by Mandi Oyster
Everything takes place just like in my dream: the force field, the crack of Nefarious’ whip and the fireball.
The ball of flames whizzes toward me. There’s no way for me to stop it. I close my eyes and will myself back to my room.
When I opened them again, I lay in bed. The amulet was dimming.
Chapter 36
A Little Faith
When Cody and I stepped into the speech room, heads turned in our direction. Hushed voices filled the room like a silent scream. Since several of the students in here were also in my English Literature class, the topic was obvious: Wednesday’s incident.
Why didn’t I skip? Lowering my head, I walked to my desk. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with people.
“You okay?” Cody asked.
“Fine.” The word came out angrier than intended. I grabbed his hand. “Just hurry back after your class. If I’m alone, it’ll be easier for everyone to pester me.”
“I will.” He brushed a kiss across my lips—sending heat flaring through me—and left.
I did my best to ignore the other students, but after class, a couple of girls I didn’t know came up to me. One with earrings that could double as fishing lures asked, “What happened Wednesday?”
“Yeah,” the other said in a high-pitched voice, “weird things always happen to you.”
I wanted to tell them to mind their own business and leave me alone. Instead, I took a deep breath. “I don’t know what happened. I was studying, the power went out, and the next thing I remember Cody carried me out of the room.”
“Wow,” the first one said. Her earrings bobbed, drawing my attention. “There was blood all over. I’m surprised you’re here today.”
Cody walked in and flashed them a charming grin. “Excuse us. We have to get to class.” He grabbed my elbow and led me out.
We walked outside, and Cody backed me up against the building. “If you want to skip, we can.” He braced his hands against the building, one on either side of my shoulders. “Maybe by Monday, Wednesday will be forgotten.”
I put my palms on his chest. He closed his eyes and sucked in a breath. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard in a long time.” I stepped closer, and he folded me into his arms. “I haven’t set anybody’s books on fire for a while, and that’s the last thing I need today.”
Cody slipped his arm around my waist and turned me toward the dorms. “You know, it’s a beautiful day, one of the last ones for a while. You wanna go to the lake?”
Tension released from my shoulders. “A change of scenery would be nice.”
We turned onto the path toward Falcon Lake. If the storm came as predicted, today might be my last day to spend with Cody like this. “Could you do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Let’s not talk about the weather today.”
He squeezed my hand in his. “Sure, Dacia.”
Falcon Lake was all but deserted when we got there. Cody and I strolled along in comfortable silence, enjoying each other’s company. When we walked past the playground, I said, “Let’s swing. I haven’t done that for so long.”
While my swing swayed from side to side, I stared at the mountains beyond the lake. Most of the trees had lost their leaves. The scent of pine filled my nose when the breeze blew. “I love it here. The mountains are so peaceful, beautiful.”
“Yeah, they are.” Cody jumped off his swing and reached his hand down to me.
I let him help me up, even though I wasn’t ready to leave. Once I was standing, he wrapped his arm around my waist and walked me to Sarah’s office for my lesson.
“Hello, Dacia, Cody.” She turned her back on us and walked to the couches. “How are you doing today?”
“Better after skipping,” I answered.
“Skipping?” She turned back, her eyes scanning me. “You’re not injured again, are you?”
“No.” I tugged my hand through red curls. “I wasn’t coping, so Cody took me to Falcon Lake.”
Her lips pinched together. “It was a beautiful day for it, but your studies need to be a priority.”
A priority? A demon’s going to kill me in a couple days. Who cares about my grades?
Cody traced a pattern on my arm.
He knows what I’m thinking.
“Have a seat.” Sarah pointed at the couch.
“Well … actually, we were thinking about going to the library.” I told her about Samantha’s theory.
“Are there more books?”
“Yes, tons,” Cody said.
“Maybe your time would be better spent there. I can arrange for the library to stay open late for you. ” Sarah smoothed the creases in her slacks. “Are you okay, Dacia?”
With my head in my hands, I said, “I don’t think it was supposed to be me. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Sarah set her jaw. “This is a battle you can win.”
“I—“
She stuck her hand up. “Let me say what I have to say. Nefarious is evil, cruel and monstrous. You are good, compassionate and loyal. Perfect to defeat him. Who better to stop him than his exact opposite? Where he has hate, you have love. Where he has arrogance, you have humbleness. You just need a little faith.”
I looked down at my shoes. “I’m trying.”
On our way to the library, Cody asked, “Do you ever think about how fate brought you here … where Sarah could help you?”
“Not for a while”—I shook my head—“but I guess someone was watching out for me. If I hadn’t met Sarah, I doubt I would’ve lasted this long. Maybe you and Sarah are right. Maybe I just need some faith.” My lips parted slightly. Could I have been put here to meet Sarah? Does that mean I have a chance of beating Nefarious? My spirits lifted but, at the same time, my chest tightened. Can I live up to their expectations?
