by P. R. Mason
Rom dropped the ghoul to the floor. He crawled under the beam. Once he was on the other side, I pushed the ghoul through to him and ducked under the beam myself. The floor’s sway and swing made it impossible for Rom to pick the ghoul up again. He tried, but a pitch to the right sent him to his knees and Namia’s blanket bundle crashed down. The already rickety floorboards cracked under her and for a moment a spike of fear shot through me. What would happen to the wormhole if the floor broke open completely?
After that we were more careful. By tacit agreement, Rom pulled on one end of her while I pushed at the other.
The walls appeared to be expanding and shrinking at a more rapid rate than when we’d passed through the wormhole four hours earlier. Hunks of ceiling rained down on us regularly this time and the groan of the wormhole had heightened in pitch to a constant whine.
Rom reached the midpoint of the hall when I saw a massive crack expand in length and it started to open just ahead of him.
“Hurry,” I urged, pushing the blanket bundle with all my strength.
Rom glanced over his shoulder at the ceiling. His face was almost purple with exertion, twisted.
If he freaked out on ghoul bite right now we would never make it out of here.
We’d been able to push the blanket around or through the chunks on the floor until we came upon a pile near the end of the hall. The height and width of the rubble pile blocked our way completely.
“Lifting is required,” Rom shouted.
Stopping, we each hoisted an end. Rom placed his part of the bundle on top of the rubble pile while keeping the ghoul's midsection supported on one hand. I walked my end of her forward to feed her over the pile. As I placed my right foot down, the plank of floorboard beneath me broke and my ankle twisted violently, sending me toppling into the undulating sidewall. Rom grabbed for me and I clutched at his hand but missed as I hit the wall and it disintegrated around me.
I found myself with my right side hanging through the broken wall. On the other side, I didn't see a room or even the outside cityscape. Instead, I glimpsed a black airless void and I knew that to fall into it meant my death.
A strong hand seized my arm in a vise grip. Rom dragged me back from the void and into the hall.
After helping me stand, we hobbled to the rubble pile and crawled over to the other side where the ghoul lay. The blanket had been pulled off her head but the gag remained in place. Namia’s eyes were tightly shut and with the movement around us I couldn’t tell if she was breathing. But whether she was alive was the least of my worries.
Zen became visible standing at the head of the stairs with his hand outstretched to us. Rising, I began to inch forward as Rom followed pulling the ghoul’s bundle. The distance to Zen expanded and what had seemed like a few steps away turned into ten then twenty. Finally, Zen grasped my hand and tugged me out of the hall and into his arms. Twisting, he set me on the step below before helping Rom drag the ghoul out.
I moved down a few steps to make room. Panting to catch my breath, I plopped down to sit. Rom also seemed to need time to recover.
“How long were we gone?” I asked.
“An hour,” Zen replied. “How long did you stay there?”
“About four hours. We arrived on May 17th at about 8 a.m.”
Zen lifted the ghoul and propped her against the wall.
“I’m sorry this one got by me.” Zen gave Namia a shot with his elbow. “I wasn’t expecting her.”
“What?” My breath caught in my throat. “Are you saying Namia followed us through the wormhole? That’s how she got there?”
“Yeah,” Zen said. “You two had just disappeared down the hall when she showed up here and rushed past Senji and me.”
“No.” I shook my head. Soon all of me shook. “No, no, no, no…” I couldn’t stop myself from repeating the word.
“Kizzy! I’m sorry,” Zen pleaded. “We didn’t have any weapons and I didn’t want Senji to get bitten.”
Rom said something I didn’t understand. His voice became an angry buzzing in my ears. I wondered when I had begun rocking back and forth. And that was the last thought before my brain wound down like an old tired clock.
Chapter Nineteen
“Kizzy.” Rom’s deep baritone in my ear roused me but I couldn’t respond. “Entreaties,” he murmured. “Return to us.”
His touch on my cheek, over my shoulders, down my arm, and along my back enraged me. Gentleness was the last thing I wanted. Even realizing I lay on the soft surface of a bed angered me. Soft bed? I deserved nails.
