carol and Uncle Wyatt would be so disappointed if you didn’t spend some time with them this summer.”
“They’ll get over it,” she insisted. “C’mon.”
Her mother stopped gathering her purse and turned to her, her face a tapestry of pain and weary acceptance.
“Caro,” her mother said, “I can’t be a good parent to you this summer. We’ve discussed this and I thought we were in agreement. Tell me you understand.”
Sighing, Caroline turned her head to the passenger side window. “Yes, I understand.” She wrenched open the door, letting the oppressive southern heat into the car. Grabbing her purse she
stood to watch as her Aunt Carol came bustling toward them.
“You made it!” she exclaimed, smiling, her arms opening to hug Caroline close. Pressing her face into her aunt’s soft neck, Caroline breathed deeply the scent of home as her aunt pulled back and held her by the shoulders. “Just look at you, darlin’” she said. “So grown up.”
Caroline’s mother came around the back of the car, carrying her suitcases. Uncle Wyatt threw his arms around her, dragging her into a tight embrace.
“How you doin’, Sis?” he asked. When her mother pulled back from him, Caroline could see the emotion in her mother’s eyes, reminding her that the divorce was tearing her mother apart.
“Oh, I’ll be fine,” she insisted.
Aunt Carol wrapped her arms around Caroline’s mother and steered her toward the house. Caroline watched them walk before turning to lift one of her suitcases.
Uncle Wyatt took the case from her, shaking his head. “I have this, little bit, you just go on in and visit with your mama a bit before she has to leave. Your Aunt Carol has prepared a feast for you since she figures you haven’t eaten anything good in a long time, what with living up north and all.”
“Ha- ha,” snorted Caroline.
-oOo-
Caroline stood next to her aunt, trying not fidget.
“Caroline is going to be staying with us for most of the summer,” said her aunt. Several of the ladies who had gathered around them nodded, offering her polite smiles. Caroline just looked down at the clear plastic bowl of melting ice cream.
“It is nice to meet you, my dear,” said Margery. “You look like a deer in headlights. I bet you’d like to meet some young people. My Sheridan is over on the other side of the picnic shelter with some of her friends. You should meet her, Caroline. I am sure you girls would have so much in common.” The lady threaded her arm through Caroline’s and tugged her across the lawn.
A tall girl rose gracefully off the hood of a car to meet them. “Mother,” her eyes trained on Caroline, “what are you doing?”
“I wanted to introduce Carol and Wyatt’s niece to you and your friends, Sher. She is here for the summer,” she said.
The dark haired girl smiled and held out her hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you . . . um--” she faltered.
“Caroline,” supplied Caroline, wiping her moist palms on her dress before accepting the hand.
“Would you care to join us?” Sheridan gestured to her friends. At seeing the unsure look on Caroline’s face, she laughed a bit. “I promise we don’t bite, not even if you want us to.”
Caroline chuckled at her own wariness and stepped forward. She stopped and turned to thank Sheridan’s mother but . . . no one was there.
“Wow,” she muttered, “your mother is fast.”
Sheridan tugged Caroline towards the group. “My mother is an organizer. Once she had you filed in the right place, she was ready to rejoin the rest of the adults.”
Caroline just stood there facing the small group of teens, some of them studying her in return. Sheridan turned to the little group. “Hey everyone, look,” she stated, “fresh meat!”
The bunch laughed at a joke that Caroline didn’t get but their combined laughter and the heat had her laughing along with them.
-oOo-
As the twilight wore on into early evening, people began to disperse and Caroline found that she was sad to see the event end. The kids that she’d met were very nice and accepting of a new girl. It had been easy to make friends – almost too easy.
Everyone was making plans to relocate to a different place when Sheridan turned to Caroline. “So, you want to go?”
“Go where?” asked Caroline.
“The drive-in,” said Sheridan. “There’s a double feature. I think most everyone is going,” she continued. “You need to check with your aunt?”
“I guess I’d better,” said Caroline. “I’ve never been to a drive-in movie.”
“You’ll love it. We’d better hurry though because it is getting dark and all the good spots will be taken.”
The girls rushed through the crowds and found Uncle Wyatt folding up tables.
“Uncle Wyatt,” gasped Caroline, “would it be okay if I go with Sheridan and some of the others to the drive-in?” Seeing his shocked look, she was instantly serious. “I don’t have to go, but. . . .” she shrugged. “I have never been to a drive-in before.”
Uncle Wyatt’s face split in an amused grin. “Well, far be it for me to stop you from your first drive-in.” He turned to Sheridan. “Will you bring Caroline home afterwards, Miss Sheridan?”
“Of course I will. Thanks, sir.”
-oOo-
When they arrived at the drive-in, Caroline was surprised to see that there was more going on than just people getting ready to watch a movie. There were people throwing balls and kids waiting their turn to jump rope.
