She hefted the pendant in her palm. It was heavy. It had obviously been worked several centuries ago. The cloaking effect of the necklace was easily detectable to her. She pulled out her phone absently caressing the necklace with her other hand.
“Raymond, good,” she said when he answered.
Who did she think would answer my cell phone but me thought Raymond but all he said was, “You have her?”
“No. She got away,” Jessica pushed her hair behind her ear, a nervous habit she had developed over the years. “She had help. Obviously, from members of the Family.”
“What do you mean obviously?” he asked. The Master isn’t going to be happy that she let the Bringer get away. Maybe, he thought, my time to take over the cult isn’t too far off. He’d waited and worked and done her bidding long enough. He wanted her power. He was ready for it.
She dragged her foot back and forth across the dirt while she tried to find some way to make this sound better than it was, “Well, the constructs had no problems with the parents once I broke through their protection spells. I mean, I don’t think either of them had cast in ages. Banishing their workings was like running my hand through a spider’s web. But, there were two or maybe more witches waiting outside the house. They actually had some skill. They trapped me inside the house while they took the Bringer and ran.”
“The parents are taken care of?” he asked. If they didn’t have to deal with them this would be a whole lot easier. Even if they hadn’t cast in years it wouldn’t take them long to catch up. He hated witches.
“Yes, the constructs are just finishing up with them as we speak. I did find something interesting though,” she ran her thumb over the face of the amulet.
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” Raymond asked suddenly very attentive. He loved passing these kinds of things on to the Master. It was one of the ways he thought of himself as invaluable.
“A necklace. It was lying on the ground outside the Bringer’s window. It’s powerful. It’s almost hard to look at like its trying to make me not look at it.” Jessica rubbed her eyes trying to concentrate on the pendant.
“Hmmm, that is interesting. Sounds like this amulet was keeping her hidden from us. Maybe she took it off and that’s how we felt her,” said Raymond.
“That’s what I’m thinking,” she responded.
“Why would she take it off?” he asked.
Jessica scanned the area around her to make sure she and the constructs were still alone, “It doesn’t make sense. I’m thinking this pendant was the only thing keeping her hidden. Maybe her parents didn’t tell her who she was. Short-sighted of them.”
“If she doesn’t know who she is, hasn’t been trained in her powers, that could be a real advantage for us. Especially now that she’s loose,” Raymond added as a dig at Jessica.
“She won’t be loose for long. I can feel her on the necklace,” she looked out across the woods.
“You’re going to cast an identify spell?” Raymond asked tapping on his tablet and bringing up the local police computer system.
“I can. What are you thinking?” she asked. His quick mind was one of the reasons she kept Raymond around even though he was constantly undermining her with the Master. She and the Master enjoyed letting Raymond think he was getting away with it.
“Send me a picture of her. I’m hacking into the local police system and I’ll put out a BOLO on her. Let’s get the cops working for us for a change. Maybe we can catch a break before she gets too far.”
“Good thinking. Use my GPS coordinates and send me a sniffer will you? I’ll track her from the ground too,” Jessica said. She knew there was plenty of scent for her sniffer to follow. She doubted that Raymond’s BOLO would be very useful but it would keep him busy for now. Sniffers were incredibly effective at tracking and would lead her right to the Bringer.
“Will do. Anything else? Now that the Bringer has revealed herself, the Master is going to want results.”
“I know exactly what the Master wants. Just send me a sniffer.” She ended the call putting her phone in her pocket. Holding the pendant with both hands, Jessica concentrated on the feel of the Bringer on the necklace and released the spell. An image of a young woman formed in the air in front of her. She took her time studying her. Tall, long-blonde hair, pretty, yet she looked so innocent. Jessica couldn’t ever remember looking that naïve.
She firmed up her casting so the image was less translucent, more like a picture. Then, she used her phone to snap a photo and texted it back to the lab for Raymond to work with. She tucked the pendant away inside her jacket when she felt the sniffer arrive.
The huge, dog-like demon construct came padding up to her. Still on all fours it licked her delicately on the chin without her having to bend down. She ran her hands over its muzzle, crooning to it softly. The demon dog’s paws were the size of horses hooves. She ran her hands lovingly over its sleek brindle coat. It was heavily built with thick shoulders and a blocky head, short attentive ears and docked tail. Of all the constructs, sniffers were her favorites.
She took the sniffer inside the house and up to the bedroom. The soldiers stood waiting inside the door. The sniffer padded around the room, it’s snout pushing in and out of the girl’s belongings. It drew in her scent, both physically and psychically until it had an image so complete, there would be no place for the girl to hide. It turned and looked at Jessica with its human eyes and nodded. Jessica smiled at herself knowing there was no way Raymond would find the Bringer before she did.
Chapter 8
They had been driving about two hours when Jerom turned off the highway onto the same gravel road that he and Miranda had used only a few hours earlier. Thickets of trees on either side of the drive surrounded and closed in on them. The air carried the scent of the ocean to them, then the trees fell away and they drove out into the open.
