by Marcus Brown
“Are you taking her to the hospital?”
“I’m sorry, Jason, but your mum passed away thirty minutes ago.”
“No, you’re lying,” he said, his voice almost a shriek. “She can’t be dead. I talked to her a few hours ago.”
“We think she may have overdosed on prescription medication, but until an autopsy is completed, we can’t be certain. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Jason froze. He felt empty inside.
“Is there anybody I can call? I don’t want you to be here on your own.”
“I don’t have anyone left.”
“An aunt, maybe, or even a friend? Anybody you can go and stay with?”
Friend? He didn’t have any friends anymore. Numbly, he pulled his mobile phone out of his back pocket. Then, he walked out of the room and dialed Hilary’s number.
She picked up after one ring. “Hello, what’s wrong?”
He could feel the stinging in his eyes and knew the tears were coming, and as hard as he tried, couldn’t stop them.
“My mum’s dead.” He broke down and sobbed.
“I’m coming.”
Jason dropped the phone on the floor and dropped to his knees.
The WPC knelt beside him and put her arm around his heaving shoulders.
It had been a week since Jeanette Lee had tragically died.
Jason tried to mask his pain, but Hilary knew how much he struggled. In time grief would hit him, but for now, he had other things to focus on, like getting hold of the Grimoire.
The task seemed impossible.
A security detail had been posted once more, but this time, the guard wasn’t a doddery old man, but seemingly ex-military.
When Juliet left the house, he stood guard.
“What are we going to do?” Hilary asked.
“Nothing we can do. We don’t have any chance of getting past that man-mountain. And if we did, where would we even begin?”
“I feel useless.” She shook her head dejectedly.
“Don’t,” he snapped. “We can’t charge in there. That bitch is too dangerous.”
“Sandra and Adam are stilled trapped in there.”
“Yes, but while she has a use for them, they are pretty safe, well, if safe is the right word.”
“This isn’t right, Jase. You shouldn’t be dealing with all this at your age. You’ve just buried your mum.”
He shrugged. “Losing both of them pushed her over the edge. I know she didn’t want to leave me, but she was hurting too much.”
“You’re wise beyond your years. Have you heard anything more from your dad?”
Jason’s face flushed red. She knew it was a sore point. “No, and I don’t want to. He left it up to me, but he needn’t hold his breath.”
“Well, you always have a home with me. I hope you know that.”
“You won’t want a kid my age hanging around forever, no matter what you say.”
“We’re family now.” She looked into his eyes. “You got that?”
He gave her a weak smile. “Got it.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
The day Juliet had waited for was finally here.
At last, she would be reunited with her sister, Samantha.
Adam had done well and brought what she needed from her nosey neighbours, and along with what she’d taken from Sandra and Adam, she had what she needed to complete the ritual and free her sister from her fiery prison.
She picked up the intricately carved silver box that contained the four hearts and opened the lid, peeking inside. Blood lust took over and she had to apply all her will not to nibble up the tasty looking organs and bite into them. Artery blood always tasted so delicious.
Feeling ravenously hungry, she carried the box downstairs and into the kitchen, tearing open the larder fridge door. A plate of raw lamb’s liver drew her eye and tickled her taste buds.
She hungrily grabbed a piece and shoved it into her mouth, savoring the taste. Slowly chewing the offal, the sensation of it slithering down her throat was arousing. “Mmmm.” Juices ran down her chin. She felt satisfied after her impromptu meal.
Opening the French doors and walking into the night sky, she felt nervous.
What if the offering wasn’t enough to return her sister to her?
She’d done exactly as the Grimoire had instructed and offered her own blood in return for the answers she so desperately sought. She slit her wrist open, allowing the blood to flow onto the pages, watching as the blood formed into words.
To free the one you love,
An offering you must make.
Four hearts of the innocent,
Given unwillingly.
Juliet had done what was asked and would cast the hearts into the flames, offering them to her master.
“Mabel, come to me,” she cried.
“Yes, mistress,” the doll whispered back as she climbed down from the doll house, her tiny feet scampering across the garden.
Juliet smiled sweetly at her diminutive companion. “I can always rely on you, my beautiful one.”
Mabel looked up and returned the smile.
“I need the boy.” Juliet had built a fire, contained within a ring of stones. She stood close by, feeling the warm heat on her face.
“Yes, mistress.” Mabel scurried across the garden, scrambling up the wall and into the darkness.
Minutes later, Mabel returned as Adam’s groans echoed around the garden. “He’s coming.”
“Good.” Juliet grinned as Adam lurched into view. “Stay there,” she ordered, and with a wave of her hand, the flames in the firepit shot skyward and bathed the garden in a warm orange glow.
Adam and Mabel backed away from the roaring flames, seemingly afraid of being caught within the conflagration.
Juliet stepped forward and opened the silver box containing the offering, holding it dangerously close to the flame.
