by K J Carr
“I am not doing anything! I am just trying to get out of this situation and get my brother back!” I tried to twist out of his grasp, but he was too strong. Damn, I needed that training now!
“I cannot believe you. Somehow, you got out of my special room, which I had created just for you. I am not sure how you were able to do that, but I will find out. Perhaps you had help from that Tennin. He has been a pain in my side several times. I think it is time to get rid of him before I consume your soul.” He licked his lips. Nope, not disgustingly creepy at all.
He dropped one of my arms and pulled me into the kitchen roughly, his hand a tight band dwarfing my bicep. He shoved me into a chair and then looked quickly around the room.
I had a view of the living room. I saw Kaitie quietly reach under the coffee table and grab a small notebook, scribbling something on it while watching the doorway. Achilah turned back and glanced into the room, almost catching her in the act, but she threw it down underneath and flopped down just in time. He studied her a minute and then grabbed me again and pulled me back into the living room, stopping near the couch.
“I think, Kaitie, that you are awake. Sit up.”
Kaitie pretended she was asleep a minute longer.
Achilah sighed loudly and then slapped me across the face.
I wasn’t expecting that, and his strength was incredible. It hurt! I would have gone flying over the table if it wasn’t for the fact that he was still holding my arm tight.
“Damn it! You fucking daemon!” I screamed.
“Now, now, Jennica. Language.” He said it as if he was already bored with the topic, but I didn’t want to push him.
Kaitie shot up. “Marcus!”
He pushed her back down on the couch. “Shut. Up.”
“This isn’t really Marcus, Kaitie!” I quickly stated. Achilah turned and looked at me, his eyes cold. It was so disconcerting to see my brother’s face with eyes that showed no love, no warmth, that was so him. I shut up, my hand on my cheek which I was sure was a bright red.
Kaitie’s mouth opened, surprised. Before she could say anything more, I shook my head.
“Sit.” He shoved me onto the couch next to Kaitie. I almost fell on her but straightened myself up and took her hand. Tears appeared in her eyes as she reached for my cheek. I pulled my head away from her and shook my head again.
Achilah reached for the blanket that had fallen to the floor when Kaitie had stood up. He calmly ripped it into strips, a slight smile on his face, watching us both. I could feel Kaitie trembling. I hoped she was praying to her natural deities for help because we would need everything we could get. This wasn’t going to go well.
TK! I shot off while watching him. Kaitie started writing a note. If you can get in here and get it for Malak, that might help. I don’t know what she said, but perhaps Malak will understand.
Understood, Nica. I will try. The response was faint as if he had moved further away. I wasn’t sure if the little daemon could hide from Achilah. I think that within their realm, it would be easy, given they were thought of as vermin. But here? Here it would probably be different. Luckily, Achilah didn’t seem to know that I had bonded with a Chlarm daemon.
Achilah tied our hands in front of us, before pushing us back onto the couch when he was done. “Keep quiet or I will also gag you.” He murmured, before turning to look out the front window.
Kaitie looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I knew she was asking what he was looking for. I figured he was after Malak as well as myself, which scared me more. I only raised one shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. She didn’t know. She probably hadn’t even gotten a chance to decide if she wanted to transition, given our earlier conversation. The Tennin would have known she didn’t want to live forever, that she probably would have gone crazy and so didn’t approach her.
I wondered about Marcus, though. I don’t recall him having any new and strange people around him, so I am not sure if he decided no or yes. But if he had decided yes, wouldn’t his Guardians be here now? Wouldn’t they be trying to help him get away? Or shouldn’t they have protected him somehow from being possessed? This was all leaning more towards him having said no.
And where the fuck was Torry? I frowned. He was supposed to be protecting Kaitie. And yet, where was he? I looked around the room, angry. Why would they assign such an incompetent Tennin to watch over my best friend? I wanted to ask Kaitie, but I was afraid what would happen if we started talking. Achilah was an unknown.
