Vision of Serpents

by Vincent Morrone

  “You know him?” Dante asked.

  “Sort of,” I answered. “That’s Payne’s dad. Not the most pleasant person. Payne lives with his grandfather now.”

  Dante glanced back like he wanted to see the family resemblance for himself, but Payne’s father had already disappeared. Dante turned back to me.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” I said. “I’m okay. I appreciate your help, although I was handling myself.”

  “I saw,” Dante said. “Call your uncle.”

  We’d spent almost an hour filling Uncle Mark in on all the details. He told me I wasn’t allowed to go home alone, so I was riding with Dante again. I wasn’t happy about it. Hadn’t I held my own against a drunk and belligerent Balthazar McKnight? I didn’t need a babysitter.

  But since Uncle Mark looked angry enough to kill, I decided not to complain.

  “I noticed there were no McKnights in school today,” Dante commented, as we started home.

  “Whenever there’s a tragedy in the McKnight family, Varick McKnight pulls all the kids out of school. I don’t know why.”

  “Sounds like a massive overreaction to me,” Dante said.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Uh huh,” Dante said. He shot me a goofy grin. “I’m hearing that a lot from you.”

  I crossed my arms and glared at him. “Hearing what?”

  “That sentence. It’s complicated. You said the same thing about you and Payne, if I recall.”

  “It is complicated!”

  “I don’t see how,” Dante said. “You’re either with him all the way or you’re not. Who’s making it complicated? You? Or Payne?”

  I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and narrowed my eyes.

  “It’s . . . hard to explain.”

  We pulled into my driveway. Dante put the truck in park, shut the engine off and gave me his same goofy grin. “You think I don’t know that’s just another version of it’s complicated?”

  I rolled my eyes and got out of the truck. Dante followed.

  “I’m not just going to drop you off at the curb, sugar. Let me walk you to your door. And don’t roll your eyes.”

  I stuck my tongue out at him instead, but I still let him walk me to the door. When it swung open I was greeted by Grandpa. Could this day get any better?

  “What happened?” Grandpa asked. “I heard you had a run-in with Balthazar.”

  “Yeah,” I said and filled Grandpa in quickly.

  “Well, then,” Grandpa said, looking at Dante, “thank you for helping out my granddaughter, who should’ve had the brains to call for a ride.”

  “Y’know,” I complained. “I was doing all right on my own.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Grandpa said. “Your boyfriend picked a great time to go AWOL—and hush on the he’s not my boyfriend shtick.”

  He glanced at Dante again, and then back to me. “Invite your friend here for dinner. Least we can do, all things considered.”

  That said, Grandpa walked away, leaving Dante and I alone together.

  “I’m sure you have better things to do than hang out here with us,” I said. “If you need to get home, I’d understand.”

  Dante was already shrugging out of his jacket.

  “Actually,” he said. “I’m all yours, sugar.”

  I crossed my arms and glared.

  “You have to promise me,” I said. “No flirting.”

  “Flirting?” Dante replied. “Why would you think I’d flirt with you?”

  “Because that’s what you keep doing?”

  “That’s not flirting,” Dante said with a wink. “That’s just me being friendly. But, if you want to see some real flirting, I’m sure I could muster some up.”

  “Dante . . . ”

  When Uncle Mark got home about an hour later, I informed him in private that Grandpa had invited Dante for dinner. He simply shrugged.

  “So, I assume you haven’t caught Payne’s dad yet?” I asked.

  “No,” Uncle Mark said. “How’d you know?”

  “The patrol car you’ve had sitting outside since I got home is still there,” I answered. “Should we invite Pinky in for dinner too?”

  “Not at all,” Uncle Mark said. “I’ll send him home now that I’m here. Good eye.”

  “Did you go to Varick’s?” I asked.

