by Ciara Lake
“What are you going to do, ring her doorbell?” He turned to look at her. “It’s not even five in the morning. What are you going to tell her when she answers?”
“I’m going to tell her I had a bad feeling and needed to check on her. Honesty is always best.”
“Yes, when it’s possible.”
Terra opened the car door and got out. She hurried toward the front porch.
Aetius opened his car door. “Wait.” He jumped out of the car. “I said wait,” he called to her as she approached the house. He moved quickly to get in front of her. He turned and pointed at his car and it disappeared. “In case the police called my car in. It’s easy to remember. They’d find us for sure.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but he put his hand up to hush her.
“The Empusa has been here,” he said.
Terra froze. “How do you know?”
“The wind told me.”
“Why would she be here? Donna’s not part of any coven. She wasn’t at Lucy’s house. She doesn’t even know Lucy.” Terra moved around him and made it to the front porch before him.
“I’m not sure.” His tone sounded full of dread. “But whatever the reason, it’s not good. Nothing the Empusa does is ever good.”
When they stepped onto the porch they could see the front door was slightly ajar. “Dear gods, no.” Terra shook her head. “This can’t be happening. This is bad, isn’t it?” She looked at Aetius.
“Let me go in first.” He moved her aside.
She was on Aetius’s heels as he pushed the door open. They slowly entered the house. There was a foul stench. It made Terra want to gag. A knocked over lamp was on, giving off a yellow glow. The living room was a wreck.
“It smells disgusting.” She put her hand over her nose and mouth. “Did Emaline defecate here? It stinks so bad.”
“It’s the smell of the Empusa feeding. Stay behind me, I don’t want you to see.” He stretched his arm out to keep her back.
“What are you hiding from me?” Terra dodged his arm. Then she saw Donna. “No, please.” Terra fell to her knees. “Donna, no. Please, no!” She gazed up at Aetius with tears in her eyes. “Why has this happened? Why Donna?”
He touched her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Terra.”
“She’s dead.” Terra moaned. “I don’t understand why.”
Donna lay on the floor with her mouth wide open. Her head was tilted back, and her body was unnaturally stiff. Her eyes were open, and black mucus was oozing out of her nose and mouth. The expression on her face was one of pure shock and fear.
“Will her soul go to paradise?” Terra asked.
“No, not when an Empusa eats a mortal’s soul.” He glanced away.
Terra stood up. “Damn that fucking bitch. She’s a monster, the very worst kind. I’m going to tear her to pieces and feed her to the piranhas.” As Terra paced the living room, she noticed the extent of the destruction. Pictures and knickknacks were broken to pieces. “It looks like Donna fought hard.”
“The Empusa likes the fight.” Aetius picked up a broken picture frame. “The Empusa could have mesmerized this mortal to comply. But it’s more fun to suck her soul out when she’s fought hard to live.” He picked up another picture frame; it contained a photo of Terra and Donna standing in front of a Christmas tree.
“That was taken this year at the school’s Christmas party.” Terra started to weep. Aetius put his arm around her and pulled her to him. She looked up at him. “I thought the Empusa ate her victims’ bodies too?”
“Not always, especially when she’s sending a message of some sort. The soul is the best part to her.”
“Is this a message?”
“Yes. If there’s no body, there’s no message. At least not as powerful as this one.”
“Why send this message?”
“To get back at us for what happened at the coven meeting. Evil is petty and prideful. In her mind, we humiliated her.” He walked further into the living room toward the fireplace. There was a sudden flash of light above the mantel. Its intensity was nearly blinding.
“Look, in the mirror.” Terra pointed. “She’s in the mirror.”
“Yes, I’m here.” Emaline cackled. “And you’re correct, Enforcer, I do love the struggle. It makes their dreaded demise so much sweeter. And this one begged and begged. She was so afraid. It was extremely enjoyable to watch her die.” Emaline licked her lips. “And she was tasty.”
