Grey Dawn

by K L Rymer

  I don’t blame her for a second for leading me to him.

  “That’s something you will need to figure out on your own, sweetheart,” she says, and I feel a slight prick of irritation.

  Where do I even begin to figure all this out? Am I destined to wander the terrain of limbo until I find my way back to earth? That could take all eternity.

  Grandma places her hand on my shoulder, and her smile reaches her sparkling eyes. “Find Eli. When you do, it will all make sense, I promise. After all, you’re soul mates...”

  My heart skips a beat. My grandma was right. Eli and I truly were soulmates. It’s as if we were made for each other with the way our bodies moulded together, two perfect opposites, just like my grandma and grandpa.

  When they met as teens in the early sixties, they were the perfect bad boy, good girl duo, and suddenly Grandpa takes a hold of Grandma and twirls her around, and all three of us chuckle like old times.

  The door soon beckons them once again, and I hear that Elvis Presley music drifting out from the other side.

  My eyes widen... no... could it be the real Elvis?

  They wrap their arms around me then move back towards the light. I gasp.

  They’re ageing... backwards. Right before my eyes, my grandmother’s hair turns back to the honey shade it once was, and my grandfather’s too, and before long they’re that young, beautiful couple that I only ever saw in black and white photographs over the fireplace.

  My grandparents stop at the threshold, even younger than me now. Grandma’s beautiful in her feminine skirt, and Grandpa handsome in his leather jacket, and tears escape my eyes when I truly see how happy they are, reliving their youth.

  “We love you, angel cakes!” Grandma calls out before Grandfather picks her up, and the last thing I hear before the giant gilded doors shut is the sound of their pealing laughter.

  The light disappears at last as I stare up at the solid gold door, but I don’t cry, because I will see them again one day.

  It just wasn’t my time. Like my Grandpa said, I had a mission, and that was to get back to my soulmate, Eli.

  With my head held high, I walk back to Sergeant and climb up onto his back, and we charge back down the bridge to limbo again.

  Not long now, Eli... I’m coming, I promise.

  7. Eli

  I refuse to open my eyes as the floating lights drag me around.

  All this plane-hopping was going to give me internal bleeding if they’re not careful, but not that they care. I’m dead, anyway. Just a soul they can drag around like old rubbish.

  That’s what my soul’s worth in the end— a pile of stinking rubbish. Not even The Devil wants me now.

  So, now what? Neither heaven nor hell wants me, which is why I’m drifting around this limbo, right? Was this to be my afterlife? A lost soul with no place to go?

  And what about Crystal? I bet she’s already forgotten about me now living on in bliss. Most likely with her grandparents, the ones she always used to talk about, yet I didn’t care to listen at the time because I was an arsehole. It was back when we first started dating, and you know how that story went. I actually hated her guts back then, wishing I could just be fucking Sophie instead, or whatever that whore’s name was.

  I’d do anything to switch places with that Eli, just to hear her voice again. Crystal could talk about paint drying, and I’d still be riveted.

  Her voice always made my heart spasm. It was just so sweet and soft, like her arse.

  My cock jabs the inside of my pants when I picture her round arse, and I smirk, thanking the high heavens it still works.

  Thought I’d never feel the joy of arousal again, but it makes sense, considering I have a pulse as well.

  If I just keep thinking about Crystal, then soon enough I may be able to sniff her out (I’m that aroused). Not even heaven or hell can keep me from my angel, and my heart beats in anticipation.

  The lights giggle, and I shiver.

  Imagine hearing children giggling in the middle of the night when you’re asleep, only to wake up to remember that you have no kids.

  Yes, that creepy.

  One floats up to my face and I cringe. It’s the one that keeps kissing me.

  “Aw, he’s thinking about her again.”

  Another comes to my other side, and now they have me trapped. I’m too afraid to see what they look like. Their voices scare me enough, I dread to see their faces.

  “How can you tell?” the other one asks.

  “Because his heart beats faster, silly!”