  “Yes,” Uncle Mark said. “But Varick sent one of his people to inform me, and I quote, ‘Balthazar McKnight was not on the premises, nor will he be allowed on the premises. Mr. McKnight, who owns the home of his son, gives permission for the police to enter said home, occupied by Balthazar McKnight. If you should locate and arrest Balthazar McKnight, please inform him to obtain his own counsel, and not to expect to utilize the services of McKnight, McKnight and Goldstein.’

  “He even handed me this,” Uncle Mark continued, holding up an envelope. “It uses a lot of big fancy words to say Balthazar is on his own.”

  “Well, good,” I said. I tried to hide my disappointment that Uncle Mark hadn’t seen Payne. I wanted to know he was all right.

  I made up my mind to go see Payne on my own if he wasn’t in school soon.

  - eight -

  The Wrath of Aunt Breanne

  The night air was cool, but it didn’t bother me as I walked barefoot through the woods. I couldn’t quite place where I was. These weren’t the woods right by my home where I often walked, but somewhere new.

  I was here for a reason. And I was pretty sure the reason was slithering by me right now.

  The snake was the same one I’d seen dozens of times now in school. It was making its way through the woods, slinking down a dirt path. I followed.

  This wasn’t the first time I’d found myself in a dream state and following something, but I’d never been so nervous over it. After all, I was following a giant snake that looked like it could swallow me whole. Its black, scaled skin reflected the moonlight as I forced myself to stay close.

  Finally, we came to a clearing. I wasn’t surprised when they showed up.

  They came slinking out from the darkness, oozing over the grass, which withered under them as they passed. The Shadow Creatures were like smoke, formless and completely inhuman. They never appeared to be solid, but I know they’d never dissipate on their own. Deep, growling noises emanated from them as they approached the clearing where the snake itself waited.

  The Shadow Creatures circled the snake. For a moment, it was difficult to tell who was hissing, until the Shadow Creatures started to speak.

  “I think it issss working,” said the smallest one. “But ssssslowly.”

  The snake hissed.

  “We can be patient,” said the one that stayed in the darkness. “But jusssst to a point.”

  The snake hissed again, this time it sounded angrier.

  “We do not easily trusssst,” said the largest. “Do not dissssapoint ussss.”

  Again, the snake hissed and then started to turn.

  “We need more,” the big one said. “Sssssoon.”

  The snake turned and stared. It gave a small hiss that seemed casual.

  “You may need to ssssacrifice one of your own,” the small one said as it swirled.

  The snake didn’t seem to like that, but it didn’t argue. I got the impression the snake was trying to seem unafraid, but was failing. Finally, the snake slithered away.

  I tried to follow, but I felt myself being pulled back to reality.

  I woke up and turned over. There was Ricky on his wheel. I barely looked at him as I ran to the bathroom and vomited.

  The next morning, I tried to call Payne. No answer. I tried the house, Varick’s phone, Hunter’s phone. Nothing, nada, zilch, zero. So I took the next logical step. I called someone else.

  “Hello,” I said. “I hope I’m not calling too early.”

  “I really appreciate this,” I said to Dante. “I could have made my way there myself.”<
br />
  “Sugar, you got yourself a nutter who wants to hurt you, and I promised your uncle that I would keep an eye out for you. So, if you need to go see someone, I’m taking you. Besides, it’s not a hardship to be spending time together, although I could have done without the stowaway in the back there.”

  “Oh, hush,” Scarlett said, leaning forward from the rear seat. “Bristol don’t mind my being here, so why should you? Unless you’re looking to get fresh with her?”

  “I’m not,” Dante said.

  “He’s not,” I added.

  “Well, now,” Scarlett replied, sitting back. “That’s downright disappointing. So, we’re going to see your aunt?”

  “Not my aunt,” I corrected. “It’s Payne’s Aunt Breanne. I’m hoping she can tell me what’s happening with Payne, or maybe get a message to him.”

  “He’s probably just avoiding you,” Scarlett insisted. “Men can be idiots sometimes. They talk all love and forever when they’re with you, but once they’re on their own, they don’t give you a second thought.”