“Shut the hell up.” Terra raised her fist toward the mirror. “I’m going to smash you like the roach you are.”
“Shut up, little bitch.” Emaline waved at her in a dismissive way. “I’ve been waiting for you both to show up.”
“What made you think we’d show up here to find Donna’s body?” Terra asked.
“You’re here, aren’t you? I guessed you would sense her terror. You are a witch. I didn’t know how powerful, but evidently, you’re powerful enough. And if you didn’t, you’d certainly hear about this ugly murder.” Emaline laughed. “And I knew, if you came, Aetius would be with you. I could see he had the hots for you. You’ve probably just got done fucking him, like a little female dog. I’m so smart.” She clapped her hands together.
“Why would you do this to Donna?” Tears streamed down Terra’s face. “She’s not involved in Lucy’s coven. She has nothing to do with you, Hecate, or the old religions.” Terra walked closer to the fireplace.
“Stupid girl, it’s not about her. It’s about you, and it’s about Aetius.” She laughed hysterically. “I wanted to hurt your friend to hurt you. It’s a pity you don’t have more friends. It puts a damper on my joy.”
“How do you know anything about me?”
“I did my research of course. I just love the internet. It’s made tormenting people so much easier. It’s so full of information...it’s like mortal magic.” She laughed again. “My goal is to cause you pain. And if you’re in pain, the big guy here will feel miserable too. At least that’s my plan.”
“Are you done laughing and sounding like an insane person?” Aetius stepped closer to the mirror. “It’s really getting irritating.”
“I’m not insane,” she wailed. “I don’t like being called names.”
“What do you want?” Aetius crossed his arms.
“To make you both suffer.” She beamed. “To eat every mortal you know. And to hurt the immortals you know. I want to cause you pain.”
“But you’re scared to confront me in person?” Aetius cocked his head to the side. “You’re a coward.”
“No,” she disagreed. “I’m brilliant.”
“If you were not a coward, you’d be here, personally enjoying your handiwork. But instead you choose to talk to me from a mirror. Like I said, you’re a coward, and a bully too.”
“Shut up,” Emaline screamed. “I’m going to make you sorry.” She pointed at Aetius. “I’m going to make you feel insurmountable pain.”
“You’re too late. Amuliana and Hecate beat you to it. That’s why I became an Enforcer, and my next writ will be for you. A writ to destroy you.”
“I’m going to crush you, Enforcer Aetius.” Her eyes became completely black, and her face twisted into a hideous, horrid mask.
“You’re pitiful, like your mother, Hecate, and your other Empusa sisters.”
“There are more of these disgusting creatures?” Terra interjected.
“Yes, there are several Empusai. Hecate birthed a horde of them.”
“That’s repulsive.” Terra spit out her words.
“Shut up, both of you,” Emaline shouted. “You both thought you were amusing ruining Lucy’s party and pushing me off the porch. No one pushes me.”
“You’re an idiot.” Aetius shook his head. “I’m going to hurt you when I get my hands on you. I’m not going to wait for a writ of death.”
“You can’t kill me, I’m a daughter of a goddess. I’m a demi-goddess.”
“We’ll see about what I can do to you.”
&
nbsp; “Like I said, I’m going to make you both sorry. I’m pleased you like this little witch. It’ll make hurting you so easy.”
“Again, what do you want?” Aetius stepped closer to the fireplace.
“I’m going to have so much fun eating people your little lover girl knows. This one was delicious. She was just a snack to get me started.” The Empusa grinned and licked her lips. “You may not have many friends, but you do have young, healthy students and those wiccans you meet with. They’ll all make perfect meals.”
“No, please.”
“Don’t beg her.” Aetius gritted his teeth. “Don’t give her what she wants.”
“Yes, I do love begging. When the mortals beg, it makes their souls taste so much sweeter. Donna begged repeatedly, and it made her even tastier.” She licked her lips again. Her tongue and teeth were black, the same color as the mucus on Donna’s face.