"You're safe at Zen's house now, Kizzy." Petra's fingers stroked the hair back off my face. “It's going to be all right.”
Really? I wanted to ask. How did you come to that conclusion? How could anything be all right ever again?
“Why is she just lying there?” Chase asked. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Maybe the depth of your stupidity put her into a coma,” Senji drawled.
“You’re the stupid one,” Chase countered.
“At least my IQ isn’t the equivalent of pi,” Senji responded.
“Are you saying I’m as stupid as a pie?”
“The mathematical pi, not the baked goods,” Senji said. “You know, 3.1415—”
“Jupiter’s eyes,” Rom screamed. “Halt that prattle else I shall—”
“Calm down, Rom,” Zen shouted.
“Chase, sweetums,” Petra said. “Why don’t you go make me some tea?” I heard the door open and close. “That’ll keep him busy for awhile.” Petra’s hand returned to my forehead. “Now, Kizzy—” she began.
“Leave me alone, can’t you?” I didn't open my eyes. My voice was faint even to my own ears.
“Out everyone,” Rom ordered.
The sounds of them filing out soothed me. Thank heavens. They’d finally given up on me. I could return to my cocoon.
“Kizzy, you must rouse.” Rom lay down next to me and I felt his arms embrace my body.
With reluctance I raised my lids and stared over his shoulder at the faded floral wallpaper of what appeared to be Zen's guest bedroom.
“If we are to journey to Dorcha immediate departure is required.” Rom's breath was warm against my cheek.
“I’m not going to Dorcha. Wasn’t it you who said I’d led you on repeated fool’s errands.”
“The effects of the ghoul bite spoke and not I.”
“The ghoul bite was right. Everything I’ve done has made things worse."
“We must go,” Rom insisted.
“That’s a change from your original position,” I said. “You tried everything short of killing me to keep me from opening the vortex. The ghoul bite wasn’t influencing you then. I’m doing what you wanted so just leave me alone.”
“Going to Dorcha is a violation of my vow to family and empire. Yet there is truth to your reasoning of earlier. We must enter Dorcha.”
“No.” I closed my eyes again. “No more.”
“We go.” He shook me until my eyes opened again.
“Don’t you understand what I’ve done?” I asked, tears coming to my eyes and trickling down my cheeks. “I’ve destroyed my father and killed Adam.”
“No.”
“Yes. I killed Adam and now there’s nothing left.”
“No,” Rom insisted.
“I led that ghoul Namia into the past.” Turning my head into the pillow, my next words were muffled. “I led her to my father.”
“You could not know.” Rom pulled me into a sitting position and, grasping my chin, forced me to face him.
“I blundered into it but that doesn’t make it less my fault,” I said. “If it weren’t for me, the ghoul wouldn’t have bitten my father and he wouldn’t have gone crazy. He never would have shot Adam and me. We never would have even been on that bridge.”
“Truth. Yet, for these things you are not at fault.” Rom's thumb caressed my trembling lips. “The ghoul and her prince have the blame. Do you wish to allow them to d
estroy Juliette and Billy the douchebag?”
Rom’s use of the word douchebag produced an involuntary smile but the effect was short lived.
“If we go back to Dorcha, I’ll just cause more disasters, more screw-ups,” I said.
“Without trying we shall certainly fail and I shall be dead or worse. Insanity.”
“Go alone if you want to.” I jerked away from him and hid my face in the pillow again. “You’re better off without me.”
The growl from Rom quickly turned to a roar. Seizing my arm, he jerked me up. His arms went roughly under my knees and around my back as he tore me away from my grip on the bed and lifted me. Rom carried me out of the room and into the hall past my curious friends and a surprised Zen.
“Rom, don’t—" Zen began.
“Cease interference!”
Rom stomped his way to the psychomanteum room and kicked the half closed door. His action sent it open wide and crashing into the wall behind. Once inside, he practically tossed me to the floor, although I did land on my feet. Rom slammed the door shut, closing us in. He moved to light the candles as I crossed to the exit, intent on leaving.
