by Candy Crum
My mom was really small without many curves. She always joked that she was holding the door for everyone else when Mather Nature was handing out boobs and butts. She always picked on us and said we must have been first in line.
“Mary invited me over for Rachel’s birthday dinner. She said that she wanted me to stop and get a few things for her,” she explained.
“Figures. I hope she gave you a different list than she did me,” I said with a laugh.
When we compared the lists, just as I assumed, Mary had given us the same one. Only, on Amanda’s she put a German chocolate cake. We walked together and finished our shopping while chatting. I gave her the money for half of it, since it was my list, too. We had just reached the checkout when a sense of dread filled me.
“Do you smell that? It smells like rain,” Amanda said.
Even from inside the store, I could smell the impending rain. For as long as I could remember, Amanda and I could accurately predict the weather without using weather reports. We could smell it up to a week away. It was yet another gift I believed had come from our Native American ancestry, but more than likely came from Sayen.
That day, however, there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky when we made our way inside only twenty minutes or so before. Not that it mattered, given what happened at the hospital almost two weeks before. I was fairly certain it was pouring outside. The scent of rain was far too powerful for it to have been a warning. It was there.
“I have a bad feeling,” I stated flatly.
Suddenly, the urge to run from the store was overtaking me, but I knew that would be a bad idea. That storm didn’t just come from nowhere. Whatever was about to happen, was about to happen with my sister there as well.
That was a line that I demanded never be crossed. If it was Khia causing the storm, I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to get myself out of there, let alone both of us. If I had to choose, I’d sacrifice myself for her.
Amanda nodded in response as she silently focused on the area around her. “Yeah, I do, too. Let’s just pay for this stuff and get the hell out of here. Something isn’t right.” She agreed with me. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or bad.
When she looked at me, I knew that she could see the worry in my eyes. I didn’t want my sister anywhere near the things that were happening in my life, which included having powers of her own. I’d been told that I was the only one that had powers, but it was possible that Amanda did, too, right? It seemed highly unlikely that she wouldn’t have them, especially since she had always been the more intuitive one growing up.
After paying for our things, we quickly made our way to the doors. Our instincts urged us to move fast, but immediately halted us when we saw the storm raging outside. That was one of the worst downpours I’d ever seen. Thick, heavy drops of rain fell from the sky and pelted the ground beneath. As people ran inside, I could plainly see welts on their skin where the rain had stung them unmercifully. I’d been in heavy downpours before that stung a bit, but I’d never had red skin afterward. It was more like hail than rain, but it was liquid. There was no ice.
As we slowly approached the exit, our attention was drawn to the dark sky. Thick, angry clouds swirled overhead, threatening death for anyone that its master deemed worthy. I wasn’t sure how, but I knew that the clouds were being controlled by someone. Khia… It had to be Khia.
“What do you say?” Amanda asked. “Should we wait, or book it to the toaster?” We called her Scion XB a toaster due to its shape.
Kailah, a soft voice fluttered through my head. You must brave it and get her away from there. In extreme fear, you will have defenses, but she will not. You must leave quickly. Khia is coming.
Sayen could see what was happening. Definitely not good, but I was happy for the internal voice of reason.
“We need to get out of here. Leave the stuff,” I said.
“We just bought it! I’m not wasting over fifty dollars’ worth of stuff.”
I turned and grabbed her by the shoulders, my eyes burning into hers.
“Listen to me, right now. Those bad feelings we have and that storm are tied together. We’re in danger, Amanda. Not everyone in the store… You… and me. Please don’t ask questions right now. There’s no time. I will explain everything later. Right now, I have to get you out of here. There is a crazy, white-haired descendent of ours after us. Do you understand?” Though I could tell she was confused, I could see that she trusted me. Which was odd, because she was always the first to make fun of me because of my excessive anxiety and being a hypochondriac.
Amanda froze for a moment, her eyes going blank before turning back to me. “Kailah, did a woman tell you to get me away from here?”
