With all my might, I pushed again, but I felt my energy draining.
Wham!
Balthus ejected me from Kathy’s consciousness, a jarring rip that sent me flying across the street.
I looked back at Kathy.
Her body swirled with black light, and Balthus’s body raged inside of hers like an evil spirit.
He grinned.
A pink wisp of light drifted from Kathy’s head like a feather.
He was tearing her soul.
For real.
Angrily, I did the only thing I knew how to do—I imitated Balthus and summoned two twin dragons of lightning and surged at him.
A forcefield knocked me away and sucked the dragons out of existence.
I landed hard on the concrete, damn near defeated.
Meanwhile, another rip.
“Let her go!” I cried.
Kathy hovered into the air, grabbing me by the throat.
“Should I rip your soul instead?” Balthus asked.
“Kathy, is this what you want?” I asked.
Kathy looked at me curiously.
Her eyes widened.
Balthus roared, controlling her. His grip on me loosened, and I chopped his hand, breaking free.
I jumped away.
“What does all of this mean, Kathy?” I asked. “Maybe this is destiny. Maybe this was meant to happen to you.”
I followed my gut, remembering her conversation earlier about how she wondered if this was an awakening for her.
If I could, I had to engage her rational mind. Balthus couldn't do two things at once; he either had to control her or attack me.
Balthus separated from Kathy, leaving her on her knees.
He was heaving.
The mental interaction had exhausted him.
I felt a pocket of ether loosen. I seized it, slamming him to the ground in a web of light.
I landed on top of him, my fist balled.
He laughed, wiping crusted blood from his face.
“Do it,” he said. “Kill me.”
I balled my fist tighter.
If he was asking—
I swung, but something tackled me.
Kathy.
Damn it.
He was manipulating her still.
Closing my eyes, I wisped into her body, pushing Balthus’s mind out.
I took control and stood.
“Leave us alone,” I said.
Balthus broke free from the web of ether, laughing.
“If you say so,” he said.
He spread his hands.
An invisible force pinned me and Kathy to a nearby light post. A web of ether pinned me inside Kathy’s body. I couldn't move.
“I can read your moves,” Balthus said. “Typical street mage. You fight with no strategy. All tactics.”
He held up his hands higher.
“I rid you of this dreamscape, Kathy,” he said.
The sky sweltered around us, and then it began to crack.
Balthus floated into the sky as everything began to crumble around us.
He was destroying the dreamscape. And with it, both of us.
Knowing him, he was going to destroy us and jump out at the last minute.
I struggled against Kathy’s body, but I couldn't move.
Balthus gave a final grin. Then he created a sword full of dream ether and aimed it at the space where Kathy’s body and mine intersected.
He zoomed for us.
It was over.
I was going to die in this dream, and Kathy was going to die with me.
Damn it, it wasn't supposed to happen like this!
A voice echoed down from the shattering clouds.
“Hey, dick stick!” A female voice. “Mmm mmm…I wouldn't do that if I was you. Nope!”
Destiny?
I knew her boomy, dreamlike voice anywhere, even if it was distorted.
Balthus stopped and looked around.
“Exactly,” Destiny said. “I would've told you to smile for your photo op, but that would have ruined all the shots. Kathy, girl, will you stop dreaming and wake the fuck up to what's going on here?”
Kathy balled her fists.
Slowly, the web loosened and we drifted to the ground.
“Am I dreaming?” Kathy asked. “Am I?”
I felt her consciousness brightening, as if she were going into a lucid dream.
The intensity of the dream ether faded.
Balthus roared and tried to reestablish his connection with the ether by clapping, but he couldn't.
He held his sword up and zoomed toward Kathy.
If he hit her now, he'd kill her entire mind on impact. Complete suicide.
I separated from Kathy and created a sword of my own.
Balthus growled, aiming.
I leapt into the air.
Sword.
Sword.
One of us was going to slash first.
Strike!
Hit him, Aisha.
Hit him, girl!
Could I kill him?
I had to.
I had no choice!
And then I remembered his slimy tactics and his condescending bullshit.
I willed my ether sword to grow and become a lance.
Balthus’s eyes widened.
I reared the lance back.
He tried to course correct.
I jousted.
Balthus looked down as the lance tore through his chest. We hung frozen in mid-air.
Balthus dropped his sword. He tried to speak, but blood welled against his teeth.
“Don't mean to brag,” I said, “but this dumbass street mage who doesn't know strategy or history just kind of maybe sort of beat you at your own game.”
I pulled the lance out of Balthus and spun around hard, slamming it into his face.
With all the ether I could summon, I struck him with a vortex of magic that knocked him to the ground. Then I zoomed down and drove the lance into him again, the full force of the ether behind me, screaming.
Balthus’s body ripped in half as the lance and the ether swirled around him.
With a frightened look, his eyes widened.
“You…actually did it,” he said weakly. “I told you to fucking kill me and you…you did it…”
Ether bloomed in his fingertips—a counterattack—but I snapped my fingers and the ether around him shattered, ripping his face apart.
