WINDOWS: A BROKEN FAIRY TALE

by Bramble, Casey

  Sarah heard something in her friend’s voice and turned to look at her. There was a shadow in Raven’s eyes that made her uneasy.

  “You know he deserved it, right?” She tried to sound comforting, mistaking the look on Raven’s face as concern for the guy. “He was trying to grab you and you stopped him.”

  Raven took a long drag on her beer. “I’m not worried about that.”

  “Then what is it?” Sarah reached out and touched her friend’s pale arm comfortingly but Raven jerked back as if she had been shocked. Sarah reached another wrong conclusion and asked if it had anything to do with what happened on the floor between them.

  Raven shook her head then drained the last of her beer and laughed; the chipper façade returning. “No, nothing to do with that. Sarah, do you mind if we leave soon?”

  They sat in silence for a few moments as the bar life danced and swirled around them until Sarah finished her beer.

  After retrieving their belongings from the coat room, they walked into another bit of drama, this one between the bouncer that had broken up Raven’s fight and what seemed to be the owner of the bar.

  “Those were Protectorate guards you threw out, you idiot!” The manager was poking the bouncer in the chest. Sarah thought that was a very stupid thing to do since the owner was shorter than she was and the guy whose chest he was jabbing with a finger was basically huge.

  The big guy tried to explain that he had no clue that they were, he was just doing his job by removing patrons who were causing a disturbance. His calm manner did nothing to quell the smaller man’s anger; in fact, it seemed to intensify.

  “Well you can kiss your job good-bye, Jimmy. You’re fired!” The man started to say something else but Raven interrupted.

  “Excuse me, but your employee protected us from two drunks who were being overly grabby. You should be thanking him.”

  The owner had found a new target for his anger and turned on Raven with a vicious snarl. “You’re the bitch who broke John’s nose aren’t you? What’s your name?”

  Raven arched an eyebrow and glared at the small, blustery man. Sarah knew that look well and part of her brain wondered if Elspeth intentionally taught it to all four of her daughters. “My name is Lady Branwyen Chandlish and if you call me a bitch again, it will be the last word that passes those slug like lips. Are we clear?”

  The pudgy owner laughed shrilly, intoxicated by the knowledge that in his bar, he made all the rules. “Listen here, Lady Branwyen. You assaulted one of my customers, a member of the Protectorate no less, and then you have the nerve to threaten me? You are banned from The Equinox from this day forward.” For all his bluster he didn’t call Raven a bitch again.

  While the small man was venting, Sarah had to bite the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing. She could hear snickers from the people in line but doubted many knew what exactly was happening. Raven twirled her finger while watching the angry dwarf with a bemused expression. The man’s toupee floated about a foot over his head.

  Finally realizing people were laughing at him the guy jerked his hands up and felt his bald dome. Laughing into the face of his former boss, Jimmy grabbed the hair piece and handed it to Raven.

  Stuffing the rug into her front pocket, Raven hollered, “If it’s my last visit, I want something to remember you by”, as the man disappeared into the club.

  Sarah chuckled and saw Raven walking away with Jimmy the bouncer at her side.

  “Why were you working there, Jimmy?” Raven’s arms were crossed when Sarah caught up with them.

  “I haven’t been able to find a job yet.”

  Raven unfolded her arms and linked the left one through Sarah’s. “Lil’bit, this is Jimmy.”

  Sarah and Jimmy said hello but Raven’s admonishments drowned the salutations. “Weren’t you under explicit orders to go directly to Felicity when you graduated? We wondered where you went off to.”

  “Your family has done so much for me I didn’t want to be a bother.” The big man answered glumly.

  “Well, two things.” Raven kept fussing. “One, go there tomorrow. Two, you have to tell Sis exactly why you haven’t gone to Felicity yet.”

  Sarah understood exactly why Jimmy hemmed and hawed.

  “She’ll kill me.” He finally blurted out. Raven agreed.

  The trio stopped in front of Jimmy’s apartment building, and after Raven’s repeated assurance that they didn’t need an escort, they all said good night.

  Sarah hoped the hotel was close because nights in Augusta turned very chilly under an autumn moon. They walked for 10 shivering minutes, finding themselves on a long, dimly lit street with warehouses lining both sides. It’s a short cut, Raven declared but Sarah would’ve happily been cold for a few more minutes in order to avoid following this creepy path.

