by Kim Cormack
She grinned and took it in her hands and said, “Thank you.” She turned around and told Kevin, “Damn, he’s good.”
In the forest surrounding the Brighton house, Frost and Chloe were talking about days gone by when something changed in the air around them. Everything became completely still. The frogs stopped croaking, the crickets ceased their monotonous chirping, and the familiar sounds of dusk disappeared. Chloe looked away from him and at the woods behind her. When she turned around, Chloe was the mangled version of herself once again.
She whispered, “Something’s coming.”
Frost could sense it, too—a dark mist trailing through the bushes behind them, completely out of place, as it eerily swirled toward them wrapping itself fluidly around the trees as it came. It was slowly flowing toward where they both stood.
“Get out of here, Chloe,” He yelled! Chloe disappeared into thin air.
Frost grabbed a bag out of his pocket. He turned around, dumping its fine white contents in a complete circle around him. The onyx colored mist swirled around him unable to enter the circle of safety that simple table salt had provided. He knew what this mist would be followed by. Frost took a blade out of his pocket and sliced his hand. A thin stream of blood trickled down his palm. He placed his wounded hand on his heart, his own adrenaline causing the Ankh symbol on his hand to glow. Frost had learned a long time ago that there were some dark things you never attempt to fight alone.
~
Back at the house Kayn and Kevin had finished the pizza, and they were watching a movie. They wanted to carry on where they’d left off, but Jenkins kept popping his head in randomly and offering them things.
Kayn felt her hand growing warm under the glove. She took it off, and her symbol was glowing. Kevin grabbed her arm. His hand was glowing too. Kevin looked down at his hand and said, “I can’t go with you. I’m not sure what this means, but you have to get into the circle as fast as you can.”
Kayn whipped her glove back on and said, “I’ll be right back. Run interference with Jenkins.”
“Never say I’ll be right back. That’s how people die in horror movies,” Kevin stated as he slipped his glove back on.
They snuck downstairs without making a sound. Kevin sat on the stairs, ready to detour any attempt Jenkins made to go upstairs. He had to sidetrack him, and make sure he didn't notice Kayn was missing. The last thing they needed was for Jenkins to be smack dab in the middle of whatever was going on.
Kayn quietly turned the knob on the front door. She snuck out and gently closed the door without making a sound. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but her body directed her on some kind of supernaturally fuelled version of auto pilot. She ran down the side of her property in her socks towards her back yard. She did not hesitate for a second as she bolted into the opening of the woods. It was the very same opening that she’d run into almost a year ago, but this time no one was chasing her … yet.
The trails had been cleared. She’d been aware of every sound last time she took a run through these trails, but tonight she was aware of the lack of noise. Not a cricket’s chirp or owl’s hoot. Just the repetitive, soft thudding sound of her stocking feet hitting the dirt. It was an unnatural silence. There was an ominous presence. She was not afraid. She saw the Ankh in the distance. They were surrounded by a black mist. They appeared to be trapped. Her night vision was crystal clear. Grey, Lily, and Lexy were standing in a circle, with Frost. Kevin was right. She had to get into that circle. She ran directly towards the circle, crossed her arms in front of her face, and plunged through the mist. “What is the plan, you guys?” Kayn huffed. She felt unusually out of breath, a little faint.
Lexy laughed, “The mist that you jumped through stole some of your life force. Touch my hand.”
Kayn touched her hand, and felt a surge of energy enter her body.
Lexy explained, “I couldn’t come with you guys to the in-between because I’m the only healer with this group. I have to run the tombs with my own energy; if you’re injured or killed I’m the one that repairs your body. Arrianna is our clan’s other active healer, but she’s not here. Frost and Lily have their own very special talents, but first and foremost, I’m the Ankh’s strongest warrior. Do what I say.”
“So why are we just standing here in a circle of salt?” Kayn asked candidly, a little concerned after all the bravado in her training that they were cowering in a circle of salt.
