Charade (Heven & Hell)

by Cambria Hebert

  Screw this dream. It was time to wake up. Please, wake up.

  Bring her to me, the powerful voice ordered and the demons tripped over themselves to comply. I ran, the sharp shale and rocks stabbing into my feet, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get away. The demons followed me, all of them much bigger and faster than I, and I was quickly trampled from behind. I didn’t stay down long, though; I was pulled up by various rough hands. I screamed and fought, kicking and scratching when I could, but they were too strong. One demon thought I was funny and began laughing in a high-pitched wheezing noise that hurt my ears. I looked over and immediately regretted it.

  He had sharp, pointy teeth that were grotesquely small for his large gums and mouth. His eyes were far apart and tiny, black pin pricks in his head. He stuck out his tongue, which was a long, black thing that seemed to have a mind of its own. When it reared up in my direction, I saw the red eyes and screamed. His tongue wasn’t a tongue; it was a snake. The snake hissed and shot forward. I tried to knock it away, but my hands were pinned and so were my legs as the demons carried me forward.

  Do not harm her!

  The demons grumbled and moaned, but the snake retreated back into the demon’s mouth and I shut my eyes and prayed. The demons grew quiet, their steps slowed and they dumped me onto the ground. I sprang up, catching them off guard and lashed out with my fist, connecting with something solid. The thing screamed and grabbed me. After watching Sam fight so many times and hearing Gemma’s recent instructions about fighting, I struck out with a solid fist.

  It felt like I was pushing my hand through sand.

  I pushed harder.

  The demon fell to the ground at my feet and did not move.

  All the other demons stared at me in shock. I was a little shocked too. I could defend myself! I just killed a demon.

  Warm, rich laughter filled my ears. I knew you had it in you.

  I shuddered. It was not Sam who congratulated me.

  A loud, shrieking sound came from behind and the demons began running, leaving their dead comrade at my feet. What could possibly scare away a demon?

  Fear threatened to incapacitate me when a huge dark shape floated through the gray sky. It was so big that if there had been a shining sun, it would have completely blocked out the warm rays. It had a wingspan unmatched in size and I was momentarily reminded of the dinosaur museum we visited in third grade.

  Except dinosaurs were extinct.

  Right?

  Its head was wide and square with a snout that stretched its face, elongating its intimidating looks and turning them to frightening. Thick, pointy teeth in several rows met like knives in the center of its mouth. The teeth were so large that its lips could not cover them even though it appeared to have its mouth closed.

  As it lowered itself closer to the ground—and to me—large, vein-filled wings flapped almost lazily but still with enough power to blow my hair into my face, which I pushed away to stare at the creature.

  I had been right. Dinosaurs are extinct.

  But apparently, dragons existed.

  It landed with a thump just feet away.

  The dragon had a fat, protruding belly and sharp spines along its back and tail. Horns seemed to rip right out of its head and curve possessively toward the sky. Its eyes were small compared to the rest of its head, but they found me and stared, drilling a hole right through me. As it stared it tilted its head to one side.

  I took a step backward and it hissed.

  I stumbled and fell. Strong arms wrapped around me from behind.

  The dragon swooped forward, hunching over the demon I just killed. It sniffed the body, then looked back up at me. Could it tell I was the one responsible?

  Its eyes were gold like Sam’s. They were not nearly as hypnotizing or beautiful and the gold color was not pure, but there was something in them that made me pause.

  “Come, little one, The Devourer is not a pet.”

  I paid little attention to the man hauling me away, but kept my eyes locked on the dragon. Finally, it snorted and looked down. Its huge jaws opened and I expected it to bite. Instead, a whirring noise filled the air and everything around us began vibrating and pulling forward. My hair whipped forward as did my clothes. The dragon was sucking in air?

  “We must go,” the voice said and began to tow me faster. The sucking seemed to have no effect on him.

  My last sight before being pulled completely away was a white shape being dragged out of the dead demon and float into the dragon’s mouth. The demon then turned to ash and settled into the blackened earth.