  Suddenly a man stepped out of the shadows in front of them, followed by two others. Sarah grasped Raven’s arm tightly and the two girls tried to turn back. Two more men blocked their way, the two from the club Sarah recognized. She looked for a place to run but saw no means of escape. Without warning a strong hand reached out and grabbed her, clasping itself over her mouth and dragging her into a wall of shadows. She looked for Raven but the redhead was still standing there, swaying slightly.

  This isn’t good, Sarah thought in a panic. Raven looked like she was completely drunk and with the hand over her mouth she couldn’t scream for Bryson. With tears cascading down her cheeks, she watched helplessly.

  Raven, however, was completely relaxed. Five on one and they were all quite a bit bigger than she was. Since none of them had drawn their swords, she kept hers sheathed as well. It looked like a friendly scuffle and she needed to work out some aggression anyway. With a grin that was hidden in the shadow of her bangs, the fight began.

  One of the men behind her reached out. Raven felt his hand make contact with her shoulder and twisted out of the way at the last second, grabbed his wrist and driving the heel of her palm into the center of his forearm, shattering the bone. The man clutched his broken appendage and started to fall. Before he hit the ground, Raven spun and kicked him in the temple.

  As the unconscious man slumped in a heap, Sarah felt the arms holding her in place start to weaken but with a shout from what she assumed was the men’s leader, felt them tighten again. Another man rushed forward and swung his fist wildly at Raven. Sarah saw her fall to the ground and intensified her struggles to no avail. The man holding her was just too strong. The man who had hit Raven laughed cruelly but the laughter turned into a scream of pain as Raven kicked out with her boots and broke both of his legs.

  The other three men stayed back and started circling the girl in purple. Glancing at each other they drew their swords in unison. Raven leapt to her feet and kicked the man with the broken legs in the face, silencing him. “You don’t want to do this, guys. It’s just fun and games right now.” Her voice carried no trace of laughter. “No reason for anybody to die.”

  The men ignored the warning and moved closer to Raven, who calmly rolled her eyes and flicked out her hand. A fireball smashed into the closest man’s chest, igniting his shirt. She watched as the guy to her left feinted as the one to her right rushed in. It was a tactic she had seen many times and one she knew how to deal with. As the man to her left pulled back from his fake attack, Raven twisted her fingers. The road turned liquid and the attacking man sank up to his hips. The ground solidified at once. Raven turned to face the last attacker but he was already fleeing the scene, screaming for help. With a loud snap, Raven’s boot caught the chin of the man stuck in the road. His body jerked back before leaning forward awkwardly. Only one of the men remained, the one holding Sarah. Raven saw that he held a knife pressed against her throat.

  Trying to sound brave, he demanded Raven put her hands in her pocket. She did so with a sneer curling her lips. With a grunt, the man shoved Sarah down and advanced on what he thought was a now helpless victim.

  “You attacked us and now you’re goi
ng to pay.” He sounded much more sure of himself now as he strutted to within striking distance of Raven. “No funny business.”

  Sarah watched as in horror as the knife flashed through the air towards Raven’s exposed neck.

  CHAPTER 13: NIGHTMARES COME TRUE

  The girl cried in terror as a shutter was pulled tightly over the final window. The fire, once blazing merrily, was reduced to a single flame that sputtered and danced in the wind before finally blowing out. Nothing could be seen in the stygian blackness, the portraits on the walls and streamers on the ceiling were enveloped by the darkness.

  Trembling with fear the redhead braced herself against the shadows that now filled the chamber as tears flowed down her cheeks, using her body to protect the fragile embers that were the only source of light left.

  The girl felt something cold wrap itself around her arm but a tiny flicker of flame poked out of the ash in the fireplace. Slowly the tendril receded.

  “Nearly.” An echo rumbled from everywhere.

  Sarah stared uncomprehendingly, a cry caught in her throat, at something that just should not have been possible. Her attacker seemed more than a little confused too. His hand, and part of his arm, had just disappeared into Raven. Slowly the image shimmered and dissolved.