“You can’t fight mist. The mist is usually here to subdue us for something else, Kayn. Didn’t anyone ever tell you that patience is a virtue?” Frost said with cocky sarcasm.
“Fools rush in,” Lexy laughed.
Kayn stood there watching the onyx mist swirl and circle around the group. She wanted to touch the circle of salt. She wanted to throw some of it at the mist. Kayn wanted to see what would happen to it.
Frost touched her shoulder and sighed, “Please don’t. If you touch that circle of salt, we will all have a very shitty evening.”
She gave him a guilty look. Mental note, they could hear her always present strange inner dialogue. What is coming besides the creepy black mist?” Kayn asked, dreading the answer to her own question.
Lily replied, “You really, don’t want to know. It’s a sensitive area for you.”
“It’s the demon, isn’t it? The soul-sucking demons that you were talking about,” Kayn sighed.
Lexy spoke with her mind, “We are going to wait here until we see who is coming, then if it’s what I think it is, we are going to link hands and create an electrical current. Then we are going to blow its scaly ass up. We will only have enough energy to do it once. We have to wait for it to be right beside us in order to take it out.”
We are going to wait until it’s right beside us. Great! Kayn whispered, “I really pictured us kicking ass and taking names. I didn't see us making traps for black mist. For the record, black mist is not what I pictured when you said soul-sucking demons.”
“Is that how you pictured them?” Lexy asked, as she pointed to a set of long curved claws grasping the moss covered bark of a giant fir tree. A black glistening half human and half reptilian creature slowly moved through the bushes toward them.
“Yes … that’s more like it,” Kayn replied. The air was suddenly icy as a deep winter’s night.
Her breath rose from her lips in small panicked bursts of steam. She whispered, “Oh, Shit.”
As the long, black, terrifying, savage creature shuffled toward them, Lexy added, “There is a bright side to this though.”
“Oh, really what could that possibly be?” Kayn stammered. This hideous monster could not possibly be real. It was the most utterly terrifying creature she could have imagined. Those claws would be able to slice through their flesh like butter. In her worst nightmares, truthfully there had been nothing even close to this.
Lexy whispered, “It could have just come into your bedroom tonight while you were sleeping. At least we have a shot, if we know it’s coming, and we are all together.”
“Has anyone ever told you that Frost is not the only asshole in the clan?” Kayn nervously laughed.
They were all grinning now as Lexy said, “I have been told that before.”
Frost pitched in, “Ladies, I resent that. It’s clearly true, but I resent it nonetheless.”
“Grey, you’re being awfully quiet,” Lily said as she gave him a gentle shove.
“I hate these friggin’ things. They creep me out,” he hissed.
“They are pretty slow, aren’t they? Why don’t we just run away?” Kayn said as it moved painfully slowly toward them.
Grey whispered, “See, they work as a team. The mist wounds you, slows you down, and this giant cuddly guy coming slowly towards us eats the leftovers and gets rid of the evidence.” Frost whispered, “Okay just one more step, and he’s close enough to take out.”
They linked hands behind them feeling the current flowing between them. A current fueled by terror and adrenaline. It sent an electric
shock wave away from them followed by flames, igniting then disintegrating the soul-sucking demons and their creepy scaled friend. The one that looked like an alligator on steroids left a sizzling charcoal corpse.
“I got this,” Grey said as he kicked the demon’s ashes. It disintegrated into a cloud of dust, travelling away on a gust of wind.
“That was kind of awesome,” Kayn said as they all stepped out of the circle.
“The number one rule that we live by is brains before brawn. You don’t live this long assuming that you can win every battle,” Lily replied as they all walked back through the damp chilly woods on the trail toward Kayn’s house.
Kayn had a nauseous feeling in her stomach as she pushed through the bushes. What if one of them went to the house? She saw Kevin standing by the edge of the woods and he was having a conversation with empty air. Oh, thank God.
