Soul Inheritance

by Honey A. Hutson

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  Nigel stirred in his sleep as Greystone whispered in his ear, allowing him to watch as Jim and Katherine pursued carnal lust. Anger and jealousy awakened within, along with the strange darkness. He let it rise, let it fill him, expand outward until he woke from the medicated stupor.

  Disinfectants stung his nose. A heart monitor beeped as he raised his hand to shade his eyes from the bright light only to find he was handcuffed to the bed.

  Greystone reached over, clipped the cuffs as if they were mere string. “Come, I’ll clear the way. We must get to the lake. He’s fucking our women. Giving Katherine strength to suppress Miranda. I need you to draw him out.”

  With a touch Greystone brought Nigel to full consciousness and to his feet. The injuries went unnoticed as he foraged for clothes, found none. There was a guard outside the door. Quietly he moved to watch. The man seemed to be paying little attention as he read from a paperback novel. With silent precision he slid out the door and efficiently snapped the neck of the guard, dragged him back into the room.

  After taking the man's clothes he shuffled toward the exit. His legs were not completely useable, causing him to drag them along. It drew the attention of a nurse who followed. At the exit a night watchman tried to stop his progress.

  “Hey, where ya get them cloths?” Before he could reach Nigel he was suddenly thrown back into the wall. Long red marks appeared on his throat and chest, opening up only seconds later to gushing wounds as Greystone appeared from mid-air. The nurse screamed and tried to run as Nigel leered in front of her. Then he shoved her into an empty triage room.

  Greystone was at his ear. “No, we don’t have time for that. You go get the guard’s keys, I’ll take care of this.”

  With keys in hand Nigel struggled through the parking lot, pushing the keyless entry, watching for the lights of the car they belonged to blink. A ford Ranger responded. He was out of the parking lot and on his way before Greystone finished with the nurse.

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  Greystone breathed deeply of the kill, felt it feeding him as he grew stronger, felt the well in him reach the top, overflow. Now he could face Katherine, give Miranda the strength she’d need to take over, for good.

  Chapter fourteen

  Snuggling into their combined sleeping bags they’d almost faded into sleep when the first haunting cries began to fill the night. The howls they’d heard welcoming her earlier were not the same as the songs they sang now. Their cries raised every hair on Jim’s body. The sounds escalated as they drifted up through the heavy night air, creeping up their spines, forever imprinted in their memories. Katherine snuggled closer, ran her hands soothingly over the goose bumps on his arms. She’d never known such a chill, even in the dreams. The wolves sounded as if they were close, but down in a hollow. The cries echoed and resounded all around the little cabin. The walls suddenly felt thin and weak.

  Miranda offered her glimpses of them from her memory. Huge shadows of beasts as they moved through the forest, imprints of large paws on the shores. The glow of eyes as she stared into the darkness from her room. They prowled the property, an old fashioned sort of security system. Baring any chance of intruders. These were not the romantic sounds of Miranda’s walks with Charles, but a reality learned much later. Katherine shivered, causing Jim to close his arms more tightly around her body.

  “If they’re normal wolves they’re not interested in us.” He sounded neither convincing nor convinced. His words faded as he spoke.

  “They’re not normal wolves,” she whispered back. “But they won’t harm me.”

  “What about me?” he asked quietly.

  A moment of silence lay between them before she answered.

  “I don’t know. Only if they saw you as a threat. Probably not as long as you’re with me.” She hoped she was right, but she couldn’t be sure and Miranda wasn’t telling.

  “If I’m with you I’m with Miranda, right?” He bent his head to gauge her expression.

  Thinking for a moment she slowly nodded, “I guess so.” She buried her head in his chest. “I won’t let them hurt you.” She hoped it was true as she felt the power stir.

