The Parish

by Clare Midgley

  “You don’t scare me…” Pulling up his collar and looking up at the clouds he nonchalantly walked past undeniably engulfing her senses with sulphur.

  “I wouldn’t expect to but halflings are not toys to be thrown out of the pram when you have an issue, and if you get it wrong she will make you pay and not just the pain that you find pleasurable! No insurmountable amounts of pain which will make your body writhe and contort for thousands of years.” Hearing his words snake through her body the vibrations around him drew her closer. Unable to move and paralysed in his grasp he took her mouth for his pleasure pushing his tongue down into her stomach.

  “As much as you intrigue me, she took what was rightfully mine, and I want her to pay...” As he chortled loudly, he pulled at her hair dragging her under the starch street lighting.

  “My dear look up and tell me what you see.”

  “I don’t answer to you.” As she pushed away his grip, she took him by the throat feeling the heat pulsating out of his skin.

  “Look up...” As he smiled, he ripped her fingers away dragging her backwards into his hold.

  “The thunder only cracks, and the rain only pours to mark the start of a new game. On that day at that time, both demon and angel fall to earth claiming what they can. My suggestion for you is wait! When the storm is over the playing cards are left equal, and you will have your time. Until then you are a player and not a game changer.” Turning her to face him he took in her breath teasing it from her lips as if he could make it her last.

  “What’s in it for you?” Smiling again he couldn’t help but flicker the sharp rows of teeth which lined his cheek to his ear

  “That’s for you to find out…” As she smiled devilishly at him, he lifted her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist.

  “So what do we do until game night?”

  “I’ll show you.” As he moved his hands up to her thighs, she kissed him again making sure she drew blood. Sucking it from his lip, he dragged her hair back seeing her desire heighten.

  “You’re a twisted little fuck…even for a demon.”

  “Show me that kiss again, and I might let you see how twisted I am.” Dragging her back into the shadows she fell into the blackness, and as she listened to the screams, she knew her new friend would occupy her until the game restarted.

  Chapter 30

  Eve had scoured every form of media looking for clues into where Angel might be hiding. She had even visited the places where suspicious deaths had occurred without any trace being sensed or felt. At the last resort, she had attended spiritualist churches and halls just to see if Angel had graced them with her presence. Some of the venues dependent on their leader had turned her out flat refusing to let “her kind” even near the group.

  She was at a loss

  To make matters worse, the pregnancy was turning out to be a nightmare, and after throwing up for the seventh time that morning, she had never felt so ill. The sad fact was she couldn’t ever recall feeling sick, something was wrong, and conventional medicine wasn’t going to help. Packing up her things she threw them in the car hoping for some inspiration. Closing her eye’s she drifted into her mind hoping for some direction. Paul saw the drained, tired and drawn look on her face knocked on the window breaking her from her trance and as she smiled, he made his way around to the passenger side hoping that she’d been able to find some answers.

  “You look shocking?” Checking her forehead, she rolled her head over holding out her hand for some comfort.

  “I’m never ill Paul! Never and this.”

  “Have you ever thought that your mortal side might need to shine once in a while?” Squeezing his fingers, she got a sharp pain in her stomach and the urge to vomit again. Placing her hand around the softly shaped bump, she felt movement and a small voice whispering around her.

  “I think we need...”

  “Shhh, do you hear that…”

  “What? Eve, I don’t hear anything.”

  “It’s the same voice I heard back at the manor house which lead me to Reuben...” Gripped with concentration Paul felt like he couldn't disturb her. Looking at her bump and back at Paul she shifted the car into gear and sped out into the traffic. Hearing the car horns blast and Eve’s unapologetic demeanour he knew he was along for the ride whether he wanted to be or not.

  “Can I ask where we are going?”

  “You can, but the answer that I will be giving you isn’t one you want to hear.”

  “Ok, so can you tell me why you’re behaving so erratically?” Putting her foot down Paul saw the light flash and wondered whether either of them would have a licence by the time the day was through. Heading for the ferry, she felt the voice pull her towards the sea, and as they rolled aboard, she exited the car and made her way to the deck. As Paul gave chase, he grabbed hold of her arm making sure he wasn’t going to be kept in the dark.

  “Right for the love of Christ just tell me what is going on.”

  “Ok but don’t” Scowling at her fiercely she turned towards the water feeling the energy electrifying the air.

  “I can feel someone calling me almost guiding me, and I don’t know whether it’s a trap, but it’s the same feeling I got when I…”

  “What…”

  “When I looked into Jacobs mind.” Resting his hands against the rails of the ship he rocked back and forth unhappy to hear his name mentioned.

  “Just listen to me. It showed me how to extract what someone’s trying to repress, and I saw something that can’t possibly be true…Then I saw him with Angel taking our children.”

  “Do you think it’s him?” As she rested her hand against his forearm, she tried to comfort him knowing how difficult it was for him to understand her world.

  “No, because this visit isn’t for me...”

  “It’s for your child.” Seeing the woman stood in front of them she struggled to comprehend the site.

  “No, you’re dead...this.”

  “Eve we haven’t much time.” Eve’s tears fell hard and fast, and Paul still lost to find the connection he took hold of Eve's hand.