Kaitie’s house phone rang. Achilah turned and looked at us, his face – my brother’s face – was blank. It stopped, but a minute later, her cell phone started ringing. Well, someone was looking for her at least. Perhaps that was Torry.
I flinched suddenly. I had forgotten that I had put my cell in my back pocket, which meant I was now sitting on it. And it was vibrating. Shit. I tried to just get more comfortable, watching Achilah, but I hoped he didn’t notice I still have my phone.
No such luck. The bastard came over and stood over me, his hand out.
I just stared at him. How the fuck did he want me to hand him the phone when my hands were tied?
“Dear Jennica, you can reach it. I am positive of this.” He purred. He jerked me up and I almost fell against him. While I loved my brother, there was no way I was going to be up close and personal with him while that bastard was inhabiting him. I wobbled but got my balance.
“Phone.” He now stated, his breath whispering over my face.
I struggled to pull it out of my back pocket, but it was hard to reach. Kaitie reached up and helped as best she could. She had a better grip since our hands were in front of us and I had to reach around. She got it out and was going to hand it to me.
“Ah, thank you, Kaitlyn.” Achilah smiled at me, his eyes still cold. He stared at me a moment longer before turning towards Kaitie with his hand out. She hesitated a moment but then dropped it into his hand when she saw me shake my head slightly. “Smart girl.”
He stepped away, holding it. Crushing it. I heard the phone crack and then the pieces crumble onto the floor. How had he the strength to do that? Marcus was strong but…
“Sit, Nica.” He threw the words over his shoulder as he went over to Kaitie’s phone, giving it the same demise. He started to yank her house phone from the wall but paused. A small, evil smile crossed his face and he left it there.
I sat. What was he thinking of doing? I wasn’t sure when Malak would get here or what T’Koran could do to help, but I needed to save Marcus as well. I stared at the floor, thinking hard. It took me a minute or two, but suddenly I realized what I was looking at. TK was under the table, waving a small hand at me. He put a finger up to his mouth, indicating silence and then he grabbed the small notebook and disappeared.
I wasn’t sure how he could do that or where he went, but he at least had the note that Kaitie had started. Here’s hoping it had something of worth on it that would allow Malak or Torry to understand at least a little of what was going on in here!
A doorbell rang. Achilah stared at us a minute. It rang again. He quickly strode over to us and hissed at us. “Not a sound. Not one damn sound. Or people will die!”
He stood and shook. I could see Marcus come to the surface. For a brief moment, there was a look of extreme horror that crossed his face and then it disappeared. I am not sure how he was controlling my brother in there, but he was able to use him.
Because it was Marcus who walked to the door. We couldn’t see him when he opened it, but the draft of fresh air touched us.
“Hello?”
“Hi! My name is Torry. You must be Marcus.” And there he was! Kaitie and I both looked at each other in hope.
“Hi, Torry. Kaitie mentioned you. She is sleeping right now, though, and I don’t want to wake her.”
The voices were not getting closer, so it appeared Torry wasn’t being let into the house.
“Oh.” There was a pause. “Have you seen Nica?”
Marcus laughed. And tha
t was Marcus’s laugh. I wasn’t sure how that daemon did it, but he obviously had a stranglehold on my brother.
“Nica does what Nica wants. She isn’t here right now, but I think she said something about coming here soon. She might have gone hiking to her special place since that is what she does when things are stressful. And she is very worried right now about Kaitie.”
“Right.” Torry didn’t sound convinced. I wonder if Malak had already looked there.
“Well, if you see her, tell her that I am looking for her.” Darn it, he was leaving!
“Have you seen that guy that has been hanging around with her?” Marcus asked innocently.
Another pause. I imagined that Torry was studying my brother. I wondered how Achilah could hide so well that the Tennin couldn’t sense him.
“Oof!” I startled. Marcus sounded like he was in pain. Torry didn’t hit him, did he? I started to stand, but Kaitie grabbed me and pulled me back down, her face apprehensive.
