Shadows

by RaeAnne Hadley

  “They caused the accident, didn’t they?” she whispered.

  “It’s the only thing that makes sense. These things seem to burst into flames when most people come into direct contact with them and unfortunately take that person along with them. A brand new van usually doesn’t just burst into flames, especially from the inside out and I survived without a burn mark on me.”

  “That’s the part I don’t understand, if it was the demons, why weren’t you hurt?” she didn’t understand why he hadn’t perished either.

  “Because they can’t kill us, I don’t think.” he smiled slightly as if this thought comforted him.

  “What do you mean they can’t kill us, you think?” she began thinking that maybe he was not as sane as she originally thought.

  “Think back to that horrible night and even before then, did those things ever hurt you? Did they ever touch you? Never enough to cause a fatal injury but just enough to torment you, right? Did they ever burst into flames when they touched you? And when your parents burst into flame, why didn’t you? The heat had to have been so intense to have caused them to catch fire, which is pretty hard to do since we are mostly composed of water. Why didn’t you get scorched or severely injured?” he paused seeing her confusion and allowing her to put all the facts together. It was an overwhelming possibility and put a completely different light on the subject. When he saw in her eyes that she knew he spoke the truth, he continued. “After I saw all the clues that indicated that the boogymen killed my family, I went into a sort of suicidal rage. I locked myself into my apartment where I waited and searched for them to come out of the shadows. After a few days one did and instead of turning away from it and trying not to look at it, I stared straight at it, glaring at it, damning it for taking my family. It became obviously uncomfortable, as if my gaze caused it discomfort. When it realized that I could see it, it started to circle me, growling and chattering like it was daring me to move. Pretty soon others started showing up, varying in size and shape but still from the same shadows of hell that the first one came from. I didn’t move, just sat there while they surrounded me in a circle, glaring at them. There were a couple of the little cat-like demons that we saw at the bar but there were also larger ones, resembling more of a mid-sized mutant dog, the largest one appeared to be more of what folklore describes as a gargoyle. Long-winged arms and a bat-like face with strong, muscular legs. None of these things had any hair or fur, just that leathery, rotted skin that covers their bodies.”

  Tabitha could only stare at him incredulously, she would never have had the guts to put herself in that situation, her desire to live was too strong. She had seen the mid-sized demon, it sounded like the one that killed Dylan.

  “When I didn’t run or scream, they started getting braver, running their claws along my back, the base of my neck and along the back of my arms. They never touched me when I was looking at them straight on, only when they were out of my vision or the corner of my eye. I became very curious and more daring. I moved forward to adjust my legs to keep them from falling asleep and when I did that, they leapt back, seemingly afraid that I would touch them. They stopped touching me for a moment before they warily started circling me, once again touching my back, neck and arms. This time I shot my arm out and grabbed the small one that was right next to me, I got it around it’s neck and was surprised when neither of us burst into flames as I had expected, while the others, growling and screeching, quickly jumped away. The one I had was trying to get away, scratching and clawing but it couldn’t seem to get it’s claws in very deep, only surface scratches and never near anything vital. Feeding on my anger and rage, I squeezed it’s neck harder and watched in fascination as it started to die. The larger dog boogyman tried to save it’s friend or whatever, and lunged at my back, tearing down my flesh with it’s back claws. Again, nothing fatal, and my fascination caused me to be oblivious to the pain. I whirled around, still holding the smaller one in my fist, and confronted my attacker. It mewled in pain as if my glare physically hurt it and then leapt back into the shadows. The others seemed to take it’s cue and they also disappeared, leaving their fallen comrade to my mercy, of which I had none. I snapped it’s neck and threw it to the side, still amazed at what I just experienced. As soon as it hit the patch of sun on the floor, it disintegrated, looking like a pile of dirt and dust bunnies that I had forgotten to finish sweeping up.”

  “Why didn’t they kill you? I don’t understand.” she was starting to feel uncomfortable, almost as if talking about them would summon them.

  “I don’t think they can, Tabitha. I don’t know if it’s linked to our gift or something else special about us but they only seem to be able to torment us. I haven’t repeated the experiment because I’ve been too busy observing them in public settings and investigating folklore. The only time they are able to kill other humans, it seems, is when they are actually seen or when they are in our company and we see them. That is my own personal experience and it sounds like what happened with Dylan. The people we are with never see them but because we did, it somehow made them real, brought them into focus for the people we are with. Once they’re brought into focus, those things can shred innocent people like lambs at a slaughter. Now if people touch them, that’s when they seem to burst into flames. I think that’s the reason we have so many unexplained cases of spontaneous combustion, some unfortunate soul sees and comes into contact with one. For the most part, regular people can’t see them, just like most people can’t see the dead. Only special people, like psychics, can break through the veil to see and communicate with the dead. I think that’s what we are, psychics of the demon sort. We see boogymen.”

  Justin knew he had a lot more to explain and that Tabitha had unanswered questions but as he was talking with her he saw the kitchen cupboard under the sink open slightly. Damn it! He forgot the plumbing hole in the floor of the apartment for the water and discharge pipe. He didn’t want to frighten Tabitha and was going to suggest they go for a walk when he saw Tabitha shiver.