“Where's Jenkins?” Kayn said as she approached Kevin.
Kevin chuckled and said, “He’s snoring on the couch.” He started to laugh again and whispered to Kayn, “Chloe just ran toward Frost with obvious plans to leap into his arms. She stopped at the last second obviously realizing that she would sail right through him.”
“I want to hug you so hard,” Chloe laughed.
“Ditto,” Frost answered, smiling at her. Then he added, “Great job Kevin. Thanks for picking that one up.”
Lexy scrunched up her face, and said, “Am I bad? He did pick it up. I told Grey and Lily, but you took off before I could warn you. I healed her on the stairs before we left the basement. I thought we caught it in time.”
“Good job Kevin,” Chloe’s voice said. Kevin raised his hand like someone was about to high five him. Her sister’s hand flowed right through him as nothing more than a chilly breeze across his flesh. Kevin shivered and chuckled, “Just high five me for no reason tomorrow. When you’re solid.”
Frost hissed, “You can’t bullshit a bull shitter. You wanted to watch that frigging zombie show. You stinker, you didn’t mention it on purpose. Lexy you could’ve texted me. Hey Frost, just so you know. There could be Demons. Keep an eye out.”
Lexy grinned, “The guy doesn’t have a TV. I was watching my laptop. What were the chances it was really going to happen?”
Frost teased, “Apparently pretty damn high.”
Lily said, “Abaddon knows we’re here. We have to go back in tomorrow and attempt to train Kevin. He doesn't stand a chance right now.”
Kevin said, “I feel like an idiot for not going with you all the first time.”
Grey said, “You can't worry about that now. Abaddon knows she’s here. They send one when they are not one hundred percent sure. They know for sure now, and next time there may be a dozen of those things."
Frost left the space of air where her invisible sister was obviously standing. He touched her shoulder and said, “They can’t come in your room. That’s what the stones are for. Lexy’s messing with you.” He added, “What Grey just said about a dozen of them coming to get you. That was the truth.”
Awesome, that’s just awesome. Kayn made an attempt to show no reaction at all to Frost, and kept walking with the group.
“So everyone, we will gather after school tomorrow at our place,” Lily commanded.
“Yes … this is incredible,” Chloe cheered.
Kayn couldn’t see her sister, but she felt her sister’s joy. She wouldn’t have to wait another week to feel alive again. Kayn was more than a little bit stoked to go back. She couldn’t wait to show Kevin everything she had experienced. Kayn had something else on her mind. Grey had just said next time they will send a dozen of those monsters. Frost had confirmed it. She was trying to act strong for Kevin. She knew he had to come with them. She decided that she wouldn't give him any details about what had gone down tonight. Kayn put a fake smile on her face. She looked at Kevin and nodded.
Lily said in a solemn tone, “There is no time to spare. You three are sitting ducks.” With that Lily added an ominous warning to them both, “Another important little fact, Miss Chloe, is that dead or not you’re the other half of the conduit. They are here for you too. If you and Kayn never merge to become one it would be beneficial to them, so just keep that in mind as you two keep stalling for more time.”
Kayn looked at where she surmised Chloe must be standing beside Frost in silence. She knew inside that this coming week would be their last week as separate entities. It was go time, and there would be no choices soon.
Chapter 23
Murder, Resurrection, and Miscellaneous Mayhem
Lily lay on her bed imagining the horrific scenarios that she had endured involving Sam’s demise in the past. She was dying to see Kayn’s brother again. Maybe she would close her eyes for a bit and visit him secretly. It was during the school week. Matt would be back in his college dorm room.
Lily concentrated on thoughts of Matt, and that’s all it took. She was there with him. His room was slightly untidy, but not gross like some boys kept their room. He’d just had a shower, and only had a towel around his waist as he entered his room. His torso rippled with toned manly perfection. This was definitely not going to make this staying away from him thing easy on her. She could remember just like it was yesterday the feeling of his toned stomach as she ran her hands across it. She had to stop this train of thought. There was absolutely no point in getting herself all hot and bothered over a boy who was off limits to her.