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m her Grandmother.” Taking hold of Eve, he guided her to the woman just as surprised to see the unexpected visitor. Eve mesmerised took in every aspect of the woman’s face, still unable to touch her she moved cautiously knowing demons will prey on any insecurity they can find. She looked the same, her short tight curly hair still frequented by her glasses didn’t move in the wind. She also looked a lot like Eve except for her eyes. Her slim frame and awkward posture mimicked his wife especially if she was anxious. Moving to a quiet spot Eve breathed heavily trying to remain calm and finding it difficult to stay focused.

  “You're dead. You left me...”

  “Please, I had no choice. Michael promised me he’d take care of you.”

  “You trusted him! An Archangel. They wanted me dead and now with everything you come back. Why?” Eve wrapped her arms around her torso feeling the conflict inside start to rise.

  “You are a weapon Eve, and the baby you have will be the same if we don’t break the cycle. You had to go to that place to experience true evil and be tested, but you also have to know that you can’t run away from it. Neither can your little girl.”

  “You’re lying. It’s impossible.” As she shuffled forward, Eve looked out to sea finding herself lost with each crashing wave.

  “We’re having a little girl…”

  “Paul try to understand.”

  “How do you know who I am? Have we ever met?” Closing down the conversation, Paul stepped forward wrapping his arms around Eve and resting his hands over her bump.

  “Please let me explain...”

  “You don’t need to. You were that night at The Parish…you saw everything and still did nothing. After Michael had left, she fell to pieces, and you left. She needed you! I needed you!”

  “I HAD…I had no choice.” As the old woman slammed down her fist on the table, she
reached out to take Eve’s hand.

  “Listen to me they forced me away from you because I was protecting you. I’m not a Half Archangel Eve, but I also know how wrong this game is. You’re my granddaughter, and they forced you to that place to see what you were capable of. They expected it to destroy you and when it didn’t, well they saw an opportunity."

  "I can't be having a girl! There would have had to have been a reset something!"

  "Trust me. Look at you, look at what she's doing to you! This baby will kill you just as it did your mother.” Settling back down around the square glass table Eve closed her eyes feeling the warmth of the sun rejuvenate her skin. Paul stood behind her resting his hands on her shoulders feeling Eve suddenly wilt.

  “What does this mean?”

  “It means everything Eve is is passed to her daughter, and the fight begins again…” Sofia stood fondly looking at the slowly fading Eve.

  "There would have had to have been a change in the balance. The reset wouldn't have been done if there was a change."

  "Eve you know the game changed when you destroyed that place. The equal plane is no longer equal, and he's looking for a gap to tilt it back to him." Paul completely overwhelmed and unable to follow the conversation appeared to spin on the spot trying to get a grasp of the real issue.

  "Will someone just tell me in plain language what the fuck is a reset and how this has anything to do with us!"

  “I’m becoming mortal, the sickness, the fatigue the loss of perception it only transfers from mother to daughter…” As Sofia took hold of Eve’s hand, she pulled her into the circle.

  "The game plan changed and the slate was wiped clean after Jacob was given back to the darkness. However, ripples are created, and things can go wrong in the process. The balance between heaven and hell has been reset to an equal playing field, and neither teams are happy with the outcome. So what better way then give away the one that caused the upset in the first place. She’s here for our daughter, isn’t she I mean Angel. She knows...” A loan tear seemed to fall from Eve’s cheek, and as she brushed it away unnoticed by the other’s, Paul squeezed her shoulders tighter reaffirming his commitment.

  “They are using her to carry out revenge. A new playmate to upset everything and build her own Parish wherever she chooses.” Taking hold of her grandmother’s hand, she took hold of the charm bracelet remembering the time when they had made it together.

  “I need to kill her before the new game restarts…the next New Moon is in ten days…”

  “By the time you enter that third trimester...” Playing with the little figurine of a flower girl Eve snatched it away.

  “Rules are made to broken, and I need to find a way to draw her out even if it kills me doing it.” Throwing the chain on the floor, she walked away feeling betrayed once more by everything she believed.

  “Sofia…” Paul in complete horror looked onto his wife unable again to understand the insurmountable sacrifice.

  “You can’t do this on your own, and her father might not listen, but I may know someone who will.”

  “You know where to find me.” Supporting his wife, Paul followed Eve away from the party.

  “She needs you, Paul…”

  “Sofia you should be aware by now that she’s stronger than all of us put together. Just do what she’s asked and throw that demon bitch off the scent until the new moon at least try to give her a little bit of chance.” Nodding to Eve’s Grandmother, he excused himself and made his way back to Eve. Finding her sat in the car she stared blankly out into the horizon pulling at the skin which had begun to crack on her lip.

  “Want to talk...” Shaking her head, she watched as the ship docked at the port and as she turned off the radio, she closed her eyes listening intently to the conversations on the breeze.

  “Peter…and Tom.”