“Hey, cuz, maybe you better jump,” Destiny said.
All around me, the dreamscape burned and melted.
“Aisha, quit playin’!” Destiny cried.
I took one last look at the shards of Balthus’s body before the realization set in.
I killed him.
I killed a man.
Oh.
Shit.
I jumped out of the dream just before everything shattered and disappeared forever.
29
I rematerialized in Kathy’s bedroom next to her bed. I landed on my knees.
The lights were on, and there were a lot of people. Darius, Destiny, Niecy, and Harriet.
Darius helped me up.
“We gotcha, cuz,” he said.
I shook my head, hoping some of the confusion would fade away. But it didn't.
“Will someone tell me what is going on?” I asked.
A falcon next to the bed flapped its wings and transformed into Destiny.
“You killed Balthus,” she said. “That's what matters.”
“No,” I said. “Why am I here? Why did that battle happen so unexpectedly?”
Harriet stepped forward. “Balthus outsmarted us. We expected him to hatch an elaborate scheme when we found the demon nests. But they were a distraction. When you pulled up to the neighborhood, his associates were hiding in the crowd. They kidnapped Morgan and knew that you'd end up in her dream. That's when Balthus sprang his attack.” Harriet clasped her hands. “Aisha, I'm so sorry. You asked me for help, but I failed you this time around.”
“It's okay,” I said. “Consider us even now.”
Harriet smirked. “I suppose you're right.”
Kathy stirred. Then she opened her eyes. She startled upon seeing all of us in the room.
“It’s all right,” Harriet said. “You're safe now.”
Kathy sighed with relief.
“Who was that guy?” she asked. “He was crazy.”
“He used you to get close to me,” I said. “I'm sorry, Kathy.”
“It's okay,” she said. “But where did he go?”
I looked away and tried not to think about how I killed Balthus.
Destiny put a hand on my shoulder.
“Don't worry, Aisha,” Destiny said. “We got your back.”
“How can you possibly have my back when I've committed murder?” I asked.
A black man entered the room. He was bald and wore a badge.
I remembered him from Harriet’s condo. I think his name was Tyrone Harris-Briggs.
“Tyrone,” Harriet said. “I need you to log two deaths.”
Harriet stepped aside, revealing Morgan’s body. Seeing it sent a chill through my body.
Tyrone shook his head.
“Morgan,” he said under his breath. “Damn. Well, who's the second death?”
“James Balthus,” Harriet said.
Tyrone turned to me. “Did you kill him?”
I looked down.
“Excuse me, sir,” Darius said. “I know it sounds pretty bad, but my cousin did what she had to do in self-defense. I have the photographic evidence to prove it.”
He pointed to Dre glittering on the floor. On it was a picture of Balthus and his sword aimed at me while Kathy and I were tied in a web against the street light.
“I got at least a hundred more photos, and they tell a pretty fucked-up story,” Darius said. “And we've got a death threat, a video, and an antagonistic article in the paper tomorrow morning that will tell you everything you need to know.”
Tyrone started for Dre, but Darius switched off the machine.
“Naw, dawg,” Darius said. “You can get this from our attorney.”
Tyrone frowned.
“I'll be a witness,” Harriet said. “I understand there has to be a trial. But this is a good case of justifiable homicide if I've ever seen one. Public opinion will demand it.”
Tyrone nodded. “I think you'll be all right, Aisha.”
I sighed a sigh of relief as Darius, Destiny, and Niecy hugged me.
30
“I wouldn’t worry, Aisha,” Harriet said as we walked down Kathy’s front steps.
Hattie, Terrance, and the rest of the Shadow Walkers were waiting in the snow.
“Well?” Hattie asked.
“It’s done,” I said.
“Hot damn,” Terrance said. “I didn’t think you’d be able to do it, girl, but look at you—you done gone and did it. Nice job. Too bad you had to rip that bastard’s throat out.”
Hattie pulled her coat closer and shivered in the wind.
“Baby, we better be getting home,” she said.
Terrance nodded.
“Nice to meet y’all,” Terrance said. “That adventure we had tonight—ha ha, that’s going down in the history books. At least in my mind.”
“I won’t forget it, that’s for sure,” I said.
Definitely.
I wasn’t going to forget this night for a long time.
Terrance fist-bumped Darius.
“Nice job tonight, pardner,” he said.
“Hey, Mr. Lovelace,” Darius said. “I bet a lot of people probably ask you this, but would you mind mentoring me sometime? I could learn a lot from you.”
Terrance’s eyes widened.
“Your casting skills are syrupy smooth,” Darius said. “I want to be like that one day.”
Terrance grinned. “Come and see me sometime. I mean that. I can teach you a lot about your casting skills.”
“Bet,” Darius said.
“You got a lot of street in your skill,” Terrance said. “I’ll help you refine it.”
“That would be an honor, sir,” Darius said. “I’ma definitely call you.”