“You know, Torry, I am not feeling that well myself.” Marcus’s voice was weaker, sounding like he was sick. “I think I am going to go lay down. I will talk to you later.”
We heard the door close and then silence.
Achilah walked back into the room. “Your silly brother tried to go off script.” He stated this as he walked back over to the window, peeking out without being seen. “I had to hurt him a little.” He swiveled his head towards us, his eyes glinting with a red tinge. “He is okay for now, but I will make sure he pays for this before I consume him.”
Kaitie’s eyes now were wide with terror. Tears were streaming down her face. I wasn’t sure if she really knew what was going on, but whatever she thought, it was scaring the crap out of her. And that just made me angry. I knew I had to hide it since Achilah could do anything, but my anger was pushing my fear to the side.
Nica! T’Koran nudged me.
What is it, little guy?
I gave the note to Malak, but he doesn’t seem to understand it. Torry went to the door but Marcus answered. He didn’t let him in.
I know. I thought for a minute. I wish I could take over your body and pantomime what is going on in here for him. I thought wryly.
You can, but it would be obvious to the High Daemon that you were doing something. You would either faint or be non-responsive while you are controlling me.
No good, little dude. I thought some more. Can you draw pictures? If I show you words like pictures, can you try to draw them?
T’Koran thought. I can try.
I pictured Malak’s name in my mind and sent it to TK. It was a few minutes, and I tried to watch Achilah pace while it passed.
Okay. His voice sounded hesitant.
I pictured the word Achilah next. The object of this exercise turned and looked at us. “Where is that darn Tennin, Jennica?” His impatience was reflected in his movements. “Don’t you have some sort of connection with him?”
I shook my head. “He comes and goes based on his own schedule.”
He glided over and stood over me. “Try calling him.”
I looked at him confused. “How? You took my phone and broke it. And I don’t think I had his number anyway.”
“In. Your. Head.” Achilah’s voice was loud. He must have put power into it or something because I cowered and felt myself cringing in fear. No. I won’t be afraid of this bastard. I straightened.
“I have never tried before today,” I said defiantly.
“Interesting little Transitioner. You have quite a bit of spunk.” He mumbled. And then louder. “Try now.”
I looked at him, my head cocked. I wondered how he could know if I tried to reach Malak or not. And if he would know what I said or not. I knew he couldn’t hear TK’s and my conversation. Could I have a similar bond with Malak?
Malak! I shouted. Nothing.
“Again.” Okay, there went that theory. For some reason, he could hear what I said to Malak but not TK. I didn’t know why that was, but it made me scared to talk to TK while he was so close, just in case he could hear me.
Malak! The silence was complete. I shrugged.
“I guess I don’t have that power. I am not even sure what is normal or not with all this. The only time I talked to him this way was when he was touching me.” I shrugged.
Kaitie was staring at us, bewildered. I guessed this all sounded crazy to her since she didn’t know that Marcus was really Achilah, or anything about the Tennins or daemons. She probably thought she was hallucinating or something.
Achilah stalked away, stopping near the entrance to the entryway. He mumbled to himself and then suddenly punched his hand through the wall. Both Kaitie and I jumped. I glanced over. Yep. Hand through the wall, arm covered in plaster dust. A look of pure anger and frustration on my brother’s face. I hoped this wouldn’t hurt him if…no when…he got his body back.
A sudden flash of light appeared through the window and Achilah rushed over to look. He stepped back into the middle of the room and flung a triumphant look at me.
“He is here. He must have heard you.”
Well, yes, I knew he was here – TK was trying to tell him things. But I hadn’t gotten to the fact that Achilah was Marcus.
The door blew open. We couldn’t see anything, but Malak’s voice was loud and powerful.
“Come out here, Achilah. Leave them alone and fight me like you want to.”
Achilah laughed and stepped a little more in alignment with the door. “You want to fight me, Tennin? Now?”
I stood. “No, Malak! He is in Marcus!” I shouted.