My eyes widened. “Did Sayen talk to you?”
Confusion crossed her face again as she nodded.
“I didn’t want to say her name because I knew that if you knew who she was, that it was real.” She was shaking with fear. I nodded and her face showed forced acceptance, though her face showed just how terrified she was, also unusual for her. “We’ll leave the stuff. Just get us out of here.”
We stepped just outside the glass doors, under the protection of the overhang. Looking around, we saw that clouds only covered the immediate area, just like at the hospital. Further proof of what was happening. I felt Amanda shudder against me as she saw the same thing that I had. The dreadful sky swirled, but did not move. This storm was being held there.
“Let’s go. Now,” I said.
Amanda nodded and we took a few steps forward, ready to make our way into the torrential downpour.
“Oh, I’ve been waiting centuries for this moment.”
Amanda and I stiffened at the sound of Khia’s bone-chilling voice. The very sound of it made my blood want to run cold.
“So, how about coming with your dear old grandmother? I’ve waited so very long to meet you. Oh! And to have both sisters here? How wonderful! I was simply hoping to catchy you alone, Kailah. But this is quite the delightful surprise.” Khia’s smile was terrifying.
Her long, flowing white hair hung over her shoulder in a braid and her blue eyes were slightly darker. Death could be seen in their depths. As I grew accustomed to my fear, I noticed that the rain pummeled everything around Khia, but due to a pocket of air surrounding her form, the rain rolled off the barrier and left her completely dry.
Kailah, leave! Now!
The Immortal rolled her eyes before meeting mine again. “Oh, do tell that woman to shut it. My granddaughter always has been an ungrateful brat. Come to me child, and I will show you a life that you never knew was possible.”
Amanda tugged on my arm and that was all it took to break me from her hold. A powerful wind pushed us back as we began to run. Amanda nearly fell backwards, but I managed to catch her. Grabbing Amanda’s hand, I leaned forward and began trying to push through the wind. The heavy gusts stole my breath, and I knew it wouldn’t have been long before I passed out, but I forced myself to keep going. I couldn’t let Khia get to my sister.
“You are never going to get away from me, Kailah. You may as well give up and come see me! We have so much to catch up on!” she exclaimed.
Wicked laughter rang out behind me and I fought harder for every step that I took. My energy was depleting fast while trying to fight the wind. I had no plan. Looking ahead of me for a good route proved to be pointless as the wind and rain unmercifully stung my eyes. Giving it another try, I forced my eyes open to find a way out and saw something I’d never been so happy to see in my life. Taima. He was standing face to face with me.
“Help!” I managed to choke out through the wind.
He closed his eyes and placed his hand over his heart before disappearing. A warm rush ripped its way through my body and I suddenly felt as though I was being urged to move. I stepped in front of Amanda and wrapped her hands around my waist.
Just relax and let him guide you, Sayen said.
“Damn you, Sayen! She’s mine!” Khia called
out just before the town sirens began screaming.
The area of the storm spread out and the wind picked up everywhere. The rain was swirling in different directions and I heard what sounded like a freight train in the distance. It was obvious that she had called one hellacious storm to her aid.
I felt Taima trying to guide me, and I did as I was told. My arms darted out in front of me, and with it came a blast of wind even greater than the wind that Khia had thrown at us. The onslaught of wind and rain dispersed, stunned by my use of power. As I recovered, the aiding wind came back to me. I felt it’s power as it swirled around us, barricading us from the elements.
Run! Now!
I ran as fast as I could with Amanda’s hand in mine, Taima leading the way to my sister’s car. It had been sunny when we came in earlier, there were a few spaces open up front from those who didn’t mind walking in the sun. The toaster came into view and relief flooded us. The barrier of wind split in two, protecting us both separately until the doors were open and we were able to climb inside. Amanda’s hands shook as she fumbled with the keys. I felt the earth beneath us trembling and my body tensed.