“Look at you, going and getting a mentor,” I said.
“If you don’t ask, you won’t ever know,” Darius said.
Terrance and Hattie entered a nearby car, and they and the rest of the Shadow Walkers drove away, waving at us.
“I owe you, D,” I said.
“Naw, you don’t,” Darius said. “Thank God I got Dre fixed.”
Niecy checked her watch.
“Girl,” she said, elbowing Destiny. “Garbo is still open. How about we go up there so I can learn some new styles of clothes to conjure?”
Destiny laughed.
“We just saved the city AGAIN and all you want to do is shop?” she asked.
Niecy scratched her head. “Okay, look: I conjured up God knows how many weapons for all of your skinny asses tonight. I went along with y’all, fought with y’all, kicked some ass with y’all, laughed with y’all, cried with y’all, kicked y’all asses into line when you started trippin’, and I’m the second oldest. I cooked y’all breakfast this mornin’, I’m about to have a good pay day tomorrow, and a date with a brother that’s into me. So do me a favor and humor me for a few hours.”
She stomped, and a black sedan appeared on the curb, ready to ride.
“All right,” I said. “but you better pay me for your stay tomorrow after your job. I got bills to pay, girl.”
Niecy crossed her fingers and laughed boisterously.
Harriet laughed at us. “You are one funny family. Your Nana would have been proud.”
“We’re even, but this isn’t over,” I said. “I still want to know about Nana.”
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know,” Harriet said. “But how about another time?”
She grabbed her side.
“I’ve been through a lot too, so you got yourself a deal,” I said.
Harriet and I shook hands.
“Another thing for you to think about,” Harriet said. “With Morgan’s death, I’m going to be short an official member. Consider joining us.”
“I’ll think on it,” I said. “I appreciate the honorary membership tonight.”
Harriet smiled. Shadows swarmed across her whole body.
“I thought you weren’t supposed to warp,” I said.
“Feeling better now,” she said. “Until next time, you all.”
In an instant, she flashed away.
Kathy stood in her doorway.
“I forgot to thank you,” she said.
“No need to thank me,” I said. “It’s what friends do for each other.”
Kathy smiled.
“I think I realized what my revelation was,” Kathy said.
“Uh oh,” Darius whispered. “Run. Run away…”
Kathy skipped down the steps, putting on her coat.
“Ooooh, you guys are going to the mall?” she asked. “I’ll come. I LOVE Garbo’s clothes!”
“If you like Garbo, then we’re gonna be all right tonight, baby,” Niecy said. She jogged around to the driver’s seat and jumped in, honking the horn.
Darius jumped into the passenger’s seat.
“Hold up,” he said. “If you’re gonna go synthesize some new clothes, we need to have a serious conversation about how much shoulder you’re revealing. That tank top you are wearing tonight is scandalous.”
“Boy, be quiet!” Niecy said, honking the horn again.
“Some things never change,” I said. “Adventures, family, and arguments.”
I laughed.
Destiny hooked her arm under mine.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, cousin,” she said.
I patted her arm.
“Crazy how your decision was right,” Destiny said.
“Right?” I asked.
“You kicked my ass for being scared about all the publicity,” Destiny said. “But we were
on the right path. We’ve always been. I don’t know why I didn’t see it. I don’t know why I was so scared.”
“It’s easy to be scared,” I said.
I thought about our lives and all the decisions we had made up to this point.
How I had stood for what I believed in, and how it always paid off, no matter how hard the temporary pain was.
Tomorrow, a press firestorm was going to happen, and all of this fame that we experienced was going to fade away. I was going to be in some legal trouble. Was it scary? God yes.
But somehow, I knew me and my cousins would be okay.
We always got by.
No matter what kind of crazy shit came our way.
And that was more important than anything else in the world to me.
“So, here’s my belief,” Kathy said. “I think that my revelation had something to do with aliens. I’m convinced of it.”
“Oh, boy,” Darius said.
“Go on ahead and tell us the whole story, Kathy,” I said. “We got the whole midnight commute to hear you out.”
“Well, it began when I was six years old,” Kathy said. Then she started talking, and didn’t stop…
If this was the biggest problem I had to deal with right now, I had it pretty good.
Yeah, I had it pretty good. Mos def.
I climbed into the car, laughing at Kathy’s crazy story.
THE END.
Author’s Note
We've reached the end of this trilogy, and I'm sad to leave this universe!
Writing this series in many ways for me was like coming home.
I've written about black characters before, but not like this.
Inspirations
I wrote characters who were like the people I grew up with. My cousins. My extended family. The kids I went to school with.
You see, African-Americans just have this way about us. Call it a swagger. Like any culture, there's something special about my people that you just won’t find anywhere else.
Sometimes these special things are hard to replicate in the written word, like how we talk, or how we feel about certain topics like racism. Hell, sometimes we can't even figure out how we feel about things. That's a history lesson for another time.
Diversity in Fiction
With every series I challenge myself to completely erase everything I've done from my mind and do something different.
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