“Halt.” Rom spun around. His whispered tone was far more ominous than his previous yelling. “Control of my actions…I cannot…You must not…”
Not knowing what Rom would do if I failed to obey him, I returned to the center of the room. He finished lighting the candles. Without any active meditation from me the fog swirled in the mirror. The mist cleared revealing an image of Juliette surrounded by nothingness. No furniture. No landscape. No nothing. She stood in front of a white background as if she were planted in the midst of a cloud. Her mouth moved and it took a few moments for her words to register.
“Kizzy, help me. Please. Help me,” she pleaded, her blue eyes wide and swimming with tears. “Don’t leave me here.”
“Juliette,” I called. “I hear you. Where is the prince keeping you?”
My stepsister had no reaction, as if she could not see or hear me.
“Why?” she cried. ““Why haven’t you come for me?”
Gradually, her image faded and Prince Leopold appeared in his Palace room.
“Yes, dear Kizzy. Why have you not come for your poor sister?” he taunted with a smirk. “Seems quite cruel of you.”
“Why can’t Juliette hear me?” I demanded.
The prince ignored my question. His smirk widened to a grin and his eyes sparkled.
“Ah,” the prince continued. “There is your friend Rom. Red face, rapid breathing, obvious recent fit of rage. He’s no doubt suffering the effects of the ghoul bite.” The prince made a tisking sound and sauntered to the flower arrangement at the room's center. “So easily remedied.” He toyed with a leaf. “If only you would come for a visit.”
Beside me I heard Rom’s breathing increase to angry puffing and a low growl rumbled in his throat. I felt his energy ramping up to a rage again.
“However—” Prince Leopold's expression changed as his lips formed a sad pout. “Perhaps it is too late. He’s such a handsome boy. What a shame to lose him to lunacy.”
Rom went batshit. His growl turned to an unintelligible bellow. Twisting, he turned to the table. He grasped it, upsetting the candles and sending them crashing to the floor. With the table in hand, Rom raised it over his head and marched toward the mirror.
“Yes.” Prince Leopold gave a chortling laugh. “Too late.”
“Aghhhhhhhhhh,” Rom screamed as he swung the table into the mirror, smashing the glass. Shards flew and I flung up my hands to shield my face. Rom swung the table repeatedly hammering away at the already broken mirror. Finally, he stopped and threw the table, now mostly broken itself, to the floor. He stood, his breathing heaving, before collapsing to a cross-legged sitting position on the floor. He bent over with his head in his hands.
I went to him and knelt by his side before placing my arms around his shoulders. He resisted me for a moment before he sank against me and buried his face in my neck. Rocking him as his breath calmed, I lost interest in my own misery and thought about— truly thought about—what he faced.
“Kizzy,” he said finally, his eyes meeting mine. “I lack strength for a journey to Dorcha alone.”
His gaze went to a spot over my shoulder.
“My duty calls for your death and also my own. Performance of duty has always been preeminent for me. Yet you destroyed the old me.”
“That’s me.” I gave a sad laugh and turned my head away. “I'm a people destroyer.”
“Yet you remade me also.” Rom reached up to turn my face back to his. “You showed me right instead of duty. Caring instead of obligation. Devotion instead of edict.” Rom’s gaze bored into me. “My father, my government, would say I dishonor myself. Yet I want nothing more than life. Life to live with you.”
His lips covered mine in a gentle kiss.
“So, will you not journey with me to Dorcha?" Rom kissed me again.
“That’s unfair,” I said between more of his quick kisses.
“Unfair?” he asked pulling back. “What?”
“Those kisses.”
“Why?” he asked.
“They make me want to live again, too.” In spite of my father and in spite of Adam, I wanted to live. I might feel ashamed that I did, but I did. I wanted to live. And I wanted to go to Dorcha.
