A Very Paranormal Holiday

by J. T. Bock

  Melena knocked on the door of Edan’s house.

  Tricia’s eyes were red and swollen when she answered. Kerbasi could only assume she’d been crying. She waved the sensor inside and closed the door slowly enough that he could get through before it shut. He was invisible again. Not that he’d needed to be told to hide his presence this time.

  Melena waited until Edan’s mother shut the door and turned to face them.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  Tricia shook her head. “Edan had his doctor’s appointment yesterday. They don’t think he’s got more than a few weeks to live. This is going to be his last Christmas.”

  She sunk into a nearby brown recliner and put her head in her hands. Kerbasi’s gaze ran elsewhere. He hadn’t paid much attention to the living room before, but when faced with a crying woman he decided he’d have a look around.

  Heavy blue curtains blocked the windows, leaving the interior dim with only a side table lamp for lighting. He walked closer to it. Photos of a much more healthy Edan with scruffy brown hair were next to it. In one, he sat in his mother’s lap smiling. There was another with him opening presents at what appeared to be a birthday party. It was hard to imagine that was the same boy.

  He felt an odd lump in his throat and turned away. There were other things to look at. A shabby couch that matched the recliner and a coffee table with numerous scratches in the wood. Lines in the beige carpet where someone had recently vacuumed. He didn’t see a television anywhere. Perhaps only Edan had one.

  Melena was kneeling down in front of Tricia. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No…not really,” she replied, wiping a tissue at her nose. “The trip to the clinic took a lot out of him and he’s been sleeping all day. Just make sure he’s comfortable.”

  “We…I can do that,” Melena reassured her. She tilted her head and gave Kerbasi a meaningful look.

  He took once quick glance at the sniffling woman and raced out of there. Better to deal with the child than stay in there. He had no doubt he’d say something Melena would find inappropriate. Then he’d have to write a report about his insensitivity.

  He hurried down the hall and didn’t look back. Entering Edan’s room, he found the child lying in his bed with his eyes closed. His green comforter was snug around him. Kerbasi was surprised to find him even paler than last time. There was also a less than pleasant stench in the room. Perhaps the boy had gotten ill just before falling asleep.

  With nothing else to do, he sat down in the chair next to the bed and peered around the room. Nothing had changed except the TV wasn’t on. Not a single toy had moved. Somehow, Kerbasi found it depressing to think a boy could have so many things and yet he couldn’t use any of them.

  The minutes dragged by in silence. Even he recognized Edan needed his rest and it was best to remain quiet. He might have considered returning to the living room, but he preferred not to face the crying woman. At least here he could relax and enjoy the solitude.

  After a while he found himself looking at the boy. His shallow breathing bothered Kerbasi and reminded him how little time he had left. Melena had given him some books and pamphlets on Edan’s disease.

  They called it AML, or Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It occurred when blood cells failed to form properly, beginning in the bone marrow. Once started, the body would become littered with these cancerous cells, crowding out the healthy ones. He could hardly comprehend how such a thing could happen, especially a young human.

  Kerbasi narrowed his gaze on the boy’s chest and allowed his second vision to take over. It allowed him to see inside and study the inner workings of his body. Having some idea of what to look for he focused on the ebb and flow of Edan’s blood and then went deeper to examine the bones and marrow. With his abilities he could confirm what the doctors had already concluded. There were blast cells everywhere and very few healthy white blood cells left.

  “He underwent two bone marrow transplants and numerous chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but eventually his body stopped responding to anything they tried,” Melena said over his shoulder.

  She must have snuck up on him while he was focused on the boy. Kerbasi pulled his vision back and looked up at the sensor. Her expression was grave.

  “Did the mother leave?” he asked.

  He still didn’t want to talk to her, but his need for information about the boy took priority. Just an hour before he’d been feeling sorry for himself while this child who’d only lived eight years fought for his every breath. It didn’t make him feel better, but it did divert him from his own problems.

  “Yeah. She’ll be late to work, but hopefully they’ll understand.”

  “If not, I’ll have a talk with them.” He turned his gaze back to the boy.

  “Why? It’s not your problem.”

  Kerbasi didn’t know the answer to that. “Why is the child not in a hospital?”

  “There’s nothing more they can do for him. He spent almost two years in Anchorage getting treatment, but when the prognosis came in that he was terminal his mom wanted to bring him home to Fairbanks. They just moved back a couple weeks ago.”

  “She brought him home to die.”

  Never before had he questioned mortality, but looking at this child he couldn’t understand why Edan should have to suffer at such a young age. It didn’t seem fair.

  “Yes,” Melena answered.

  “Can’t they at least give him oxygen like I’ve seen them do in the movies?”

  She shook her head. “He didn’t want it and it only prolongs the inevitable. The most important part is that he’s comfortable.”

  They kept saying that, but looking at Edan didn’t make him think of comfort.

  “Where’s his father?” Surely the man would want to be close to his son.

  “He went missing a few years ago while out on an ice fishing trip east of here.” She bowed closer to him and spoke in an ultra low tone only he could hear. “That was back when Variola and her crew ruled the area so I suspect one of her vampires got him—or one of her werewolves.”

