by Karen Glista
Lisa turned her head to the rooftop of the house.
Anna joined her side and there, perched like a bird of prey, she saw a silhouetted form. “Frankie,” she whispered, a hand to her mouth. The darkened figure rose as if lured by her voice, feet planted in a wide stance as twin lights cut a fluorescent swath to breach the darkness. Anna gasped, shielding her eyes from the glare. “No!”
“Let’s get you inside,” Lisa whispered, taking her arm. “There is much to explain.”
Inside the manor, Anna hugged Makayla.
“Oh, my goodness,” Makayla said, “you look just like Donja.”
“That’s quite the compliment, my dear,” Anna mused. She slipped out of her heels, gripping them in her hand and found Lisa’s gaze. “Frankie?” she asked, fighting her tears.
“Coffee?” Lisa countered.
“Just an answer please, and then if you could show me to my room.”
“Donja’s been bitten by Torin and bears his antigens,” Lisa blurted, expecting the disclosure to be a shock, yet if it was, it didn’t show in Anna’s face. “Her abductors want to nab Frankie with the plan of draining Donja’s blood and using Frankie’s to infuse her so that she…”
“Can get pregnant,” Anna interrupted.
“Yes, and Frankie would die. We had no choice but to taint his blood with another Iridescents antigens.”
“Was it forced upon him?” Anna asked.
“No, we talked about it in depth. Frankie really admires Gage, Makayla’s Iridescent boyfriend. He got to see Gage transformed and after that, there was no holding him back. He wanted it and I was relieved. I couldn’t lose him, Anna.”
Anna dropped her head, then exhaled softy, “A wise decision, but painful nonetheless. She raised her head. “He’s not my Frankie anymore, is he?”
“Not exactly,” Lisa’s lips trembled, “he’s crossed over and now…he’s a powerful Iridescent trapped inside a boy’s body. He doesn’t need a mother anymore,” Lisa said and her voice though close, sounded miles away. She turned away and busied herself, rinsing the coffee pot. “It’s killing me, Anna,” she said without looking. “I have lost both my children to this unforgiving land.”
“Not the land, my dear,” Anna said softy. She turned to Makayla. “Would you be so kind as to show me to my room?”
~~~
Atop the landing of the third floor, Anna paced behind Makayla, floorboards creaking. When Makayla opened the door and Anna stepped inside she paused, barefoot on plush ivory carpet.
Makayla joined her side. “This is Donja’s new room. The construction workers just finished the renovations. It’s lovely, but Donja didn’t want it, she wanted to share a room with me so that you could have it, but after she was abducted, Lisa insisted on decorating it for her. She comes up here every day and just sits for hours, crying.”
“I understand,” Anna whispered, seeing Donja’s CDs and her favorite magazines. She noticed a shelf which held remnants of her life, her handprint cast in plaster, ribbons from the St. Joseph football games, Pinocchio and Mickey Mouse from Disneyland. Then she noticed Donald’s picture which she sent Donja for her birthday. Tears streaked her cheek.
“Well,” Makayla said, “I’ll leave you to relax, I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
“Thank you,” Anna said, as the door closed. Her eyes washed over the room which was soft and creamy. She walked to the four-poster bed, dressed in a satin gray skirt with a white topper. She spun to a knock at the door. “Come in.”
Lisa eased through the door and closed it behind. “Do you need help unpacking?”
“Maybe later,” Anna said taking a seat on the bed.
“I’m still in shock,” Lisa said as she bypassed the suitcases and sat down beside Anna. “For a moment, when I saw you get out of the vehicle, I thought it was Donja.”
Anna looked puzzled.
“She’s not total goth anymore,” Lisa said, “she got over that and transformed into what she and Makayla call gothiglam. You’ll be as shocked by her as I am by you.”
“What brought that on?”
“Makayla. They rubbed off on each other and though Donja uses more goth in her makeup than Makayla, they dress pretty much the same.”
“Does she still wear black?”
“Oh yeah, it’s still her color of choice.
“Well,” she said, while wringing her hands, “regardless of her looks, I’m very concerned for her safety.” She met Lisa’s eyes as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “That’s why I didn’t want Donja to come here and I know at the time that you thought I was interfering with your kids, but I feared this might happen.”
