Briarcliff

by Lorraine Beaumont

  22-DISCOVERY

  Simon stood on the edge of the bluff and looked up into the night sky as he tracked the moon rising up from the dusky horizon. Inhaling deeply, he pulled air into his lungs, holding it inside and then released it slowly. He remembered that simple act, with clarity, although it did seem different. He shrugged, knowing there really was no point in trying to figure it out. It would come to him in time—like Alistair said.

  “Hey, check it out, the moon looks blue,” Simon said, and crossed his arms. “Wow, I haven’t seen that in years.” He climbed back up on the outcropping and sat down. His legs dangled over the edge and he kicked them back and forth.

  Alistair climbed up beside him and looked down through the clearing. “You know he will awaken now.”

  Simon sighed. “I almost forgot about him.”

  Alistair lifted his brow. “What’s the matter?”

  “Please, like you don’t feel it.”

  “I do,” he said.

  “Then why do you seem surprised?”

  “It’s been a while,” he said. “I was hoping he would stay asleep.” He kicked his feet faster, feeling his strength fully return.

  “We wouldn’t be that lucky,” Alistair said.

  “Yeah, I know.” Simon saw a group of people crowding into the clearing. “Maybe we can have some fun first.”

  “What do you have in mind?” Alistair asked.

  Simon looked down at the raised mark on the inside of his arm and ran his fingers across the design. “What’d you think is going on down there?”

  “More work for us.”

  “It looks like a party to me.” Simon’s eyes glittered.

  Alistair pushed his hair back from his face. “Yeah, I guess.” A look of longing flitted over his face.

  “We should go down,” Simon suggested excitedly. “It could be fun.”

  “We…can’t.”

  “Why? Who would know?” Simon sensed Alistair’s hesitation. He latched onto it. “Look, it is almost dark, no one would notice us. See?” He pointed down between the trees. “There are a lot of people down there.” Simon could feel the vibrations of the music as it thrummed in the air around them, a gentle hum. It made his body tingle all over. It was almost as good as sex. Although it had been so long since he had performed that act, he wasn’t so sure how it felt anymore. He narrowed his eyes. A girl with long blonde hair stepped into the clearing. “Aren’t you a pretty thing,” Simon said, smiling. Oh, how he loved the softness of human girls. They were so pliable, giving…their sweet kisses made his blood boil, not go cold. He was always cold. No, he wanted warmth, contact that only the heat of human flesh could give to his body. He wet his lips. “We need some fun,” he practically begged and dashed a hand through his hair.

  Alistair contemplated what he said. He could hear the ache—no, the need in Simon’s voice. He wanted the same thing, more than Simon would ever know. He looked across the sky. Lightning flashed far away at some distant point on the horizon. His body trembled, not with fear, but anticipation. His body was rigid, his muscles taut—a cord that was ready to snap. He knew what would alleviate that, and on that particular point, Simon was right. Only one thing could fill the ache he held inside, if only for a moment. “Okay,” he said quickly, before he changed his mind.

  “Really?” Simon asked.

  A small smile tugged at the corners of Alistair’s mouth and he shook his head.

  “Sweet!” Simon jumped up and leapt down from the outcropping. “So how are we getting down there?”

  Alistair stretched out his muscled arms. “We’ll fly of course.”

  23-DAZED

  The engine whined as my car crept slowly up the winding mountainside.

  “Thanks for driving, Barnaby,” I said and pushed the wrapper down on my burger.

  “No problem.” He glanced over at me.

  “You want a bite?” I lifted my burger toward him.

  “Nah, I’m good. I ate a sandwich at home.”

  So that’s what took him so long. I took a big bite and looked out the window. The mountain dropped off into nothing around the sharp turns. At least that is what it looked like to me. I wasn’t exactly afraid of heights, but I wasn’t hip on them either.

  Reflection by Four Day Creep played on the CD deck. The catchy chorus barely covered up the awful noise my engine made as we rolled up another hill. I took two more bites and finished off my burger. “So, was your mom home?”