  “Already sorted…” Driving around the Bay, she stopped at Cowes beach taking in the small sailing boats which frequented the channel. Pulling the thick woollen cardigan off the back seat and placing it on, Paul couldn’t remember the last time, if ever she had said she was cold. As Eve walked to the front of the car, she looked across the coast breathing in the water and salt from the breeze. Picking up a few stones Paul skimmed them across the water and followed her gaze

  “I used to sail here with my dad, in fact, this is what got me into boats. Shame, my ex-wife, hated the sea or else I would have been repairing them sooner. I suppose I did everything to change who I was just to please other people.”

  “I know what you’re doing.”

  “Is it working?” Smiling Eve watched as each stone tripped along the water splashing occasionally before it sank.

  “Just a few weeks ago I thought this part of my life had gone for good. I was so happy and we well we were so together as a family….Eliza’s right sorry my grandmother is right. My mother died hiding me from everything.”

  “How do we sort this?”

  “That’s the thing I’m so lost. For the first time in my life, I don’t know what to do, and it scares the shit out of me…” Sitting on the pebbles, he placed his arm around her, and as she rested her head on his chest, she closed her eyes hoping for inspiration.

  “I’m confused...”

  “About which bit?”

  “Well, this ability that you have if it only passes from mother to daughter. What happened with Tom?” Sitting up she smiled taking hold of his face she kissed it all over feeling like a weight had been lifted.

  “He’s like me! Paul He’s like me!”

  “You didn’t lose anything when you had him in fact, if anything it gave you more.”

  “Care to share...”

  “Pete nearly killed me. Don’t you see I was alone in the darkness, and I let him go. I released him and even though he has sight he has nothing else because I had that choice I need to channel that feeling.”

  “So we have a plan.” Dragging him to the water’s edge, she bit her lip feeling like some hope had been given back to her. Kicking water at him, she raced up the beach feeling the light draw back into her soul. Paul taking hold of her cardigan dragged her back into his arms wrapping her hair around her ear.

  “Do you think Yvonne will be ok with the kids tonight?” Paul confused took hold of her hand.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “We could drop in on your parents while we’re here and possibly have a bit of our time in one of those B & B’s...” Holding her tightly he ran his fingers across her shoulders seeing the relief wash over her whole body.

  “She had a hold on you didn’t she...”

  “Not anymore...”

  Chapter 31

  As the sickness started to wear off, Eve had already regained the spring in her step. Feeling the positive energy flow around her and the children recovering their confidence day by day she knew the dark cloud which hung over her no longer had power.

  Sitting in the conservatory Eve opened all the blinds letting the light stream its way over her body. Peter always interested in what his mother was doing copied trying to imitate every pose she struck. Keeping one eye open she watched as his body awkwardly moved and twisted and when he fell over she couldn’t help but take the chance to tickle him. Hearing the giggles, she continued until he screamed to stop, kissing his forehead she rested on her elbow watching the same dark pools stare right back.

  “Is my sister ok mummy?”

  “What makes you think you have a sister?” Stroking his perfect blonde hair, she watched carefully keeping some dark secrets back.

  “She told me.”

  “What else did she say to you?”

  “She said she wasn’t ready to see me yet and that mummy was better now.” Nodding her head, she continued to look into his eyes mesmerised by his innocence.

  “Well, then there’s nothing to worry about?” As Peter brushed himself down, he threw his arms around Eve squeezing her as tightly as he could.

  “She said one last thing…”

  “Go
on...”

  “Beware of the man in the black suit he’s Old and scary. Daddy knows him.” Kissing her on the cheek Eve smiled cautiously making sure her feelings were buried deep inside the compartments he couldn't see and as he disappeared upstairs, Eve took hold of her phone desperately trying to reach Paul. Hearing the click, she caught her breath before speaking.

  “I’m sorry I know its busy today...”

  “Five minutes Eve go on.”

  “Peter said something and before you jump to conclusions just hear me out. He spoke of a man in a black suit…he’s old but I think he meant he’d been around a long time and he said you knew him.” Hearing the engineers in the background Eve felt awful for encroaching on his day. Hearing Pauls words delivering his commands, and the door click shut she knew she had his attention.

  “Did he say anything else?”

  “No. What about the day on the pier…”

  “Get out of my head Eve….” Eve heard the stern tone in his voice as she broke her concentration.

  “Don't just route around its unnerving. The old man’s daughter on the pier was psychic he said she didn’t even feel him.”

  “Did you get a look at him?”

  “Yeah, I couldn’t forget his face. Mid-forties, or early fifties, piercing green eyes. Well-dressed his clothes looked expensive but when he flickered his skin seemed wet almost slimy. I have nightmares now about him.” Hearing nothing but silence at the end of the line he knew Eve would be searching through her brain like the archives at the British Museum.

  “I know what Peter means he’s been around a long time. They needed someone who knows how this thing works and they also need to manipulate Angel. We find him we have her and he won’t like Halflings.”

  “Am I going out on another demon hunt?” Laughing she could hear the whine in his voice; he sounded more like a teenager than a grown man.

  “We have three days until the new moon he will be out finishing off his tally count.” Hearing the phone receiver click she knew Paul would come around eventually.

  “Mummy…” Closing her eyes Eve ground her teeth together knowing Peter would have heard most of their conversation.