by CJ Ellisson
“Do you have any?”
“Actually, I do. I saved texts, messages, crazy ass letters she wrote me, shit like that.”
“Did you photograph your apartment?”
“No, didn’t think to do that.”
“Is it cleaned up?”
“Fuck no.”
“Well, take a few snaps, and start the process tomorrow with the legal system and the restraining order to satisfy mundane rules. But first, let’s ask the spirits to help you with the energy.”
“I don’t know, Mano. You know I don’t believe in the kind of stuff you do.”
“You don’t have to believe. I do. That’s enough.”
Cam sighed. “Whatever. Why not? What do I have to do?”
“Nothing. You have to stop what you’re doing and wait for me to get there.”
“I don’t know, man. I know you mean well with all your spirit tracking training and all, but what if Chérie stops by while we’re, um…while you’re grooving with the spirits? She’s likely to turn tail and run like hell.”
“Is she still coming over?”
“Nah. I texted her and left a message.”
“So there’s your answer. Come on, Cam, let me offer you an assist.”
Cam blew air from his pursed lips. “All right, all right. Do your thang. What can it hurt? Meanwhile, I’ll take pictures. Can I drink a brew while I’m waiting or no go?”
“It’s a no go. You can do whatever you want when we’re done but the spirits want to feel your unencumbered soul.”
Cam chuckled. “Then I think a few brewskies are the answer. They’ll unencumber me right nice.”
“Give it a rest, wise guy. Stay sober and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Roger that.” Cam disconnected the phone and emptied the contents of the garbage sack onto the floor. “Looks about the same as when I got here.” He set the phone to camera mode and started snapping. As far as he believed, the laws of the physical, or Earth, were the only ones that mattered. Still, he’d accept whatever help he could to turn his life around.
Chapter Nineteen
“Holy mother of Zeus,” Kayden roared. “Can this get any more difficult? They met, they sucked face, they enjoyed sucking face, and yet they can’t seem to connect the dots.” He chuckled. “Sucking face? Sounds like something you’d do with a vacuum. Not very pleasant.”
“They’re now dots, my lord?” Alpha looked up from a curious magazine called Cosmopolitan. Her shimmering blue legs were tucked demurely under her. She glanced at the magazine. Make your man go wild in bed? Like they need to read about it? Are they just plain stupid?
“Dots, pricks, pussies, cocks, slits, Johnsons, whatever. Earthlings are most imaginative when sullying the sacred by naming it such derisive terms.”
Alpha’s eyebrows rose and fell with indifference. A glass of white Aldebaran wine rested on a marble coaster by her side. She picked it up, took a small sip, and closed her eyes as the hit from the magical elixir spread through her system, making her at once aroused and fulfilled at the same time. It felt like building to climax and coming in ecstatic communion, all from a sip of wine.
“Watch yourself, my pet.” Kayden spit out the last word. “That substance is highly addictive.”
“Oh, I will,” Alpha said dreamily. “At least it kills the boredom.”
“You’re bored, you say? You might want to take more interest in the blasted folly that’s occurring below.” He picked up his silver comb, gripped it tightly, turned it into a thunderbolt and cast it toward Earth.
“You’ve stirred a mighty storm, my lord,” Alpha said, idly flipping the page.
“I. Don’t. Care. I want the ka to remember!”
“Maybe your thunderbolt will strike her head, she’ll die and return to us. Wish fulfilled.”
“Don’t even think that. I want her to come back happy. And she can never die by my hand. That’s unthinkable.” He shuddered. “Beyond unthinkable.”
Alpha set the magazine aside. She shook her head to clear it. “Why are you so disturbed this time, my lord?”
“What do you mean?” he snarled.
“We’ve done this for eons, my lord. I’ve never seen you this agitated.”
His gaze slid to where she sat. He didn’t speak, only glared at her.
“I’m sorry, ka. I’m sorry for questioning you.” She actually trembled.
Kayden cocked his head at her, studying her quivering form. His demeanor softened ever so slightly. “It’s true. This time is different.”
