by JN Moon
His face dropped as he looked at me, but I was right. We needed to be damn careful.
So the next night we went to see her, with a vague address we wandered out of the smoggy city up to the surrounding valley. As we approached, we saw an ancient tumbled down wall that surrounded a dilapidated house which we guessed was hers from the vague description Marcus had been given. Ivy and undergrowth virtually covered the wall and the house, and a smattering of small trees shot through the narrow driveway.
As we made our way up the path, a chill swept over me and the hairs on my arms prickled. For a nephilim to warn another, this woman must be formidable. The air smelled different. The scent of decay and death grew heavy, and I found myself both intrigued and apprehensive about this sorceress. Marcus remained quiet and looked calm. I couldn’t hear his thoughts, but the anticipation was building. But as we neared her home, closer up I saw that the ruined state was just a hoax, maybe designed to keep humans away. Though the scent of decay and tang of blood strongly permeated the air now.
Marcus raked on the iron knocker, looking at me. I saw worry in his watery eyes and stern mouth. Mabel answered as soon as he had finished knocking. She’d been waiting for us.
“Marcus! I missed you, so glad you’ve come home. Ah, you’ve brought another. Welcome, Anthony.”
Her voice sounded sweet and charming, as was she. She looked like a woman from a pre-Raphaelite painting. Tousled ginger hair, half up, the rest like a delicate waterfall on her shoulders, dark eyebrows, and deep eyes. Her clothes were plain, but her beauty needed no ornament to shine.
Chiding myself that this was her spell she used on others, I braced my body but stayed courteous. I wanted to foolishly believe this could be straightforward, but as my gut tightened, I knew that was my real answer.
“Mabel! It’s been too long.” Marcus sounded amiable and warm and I noted he made no effort for physical contact. Me, I tilted my head in a bow. I wondered if she’d guess I wasn’t from her time. I hoped not.
“Come, this way. So, Marcus, you’ve fallen from grace I see. What became you?” She looked fascinated at his now dark appearance. I wondered what he’d tell her. I never imagined he’d tell her the truth.
“I drank a vampire’s blood. Yes, I have fallen and paid a heavy price for it, but you know that’s not why I’m here.”
Her eyes were piercing and her lips curled up, as her ex-lover confessed his demise to the evil in the world. Me? I was mostly too enraptured by the macabre assortment of skulls and human bones collected about in her drawing room. The furnishings were plush. Victorian red and green velvet chairs, chaise lounge, and a mountainous hearth that had one hell of a fire burning in it. The thick wallpaper in hues of dark emerald and gold made the room look richer than it was. It was warm except for that ever-present smell of mould I’d noticed everywhere in these Victorian homes. But that wasn’t the only smell. I picked up a scent not unfamiliar.
I had to turn away to hide my disgust and shock as I realised what that stench was—human flesh. My predator instincts awakened, fangs felt sharper and it was all I could do not to snarl at her, let alone just bleed her dry. There was something terribly, terribly wrong here.
I maintained my composure and within a minute or two a frail elderly maid came in serving tea and cakes. The woman’s pallor appeared so grey and wrinkled and smelt of decay. I took an involuntary step back and looked again at the fire to conceal my horror from them. Pretty sure the maid was dead! Christ, this witch’s a lunatic! Acting as if she’s the epitome of Victorian civility whilst burning human remains in her fireplace and zombie servants serve tea! What in God’s name!
Calming myself, I knew Marcus would’ve read my mind, but he acted well, as if nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I just hoped to God that it wasn’t Orion’s remains, but then it couldn’t be, could it?
She offered me tea and cake in her sweet voice, which obviously I declined. I was surprised she hadn’t detected I was a vampire.
“So, you’ve come to see my boy, I suppose? And I hope you don’t want to take him away.” She laughed tossing her head back, her eyes glinting.
“He doesn’t belong here, and yes, he needs to come home. Mabel, I won’t be argued with.”
“Of course not,” she said lightly and picking up a tiny bell she rang it and a few moments later the dead maid returned. “Get Orion.”
The corpse woman lumbered off less easily than earlier when she’d brought tea, and I realised that Mabel’s magic must be waning. Or fluctuating. Either way that was good to know.
As we waited for Orion, Marcus stood silent and composed, not wanting to make small talk but Mabel, who obviously rarely got visitors of the kind who willingly came, did want to talk. Sitting tight upright she turned to me. “So, what do you do?”
“I am a vampire!” I answered sarcastically.
She responded quickly though, which made me grin, odd as she was. “I’ve met a few in my time and I have to add that I’ve always found them vile creatures. Vain, greedy with no true idea how to wield the power bestowed on them. You seem different though, calm and collected even though I feel you can’t wait to leave. Necromancy is a lost art and one that doesn’t deserve the reputation it has.”
I didn’t care. Raising the dead? I can’t imagine there’s ever a good reason to do that.
