“That’s a good girl, very obedient.”
A series of clicks inside her mind switched to the normal Luxor, to the one who wouldn’t obey. But it didn’t matter the man was able to possess one part of her mind, the part which took her freedom of will.
“What are you?” she asked for what was the millionth time. “I refuse to be a puppet.”
“Such a shame you don’t know. But you’ll find out soon enough.”
Everybody Luxor had encountered used vague answers. Each person planted seeds and implement ideas in her mind on who she was, yet would never provide any answers for a chance to thrive. She was like this forest, dying.
The man removed the shield from underneath her feet and she plummeted down to the deep, dark depth of the bottom. The shock of the cold water hit her first and chilled her nerves. She raised her hands and grappled to break the surface but it had iced over and had with violet lights the only source of light. Luxor furiously pounded on the impenetrable barrier, her arms like lead weights, and she attempted to scream. Every time she opened her mouth a whoosh of water gushed down her throat, and her words were as silent as death. Trout swam in a spiral formation from her toes to her neck, and she wriggled further even though she should have conserved her energy for more productive actions. A bed of thorns scratched her knees as her legs began to cramp up and tire from the rapid motion of the scissor kicks, the searing pain burned pinching every nerve endings, and flicking it back like a guitar string as every cell screamed like a lifeguard yielding a megaphone.
Once Luxor felt like she had reached her limit and would succumb to the inevitable death, something kept her going. Her will to live. The surface broke and she gulped in air, her lungs burning from the change of pressure. She bent her head back and struggled to stay afloat, the pressure from an invisible hand relentless a vice grip, nails imbedded deeper in her skull made sure she remained submerged. A pair of crimson lights lit up the water and blinded her. In normal circumstances where her life wasn’t in peril and being drowned by a possessed being, she would have been more afraid, but being blind and concentrating on surviving was a blessing. She didn’t have to see the glee or satisfaction, the tapping rhythm on her head spoke volumes.
Luxor flayed, her body becoming limp from the lack of oxygen and she began to slip into the darkness destined to swallow her whole. The pressure was released off Luxor’s head was and she bobbed to the surface, gulping in sharply before spewing lake water out of her mouth. She was semi-conscious, her eyes seemingly glued together. But she still had her hearing. Only just. She concentrated on the sounds around her.
“Next time you disobey me, I’ll kill you myself. Consequences be damned.”
Early next morning the phone rang and rang alternating between the mobile on the kitchen bench and landline. Straight away as soon as it rang out it would start up again.
Luxor munched on her toast, fixated on the vibration wondering when it would eventually stop. Seventeen minutes. Finishing off her breakfast, she finally had enough and switched her mobile off. The landline was another story, she was about to pull it out from the socket but thought twice of it.
Twenty-one minutes and still no reprieve.
“My God Luxor, are you just going to stare at the phone? Pick it up.”
Luxor jumped. She didn’t even hear Meredith come down. Dusting the crumbs on the back of her jeans, she reached over and picked up the receiver. And remained silent.
“Oh my god Luxor, thank goodness you are okay?” Evie’s frantic voice said.
No, she thought. Luxor doubt she would ever be okay.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t believe you. What happened last night? One minute you and Scarlett or going at it and the next you disappeared. I rang, and rang but maybe wherever you were you had no reception.”
“Yeah, wherever I was. It’s great to know you had my back, especially since you put me in that situation,” she said in a hushed voice to prevent Meredith from eavesdropping.
There was a prolonged silence on the other end.
“Hello? You still there?” Luxor said, tapping the receiver in her palm.
"I’m here,” Evie said in an unusually quiet voice, at odds with her exterior. “I should have properly searched for you but…You scare me."
"What? Why?" Luxor asked perplexed at the change of subject. She couldn’t understand what she could have possibly done.
"You don't remember, do you?"
"No, what have I done?" Worry crept in.
"What you did to Scarlett, and then you brushed it off as if it wasn't anything.”
