Anarchy Rising

by Nicole Coverdale

  “Hey! Give that back!” Alana shouted, reaching for the potion sitting on the podium next to her. “I need it! I need you in order for this to work!”

  “Well, it’s too bad you won’t be getting either,” Jade said, flinging her hand forward. Electricity flew through the air, hitting the potion. “And you aren’t going anywhere, either.” She pointed her finger again, electric cuffs circling Alana’s wrists.

  “Hey!”

  “I would love to kill you, Alana,” Jade said. “You’re a demon. An evil, but I also know two people who would love nothing more than to decide your fate. Your brothers.” She cocked her head to the side, listening to the sound of footsteps. “Uh oh. Looks like I’ve got company coming my way. Bye, Alana!” She turned and raced out of the room.

  Chapter 31

  “Ooh. Look at this!” Sky cried as he stood in front of Connor’s house, lifting the big pumpkin in his arms. “Where should this go?”

  “Right by the front step!” Matthew cried, pointing. “That way, we can plug it in with all the other decorations!”

  “Won’t it look a little crowded?” Sky asked, raising a brow, as he stared at the decorations huddled next to the step. “How about we put it right here?” He asked, setting it down, next to the fence. “And the witch can go here.” He moved the witch so it was sitting on one side of the step. “And this skeleton can go on the other side of the house! There, doesn’t that look better?”

  “It’s perfect!” Lisa cried, skipping up to him. “You’re really good at this, Sky! Do you think you were a decorator?”

  “Nah. I feel like I would be bored with that,” Sky said, winking at her. “Where are the rest of your aunts and uncles?”

  “In the house, carving pumpkins.”

  “Ooh. That sounds like fun. Why aren’t you in there carving a pumpkin?”

  “Because I’m allergic!” Lisa cried. “And it smells disgusting in there!”

  “Well, I guess we’d better stay out here then, huh?” he asked, winking at Lisa, as he grabbed the rake sitting next to him. “You wanna help?”

  “Sure!”

  “Can I help too?” Michael asked as he jogged down the steps of the house.

  “Of course! The more the merrier!”

  He planted the rake in the ground, raking the leaves up, grinning, as the kids struggled to rape their own piles.

  “You know, you’re pretty good with them,” a young, blonde woman said, as she stared at him from the other side of the chain-linked fence. “In fact, I don’t think I recognize you. Who are you? I’m Mary.” She extended a hand.

  “Sky.” Sky walked forward, drawing his gloves off, and accepting the woman’s handshake. “I’m their uncle.”

  “An uncle I apparently haven’t met yet,” Mary said, eyeing him. “You’re kind of cute.”

  “Ahh.”

  “Sky! There you are!” Sophia hurried out of the house, looping her arm through his. “Come on, we need your help deciding on which pumpkin to enter into the pumpkin carving contest!” She waved at Mary. “Hi, Mary!”

  “Hi Sophia. Sky, if you ever think you need a little help with… whatever, I’m here for you.” She winked at him.

  “You’re lucky I came out when I did,” Sophia told him. “Michael. Lisa, in the house! It’s voting time!” She glanced back at Sky. “She’d eat you alive!”

  “She doesn’t look that harmless.”

  Sophia laughed. “She’s slept with every man on this block, even the mailman! And you, you are not ready for that sort of thing.”

  “How do you know what I’m ready for?” Sky asked. “Just because I don’t have my memories, doesn’t mean I can’t make my own decisions, Sophia.”

  “I know that, but I also don’t want you making a decision you might regret, Sky. I’m just trying to look out for you.”

  “I know,” Sky whispered. “I’m just so sick of this! I wish my memories would come back already!” They started up the steps, entering the house, and the witch inside the house suddenly cackled.

  “Whoa!” He jumped, holding a hand to his heart. “That thing could give someone a heart attack!”

  “That’s kind of the point… not a real,” Sophia said. “But you know, just to give someone a jolt.”

  “Hmm.” Sky nodded, staring at the witch, something about it seeming familiar. I know something. Something about Halloween? Images tried to breakthrough. A night club? I see a big spider, he thought, and ghosts? And spiders? And… this man with a white face. Who is he?

