by M A Roth
“What took you so long?” Siebel hissed at me before turning away. I wanted to kill him for sending me into that house, but Cathy’s words reached my ears. She was still talking. My heart squeezed at her words. My stomach recoiled. What her grandfather had done to her was horrific, but I needed to focus. I helped Cathy stand before taking her hand and making our way across the street.
Siebel took the lead, and I followed, not questioning where we were going. Anywhere away from that house was good to me. “Where did the girl go?” I asked.
“Home” I wanted to kick Siebel, I felt I deserved a better explanation than that. But I didn’t push it. Cathy’s words were making me shudder. “How do I make it stop?” I asked Seibel as we made our way down the alley.
“You can’t,” he responded.
I froze. “What? She will always be like this?”
Seibel turned towards me, his cat eyes looking petulant. “No, she will talk and talk, and not eat or sleep, and then she will die”
I stared at him, feeling disturbed at his cold demeanor. “This is your fault,” I spat at him. I took Cathy’s hand and made her sit on the ground. I turned back to Siebel. “If you hadn’t stopped outside that house, which now I know was intentional, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“You entered my alleyway, and I saved you from Maud and Ethel.”
“You put us in danger in the first place. And I nearly died in that basement!” I snarled before turning away and checking on Cathy. Fighting with Siebel, the cat was pointless.
The cut on Cathy’s head was really deep. I rubbed blood away from my eye again; the cut above my eyebrow was still dripping, the pain in my head was also getting worse. “Jesus, Cathy, stop,” I said, not wanting to hear her words.
“You could just call him, Abigail.” I turned around to Seibel, my hand now covered in blood from Cathy and myself. “She hasn’t got long left,” he added. No sympathy or emotion was in his words.
“Call who, Siebel? And don’t speak about her like that.” I cradled Cathy in my arms—not that it would do her any good. I think it was more for myself than her.
“Daniel. He might be able to save her.”
He knew Daniel? How could that be possible, Daniel was my Guardian Angel, who saved my life more than once. I was in love with him, but I would never tell him that. Hearing Siebel say his name with familiarity irritated me. But I swallowed my irritation. “But how? How do I call him?” my voice was straining.
“I will tell you, as long as you tell Daniel that I was the one that saved both of your lives.”
I snorted. “You put us in danger in the first place.”
“Fine, have it your way, Abigail.”
The way he said my name had me looking at him twice. “Who the hell are you?” I asked.
He smiled. It was the creepiest thing I had ever seen, and all my nerves stood on end. “A cat,” he answered.
I looked at Cathy. Her eyes were closed; her skin was too pale. “Fine, I’ll tell Daniel that you saved us. Now tell me how to call him.” I felt doubtful, but I would try anything.
“Just call his name.”
I looked at the cat through squinted eyes, not quite believing him. A part of me was also afraid what if it worked, what if he came. He was an angel, not a demon he didn’t belong in hell. The pain in my face and Cathy’s deteriorating state had me letting out a breath. “Fine. Daniel, I need you,” I said loudly.
A wind seemed to rise, carrying my words with it. I sat with my heart fluttering, but no one came. Of course they didn’t. “Please, Cathy, stop,” I said. I closed my eyes. I felt so angry, if it hadn’t been for the cat, Cathy would be fine, and now I had no way of helping her. I looked at Siebel, who sat licking his paws.
“You lying flea…” I started.
“Abigail!”
My words died in my throat. I nearly cried with joy at hearing Zee call my name. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I let Cathy go and stood as Zee jogged down the alleyway. I found myself in his arms. My arms snaked around his waist, and I laid my head on his chest, my emotions rising to the top. I wanted to cry.
He leaned back. “Are you okay?” he asked, searching my face.
I could only imagine how bad I looked. I nodded, too afraid to talk. “It’s Cathy,” I finally said.
Daniel gave me another one-over before he moved to Cathy. She was still talking, but her body had slumped to the ground, a small pool of blood forming beneath her. I knelt down beside her. “An old lady gave her tea, and she hasn’t stopped talking. Her head is pretty bad too,” I said, pulling her back up straight. She kept her eyes closed.