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  Nigel drove thru the night, oblivious to pain, sights set only on reaching the lake. Maps were no longer necessary. He knew exactly where he was going and the quickest way to get there. He pushed the accelerator to the floor as the truck glided over the pavement. A determination drove him. He never felt so obsessed, so possessive. No one else would have her. Katherine belonged to him.

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  Sleep would not come easily tonight, if at all. She lay listening to the continuing chorus. By the time it stopped she could hear Jim’s slow, steady breathing. Carefully she slipped from under his arm, gently covered him. The night air was cool so she dressed again, dug a sweater out of her pack.

  Taking a small hand towel from the pack she went to the window and wiped away the veil of dust. She stood looking out into the clearing, the moonlight streaming in through the tops of the trees. Fog was rising, moving through the moonbeams like smoke from a campfire. Katherine stood transfixed.

  It was beautiful in an odd sort of way. Memories of nights like this, lovely ones crawled from the past, reinforced the loyalty she felt for the home she’d never seen. Now that she was here she never wanted to leave. She could fix this, there was no doubt, she could fix whatever she had to and rebuild the ancestral home.

  Movement caught her eye as a shadow moved through one of the moonbeams. Staring hard she saw another to the left. Shadows began to move within shadows, just to the edge of the light. The glowing orbs began to form, bright and low to the ground as the shadows watched her at the window until they formed a line covering the circumference of the clearing. There were at least half a dozen she could see, probably just as many on the other side. They didn’t venture in, but kept their distance, not offering any threat.

  Katherine crawled back into the sleeping bag beside Jim and closed her eyes. Now that she was here, now that she knew she could protect herself, maybe it was time to do a little exploring before they headed out tomorrow. Taking a deep breath she relaxed, concentrated on the exhilaration and exhaustion of the evening. Slowly she drifted away into sleep, where she found herself at the lake again. This time she pressed Miranda for answers.

  The children were the memory she sought. At first Miranda resisted, then she lead Katherine down the path toward what she knew. They were suddenly in Miranda’s room. Passion was burning within and she fought hard to suppress it, knew it was wrong. She’d packed a few clothes and personal things into a sack and was slipping down the back stairs, thru the kitchen into the night.

  Out in the moonlight she made for the cover of the trees. The blood rushed to her ears as she moved quickly, picked up the pace as she was only steps away. A rustle in the woods brought her to a standstill. From the shadows of the trees eyes sparkled and soft growls emanated.

  Dropping her bag she turned to run, heard the padding of feet. A sheer moment of silence came as the beast leapt, paws meeting her back, knocking her to the ground, pinning her down under it’s immense weight. It snarled over her, saliva dripping onto the side of her face as she cringed there in the damp grass, waiting for the sharp teeth to sink into her throat.

  “Away!” Greystone commanded.

  The animal responded by bounding off into the woods. Miranda felt the weight lifted, then herself drawn up by one arm, lifted into the strong arms of the man she loved who was no longer a man. Opening her eyes she found the beast, but saw the features of her lover. The heart was not as strong as the mind, but it was too late for either.

  “This must end.” He said simply and walked toward the lake.

  As they approached she saw the family gathered, waiting. Fear set in. She no longer fought to escape, but resigned herself to fate. They parted, allowing him to walk to the water’s edge where
the children stood waiting. Greystone waded knee deep, held her upper body bent backward over one arm, let her feet dangle in the cold water.

  To her horror each child stepped forward. Preston carried a flask, which he poured over his mother’s head, letting it run through her hair. It felt slick and oily as the family began to murmur softly, each pause brought an escalation of volume, the chant repeated again and again. Sandra offered her gift to her father. A long, sharp dagger, thin and frail, but no less deadly than any other.

  “If I can’t have you in this life, then I will condemn you to be reborn again and again into this family until you understand. I have given you all a priceless gift. The ability to build souls with great power, born over and over to the same power, the same money, the same place, the same knowledge. Never starting from the beginning, but picking up where you left off. Able to grow stronger with each life lived.” He looked around at them all. “You have the power of persuasion, control of anyone or anything, the power to command your enemy’s fall by will alone. The power to repel anything weaker than yourself. I have given myself for this and more. For your very survival.”