  Barnaby’s eyes were glued to the road. “Yeah,” he said. The road twisted precariously into a hairpin turn. A tricky spot—one that was hard enough to maneuver in the light of day let alone in approaching darkness.

  Barnaby made it safely around the turn and glanced back toward me. “So I talked to my mom…about what you wanted.”

  I crumpled up my wrapper and tossed it into the bag on the floor. Turning, I gave him my full attention. “And?” I asked, not able to keep the expectancy from my voice.

  “Well,” he said. “She didn’t know too much, but it was kind of a weird conversation.”

  “Weird how?”

  “I don’t know,” he sighed. “I got the feeling there was something she wasn’t telling me, which was just…” He shook his head. “I don’t know.” A frown creased his brow as he maneuvered around another tight turn.

  “Why would you think that?”

  “I don’t know,” he said and shrugged his shoulders. “I got the feeling she was hiding something from me.” He shook his head. “You’d have to know my mom, she really sucks at lying.”

  She’s not the only one, I thought. “What did she do when you asked?”

  “It wasn’t really what she said, but her expression looked really startled, like she couldn’t believe I asked her.” He glanced over. “Remember, I told you I quit messing with drugs… right?”

  “Right,” I said as my face burned. I still felt really bad for accusing him of drugging me.

  “That’s what’s so funny,” he said. “Normally, I would be too stoned to notice…but she was all evasive and shit, it put me on guard.” He squeezed the wheel tighter and cleared his throat. “I told you that she is really into the legends of the area and has a fascination with ‘antiquities’.” He made air quotes.

  “Antiquities?” I wasn’t sure what that was.

  “Yeah, old stuff—antiquities—whatever.” He made a face. “Anyway, she majored in literature in college, and specialized in folklore and mythology. She’s like the best in her field now.” He rolled his eyes. “Anyway, she runs a local curator’s club for the area.”

  “Huh? I didn’t know that.”

  “Yeah, the membership is pretty exclusive.”

  “So I guess I can’t become a member?”

  “No.” He laughed and shook his head. “It’s very cloak-and-dagger,” he said. “They hold meetings late at night, and she doesn’t come home until really late, sometimes not till the morning.”

  “Maybe she’s got a boyfriend?”

  “Yeah…maybe,” he laughed but it sounded forced.

  “Did you tell her any of the specifics about what I asked?”

  “Yeah I did.”

  “And…”

  “She said she’d love to talk to you herself.” Again, he rolled his eyes. “Anyway, once this thing is finished I can bring you over if you want.”

  “That would be great.” I couldn’t help but wonder what that was about. His mom wanted to talk with me—weird. “So, um, that’s all she said?” I pried, not able to help myself.

  “Not exactly,” he hedged and turned off the stereo.

  The inside of the car was completely quiet now except for the whining-hiss of the engine as he pushed the accelerator down to climb another steep incline.

  “The suspense is killing me here.” I pushed my hair away as a sharp breeze kicked across the interior of the car.

  He took an unsteady breath. “Okay. She said gargoyles are protectors.”

  “Protectors of what?” My
stomach clenched.

  “Of many things, mostly humans,” he said.

  That didn’t make sense. In my weird delusional reality I thought, well maybe…whatever attacked me was the big gargoyle statue come to life—granted that was out-there—like different dimension out-there, especially now that I knew I wasn’t drugged. I narrowed my eyes at Barnaby…was he lying? But why would he do that?

  “See, I told you it was out-there.” Barnaby glanced at me again.

  My throat constricted. “Um, okay, what are they protecting humans from?”

  “Well, this is where it gets sketchy…other gargoyles.” He made a face.

  I gaped at him. “What? That doesn’t make sense.” I rubbed my hands that were now ice-cold over my skirt.

  “I know, right? Hence the sketchy part,” he said and his eyes darted back in my direction again.

  Something massive swooped down in front of the car. “Barnaby, look out!” I yelled.