Matt sat on his bed and ran his hands through the center of his short damp hair. Matt put down his phone and picked up the picture of his sisters that sat on the top of his dresser. Kayn’s brother had a death sentence any which way you looked at it. Had the time in his life’s hourglass already started to run out?
Lily had assumed, if she just stayed completely away from him, that he would have a shot. Her instincts were now telling her that assumption had been wrong. Chances were that history would continue to replay as it had in the past, even if she tried to change things. She suddenly knew what she had to do. Lily needed some help though, a partner in crime. There was no way to pull off something this big without help. She knew exactly who would be the one to help her pull off the impossible.
Lily sat on Matt’s bed watching him go through his regular bedtime routine. As he began to brush his teeth, she travelled off in her mind to the dance that she had gone to with him in their last life together. She remembered every detail down to the song that was playing as they entered the dance together, “The Glory of Love” by Peter Cetera
It was such a long time ago. Her dress was poufy shouldered and brilliant blue. Her ebony hair was permed and glistened with sparkles. It was curled down one side of her shoulder. He pulled her to the dance floor and they swayed together to the music. Lily melted into his arms, against his rippling chest with her head on his shoulder. It was a beautiful, exquisite, almost perfect moment in time. Almost perfect meant in the back of Lily’s mind she knew that her time with him was almost up. She could sense it in the air around them. In each beat of his heart she heard goodbye. Lily ran her hand lovingly across his chest as if this action would erase what was destined to happen. She squeezed her eyes shut willing the tears that were threatening to flood from her soul to stay away.
Lily was filled with happiness for a blissfully simple moment of pure perfection in her long, complicated existence; it was magic. They left the dance together and went to a hotel. They spent the most perfect night together. She lay in his arms, her skin glistening with sweat. So deeply in love, lust, and everything in between that she was filled with elation because finally it looked like maybe they would get a chance to be together. In every life, since the very first one when they’d met, he had always died before they had a chance to really be together. Then it had happened, the inevitable.
Matt kissed her on the cheek. He was going to run across the street to the corner grocery store. He was just getting some ice cream. After he had grabbed his jacket, and the door had shut behind him, it had only been a matter o
f seconds before she heard the sound of screeching tires and screams. An eighteen wheeler had appeared out of nowhere; right outside of the hotel room where they had just finished making beautiful love.
Lily remembered lying in the bed wrapped in the covers, damp from the sweat of their union, unmoving as if it would not be him if she didn’t react to the sounds. Tears of despair began to cascade down her face. She rushed to put her clothes on, and she ran out into the street. It had begun to pour, and she was drenched to the bone by the time she was five feet from their room. Lily collapsed as she realized that there was not even a body left to hold onto as he took his last breath. He had exploded on contact.
One week after the funeral she had left that town never to return. Something had hardened inside of her now. It removed the very last bit of her humanity. Yet still, in the back of her heart, she waited for him to return to her as he always did, so that she could hold him for one more moment.
She knew that if nobody intervened, Kayn’s brother’s death was inevitable.
Lily left Matt in his room. She returned to her small bedroom. She awakened with a renewed sense of purpose. She would find a way to make Matt an immortal. Lily would design her own destiny and it would include the man that she loved. Lily just needed some help and a half a dozen miracles. They would have to leave right after school. They could stay under for two hours, without suspicion. Two weeks in the in-between would be a little dangerous for Kevin. He could become lost between reality and fantasy. All three of them needed to be trained properly, and quickly. Lily knocked on Frost’s bedroom door.
“What do you want?”
“Can we talk for a minute?” Lily asked as she entered his room without waiting for an answer.
Frost patted the bed next to him.
Lily walked around the bed placing stones and a circle of salt as she said the words, “Ας μην υπάρχει σιωπή εκτός του κύκλου.”