  “Sky?”

  “What?” He jerked his head out of his thoughts. “What is it?”

  “Are you feeling okay?” Stella asked as they all stared at him. “You just like stared at us! We thought you were going to pass out or something? Maybe you should lie down.”

  “I don’t need to lie down!” Sky snapped, his temper snapping. “What I need, is to piece all these damned memories together and figure out what they mean!” He sighed, drawing in a deep breath. “Sorry. I’m just irritated.”

  “We can only imagine,” Dillon said. “Now, why don’t you help us out, Sky. Which Pumpkin is the best.” He rounded the corner of the counter, pointing. “The witch on the broom that Stella made… which kind of looks like she’s riding more of a vacuum then a broom.”

  “Hey!”

  “Or… the black cat that your mother made. She did pretty good, except the tail got a little wonky.”

  “The tail is really hard to do!”

  “Or, the ghost? I made that one. It looks pretty good if I do say myself, and then, there’s the creepy one. Stella, light a candle so he can see it.”

  Stella lit the candle, placing it inside the pumpkin, the word creepy lighting up, with the bats surrounding it. “What do you think?”

  “Hmm. It’s kind of hard to decide…” Sky said, walking up and peering at them. “Michael, what do you think?”

  “I like the cat one,” Michael said, pointing.

  “Hmm. That is a good choice.”

  “I kind of like the way the tail looks,” Lisa said, covering her hand over her mouth. “But boy, does it stink!”

  “Maybe go upstairs? Away from the smell?” Connor suggested.

  “But everyone is down here!”

  “Okay, but if you have trouble sleeping tonight, remember, this was your decision.”

  “I think I like the creepy one with the bats,” Sky said, pointing. “It’s very well done.”

  “Why thank you,” Winston said, bowing, and sticking his tongue out at Dillon. “I told you I had artistic talent.”

  “Great. Now I’m going to be hearing about this for a week,” Dillon grumbled. “Thanks, Sky. Wanna help us get these outside.”

  “Sure. Then where to next?”

  “To Mom’s. We have one last house to decorate, then we do some baking!”

  “Yay!”

  Chapter 32

  “The witches have their powers back, Sir.”

  “Yes. I know,” Liam said, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the sapphire, watching as the brightness dimmed from the stone. “And because of it, the stone is less powerful. Damn the witches!” He snapped his tentacle out, grabbing the black angel by the throat, and tightening his grip. “So tell me, why haven’t you found them?”

  “Because you told us not to!” the black angel gasped out, struggling to breathe as the metal prongs dug into his throat. “Remember?”

  “Of course I remember,” Liam said, tossing him to the ground. “I expected the reptile and the spider demon to be able to take care of them, but it seems, that I once again have underestimated the witches.” He sighed, turning and striding across the stoned ground, fire rising up around him, gazing down at the bright, green liquid of the potion he had brewing. “It’s almost complete,” he said, once again looking over his shoulder at the black angel. “And soon, I will have the final ingredient.”

  “The witch’s baby,” the black angel said, rising to his feet, and staring at Julie as she
lay in the glass capsule, her stomach getting bigger with each hour that passed. “The potion worked?”

  “Of course it worked!” Liam shouted. “I’ve spent my entire life as a God, working on potions. I just need to be able to distract the witches long enough for me to extract the blood.”

  “And how are you going to do that?”

  “Why, reuniting them with an old friend of course,” Liam said, an evil smile splaying across his lips. “And this time, Julie won’t be there to save them from her.”

  ***

  “Oh. Will you look at that,” Jasmine whispered, as they reached the top of the hill, staring at the running waterfall as it rained down from the cliffs, and the springs rising up from the ground around them. “Do you think it’s safe?”

  “I told you it was,” Mark said, stepping forward and cupping his hands in the water. He brought it to his lips, taking a sip, and sighing. “The only safe place about this place.”

  “Because the demons drink it?” Jami asked, raising a brow. “Since when have we ever trusted something a demon has said or done?”