  He looked back at Miranda. “You don’t know the power you possess. You’ll be reborn into this family, combining your power with our own. It will occur again and again until you understand, control it, harness it.”

  Raising his hand high overhead the dagger glinted in the light of the torches as tears ran down her face and the smell of the lake consumed her.

  “I’m sorry. I love you too much to let you go.” He whispered as the blade sliced through the air and crushed bone before piercing her heart.

  Power surged through her body at the moment of impact and spread outward in a blue shimmer that moved over the entire lake and its surroundings then dissipated. Greystone’s tears ran down his face, splashed onto her’s as vision faded and she felt herself slide into the water and down, down toward the bottom.

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  Jim felt her struggling in his arms, leaned up on one elbow and watched her expressions change. She’d told him of the dreams, but she didn’t say if he should try to wake her when they occurred. He got up, turned on a light and paced. Then she began to fight as if restrained.

  As he watched horrified she lifted off the floor. Her upper body seemed supported and her legs dangled. Tears ran down her face as she calmed, her eyes opening wide in terror. Jim rushed forward, reached out. A shock wave rippled out, knocking him into the wall with tremendous force. The blue shimmer shook the structure as it passed through it; dust fell like snow from the rafters and chimney.

  “Katherine!” Scurrying across the floor he found his feet, slid his arms underneath her as whatever was holding her gave way. Supporting her weight he sank to his knees, calling her name, wrapping his arms around her there on the floor.

  She was still and cold in his embrace.

  “Katherine! Katherine, wake up.”

  Jim shook her, felt his heart swelling as he realized she wasn’t breathing. Just as he was about to lay her on the floor to start CPR her body stiffened, eyes shot open again and she began to gasp for breath.

  “Oh God, oh God, easy breaths, easy breaths.” He nearly smothered her as he clutched her to his chest until she had to push against him.

  She gasped, “Air, let me breathe.”

  Carefully he laid her back on the sleeping bags, pulled one end around her freezing body. Stroking her hair he laid beside her providing heat, his body warm and comforting. They didn’t speak for a long time, not until they heard the paws moving on the porch.

  It paced there, then was joined by another. Scratching sounds came, then it pounded on the bolted door, throwing its weight against it. Jim scrambled for his pack, pulled out a 9mm and backed toward Katherine. She laid a gentle hand on his arm, lowered it to his side.

  “Wait.”

  Standing in front of him she slid her arms around him, squeezed her eyes shut as she concentrated. The blue shimmering ripple emanated from her again, this time not affecting him at all, but spreading outward, through the walls with a shudder. Yelping ensued, the sounds of retreat as they withdrew into the forest.

  Knees weak, Katherine sank toward the floor. Jim caught her, put her back to bed where he settled beside her. Exhausted she slept soundly, dreamlessly, until morning.

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  Thunder rolled across the sky early the next morning. The windows were darkened as Katherine squinted to see Jim standing by one of them, looking out.

  “What time is it?” she asked, sitting up.

  “It’s nearly nine. Ya were sleepin’ so well I figured you needed the rest.” He came to sit beside her. “They left after that... power surge. Are ya okay?”

  “Yea. I’m fine. I was just really drained.” Her stomach growled. “And hungry.”

  Jim smiled. “Good. I think I’ve got somethin’ over there in the packs. Ya stay right he’re and I’ll take care of it. Don’t look like we’re goin’ anywhere for a while. It’s getting’ ready ta storm.”

  As an afterthought he leaned over and kissed her. Hooking one arm around his neck as he withdrew Katherine pulled him back and made it a kiss worth remembering.

