“Liar!” He took another swing at me but I was able to doge it this time, his aim impaired obviously by the alcohol that filled him. He stumbled forward and caught onto a wooden barrel. For a few moments he just lingered there trying to keep his balance, head down as I waited on the other side of the room expecting him to come charging like a bull. Eventually he put the wine bottle down, turned and slumped onto his rear. He was gripping onto the roots of his hair with both hands.
“What did I do wrong?” He asked as I knelt down beside him, taking a hold of his shoulder and giving him a comforting squeeze. Elliot released his hair and tilted his head back; his ice blue eyes blinking trying to regain focus. “Lust for Love…” He scoffed, “maybe I didn’t know the difference back then, but I know now. Lust doesn’t feel like someone stabbed me in the heart. Lust doesn’t make me want to puke whenever she stares at me. Lust doesn’t cause butterflies, or make me worry about her all the time. Aren’t I good enough to love her?”
“It isn’t you; she must be unable to love or to recognise love. She had been trapped in that realm for a long time; it may have just tainted her perceptions.”
“She doesn’t hate you!” He glanced up at me with what I thought were accusing eyes but they softened and broke with vulnerability.
“I think she may fear you, you might remind her too much of her past…”
“No, if that was the case then she wouldn’t have taken Lucy as her host. It’s not her old life, it’s me.”
“Even you said so yourself that they are different as banished. You’re trying to speak to Melissa when only Betrayal is left behind.”
He rolled the words across his thoughts, sinking further down into his slouched position. I took the wine bottle away from him and returned it back onto the shelves. There was so much dust in here that I could taste it with every breath.
“She really is gone…” He spoke up.
“Yeah, but I think we can bring her back. If we are able to pull this off and remove the curse, maybe just maybe, the old Melissa will rise and replace Betrayal. Come, we stick to the plan.” I offered my arm out to him before hauling him onto his feet.
“You really think we can bring her back?”
I grinned, “Yes, of course I do. Her and Evan will return to us as they were, uncorrupted and taint free. But I need you to stay by me with this; I can’t do this without you Elliot. Sleep off the alcohol, in the morning I’ll come and get you.”
“Right… right of course, I’m sorry” Elliot pulled me into one of those awkward drunken hugs where I was used mostly as a pole to kept him standing on his two feet.
“Don’t worry about it. If all goes well, I’ll be back in the morning.”
***
Back at the Drop Off I waited patiently and strangely calm leaning against the dome walls. One of the Reapers alerted me of his movements, and on my command, approached the Hunter with information about my whereabouts. So far I had been very successful in keeping myself out of sight of the Hunters and Royals, with of course the help from the other Reapers covering my tracks, I had vanished completely off their radar. For me to appear now had Gargoyle approaching me with suspicion. He had been with two other Hunters at the time but agreed to come meet me in private. As he approached I could feel Raix dig his paws into the ground. It took all of his control to not lurch at the Hunter, his temper still outweighing his sense of fear.
“Reaper Jordon I hear that you’re famous now, or should I call you the Wolf Reaper?” Gargoyle had both hands in his pockets, his posture unthreateningly slack. Despite only being half a Hunter, his skin still gleamed with pristine shine and his red hair was vibrant against the musky shadows.
“I’m calling in my favour. I’m surrendering myself to you, I want you to take me up to the Royals and show them that I am not rebelling.”
He curled his lips into a smile, not buying my story, “Surrendering yourself hmm? And why are you doing that?”
“I’m scared for my safety and my friends are under threat. I need to make things clear.”
“That’s a smart move Reaper, you clearly understand the vast power Hunters hold over all the other spirits. I had thought you weren’t a fool, but something is still troubling me. Any Hunter would have taken you gladly to the Royal’s throne room, so why search me out?”
“You must promise to not let them destroy me.”
Gargoyle laughed boisterously, “I don’t think I have that type of power Reaper!”