  The sucking around me stopped.

  The dragon flew away.

  I was dragged onto the drawbridge of a very creepy looking castle.

  * * *

  “What do you think?” the man asked, gesturing to the castle.

  I was busy studying him. Power radiated from every pore. It was the kind of power that you could get drunk on; it pulled you in and made you want more. I took a step back. He chuckled.

  He had hair the color of midnight and lips the color of blood. His skin was pale, like it hadn’t seen the sun in years. Looking at the sky, it probably hadn’t. He wasn’t handsome; his features were too rough for that. His nose was a little crooked and his front tooth was chipped. His frame was large, corded with muscle, but on a closer look, he was not as large as he first appeared. The power he radiated made him look and feel bigger. The one thing that did not radiate around him was an aura. He was without one and I wondered what it meant. His looks were not unpleasant, some might find him appealing, but I was used to seeing a sun-kissed golden boy with steel in his back and love in his heart. I was certain this man did not know about love.

  “I asked you, how do you like it!?” he roared, his voice stinging my ears. I forced myself not to cringe and turned my attention to the castle.

  It was impressive. If you liked Goth architecture. The place was incredibly large with walls that were made of black, unpolished granite. There were iron bars for windows and a gloppy moat of that thick, gross water all around. There was a tower to the right that rose out of the structure and jutted into the sky. From inside the walls, I heard screaming.

  I shrugged, trying to seem bored. “It’s okay.”

  Anger, strong and hot, burned through his eyes, which were an alarming shade of blue. But then they flashed red. “You dare speak to me that way?”

  My stomach cramped. Show no fear. That’s what Sam would say. What I wouldn’t give to see him right now. I lifted my chin. “Yes.”

  With a roar, he reached into the oily water and pulled out a demon. It was the same kind that tried to kill me before: half crocodile, half man. He ripped its head off without pause and threw the head at me. It whizzed by, making all the hair on my arms stand on end. The headless body fell back into the water. With his show of temper gone, he laughed, chuckled actually. I wanted to run. “Your defiance surprises me.”

  “I’m leaving,” I stated, having no clue how to get myself to wake up. This dream was so real I would have sworn I was in this place.

  He laughed. I took that as a no to my previous statement.

  “Where am I?”

  “Learn the place well, little one. Someday you will call it home.”

  Never. I would die first. “Do you live here?”

  “When it suits me.”

  I began to feel detached from this place, like I was viewing it from afar. I welcomed the sensation.

  He screamed and punched the ground. “You will not go until I allow it!”

  My head began pounding, the front and back warring with each other again. “What do you want?” Although I already knew.

  “Tell me where you hide the Map. Give it to me. I will make you my queen and you will rule here.” Power rushed toward me, calling me forward. I denied it.

  I still didn’t know where here was. “Never.” I took a step back as the world around me began to fade. I wanted to go home.

  He screamed, his e
yes turning red and I knew he was going to hurt me. I squeezed my eyes shut.

  Nothing happened.

  When I opened my eyes, I was in bed. I gasped and sat up, pressing myself against the headboard, and glanced at the clock. I had only been asleep for an hour. It felt like eternity.

  “I’m sorry I’m so late, baby.”

  My eyes snapped over to the foot of the bed where Sam was sitting, pulling off his shoes. God, my head hurt.

  “Sam?” I whispered, hoarse.

  His eyes flashed up to mine, gold sparking the hazel depths. “Someone was here?” He leapt to his feet and prowled around the room. He stopped at the window, making sure he had locked it behind him, then paced around, looking for someone to kill.

  “No one,” I rushed out. “I had a bad dream.”

  Was it really a dream? It felt so real. My head wouldn’t stop pounding, leaving me feeling exhausted and weak.

  “Again?” He rushed to my side.

  His quick movements made me dizzy and I leaned over the bed to retch. Thankfully, my belly was empty so nothing came up.