Achilah looked at me and just pointed. A powerful blast hit me in the chest and I flew over the table, hitting the floor hard. Kaitie ran over and crouched next to me.
“Nica!” She sobbed, checking me over.
“Sorry, Kaitie. My mouth tends to get me in trouble.” I mumbled, my eyes crossing slightly.
I think, though, that my warning was enough because the men were frozen. Achilah was smiling at Malak, his smile chilling. Malak wore a look of horror, his sword, which was the source of the light flash we had seen, lowered slightly.
“Leave him, daemon.”
Achilah laughed. There was no real humor in that laugh, but he made sure it was loud and boisterous sounding.
“No Tennin can reverse a possession.”
Malak growled and raised his sword, looking as if he would take Marcus’s head.
I scrambled up as best I could, and stumbled over to Achilah, stepping in front of him. “No, Malak! Marcus is still in there! You cannot kill him!”
Achilah wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. “Ah, the perfect place to hide, Tennin. If you kill me, you kill the host. If you leave the host alone, well, then I am able to do what I want.”
T’Koran suddenly spoke urgently in my mind. Nica, you can separate the souls. Go in and think of Marcus. Push the other out!
I turned in his arms quickly, placing my bound hands on his chest. Achilah looked down at me confused, but I ignored him. I looked at my brother’s body and could feel the two spirits, the one that was my brother pulsing slowly surrounded by the darker, oily feel of the daemon. I mentally touched Marcus’s soul and poured love into him.
At first, it seemed like nothing was going to happen and then I felt the love of my brother come back to me. Our love grew and as it did, his pulsing light got stronger, pushing at the constraints of the darker strands. I could see the surprise on my brother’s face as Achilah felt what we were doing. Pouring more power and more love into him, he slowly started pushing the daemon out, grabbing control of his body. Achilah tried to push back, but I wasn’t going to allow him to take my brother.
With a sudden burst, Marcus pushed the daemon’s spirit out. I glance up, feeling weak from all the energy I had just given him, and saw him smile at me. I touched his face gently.
“Marcus!” I whispered.
There was a dark cloud forming over his shoulder. It reached out to me.
“
Nica!” Malak’s yelled and lunged for me.
One dark tendril touched me, and I didn’t have any energy left to fight. Everything went dark.
Chapter 19
Where am I? Who am I? All I could tell is that it was dark. And I was floating. I wasn’t in a box this time, just darkness. I wasn’t anywhere.
I lost consciousness again.
∞∞∞
This time as my state of mind cleared, I felt a little stronger. It was still dark. I still didn’t know where I was, but I began to realize that I was not on earth anymore, at least not the earth that I knew. Earth. Human. I knew more than what I had before. I wasn’t in the daemon world either. Not that I had been before. TK! I shouted but there wasn’t any sound. TK! I whimpered. And the dark overtook me again.
∞∞∞
The next time I became conscious, I was determined to stay. To leave this place. I searched the darkness. I found what scared me the most – the feel of Achilah’s soul. Oily. Slippery. Sticky. I wasn’t sure where I was, but I knew he was here with me. I crept closer. His soul was pulsing slowly, almost as if he was resting. Perhaps when I had pushed him out of Marcus, I had hurt him. I don’t know how he had pulled me with him, but I would wait. And so, I rested, still conscious, but waiting.
I am not sure how long it was before the dark light started pulsing stronger. I thought more about it and decided I couldn’t wait any longer. I didn’t want him to get strong enough to consume me. Because he would if he wanted to save himself. I approached the darkness. I poked it. I attempted to tear off little bits of it, to make it weaker. I moved around and attacked it from all sides, more of a nuisance than really hurting it.
It suddenly got bigger, pulsed more and then suddenly grabbed me. I struggled with it, but it was stronger than I was. It threw me away from it in self-defense. And I lost consciousness again.
∞∞∞
This time, when I came back into consciousness, I rested. My mind was calm, which was strange for me. My body was relaxed, even though I was laying on a floor of some kind. I took a deep breath in, and let it out slowly.