“You’re a Hunter aren’t you? Just like they are! What gives them more say over you? I don’t want any trouble…” I could see Gargoyle bite into his smile, his ego expanding like an inflating balloon.
“Why do you want to do this?”
“I don’t want them following me anymore, I feel on edge constantly and I just want it to stop. You know that I’m not that type of Reaper and that I don’t hate Hunters. I saved you, didn’t I?”
Gargoyle huffed, “I’ll pass on the message; you do not need to speak to them directly-”
“They won’t stop until they see me for themselves; I need to tell them face to face. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt that you are the one bringing me in, now does it?”
Gargoyle tensed his face, able to sense the underlying motive to my surrender with distrust. I was depending on his egotism to buy my lie. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I mean, who wouldn’t want to shove in the faces of their peers that they caught the Wolf Reaper?
“Fine, but your Goon stays here.”
“Agreed.”
“And you must wear constraints.”
“Is that necessary? I come to you surrendering myself on the grounds that I don’t want to harm Hunters. Taking me in chains only gives them the impression that I am dangerous.”
“It’s protocol.”
He moved closer to me before securing my wrists together within tight, padlocked metal clamps. Once secured, Gargoyle then moved towards Raix who had his head to the ground and teeth clenched. I quickly commanded Raix to stay calm as Gargoyle sprinkled out some white smoke, causing Raix to inhale the dust and sneeze. Within moments the wolf’s eyes fluttered closed before he rolled over unconscious.
“Let’s go.” He urged me forward before taking a handful of my cloak and dragging me into the light with him. We moved quickly and at a silent pace, once stepping through the other end of Gargoyle’s teleportation we landed gracefully on marbled beige floor. Instantly I felt myself unclench. So this is where the Royals live.
A vast mansion, probably close to the same structure as Walt Disney’s castle, waited in front of us like a giant trophy. Despite the myths, the castle was not floating on top of clouds or surrounded by angelic winged spirits, it remained positioned in the centre of a vast moving sea with untamed forest growing up to the edge of the bank. The water was almost like a picture taken from a commercial, it was just too perfect to be considered real.
“This way.” Gargoyle took his hand off me, positioned it behind his back and like a trained butler led the way into the giant castle doors. They opened on command, revealing an even larger hall decorated with crystal chandeliers and twin gold staircases leading onto the second level. There were white smoky doves that sat perched on the railings and bubbles of crystal butterflies that floated above our heads in gentle waves. The Drop Off was a mere hole compared to this.
“This place is amazing.” I tilted my head back as we marched inside. Gargoyle glanced upwards as well, also admiring the gold tinted collages painted on the curve of the ceiling.
“Yes, well we do what we can for Miira.”
“Why would you ever want to leave here?”
Gargoyle dropped his head and sighed loudly, almost like the same thought had been passing through his mind. “Unfortunately I don’t have a choice in the matter.”
“Is it because of the banishment?” Obviously I had crossed a line as Gargoyle abruptly turned on me, took me by the throat before pressing me against the wall. He was strong, a lot stronger
than his lean physique suggested as he was able to lift me off the ground that my feet dangled helplessly.
“I am not banished!” He practically roared.
“Okay, okay, okay!” He dropped me quickly before stepping back, allowing me a chance to collect my breath.
“My apologises Reaper my temper got the better of me.”
“You’ve got quite some grip there-” I coughed.
Fighting a frown Gargoyle continued on, “It’s a relentless torment that I must go through. Reality is I am tainted with the touch of banishment and shame. Until I get my full Hunter title I am shunned by my own kind like some half breed monster.”
“How did it happen? Why are you a half breed?”
“I had sought revenge on my sister’s killer but the moment I took that dirty man’s life I had been condemned to the same degraded level of a common banished. I know I am worthy of being a great Hunter, I am the best there is but I’ve been shamed with a name of Gargoyle- the abomination. If I collect the most banished then Miira will grant me my wish to become a fully-fledged Hunter. Enough of this, they are expecting us.”
