LegionBorn

by F. F. John

  He allowed me my pretense, merely nodding as we passed the brick row-houses and ventured through the throngs of revelers on the main Adams Morgan strip.

  “There!” Antonio pointed a few feet ahead of us. “That’s where we’re going next.”

  The name Ahas stared back in neon lettering. I soon learned Antonio wasn’t looking at a bar but at an Amazon of a woman. At least six-feet-tall in her high heels, her lips bent into an inviting smile as she tucked her blonde locks behind her ear.

  “Yeah, this one,” he repeated.

  “We get it, Ant. You want us to go to this particular bar.” Lucas said, an eye roll evident in his tone. “I just want to know what Sofia’s going to think when she knows you only picked this spot because of the lady in the tight, gold dress.”

  Antonio didn’t break his gaze from the girl. “We’re on a break, remember? I’m single until she crawls back to me begging. That right there is what I want to be doing for the next few hours, so if you’ll excuse me…” He walked off.

  “He’s going to get himself into so much trouble and Sofia’s going to be mad at us,” Lucas grumbled. “Come on.”

  The door opened, and we were greeted with loud pop music and hot, steamy air. What we thought was a bar was in fact a nightclub. It took a while to adjust to the dim lighting, which pulsed in time with the music blasting from hidden speakers.

  Lucas jerked his chin at Antonio, dancing in a corner with his hands all over the blonde. Her gaze locked on mine and my mouth went dry when I noticed her fiery red eyes. Rubbing my own eyes, I glanced at her once more. The only thing I saw was her hair because she was busy sticking her tongue down Antonio’s throat.

  “Let’s go stop this before it gets worse.” Lucas shook his head in resignation.

  The shortest way to Antonio was through the writhing bodies on the dance floor. That path left me elbowed in the ribs a few times by energetic dancers. One of them smacked me in the face as well. Taking a calming breath, I pushed through, ignoring the assaults. We’d almost reached our friend when something cold and slimy slid across the back of one of my hands. Recoiling, I angled my head to see what touched me. All I saw were people enjoying some hip-hop.

  Concluding that the tequila must be playing with my mind, I returned my attention to the mission at hand. Stopping not far away, I watched Lucas speak to Antonio who waved him off and continued grinding with his latest conquest.

  Shrugging, Lucas yelled over the loud music, “I need a drink.”

  Using my wide shoulders and six-foot-three-inch frame, I wedged my way past everyone to plant myself in front of the harried bartender. Petite, mahogany brown skin with a spiky haircut, she asked, “What do you want?”

  Order placed for Lucas, I sunk my back into the bar’s edge and looked out at the floor. Bodies gyrated to the bass and at least one dancer appeared to be having a seizure, but I figured that was his unique way of appreciating the music. Past the movers and shakers were black walls which gave way to white feather chandeliers. They resembled floating apparitions under the strobe lighting. As I scanned the room, the DJ mixed in a new song that was apparently popular with the ladies. Most of them rushed the dance floor in droves, leaving guys standing alone. But not for long as many of them gave chase. Their exodus created more room at the previously crowded bar.

  “That bartender was hot,” he said.

  I spun around to take her in. She was talking to a guy and a girl at the other end of the bar. Yup, she was his type. She suddenly looked my way and my stomach lurched. When I placed Lucas’s order, her eyes appeared to be deep brown. Now, crimson orbs stared back at me. Her lips parted, and a forked red tongue wriggled in my direction.

  Stumbling away from the bar in shock, I bumped into a guy behind me, spilling his drink. His face squeezed into a collection of angry lines.

  “Hey!”

  “I’m-I’m sorry.” I kept backing away, just as the bartender handed Lucas his drink.

  “Vaughn, you okay?” he asked while she gave me a dark smirk that made my heart twist with dread.

  I pivoted on my heels. Did I just see that? What the hell! That card reader must have drugged me when she held my hands. Shit! Or when she touched my face! Now, I’m seeing things.

  “Vaughn!” My name reached my ears over the pounding base, but I didn’t stop. Shoving bodies out of my way, I got closer to the exit telling myself, Some fresh air will do me good.

  Before my escape plan manifested, three big men stood in my path just inside of the club’s door. Their eyes glimmered like embers in a dying fire.

  Angling to the left, I only took five steps when a girl in a red crop top and skintight leather pants put her hands on my chest.

  “Whoa, slow down. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Her smile revealed gleaming fangs instead of normal human teeth.

  “Get your hands off me!” I flicked her hands away and backtracked.

  Reeling, I stumbled into someone. “Hey, Vaughn! What’s up?”

  I’d never been so relieved to see Antonio. “Bro, we’ve got to get the hell out of here.”

  “What? Quiero quedarme aqui, hermano. I’m having a good time and I want you to meet Melody.” He closed the space between us to share a secret. “The body on that girl, though?” He brought all five fingers of his right hand to his lips and kissed them. “Que bella!”

  Irritated, I shook my head. He always dialed up his Latin lover persona when he was drunk and wanted to entice a girl. Now wasn’t the time for that.

  Looking past his right shoulder I saw Melody standing beneath a red strobe light with crimson eyes to match.