Alpha frowned. “How so?”
“I caught wind of a disturbance. The one known as Chérie might not have the chance to remember this time. She might not be returned to us.”
Alpha gasped. “What are you saying, ka?”
“You heard me,” Kayden snapped. “What I said. Do I need to spell it out for you?”
“How is this possible?” She clutched the arms of the chair.
“It just is. Earth is a despicable place. It is a planet of wars and conflict, strife and chaos. And one such as the ka is not always welcome. You’ve seen what they do to their saints and spiritual leaders. Once she awakens, she’ll help restore the planet through ecstasy, joy and the purest of love. The ta-ak’tiyani are hell bent on stopping her.”
“The ta-ak’tiyani?” Alpha froze. ”What are ta-ak’tiyani?”
“Don’t ask. They’re despicable, vile, wretched creatures from another realm,” he spat. “They’re roaming again. They’re hungry. Their food stores are low. Those foul creatures feast on human weakness. Since she’s chosen enormous human suffering this time around, there’s no way she’ll survive without knowledge of who she truly is. None. She’ll be consumed in horrific ways which I will have to endure, unable to look away.” His eyes grew moist. “I can’t bear her misery even now. How will I endure her demise?”
“You shall cease to exist, too, my lord. As shall we all,” Alpha said softly. Her cheeks were wet with tears.
A shroud of silent anguish seeped into the space around them. “If she dies…” He stopped, gathering composure. “If she dies…” he tried again, but shook his head, unable to proceed. “You wonder why I’m in such a foul mood. I’m about to lose the one thing that brings me joy. It’s unfathomable. I’ve spent eons loving her, occasions without end sharing passion and joy with her, my heart and soul.”
The expression on his face was a torrent of raw, heartbroken emotion, making Alpha look away. “Now I understand, my lord.”
“I don’t think you do, Alpha. Imagine every positive, joyous, loving thought you ever felt or could hope to feel, being consumed, torn from your psyche, while you witness, helpless. Picture your flesh being gnawed upon, chewed, ripped from your bones while you watch. I shall have to view, feel and experience her torment. Her cries will pierce my soul. And nothing…not my love for her, nor my powers, nor my influence…nothing can prevent this from happening. Not only that, once they have consumed my beloved, the heart and soul of all will cease to exist. Passion, joy, love, light, gone…” His hands curled into fists, as if trying to capture his memories of their joyous communion and hold them safe.
“Is there nothing to be done?”
“If there were don’t you think I would have done it?” Kayden said in a ragged voice so low it could barely be heard. “I would give my soul to save her.” He stared wistfully into space.
Alpha grew quiet, waiting. “I know how much you care for her,” she whispered.
“Care for her? My feelings for her go far beyond mere caring.” His eyes met Alpha’s.
She winced and drew back, unable to bear the agony she perceived.
“Quite simply, she is the reason I exist. There’s no heart on Earth that can contain what I feel for my beloved. I would do anything to….” His lip curled in disdain. “Instead, I’m reduced to entering the body of a simpering, miserable woman to do what? To spout completely inappropriate comments which sound insane even to human ears. I’m forced to
be a joke in an effort to save my beloved. Me. The ka’kriyayago himself. I can build worlds. Dance among stars. Travel to distant galaxies in the blink of an eye. Restore harmony to conflicted planets - all but Earth, it seems. How do you think this makes me feel, Alpha?” He shot her another expression of tortured anguish, making her look away.
“Are you certain, my lord?” Alpha asked softly.
“As certain as I am about anything.”
“Unbelievable,” Alpha said, her face as pale as a midnight moon. “What can we do?”
Kayden brushed his belly, as if sweeping away any hint of emotion and shrugged. “We watch. We wait. We hope they do the right thing. Only thing is, it looks like they’re thwarted at every step.”
Chapter Twenty
A series of raps alerted Cam to Mano’s presence. “Welcome to chaos,” he said as he opened the door.