PART III: CONCILIATION
“He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.” - Friedrich Nietzsche
Chapter Twenty
“So what do we know?” Zen asked as the group of us sat round his dining table. “Prince Leopold seems to parallel a figure in our history who was the son of Queen Victoria.”
“I think he was the queen’s son in the Dorcha dimension also,” I said. “Everything he told me about himself was similar to our history except the part where his hemophilia cure turned him into a vampire.”
“So,” Zen acknowledged with a nod. “If that’s true then the palace you're seeing through the psychomanteum could be Buckingham Palace in their version of London since that was the residence of Queen Victoria and her family."
“We don’t know that for certain.” Senji black brows converged in a frown.
“It’s all we have to go on. “ Zen stood. He went into the library-parlor and returned a few minutes later with a map of London he laid out on the table.
“Juliette, Franky and even Billy all ended up in the palace pretty quickly after going through the vortex.” I pointed to the position of Buckingham Palace on the map. “So we could assume the portal must dump out somewhere close by."
“Even if it is Buckingham Palace and if the portal dumps out near it,” Senji said. “You still don’t know you’ll be able to find it. There’s no reason to think their version of London looks anything like the one on this map.”
“Truth.” Rom's lips quirked. “Yet I am certain we will find the prince. Or more exactly the prince will find us as he found Juliette and the others.”
“And if Juliette is with him we'll find her.” I slammed my hand on the table.
“So the plan is for you go through the vortex and wander around until the vampire prince finds you?” Senji asked.
“Pretty much,” I said.
Rom took my hand and nodded.
“Well, it’s good to be flexible, adaptable, and spontaneous.” Petra's smile was insincere but I suppose she was trying to be encouraging.
“There’s spontaneous and there’s completely freakin' crazy ass wild.” Senji waved his hands. “Do you hear yourselves? If Juliette is with the prince and if the palace is the palace, and if London is London.... If, if, if.” His gaze sent daggers toward everyone at the table. “Doesn’t anyone else see that this isn’t a good idea?”
“Shush it, Senji,” Petra ordered. “Kizzy and Rom can do it.”
“Yeah, Senji,” I said. “You were geeked about all this inter-dimensional stuff. Why are you so negative now?”
“I just don
’t want any more dead friends,” Senji yelled. “Franky was one too many.”
That shut us up.
After a few seconds, Zen broke the silence. “So we’ll just have to increase the odds for you a bit. You’ll can take a shitload of weapons with you,”
“That’ll be good.” I smiled weakly. “But we do need a firm plan about what to do with Namia while we’re gone.” Right now the ghoul inhabited a cage in Zen’s barn.
“I say we keep her here while you’re over there,” Zen suggested. “I’ll hold her just outside the vortex until you reopen it to come back.”
I appreciated his confidence in saying when instead of if.
“When you reopen it to come back, I’ll push her through.”
“Good idea,” I said. “We don’t want to have to deal with her on the other side. There’s no guarantee Prince Leopold hasn’t broken the entanglement between her and Billy just as he did with Juliette and Stephan.”
Chase raised a hand as if he wanted to be called on. “I’m just wondering something important."
“Everything you have to say is always important, baby cheeks.” Petra patted his arm. “But not now.”
“No. Go ahead, Chase,” I said. “What is it?”
“When Rom and Kizzy go through the vortex, won’t two monsters come out?” Chase asked.
“Probably one and possibly two,” I replied. “Maybe since Rom isn’t originally from this dimension, there’s no entanglement with someone in Dorcha.”
“What do we do with whoever comes through?” Senji demanded, still angry.
“Anything but kill them or lose them,” Zen replied.
“Unless, that is, we don’t come back through the vortex by the time it seals," I added. "At that point you kill them.”
“Um. Kizzy.” Zen motioned to me. “Could I talk to you about something in the kitchen.”
“Sure." I glanced at Rom before I stood and followed Zen.
Once in the other room, Zen reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
“You’re probably wondering why, as the big special ops guy, I haven’t suggested I go with you and Rom to Dorcha,” he began.