  Hands on his shoulders, I spun Antonio around. “Look at her. Don’t you see her eyes?”

  “Ah, si,” he said with a deep sigh. “They’re so pretty.” His face took on a faraway look. “I think I’m in love.”

  Good God, I didn’t know what was happening, but one of my best friends had fallen under that woman’s spell. Correction—was she a woman? Was she human?

  “What about Sofia?” I asked desperate to sober him up.

  “Who?” A confused frown settled over his features.

  “Your girlfriend.” My frown mirrors his. “You’ve been with her since the first year of law school.”

  His frown eased into a playful grin. “We’re on a break, remember?”

  Turning my head from side to side, I studied the crowd, noticing even more of these odd red- and black-eyed people. All of them scowled at me. At the door, the bouncers remained shoulder-to-shoulder, their heads tilted in my direction. Close by, the girl in the red tank top rubbed her hands together in anticipation, her fangs a stark white against her tawny skin.

  “Here you guys are!” Lucas arrived. Two drinks in hand. “You didn’t have to act all weird just because you wanted me to cover the bill,” he said with a snicker. “The bartender gave them to us for free and says, she’d like to see me when the club closes so, I’ll be having fun tonight.”

  “Me too!” Antonio parroted.

  “Can neither of you see the crazy-looking people in here?” I yelled.

  They looked at each other, expressions blank.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Antonio asked, throwing an arm around Lucas to stay upright.

  “The people here are—”

  Melody sidled up to Antonio and whispered something in his ear. The resulting smile was lascivious as he took off with her.

  “Drink up.” Lucas shoved a drink into my hand. “It’s going to be a great night!”

  A ghostly-pale girl and a man smiled at me, their opened mouths revealing particularly long incisors. I began to sweat, moving as quickly as my feet would allow toward the door. The bouncers stepped forward and crossed their arms over wide chests.

  A group of giggling girls stood between the bouncers and me. Inspecting them; I saw nothing unusual. No weird eyes or snake-like tongues. They raised their glasses in a toast and I saw my opportunity. Running past, I shouldered into one of t
hem creating a domino effect. Glasses flew to the ground. Girls teetered on their heels. Arms flailed, smacking into people.

  The chaos was complete when two of the girls hit another group of ladies leading to raised voices and angry faces. A lady dragged the bouncers into the situation and I slipped away.

  --III--

  WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? I’ve got to get to that card reader and find out what she did to me. Then, I need her to reverse it.

  My mind wound back the reel of events up to the point things became strange. There was the bartender with the snake tongue. No, before that was the strange slimy thing that touched me. What was with the bouncers and their eyes? Or the girl in the red pants?

  Oh God! I left my best friends in there.

  The thought of something bad happening to them made sweat break out on my forehead. Then, I remembered, Antonio couldn’t see what I saw. Maybe he wasn’t in danger? Same with Lucas?

  Unwilling to take the chance that they’d be safe, I swung around, prepared to return to Ahas. I had to get my friends out of there. But how? Something told me, if I walked back into that club, I might not get out a second time.

  But why were those people—things—looking at me? What did they want with me?

  At that very moment, Layla’s voice floated into my consciousness. She’d said I’d be back before the night was through and I’d get a taste of what wants me. I was certain she was trying to scare me into spending money.

  Still, first things first. How was I going to get Lucas and Antonio out? I ran through a list of options—storm the club and drag my friends out. I’d likely be surrounded and overpowered in seconds. Another option—call my boys on their cellphones. Hope bloomed in my chest. The idea was perfect. I’d call Lucas and tell him Sofia was outside looking for Antonio. That would get Lucas to drag Antonio out to safety.

  My fingers were already punching the numbers when I realized my plan was futile. Neither of my friends would hear the ringing over the music.

  Another idea came to mind—call in a fire emergency or a bomb threat. First responders would arrive and…I let the idea choke to death, rather than explore it any further. I could just see the headlines—Up and coming attorney disbarred for false bomb threat. Jeopardizing my bar membership was not an option.

  Staring at my black leather shoes, I searched for other options. My thoughts faded when I looked at the club’s door to see the three bouncers who’d blocked my exit earlier. They stepped out from beneath the club’s awning one by one, eyes scanning the street. I dipped behind a portly woman with pink braids but not fast enough. One of them pointed at me and all three gave chase.

  The street was crowded with party goers. That was good because the bodies would slow down my pursuers. Unfortunately, they slowed me down as well. With a quick glance over my shoulder, my eyes bulged when the bouncers flung a girl in a yellow mini dress out of their way. Her scream and the loud protests from people nearby filled my ears as my feet pounded the pavement.

  I reached an intersection and noticed the traffic light was yellow. It was bound to switch to red in a few seconds and I’d be able to race across the street. My feet itched to keep moving as I jerked my gaze behind me and the bouncers were almost on me. I swallowed as one of them reached into his jacket, pulling something out.

  At that moment, a beeping sound rang out, and I dashed across the asphalt. I was racing down the sidewalk and passed a guy walking hand in hand with his girlfriend. I let out a muffled apology as I almost collided with them.