Mano strode through the doorway, wearing soft, loose black pants, a black t-shirt and a leather bag slung across his shoulder, his long black hair tied in a knot atop his head. He whistled through his teeth as he gazed at the room. “She really unleashed some serious rage. You say she’s engaged?”
“Yeah. I even met her intended.”
“What’s he like?”
“Safe. It will never last.”
“Not with this shit. She’s disturbed, to say the least.”
“Do ya think?” Cam swept his arm around the room. “This is bullshit.” He kicked a broken book and sent it flying into the baseboard.
“Easy, man. We’ll deal with the energy. First, we need to clean the place up. You got all your photos, right?”
“Right.” Cam tapped his cell phone.
“So we’re going to clean in a spiral. Let me lay out my supplies in the middle here. We’ll move from the inside out.”
“Okay, whatever. Tell me what to do.”
Mano walked toward the center of the room pushed aside some of the debris, and spread out a square of red silk. He reached into a small leather pouch affixed to his belt and sprinkled tobacco in the four corners, murmuring something Cam couldn’t hear. Satisfied, he said, “Okay. Let’s start in the east.”
“The east. Roger that. What do we do?”
“Pick up everything consciously and deliberately for starters. No sloppy, haphazard movements. We’re preparing the space for our work. Got it?”
Cam nodded.
The two men stepped slowly through the room, following Mano’s instructions. As Cam picked up the remnants of his educational process, rage boiled inside. He crumpled and fisted papers before dropping them in the garbage sack, letting his anger spill into the bag as well. He had no idea where he’d get the money to replace these things. He also had no idea how he’d ended up with such a psycho-chick as Britt. How could she do this to me? As he shoved debris into the bag - consciously, of course - he found it calming to work in such deliberate fashion.
When finished, Mano directed Cam to place the trash bag on the floor and follow him to where the cleansing ritual would be performed.
When they reached the center, Mano settled cross-legged next to the red square. “Slowly, with awareness, walk back out the spiral and put the bag of scraps in the garbage, or next to it if there’s no room. Wash your hands. Turn the lights out. Re-enter the circle in the same direction we followed before and sit across from me.”
“Uh, okay.” Cam did everything as instructed and began his return to the center of the circle. “I can’t see.”
“Use your senses. Or, you know what they say - use the force, Luke.”
“Shit. So now you’re Obi Wan?”
“Just do it.”
Cam managed to successfully retrace his steps. He sat across from Mano. “Now what?”
“Blood ritual.”
Cam’s eyebrows shot up. “What the fuck is that?”
“Shhh, brother. Watch. Wait. Listen.” Mano rustled in his bag.
Cam heard a soft clinking, and then the sound of a match being struck. The match burst into flame and a candle lit, giving Mano’s face an eerie glow. “Those damn tattoos of yours look like they’re alive sometimes.”
“Who says they’re not?” Mano stuck out his tongue and widened his eyes until the whites showed. The tattoos writhed and undulated.
“Cut out that shit, Mano. You look like a hellion.”
“That’s the point. Will you be quiet? You’re stirring up a lot of wind.”
Cam clamped his mouth shut.
Mano put his hands out, palms up. His eyelids closed.
“What are you doing?” Cam whispered.
“Forging an alliance with spirit. Now shut the fuck up, Tyson!”
Cam waited as the big man sat in silence. His friend’s utter stillness, combined with the candlelight, gave the room an eerie quality. Cam’s eyelids began to droop. Eyes closed, a pleasant journey of memories trickled through his mind. The wilderness loomed large. He smiled. He smelled the forest floor, the nearby riverbank, the pine needles and the sweet loam under his feet. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He slipped further into relaxation.
He pictured a lynx in the distance. The lynx watched him. Another, larger, appeared next to the first. Both felines glowed. They didn’t look the same as he remembered. Still beautiful, yes, but something other-worldly emanated from their fur. They loped in his direction. Should he be afraid? The larger cat increased speed, baring it’s teeth. Cam answered his own question. Scared shitless, his feet became concrete blocks, weighting him in place. The lynx let out an unearthly, deafening snarl that made Cam’s hair stand on end. In his mind, he threw out his hands to thwart the lethal claws aimed at his face. The beast shimmered and sailed right through him, causing rippling shivers to cascade up his spine.
