Amry dug into him again.
"I wonder what your families are going through right now. Not knowing where you are, and not to mention what it's gonna be like when you don't return. When a mother losses a kid it’s like hell on earth. I know, I watched my mom’s soul die a little each day as I got worse."
The roar that escaped through the unhinged jaw of Alex McKenna, came from deep in his belly. Rising into his chest cavity and escaping with all of the intensity of a lion claiming his territory. Alex whipped his head around focusing on the box. With merely a thought, he pulled the box from the mantle and into his hands. Directing his rage into the grip, crushing it like a piece of cardboard, the dagger fell to the floor. Margaret quickly swooped it up and cut Alex’s chain. Scrambling to Zachary's side, she sliced him free with one thrust.
Vincenzo had no idea what had just happened. He circled around the room like a child in search of their mother.
"No. You'll ruin everything!"
He called out the same spell that held them captive earlier, but his words were halted when Alex raised a bent arm and released it—sending Vincenzo flying to the other side of the room.
"I guess we're a little late to the party," the stranger proclaimed.
"Ruby?" Zachary called out.
"Zach?"
"What? How? I thought you were dead. I saw the Kappa take you."
"No time for explanations. Let's finish this, and I'll tell you everything."
"You little tramp! I should have squeezed the life-force out of you right from the beginning." Vincenzo lunged for Ruby.
"You sard, get away from her!" Zachary commanded.
The room filled with thick, black smoke. Circling the floor until it found its intended, it wrapped around the bottom of Vincenzo's feet, trellising his torso in a tight cocoon, before seeping into his mouth and silencing him.
Margaret ran to Alex's side.
"Alex, what are you doing?"
"That's not me. I think it's Zachary."
The dark magick oozed from Zachary's fingertips like honey dripping off a hive. Soon every corner of the room was drenched with a sticky, black substance. The celestials hovered above the muck and carried Alex and Margaret with them.
Ruby took hold of a piece of the silver chain that had fallen to the ground and circled around Vincenzo several times. She securely tied the ends in a knot, incapacitating their former captor.
The smoke reduced to a fine mist before escaping through the gap in the bottom of the front door.
"Time for your story to end, Soul Gatherer." Zachary took Ruby's hand. "Shall we send him someplace he will never bother anyone again?"
"That sounds lovely. Got somewhere in mind?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."
"Wait," Kyle interrupted, "You're not going to extinguish him?"
"If I use the darkness for evil, and that is what I would be doing if I drain him, then I become evil. That is exactly what the demons who hunt me are wishing for. Alex was right. If I use my magick for good, no matter if it comes from the darkness, the light will win."
"Do you understand, Kyle?" Alex asked.
"Yeah. I get it. I just wish he could suffer like he made Haven and Ophelia suffer all these years. Not to mention all the other souls he's taken hostage. I wonder how many of them he spared, like you're sparing him."
"I promise you Kyle, he will suffer. This will be far worse than disappearing," Zachary continued, “Alex, can you help me?"
"Sure. But I have no sorcerers in my bloodline."
"I think your abilities will be enough. It is a long family line of what did you call it, spidey sense? Sounds like magick to me. You ready?"
"What are you two doing?" Margaret whispered.
"You'll see," Alex murmured.
Suspended back to back, the two boys raised a hand to the fireplace and the other to Vincenzo. In unison, they recited the spell to send him to a fate worse than complete obliteration—an infinity of torture.
"One to open, one to close, to do it again, no one knows. For one soul, the course is true, darkness comes, it's different for you. One to close, the deed is done. Never ending, The Nowhere won."
"Nooooooo!" Vincenzo screamed.
The hearth unhinged, opening its fiery mouth to reveal a rotting arm. The flesh eaten monstrosity, slithered along the barren floor, like a serpent clinging to the asphalt on a warm summer's night. It coiled around Vincenzo's legs, squeezing the Soul Gatherer before he had a chance to escape. With the elasticity of a well-worn rubber band, it stretched itself up toward the face of the whimpering soul. Opening its fist, the anomaly revealed a hollow tunnel inside the decrepit arm, it capped the terrified Vincenzo's head, and swallowed him whole. Retreating, the abomination passed through the gateway of the waiting hearth and disappeared.