Brynn’s breath caught as they turned onto a circular drive and she saw the lighthouse. It was tall, slender and painted a deep, rich color. Maybe a deep burgundy or navy blue, she couldn’t tell what color because the night was too dark. She turned her head to gaze at it as they drove past it slightly.
Jerom pulled over and parked in front of the old lighthouse keeper’s home. He opened the car door for her and helped her out. Her hand trembled a bit in his grasp. He put his arm around her to steady her and felt her shiver. She looked up at him with a small smile and he squeezed her just a little before dropping his arm to her side. He took her hand to pull her toward the building.
The front door opened and they saw a man silhouetted by the light coming from inside the house. “You made it, good.” He said in a deep rumbling voice. He backed into the room to let them enter. He looked just like how Brynn had always imagined a lighthouse keeper would look. Tall, thin, bearded with an easy smile. He gripped Jerom and Miranda in a big bear hug while Brynn looked on feeling intrusive.
“Thank you, Ben,” Jerom said as he and Miranda sat down on the leather couch. “This is the girl we told you about,” pointing to Brynn.
"Just like in the vision'" Ben said, as he searched her face rather intently. She started to feel self-conscious so she turned and walked over to the fireplace across from the couch. She felt confused and rattled and said over her shoulder, “When did you tell me about him, I mean tell him about me?” Brynn asked.
“I called him after I had the vision,” Miranda said. Brynn squinted her eyes looking confused. Her mouth fell open just a little.
“I had a vision. I have those sometimes. My mom does too. It’s one of my gifts, you know, visions. Anyway, I saw your house and what happened in your bedroom and that you would come crashing through your window. I just knew that we had to be there to catch you. I just knew. I really can’t explain more than that.”
Brynn wasn’t sure how to respond to Miranda’s statement, so she didn’t. Instead she introduced herself to Ben.
“Hi, I’m Brynn.”
“It’s very nice to meet you,” he said crinkli
ng up his face into a warm and friendly expression.
She had no idea what to say next. This whole night seemed so unreal to her, so she just started rambling. “Are you a lighthouse keeper? Why isn’t the light on? Aren’t you lonely out here by yourself?”
“Oh, wow, slow down just a little. Let’s see, no, this isn’t a lighthouse anymore. This is just my house. This lighthouse isn’t active anymore, that’s why it’s not on. And no, I’m not lonely. This place went up for auction a couple of years ago so I bought it and I’m still restoring it.”
Brynn tapped her tongue several times against the roof of her mouth trying to think of something to say to keep the small talk going, but then finally gave up and said, “Okay, well, maybe we should get this over with. I feel like I’m missing something here. Like you guys know a whole lot more about what’s going on than I do.”
“I don’t even know where to start,” Jerom said throwing up his hands.
“Well, how did you find me?” Brynn asked as she paced in front of the fireplace.
“That was pretty cool, really.” Jerom pointed to Ben. “Ben cast a spell…”
“Wait a minute, did you just say cast a spell? Who are you guys?”
Jerom looked at Miranda, “You should tell her,” he said.
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Miranda leaned back into the couch crossing her arms.
Ben looking uncomfortable walked into the kitchen and put a teapot on the burner. Jerom realizing his sister wasn’t going to help, looked back at Brynn.
“Miranda already told you that she had what you might call a premonition or a vision about you. That is one of her powers.”
“What do you mean by powers. What is this power?”
“Well, some people might say we’re…witches,”
“Really.” Brynn deadpanned. When neither Jerom nor Miranda answered she added, “So you dance naked under the full moon, stuff like that?”
“Well, I never have, but if you wanted to...” Jerom grinned.
“Jerom quit being an...ouch, hey!” Miranda rubbed her arm where Jerom smacked her lightly to shut her up.
He sat up and focused on Brynn again saying, “It’s like this. Some people are born with gifts, talents you might say, and we, and that includes you, were born with abilities to draw energy from the world around us and well…make things happen.”
“What do you mean, “that includes you”? I’ve never even been able to move a pencil. Are you sure you have the right girl?”
“Pretty sure, the cult doesn’t just attack anyone.”
“Cult, what cult?”
“I think we’re moving too fast. Let’s take a step back. You’re...not so normal,” Miranda said.
“I’m not so normal? I’m not sure how to take that.”
“Didn’t your parents talk to you about your abilities?” Jerom asked.
“Yes, sure they did,” she said, “That’s why I have no idea what you’re talking about! Are you saying my parents were witches too?”
“Witch isn’t really the right word for us. We’re more like guardians, really.”
“Guardians of what?”
“Not what. Who. You actually,” he said pointing at her.
“Okay,” she said shaking her head, “You’d really better start at the beginning.”
“Well, you’re the Bringer.”
“What’s a Bringer?”
Before Jerom could respond, Miranda broke in, “You’re just confusing her Jerom, let me try.”
“There’s this group called The Adherents. We just call them the cult. They’re assassins. They’ve been around since like the beginning of time and people hire them to kill other people.”
“Assassins, sure,” Brynn shook her head, “I’m sorry, keep going.”
“Thank you,” said Miranda. “So these aren’t just like regular assassins.”
“Maybe you should sit down, Brynn,” said Jerom.