  “Ooh, let me listen!”

  I grind my teeth as they place their heads to my chest, and once again I curse these entities, whatever they are.

  I’m not their cute little plaything.

  “It’s so beautiful...”

  “Also, his pants grow.”

  My blood reaches boiling point, and finally, I snap. “That’s it! Who or what the fuck are you all, and where are you taking me?!”

  They all gasp in surprise at my outrage, and I roll my eyes. It’s as if they’ve never heard the eff word before.

  “Uh oh... he said a very bad word...”

  “Maybe we should send him to the bad place after all.”

  They drop me, and I tumble back to oblivion at breath-taking speeds. “No! I’m sorry!”

  Then they catch me again, and I feel their warm little hands all over me. They giggle down my ears as I lay in their arms, shaking like a leaf.

  “It’s okay, Mister Black. We won’t really drop you.”

  “You’re safe with us!”

  The same light pecks my cheek again, and I growl. “Stop kissing me!”

  “I will when you stop being so handsome!”

  “That can be arranged...” I envision my demon breaching the surface, but they just laugh at my feeble threat.

  Now I sigh, wishing I could just be with Crystal. This journey was really starting to drain on me.

  Another light floats up to my face, and I can feel its sympathetic eyes. I have no idea what those eyes look like, but I’m too afraid to look.

  It’s best to just leave these stars a mystery.

  “There’s no need to be afraid of us, Mister Black. We have peered deep into your soul and decided you are worthy. You will find Crystal again.”

  I struggle for words, my heart beating a mile a second. “I... I will?”

  The light smiles. I don’t know how I’m aware of this since I have my eyes closed tight shut, but I can feel her beaming at me, and it’s sincere and sweet. “Promise. You have a beautiful heart deep, deep, deep, deep down, Eli. It’s what you deserve after all.”

  Deserve? I find that hard to believe. But I guess I’m not as evil as I’d once thought. Not as much as my father had been, anyway.

  Which reminds me... I wonder if he had to endure all this too, but failed miserably.

  Yet I don’t bother to ask. I’d rather not know. It would make no difference to me whatsoever.

  We start to descend, and the wind rushes through my ears. The little lights laugh in delight, and I shake my head, but I can’t help but smile.

  They really are carefree and innocent.

  Soon my feet find solid ground, and I stand for a while, the blood rushing through my head.

  “You can open your eyes now, Mister Black.”

  “I... I don’t want to.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m afraid of what I’ll see.”

  She steps closer and places a hand on my shoulder. Then another one puts a hand to my back, and another to my cheek, and soon they have me surrounded.

  They’re taller now, whatever they are. Whereas at first they were small points of light, now they’re the size of humans, and I start to open my eyes (they were almost glued shut).

  “Go on... keep going...”

  I open them fully now, wincing at a harsh light. My head rings and I cover my ears.

  Then a soft pair of hands grabs my temples, and the ringing stops. Next,
I peer into a set of luminous hazel eyes.

  It’s a woman, long red hair and fair skin, and I turn to the others. They’re all women too, seven in total, and they’re not bad on the eyes. Beautiful even, like supermodels, and I wished I’d opened my eyes earlier now.

  Now, this was heaven, beautiful women tending to your beck and call. One bats her eyelashes, dark hair and bright blue eyes, and I think I can guess who she is.

  They wear white dresses, blending with the scenery, and I gaze around.

  We stand in a white clean room, and my OCD sighs in satisfaction.

  Not a speck of dirt in sight, but what did I expect. We are now in heaven, aren’t we?

  I turn to look at the foxy redhead, and she gives me that sweet smile.

  “So, this was what you all looked like all along? You could have told me sooner.”

  They giggle like sorority girls, and it’s the hottest sound I’ve heard in a while. They no longer sound like creepy children.

  “No, Eli. This is just how your mind conjures us. Apparently, you’re most relaxed when surrounded by beautiful women. But, of course, there’s only one woman for you now...”

