by Kasi Blake
For over an hour the Order taunted, threatened, and provoked Bay-Lee with limited results. They repeatedly used magic to toss her around the room like a rag doll. She sat in the corner, back against the wall, and watched the main shifter pace the long length of the room. Once in a while he whispered something to the others, all of them now sitting at the table. It was clear they were not pleased. “Arise,” the thing said.
Bay-Lee pushed herself to her feet. She swayed, unsteady. Her body ached from head to toe, every inch of her bruised. Her legs trembled as she walked across the floor to face the shifters again. In a show of rare courage she lifted her chin and said, “If you’re going to kill me, kill me, but stop playing games.”
“Do you think we are responsible for the wraiths?”
“No,” she said, lying. “I do not think you are behind the wraiths.”
The building shook. They knew she was only telling them what they wanted to hear. She didn’t know what else to do. They didn’t believe her lies, but she couldn’t force herself to believe them. If they weren’t behind the killings, they wouldn’t have kidnapped Van.
“Perhaps we should kill you now,” it said.
“No!” Van shouted. “You will not murder my daughter.”
“How will you stop us?” the thing asked.
No one said another word for the longest time. The shifters communicated with each other in hushed tones, deliberating over what to do with their hostages. Bay-Lee stumbled to Van’s side. She wondered how fast she could untie him. Maybe they could cross over before the creatures killed them.
Nick and Mike popped into the room without warning, and she cried out in surprise. The shifters bolted to their feet as a single entity. Play time was over. With their powers the shifters would be impossible to beat. Her gaze locked onto Nick and she silently prayed she would be granted a few minutes with him so she could tell him everything that was welling up in her heart before they were killed.
While the monsters had their attention on the newcomers, Van came up with a plan. He hissed sharply between his teeth. When Bay-Lee looked at him, he jerked his head to the opposite side, signaling for her to come closer. She bent over his shoulder, and he whispered, “Go to Nick. Run to him and jump into his arms as if you are young lovers separated for months. Do it now.”
“What?” She raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Trust me and do it. Hurry before it’s too late.”
She was willing to try anything at this point. Bay-Lee cried out Nick’s name and launched herself at him, careful not to impale herself on the sword he was holding. His arms caught and held her tight. She pushed her face into the groove of his neck and whispered the plan in his ear. In a loud voice, loud enough for the shifters to hear, she said, “I never thought I’d see you again!”
“It’s okay, baby. I’m here. Are you all right?”
“I’m great now that you’re here.” She wasn’t faking the emotion in her voice. A moment ago she’d believed she’d never see him again. “I love you, Nick.”
Mike made a rude noise.
Nick nodded, his eyes never straying from her face. “I love you.”
The lead shifter asked Van, “Did you know about this?”
Van put on an Academy Award winning performance. Looking shocked, he spoke to her instead of to the monster. “How long has this been going on behind my back?”
She didn’t know what to say.
The shifter saved her from saying anything. Clapping its hands, the thing said, “This is outstanding. Is it true? Are the two of you in love?”
Van said, “I warned you to stay away from each other. What is wrong with you? You are jeopardizing the entire planet for a case of puppy love!”
“It isn’t puppy love,” she said. “It’s real, and I don’t understand what your problem is with me and Nick being together. You should want us to be happy.”
“Nick knows why. He knows why the two of you can’t be together. The prophecy—”
“Screw the prophecy!” Nick shouted. “I love this girl, and she loves me. We’re together and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
The lead shifter chuckled beneath the hood. It circled around the table to stand in front of Nick and Bay-Lee. Turning around in his arms to face the thing, she saw burning eyes beneath the hood, glowing red eyes. She swallowed the gasp. One wrong word, one wrong move and they’d be dead. It said, “I am pleased to see you have discovered each other, your destiny.”
“Why?” she asked. “Why do you care who I date?”
Nick said, “There’s a stupid prophecy that says I’ll turn into something evil and destroy the world if I fall in love with Van Helsing’s daughter.” He kissed the side of her face. “Don’t worry, baby. It’ll never happen.”
“You want Nick to destroy the world?”
“The two of you may go.” The leader turned away and swept back to the table.
She tried to step forward, but Nick’s hands tightened on her shoulders, refusing to let her move. “What about my father?” she asked. “I’m not leaving without him.”
“Take him.” The thing flicked a hand at Van and the ropes fell off.
Bay-Lee rushed to Van with Nick right behind her. One on each side, they helped him to his feet. He could barely walk. Mike remained in place, eyes and weapons on the members of the Order just in case they attacked. He waited for the others to join him. Nick half-dragged Van across the metal floor. When they made it back to Mike, they all linked arms and held tight.
Bay-Lee cleared her mind.
Nick crossed them back to their own world.