  Kerbasi felt his temper rising. Edan had been cursed to a difficult life even earlier than he thought.

  “Are they all dead now?” he asked.

  “Most of them. I let Emily’s mom go, but she hadn’t been a vampire for long. I doubt she had a chance to cause too much harm yet.”

  The sensor had allowed her concern for her teenage ward to cloud her judgment.

  He clenched his fists. “You should have killed her mother, too.”

  Melena sighed. “I’ll be in the other room if you need me.”

  Kerbasi grunted.

  He didn’t know how much time passed, but to his surprise Edan eventually opened his eyes. The knowledge he saw in them was far greater than any human his age should have.

  The boy reached for his water, but Kerbasi got to it faster and handed it to him. He watched as Edan took a few sips before taking it back. What should he say? This was much easier when the child had been alert and wanting to play games.

  “Did my mom leave?” Edan asked.

  “She did. I believe your aunt will be here soon.”

  His face fell. “So I missed most of my visit with you?”

  “Was there something you’d wished to do?” Kerbasi felt bad about this as well—to his astonishment.

  Edan hesitated. “Can you show me some of your magic?”

  He shouldn’t for the same reasons he shouldn’t show his wings, but perhaps something small. Something that could make the boy smile. Kerbasi had to think over what he could do that would please Edan. Most of his magical skills were not the friendly kind. Then he remembered something from his early days, during his first century after being made, that used to amuse him. Before he’d become jaded and full of power.

  Kerbasi lifted his palm. Concentrating hard, he willed a small ball of light to appear on it. Then he enlarged it to the size of a baseball. The room lit up and Edan raised his head.


  “Cool! Can I touch it?”

  At the moment, it had no physical form and was merely energy. Kerbasi worked to give it a gel-like substance that would allow the light to remain bright. He’d never done such a thing before, but was pleased that he found he could do it.

  “Here.” He floated it over to Edan. “Take it in your hand.”

  Kerbasi’s head began to ache from performing the feat, but to see the boy’s excitement made it worth the trouble.

  “Wow.” Edan put both hands around the ball and squeezed.

  It was difficult not to flinch. Keeping the ball substantial was even more draining than when it was just light.

  “You know,” Edan said, giving him a worshipful look, “I didn’t think you could really do magic. I thought Melena just made it up like how adults like to tell fairytales.”

  Tales that weren’t entirely untrue.

  Kerbasi leaned close to the bed. “This must be our secret. You cannot ever tell anyone.”

  “I won’t,” he swore.

  Edan handed the ball back and Kerbasi pushed it to glow a little brighter before extinguishing it. The room seemed darker after that. As if something precious had been there and now it was gone.

  “You should say your goodbyes,” Melena said, coming into the room. “Edan’s aunt is pulling up.”

  Kerbasi rose to his feet and put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Stay strong. I’ll return tomorrow.”

  “Promise?”

  “He’ll be here,” Melena reassured him.

  This time, he looked forward to coming back.

  Chapter 5

  Kerbasi worked his knife through the block of wood, carving it with precise movements to guide the shape. It was a hobby he’d picked up in Purgatory centuries ago. He collected the wood himself and had brought the knife with him when he’d come to earth. It was not something he wished to share with anyone else—especially not those who lived in the house across the lawn.

  A scream tore through the air. What now?

  Setting his carving in the box, he closed the lid and pushed it under his bed. Then he went to the sole window in his shack and pushed the thin curtains aside. The sun had set soon after he and Melena had gotten home from Edan’s, but the back porch light provided more than enough illumination for the two teenagers who’d just come out.

  Emily packed a ball of snow and tossed it at Hunter, hitting him in the arm. The young werewolf retaliated and tossed an even larger one at her. She failed to duck in time and let out a squeal when it hit her on her shoulder and splattered onto her face. They were always like this. Playing silly games and being too loud. Melena thought it was cute. He didn’t.

  Kerbasi let the curtain drop and glanced at his bed. Perhaps he should return to carving. They couldn’t throw snowballs at each other forever and then he’d have his quiet again.

  A loud thump struck his window.

  “Kerbasi!” Emily yelled. “Come out here and join us.”

  He jerked his door open. “I shall do no such thing. You’re behaving like children.”

  Emily and Hunter had snowballs in their hands they tossed his way. He slammed the door shut. Two quick thumps and then a peal of laughter. How he missed the days when Melena had forbidden Emily from interacting with him. Now the girl taunted him all the time with no reprisal.

  “Learn to have some fun, Kerbasi. Come out,” she called.

  As if he’d even consider it.

  After a few minutes the teens gave up and went back to their game. He peered through the curtains again. Both had heavy jackets and knit caps on, which was good since they were rolling about on the ground. Hunter pinned Emily down and smashed a ball of snow into her face, ordering her to surrender—which she refused. Instead she got a handful of it as well and stuffed it into his ear. He howled and leaped away from her, trying to dig it out with his gloves still on his hands.