Cody put his arm around my shoulders and held me close to his side. “A little faith would do you a lot of good.”
As the evening wore on, the sky darkened and the wind howled. I pushed my book forward and laid my head on the table. A great, gaping hole opened inside me, hollowing me out, leaving me empty.
We’d searched through books for four hours and had nothing to show for it. About halfway through, Samantha put her books down and searched the internet. “There’s quite a bit about killing balor demons in games, but none of it is helpful in the real world unless you can find a magical sword.”
“No magical swords. Just an amulet and a vase.” I picked up my books and put them on the cart. “I’m done.”
Cody pulled my fingers into his on the way out. His thumb caressed my hand, but the hollowness grew.
The wind tore through my jacket, nipping at my skin. Leaves blew across the sidewalks, and the bare trees added to the eerie feeling that held me in its clutches.
The warmth of our room did nothing to dispel the cold that had settled inside me. I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and looked out the window. Wind rattled the frames, sneaking in through tiny cracks.
Something moved under the trees, just out of reach of the streetlights. An ominous prickle slid down my spine.
Cody put his hands on my shoulders. “You okay? You haven’t eaten, and you’ve barely said a word.”
“Something’s out there.” I pointed, and my finger shook.
He wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on the top of my head. “I don’t see anything.”
My eyes blurred, forcing me to blink. “I’m scared.”
“I know.” He turned me around, lifting my chin so our eyes met. “It’s going to work out.”
I could see that he believed it. I wish I did.
Whatever I had spotted in the shadows is still there. I can’t see it, but I can feel its presenc
e, watching, waiting.
I climb out of my loft, change into my clothes and walk into the hall. Just as I shut the door, I hear Samantha say, “Dacia?”
I don’t care. I’m on a mission.
Our door closes, someone runs down the hall. “Dacia, please don’t go anywhere alone,” Samantha begs.
I throw my hand up. “You’re with me.” I hustle down the stairs. “Something’s been watching our window all night. I just want to scare it off.”
“Come back to our room. We’re safe there.”
“I can’t. I have to make it leave.”
“Fine, I’ll go out with you. But then, please come back in.”
“I will. I’m just going to throw something at it to see if it will go away.” I open the door and pull several rocks out of the landscape. One-by-one I throw them into the darkness. There’s no movement, so I grab a few more. The amulet warms against my skin, and Samantha screams. I jerk my head up. Nefarious.
“Get inside!” I say.
Nefarious’ whip flies through the air, wrapping around Samantha’s legs. He tugs her toward him.
“Dacia! Help me!” Samantha’s terrified screams tear through me.
“She can’t help you,” the evil voice growls. “She can’t even help herself.”
“Let go of her! It’s me you want!”
His laughter echoes, covering Samantha’s cries for help. “I want death. Destruction. Menace. Chaos.”
I throw the rocks down and charge after him. A stream of ice flows from my fingertips as I rush to save Samantha.
Nefarious erupts into an inferno. Red flames leap from his skin. He pulls Samantha from the ground and holds her in his blazing hands.
Samantha screams. The sound fills all the hollow places in my body, ricocheting through me, tearing me apart. The silence that follows shatters my soul.
“No!” I feel like my heart’s been ripped from my chest.
“You delivered her to me. Only two left, then I’ll take care of you.” He soars into the night leaving Samantha’s lifeless body behind.
I run over and fall to the ground beside her. Hoping to save her life like I had Sarah’s, I grab her blistered hand and will her to live, to heal.
If I’d stayed in our room, she’d be fine. I’m destroying the people I love most.
“Samantha,” I cry, “please wake up. Don’t leave me.” I close my eyes and pray for her to pull through.
“Dacia,” Samantha says.
I open my eyes. Samantha still lies lifeless in my arms.
“Dacia, wake up!”
I opened my eyes and threw my arms around Samantha. “Thank God.”
Cody looked up, his eyes shadowed by fear.
“I thought you were dead, Samantha.”
“Not dead—” she yawned “—just trying to sleep. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but if I leave in the middle of the night, don’t follow me!”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want you to die.”
Chapter 37
The Time Has Come
Thick, heavy clouds rolled over the mountains, swaddling the sky in darkness. Wind whipped through the trees. Branches creaked and groaned. Leaves dropped to the ground, where they whirled and danced across campus, piling against buildings. Cold air crept into my room, whining through the windowsills.
A tight fist clamped down on my heart. It’s coming. I’m not ready. My breath came in harsh, shallow gasps. Standing on shaky legs, I clutched my chest with one hand and braced myself against the wall with the other.
A knock on the door sent my heart racing. I searched for a way out. The desire to flee overwhelmed me.
“Dacia.” Cody’s voice morphed into Nefarious’.
The room shrunk around me until I felt like a caged animal. I pressed myself into the corner and sank to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees. The room closed in, suffocating me.
The door opened. I pushed further into the corner, closed my eyes and covered my ears. I can’t do this. I can’t even breathe.
