The children respond in unison, “Yes, Dark Empress.”
Making her way back towards the central wall, Jezebel continues, “While you keep the parents sedated, your partner will take charge of all the children in the home. Our greatest assets. Treat them with care. Nurture them into our world. Lure them in with your words as you repeat the following rhyme – ‘Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses, your soul is ours. Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses, you belong to the dark side.’ And when the time is right and the implantation has been completed, you will capture an element of the child’s soul. We will continue this ritual night after night until we have collected every piece of every child’s soul and captured that of the parents. At this point, I will wake my sleepers throughout the globe. And then, we will strike!”
Looking around the room, Jezebel is content with her plan. No one is going to stop her, that she is certain of. As she turns to face Eve, a sinister smirk forms on her features.
“Where is that child of yours?” she says.
“Resting.”
“Still not willing to submit her to me, aye?”
Eve doesn’t respond.
Looking to Lewis, Jezebel says, “What about you? Wouldn’t you like to have that daughter of yours come along for the midnight ride?”
“Erm, erm…” Lewis stutters.
There is a bang and squawk at the window.
“Looks like you’ve been saved by the bird.”
Jezebel gives a quick twitch of her head, and the windows swing open abruptly. In flies a huge black raven with blood-red eyes. She circulates the room, her oversized glossy wings generating a powerful breeze. The green flames of the candles and the fire ignite even higher. The room looks sadistically magical.
“Ah, there you are, my precious. You have been gone for so long. I have missed you.”
The raven squawks as she continues to fly around the room.
“Hmm, you have been a busy girl, haven’t you? Well, my darling, welcome to our new home. Tell me, how are all my sleepers across the globe?”
Flapping her wings once more, the raven swoops down and lands upon Jezebel’s shoulder. Appearing enthused by the raven’s entrance, Hope bounces up and down as she crawls up Jezebel’s body. She then cuddles the raven and crawls upon her back. The raven pecks at the black substance, leaving Hope’s body and Hope giggles.
Stroking her glossy feathers, Jezebel says, “Such a good girl. It is almost our time to wake them. You must ensure that your flight time is as quick as it can possibly be. After all, if everything is to go according to my plan, it is imperative that they are all awakened at the same time before those despicable people have any time to communicate and warn one another.”
The raven squawks again, then takes off and flies out of the window with Hope still perched on her back.
“Now, children, it is time! Go. Go in your pairs. Enter your designated houses. Travel amongst the town and wreak havoc. Enter their pretentious despicable homes and take what is ours. Take their souls. Get each of them to submit the most treasured possession they have to you. Do me proud.” Ready to infect the whole of Morrisville, Jezebel raises her arms. “Ad liberos meos!”
Ecstasy surges throughout her body as she watches the children disappear one after the other before her eyes. The room is now empty. The only thing left is traces of the thick black substance, which is slowly being absorbed into the floor.
Jezebel peers through the gap in her hair at the couple in the bed who are peacefully sleeping, unaware of the evil intrusion into their home. Smiling, she edges closer to the bed. She has personally selected this home as one which she will take full reign over herself. Gazing in admiration at the infamous thick mist as it takes over the room, Jezebel whispers, “It is time.”
Circulating up the bedframe, the mist moves onto the next phase. It elegantly travels around the bodies of those who are sleeping inside the bed. The parents of two very obedient twin boys who have taken a distinct liking to Principal Jesiah. Their names – Ashley and Kane Harrington. They have the potential to do destructive and great things within her universe, and so Jezebel has selected them to join the elite section of her empire. The boys will stand before her feet with Eve, Lewis, Elisabeth and the rest of her favoured captured souls. But first, she must deal with these two – their parents, Lisa and William Harrington. Closing her eyes, with her dulcet tone, Jezebel begins to chant her possession rhyme, “Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses – their souls are mine.”