  Kerbasi wondered if Edan would be doing something similar were it not for his health. There was a window next to the boy’s bed, but the curtains were always drawn shut when he came over. Did he ever ask to open them so he could see outside? Had he ever played in the snow?

  The guardian was surprised to find himself thinking such things. He’d always focused on his job, rehabilitating his prisoners by whatever methods he deemed necessary. Even if the torture hadn’t made them better people, it had been his hope that he’d make them so miserable they’d try very hard to never come back.

  It had usually worked, except with Lucas. He’d returned numerous times, beginning almost two millennia ago. Perhaps the problem was the nephilim had nothing to keep him on earth until recently. With Melena around his behavior had improved, though the guardian would never give her credit for it. He’d done the hard work while she just made staying out of Purgatory more preferable.

  “Kerbasi, we’re leaving in five minutes. You better be out front by then,” Melena shouted from the back door.

  He poked his head out of the shed. “Where are we going?”

  It wasn’t as if he had a choice. The arm cuffs they each wore didn’t allow them to be more than half a mile apart—so as to ensure he couldn’t escape her. She was immune to the magic in them, though, so he was the one to get dragged if they got too far apart.

  “Christmas shopping.” She grinned.

  He couldn’t have been more excited if a boulder crashed into his head.

  ***

  “Did we have to bring the vampire with us?” Kerbasi grumbled from the back seat of the Jeep.

  “The vampire has a name, you know.” Kariann gave him a saucy smile from the front passenger seat.

  She was a tall woman with a large bone structure and long blond hair. At a little over six centuries old she couldn’t come close to matching Kerbasi with power, but she knew how to intimidate him in other ways. Ways he didn’t want to think about. They’d picked her up at her house before heading into Fairbanks. Most of Melena’s friends, like her, lived outside of town.

  “I’m well aware of your name,” Kerbasi said, turning his gaze toward the window.

  They were pulling into the mall parking lot, which was no easy task since the entry was filled with vehicles parked in a haphazard fashion. Snow made it impossible to see the lines.

  “Maybe we could go to that new adult toy shop after we’re finished here,” Kariann suggested. “Kerbasi would love that.”

  “No, he would not.” She wasn’t fooling him with those devices again.

  He’d thought she was showing him a back massager—so she’d claimed—but he’d soon figured out the true purpose of the device. Never again did he want to see one of those.

  “Oh, come on. You can’t stay a virgin forever.” Kariann gave him a pouty look.

  One would never guess she was a fierce warrior. The woman could use a sword in ways that were far more impressive than those awful devices she tried to tease him with.

  “Give him a break, Kariann,” Melena said. “He’s been good this week and I don’t want to ruin it.”

  “Fine. You two win—this time.” The vampire sighed.

  They climbed out of the Jeep and made their way across the parking lot. Kerbasi hadn’t seen much of earth, but he’d been told the mall in Fairbanks was rather small in comparison to most. If the shopping centers in New Orleans he’d seen last summer were anything to go by they were right. The selection was far better there, but at least the one here had become familiar to him. He could always recognize when they’d brought in new merchandise and always hoped there would be something he might like.

  “What do you need to get?” Kariann asked Melena.

  “Shoes for Emily and sunglasses for Lucas.”

  “Sunglasses?” The vampire lifted her brows.

  Melena shrugged. “He’s started looking for his brother in the southern half of the U.S. and just relocated to Los Angeles. I sort of broke his last pair so I’m getting him new ones.”

  “How’d you break them?”

  The sensor blushed. “I
’d rather not say.”

  “Right.” Kariann laughed. “Well, how about you get those while I take Kerbasi around to some of the other stores. Text me when you’re done.”

  “Wait just a moment, don’t I get a say in this?” he asked. They were always talking over his head like he wasn’t even there.

  “No,” both women said at once.

  Kariann took him by the arm. “We’ll have fun, you’ll see.”

  He highly doubted that.

  They entered the mall and Melena hurried off toward the shoe store. He gazed longingly in that direction, wishing he could go there as well. Kerbasi loved getting new shoes after discovering how much better they were than the sandals he’d always worn in Purgatory.

  “Where are you taking me?” he asked as Kariann guided him down the corridor.

  “Nowhere in particular, yet. I just wanted to get you away from Melena so I could talk to you about something.” She waved him to an empty bench.

  He took a seat and waited until she settled next to him. “What did you wish to speak to me about?”

  “Are you getting Mel or Emily anything for Christmas?” Kariann’s expression had turned serious.

  “Why would I do that?” He hardly even liked them.

  “Look, I see how things are. You keep your distance as much as you can from them and they mostly do the same to you. It’s gotta be hard always being on the outside. If you just put more effort into it they’d accept you.”

  He brushed an invisible speck of dirt from his pants. “I do not wish to be accepted.”

  “Look me in the eyes when you say that.”

  “Must we have this conversation?” His gaze roamed the area, plotting his escape from her.

  “Yes, we do. Because I can see through that gruff exterior you try to show the world. You’re lonely. Admit it.”

  Maybe if he hid in the men’s bathroom she wouldn’t come for him.