Seeing the look on Jerom’s face, Brynn walked over to the chair next to the couch and sat down.
“The cult recruits members and they pump them full of steroids and train them and stuff and when they’re ready…well, they cast a spell and put a demon’s spirit into their bodies,” Jerom said the last part really fast.
“What? Did you really just say demon?”
“We’re trying to tell you. We’re just not doing so great. The cult builds these constructs. They’re human and then they put a demon in them and they use them as assassins,” said Miranda.
“You know, I’m just going to go with you for now on this. So, what does this have to do with me?” asked Brynn.
“Um, well, we’re the good guys. The Family…we were given certain powers to help protect the world from all these assassins, these demon constructs. We just call them demons for short. Most people think of us as witches.”
“And I belong to your family somehow. Are you like my brother and sister?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. The Family is just what we call all the people that have these powers. We aren’t related. We just share the same kind of gifts. My immediate family was also given a specific assignment to watch for and protect the Bringer when she comes. That’s you.”
“I’m the Bringer? What does that mean?”
“You are kind of extra gifted. Along with the normal stuff that we can do, you have the ability to call down angels to help us kill the demons.”
“You really expect me to believe this? Believe stuff like angels and demon thingies?”
“You were there, in your room not too long ago. What would you call those things that killed your parents?” Miranda asked.
Brynn sucked in air from the pain of being hit so hard by Miranda’s casual mention of the death of her parents.
“Take it easy Miranda. This needs to be handled gently.” Jerom elbowed his sister again. “I know this is a lot to take in, but all you need to know now is that we are here to help and we’ll take you back to our house where you’ll be safe.”
“You’re going to keep me safe?” Brynn raised her eyebrows.
“That’s our job. We did get you away from the demons and their handler.”
“What’s a handler?”
“The human that was with the demons is their handler.”
“You really think that I’m,” Brynn rather emphatically pointed to herself, “that I’m this Bringer person. You really think that I can call up angels?” She shook her head.
Jerom leaned in and asked, “Haven’t you ever done anything that you shouldn’t have been able to. You know, like move the TV remote closer so you can grab it, or stop a mug from hitting the floor?”
“No, never. I’ve never bent a spoon either,” she smirked. “You know, actually I’m glad that’s settled. I’m not your Bringer. So sorry to bother you. Let’s just all go back to our old lives.”
“What life is that?” Miranda snapped out.
Brynn took a deep breath, preparing to blister Miranda with her words, when Jerom looking worriedly between the two of them cut her off.
“Maybe we should tell you what little we know about the Bringer,” said Jerom.
Brynn let out her breath, “Yeah, okay maybe you should.”
“Hmmm, where to start. The Bringer is kind of a legend for us,” mused Jerom. “There isn’t always a Bringer in the world. Only when the world gets out of balance. I guess we’re out of balance now, huh?” he looked at Ben.
“Balance, that’s a good way to put it,” said Ben. “Good and evil. God and hell. Whatever you believe in it amounts to the same thing in my opinion. There is a battle that’s been going on since the beginning of time. You could say it even started with the Big Bang. Forces pushing and pulling. Matter is attracted to other matter. It collides to form galaxies, solar systems and planets. Other matter pushes against creation. It’s a destructive force but no less important to our universe. It has it’s place as it crushes matter and spews it forth into space like a black hole. Sometimes this matter is caught by
the destructive force and crushed again. But, other times it’s caught by a creative force and it goes onto become a galaxy or whatever. It’s the engine that fuels existence.
These forces of creation and destruction apply to everything in the universe. Right down to us. We tend to call it good or evil but the same theory applies. Good and evil are both necessary for life. You can’t know what happy feels like if you’ve never felt bad.”
“That’s where you come in,” Miranda took over. “When evil or destruction or whatever you want to call it gets too strong a Bringer appears. That’s you,” she said pointing to Brynn. “You have to bring back the balance.”
Brynn scowled, “What can I do? I’m nobody. I’m nothing. I can’t do anything. I can’t even save my parents,” she added quietly.
“You bring the angels. You bring the light,” said Jerom. ”I know it seems darkness, destruction and evil make up more of the world than good, but just a little light goes a long way.”
“Let’s try a little experiment,” Ben stood up and walked over to the light switch on the wall turning it off. The room went dark. “Miranda would you please, just a little, a tiny little bit of light.”
Brynn turned toward Miranda. A small pinprick of a glow began to emanate from the air above Miranda’s outstretched hand. “See, just this tiny bit of light pushes back the darkness in this room.”
“Good, creation, light is so much more powerful than darkness,” Jerom continued. “Even though it seems that evil is everywhere, it doesn’t take much light to brighten the darkness. It only takes one kind word to change a person’s day. It only takes a little good to keep the evil in balance.”
“Just like in the universe,” said Ben. “The universe is made up of about 85% dark matter. The stuff you can’t see but it’s incredibly important to the balance between destruction and creation.” Ben turned the lights back on.
Brynn rubbed her arms trying to calm the chill running through her. “So how am I supposed to restore this balance. This sounds impossible.”
The Bringer Page 4