  “Payne isn’t like that,” I insisted.

  “Oh, Bristol,” Scarlett said. She swatted the air with her hand, as if my insistence that Payne wasn’t thinking of me had filled the car with a bad odor. “They’ll all like that, to one degree or another—even my dear, sweet brother. He can charm you all day and night, but that don’t mean he won’t be charming the next girl when you’re gone.”

  “Thanks,” Dante said.

  “Sure thing,” Scarlett added, leaning forward again. “Mind you, I haven’t seen him using those silver charms on anyone since we’ve arrived in Spirit. I can’t help but wonder why.”

  There was an awkward moment of silence, while I waited for a retort from Dante that never came.

  “Turn off there,” I said, breaking the quiet to point at the street sign a few yards up, on the left. “She’s right up that road.”

  Nobody spoke again until we were out of the car, and standing on the front porch of the pretty yellow cottage. Aunt Breanne answered the door, wearing a blue sundress and no shoes. She pulled me into a hug.

  “Bristol,” she said. “I’m so happy you came by. Introduce me to your friends.”

  Within a few minutes, we were sitting together in the living room, while Aunt Breanne was making everyone feel at home. After a few minutes, she excused herself for a moment and headed into the kitchen. I could hear her putting together drinks and snacks.

  Scarlett got up as well, and went over to the wall, which was covered in pictures of Jared, Aunt Breanne’s son who had been murdered. I watched Scarlett scan the pictures. Eventually, Scarlett came across a framed picture of Jared that I recognized as the one that Payne had given Aunt Breanne. She read the words that were inscribed on the frame.

  I’ll hold you in my heart forever.

  For a brief moment, I could feel Scarlett’s emotions as she realized that she was looking at a shrine to Aunt Breanne’s late son. Grief and pity seemed to swell within her, before she was distracted; Aunt Breanne came back into the room. The older woman was holding a tray filled with cookies and homemade lemonade.

  “That was my Jared,” Aunt Breanne said as she walked over to stand next to Scarlett. “His birthday is coming up. He would have been fourteen this year.”

  Scarlett looked like she didn’t know what to say. She took Aunt Breanne’s hand, and looked at the pictures once more.

  After a moment, they came and sat down on the sofa again.

  “I gather you want to know where Payne is?” she asked me. “I’m not sure that he’s even in Spirit right now.”

  “What?” I said. “Are you kidding? Where is he?”

  “I don’t know,” Aunt Breanne said. “Varick is being very stubborn about this. He came here after you and Payne found Blasé, to let me know that he was concerned for the safety of the family. He wanted to protect everyone, and for me to accompany the family. I told him I wasn’t going.”

  “Why not?” I asked.

  “Because I refused to accept that your family was behind Blasé’s death,” she answered.

  “Behind his death?” Dante said. “Blasé took his own life.”

  “I know that,” Aunt Breanne said. “What you need to understand is that there’s been a feud between the McKnight and Blackburn families for generations. They always find some way to blame the other family, whatever bad things happen. I imagine that Payne didn’t want to go, but Varick isn’t used to hearing the word no. And Varick may have used Hunter in a way—or rather, used the fact that she needed Payne’s help. Who knows? I’m sure that Payne is very upset that he’s away from you. You know how he feels about you, don’t you?”

  I found myself blushing at the thought. I knew Payne loved me. He’d proved that, but the fact that I couldn’t get myself to say it to him troubled me. I couldn’t look at his aunt, who for all intents and purposes was like his mother, with that thought rolling around in my mind.

  The fact that I had brought Dante here didn’t help.

  Aunt Breanne must have sensed my discomfort so she changed the subject. She started to ask more about Scarlett and Dante. We heard about how they miss being in Georgia some, but were both adjusting to life here. Aunt Breanne then asked if they were seeing anyone.

  “I haven’t been out on a date since I came here,” Scarlett answered. “Neither of us has. Of course, I’m a little picky. I won’t just date anyone.”