  Barnaby slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel.

  My body wrenched to the side and hit the car door.

  He jerked the wheel in the other direction and we ended up back in right lane.

  Holding my hand to my chest, I stared at him. “What was that?”

  “I don’t know.” His hands clenched around the wheel.

  “Barnaby…”

  He held up his hand and shook his head. He looked green. “I need a minute.”

  Neither of us said another word for the rest of the ride.

  Finally, we made it to the top of the mountain and Barnaby pulled through the gates and parked between two trees.

  Barnaby threw the car in park and killed the engine. He sat back, breathing hard. “I need a drink.”

  “Me too,” I readily agreed. Reaching forward, I grabbed his hand in my own. “Thanks.”

  “For…” he prompted and squeezed my fingers lightly as his eyes locked on mine for a breathless moment.

  “You know…for being an awesome driver and all,” I told him trying to lighten the mood.

  A lopsided grin spread across his face. “I do have some mad race-car driver skills, don’t I?”

  “Oh yeah…the maddest ever,” I said and laughed nervously, my heart still pounding.

  Barnaby tightened his fingers and leaned forward.

  I froze. I didn’t know what to do.

  Another car pulled up beside us.

  Barnaby turned and looked out the window. “Chance and Colton are here.” He jerked his hand away from mine.

  I frowned down at my empty hand.

  That was fast. Surprisingly, I wasn’t as relieved as I thought I would be. “Can he park any closer?”

  “I know, right.” He turned back around and gave me a halfhearted smile. “You know Evie…how bout we wait and discuss this later…you know, after we have a drink?”

  “Yeah…sure…fine—whatever,” I told him and climbed out of the car.

  Neither noticed that the two mortared columns of the gate were now empty as they walked down the long drive to Briarcliff Manor.

  24-TWILIGHT

  Adriane hung in the shadows. He lifted his chin and sniffed the air. His eyes turned dark and a predatory sneer broke across his face. With unnatural speed, his arm shot out and he yanked a body back. Ready to break the fragile bones of the neck, he slammed it against the wall.

  “Leave off, Adriane!” Strong fingers clawed at his hand.

  Adriane released his deadly hold. “Simon?”

  “That’s my name.” Simon rubbed his neck.

  “It’s been a long time…my friend.” Adriane gave him a one-armed hug.

  “Yes, it has,” Simon agreed and stepped back to look him over.

  “Where’s Alistair?”

  “He’s on his way,” Simon said.

  Adriane was suddenly at a loss for words. “Where’d you get your clothes?” Simon noticed Adriane’s clothes fit him better than the rejects he was stuck wearing.

  “I borrowed them.”

  “Borrowed?” Simon lifted his brow.

  “Yeah, borrowed,” Adriane repeated. “Where did you get yours?”

  “I didn’t borrow them,” Simon scoffed.

  Adriane lifted his brow and gave him a reproving look.

  “Hey, I stole these fair and square,” Simon defended and then made a face. “Still a goodie gumdrop, I see,” he muttered under his breath.

  “You realize I can hear you, right?”

  Simon merely shrugged. It never ceased to amaze him how different Adriane and Alistair were from one another even though the resemblance between the two was freeeaky. They looked like brothers. Who knew, maybe they were in another life, one Simon didn’t remember.

  Simon was shorter…not as broad as they were, but he didn’t mind. He overheard a girl say, “Good things come in small packages.” Maybe he would let her check out his own package later. Cocking his head to the side, he sniffed the air, and then turned. “Dammit!” He widened his eyes when he saw how many of them were crawling down the side of the mansion.

  Adriane looked up, unsurprised. “You smell them too?”

  “How can I not.” Simon wrinkled his nose in displeasure. “I swear they smell even worse, or is it just me?”

  “No, you’re right.” Adriane nodded his head in agreement. “They do smell worse.”

  “How long do you think we have?”

  Adriane shrugged. “Not long.”