“Given unwillingly, take the hearts of the innocent and forgive my sister’s failure.” The flames roared higher. An eerie sound emanated from inside them. “I implore you. I am now and always will be your humble servant. Master, I beg of you, please return Samantha to me.”
She grabbed one of the slimy organs and tossed it into the fire.
A figure appeared momentarily within the flames, then faded away. “No, come back,” Juliet whined.
She threw the second into the flames. The figure appeared again, more vivid than the first time, but seconds later it began to fade again.
Throwing the third heart into the flames, they soared upwards, spitting embers across the garden.
Juliet didn’t move and screamed. “Master. Take this offering and return my sister to me. Only then will thy will be done.”
She threw the fourth heart into the flames. The heat was intense. “Send her back to me, I beg of you.”
She drew a knife from inside of her boot and slashed at her wrists, digging into the veins. Blood poured from the wound, but it wasn’t enough.
“You must burn.” The voice came from within the flames.
“For my sister, I will burn.” Holding her hands inside the flames, she screamed in agony as her skin began to melt.
“JULIET.”
Somebody had screamed her name.
“Samantha. Is that you?”
Juliet reached further into the flames, her arms burning.
Suddenly, she felt the grip on her hands from inside the flames.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Juliet pulled with all her might and watched with trepidation as Samantha stepped from the flames, naked as the day she was born.
She smiled victoriously at her sister. Seeing her again was worth every second of the pain she felt. Looking at her hands, expecting to see them hideously burned, she was stunned to note there wasn’t any sign of burns on either of them.
“It’s good to see you sister,” Samantha said, wrapping her arms around Juliet. “I knew you’d find the book and bring me back.”
Juliet swelled
with pride as she had achieved what she thought would be impossible. Finally, she’d been rewarded for her hard work.
“If it had taken me until Judgement Day, I’d have found a way to save you.”
Samantha surveyed the garden and smiled. “It’s been a long time since I was last here, but it feels good to be home. Tell me, sister, how long have I been gone?”
“One hundred and seventeen years.”
Samantha appeared shocked at the length of time that had passed. “All this time, you’ve been alone?”
“I’ve kept myself busy.” She grinned.
“You found your way back here, as you said you would. The secret room lay undisturbed I trust?”
“Yes. It was just as you left it.”
“Good, then we can get started. Where is Maisie?”
“Defeated and taken into the light.”
“How?” She appeared angry, grinding her teeth together.
“Mark discovered a way to lift the curse. Maisie is lost to us.”
Juliet told Samantha how Maisie was finally beaten.
“No matter. We can’t alter the past, but I trust you’ve found a worthy replacement.”
“Oh, yes.” She was proud of her achievements. “But, let us get you suitably attired, then we can eat, and I’ll tell you what I’ve been doing since we were last together.” Juliet gripped her sister’s hand and led her towards the house. “It’s so good to see you again.”
The sun had set, and the garden was pitch-black.
Samantha walked slowly down the steps, surveying her kingdom. The years of suffering she’d suffered had been worth it, just to be standing there once again.
She could see the cats sat around the high walls, but as before, they wouldn’t approach unless she gave them cause to.
The doll house was still there. She was surprised to see the old thing still intact.
Looking at it brought back a pile of memories. Her revolting daughter loved to play with it, but if she’d had her way, it would have been chopped up for firewood.
She couldn’t help thinking of her daughter, Maisie. Turning her at the point of death was a stroke of genius. Mark didn’t realise what he was doing by placing their daughter’s eyes in the doll.
If only she’d been around to witness her triumph.
She knew he would have loathed his part in resurrecting Maisie, and wasn’t surprised that even in death, he would have found a way to come back and rescue the child he’d loved so much.
She’d despised the child, but despite their obvious differences, loved her husband deeply, and despite what had transpired between them, residual feelings remained.
It is futile to have such thoughts.
Juliet had given them a head start, and this time, she would honour the pact, but would claim the power for herself. She was the rightful ruler, the one who had burned for over a century.
It was only right for it was she who had laid the foundations of what was to come.
She walked away from the doll house, lost in her thoughts until the whispering startled her.
“Oh, yes. I’d forgotten about you.” She turned back to the doll house. Bending down, she smiled, pulling the doll from its compartment. “And who might you be?”
“My name is Mabel.”
“And what are we going to do with you?”
“I’m here to watch over the garden.”
“Yes. So I’m led to believe.” She found the doll irresistible. “Tell me, Mabel. When will your little friend show his face?”
“He’s coming now.”
“Good,” she replied, walking towards the well.
Samantha quietly observed as Adam crawled out of the well.
Mabel stared up at Samantha.
Juliet had replaced Sandra’s eyes with Adam’s, allowing him to see where she was.
“How beautiful.” She approached him and grabbed a handful of hair, pulling his head back, scrutinizing his monstrous, yet adorable face. “Juliet did well in finding you.”
Adam groaned.