  “I probably shouldn’t say this,” I interjected, “but I think Bryan would like a chance to take you out.”

  “Really?” Dante said with an eye roll. “I don’t think that’s a secret.”

  I ignored him and looked to Scarlett.

  “Bryan’s sweet,” she said. “We’ll see. I haven’t said yes yet, but I haven’t said no.”

  “What about you, Dante?” Aunt Breanne asked. “Are you sweet on anyone?”

  For the first time since I’d met him, Dante didn’t seem to have a cute little response at the ready. In fact, he blushed, and avoided eye contact with anyone.

  “Seems like all the good ones are spoken for,” he finally said.

  Before we left, Aunt Breanne and Scarlett went out back, so Breanne could give her some of her famous zucchini. It wouldn’t have been so awkward except that it left Dante and me alone in the living room.

  As I was searching for something to say, the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see Varick McKnight staring at me.

  “Mr. McKnight,” I said. “How are you? I’ve been worried. I’m so sorry about Blasé.”

  “I wonder if that’s genuine sorrow or just guilt on your part. As I understand it, you harassed my grandson for weeks, until he took his own life.”

  I was so shocked at the accusation that I found myself taking a step backwards. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “Breanne wanted to let me know how concerned you were about the family, and that you were coming here to ask about Payne. After all of the pain that this poor woman has been through, why can’t you leave her alone?”

  I backed up as Varick advanced, his anger growing by the moment.

  “You used your ability to speak to the dead, communicating with the ghost of Breanne’s son to worm your way into her heart. But have you once used it to allow her to speak with Jared?”

  “But,” I stammered, and found myself near tears. “Jared moved on. Once we found his body and his killer—”

  “You didn’t use your powers of precognition to save Blasé. You despised him, and you didn’t stop him from taking his own life.”

  “I would have,” I insisted. I was crying. I felt devastated that Varick would think that. “I was mad at Blasé, but I didn’t hate him. I—”

  “I don’t believe you!” Varick took another step towards me.

  At this point, Dante stepped between us.

  “Mr. McKnight,” Dante said. His voice was stern. “It’s time you left.
”

  I could feel anger rippling inside both men. Varick was a flood of emotion; rage, grief, even confusion. Dante was just pissed off, and ready for a fight, but he was holding back.

  “Young man, you want to step away from me.”

  “No, sir,” Dante said firmly. “You’re out of line. I’m not about to stand here and watch you take your grief and anger out on Bristol.”

  Varick took a menacing step forward. Instead of shrinking down, Dante drew himself up to match.

  “Son, do you know who you’re talking to? I could have your father fired in an instant. I could—”

  “Varick McKnight!”

  Aunt Breanne stood in the living room doorway with an armful of zucchini is her hands, and with Scarlett peeking out behind her. She pushed most of the vegetables into Scarlett’s hands.

  If I wasn’t sobbing, I might have thought it comical.

  “How dare you come into my home and yell at Bristol?” Aunt Breanne still held one large zucchini, which she brandished at Varick like a sharp sword. “You told me yourself how happy you were that Bristol had come into our lives. You know what she did for us, and I know exactly what she did for me. So I won’t hear any more of this. Now, when are Payne and the others coming home?”

  Varick looked taken aback. His eyes were glassy as he stared at Aunt Breanne. “Not before I’m satisfied that there’s no threat to their safety or their—”

  “There’s no threat! Jared’s birthday is approaching, and I want to remember him with Payne, and Hunter, and Archer, and the others. You should be warned that Bristol is going to be there, too. If that’s a problem for you, then you can just stay home.”

  She glared at Varick, who was still stunned. I could feel his confusion. I imagine he was flummoxed at the idea of being spoken to so forcefully.

  I didn’t know what would happen next, but I didn’t want to wait around to find out. I broke away from everyone and pushed past Varick, rushing outside into the driveway. I couldn’t even look at him.