“Shut up. You’re a horrifying monster.” Terra picked up a china figurine and tossed it at the mirror. The mirror cracked, but Emaline’s image remained.
“Empusa, I’m going to kill you for what you’ve done. And if you hurt anyone else, I’m going to torture you first and then kill you. In fact, I’m going to do the same with Hecate and Amuliana. I’m not an enemy you can handle.” Aetius’s eyes turned silver, and his expression was fierce. For a moment, his fierce façade frightened Terra.
“You stupid fool. I couldn’t care less what happens to Hecate and Amuliana. And you can’t do anything to me if you don’t catch me first. You’ll never catch me. I’m too smart for you.”
“I catch everyone I hunt.”
“Mighty Enforcer.” She laughed. “Your luck is about to run out. And you’ll have to get Zeus and his fucking council to approve my death. And they wouldn’t dare.” She looked smug and confident.
“I don’t need their permission to permanently imprison and torture you. As the council’s Enforcer, I can imprison anyone I choose. And I have no doubt Zeus will allow me to kill you. You’re a worthless being.”
“If any of that were true, you won’t catch me, Aetius. You’ll never catch me.” She laughed, and the mirror flashed with a bright light, and she was gone.
“Let’s go before someone finds us here. This will be a crime scene soon.” Aetius took Terra’s hand. “Close your eyes this time.”
Terra closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she was standing in the middle of the woods. The animals were waking up to a spring morning. The birds were singing their harmonic songs.
“Where are we?” she asked as she glanced around. “This place is beautiful. But all of this can’t change the fact that Donna is dead.” Her eyes filled with tears, and one escaped to roll down her cheek.
Aetius wiped the tear away. “We’re on your grandmother’s property in Tennessee. She owns a lot of land, and she keeps it like a park with paths all through it.”
“She likes to walk in nature. Sounds like a woman I’d have something in common with.”
“Yes. She walks her property every morning. She may come down this path today.”
“Why did you bring me here now?” Terra asked. “I’m not ready to meet her. I have too much to process right now, and we have to stop the Empusa.”
“That’s why this is a good time to meet her. She can help you process everything. She’s good at helping people, and she loves you.” He hugged her and kissed the top of her head.
She put her hands on her hips and walked in a circle. “How do you know she really loves me? She doesn’t even know me. How can she love me?” Terra moved away from him. “Being here is a bad idea. We have to get the Empusa.”
“No, it’s not a bad idea.” He shook his head. “Genevieve has longed to be with you for many years. Plus, it’s safe here. She’s a powerful witch. Her home is a good place to stay while I figure out how to handle the Empusa.”
“You figure out? What about me? Can’t I help you?”
“I’ll figure it out. It’s what I do.”
“It’s what you do? What does it mean to be an Enforcer?” She pointed at him. “I have a lot of questions for you. I didn’t ask them before because I was allowing myself to have some fun, to enjoy the adventure. But now I want to know a lot of things.”
“That’s fine. I know you have questions.” He stepped closer to her.
“Good.” She looked up at him.
“I’m upset too about your human friend.”
“I think I’m in shock about it all. I can’t believe she’s dead.” Her head was aching, and she pressed a hand against her forehead.
“I’m sorry this has happened. You asked me what an Enforcer is. I’m law enforcement for Zeus and his council. I hunt down those who the council determines are dangerous. I imprison them, or I kill them, depending on their crimes and the writs against them. To some it would seem a distasteful job. But I do it well.”
“Why don’t you kill Amuliana and Hecate? You have a good reason to. They are criminals. Aren’t they?”
“Yes, they killed my sister. But it would be against the rules. I try to follow the rules.”
“There are rules?” she asked, surprised by the statement.
“Yes. Unfortunately, there are a lot of rules.” He frowned.
“What are the rules?”
“I can’t imprison or kill gods or goddesses without a writ from the Council of Zeus. I can’t kill demi-gods or demi-goddesses without a writ, but I can imprison them. I can kill or imprison immortals if I judge them to be in my way during a hunt or if they harm a mortal or the earth.”