  She gives me a pointed look, and I glance at the others. Sure, old me would have had them all in a pile, but new me only wants Crystal.

  “So, what happens now? Why have you brought me to this ridiculously white room?”

  They laugh again, and it’s starting to piss me off.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” my admirer asks, her blue eyes sparkling like gems.

  I meet each of their eyes until I come to look at the redhead. “Am I missing something?”

  “Look at the door in front of you, Eli,” she says, and I look up, coming face to face with a gold-plated door. It’s intricately designed with flower patterns, and I step closer, grazing one of the petals with my fingers.

  The solid gold is warm to the touch, and I turn back to my giggling fangirls.

  “So, this is it? I walk through this door and enter eternal bliss?”

  They all burst into laughter, slapping their sides or wiping their eyes, and my cheeks burn.

  I know it was a bit much for a demon like me to expect, but do they have to be so abrasive? It hurts.

  “Oh, you poor thing,” my admirer cries, coming up to stand beside me. She rubs my arm and a few of the others join her too. I don’t cringe this time, considering they look like supermodels now.

  “You wait on this side of the door while someone comes out. There’s someone who wants to see you before you move on.”

  My heart pounds as I gaze into her glittering blue eyes. “Who?”

  She chuckles then squeezes my cheeks, and it hurts.

  They get to work on my appearance, pulling off my ripped shirt and jacket until I’m bare. My admirer admires my muscles, and I cover up, uncomfortable under her leering gaze.

  They soon dress me in a new shirt, tying up my buttons before placing a black jacket on top, and now the redhead reties my cravat. A blonde runs a lint roller up and down my pants, while my sexy admirer combs my hair. A little brunette squirts peppermint spray into my mouth.

  My heart’s ringing in my ears now, and I guess with the way they prime me up, someone important is about to arrive, and the room starts to spin.

  “Whoa, steady now,” the redhead says, placing her hands over my shoulders. “You don’t want to ruin all our hard work, do you?”

  I see two of her now as I try to focus, and I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I have nothing to be afraid of. I’ve been waiting for this day since I was eight-years-old. Yet my mouth still dries up, and I take the peppermint spray off the little brunette, moistening it up.

  Finally, they step back, admiring their work. My admirer smirks, giving me a cute wink, and I take a deep breath.

  “Don’t worry, Eli. She’s going to be so happy to see you,” she says.

  Yet why do I have butterflies? It shouldn’t be this hard.

  I start to perspire, and the blonde steps closer, dabbing my face with a cloth. The little brunette brings out a battery powered fan, blowing it in my face, and my admirer snaps at her for ruining my hair.

  But I leave the stray strands, too numb to care.

  Suddenly, the nob twists on the gold-plated door, and my heart whirs like the wings of a humming bird. The women step away, vanishing behind me.

  “Good luck, Mister Black,” the blonde says, patting my shoulder. “We will see you again very soon.”

  I’m too nervous to pay attention to her, so I just nod, keeping my eyes on the gold of the door.

  Then my admirer passes me, whispering close to my ear. “I’ll miss you...”

  She plants those full lips to my cheek, yet I still don’t look away from the door. A shadow stretches across the white floor.

  Now it’s just me and the redhead, and she pats my cheek as she follows her comrades. “You’ll be fine, Eli. She’s going to love you. You’re her son, after all. She misses you.”

  I close my eyes, sucking in a deep breath as she exits the room. When they open again, I come face to face with a fair-skinned, grey-eyed woman.

  She has black hair to her shoulders, and when she smiles, dimples appear on her cheeks.

  Just like mine.

  All the air leaves my lungs, and then a tear slips from my eye and all the way down to the collar of my shirt.

  “M-mum...”

  8. Misaki

  All eyes fall on me as I enter the council room, wearing long, black robes. I’ve fashioned a belt around the waist to give me that shape while wearing diamond-studded sandals (hey, a girl’s still gotta look glam). My hair flows down my back like liquid black as charcoal lines my eyes.