  “Justin, I am so sorry to interrupt but I think we need to go. There’s one here and I’m not ready to confront them yet.” She was looking at him, fear in her eyes.

  “You sense them? How?” he temporarily ignored the cupboard and was staring at Tabitha.

  “Shiver warnings.” she whispered, her eyes closed.

  “Shiver warnings?” he asked, reaching for both of her hands to reassure her.

  She tightened her grip on his hands, thankful for the touch and support. She felt calmer, feeding on his inner strength. She nodded, “That’s what I call it because I get a shiver that starts along the back of my neck and travels down through my spine. Usually it happens when they just get into the room but sometimes, when I’m not paying attention, I don’t get one until it’s actually right next to me, getting ready to touch me.”

  “Amazing! You have your own kind of radar! This is awesome, Tabitha!” he laughed as if they had just won the lottery.

  “Sorry if I don’t see your point of view, it’s creepy and usually ends up with one of them scaring me to death.” she groaned, knowing that one was in the room with them.

  “It’s just a matter of perspective, one that we need to work on with you. This is great because now it will be more difficult for them to sneak up on us. You have a built in tracking device, we will never be blindsided again!” He was excited about the new turn of events with this beautiful woman but knew that right now was not the time to work on her battle skills. The boogyman was coming out of the cupboard.

  SEVEN

  They quickly finished getting dressed and took themselves out onto the streets of New York. It was a beautiful, summer day full of sunshine and promise. It had been a long time since Justin had felt this good. It was like he was seeing the world in a whole new light, like a blind man gaining his sight. He hoped Tabitha felt the same way.

  She had been a little nervous, getting dressed and trying to ignore the demon that snuck along the shadows t
o follow them through the apartment. She took strength in the knowledge that Justin was with her and wouldn’t let her out of his sight. She had drawn the line though when she had tried to go to the bathroom and he insisted on coming in. She firmly stood her ground, reasoning that if what he said was true, they wouldn’t hurt her, at least not badly. He finally relented, standing outside of the door, talking to her the entire time.

  They’d spent the past couple of days getting to know each other, learning more about each other’s past, their hopes and their dreams. They also talked more in depth about Tabitha’s shiver warnings and how often she experienced them.

  Spending their Saturday in Central Park, snacking on foods from various vendors, they were completely engrossed in each other. They wandered over Bow Bridge and moved towards a sunny, grassy area where they sat down, holding hands like long-time lovers. Their lives paralleled in so many ways. They didn’t share happy childhood memories as the majority of their peers did but had shared the same nightmares, isolation and loss. They understood each others pains, fears and desires for a normal life with a normal relationship.

  They made their way over to his place and she smiled over at him, recalling his protective manner of her. Wednesday morning, if someone would have told her she was going to meet her very own Prince Charming, she would have called them a liar. Now, her bleak past seemed to be a fading memory and her future was something she was actually looking forward to, even anticipating.

  He had an apartment over on Fifty-sixth Street near Third Avenue. The interior was very sparsely decorated and had just a few essentials of furniture. A futon couch was sitting on a large area rug was the only focal point in the room, a small kitchenette area to the side. She noticed lines of a white, granular substance and guessed that he had treated his place with sea salt as well.

  “I travel a lot and things tie me down. I need to be able to get up and leave on a moment’s notice and possessions are not a necessity.” he explained and she heard a hint of an apology in his voice for the way he lived.

  “Now that I’m getting to know you, it makes perfect sense, Justin. I understand.” she smiled gently. “The place actually suits you, an uncomplicated apartment for a very complicated man!” she laughed, her joyful sound filling the bleak apartment.

  “I need to check a few things but I’ll be right back, don’t go anywhere!” he moved towards her and swept her up in a passionate embrace, crushing her lips to his as he squeezed her body closer to him.

  Tabitha caught her breath when he let her go and turned away, going into a little room she assumed was his bathroom. He kept her off guard, that was for sure. One minute she’s thinking about boogymen and the next minute she’s thinking of how badly she needs and wants him. The past few days had been incredible and crazy all at the same time. Sometimes she felt like she was Alice and had jumped down the rabbit hole where her world was turned upside down in mystical and magical ways.

  He came back into the room, checked his windows and vents before moving back to her. He saw her eyes filled with passion, following his every movement. No words needed to be exchanged, they both reached out for each other, their desire as fierce as if it had a life of its own.