He motioned with his head to continue on. The interior was almost like mirrors had been placed all over the walls, casting endless images back and forth. Everything was identical. As we walk the symmetrical halls something was changing in the atmosphere, there was an airy overcast surrounding us. Similar to walking through scentless smoke, my eyes started to cloud as if in a dream, the further we ventured in the more the fog seemed to build.
“What is this stuff?” I asked trying my best to wave the smoke away from my face. It was making me feel light headed.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.” Gargoyle quickened his pace as we passed through another hall, the end door at the other side of the corridor seeming to be where most of the gas was leaking from. It had to be the lanterns. My fingers itched to get out of the constraints, feeling my heart accelerated at the sight of the double doors. We walked away from them at a quickened stride, now was not the time. As to perhaps confuse visiting spirits, the mansion had been set up like a gigantic maze. All the halls were identical, all the doors matching eight by eight pairs down each corridor and we took so many turns that I had lost count. Right, left, right, right, left, left, left, right, right, left, right… umm… right? No left? Damn it!
With Gargoyle keeping a careful eye on me, I couldn’t even mark the walls as we passed them to help navigate my way back. Till finally we halted in front of indistinguishable double doors, these no different than the last fifty or so we had just passed. Gargoyle glanced at me with raised brows, almost asking if I was a ready to face the Royals. He had one hand placed on the door knob.
“Before we go in… I just need to say one last thing.” I quickly turned to Gargoyle as he dropped his hand to his side. “I feel the need to thank you, whatever happens in there, I know you’ll keep your end of the deal. I just want this nightmare to be over.”
He lifted a small smile, turned and placed his hand back on the door knob again. In an abrupt lunge I lifted my arms above my head and hammered the iron cuffs down on top of him. The brutal attack had forced Gargoyle into the door before he rebounded and collapsed onto the ground unconscious.
“Sorry, hope you’ll forgive me.” I took him by his ankles and dragged his body across the ground along the hallway. I tested the door knobs, nearly all of them still locked, before finding one left open near the end of the corridor. I glanced in cautiously to make sure the room was empty before dragging Gargoyle in. I searched his pockets for a key but couldn’t find anything, the cuffs apparently being triggered by Gargoyle’s magic only. If I hadn’t known what it was like to feel like bug lost in a vast forest, now I definitely did. I was racing across the halls as if blinded, trying my best to retrace my forgotten steps and get back to the hall filled with smoke. All the while I kept my ears strained, trying to listen for stampeding feet tracking me down. Locked door. Locked door. Locked door. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Argh!
The panic had my heart squeezing me into breathless panting, my fingers and wrists were sore and numb within the firm clasp of the cuffs. Sweat ringed my hair line as I raised my wrists to wipe it off a couple of voices had me almost running into the ground. There were two voices, both male, coming up from the other end. I pressed myself against the wall, eyes as wide as saucepans trying to judge how far they were from me and if they were coming this way. Crap! Their voices only got clearer and louder, rounding the corner faster than I was turning back around. Out of time I knew I had to hide.
The door knob I pulled on was locked just as they emerged on the other end of the hallway. Two Hunters walked into view with their head lowered in their conversation. I shuffled back and pressed myself against the end wall, holding my breath hostage. Keep walking. Keep walking… I prayed but their steps slowed, their pace coming to a stop as they turn towards each other. Against the soft toast brown across the walls I stood out like red against snow. It was a matter of seconds before they glanced upwards, having caught sight of me out of the corner of the eye. As carefully as I could, I turned myself towards the next door knob, ringed my fingers around and tried my luck again. Locked!