  “Oh, Hev.” He scooped me up, making the world tilt again. My stomach heaved.

  “Head hurts…” A tremor stole through my body. I knew the feeling. It was exactly the same from when my aura reading ability exploded into my head. Was a new supernatural power trying to assert itself?

  He looked me over, panic seeping into his golden eyes. “Your clothes are filthy,”

  “It wasn’t a dream?” I groaned, my head hammering. My limbs began to shake uncontrollably.

  The next thing I knew, Sam was leaping out the window with me in his arms, landing in the darkened yard.

  Another tremor licked through my body, making me moan.

  Sam tilted his head to the sky and roared “Airis!”

  My eyes fastened on a star that was shooting from the sky. It looked like a tear, trailing through the clouds. Everything went white.

  * * *

  “Something is wrong with her,” Sam said urgently. His loud whisper only irritated the pain shooting through my skull.

  “Bring her to me,” I heard Airis say from a short distance away, but I didn’t lift my head from Sam’s chest to look.

  I felt a soothing hand touch my cheek and peace and light flowed through me. The warring sides of my skull called a truce and left me peacefully alone. I let out a sigh.

  “Thank you,” I told her, feeling better than I had in days.

  She inclined her head.

  “How did you do that?” Sam asked, his voice holding a trace of bitterness.

  If Airis noticed the bitter tone Sam spoke with, she pretended she hadn’t. She looked down at me serenely and smiled. “Celestials have the ability to heal, but I am afraid that it is only temporary.”

  The thought of another round of skullboxing made me want to cry.

  “What’s going on?” Sam demanded.

  “It is good you came to me,” Airis continued, her eyes glancing at Sam. “There is something you need to know.”

  “I’ll do anything for Heven,” he said, and there seemed to be some type of warning to his voice. Now wasn’t the time to ask him about it, so I pushed it away and wiggled out of his arms. When I was on my feet, I faced Airis. I knew whatever she had to say was not good, but I couldn’t run away.

  “Something’s gotten into my head,” I said with certainty.

  Sam’s eyes widened.

  Airis nodded. “I’m afraid so. There are a few very powerful demons that house a very rare ability. When a person loses consciousness, their mind becomes vulnerable. Dream Walkers forge a path into your mind and leave behind a thread so that they may find their way back. They can then come and go as they please, but the person must be asleep.”

  “Why would they do this?” Sam asked.

  “In Heven’s case, the demon must be trying to discover the location of the Treasure Map.”

  “The demon from the lake,” I began. “It must have happened then. He tried to get me to tell him where the scroll was, but I wouldn’t. He’s been looking around in my head ever since.”

  “How do we get him out?” Sam demanded.

  “It is very important that you do it quickly,” Airis explained. “The longer he is there, the more power he gets. If left there long enough, you won’t have to be asleep for him to get in your mind.”

  I thought of the place he dragged me to and of his anger and power that he gave off, and I shuddered. I thought of him demanding that I be his queen.

  Sam jerked like he’d been slapped and stared at me. Queen?

  It’s never going to happen. I assured him.

  “You’ve already begun trying to destroy the thread.” Airis told me.

  “I have?”

  “Yes. The headaches,” Airis began, but I cut her off.

  “The two parts of my head fighting with each other.”

  “Your newest supernatural ability is trying to assert itself, but first, it must rid your mind of what doesn’t belong. If your new power asserts itself too early, then the demon could use it to gain knowledge that you don’t want it to have.”

  “How do we get this thing out of Heven’s head?” Sam asked, pacing around in front of me. I was busy trying to wrap my head around the idea of another new ability.

  “Destroy the thread,” Airis said simply.

  I laughed. Like it would be that easy.

  “How?”

  Before responding, Airis glanced behind her like she heard something that we could not. She turned back around to say swiftly, “Use your Mindbond.”

  Sam nodded, grim.

  “I must go,” Airis said.

  A muffled, far away voice carried to me. “Please, Airis, let me in.”