“She’s moving the earth! Hurry!” I shouted. Memories of Sayen making the ground tremble beneath Aeric and I that night came to mind. Khia was the first of her kind, even older than Sayen. Whatever happened wouldn’t be good.
The keys flipped out of Amanda’s hand and onto the floorboard. “Shit!” she yelled as she leaned over, trying to find them.
The ground violently shook, springing forward and throwing several vehicles on both sides of us into the air, landing upside down in the parking aisle across from us. Slowly, the earth settled back into place, my mind reeling from the sight before me.
Something moved in my peripheral, and I looked through the driver’s side window to see another woman with long, golden blonde hair walking toward us with the same presence that Khia had. She was about a hundred feet away, but I could see that she also had a pocket of air surrounding her, protecting her from the elements.
“It’s another one!” Amanda screamed.
“Start the toaster! Let’s go! We’ve been here too long!”
“I can’t find the damn keys!” she shouted back at me.
Buckle up and put it in neutral, I heard Sayen say.
She’d been trying to help the entire time. I definitely wasn’t going to test her.
“Shove in the clutch and buckle up,” I told Amanda as I buckled myself in.
Amanda wasted no time asking questions and did as I told her to. Once again, I saw movement coming from the driver’s side window. The woman with the golden hair raised her arms in front of her, and with precise movements, she quickly stepped with her right leg out to the side and used her arms to sweep in the same direction. The toaster was roughly jerked from its resting place out into the middle of the parking aisle, stopping short of hitting the car behind us. The woman stood upright again as she began walking toward us.
“What’s going to happen?” Amanda asked.
I shook my head as I felt my resolve falter. I had no idea how to get out of this one. “We wait.”
Chapter Twelve
Khia moved away from the store and headed toward us. As she moved, she lifted her right hand toward the sky, causing it to flicker with electricity. As if it had been searching for her, a lightning bolt leapt from the sky and into her hand, a grim smile spreading across her face just before hurling the raw power directly at us.
Amanda and I screamed at the lightning made a narrow pass over the toaster and headed straight for the blonde coming toward us. The blonde showed absolutely no fear on her face as she widened her stance, extending her hands in front of her to easily catch the bolt of electricity. She was graceful as she moved, pulling her hands back toward her chest before absorbing the energy into her body. Whoever she was, the attack was aimed directly at her and not at us. That Immortal was trying to help us.
The wind picked up around the newcomer and her blonde hair whipped around as her eyes lightened to a fierce, glowing blue. Even from that distance, I could see the faint light they gave off. Her hands illuminated with a faint blue huge just before she produced a ball of electric energy. Somehow, I was able to sense the power, and it was much less dangerous than the raw power she’d been dealt. I imagined that was due to it having been filtered through her body first.
Amanda and I stiffened as she turned her attention on us. As if she were throwing a baseball, she pulled back and hurled the energy directly at us, hitting the front of the toaster and, miraculously, starting the engine.
“How the hell did that happen?” Amanda asked.
“The mechanics don’t make sense. None of this does! Who cares!? Drive!” I shouted.
Amanda shoved the manual transmission into gear, but it wasn’t fast enough. Looking out my window, I noticed that Khia had stopped advancing. Moving quickly and fluidly, she knelt down to the ground, placing her hands flat in the standing rain water. As she rose, thousands of ice shards lifted and surrounded her in a jagged shield.
The earth shook violently as we were lifted into the air on a platform of concrete, dirt, and rock. The world around us turned as the platform was carefully spun ninety degrees to face the blonde. A sharp whine pierced the air as Khia’s ice shards targeted our help at incredibly high speeds.
The blonde’s hands had been extended to her sides as she controlled the platform, but she quickly moved them to the front as a thin, blue barrier appeared and deflected the ice. Unfortunately for us, when she brought up the barrier, the platform began to rapidly plummet toward the earth, taking Amanda and I right along with it.
The blonde quickly twirled in a circle in the way a dancer might, the barrier pulling tight to her body as she did. As she stopped, the energy exploded from her body, wind blew in all directions, deflecting the rest of the shards and sending a few close vehicles rear over nose onto the cars in front of them in the next aisle. Her movements ceased and her hands returned to their original post.