  “Oh, joy…not,” Simon, said. If he could smell their stench, they were waking. He lifted his face to the sky. The moon crept higher but it would be a while before the moon’s illumination filled the night, bringing their vileness with it.

  Alistair turned the corner with two red plastic cups in his hands and another in his teeth. The one in his mouth dropped.

  Adriane snatched it from the air before it hit the ground. He smelled the contents. Satisfied with the odor, he took a sip.

  “So,” Alistair said. “You’re awake.” He handed the remaining cup to Simon.

  “It would seem so.” Adriane took another drink.

  Alistair gulped down his drink. It was already his third. He liked the taste. It danced on his tongue and burned warmly down his throat, into his stomach. It made him warm. He was never warm any longer. The wind shifted. “Are you kidding me?” He looked up.

  “Mmm,” Simon said and lifted his cup in the air. “You smell them too?” He took a long pull of his drink. The contents dripped down his face and he wiped it away with the back of his hand.

  “It’s hard to miss.” Alistair shook his head, completely disgusted. Angrily, he swiped his hair back from his eyes as the wind pushed it forward. “So,” he said and gave Adriane a pointed look. “Any ideas why we’re awake so early?” he asked.

  Adriane shook his head. “No.” He stared over the rim of his cup. “You’ve been phasing a lot.” It was a statement. The changes in Alistair were obvious. He was bigger now. With each phasing of the moon, Alistair was brought back and each time he grew, becoming stronger than he was before. Simon was not as large, but that was to be expected. He was still a youngling, and had not phased as many times.

  “It would seem so.” Alistair smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

  Simon acted disinterested and continued to sip his drink. He watched them both. The way they stared each other down as their inky black hair whipped in the wind. Alistair’s unease was palpable…the caged animal trying to break free once more. Adriane, always in control—a silent force of reckoning. Simon smiled into his cup as his eyes flitted back and forth between them, silently counting backwards…ten…nine…eight…his own body tensed in anticipation of the fight that was about to ensue. It would be one hell of a close match now, if Alistair were so inclined.

  Adriane held his stance. He needed them to believe he was the one in control, even though he was not so sure any longer. It had been a long time. A tremor passed through him. He felt Alistair push out, testing him. His control slipped as Alistair gained ground. If
he wasn’t careful he would lose what little ground he still held. Pushing his mind to the limit, he used every bit of the reserve strength he had acquired from the pit to get Alistair to bend to his will once more.

  Alistair felt the nudge against his mind. He focused and pushed back mentally. A force surged through him; he was gaining ground, but just as suddenly a slow, intense burn began to build on the inside of his left arm. The liquid fire filled every line and the pain became unbearable. The marking on his arm throbbed. The design glowed, a vibrant blue. Horrific memories slipped from the crevices of his mind. His body shuddered. It was too much to bear. He stalked away.

  Adriane shuddered and clenched his hand into a tight fist. It felt like a thousand needles had been jammed into his head. A drop of blood slipped from his nose, and splattered onto the gravel. He quickly stepped on it and then wiped it away before Alistair saw.

  Simon, however, caught the action. A slow smile crept across his face as he turned away and walked over to join Alistair.

  25-ANXIOUS

  “What time is it?” Moriah asked and fidgeted nervously with her jacket string.

  “About five minutes later than the last time you asked.” Kingston gave her a cursory glance and then watched as another crowd of people ambled down the drive. “Hey, there’s Colton and Chance.” He waved them over.

  “I wonder what’s taking them so long,” Moriah said and then spotted Heather with her sidekicks, Addison and Brianna. Great.

  “Babe, she’ll be back soon,” Kingston said. “It does take a while to get to town and she had to shower, right?”

  “Right,” Moriah said absently. Heather grabbed hold of Colton’s hand and he leaned forward and said something to her. Heather laughed loudly, just like a screechy hyena, and smacked Colton in the arm. Dick.

  Chance broke away, jogged over. “Hey, this looks totally sweet,” he said. “How’d you score this place?”

  “I have my ways,” Kingston boasted.