Lisa scrunches her nose as her eyelids begin to flutter. Her expression is pained. Her legs start to move rapidly. Physically fighting with the quilt, Lisa appears to be getting increasingly agitated with every second that ticks by. Jezebel knows this can only mean one thing: the possession is taking full control over her internally. And this is the part she enjoys the most. Aware that Lisa’s mind and body are trying to alert her to the goings-on inside her bedroom and wake her up, Jezebel smiles deceitfully as she steps closer. Lisa is too far gone into the possession. She is now trapped and will be unable to wake herself until Jezebel is through with her. A feeling of euphoria travels around Jezebel’s body as she drags her feet, one after the other. She perches on the edge of the bed, leans over and hovers her hand above Lisa’s face.
“Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses – they belong to the dark side.”
Lisa’s eyes shoot open and her mouth widens as she attempts to scream. Laughing, Jezebel pushes her disturbing, wounded grey hand against Lisa’s face and rapidly throws her into the nightmares of the forgotten forest. Watching her like a true predator, Jezebel is gaining strength from seeing Lisa so vulnerable in her tainted forest. Lisa’s body is exposed as she only has a silk nightie on.
“William?” Lisa says.
There’s nothing but deadly silence.
“William, please.”
Stepping forward ever so slightly, Jezebel intentionally snaps twigs beneath her feet.
“William, this isn’t funny. I think I’ve been sleep walking.”
Again, silence.
“Help!” Lisa shouts.
Now standing behind one of the trees in close proximity to Lisa, Jezebel licks her lips. She is getting a thrill from watching Lisa panic.
“I must be dreaming. There’s no way that this can be real. Lisa, wake up! Please wake up. Oh my God. I can’t cope with this right now. Lisa, wake up, damn it.” Tears set off streaming down her face.
“He can’t save you,” Jezebel says in her luring and yet frightening voice.
Lisa stops moving.
“Why so scared, Lisa?”
“Hello, who’s there?” Lisa replies as she spins on the spot, scanning around her. “I said, who’s there?”
“Don’t fight it, Lisa. They were never yours to keep. Surrender to me and all will be right within your world.”
Lisa says nothing.
“You know why I’m here.”
“Please, I don’t, I promise. What do you want?”
“Oh, lying already. Still making promises you can’t keep. I see some things never change. You heard what I want. Deep down, you always knew they weren’t yours to keep, just admit it. Anxiety-ridden mother scared to let them out of her sight. Claiming to have postpartum depression, but the opposite effect – crying as you won’t let even their own father take them out for an hour alone. And they all thought you were a control freak. Ha. You knew those boys never belonged to you. You knew a predator was waiting in the wings to come and snatch them from you. And yet, everyone around you told you that you were crazy. Tried to get you to attend therapy to ‘fix yourself’ and your anxiety, but I must say, bravo, Lisa. You were the only one who sensed I would one day be on my way.”
“My boys won’t leave me for a monster like you.”
“Ouch! If I had feelings, that might have hurt. You see, I am the Dark Empress. I always get what I want, and I am your worst nightmar
e. One day soon, those boys are going to walk out that door and leave you for good. Those boys are mine. They’re not loyal to you and knowing that drives you insane.”
“Just shut up!”
“Hit a nerve, have I? You can try and keep them right by your side all you want. I promise you, it will not work. And I always keep my promises. You see, they’ve already submitted to me. Precious little souls, Ashley and Kane are enjoying living on the dark side.”
“Don’t you dare talk about my boys, you know nothing about me or my family.”
“I know that you and William are one happily married couple. I know that you two set yourself up as the role models of society with the perfect home, perfect careers, perfect marriage, and you had ambitions to be the perfect family, and yet this isn’t quite true, is it?”
“I said. Shut. Up.”
“Oh dear, I have hit a nerve, haven’t I?” Edging closer, but still not in Lisa’s sight, Jezebel continues. “No matter how hard you try, you’ve never quite managed to achieve the parenting. Hmm, I wonder why that might be…?”