“Why did all this happen?” Lisa asked, “that part got by me.”
Anna’s lips tightened, something akin to guilt leaching from her eyes. “It all started over a thousand years ago. The elders said that seven spirits appeared as a vison. Long Knife, the Midewiwin who first saw them in his sweat lodge, told the people that there was nothing to fear. It was a blessed time for the tribes. The spirits were great teachers. Then one, referred to as the seventh, changed.”
“How?”
“He found a way to leave his spirit form and he took on the body of a young warrior who was near death after a bear mauling. No one was safe, women were killed, sucked dry of blood, and then he began to bite warriors, changing them to Iridescents.
“That’s horrible.”
“It was, Anna said, “but it got worse.”
“Worse?”
“One of the warriors he had changed to an Iridescent took a bride and a child was born. According to elder tale, the blood of the child was mixed with the father’s and it changed him into a powerful being called a Sirun.”
“I haven’t heard that.”
“They are the most powerful, less so than the seventh, but also capable of great feats, strong and agile with the ability to assume a spirit body.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Turn invisible.”
“So, there are different types of Iridescents?”
“Yes. Participants are weak and kept only for feeding and sexual pleasure. Lesser Iridescents are strong but they aren’t capable of producing children, so they were no threat to the Durent females. The real danger was Affiliates. They are warriors, strong and adept at battle. They can produce a child, drink of its blood and become a Sirun.
“Torin’s an Affiliate, Lisa said, “and we have others here, watching over us. We’ve been attacked twice now and I’m telling you, if it weren’t for them, we’d be dead.”
“Oh my,” Anna sighed. “Tell me, with Frankie’s transformation, how is he handling all this?”
“Surprisingly well, but it’s all we can do to keep him from joining the battle. He’s been begging for a sword.”
“Why, what brought that on?”
“The Affiliates use swords to decapitate their enemy, seems it’s the only way to kill Iridescents. Now that Frankie’s one of them, he wants to fight at their side.”
“I don’t like that.”
Lisa combed her hair with her fingers. “I don’t either, but I’ve lost him, Anna. He talks to the Affiliates and some to Carson, but he no longer participates with our family, not meals and he hasn’t slept a night in his room since the change. Gage and Torin said it’s a phase and that as he adapts to his new life, he will eventually come back and be a part of us. I just keep praying.”
“Does he have a sword?”
“Yes, I couldn’t stop him, but Gage, who is Makayla’s fiancé, is training him and who knows, maybe it’s for the best. He might at some point have to defend himself.”
Anna’s eyes narrowed. “I agree, but I must admit, I’m shocked. I didn’t realize Iridescents could die.”
“They can, and they do, but the head must be severed. It’s ghastly, about the most horrific thing I’ve ever witnessed, but it’s justified and given the chance, I’d behead one myself knowing what they have in store for Donja.”
An
na exhaled. “Such misery.”
Lisa stood up and Anna joined her side. They hugged.
“Enough of this for now, my head’s spinning. Daylight is upon us,” she said, casting a look to the windows. “Do you want to sleep or perhaps a cup of coffee? I baked cinnamon rolls.”
“That sounds wonderful, I am a bit hungry, but then I need to get some sleep.”
Inside the kitchen with the redolent smell of coffee and fresh baked cinnamon rolls wafting, Lisa and Anna sipped coffee, laced with sugar and cream. Maestro suddenly sprang to his feet barking. Startled, with her nerves on edge, Makayla dropped her glass of orange juice. Maestro ran to the windows reared on his hind legs, pricked his ears and barked.
Lisa snatched her Colt 45 off the counter, stepping over the spilled juice. “Carson!”
“Upstairs, I’m coming!”
Maestro went berserk, barking and growling, scratching at the pane. He all but ripped the curtains from the rod, then bolted, running back and forth from the kitchen windows to the front door. Concerned, two Affiliates, swords in hand, came in from the living room, just as Gage came bounding down the stairs. A rap on the front door sent the Affiliates and Gage scurrying.