“Such a shame she ripped out your tongue, but some children should be seen and not heard.” She let go of his hair and turned away. “I wish I’d cut that little bitch’s tongue out at birth.” She thought back to her daughter, the child she hated so much.
She returned Mabel to the doll house. “Close your eyes, little one and rest,” she said, tenderly. The doll did as was ordered. Turning to Adam once again, she barked her command. “You may go back, Adam, until I have further need of you.”
He groaned as he climbed back down the well.
“Goodnight, sweet one. I will call for you soon.”
“Yes, mistress.”
Samantha walked up the garden steps and back into the house.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Hilary was seated at the kitchen table, trying and failing miserably to complete a crossword.
She heard the front door open, thinking it would be Jason returning, but to her surprise, Tim walked through the door.
“Hello.” Seeing his face, she realised how much she’d missed him.
“Hello,” he answered, brusquely. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to stay. I just wanted to collect some more of my things.”
“Are you still at your mum’s?”
“For now, but if we can’t sort this mess out and soon, I’ll have to start looking for somewhere else more permanent. I’m too old to be living with my parents, and Mum is driving me up the wall with the constant questions.”
“Do you think we’ll be able to sort this out?”
“Hilary, I took my wedding vows seriously and when I said for better or worse, I meant it.” He paused. “I don’t understand what’s going on with you right now, but I’m giving you some space to sort your head out. That’s how much I love you.” He walked over to her and kissed the top of her head.
“I love you too, Tim, and I swear, I’ll sort myself out and things will go back to the way they were. I just need a few more days.”
“I’ll give you as long as you need and then when you’re ready, nothing will keep me away.”
“You’re too good for me.”
“Come here.” He opened his arms. She rushed into them, feeling safe for the first time in weeks.
“I’m sorry I’ve put you through this, but I’m close to finding out what happened.”
Tim pulled away. “I don’t wanna hear it, Hilary. Let me just enjoy spending some time with my wife without the craziness.”
“Okay. Deal.” She snuggled against him and closed her eyes as he wrapped his big strong arms around her.
“Are you eating?” he asked.
“Bits and bobs. I’m not that hungry to be honest.”
“That’s not good. You need to keep your strength up, loads of calcium to strengthen that broken arm of yours.” He tapped the plaster cast and shook his head. “Only you’d be clumsy enough to trip over your own foot.”
“You know what I’m like.” She felt guilty lying to him, but there was no way he’d accept the truth about what had actually happened.
“I’ll fix you something while I’m here, but I won’t stay to join you.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ve found lots of stuff already frozen I can warm up. You must have better things to do tonight.”
“Well, if you’re certain. I was planning on taking Liam out for a drink tonight.”
“Nathan’s brother?”
“Yeah.”
“Is he okay?”
“As well as can be expected considering the last six months, but he’s getting on with things. I think his kids are the only thing keeping him sane if I’m honest.”
“That’s good. Send him my love won’t you.”
“I will. Now what do you want me to get out of the freezer for you? What do you fancy?”
“What I fancy isn’t in the freezer.” It seemed wrong to be flirting, but she’d missed him in more ways than one.
“Filth.” He laughed, but she knew she had him–
his cock was straining against his trousers. “Now?”
“No, next week soft arse. Of course, now,” she giggled. It felt good to laugh with him once more.
“But I haven’t shaved, you’ll come out in a rash.”
“Sod the rash.” She lunged for him. “Just shut up and kiss me will you.”
“I haven’t brushed my teeth either and I’ve had a fag.”
“Jesus, Tim, you’re going to the dogs without me around,” she joked. “I hope you’ve washed your willy, at least.”
He pulled her close and kissed her passionately. She loved the feel of his tongue in her mouth. He kissed her like nobody else ever had and knew her body intimately. Pushing his hand inside her bra, he pulled on her nipples, her breathing intensified, pleasure taking over.
“Screw me, Tim.”
He didn’t need further invitation and ripped her blouse open. Her bra was off in seconds. She still didn’t know how he did it so quickly. Sliding gracefully out of her pants, she gasped as his mouth clamped round her nipple, sucking hard.
It was a fine line between pleasure and pain, but she loved it and could feel her body opening for him. “Please, I can’t wait any longer. Fuck me.”
He bent her over the kitchen table and released his hard, throbbing cock, pulling her G-string to one side. It had been so long since they’d made love, there was no time for love and tenderness. He slapped his cock against her bare backside then wasted no time sliding it inside her.
Hilary moaned as he rammed it hard into her.
Tim pulled out and turned her around, forcing her backward onto the table. She wrapped her legs around his neck and cried out as he drove his cock deep into her.
She felt her whole body convulse and knew she was going to squirt. Looking up at him, she could see he was close too.
His head rolled back. Moaning in ecstasy, he filled her up.
He collapsed on top of her and kissed her gently. “I love you, Mrs Baines.”
“I love you too, stud.”
He lifted her off the table and together, they lay on the sofa talking and remembering when their life used to be perfect.