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  Nigel had made it to the open gate, proceeded on to where the Jeep was parked. After idling for a moment to glare at the abandoned car he drove on into the trees, following the clear trail of crushed vegetation as the first drops of rain hit the windshield. A little while later he pulled in behind Jim’s truck, being sure to block the exit.

  As he got out Nigel took the keys and flung them into the woods. Rage burned in his eyes as he headed off through the woods toward the cabin, dragging his feet along as quickly as possible.

  As he stumbled into the clearing he looked at the worn cabin.

  “Some inheritance. I’ll clear-cut the whole place and then sell it off, one lot at a time.” The hideous laughter rang though the trees and resounded in the cabin.

  As Katherine pulled on her jeans she wandered toward the window. Laughter came to her ears, familiar and yet different. She froze, looked at Jim who was looking back.

  “What’s that?” he whispered.

  “Sounded like… that can’t be.” She went to the window, saw Nigel standing off in the trees.

  The horrified look on her face drew Jim to stand behind her. A man stood in the forest, leaning on a tree for support. The face was dark, something white was wrapped around the neck.

  “Who’s that?” he asked, filtering what she’d told him over the short time they’d had.

  “Nigel.” She backed away, stared around the room. “That can’t be, can it?”

  “No. He was torn up really bad. He’d still be in the clinic. Maybe it’s just supposed to look like Nigel. But why?”

  “Kathy! Oh, Kathy! You slut! I know you’re in there with him. Who ever he is he’s dead! I’ll deal with you later!” Nigel screamed from outside.

  “Shit. That’s Nigel alright.” She felt the weak woman from North Carolina try to slip in, fear of him coming with it, fought her back.

  Jim looked out the window, anger shading his face. “He’s staggerin’ around. How th hell’d he get out he’re?” He headed for the door, tucking the gun in his belt.

  “No, Jim. He couldn’t have gotten here on his own.”

  That didn’t stop him. A lovers anger kicked in as he unbolted the door, went to ensure that Nigel was not going to offer a threat to Katherine. An innate need to protect her drove him out into the clearing, Katherine on his heals. He looked to where Nigel had stood, found he was gone. Movement on the trail caught his eye. Nigel was moving off in that awkward stagger.

  “Ya don’t need somethin’ else out there ta worry about. We’ll tie him up and leave him here until we leave.” Jim moved toward the trail.

  The cop in him thought of the murdered woman, the man in him of Katherine
as he pursued Nigel into the trees. She stumbled along trying to put her shoes on as she went.

  “Damn it, wait up. You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

  The pleas went unheeded as the rain started to fall in earnest. Jim was out of sight in only moments. Hurrying along she tried to catch up. The path seemed to go on and on, twisting and turning. The rain was cold and hard as it filtered through the trees. Each drop felt like a pebble on her skin. She quickened her step, finally saw Jim leaning against a tree.

  “I don’t know how, but I managed ta loose him,” he said as she approached.

  Katherine caught movement from behind a tree between them. At first it was just a shadow. Then it got dark, took on a shape. She stood frozen as she watched it step between them. Jim reached for the gun, watched for Katherine to move out of the line of fire.

  It was a beast with the ears of a wolf. Slanted, sickening yellow-green eyes watched them from either side of its narrow head. A long pointed nose led to thin lips pulled back into a snarl. It seemed to be deciding between them. Katherine concentrated, closed her eyes tight. Jim saw it coming this time, clung to the nearest tree. The wave radiated outward, shook the trees and nearly dislodged Jim, but did nothing to affect the creature. If anything it pissed it off as it hissed in her direction.

  “There are mice in my maze, trying to get out. What fun, what fun, you can’t escape.” It grinned, revealing rows of sharp teeth gleaming through the down pour.

  Its hands were grotesquely sticky with long sharp needles at its fingertips. It began to grow outward, spreading until it was twice its original width. Then it split and there were two of them standing between them.

  Jim and Katherine looked at each other. Miranda could offer no help on this one, but seemed panicked herself, unsure why the power did not work on this thing.