"She hurt you and I confronted her, it was words as usual. You were there."
"Yeah, but were you? You zoned out, your voice was like ice. You grabbed her throat, and began to squeeze. She was struggling but you wouldn't stop. Seriously you scared me." Evie fidgeted about, removing and replaying her ring in a continuous fashion.
No, it was words only, I wouldn't assault someone even though Scarlett deserved it.
"But I stopped, I must have realised it."
"No, you didn't. Ayla tried to get through to you but you shrugged it off. I don’t know what she said but you calmed down."
Luxor tried to remember but drew a blank, the images stopping after their verbal insults. Verity sprung to mind, what if the same thing happened to Scarlett? "There's something wrong with me." She admitted.
For a while now with more incidents it was accumulating to a feeling that she wasn't normal, and not in an outcast way. Her night terrors dreams, seeing crimson eyed people and how her body reacted to religious artefacts among other things.
"You're a psycho, we've already established that on the first day. And while it might make things interesting, it scares me. I might love crazy, scary bands but there's a difference between art and real."
"I'm sorry." But no amount could be enough, she had a feeling she'd be saying it a lot more often.
“Just as long as you’re not angry with me.
“I’m not angry with you. Not really. You were being a great friend with our girls night.” Luxor didn’t need Meredith to bust her breaking a rule. “I might need some me time to get my head together.”
“Ummm okay,” Evie said in a low voice. “Call me soon?”
“Definitely.” Luxor said and hung up. She wouldn't be surprised if Evie ditched her as a friend with all the weird things going on with her. Bringing Evie into a world she didn’t understand wouldn’t be a wise decision.
Reality was slipping away and there wasn’t a damn thing Luxor could do about it.
Meredith switched on the kettle and set two mugs onto the counter. "Something the matter?" She eyed her.
Luxor rubbed her eyes and let out a long yawn. "Just thinking," she murmured, spinning the stem of the apple until it detached.
"About?"
"God and stuff," she said lowly.
"That's pretty random. Why?"
Luxor picked at the dirt from under her fingernails attempting to approach the gently. Meredith was all too aware of her aversion to anything religious based and Luxor didn't want to cause her worry. "Lately I'm wondering why don't we ever go to church? Don't you believe?"
"Wow, what are they teaching you in school?" Meredith laughed half-heartedly. "You won't remember this but we used to go. Every Sunday Steven, you and I used to dress up in we'd go pray. Especially after your mother died, I wanted a place where I could go and be close in a place where she'd reside."
"Why did you stop?"
"Because of you," Meredith told her, sneaking a glance at her reaction. "Every time we neared the church you'd start to cry, and break out into rashes and would only get worse the closer we ventured. At first, I presumed it was colic, or maybe inside was too cold but I tried every method, rugging you up even in summer, different kinds of teething gels, carrying around extra bottles even when I had just fed you but nothing worked.
When you were six months you were baptised. All dressed up in your beau
tiful lace, white gown and bonnet, you were the most angelic baby I'd seen and I'm not being biased. All through the thirty-minute ceremony you wouldn't stop, but that didn't compare to what happened when..." Meredith bit her lip, knitting her eyebrows together.
"When what?"
Meredith hesitated shaking her head as if to remove the thoughts. "You've always been the biggest water baby, just like your mother, you loved your baths. So, when holy water was poured on your scalp..." Meredith squinted her eyes closed, pausing before continuing. "Your shrill cry tore me apart, it was torturous. I held you close but when your face swelled up, I just didn’t know what to do. We rushed you to the hospital, on the way you started to throw up blood and were convulsing, burning up with a fever. You were in intensive care for two weeks on life support, tubes coming out from your tiny arms. Every time the machine manically buzzed, I jumped.”
Luxor expected a logical explanation, but to be the sole reason, especially church related gnawed at her. It had always been there. This couldn't be blamed on the bizarre after effects of the accident.