Daniel placed his hands over her head. A light radiated from them. Once he was finished, he turned to me. I wasn’t sure what I saw on his face, but I found myself shaking my head.
“I can’t save her,” Daniel whispered.
CHAPTER FIVE
Tears fell from my eyes. “Try, please, just try.” I pleaded.
Daniel moved closer, taking my hand in his. “I can’t, Abigail. If I do, I will have no power left to get us out of here.”
I pulled my hand out of his. “I don’t give a fuck about getting out of here, Daniel. Don’t just let her die. Now save her!” My voice had risen a few octaves.
Seibel’s hiss rang in my ears. “Be quiet, or you’ll wake them all up.”
“What are you doing here?” Zee asked Siebel, his face filled with anger.
“He saved me and Cathy,” I told Zee, keeping up my end of the bargain.
“What do you want Seibel?” Daniel asked, while staring at the cat with hatred.
“A favor when the time is right.”
“Fine,” Daniel spat, and Seibel looked content.
“What about Cathy? She’s losing a lot of blood.” I could hear the alarm in my voice. Everything felt distant for a moment.
“She has only minutes left,” Seibel announced, licking his paws again.
I wanted to cut off either the paw or his tongue. “How would you know?” I wanted to add, you little furball, but didn’t.
“I know things,” he said, returning to his grooming.
“Daniel, please.”
Zee shook his head. “If I do, we could be stuck here for two days, maybe more.”
I nodded in agreement. That was all right as long as he saved her. He gave me a look of anger that threw me back before he placed his hands on Cathy’s head. I watched as the white light shone from his hands. Sweat soon coated Zee’s face and neck. Cathy’s ranting got less and less until she stopped, her eyes losing that glazed look. As I watched Zee heal Cathy, it made me think of all the times he had saved me. He had shielded me from a bullet when I was only a child. Unfortunately, he couldn’t save my dad or brother. They both died that night. I looked back at Cathy, not wanting to think about my family.
She was coming too, but the horror of the ordeal was still on her face. This wasn’t like a possession. From the looks of it, she remembered everything. I reached out to touch her, but she flinched away from me. Her actions hurt more than I thought possible.
“How are you feeling?” I asked stupidly, not sure what else to say.
“Great! Couldn’t be better.” Her face turned into a snarl worse than the usual one she wore. She was hurting badly.
Zee sat against the wall, his energy gone. I looked around, and Seibel had disappeared. “Thank you,” I told Zee as I took his hand.
“You can’t stay here, Abigail.” Zee tried to stand, but he stumbled back.
“Stop. You need to rest. We are safe here.”
He gave a half laugh. “No, you’re not.”
I knew he was right. There was nothing safe about this place, but he needed to rest. “Just rest for a few moments, and then we can figure out what to do next.”
He hesitated, as if considering it. He couldn’t even stand, never mind walk, but I waited to let him think that there was an option. Finally, he relaxed against the wall.
I glanced at Cathy, who
stood with her arms wrapped around her midriff. She was hunched, and her eyes darted up and down the alleyway. I sat with Zee. He moved closer until his head rested in my lap. My hands instantly went to his hair. I stroked it, giving my hands something to do. As my hands continued to run through his soft hair, the image of him walking down the alleyway only moments ago came to mind. His intense blue eyes had spoken volumes, his strides matched his fear for me, and his clenched hands told me he would kill anyone that hurt me.
“I might get myself injured more often if this is the reward.” I smiled just as he turned his head, looking up at me, giving me one of his smiles. My stomach tightened. “You scared me,” he said, now somber. His hand reached up and touched my face.
“Don’t you dare,” I warned, in case he was even thinking of healing it.
“It won’t take much from me,” he said.
I took his hand gently away from my face. “Please,” I said, and he nodded, understanding what I meant. He had done enough. I returned to stroking his hair, and soon, Cathy sat on the ground beside us.