  “Never,” Josslyn said, stepping forward. “But we did just witness Mark drinking the water, and he’s still alive, so I think that counts as something.”

  “So I guess he was our guinea pig?” Jorja asked, laughing. “You know what, I don’t even care. I’m going for a swim.” She turned, racing off across the grass, jumping high in the air and landing in the water with a big splash.

  “Mom!” Jordyn stared at her mother in disbelief. “What are you? Twelve?”

  “Nah. I think she’s just enjoying herself,” Jessi said, racing after her aunt, and leaping into the water. “Oh! That is cold!”

  “Come on, Jordyn! Don’t be a spoilsport!” Josi cried, grabbing Jordyn by the arm and dragging her across the grass. “Live a little!”

  “I think I’ve lived enough for several lifetimes,” Jordyn said, digging her heels, and staring down into the rippling depths, of the bright, clear water. “After all, I have been kidnapped by demons, bided on at an auction as if I were some sort of grand prize, and kept in a freaking capsule until Liam was ready to use his experiment on me.”

  “It could be worse. Your father could have kidnapped you and tried to sacrifice you,” Jami put in, as she raced up to them. “One thing you have to learn about this world, Jordyn, is that bad things are going to happen no matter what.”

  “But I don’t like it,” Jordyn said, crossing her arms across her chest and pouting. “It’s stupid!”

  “It’s also your destiny,” Josslyn said, stepping up behind her. “You’re the daughter of a chosen one. Your life will always be in danger. You think it’s easy for me, knowing that my daughters are in danger constantly?”

  “She’ll end up with a headful of gray hair before she’s forty because of it!” Jasmine put in, as she stepped up next to Josslyn. “But you know the great thing about this family?”

  “No. What’s that?”

  “That we’re a tad unpredictable,” Josslyn said, as she and Jasmine raced forward.

  “Josslyn! Jasmine!”

  Jordyn screamed as they wrapped their arms around her, jumping into the water.

  “Hey!”

  Jordyn squeaked, as she fell into the water, breaking the surface and staring at her two aunts. “That was not cool!”

  “I think it was exactly what you needed,” Jami said, jumping into the water next to them. “It’s time you have some fun, Jordyn!”

  “And trust that we will always be there for you,” Josi added, as she dove into the water. “It’s one of the things I learned about this family. That no matter what you do. No matter what happens. They will always be there for you no matter what.”

  “Isn’t that the truth!” Jorja said as she swam up to them. “I know you’ve been through a lot, Jordyn,” she whispered, pulling her daughter in for a hug. “But I promise, you’re safe with them. With me. None of us will ever let anything happen to you.”

  “I know, Mom,” Jordyn whispered, glancing over at her cousins. “Is it true what you said?” she asked. “Did your father really try to sacrifice you?”

  “He did,” Josslyn said. “He’s a demon, Jordyn. He enjoys hurting people, and will do whatever he can to become powerful.”

  “Not to mention that he’s the father to Julie’s baby!” Jessi put in.

  “What?” Jordyn’s eyes widened. “That’s weird!”

  “You have no idea,” Josslyn muttered. “But the truth is, if we hadn’t become witches, we would have never met your mother. She’s kind of a badass.”

  “Yeah, she’s pretty great,” Jordyn said, staring at her mother. “You know I missed you, right?”

  “And I missed you!” Jorja cried, pulling her in for another hug. “You have no idea how many times I have wished for this moment. To be able to hold you. Touch you. Talk to you. I searched everywhere for you, Jordyn, but I could never find you. I’m just grateful to have met your aunts and cousins because I don’t think I would have found you if I hadn’t met you.”

  “Then I guess I have a lot to be grateful for.”

  “We all do.”

  “And we have so much to teach you!” Jessi added. “And show you. Like the new technology that’s come out and school, and…”

  “Oh my God! School!” Jordyn’s eyes widened. “I am so far behind!”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get you caught up,” Jessi said, winking at her. “After all, I am kind of a genius.”

  “Jessi!”

  “What? I’m just speaking the truth,” Jessi said, yelping, as they slapped water at her. “Hey! Stop that!”