"Doctors didn't know what was wrong, your organs were severely hydrated, your skin blistered up right there.” Meredith leaned over and touched the crown of Luxor's head, pressing down and circling the lump. She stared at her fingers as if visualising the moment. "They assumed we hurt you and called social services. You could say I went psychotic, nobody was going to take you away from me. After a further week in hospital we were allowed to take you home, your tiny head bandaged up. For the next few months I rubbed ointment until only a mark was there." Meredith's voice cracked and by the end she was puffed out.
What the hell?
"And nobody questioned it?"
"They interviewed everybody that we associated with. Neighbours, grocers, even the mother's group. My workmates knew I'd never hurt you and they all attested to what kind of parents we were. It was just another strange occurrence. So yes, I believe in something but I guess it makes me wonder if there is truly one God." Meredith finished the rest of her tea and rinsed her cup underneath the tap. “Maybe this could be something you could talk about with Dr. Lawson, hmm?”
Luxor nodded and rushed upstairs to get ready for her appointment. Hopping into the shower she washed all the dirt from last nights’ events before dressing in a pair of leggings and long-sleeved top. She plaited her hair and covered it with a baseball cap, followed by her hood. It was freezing and the clouds threatened to spoil an already screwed up day. She rubbed her hands together to warm them up, white fog billowing out. Cranking the music up on her iPhone with the destination unknown, she climbed out through her window, needing to flee.
Last night she had no clear what time it was by the time she arrived home, she had walked for over an hour gathering a collection of sticks with jagged edges and large rocks in case she came across somebody or something dangerous. Meredith’s car had been in the driveway and Luxor was forced to climb the tree underneath her balcony. She scratched herself numerous times, climbing over the banister she slipped through the bi-fold doors. Curling up in a chair near the door she tucked her feet underneath her behind, her attention on the door with the sticks and stones within her firmly within her grasp. Sleep was not an issue as she refused to close her eyes, she didn’t want to risk the visions invading her mind.
The bus pulled up, a grey and red rickety hunk of junk, the front bumper dangerously on the verge of detaching. Luxor was a stranger to taking public transportation, but landing up in the middle of whoop whoop land wasn't ideal. When push came to shove, ultimately, she'd always be a city girl.
She tapped her Myki card and stepped on, taking a seat between the nearest back exit and the back. That way she could escape, yet not have blustery wind smack her in the face every time the door opened. Before she could get fully comfortable, her phone pinged in her pocket.
Satan: I need 2 c u
Luxor let out a hearty sigh. Before she had gotten to know him better, she had named him in her phone purely because of his annoying antics. She would have to change it but for now there was more pressing matters at hand. Switching the phone to vibrate, she ignored the text but kept her phone wedged between her thighs.
buzz buzz buzz
The phone vibrated between the fabric.
Satan: It's important
Too bad, she wanted to say. After last night in the forest and speaking to Meredith she wanted to be in the right frame of mind when she spoke to Valencia. Her fingers itched to respond, just to keep the line of communication open.
Satan: Angel, have u forgot Im persistent. Plz
That’s an understatement.
Luxor: K
Satan: Were
Luxor: Doesn’t matter I’ve completed my assignment.
Satan: Library. Midday
Luxor: This is you IOU
There was a slight pause and Luxor assumed Hunter wouldn’t agree to her suggestion. Just as she was about to tuck her phone away, her phone buzzed.
Satan: Fine. Has to be a promise
Luxor: Oh my god, if you'll shut up, yes I promise
Luxor huffed and tucked her phone away and shoved it at the bottom of her backpack to avoid temptation. She couldn’t understand his urgency, especially for him to use the opportunity alone with her at a library.
The Renaissance Centre came into view and Luxor quickly pressed the buzzer grounding the bus to a halt. Valencia awaited Luxor's arrival by the entrance with a warm inviting smile. Luxor walked straight past her and into the office, just because it was court mandated it didn't mean she was any less relieved to be attending. Their last meeting ended quite badly after the blatant warning Hunter would be her destruction. Now she seriously doubted anything she had to say and was convinced her licence came from a shonky online course. Today’s agenda would be of a serious nature.