“What’s the plan?” Cathy asked. She didn’t look at me. Shame had her looking away.
“I don’t know yet.”
Zee’s eyes closed, and a peaceful look crossed his handsome face.
“Well, we can’t stay here. You can stroke his hair when we get home.” Anger bit Cathy’s words.
“He saved your life, Cathy. Don’t forget it.”
She looked at me for the first time. Her eyes were so haunted. I wanted to reach out and comfort her, but I knew it would be pointless. It didn’t matter; our time was up. The hairs rose on my neck and arms. The air turned cold.
Zee opened his eyes, lifting his head off my lap. I stood protectively over Zee and Cathy, looking around me, trying to see something, but a fog that was too cold was filling the alleyway. My lungs stung from the cold. My lips started to tremble. I stood my ground and waited.
“Abigail, run.” Daniel’s words were weak, but they reached my freezing ears all the same.
Cathy got up now and stood beside me. I held out my hand to tell her to wait, but it was Cathy. She moved past me. “What do you think is out there?” she asked, trying hard to peer through the fog. My eyes now were focused on the ground. It was starting to freeze.
Daniel grunted. I turned to him as he was trying to stand. I helped him, and he stood with the support of the wall. Daniel grabbed my hand tightly, making me look at him. His blue eyes were alert. “You need to run. He’s come for you.”
The alarm on his face terrified me. “Who?” I asked, thinking maybe was it Maud. But it wasn’t Zee that answered.
“Me.”
I swung around, and came face to face with the man who had tried to kill me without a scrap of remorse. Grabbing Cathy’s arm, I dragged her behind me.
“Don’t touch her,” Zee said behind me.
His words made the man laugh. “You are in no fit state to be demanding things.” He looked at me. “Come with me and no one will be harmed.” His eyes flickered to Cathy. A part of me cursed her for following me into the tree. If not, she wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t have to keep saving her.
I took a step forward, but Zee's hand on my arm made me stop. “Nicholas.”
The warning in Zee’s voice didn’t seem to have an effect on Nicholas at all. He actually seemed amused.
I tightened my fists in anger, wanting to lash out, but I don’t think I would ever be quick enough. I watched, Nicholas vanished and reappeared a second later right in front of us. He slammed Zee into the wall easily and grabbed me.
Zee stood up slowly, even weaker than before.
I swung in Nicolas’s arms. My fist connected with his face, and I had a split second of satisfaction until the burning in my wrist tore up my arm. I let out a strangled cry. I looked at Nicolas, horrified; hitting his face was like hitting a concrete wall.
“Good swing,” he said to my disgust. I cradled my hand to my chest. The pain was getting worse. The throbbing was becoming unbearable.
“Don’t do this, Nicolas.” I looked to see Zee standing, held up by Cathy as she tucked herself under his arm.
“I am doing this Daniel. Unlike you I am doing it for the greater good, not my own selfish reasons,” Nicolas said.
I looked between him and Zee in confusion. What were they talking about? My moment of distraction gave Nicolas the opportunity to grab me, pulling me into his chest. I was facing Cathy and Zee when the fog started to thicken. Zee’s howl was cut off as ice started to coat me.
I was going to die, for real. The panic that clawed at my throat had left my mind numb. All I could think about was the cold, and that soon it would reach my face. I craned my neck back, fighting for it to stop. My breathing became ragged.
My neck strained as I pushed it further back into Nicolas's chest. It raced up my arms, covering my chest. A strangled cry left my mouth.
Nicolas let me go, and I fell to the ground with a heavy thud, the cold seeping out of my body. I fought for air to return to my lungs, taking slow, calming breaths. I looked up after a few moments. Once I could breathe properly, I took in my surroundings.
I was sitting in the middle of a deserted road. The same doom and gloom coated the buildings that lined either side of the street. Only, the buildings here were smaller; they reminded me of something out of an old western. My eyes drifted to Nicolas as he stared at me, no emotion at all on his hard, pale face.