“Oh, there is Robby…and Monica,” said Sheridan, watching as a car came slowly toward them and parked neatly next to theirs. Several kids climbed out.
“Guess who’s in town, Sher,” said Monica. “Cam,” she said when Sheridan said nothing.
“So?” Sheridan said, trying to appear nonchalant.
Caro watched the body language curiously. Sensing her curiosity, Sheridan turned to face Caroline, saying, “Cam is just this guy who spends his summers here with his grandparents.”
“Oh,” said Caroline.
“I need some nachos or something,” stated Sheridan. “Come with me to concessions.” Without waiting for an answer she just dragged Caroline away. “Monica is such a bitch to bring up Cam,” spat Sheridan, her voice low and shaking. “She is the reason he wasn’t in touch with me.”
“What happened?” asked Caroline.
“Last summer Cam came down from Charleston. We sort of hit it off and became really close but Monica was jealous because she thought he would go for her. It wasn’t my fault he didn’t like her, but she was pissed off about it.” She smiled and then looked away. “Well, he was supposed to meet me for the Midsummer’s Eve Bonfire but he never showed. Funny thing is, neither did Monica. I went to find him, to see if he was okay.” She dared a peek at Caroline. “I mean, wouldn’t you?”
“Sure, I would do the same. I’m sure of it,” returned Caroline soothingly.
“Well, I found him - I found them both. They were in his grandparent’s pool house – together, if you know what I mean.” She looked away but not before Caroline spotted the sheen of tears in her eyes.
Caroline placed her hand on the other girl’s arm, and said, “That’s just awful, Sher. No one deserves that.”
“Now the bastard’s back in town for the summer,” she said heatedly. “I really don’t want to see him – ever again.”
“If he comes around we can just avoid him,” suggested Caroline, staunchly. “We can avoid Monica, too.”
She turned her face toward Caroline again. “Thank you for listening. Even though we have just met, I can tell we’re going to be the best of friends.” Sheridan squeezed Caroline’s hand and smiled sweetly.
Caroline grinned back at her, and said, “Absolutely.”
-oOo-
The zombies in the movie burst through the wall, and Caroline screamed, not from the gore but from the hand that landed on her shoulder. Twisting around in her seat, she was surprised to see Sheridan behind her.
“Are you okay, Caro?”
“Sure. I’m fine, just a little jumpy from the movie,” she said.
“Everyone is talking about leaving. This is the dumbest movie ever,” she said rolling her eyes. “Sonny’s parents have a cabin on the river and we could go over there for a while. I mean, your Aunt Carol already knows you’re out with us, I don’t think she would care.”
Caroline peeked around Sheridan to see the others starting to crawl back into trucks and cars.
“Well, I guess that would be okay,” she answered, not wanting her new friend to think she was lame but wary about not telling her aunt w
here she would be. “Maybe I could just call her. I’m sure she would be fine with it but I hate not letting her know.”
Sheridan chuckled. “If you call your aunt, then we all have to tell our parents and then it will be too late. I mean, it’s not even ten minutes away from here.” The screams of the beleaguered victim in the movie cut the silence, as if playing out the frustration of the other girl.
Caroline laughed. “Alright, let’s go.”
Caroline turned and walked directly into a rather tall guy.
“Sorry – I didn’t see you there,” she said in apology, looking up into the darkest pair of eyes she had ever seen.
“My apologies,” said the gorgeous stranger slowly. “Are you okay?”
Caroline could feel a blush start its humiliating rise from her neck to her face and she took a breath to speak.
“She’s fine,” spat Sheridan coldly, appearing at Caroline’s elbow. “What do you want, Cam?”
Caroline jerked her face to her new friend and then back to the bastard.
“Cam?” she asked faintly.
The tall man trained his eyes back on her. “And you are?”
“She’s not any of your business, Camden Miller. We’re leaving. C’mon, Caro.”
Caroline stared out the window as they drove past. Cam held her gaze until they were out of sight.
-oOo-
The next morning dawned early for Caroline. She sat straight up in bed, clutching the covers to her chest. There was something about last night she should remember but it was gone. There had been a movie, a new friend, a gorgeous guy and a line of tiki torches leading to some rocks that looked out over the river.
There had been glowing eyes surrounding her, the hiss of hunger creating a stillness that was unnatural, a warning, a threat . . . a promise.
She shook the chill away, silently promising never to see another zombie movie again. The smell of bacon and coffee came wafting up the stairs. Caroline breathed deeply and dashed to the shower. Under the warm spray, she noticed all the little aches and pains, and odd stings that seemed to be all over her body. She ran her hand down her side and could feel the funny little raised welts that were in a cluster just beside her breasts. There were also some on the backs of her knees and along her neck. She cursed the mosquitos and made a mental note to grab bug spray.
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