“That’s really not a lot of rules.” She shook her head. “Just get a writ of execution for Amuliana and Hecate.”
“It depends what side of the rules you’re on. And getting a writ to kill a god or goddess is nearly impossible.” He crossed his arms. “I know, I tried. It fell on deaf ears. Sometimes, when dealing with only immortals, I’m judge, jury, and executioner.”
“So really the rules apply to the gods and the demi-gods?”
“Yes.” He nodded.
“Are there a lot of Enforcers?” A branch from a nearby tree had finally reached her and it was rubbing her arm. Terra gently redirected the branch.
“No, I’m one of the few immortals powerful enough to be an Enforcer. At the moment I’m the only one.”
“I guess you really don’t need my help.”
“Sure I do, but not in the way you think.” He pushed her hair behind her ear. His touch was so gentle it made her shiver.
“Maybe I should go home to my own house. I think I should.” She bit on her nails.
“Now you want to go home? Are you afraid of me?” He pushed his hair off his forehead. “Someone has to be the law.”
“It’s not that. I have no problem with you being an Enforcer. I just think it would be best for me to go home and keep an eye on things.”
“An eye on things? How would you stop the Empusa?”
“I’m not sure yet.” She shrugged. “I guess, I’m really nervous about meeting Genevieve, and I’m worried about what’s going on at home. Besides, all I have is this sarong and a swimming suit to wear. I don’t even have my phone or my purse. I’m not ready to visit with her.”
“Sounds like excuses not to meet your grandmother.” He gave her a gentle smile. “As far as going to your house, that’s not a good idea.”
“Why not?” She moved her feet to stop the grass from tickling her legs.
“Think about it...if you even speak to someone, they may be targeted by the Empusa. Do you want that?”
“No, of course not.” She looked down. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“I know all of this sucks. I’m sorry this has happened. As far as your clothes, Genevieve and I can get you clothes. I can conjure clothes, and so can you, if you tried. You’ll need nothing.”
“You could be right—it might not be the best idea for me to go home. I don’t want anyone else to be targeted. She’s the worse of monsters. Her victims simply c
ease to exist. That’s horrendous.”
“It is.” He returned to a more relaxed stance. “I need to put the Empusa away for a long time. Lock her in the earth so she can’t hurt anyone else. To destroy her I’ll need a writ from Zeus’s Council.”
“Because she’s Hecate’s daughter?”
“Yes, she’s a demi-goddess. I can imprison her, but I want to end her. If she’s killed soon, the souls she’s eaten should be released to go on to the afterlife.”
“Zeus shouldn’t hesitate to want her dead. She has to die to release the innocents she’s taken.”
“I agree with you. But things among the gods don’t always make sense. She’s Hecate’s child.”
“So what? Hecate needs to be destroyed too. How do we get a writ for her and the Empusa?”
“I’m going to visit Zeus and the council. You should stay here for now, while I seek an audience with the council. I’ll introduce you to Genevieve and leave you two to get to know each other. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”
“I don’t know.” She sighed. “Can’t you take me with you?”
“I’ve never taken anyone to meet with the council. But then again, I’ve never had anyone I would take with me.”
“I don’t want to bring Emaline down on Genevieve too.”
“Genevieve is strong.”
“I hope so.”
For several moments, he stared at Terra. “Why are you afraid to meet your grandmother?”
“Like I told you before, people disappoint me. And good things always end, and typically badly.” She sighed. “Our time together is an example of my life.”
“How so?”
“Good one minute, bad the next. I was in paradise with you and came home to find a friend dead in the most awful way. See what I mean?”
“I see.” He looked away. “Life does have its difficulties.”
“I don’t mean… I... I never can have joy without pain.”
“I’m sorry. And I do know pain too. Perhaps we can both change that in our lives. I’ll do my part to help you not be disappointed.” He hugged her and held her in his arms for several moments.