  Leticia and Leila dyed my robes to match my family name. I’m still a Black through and through, no matter how much White tries to stop me. I will live up to the name.

  This is my second meeting with the council, and just like the first time the room falls silent. Not even a cough or a sneeze, and I’ve never felt so flattered.

  Lord White looks at me impressed as I take my seat next to Talk Show host Lydia Montgomery, who sticks up her nose.

  Screw her. I never found her funny, anyway.

  My eyes meet Ashley from across the table, and he quickly looks away, focusing on everything but me.

  I smirk.

  Yeah, he still wants me.

  Let’s face it. A girl like me could wear a potato sack and still look fine. So it’s no surprise the former teen heartthrob momentarily lapsed.

  White, however, doesn’t take his sinful eyes off me, and he’s just so obvious. I’m shocked his cult doesn’t call him up on it, but no one would challenge the great Lord White.

  He really is a big old hypocrite. The only ones who know the real truth of Crystal’s death are me, Ashley, Leticia and Leila. Lydia is clueless as ever (no surprises there), and the rest just gawk at White like mindless zombies.

  A tense silence passes over the table. All of White’s followers avoid looking at me at all costs, though I catch a few of their glares. An old, miserable hag on White’s left stares me ice-cold daggers, and I return her glower.

  Leticia and Leila warned me about her. Apparently, she’d been advocating for Eli’s immediate death the moment White captured him (and no doubt she’s pining for my death right now too). Luckily, Crystal stopped her in the end and won her father’s favour.

  Not that Crystal’s efforts worked on the long run. Now her and Eli are both dead, and this shrewd old woman couldn’t look any smugger.

  I have a feeling she’s well aware of the true nature of Crystal’s sudden death.

  Lord White gazes down the long table, Ashley and Shrewdie either side of him (Shrewdie being my new nickname for the ugly old bat).

  “So, I guess you are all wondering why I have summoned you here tonight?”

  A few murmurs break out across the table, but I keep my focus on White. He carries on with his spiel.

  “It has come to my attention that
a lot of you are eager to learn the truth of my daughter Crystal’s death.”

  Lydia sniffs beside me, wiping her eyes, and I give her the most poisonous look. How dare she cries for my friend. The phoney.

  White gives a long, grave sigh, shaking his head. When he peers back up, his eyes shine a luminous blue, and I stare impressed.

  Wow, he can fake cry on the spot, but I don’t let that distract me. I can’t wait to see the looks on his followers’ faces when he finally confesses.

  What will they make of their saviour then?

  “My... my daughter...”

  Everyone watches frozen while White tries to find his strength. I take it White wasn’t much of a crying man? Always remaining strong, stead-fast and bearded.

  A real macho man.

  “It’s all right, Michael. You can tell us,” Lydia says, her voice kind.

  So... we can call him by his first name? But Your Holiness sounds so much better.

  White takes a deep, shuddery breath, and I have to give it to him; he sure can act.

  “Crystal... w-was... k-killed... by... by... E-Eli Black. Right before I’d taken his life.”

  All eyes turn to me, but I only keep mine on Lord White.

  The liar... how dare he taint my cousin’s memory. Eli never would have dreamed of doing such a thing to Crystal. He’d loved her, and I feel my demon bubbling to the surface as I fix my golden gaze on that self-righteous bastard.

  I should burn him on the spot.

  Ashley shakes his head in warning, and I lean back, raising my brow.

  The former heartthrob sits solemnly on White’s left, staring intensely at his glass of water.

  He was there the night Crystal died, so he knows the truth. But I see the crease between his brows, and it’s obvious he’s not comfortable lying about Crystal’s death.

  I seem to remember he drew a loud breath the moment we entered the clearing, Crystal’s small body lying limp and lifeless on the ground before us.

  Had he cared about Crystal too? After all, she had been an innocent, someone who didn’t deserve to die, and it’s written all over Ashley’s face.