“I said don’t talk about my family.”
“Ah, so you’re not denying the things I say, which can only mean one thing – you know I speak the truth.”
“No. Not at all.”
“Lisa, I am going to say this just once: it would be wise of you to do as I say. If you do, I will let you live with them inside my universe in honour of your sixth sense ability. I will consider keeping you alive as my pet. You can kneel before my feet for the rest of your days. What do you say?”
“I’m done with you,” Lisa replies as she closes her eyes and chants to herself. “It’s just a nightmare. Any minute now you’re going to wake up.”
“Huh, that’s what you think. I have been watching for a long, long time. This nightmare will not go away. I am now your reality. Your fears have manifested. And you only have yourself to blame. You have been talking about your boys being taken from the moment they were conceived. Did you not think someone was listening to your subliminal messages being sent out into the universe? Thoughts raiding through the ether, just waiting for someone to pick them up. You were probably thinking some righteous spirit was going to collect them and ease all your concerns and worries. Well, ha! You got the complete opposite. They were collected by me! I heard you loud and clear. We can all manifest our desires, and we can also manifest our deepest fears. Don’t you know, there’s always someone or something listening out there?”
Her eyes closed, Lisa continues to chant: “It’s just a nightmare. It’s just a nightmare.”
“Let me put this very clearly. You have two choices: you can surrender to me and live alongside your boys in my empire, or you can face your death at your very own hands. Which one will you choose? It’s up to you.”
Lisa doesn’t respond. Her lips are still moving, but her voice is faint.
“I’m permitting you to decide your own fate, which is more than I offer most. I suggest you pick one before I decide for you. Maybe I’ll have those boys of mine turn on you. Hmm, choices choices…”
“I said don’t talk about my boys.”
“Tick tock. Tick tock.”
“Why would I surrender to you? You’re disgusting.” Lisa spits on the ground.
“I’ll give you one last chance to redeem yourself.”
Lisa falls to the ground and places her head inside her hands. Her strength appears to be wearing thin.
“Let’s play a game. You could win everything your heart desires, or you could lose your boys and your life.”
“I don’t want to play a game. Just tell me what it is that you want?”
“That was a very silly decision. I want what is rightfully mine.”
Lisa turns. She is now facing the tree which Jezebel is standing behind. “And what might that be?”
“The children.” As Jezebel says the words, she steps out into the forest.
With an expression of horror spread across her face, Lisa shouts, “Dear God, help! Somebody please help me!”
“You lose.” Jezebel slowly drags her feet. “Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses, their souls are mine.”
Frozen stiff on the ground, Lisa whispers, “What are you?” A single tear falls down her face.
“Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses – they belong to the dark side.” Jezebel charges at Lisa, her mouth wide. Her razor-sharp grey teeth are ready for the bite, and the black substance is gushing down her chin.
Screaming, Lisa throws herself forward. She’s soaking wet from head to toe and is gasping for air inside her bed. Staring at her from the darkest corner of the room, Jezebel is content with the evening’s events and her implantation. Those boys are as good as hers already.
“I’ll see you real soon, Lisa,” she whispers.
Chapter Six
“You Were with My Daughter?”
Matthew, Phil and DCS Terry are in the middle of a deep discussion in the oversized airy meeting room on the tenth floor in Scotland Yard. Unable to contain himself and hyped from the breakthrough he has had thanks to the outspoken and brave Mr Hermon Shimai, Matthew is bouncing up and down on the edge of his seat.
“Terry, don’t you see, this email means everything. This Hermon guy knows exactly how to get rid of that bitch once and for all. He said it here in his response – look.” Matthew points to the screen on the laptop. “I’m telling you, we need to go and meet with him, and we need to go now.”
Matthew pauses, expecting Terry to jump up and down with joy at this revelation. But Terry silently breaks eye contact with him and looks at the ground, his head low. Matthew bangs his fists on the table and throws himself back in his chair. His patience is wearing thin.