He immediately flashed back to his horrible home life as a child. He pictured his father, beating his mother. His mother’s pleading face, urging him not to interfere. Rage, as fresh and raw as the day he left home, boiled inside.
“That’s the place, Tyson,” Mano interrupted.
Cam blinked and tried to focus. He hadn’t realized he’d been so out of it. “What did you say?”
“The place you accessed - that’s where we begin.”
“How do you know what rolled through my mind?”
“I don’t. I watched something dark and disturbing grow in you. That’s the place you called Britt from.”
“You’re not making sense. What do you mean?”
“You’re supposed to be the bright guy studying psychology. You called Britt to you from your darkness, not from your light. Did you ever do anything besides the nasty?”
“Not really, no. Went out to eat sometimes.”
“So, sexual cravings and not much else?”
“Yeah, so? You make it sound dirty.”
“Nah. It’s what it was, bro. I needed the access point.”
“For what?”
Mano didn’t answer. “Give me your hand.”
Cam extended his right hand.
Mano turned it palm up and dropped a hair into his hand.
Cam recoiled but Mano kept a firm grip on him. “What’s that? It it feels like it’s alive.”
“It’s a hair I found while we were picking up. I’m sure it’s Britt’s. Either that or you’re good with the bleach. You never show roots. Now hush.”
Keeping a solid grip on Cam’s hand, Mano reached into his leather satchel and retrieved a deadly looking blade.
It had a bone handle, as far as Cam could tell. A ruby red jewel glistened in the marrow. The blade curved, ending in a piercing point. Not knowing what Mano intended to do with the dagger, Cam’s eyes grew enormous but he kept his trap shut.
Mano drew a slit across Cam’s palm, slicing the hair in two.
Cam winced.
“Keep your hand right there. Don’t move.” He positioned the dagger above his own hand. Placed the sharp tip on his palm. Slid it, piercing the skin, until dark, red beads formed. Grabbed Cam’s hand and held tight. Closed his
eyes.
Cam’s eyelids fell shut, as if weighted. His arm began to shake, but it wasn’t from fear – he felt stirred from somewhere deep inside. He wanted to vomit. Saliva pooled in his mouth. A splitting headache cleaved his forehead.
“Whatever you do, don’t let go,” Mano urged. “Britt’s rocking with darkness.”
Cam had no argument with that. None whatsoever.
“You are, too.”
Cam felt the urge to pummel his friend for saying that. “My upbringing? It wasn’t my fault.”
“I know, man, I know. Doesn’t mean it didn’t affect you.”
He started chanting, uttering words Cam didn’t understand. Cam’s nausea intensified. His balls pulled up inside him, as if hiding from something or someone. “I’m going to hurl.”
“Not yet.”
“This isn’t something I can argue with.”
“I said, not yet.”
Cam’s stomach roiled. His head felt like a bomb about to detonate and send his brains around the room. His eyes rolled back in his head. With one last passing thought of lynx and forests, rivers and sky skittering through his mind, he passed out cold on the floor.
He fell into a red and black well of terror. He swam through a nightmarish sea of rage. Consumed by darkness, he struggled to regain consciousness.
Before he disappeared into the black pit beckoning him, a beautiful white light engulfed him. Am I dead? Is this Heaven? I don’t believe in Heaven. His thoughts were dreamy and creamy, like pulling taffy after a 420 mega burn time party. The white light grew more and more intense, wrapping around him like a silk cocoon.
“Okay, Romeo, naptime’s over.”
A rough hand patted his cheek. Water sprinkled his face.
“Still want to hurl?”
He opened his eyes and blinked. “No. It’s gone. What happened?” He scrubbed his face with his hand. “Shit.”
“Some kind of demon left you.”
“A demon?”
“That’s what it looked like to me.”
Cam frowned at his friend. “Ha, ha. Really funny. Seriously, what happened?”