“Who’s there?” Gage bellowed.
“It’s me, brother,” a deep masculine voice penetrated the door.
Gage unbolted the locks, just as Lisa, gun-in-hand edged into the foyer. The door swung wide and she saw Val, Torin’s best friend who looked like a steroid-induced Hulk Hogan. “We got incoming,” he barked, his deep, masculine voice echoing the foyer. “Stay with the mortals. Keep them safe!”
“You got it!” Gage shouted as he slammed the door and spun. “Everyone upstairs!”
In the upstairs hallway, Makayla, Anna and Lisa sat on the floor, cordoned by two Affiliates. A blood curling howl outside the house sent them into action. Lisa, Anna and Makayla stood up just as Carson and Gage moved steadily toward the stairs. The sound of shattering glass echoed up the stairwell, followed by crashing and a deep, painful “Ugh.” An eerie silence settled upon them. Gage, who was standing in the middle of the hallway crouched at the knee and with his sword high, shouted, “They want Frankie but once they see he’s changed, they’ll come for Lisa but be ready, once they catch Anna’s scent, she will be their main target. Guard her with your life!”
Two loyal Affiliates joined Gage, swords poised in the hallway and from below, the sounds of battle permeated the floors forcing them to bristle. “Get ready!” Gage growled. “I can smell them!”
Suddenly a dark shape topped the stairs, followed by two others, streaking toward them. The two Affiliates who were guarding the women flashed forward with a flurry of swinging blades. Gage jumped into the mix, face to face with an Iridescent. A head went flying, with a trail of blood behind. Makayla screamed, blood splattering the walls and in the escalating chaos, Carson with his .357 in hand, backed Anna, Makayla and Lisa down the hallway.
Gage’s body went soaring. He crashed into the wall, mortar cracking and dust falling from the ceiling. He slid down the wall just as the Iridescent with eyes like a fluorescent strobe, leapt forward and swung his blade. Gage ducked, evading death with a kick to the midsection which sent his assailant flying with such force that he broke through the wall into the bathroom. Gage bounced to his feet and jumped through the mangled heap after him. Seconds later, they crashed back through the wall. The rogue swung, Gage ducked, leapt high and swung, decapitating the rogue.
A second Iridescent streaked toward the women. Carson fired his pistol. “Gage!” he shouted.
Gage streaked the hallway like a beam of light.
The Iridescent spun, bleeding from a bullet wound to the chest. He growled. Gage swung on him but the Iridescent parried. Gage jumped, spinning in the air and swung, his blade severing the Iridescents head.
“Gage, behind you!” Makayla screamed.
Gage spun then immediately rocked his body back evading a swinging blade so close he felt it nick his skin. He ducked a second swing and with a growl rumbling from his lips swung his sword which found the Iridescents neck with a loud thud. His head went rolling.
Hearing Lisa and Makayla’s screams, he wiped blood from his eyes as an Iridescent flung Makayla aside, fangs bared, his fluorescent eyes on Lisa and Anna.
Carson stepped forward with the gun smoking as he fired projectiles into the demon’s chest. The Iridescent, the size of bull, showing no effect from the bullets, swung his fist and sent Carson flying.
Gage raced the hall, his body a blur. He raised his sword but the Iridescent caught his scent and spun. They parried simultaneously. Gage lost his sword. He ducked, steel flying inches over his head and lunged forward, knocking the Iridescent off his feet. The Iridescents sword bounced on the floor, sliding away. Gage rushed him, but he swung his balled fist which caught Gage on the jaw, sending him flying back down the hall. Carson came in from behind, pressed the pistol to the Iridescents head and fired. The Affiliate slumped and with a wide swing, knocked Carson on his back. Lisa crawled on hands and knees, saturated in blood. She snatched the sword just as the Affiliate turned his attention back to Gage. She swung with all her might. The blade hit the Affiliate from the back and his head, though not completely severed, dangled upon his chest as he slumped to his knees. She raised the blade, tears falling and swung again.
Val came running up the stairs, six Affiliates behind him. “Everyone safe?” he asked, blood dripping from his face.
“Yes,” Gage wheezed, “we killed four, but we lost Markus and Eric.”