  There were no doors in the white space that surrounded us. I couldn’t understand how someone would be kept out or why. Airis glanced at me worried, and I was confused.

  “Please,” the voice said again. Something familiar stroked over me.

  “Goodbye,” Airis said, stepping forward to lay her hand upon us to send us home.

  I couldn’t allow it. I jumped back. “Wait! Who is that?”

  “You must go,” Airis said, looking more flustered than ever.

  “Dad?” I asked, whispering his name in awe.

  Airis became alarmed and grabbed me.

  “Dad!”

  But it was too late.

  Everything went white.

  * * *

  The soft pad of Sam’s thumb brushed over my cheek to catch a tear and carry it away. I watched as he brought his thumb to his lips and sucked. No more crying, sweetheart.

  I couldn’t stop. So close to my father, yet so far away. I replayed his voice over and over again in my head. The voice I thought I would never hear again. Renewed sadness swept through me and fresh tears fell. Why was he there in the InBetween with Airis? Why wouldn’t she let him see me?

  I stared up at the clear blue sky and considered screaming again. Sam knew my intention and tightened his arms around me, trapping me in his embrace. “Screaming will not get you anywhere. Airis is stubborn when she decides she’s done helping someone.”

  “You seem mad at her,” I said, momentarily forgetting about screaming to the heavens.

  “When Airis makes up her mind not to help, there isn’t anything that can change it.”

  “What?” I said, wiping the last of my tears away.

  “We can talk about Airis later. It isn’t important right now.”

  “If it’s important to you; then it is to me.”

  He smiled. “I know. But the day has been long enough already.”

  I looked back up at the sky. Sam was right. Screaming for Airis wasn’t going to bring her back. I could beg and demand all I wanted, but nothing would make her come back. My father was gone. I lost him again.

  We were quiet as we went back into the house and up into my room. I looked at the bed with a mix of longing and fear. I was so tired, but it seemed like sleep
was the enemy now. Who knew what that Dream Walker would do next? Sam kicked off his shoes and unfastened his jeans with a yawn and yanked them down over his hips, tossed them on the floor with his shoes and climbed in bed without a word. I stood there a little shocked, staring at him. When he caught my stare he frowned.

  “I wasn’t thinking. I’ll grab some shorts.” He made a move to toss the covers back.

  “No,” I protested, moving forward, recovering from my momentary shock. It wasn’t that I was all naïve and embarrassed, I mean, we had been sleeping in the same bed for a while now, but this was the first time he hadn’t put on a pair of shorts. “It’s okay. It’s not like I haven’t seen your boxers before.”

  He yawned widely. “I’m so damn tired.”

  Something inside me warmed. I liked that he was comfortable enough to just toss his pants on the floor without thinking about shorts. I liked the fact that he would admit to being exhausted. It was a new side to him, a closer side to him. He wasn’t just an invincible hellhound who could deal with everything. He might be rock solid, he might be heroic, but he was real. He might be able to dish out an ass kicking, but it made him tired. Part of me was secretly thrilled he felt comfortable enough to show me that side of him.

  “There are a couple hours till morning. Try to sleep.”

  “Oh, there’ll be no trying. But then I gotta head home, after you are awake.”

  I didn’t bother to tell him I wasn’t going back to sleep. “Aren’t you training with Gemma again in the morning?”

  He made a sound I took as a yes.

  “What happened with Logan, Sam?” I knew his brother was the reason he was late and needed to get home. I wondered if it had anything to do with Airis.

  “Sam?” I asked again, after he didn’t respond.

  The soft sound of a snore reached me through the dark. He hadn’t been kidding, he was exhausted and he was also asleep.

  * * *

  I gotta go. Sam said, and I felt brief kisses on the tip of my nose, my temple and then both my eyelids. I smiled and stretched out like a cat. I was too comfortable to get up. I didn’t want to. Then reality came bubbling to the surface and I realized I had been asleep. After I swore I wouldn’t sleep the rest of the night.