“Erm, earth to Terry, did you not hear what I just said?”
Terry’s silence makes his blood boil.
“Right!” he shouts as he pushes his chair back and stands in protest. “Well, you’ve clearly got something on your mind that you wanna say, so do us a favour and just spit it out.”
“Matthew, come on, sit down,” Terry pleads.
“Why? Why should I?”
“Matthew, look…”
“Oh, don’t ‘Matthew, look’ me.”
“See what I mean? This is exactly why I can’t speak to you sometimes. It’s not all about you.”
“Never said it was,” Matthew says as he makes his way towards the door.
“Matthew, it’s Christmas in four days. My wife is already pissed at me cause I’m in the office today, on a Sunday afternoon. There’s just no way I can run off to Israel right now. I’m sorry, lad, it just can’t be done.”
Stopping in his tracks with his hand on the door handle, Matthew turns and says, “Feel better now you’ve rubbed that in my face?”
“Come on, Matthew, don’t be like that. It ain’t fair.”
“And you?” Matthew says as he releases the door handle, folds his arms and looks to Phil, somewhat concerned by how quiet he’s been. “Suppose you wanna stay here an’ smooch up to your Mrs while you exchange presents as well?”
“Mate, don’t be daft. You know I’m already on the plane. Ain’t no doubt about it. I’m with you all the way.”
As Phil’s words sink in, Matthew takes a deep breath in and decides to stay. He walks back to his seat, feeling somewhat victorious. “Well, that’s settled, then. Me and Phil will go to Israel, and we’ll report back to you. What you think about that?”
Again, Terry is quiet. Matthew is no longer able to ignore the internal thoughts as they become louder.
“Wow, what is his problem? Why is he being so cagey? Does he know something we don’t? I bet he does. Either that or he’s about to bail out on us all together.”
“Are you hiding something, Terry?” Matthew blurts out.
“What? Why would I be hiding something?”
“You se
em, I don’t know, distant.”
Seeing him breathing deeply, Matthew’s baffled as Terry once again returns to saying nothing and looks back towards the ground. And this time his head is hanging even heavier. Now really alarmed, Matthew puts his elbows on the table and his head in his hands.
“Right. Fuck. Him. We don’t need him anyway. We’ve got a real lead here, a real shot at finding the children and not only bringing them home safely, but potentially saving the world from this sadistic bitch’s clutches. If he doesn’t wanna rave about this, then he can get to fuck. Let him keep his family life, he doesn’t know what you’re going through anyway. Like he said, rubbing it in your face because he has his wife and children at home for Christmas. Screw him, the dickhead.”
Slowly, Matthew zones back into the room as he hears Terry calling his name.
“Oi, Matthew, did you just hear anything I said?”
Shaking his head, Matthew replies, “No. All I know is you’re acting like we just got slapped in the face when we actually got a real lead here. You’d think with you being a detective constable or whatever your title is you’d recognise a lead when you see one.” Sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms, Matthew continues, “Tell me, Terry, what’s your real problem? Is it too much for me to want to have my family home for Christmas? You not think I’d rather be in your shoes than having to get a fuckin’ plane to Israel, a country I had no plans to visit in my entire lifetime, let alone at Christmas? Huh, did you think about that when you were having a pop at me about your wife and her attitude? Oh dear, how selfish of me.”
Holding his hands in the air in an “I surrender” gesture, Terry says, “I ain’t got a problem, Matty lad. What I was saying, if you’d have listened to me when you zoned out the room, is that my only concern is…” Fidgeting in his seat slightly and clasping his hands together on the table, Terry continues with an air of caution about him. “Okay, so what my concern is, let’s say you travel all the way to Israel and you do find this guy, this Hermon guy, and if by some miracle he tells you how to get rid of her, we’re still no closer to finding her or the children—”
The Broken IV: Vengeance Page 6