  Then she heard Raven’s voice from behind and saw a pale hand rest on the man’s shoulder. “If you leave, I won’t kill you. Nod once if you understand.” The man nodded.

  “Now’s the time you run away.” Sarah told the frightened man. He fled just as the real Raven, looking exhausted, reappeared.

  Sarah smiled with relief but before she could speak, Raven collapsed and began convulsing violently. Standing over Raven’s twitching body, Sarah looked for a sign of any wounds but nothing was obvious. Green eyes rolled back in their sockets as Sarah, near panic, did the only thing she could and yelled for Bryson at the top of her lungs.

  The muffled sound of giant wings filled the air and the dragon landed with a crash beside them. His lamp like eyes took stock of the entire scene at once. Speaking rapidly, he asked Sarah if she knew how to work Raven’s Congreve crystal. When she said yes, he instructed her to get on his back and to tell Rebekah they would be there in fifteen minutes.

  Still numb and confused, Sarah tried picking up Raven. Bryson roared that he would carry her. Shocked into obeying without question the terrified blonde scrambled onto the dragon’s scaly back after she retrieved the crystal.

  Please wake up, Sarah prayed silently as they flew towards Valentria. Holding the crystal like a rosary, she cried Rebekah’s name into it. One the second mention of her name, the aggravated face of Raven’s older sister appeared, muttering about being woken up after she had just gone to sleep.

  The rumpled expression quickly turned to one of apprehension. “Sarah,” the face asked, “where’s Sis? What’s going on?”

  Sarah’s voice kept hitching in her throat as she fought back tears. The stinging wind buffeted her and she clung desperately with her thighs as she explained what had happened.

  Bekah grimaced. “Tell Bryson I’ll have everything ready by the time you get there.” Then she was gone, leaving Sarah to stare helplessly at the limp form of Raven dangling over open space, held tight in the claws of a dragon.

  Bryson flew faster than Sarah ever thought imaginable, the world below them racing by in a black and white blur, lit only by the full moon that hung balefully in the sky. Hunkered down over Bryson’s back so she wouldn’t get thrown off, Sarah watched Raven being mercilessly buffeted by the wind. She had no idea what just happened and could only trust that Bryson and Rebekah knew what to do.

  After what seemed an eternity Sarah glanced up in relief. In the distance she could see the twinkling lights of Valentria peppering the darkness, shining beacons of hope.

  But Bryson wasn’t going to the city. He couldn’t take Raven anywhere near that many people now. Ignoring Sarah’s startled cry, he veered to the left, away from the city, towards the heavily forested mountains outside of Valentria.

  Before Sarah could ask what he was doing, a strange sight caught her eye. The clearing below them was burning. As they raced overhead, she looked down and gasped. Lines of fire spread along the ground, with Bekah in the middle, twisting and meeting until they had formed a large, archaic symbol Sarah didn’t recognize.

  Suddenly the dragon swung back towards the clearing and hurtled towards the ground. He skidded to a halt a few feet from Rebekah and tossed Raven’s limp body towards her. Sarah slid off the scaly back and started to say something but Bekah cut her short.

  “Take Raven down those steps. NOW!” Bekah shouted when Sarah did respond fast enough.

  Sarah glanced around as she dragged the semi-conscious Raven to her feet. The steps were a few yards away and led into a cavernous shadow that she couldn’t see the bottom of. Behind her she heard Rebekah ask Bryson if he were ready. A monstrous bellow nearly knocked Sarah off her feet and she risked a look back, regretting it at once. Bryson quivered from the tip of his tail to the end of his snout. Leathery wings unfurled, blocking out the sky as fire flickered from the corners of his mouth. Sarah could feel the earth tremble as he paced back and forth in front of Rebekah. Bryson, her friend, was a nightmare turned all too real. Turning towards the dark opening, she hurried down the stairs with Bekah now close on her heels.

  “Illuminate”. Rebekah commanded as their feet hit the first of the steps. At the bottom two torches burst into yellowish life. Being able to see made the downward trek quicker, as did Bekah taking Raven’s other arm and helping Sarah drag the eerily limp body. When they reached the bottom Bekah pointed to an archway with runes inscribed on its outer rim, and told Sarah to put Raven in there. Rows of torches lined the walls inside the cavern, also having been lit by Rebekah’s spell. Gently Sarah lay Raven down on the cold stone and wiped dirt from her friend’s pallid cheek. Raven’s breath was raspy and labored.