“Ugh!” Amanda and I both grunted as the platform came to a hard stop just a couple yards above the ground.
The blonde lowered us safely the rest of the way. Amanda had her hand on the gearshift, ready to go. She took off as fast as the little toaster-shaped Scion XB would take us. The woman that had helped us bowed quickly before stepping out of the way of the car.
“What do we do? Amanda asked.
“Just drive. That’s all we can do for now. Just focus on getting away,” I said.
It only took us a couple of minutes to get to the highway and out from under the shelter of the dangerous dark clouds. The blue skies ahead had never seemed so beautiful and pure.
“How did you throw wind around like that?” Amanda asked. She sounded frantic, though, physically, she seemed just fine. Steady, even. Only her labored breath betrayed her.
“Honestly, I dont know. I’m still trying to figure all this out. Let’s just try to get to Rachel’s. She will help me explain.”
“First of all… Rachel knows about this, but I don’t? I’m your sister, Kailah. Not your friend. We are family. You tell me when you get into trouble. God! You always do this! It’s like you’re ashamed to need help. It drives me insane. It’s not a bad thing to need help. Now – what were they? Clearly, not human. That one, the bad one, she sure as hell seemed to know you, so don’t tell me you don’t know them.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know who the blonde was. That was the first time seeing her. The one with the white hair, her name is Khia. They were both Immortals. Apparently, we are very distantly related to the one that attacked us. Distantly as in, that crazy-ass is over three thousand years old.”
“That was huge. I never in a million years would’ve imagined that something like that could ever happen. But it did, and it wasn’t at random. Khia, she was after something. She was after you. And me, I suppose. She mentioned me.”
“Well, if you thought that was crazy, then I suppose that I s
houldn’t tell you the part about Vampires existing and that the queen of the Vampires, who I met and is oddly super sweet, by the way, happens to be locked in a war with Khia, the queen of the Immortals, who we are descended from? That the war I just told you about has been going on now for over three thousand years? And that I know this, because Papaw Fruit’s grandfather, Taima, told me all of this in a vision where I saw Sayen, Taima’s wife and our great-great grandmother, and I met her while I was in Louisville after Rachel was nearly killed after having her throat ripped out by her ex-boyfriend-turned-Vampire?” I took a deep breath, having realized that I vomited forth all that information in two very long sentences. I was nervous.
As intended, my long-winded run-on questions/statements stunned her into silence. She either thought that I was making it up to deflect her, or that I was telling the truth and simply couldn’t handle any more at the moment. Either way, I got the silence that I so desperately needed. I needed to calm myself before getting to Rachel’s house. I didn’t want her knowing what happened. Rachel could read me better than anyone else and if I showed up ruffled, she would get it out of me one way or another. I didn’t want to ruin her birthday dinner.
It took about thirty minutes to get to the birthday girl’s house, and when we arrived, the skies were still wide open and bright blue. Relief washed over me, and I thanked whatever deity was listening for the peace.
“Wow! Whose car is that?” Amanda asked, referring to a glorious black Dodge Charger sitting in the driveway.
All of the comfort and peace I’d meditated to find on the way there was sucked right through the window the moment I saw that slick, black exterior glistening in the sun. The day as a whole was out to get me, I was fairly certain.
“No one you want to know. Just stay clear of them,” I said.
As we made our way up to the house, I noticed Amanda wincing a little before we got to the back porch. Rachel jumped off the steps like an excited little girl and Bret walked down close behind her. His presence didn’t seem to bother me right then, and I had to admit my relief. Because there wasn’t such a violent reaction to him, I didn’t feel that instant hatred toward him. I was able to think – almost – clearly. The lack of nausea could have been seeing him out in the broad daylight, or the fact that Rachel seemed so happy to have him around. Then again, maybe I simply just didn’t see him as such a threat after what I’d just been through.