"Where did he go?" asked Ophelia.
"To the Nowhere. His eternity of hell." Zachary grinned.
"Now can we all get out of here and back to the Academy? I bet Headmaster has the entire school searching for us by now." Amry opened the door.
Zachary drifted to Ruby and wrapped his finger around hers.
"Now, tell me what happened. If I thought for one second you were still alive... Ruby, I am so sorry." Zachary looked down.
"Hey. Hey. You had no way of knowing I wasn't dead. When the Kappa took me, I thought I was gone too. But my little friend here saved me."
The creature moped over to Ruby and nestled along her ankle. She reached down and stroked his back. Its purr was similar to that of a large feline.
"You're healing nicely," Ruby cooed to the creature.
She inspected the spot where the Kappa had ripped off its horn. A small nub had replaced the gaping wound.
"I assumed all the beings indigenous to this land were monsters." asked Zachary.
"He may not be the prettiest thing to look at, but he's no monster. If it weren't for this guy, I'd have been obliterated long ago. He's been at my side since the first day we met. Well, I ran, he chased me. I had no idea he was just looking for a friend. When you see a giant lizard beast, belly to the ground, and rushing toward you, you tend to not wait to say hello."
"How did you know he would not bring you harm?"
"Like I said, he saved me. So, there was that. Then I realized as I was running that he could've easily caught up with me, and he didn't. He wasn't chasing me; he was following me. Giving me space to figure it out. There's definitely a language barrier, so discussion was out of the question. But I've learned much of his body language over time, and now we communicate just fine. He's my everything here." Ruby smiled.
"If he's so friendly, why did you have him on a leash?"
"That was for his safety. If he would have gone for the Kappa near water, there might have been more of them hiding. I just kept him leashed until I knew he'd have an equal shot."
"Do you think he understands the nature of our conversation?"
"I guess some words have become familiar to him, but the full scope of what they actually mean, I'm not sure. Why?"
"I feel regretful for grouping him into the monster category."
Ruby chuckled, "No worries. I doubt he knows that word. He's never heard it from me."
"Does he have a name?"
"Don't laugh. Promise?"
"I promise."
"Nothing ever seemed to really fit him, and since I couldn't ask him what his name was, I just started calling him—Spot."
Zachary struggled to hold in the laughter. He clasped both hands over his mouth.
"Hey—you promised."
"Spot? You have been imprisoned here all this time, and the most creative name you could formulate was, Spot?"
Everyone roared with laughter.
Spot peered up at Ruby and then rubbed his side across her calf.
"Don't worry, they're not laughing at you. They're laughing at me."
They abruptly stopped.
"He understood that?" Zachary whispered.
"Not so mu
ch what you said, but the laughter probably set him off balance. He's not used to all of you, and he's probably trying to figure you out."
"Hells bells. I'm so sorry."
"We all are," Amry apologized.
"It's okay. We're all just getting to know each other," Ruby soothed.
"There will be plenty of time for that once we get back to the Academy," Zachary chimed in.
"Zach, I'm not going back. I mean, I'd love to. In fact, there's nothing I'd want more. But I can't leave him here alone. He's the only reason I'm still sane."
"You cannot be serious. If you stay here much longer, you will never be able to return. He might keep you sane, but you will spend eternity in the Underworld."
"I'm okay with it. I made my peace a long time ago. This place, as much as it is a rat’s hole, and it is definitely a rat’s hole times one hundred, it's home now. Spot can't come back with me. What would everyone say? Your uncle? Do you think for a second he'd let him stay at the Academy?"
"I do. He thinks you gave up your life-force for me. He feels guilty enough about me being lost for all those years. He will not question this. I know it."
Zachary slowly reached down and gently glided his hand over Spot's back. The creature arched up and then collapsed to the ground. Rolling to one side he waited.
"Oh, I see. You want me to scratch your belly. I can do that."