"Did you want the session to be in the Zen garden?" Valencia pulled open the bi-fold doors to let a slight breeze to waft in.
Luxor ventured towards the leather chaise lounge chair, and laid down, crossing her feet at the ankles. "Can we just sit here and talk?"
"Of course. What would you like to talk about?"
Last night’s incident with the hooded man had her questioning who or what she was. Never before had she believed in the supernatural, but too many incidents had happened for her not to believe. Red eyed monsters attacking her, a vision luring her against her will and almost drowning her.
"Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?" Luxor blurted out, fixating on the ceiling.
Valencia dropped her clipboard, a trail of pens rolling off her desk. "That’s an interesting question, albeit off topic. Let's talk about you." She composed herself, putting on her best professional voice.
"I'm talking, that's progress," Luxor pointed out, adamant to get her say in.
Valencia furrowed her forehead, placing her notebook on the side table beside her. "What do you believe?”
Because I'm not sure where I belong.
Luxor cleared her throat, willing to lay it all on the line. "What if a person is bad, and they didn't mean it, it's just ingrained in them. Do they go to Hell?"
"I don't understand what you mean. Where are these questions coming from?” Valencia straightened up her posture and rambled in a frenzied fashion. She released the elastic band from her wrist, and tied her curly hair in a bun.
"I'm curious."
"Haven't you ever heard of curiosity killed the cat?"
In my case I almost killed more than that.
"So, you're not going to answer?" Luxor swung her legs around and challenged her. She was certain Valencia was hiding the truth, or scared her views would taint her.
"No, because it has no relevance to our sessions. You’re here for anger, not for curiosity on absurd topics.”
If she purged about her father and what he could do through her dreams she would be doubt be committed mental asylum without release, stuck in a place where she couldn't trust anybody. She was confused who she could confide i
n.
"So, I'm not going to Hell?"
Valencia let out a frustrated sigh, tapping a pen on the arm of her chair. "Nobody can be sure who goes where, only the Holy creator can. I can assure you compared to the ghastly things I've witnessed, you wouldn't be going there."
"But you just said nobody can be sure, so how can you sa—"
Valencia let out a frustrated sigh. "Luxor, why is this a concern?"
I think my father is Death or worse.
"It's not, it's an inquiry," Luxor tried to convince herself.
Valencia turned and unwound the small rectangular window to infuse the room with fresh air. Out from the corner of the room she filled a plastic cup with water from a water tank, and handed it over to Luxor.
"Better?" Valencia asked, after Luxor had taken a small sip.
"Thanks,” Luxor squeaked out, cradling the cup in the palm of her hands and took another sip. She bowed her head, her hands in her face disgusted and ashamed at her behaviour.
Valencia kneeled in front of Luxor, placing her hands on her knees. "Talk to me. I'm not here to hurt you, I'm not the bad guy, I just want to understand you."
It took all of Luxor's strength not to bawl with her emotions all over the place.
"What is wrong with me?" she whispered. "Something is bad inside, I have this rage which continues to burn, and I can’t control it. As if it's not coming from me, but a dark, dark, sinister place." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Maybe it's my screwed-up DNA but I can never know because my mother is dead and my father..."
My father is out to get me.
"What about your father?" Valencia rose off the floor, grabbing the tissue box from her desk and moved a chair close.
Luxor shrugged and sniffled. "Nothing. My father is nothing, non-existent."
Just like my life. I'm the template for a broken existence.
Valencia pulled out a few tissues and handed it to Luxor.
“Maybe I do need medication,” she said not caring about the side-effects. “This anxiety. It’s chewing away at me.” And she feared it would kill her, she wanted to add.
Unveiled: The Chronicles of Luxor Everstone Page 36