  “Girls, will you be nice to each other?” Josslyn asked, sighing, as she floated on her back. She glanced up at the sky, watching as the red hues replaced the dark, black sky, a noise filling her ears. “Hey. Do you hear that?”

  “Hear what?” the girls asked in unison.

  “That,” Jorja said, holding a hand up and cocking her head to the slide as she listened. “It sounds like some sort of music.”

  “I hear it,” Jasmine said, as they swam forward. “I think it’s coming from over there.”

  They swam around the bend, pulling themselves out from the water, making their way across the grassy terrain as the soothing voice filled their ears.

  “It’s so soothing,” Josi cried, as they hurried across the grass, sliding to a stop when she saw the woman sitting on the stump. Her bright, red hair was shining underneath the yellow sun as it rose in the sky, her green fin sparkling. “Is that a… mermaid?”

  “It looks like one!”

  “Ah. Guys. You may want to take a closer look,” Jasmine said, as they neared the woman, pointing as her red hair turned to dark, gray tentacles, and the fin disappearing from her body. “It’s Melina.”

  “Melina!” Josslyn asked, her head jerking to look at Jasmine, then at the woman sitting in the middle of the water. “What the hell is Melina doing here?”

  “And here I was this close to having you under my spell,” Melina said, sighing, as she rose. She floated across the water, staring at the woman. “Hello, Josslyn. Hello Jasmine.”

  “Melina.” Josslyn crossed her arms in front of her chest. “You know, I’m really getting sick of these demons of the past coming back to try to kill us.”

  “It’s the wasteland, Josslyn. What do you expect?” Jasmine asked. She narrowed her eyes on Melina. “How did you find us?”

  “Oh, I didn’t find you. You were brought to me.” She nodded to Mark. “Thank you, Mark, for bringing them to me.”

  “What?”

  They turned, just as Mark turned from boy to a bright, blue Jellyfish.

  “Whoa!”

  “Jessi! Get back!” Jasmine cried, swiping her hand to the side. The Jellyfish flying through the air and hitting the tree, crumbling to the ground.

  “Hey!” Melina narrowed her eyes on Jasmine. “Leave my babies alone!”

  “Then leave us alone!”

&
nbsp; “Oh, but if I do that, then you’ll never know where the real Mark is,” Melina said, tapping a finger against her lips. “And what about the mermaids? What did I do with them?”

  Chapter 33

  “Get back here, witch!”

  A fireball struck the wall next to her, and Jade ducked, glancing behind her as the demons raced after her. Spikes flung through the air, and she rounded the corner, screaming when she ran into a large body.

  “Jade!” Ashwin wrapped his hands around her shoulders, staring down at her. “You’re alive!”

  “For now,” Jade said, glancing over her shoulder. “But we have to go! Demons are coming, and I don’t think my powers are going to be working down here for much longer.”

  “You got your powers back?”

  “Seems like it,” Jade said, not that I’m sure how, but at this moment I don’t really care!”

  “It had to have been your sisters. They must have done something!” one of the leprechauns said, racing toward them.

  “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Ashwin and Elijah?” one of the vampires rounded the corner, a grin spreading over his pale lips as he regarded them. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the two of you together.”

  “It’s been a long time since we’ve been together,” Elijah said, holding his hand out, and staring at the ball of fire. “But shall we see if the myth is still true? Are you fools still scared of fire?”

  “I’m scared of fire!” Ashwin shouted. “It’s one of the things that can kill me!”

  “Fire could kill anyone,” a man said, stepping forward, he glanced over at Jade. “Hi, I’m Micah.”

  “Micah?” Jade’s mouth dropped open. “You mean Julie’s, Micah?”

  “Wait. What?” Elijah turned his head. “What do you mean, Julie’s Micah.”

  “Ahh…”

  “Guys, we don’t have time for this!” Ashwin shouted. “They’re getting closer!”

  “Elijah! You are ours!” the vampire shouted, as he lunged forward. “The bounty will be ours!”

  “Leave him alone!” Ashwin shouted, striking his hand out, a rush of wind rushing from his hand.