  A sharp squeal forced me to twist around. The bouncers were now on this side of the street and closer. They shoved a couple apart. Harsh words were spoken right before the guy fell to the pavement and the bouncers stepped over him. His girlfriend protested in sharp squeaks as she dropped to her knees to help him.

  I was running again and soon saw the familiar sign. Tarot Card Reader. Discover what the future holds. Open 24 hours. A wave of relief washed over me. She’d better reverse whatever she did to me.

  Flinging open her door, I bounded into the familiar shop. Burning candles and the skull on the table stared back at me, judgment pouring out of its empty sockets.

  “Hello?” I called. “I need you to come out here!” As I looked out the glass pane of the door, I saw the men hurrying my way. My throat tightened, and I edged deeper into the shop. “Fine! I need your help!”

  “Stop all that hollering!” Layla yelled, the bead curtain announcing her arrival. “You’re back sooner than I thought.”

  Instead of responding, I stabbed a finger toward the door. The light from the shop landed on the first goon to arrive, revealing a gruesome face. Before, the only distinct feature of these bouncers were their black eyes. Now, however, the once smooth skin of his face was a series of raised bumps. Some released a yellow puss that dripped onto his jacket and down to the sidewalk where it sizzled and ate a hole into the concrete.

  “Oh, that’s what you’re running from?” Layla raspy voice turned amused.

  The goon got to the door and yanked it open. A raw fear stabbed like a hot knife in my chest at the sight of his gnarled claws. They were onyx in color with streams of yellow liquid dripping down them. They threatened unending pain. I shut my eyes, saying a silent prayer. My birthday was supposed to be a celebration of the great achievements to come. Instead, this was going to be my last day.

  Layla’s throaty cackle pricked my ear and suddenly, they popped with a change of pressure in the shop. Slowly cracking my eyes open I saw nothing but a yellow puddle on the sidewalk. A small breeze sent me a whiff, and I gagged at the putrid odor, my stomach turning violently ill.

  The remaining bouncers, who also had the puss-oozing bumps on their faces, had their lips pulled back to reveal big, sharp-looking teeth. The one in the lead snarled threateningly. Maybe he thought things would be different for him because he still ran head-first through the open door. The minute his right foot crossed the threshold, he screamed. His companion tried to stop himself, but momentum carried him headlong into his friend. He too sent up a death cry that filled the air. I watched, mouth gaping, as they both disintegrated into yellow sludge.

  Unable to believe my eyes, I stumbled backward until my legs hit something and my knees buckled. Dropping into a chair, I rubbed my eyes and watched the yellow pool slide closer to the door.

  “Oh, my God!” My voice, like my entire body, wavered.

  “God ain’t got a cotton-picking thing to do with those things, boy.” Layla drawled as she moved to the door. “Ignis!” She waved a hand and the putrid sludge combusted. Embers floating up and away from Layla’s storefront.

  Her hands made a clapping noise that dragged my eyes to her. She was dusting her palms on each other with a broad grin on her face. The first I’d seen from her.

  “What. Were. Those. Things?”

  “Zwarts,” she said puttering around with her candles and the skull on the table. “They’re small fry so my wards kept them out. You don’t ever want that yellow stuff of theirs touching ya. Hurts worse than a Mami Wata’s tears.” She straightened from the table and shuddered for effect.

  Zwarts. Mami Watas. What the hell was this lady talking about?

  “You poisoned me! That’s why my I’m seeing things!”

  She chuckled under her breath. “We both know I didn’t poison you.”

  “You must have! Why else would I see things like that?” I pointed to where the creatures had been.

  “Stop acting mannish. You need to accept that there’s a world that lies beneath this one.” She spread her hands. “Thinking I poisoned you will only slow down the learning you need to do and you already behind.”

  My breath spurted out in jagged breaths. “Fine.” I conceded. “I’m not saying I believe you, but why don’t you fill me in. Start by telling me about those things.”

  She cocked her thigh to the side, leaning on the back of a white chair. It clinked into the table’s edge sending the candles and skull wobbling. “When two demo
n spawn get to procreating, you sometimes get a zwart.”

  Demon spawn? I gulped back some air to steady my pounding heart and decided to continue with my line of questioning. “Is a Mami Wata some type of…demon spawn?”

  She dipped her chin in the affirmative. “They’re like mermaids except they’re evil. They come on land to fornicate, those loose-thighed harlots!” Her voice sharpened, and her lips bent at the corners.

  I was about to chuckle at what she’d said when my pulse raced. This isn’t funny! You just saw a whole bunch of monsters and even left your best friends among them.

  “Shit!” I leaped to my feet and made for the door.

  “Where you think you’re going?” she asked, her tone rough. “And didn’t I tell you to mind your language in my establishment?”

  Ignoring the reprimand, I answered, “I’ve got to go get my friends. I left them in the club where those zwarts chased me from.”

  “Boy come set yourself down.” She gestured at the remaining chair.

  “My friends need— “

  She took the other seat. “Them boys are fine. It’s you the netherworld wants.” She was so casual about it as if we were discussing something as normal as a basketball game.

  “Who wants me?”

  Her sigh accompanied a dramatic eye roll. “Come over here so I can see you when I talk to you.”