They were only meters away from me that even if I let myself breath they could hear it. Keeping my pace as slow and calm as I could, I then moved my hands upwards, pinched the hem of my cloak and slipped underneath the hood. If I had any luck, the magic of my cloak would cast me as one of their own, or even better; blend me in with the brown touch of the wall. One of the Hunters glanced upwards almost like he could smell the sweat dripping off me. I paused. He was trying to see something around the corner. I was leaning away as he was leaning in, till suddenly a weight shifted beneath me and I fell inwards through the wooden door. The handle had unlocked mysteriously and opened wide enough for me to quickly stuffed myself inside and quietly shut the door again.
I was panting like a fat man running a marathon. The hood must’ve let me slip through the locks, just like down on earth. The room I entered was vacant, hosting strange oil paintings all across the walls like some sort of art museum. Except the pictures were unsettled. Moving gradually that it appeared they were still, the eyes of the painted portraits traced the room before locking onto me. As more and more eyes secured onto me they warmed my cheeks red.
Unable to stand within their insufferable gaze any longer, I opened the door again and walked back into the hall. The Hunters had moved on thankfully, so I continued my frantic search again but quieter. Or so I had thought they continued on, just as I passed by the entrance one of the Hunters had returned on his patrol, nearing colliding with me as I went running through. Both of us were startled into stopping, catching brief glances at each other’s faces before I spun on my heel and ran for dear life.
“Halt! Reaper!” He shouted after me which only fuelled the adrenaline faster into my blood stream. Corner after corner, left, right, right, left, I tasted the air desperately searching for the soft cloud from earlier. All the while I could hear them pursuing me, getting faster, collecting more and more Hunters to join the chase. There had to be at least six of them now by the noise they were creating.
Till finally, miraculously, the hint of smoke hooked my nose and lead me down the correct corridors. The double doors waited for me on the other end, streaming out the gas like a working chimney. I hit the door with my body, unable to slow my speed before fighting with the handle. It had to be this door. I had to make sure!
When it refused to budge, I moved back under the hood of my cloak and tried again, this time successfully. Ramming my shoulder through I burst through the door, spun around and slammed it back closed behind me.
Chapter Twenty-Two:
“Stranger-” A weak voice had almost paralysed me to the spot. I turned back around quickly to find a disappointing empty room. It was elegant but simple, no windows or paintings along the walls and just a simple rug rolled out on the ground. There were two people in here… or should
I say two creatures, facing each other on their knees. The atmosphere of the room had me feeling like I was sitting inside an olden day Opium den, smoking down on pipes and resting amongst silk cushions.
The female was concealed behind a blue cloak and had her back towards me, her head tilted into her shoulder but her eyes hidden beneath the hood. The creature next to her was flickering like a faulty projection before morphing spontaneously into a large, soft teal butterfly. Startled the bug flew towards the girl and perched itself on her shoulder, folding its wings underneath her hair.
“Where are the lanterns?” I asked panting. The girl remained masked beneath the hood of her cloth, shielding what I could vaguely see was scarred skin across her eyes.
“Not here.”
“Can you help me find them?” I walked over towards her but she quickly held her hand up to stop me.
“Be careful Reaper…” She then lowered her hand to sooth underneath the belly of the bug, “Do not startle it. The Reaping lanterns are in the main throne room, above the head of the Royal Miira.”
Wait… I was right there with the lanterns and I bolted the other way? My eyes squeezed shut at the disappointing irony. At least I know where they are now; how to get back there is a completely different matter.
“Wait… What are you?” I calmed my panting as I leaned closer towards her, inspecting the bright jewel that hung around her neck. Her voice was hypnotic as if she was speaking through water; it was muffled at times and hard to understand.
“I am the daughter, or some may know me as the blue spirit.”
“T-The Blue Spirit? You’re kidding…” I felt my feet stumbled back. Unknowingly I had found the Blue Spirit, the very spirit I need to take back to the Betrayal and Evan so I could save their lives. Delighted beyond words I couldn’t stop my smile was overtaking my face. “This is perfect! I really need your help Blue Spirit; I need you to come with me back to the Drop Off. I need you to save some friends of mine.”
My Demonic Ghost Book two (The Reapers 2) Page 20