  Justin had never known a woman as uninhibited and bold as she was. Her figure was exquisite, hidden under her clunky attire. They parted just long enough to shed their clothes, never breaking eye contact, their eyes devouring each other. She didn’t feel any shame or embarrassment as she stood before him, the last of her clothing dropping to the floor. She watched him look over her body and felt a shiver ripple through her, for a moment she froze and glanced around the room but nothing unusual stirred. He took off the last of his clothes and pulled her on top of him as he sat down on the futon, she felt his arousal and instinctively began to move against him. She could feel him hesitate at her sensitive opening, teasing her by sliding inside slightly but then he would pull away and glide once again outside of her. The sensation was agonizingly wonderful. He played with her this way until she became impatient with her want and need for him to be inside her. When he finally slid into her, she gasped at the fullness of him. He grasped at her hips to slow her movement as he felt himself on the edge. He was amazed at the desire he felt, the intense connection he felt for Tabitha and was momentarily worried that he would lose himself in her. He pushed those fears aside, reassuring himself that he was still in control. As if to prove it, he rolled them both off of the futon onto the plush area rug, never leaving her warm center, placing himself in a position of power and dominance. When he pushed himself onto his hands, he looked down into her eyes and realized that he wasn’t in control, his heart was lost to her. Her bright emerald eyes seemed to penetrate his dark blue ones and he saw life, love and desire.

  Tabitha knew she was in lust with this gorgeous, mysterious man but she felt a tugging of an emotion that she hadn’t felt for three years. She had dreamt of falling in love and had sweetly tasted it for a moment with Dylan until he had been torn from her life. She’d given up on that dream, until she met Justin, and all that she had ever known seemed to change. She felt his power, his desire and intimate connection. She tried to push away thoughts of love. God, that was impossible, they had just met! But what she felt was so intense and so real that she decided she would cherish the moment now and deal with the reality later. For now, she was content with the passion that filled her with this man.

  Looking into her eyes, Justin saw a trust and love that he’d never seen before. This woman knew what was at stake and still accepted him. Unable to control himself, he kissed her with a new fever, thrusting deeper and harder inside, wanting to prove to himself that she was real and to show her that he needed her and had to have her.

  They were both amazed at how quickly they both climaxed, their bodies acting as if they had known each other for years instead of days. Neither one of them was disappointed, blissful exhaustion filling them both. Justin lay next to her, tracing her breast with his fingertip, enjoying the moans that it brought forth from Tabitha.

  “You better stop that or else we’ll be here all day, my concentration will slip and then we will have unexpected visitors.” she warned but didn’t push him away.

  “Damn them all!” he teased. “They don’t scare me anymore! I feel like I could do anything with you! We can go after them, take our lives back, have a normal life!” he started talking quicker, excitement lit his eyes as he gazed around the room.

  “What are you talking about, Justin?” Tabitha felt an uneasy feeling start in her gut, wiping out the bliss that had just been there.

  “Us, together. We can start fighting these things, get rid of them, make them pay for what they did to us!” he looked into her eyes, hoping to see the same excitement.

  “We can’t fight them! We don’t even know what they really are! I’m trying to have a normal life, as normal as what I’ve been given. I try to avoid them, Justin, not seek them out!” she sat up now, panic in her voice.

  Seeing that she wasn’t ready to see the possibilities yet, he gathered her up in his arms and stroked her hair, once again soothing her as he did Wednesday night. “It’s ok, I’m sorry. I just got a little carried away. You’re right, we need time for us, to get to know each other. I’m sorry, Tabitha, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  She relaxed, allowing herself to temporarily believe his words but knowing in her soul that they had been spoken to pacify her, to ease her fears. She knew they would have this conversation again because Justin wouldn’t let it go. But for now, she chose to believe his words and enjoy the safety and comfort that he offered her. She needed time, he knew that but while he held and comforted her, his mind was whirling a million miles an hour. If she had this gift, this ‘shiver warning’ as she called it, they could actually use it to seek out these things, maybe even trap them and study them. There was so much to think of but he knew he couldn’t push her too fast or too hard. He needed to take time and enjoy the gift that he’d found, Tabitha. How many ti
mes had he prayed that he wouldn’t be alone? That he would have someone to hold and to love, to be his companion. Now he was granted that prayer, in the beautiful form of an angel who also shared his gift of vision. Vision of the damned. He would take the time to enjoy and cherish every moment they had together.

  Hearing her stomach grumble, he looked at the clock, shocked to see it was already approaching seven at night.

  “Good gracious, is it that late already? It seems we’ve spent all afternoon in bed. Should we grab some supper? Do you prefer Mexican or Italian, because I’m craving both, so either place you decide is ok with me. I feel so good that I’ll even let you in the bathroom first to freshen up!” He swatted her butt and stood up to slip on his shorts. But when she didn’t move or respond, he turned to look at her quizzically. “Something wrong, Tabs?”

  She raised her eyebrow at him in response to the nickname he dubbed her but then allowed the worry to show. “Aren’t you afraid to go out? In public, I mean, and after dusk? That’s when they seem to be more active.”

  “Actually, I’m not afraid to go out, ever. They are more active at night but I’ve learned to ignore them. They’re drawn to fear and mischief and, of course, a direct stare. I’m not scared of them anymore and once I’ve spotted one, I’m able to keep it out of my direct line of sight. I haven’t been bothered by one personally,” he said darkly, his memories flicking back to Pixie, “for a while now.” He searched Tabitha’s eyes, hoping to reassure her. “Plus, you’re with me and I won’t let anything happen to you.” He flashed her a full, toothy grin that made his dimples so deep, she wouldn’t have been surprised if they showed up on the back of his head.