Zachary shimmered into solid form and stroked his hand over the docile creature's tummy. Spot hummed a low, gravely melody, as he wiggled with happiness.
"See. We are already friends. Please Ruby, come with us. The both of you. If it does not work out, I promise I will bring the two of you back here myself."
Ruby looked away, and then back at the teens waiting for an answer.
“You're all so close. I saw how you watch out for one another, it's like Spot and me. If the Headmaster did agree, it would definitely be a much better life for the both of us.” Ruby smiled.
“Of course, it would. And I am fairly certain the students at the Academy would love to have a demon looking, lizard like creature at their school. Spot will make a plethora of new friends—right after they get over the initial shock.” Zachary grinned.
“True. And Spot can offer added protection for you. I think your uncle will love that.” Ruby turned to her loyal companion, "What do you say my friend, you want to go and explore a new realm?" she patted Spot's horn.
The creature gazed up and rolled over onto his feet. He took two steps and joined Ruby by her side.
"I guess he's in. We both are." Ruby nodded.
"Now let us leave this place. We have about five minutes before the next lightning ground strike," Zachary instructed.
"I'm confused.” Margaret held up her hand. "I thought the Nowhere was the only realm that had designated portals. You said the in-betweens can be opened from anywhere."
"They can. But you must return to the port from which you entered in order to reach your original destination. It is much like walking through a doorway in your home, if you want to enter the kitchen you go through the kitchen door. We started at point A to get to point B. We need to get back to point B..."
"To get to point A, again. I get it." Margaret tapped her head.
"Zach, you can get us there," said Ruby.
"Rube, I haven't even begun to figure out this dark magick. What I've done so far is nothing. Mistakes at best."
"You just gotta concentrate. See what you want, and it'll come to you."
"How do you know? Are you suddenly an expert in the darkness?"
"No. I've just learned a lot living in this place. The souls I've met over the years have taught me so much, some of it I wish I could forget,” Ruby continued, “but if you don't want to try, we'll take our chances with the lightning. I mean you got everyone here. How long did that take?"
Zachary brushed his brow. “I understand.”
"Focus on what you want."
Zachary glanced at the group of teens in front of him, then closing his eyes he saw the doorway to the portal in his mind. One by one, he brought each one of them to the opening.
"I do not think this will work," Zachary sighed.
"Open your eyes, Zach," Ruby giggled.
Fluttering his lids, Zachary slowly opened his eyes. In front of him was the gateway to the portal, and the gang was standing beside him.
"I did it." Zachary's eyes widened.
"Told you. Just believe in yourself. There's so much more you're capable of. But for now, how about you just get us home." Ruby grinned.
"Alex, a little help? I could use some of that spidey sense?”
"For the record, spidey sense is all Margaret's words. My family refers to our gifts as the know."
"Really, Alex? Right now, is when you think it's time to have the label discussion?" Margaret shook her head.
"No. I mean, you know I love your reference. It's just, I wanted him—them, to... never mind. You're right, it's stupid. Sure, Zachary. Let's get everyone home."
The two boys lined up directly in front of the unseen doorway in hopes of unlocking the portal again. Arms stretched out in front of them, they recited the chant in unison. A burst of wind followed by a lustrous twirl of colors, the bridge to the Academy was open.
"You take them out of here, Zachary. Margaret and I will follow."
"No. I think breathers first."
"We're fine. Go."
Zachary's brow furrowed. "All right, everyone through. Ophelia and Haven, you go first. Come, we do not have much time. The vortex will not stay open for long. You hear me, McKenna?"
"I hear you. We'll be right behind you."
Alex pivoted in place. Soaking in the landscape of burning fires, shadowy waters, and the bleak life of the Underworld, he wanted the picture to be stored in his memory. A reminder of the dismal fate that could befall a lost soul, and the job he knew he needed to continue. Grabbing Margaret's hand, he tightened his grip.
"Ready?"
“Sure. But was that?”
“I wanted to make sure I remember why me and my family do what we do.”