Where are we?” I asked, but my voice sounded strange to my ears. It felt raw, as if I had been crying, which I hadn’t. I stood on shaky legs that felt as if they were bruised; it must have happened when I fell. I flexed my hand, but it wasn’t so sore anymore, neither was my face. That was odd. I was sure I had broken it.
Nicolas didn’t answer, but turned away from me and started walking.
I stood frozen. Then a surge of hope arrived. He was letting me go, but why take me at all? This didn’t make sense. My hope was soon deflated at his next words.
“Stand there long enough, and you will be taken. There are worse things in Hades than me.” He sounded like he didn’t care if I came or not, but I wasn’t stupid. He hadn’t kidnapped me for the fun of it.
The shadows moving in the buildings had me racing after him. I didn’t fall into step beside him, but walked two paces behind, always looking over my shoulder feeling a thousand eyes on me. The deeper I followed Nicolas into Hell, the more my body trembled from the cold that was slowly growing around us. I let out a small laugh at the irony of Hell being cold. The sound seemed to bounce off the buildings that surrounded us, but they were thinning out the further we went.
I stopped, feeling panic set in again. Where was he taking me? I needed to find Zee and Cathy. What if they were in danger? Then again, I was in grave danger; I didn’t know what Nicolas wanted with me, but I knew it wouldn’t be good. I thought about running, but where would I go? Nicolas’s words rang in my mind: there are far worse things in Hades then me.
I could feel eyes on me and looked up to see that Nicolas had stopped. His cold black eyes fell on me. “Keep up.” His words were short and sharp. I wanted to run but knew better. I moved towards him as he stood still, waiting for me to join him. He looked like a statue. I wasn’t sure if he was breathing.
“Where are we going?” I asked again, putting a little more force into my words. He didn’t answer, but kept his long strides, making me nearly have to jog just to keep up with him. What, did he expect me to follow him obediently? Far worse things than him, I thought. I doubted that somehow. What was worse than following a man who had slit your throat without an ounce of remorse through Hell?
Maybe I should take my chances on my own. My body seemed to grab that thought, and my legs were moving fast in the opposite direction. I could hear a growl and looked over my shoulder to see Nicolas running after me. He looked pissed.
I pushed my body harder, knowing that if he caught me, I was dead for real this time. I raced towards a building
and could hear Nicolas shout behind me.
“You don’t want to do that!” he said.
I opened the door and slammed it behind me. My breath was coming in fast and heavy gulps. My body felt exhausted from running. I moved away from the door, taking one small step at a time. When the door didn’t bust in, I turned around, taking in the small hall I stood in. The only way out of the hall was stairs. No doors were visible in the corridor at all.
I didn’t hesitate, but moved up the stairs, trying to be as light on my feet as possible. I reached the first landing, only to be greeted by another staircase and no doors. I looked around at for any signs of concealed doors on the plain white walls, but couldn’t see any.
The door downstairs crashed in, and I raced up the next stairs, only to end up on a landing with no doors. The only way out was to go up another flight of stairs. My breathing was becoming labored, and my chest felt tight. How many flights of stairs could there be? I stopped on the next landing and let out a groan as I was greeted by more stairs. I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath.
The sound of my pursuer racing up the steps made me push off the wall and start climbing again. I wasn’t sure how long I could keep this up. I was willing to sit down and just wait to be caught when the next set of steps came into view. They were different; not wooden, but steel. I raced up them, not caring about my noise, and nearly screamed with joy when a steel door filled my vision.
I pushed it open easily and was met with the pelting of rain and the howling of the wind. I stood on the roof of a twelve-story building; I thought I had climbed twelve stairs. Slamming the door behind me, I raced to the edge of the roof, looking for a ladder or some kind of escape.
Vertigo took over, and I stood back slowly. Twelve stories, my eye; I couldn’t even see the ground. My breaths became shallow again, this time with fear. A cold sweat broke out over my body. I moved further away from the ledge as the steel door slammed open.