  “Get out!” A rough voice ordered from behind but Sarah ignored it, checking Raven again to make sure there weren’t any physical injuries. A strong arm grabbed her by the back of the shirt and dragged her forcefully outside. She landed with a bone-jarring thud against the bottom steps. Sarah started up angrily but Rebekah ignored her and quickly began pressing the runes.

  When she stepped away from the arch and turned to the stairs, a blinding flash of light erupted behind Rebekah, making Sarah shield her eyes. As if she didn’t notice, Bekah stood on the bottom step and hollered up, “She’s in Bryson.” Another of the blood curdling roars thundered from the darkness above.

  Then Sarah heard it, Raven’s voice, tired and scared, begging for help. “I’m so frightened Sarah. Rebekah is planning to hurt me because I took her money. Please...” the voice trailed off, getting weaker, “I’m so sorry...” Sarah leapt to her feet and started towards the chamber, intent on getting Raven out of there when a metal point pressed itself against her neck. A voice sharper than any sword cut through the air.

  “I don’t want to, and I’ll regret it everyday for the rest of my life, but I will kill you if you take another step toward that barrier.”

  The deadly calm in Rebekah’s voice, knowing she meant every word, froze Sarah in her tracks. Turning slowly, anger dancing in her eyes, Sarah demanded that Raven be released. “We’ll pay you back for whatever she took.” She snarled. “Raven is in danger and she is your sister.”

  Without lowering her sword or her eyes, Rebekah explained in an even tone, “That thing is not Sis.”

  The two glared at each other for what seemed like an eternity; Sarah wondering if she could overpower the other girl and Rebekah standing resolute. Then a soft hiss, like a blade on a whetstone, came from behind Sarah. Bekah glanced up, sheathing her sword.

  “I was almost free that time, Rebekah.”

  Sarah watched, confused, as Bekah calmly strode to the magical barrier.

  “Almost doesn’t cut it. Now send my sister back out, you bitch.”

  “No, no. I’m afra
id not. It’s so rare that I get to play these days and I desperately need my exercise.”

  It took a full moment for Sarah to realize what she was seeing. Something that looked like Raven was staring at her and Bekah, studying them with eyes that were a dark crimson, almost like blood. Black lines traced under pale skin like dozens of tiny worms. The room in which Raven’s body stood was bathed in an eerie light, the torches on the wall all changed to a sickly pale blue.

  “What is it?” Sarah whispered to Rebekah.

  Bekah face was a mask of disgust. “Malleus Maleficarum, a demon.”

  For a long moment the two girls watched the creature pacing back and forth in the medium sized chamber. Occasionally it raised its nose and sniffed, as if searching for something.

  “The Witch’s Hammer? But that’s just an old story used to frighten children.” Sarah stammered.

  “Oh yeah? Well it sure scares the hell out of me too. Watch.”

  Sarah turned her attention back to the cavern as Malleus’s right hand covered itself in chilly blue flame. The creature stood, tilting her head slowly from left to right, trying to hear something inaudible. With blinding speed, the demon shot out her arm. Sarah’s gasp rumbled in the silence. The demon’s arm appeared to have been cut off at the elbow but still the muscles rolled, snake like. Malleus gave a fierce tug and an abomination was ripped out of nightmares to land writhing and shrieking on the floor. Sarah threw her hands over her mouth to keep from vomiting. Even Rebekah, who had seen this before, turned a shade of green. The thing was a disgusting to look at.

  Sarah’s mind, which was close to packing its meager belongings and going on vacation far away from demons and psychos, took in the vile thing. It wasn’t even close to looking human, except that it walked on two legs and seemed to have two arms. Bits of what could be called skin covered its musculature in uneven patches; the rest of it seemed to leak an oily substance that glittered sickeningly. Three black talons, each the size and sharpness of a dagger, jutted out at odd angles from the stumps that passed for the things hands. Clawed feet scratched deep grooves into the stone when it turned to face Malleus. Monstrous jaws filled with jagged teeth snapped at the other demon who calmly appraised this new arrival.