Margaret gently squeezed his hand and smiled.
With two quick steps, they leaped into the twisting wind, and the pathway back to the Academy of Souls.
The plan was to head straight to Abernathy's office. Zachary figured his uncle would have the entire security team on the case by now. Mr. Rain and Mr. Coal were surely leading a brigade of overzealous celestials, armed with low level sorcerer powers, ripping apart the campus one room at a time, searching for him. And then there would be the explanation of their new guest, the attention grabbing, Spot. Explanations were going to have to be good.
Since teleportation would be the fastest and easiest way to get Spot there unnoticed, Alex and Margaret planned to meet the rest of them at Abernathy's office. They agreed it no longer mattered if the students realized they were breathers; it was kind of a moot point.
"Damn. I wish we could teleport like them. I want to know what it feels like to pop in and out at will." Margaret smirked.
"You did, sort of."
"What do you mean?'
"When Zachary brought us to the portal. It was by magick, but I'm thinking it's probably pretty similar."
"Nope. That was like hitching a ride. I want to drive." Margaret kissed his cheek.
Walking along the cobblestone path to the courtyard, Alex soaked in what he knew would be his last day at the Academy. Peering up at the roof of the main building, students sat with their feet dangled over the side, sharing a discussion with an open book suspended in front of them. Over in the large oak tree, at the very top, and partially hidden in the leaves, a young couple sat kissing. Alex turned his gaze toward the sky. Golden rays pierced through a cluster of stark, white clouds, illuminating four students nestled on the aerial puffs of faux cotton.
"This wouldn't be awful," Alex commented.
"What wouldn't be awful?" Margaret questioned.
"The Academy. To wind up here.
I mean if you have to have a depot, this would be the one."
"Open your eyes."
"What do you mean?"
"Alex. You're not seeing the whole picture. Every one of them lacks the sparkle of excitement, enthusiasm, hope. They're complacent, not content. There's a reason that each one of them came here. The Academy isn't a vacation destination, it's sort of an in-between. It may look cool, and feel homey, but it's still just a place to go because they're lost. Each one had their own reason, but the fact remains, they can't be with their family, friends, lover—they're stuck."
He took another long look. This time, he peeled away the colored lenses he used to see the Academy. A peaceful, soulful place in the afterlife. But Margaret was right. The harder he looked, the more he noticed. These kids weren't home, they were at the bus stop waiting for someone to pick them up. The problem was it was all inside them. They're the only ones who had the power to move on, but they had to figure it out. What if it took years? What if they never figured it out? Suddenly the beauty of the Academy faded away to desperation.
"You're right, their journey is only half over." He intertwined his fingers with hers. "I love you; I couldn't do this without you."
"Don't worry, you won't have to. I'm not going anywhere." She pressed her forehead to his.
When they reached the Headmasters office, Abernathy was seated behind his desk. The rest of the teens were scattered on the floor, and Spot lay on his belly in the center of the room, Ruby by his side.
"Ah, Mr. McKenna and Ms. Margaret. So glad you could finally join us. I hear you co-hosted your little outing today with my nephew. Please, have a seat." Abernathy pointed to the floor.
Alex leaned in and whispered into Zachary's ear, "How come the place isn't in total panic mode looking for you?"
"My uncle said time moves different in the Underworld. It may seem like hours or days, but here at the Academy it has only been a few minutes."
"Huh. Cool. That's good for me and Margaret. Buys us a little more time before we need to leave."
"I've listened to my nephew's explanation of this debauchery today, and now I'd like to hear your version, Mr. McKenna." Abernathy sat back in his chair.
"It's pretty cut and dry. We knew we had to rescue Haven, before it was too late, and Ophelia lost her forever. If not, Ophelia would be at the Academy for eternity because she would never be able to forgive herself for Haven's fate. So, instead of losing two souls, we gained six. We were able to rescue Ruby, Leon, the other three teens and Spot. Oh, and defeat Roger and Vincenzo for good. All in all, it was a pretty good day." Alex grinned.
Alex McKenna & the Academy of Souls Page 18