Arms wrapped around me, and I struck out at them. My eyes opened with a jolt. Cody knelt in front of me, holding my wrists.
“Breathe, Dacia.” His voice sounded distant. “Breathe.” He repeated the words over and over.
I focused on his voice, on breathing. The room returned to its normal size. Everything sharpened, losing the blurry edges.
Cody lifted his hand to my cheek. “Better?”
I pointed at Samantha still sleeping and put a finger over my lips. I stood up, and my legs felt shaky and weak. I grabbed my coat and struggled to put my arms in the sleeves. Cody took it from me and held it out. I pulled it around me, trying to disappear into it.
In the hall, Cody moved in front of me, his eyes softened with worry.
He needed an answer. I can’t do this right now. I shrugged and shook my head.
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me outside.
Crisp, cool air caressed my skin and sent a shiver down my neck. I pulled my coat tighter around me. So much for yesterday’s warmth. The cold seeped into my body, filling the void left behind by my nightmare.
Cody pulled me tightly against his side and rubbed my arm. “What do you want to do after your lesson?”
“I should read the journal or look through more books.” I snuggled against him for warmth. “I’m running out of time, and I don’t know how to win.”
“Maybe it won’t snow.”
It will. I shoved my hand into my pocket. “Maybe.” Nefarious is going to end this. Soon.
I sat on the couch in Sarah’s office, wondering why I’d bothered showing up. Sarah couldn’t teach me anything else. She was just as lost as me. Neither of us had any ideas to help me defeat Nefarious. The longer I sat there, the more I felt on the verge of another panic attack.
By the time Cody and I left, I couldn’t remember anything Sarah had said. I clutched Cody’s hand and debated borrowing some of his strength.
You delivered her to me. Only two left, then I’ll take care of you. The words reverberated against my skull, growing louder with each repetition. Will he follow through?
“Dacia.” Cody stopped walking and waved his hand in front of my face. “You’re out of it. Are you okay?”
“Yeah … no … I guess.” I pulled my hand through my hair.
“If I’m supposed to choose, I choose no.” Cody tucked a stray curl behind my ear. “You don’t seem okay. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”
I hesitated.
“You don’t have to … but, I want to help.” He moved his hands to my shoulders. “Please let me in.”
“Last night’s dream is freaking me out.” I grabbed hold of Cody’s arms for support. “Nefarious killed Samantha and told me he’s going after you and Sarah before coming for me. I can’t do this. I can’t lose you guys!” Tears flooded my eyes, and my lips quivered. I buried my head in his chest.
Cody wrapped his arms around me while I tried to control my trembling. He whispered over and over again in my ear, “It’s going to be okay. Everything’s going to be all right. Dacia, I love you.”
His voice comforted me. I took my gloves off and lifted my hands to his neck. Looking into his blue eyes, I said, “I need to take some of your strength … not too much. Can I?”
He pressed his hands down on mine. “Take it. Take it all.”
I pulled his mouth down on mine, and while he kissed me, I siphoned his strength. The kiss warmed me, and his life force energized me.
With his arm wrapped around my shoulders, we went back to the dorm.
“Hello,” Cody said to Samantha when we walked in. “How you doing?”
“All
right, I guess.” Her voice shook.
“I’m sorry about last night,” I said.
“It’s not your fault.”
I grabbed the journal and a blanket then sat down in Cookie Monster.
“Why are you looking at that again?” Samantha asked. “You’ve gone through it a hundred times.”
“Well, maybe it’s gonna take a hundred and one.” My voice had a hard edge. I closed my eyes and reminded myself I shouldn’t take this out on my friends. “I have to find some way to beat Nefarious, and I don’t have any other ideas.”
Samantha’s smile was apologetic. “I don’t think you’re going to find any answers in there.”
“Then what do you suggest? I’m out of time and hope.”
Cody rubbed my shoulders. “Why are you so sure it’s this weekend?”
“Before Nefarious killed Sarah, I had an ominous feeling.”
“Yeah?” Samantha said.
“I have it again now. With every passing moment, I’m more convinced something’s going to happen in the next couple of days.”
“Let’s hope you’re wrong,” Cody said.
Snowflakes spun through the air. Leaping and dancing as they billowed across the sky. Coating the ground, collecting in piles. Before blowing up into the air again, drifting across the sidewalks and roads.
My heart sank further with each flake that floated to the ground. Tiny, crystallized reminders that I didn’t know how to defeat Nefarious.
I pulled my boots on, then walked to the door. I reached for my coat. What are you doing? I jerked my hand back and tucked it into my pocket. You can’t go out there. I sat in Cookie Monster and focused on Cody. He looked peaceful in sleep. The lines of tension no longer marred his face.
I took my boots off. What had I been thinking? Why would I go out in this storm? I tugged my hand through my hair. I couldn’t deny the pull to leave.
I knelt by Cody’s chair. “Cody.” My voice was soft.
He jolted awake. “What?”