“Damn it!” Val growled. This situation’s getting out of control.”
Gage wiped at his face. “How many did you kill?”
“Nine and we took one prisoner,” Val breathed, “that makes thirteen of the bastard’s dead and at least sixteen fled, but it’s far from over.” He turned to Carson. “Do you have any lumber, nails, wire, anything?
“Yes,” Carson said. “The construction workers left materials in the garage.”
“Good, because they took out the dining room windows and we have considerable damage. Gage, you keep the women up here until we can make the repairs.”
“I’m pretty good with a hammer,” Carson said, “I can help.”
“Thanks,” Val said, his voice trailing as he scanned the bodies littering the bloody floor.
“No, thank you, thank all of you,” Carson said. “We’d be dead by now without…” his words trailed, eyes locked on the stairs. “Frankie,” he gasped, “are you hurt, son?”
“No,” Frankie retorted, a sword in hand, his face splattered in blood. “I killed him,” he said. He turned and dashed away.
Val stepped over a body, heading for the stairs. “Torin’s gonna be pissed that we have casualties.”
“Speaking of Torin, where is he?” Carson called out.
Val paused momentarily and turned his head to one side. “Meeting with an associate, but I phoned him, he’s on his way.”
~~~
While twelve Affiliates completed the repairs to Hampton Manor, others removed the dead and scrubbed the upstairs of blood. Lisa, Carson and the rest of the family, minus Frankie, gathered in the living room bunched tight, guns-in-hand. Nervous eyes scanned the windows as fear spread upon them.
Atop the ornate mantel, the antique clock, dressed in polished wood with an ivory face suddenly chimed eight a.m. Lisa flinched.
“It’s okay,” Anna whispered, though she herself looked completely horrified.
Just shy of the piano, the Iridescent prisoner, captured minutes earlier, sat cordoned by sixteen Affiliates. Lisa fixated on him, shackled in iron. She bit at her lip, an internal battle waging and though part of her wanted to beat his face and beg for news of Donja, she was taken aback as Frankie, with a sword in hand joined them. She felt a deep yearning to take him in her arms, but he offered only a slight glance before taking a stance with the guards, steely eyes locked on the prisoner. Lisa watched him, so much like his father, his skin, hair, the sla
nt of his eyes.
The prisoner moved, iron chains clinking. Lisa analyzed him head to toe. He was big, nigh on seven feet tall with an evilness none could deny. Heavily tattooed with bulging muscles and a shaved head, he sat with his chin tilted to one side, bleeding from a deep slash to his right cheek. His lips periodically trembled contempt, rage, be it what may, a shiny gold tooth reflecting the flames.
Time dragged as minutes turned to hours.
The front door opened, voices penetrating the foyer, one of which was Torin’s. Lisa breathed a sigh of relief, for truth be known, she had faith in Torin Mancini. She glanced up just as he entered the room, a stranger at his side, well-dressed, with a defiant glint in his eyes.
“Everyone okay?” Torin asked.
“Yes,” Lisa gushed. “Thank God you’re here.”
Torin gave her a nod before he turned and with a raised hand, gestured to the man beside him. “I would like to introduce you all to Antonio,” he said. “This is Lisa, Donja’s mother, Carson, her stepfather, Makayla, Gage’s girlfriend and Anna, Donja’s grandmother.”
“Hello,” Antonio said, his eyes roaming face to face with a smile that flatlined as he beheld Anna.
Anna dropped her head.
Antonio swallowed hard and then, ever so slowly he pulled his eyes from Anna and made his way across the room to the prisoner, but not before he affectionately rustled Frankie’s hair.
Frankie gazed at him with admiration, something Lisa had not witnessed since his transformation.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Rubio.” Antonio said with an impudent grin as he squatted in front of him. “Looks like you’re bleeding all over your tattoos.”
Rubio spat on him.
“Who are you working for?” Antonio asked, wiping his face with the back of his hand.
Rubio glared.
Antonio smiled, though his eyes revealed bitterness and then in the blink of an eye, he slammed his fist into Rubio’s mouth, rocking his head to one side. “I asked you a question.”