At that moment the door swung open and Orion, now a young adult, entered. He looked about nineteen years old. His wings matched his body in size and severity. His curly hair almost reached his shoulders, and his jet-black eyes shone like obsidian. His hands were still claw-like but they seemed normal enough for him to use as we do.
His eyes widened and a smile expanded on his stone face as he saw Marcus, then me.
Marcus moved forward, towering only slightly above Orion, and the lad looked at a loss for a moment as to what to do.
“Orion, come! It is good to see you. Are you well?” Marcus asked.
“Marcus! Anthony! I never thought I’d see you two again. Yes, I’m very well. What are you doing here?”
“We’ve come to take you back; to take you home. Are you ready?”
“No! It is a nice thought, I appreciate it, but I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying here.” His face changed from smiling to stern in a second. He swept his shaggy hair back and looked around expectantly.
Shit. Still a petulant child and now we have to either convince him, which I doubt, or force him. Maybe tempt him would better, or even trick him, but either way he’s coming back.
Marcus replied, his voice sharper than usual and it echoed in that musty room. “This isn’t a request! You belong in the 21st century and I will take you back there. How I do this depends on you. The consequences of you being here, in this time, are catastrophic for the future. This is no joke; you must come home.”
Mabel sat in her velvet high-backed chair watching this looking like an innocent child, but I felt a turbulent energy rise in her, and I had no doubt she had bewitched Orion into believing he must stay in this time. Did she even know what the time loop was?
Marcus, however, was having none of it and questioned her. “What have you told him? You cannot keep him forever; others will come and destroy you, others more powerful than us. You must make him understand, this has nothing to do with your own empire building, this has to do with the fate of humanity. Speak, Mabel!”
“I am sure Orion will do what’s best for him and can make up his own mind. What I do and what I plan is none of your business now, remember?”
She stood up and her doll-like face turned to rage, then calm again. Now Orion spoke, but by her body language, it looked like she controlled his actions, his words.
His voice was deep and resounding, but not as booming as Marcus’s. “I don’t understand what my being here has to do with the future, but it is my choice. You should leave now.”
I heard Marcus speak to me in my mind. He’s young and she’s placed some sexual spell on him. We’ll have to find a way to break t
hat. But not today. For now, at least, I want to leave on congenial terms.
For me it took all my energy to rein in my predatory instincts, so I responded by twisting my lips.
“You know already we will return, but it is my hope we can work this out without fighting.”
“I’m curious that neither of you have asked me about the time loop. Do you know I don’t know what lies between it?” she asked.
“As you said, Mabel, your life now is none of my business, but be careful if you step through there. You might not survive what you find.”
Talking over, we stood up and left, not looking back. I could feel Orion’s eyes boring into me as we went. Now we needed a new plan and others to help us.
When we’d walked for some time I spoke. “Marcus, here we are again in the thick of it.” Marcus and I had been through some crazy shit together!
“Anthony, I know what you are going to say.” He shook his head, his face paler than normal. “Look, when I dated her she was not like this. She was a white witch and I found her purity of heart and her humour magnetising. What in God’s name has happened? Had we arrived a few years earlier, I could’ve prevented this. It’s disturbing and sad. I was there with the urge to kill her, to stop the evil I felt coming from her. The last time I saw her I felt love.”
I didn’t reply. What could I say? That I also had the urge to end the malevolence I felt from her, taking her head, and burning the foulness that is her. People change, sometimes for the better, sometimes like a lunatic. I suspected that evil always resided in her, it was just waiting for its opportunity to manifest. I knew two things: I would get Orion back, and I would take her head. And I knew what I had to do next...
The Witching Hour
Rachel
Damien and I met up with Nathaniel by the teashop just before the witching hour and to our surprise, Sabian and a few of his kin had joined him, too.
“I spoke to Nicolas earlier asking what was happening with the children. After all, their future affects our future. He sounded distraught on the phone and told me about what happened. So, we’re here to help.”
“Thanks, Sabian. I don’t know what we’re going to face or where we’ll end up, but I feel a lot safer with you guys beside us,” I said.
Warmth coursed through me, knowing we were now a team of eight. Sabian’s pack were renowned for being one of the toughest. He didn’t just lead them, he trained them in fighting and though they were free to do what they wanted in their own time, they were fierce, skilled fighters. I had only learned this recently from Damien who had given me a brief history of all the paranormals in the area.
Sabian himself stood six feet four, and his chosen fighters about the same. We had no idea what we would find, but we knew Anthony and Marcus must be in trouble. Another time loop sounded likely, so I had gone to my home before meeting up to grab a dark mirror, used the last time I travelled through a time loop, and a coat and some supplies.
“Has everyone brought some gear? We have no clue what we’ll find, but my hunch is it’s a time loop. I have a dark mirror that was used for travelling through time loops, a phone—though they’re not usually much use—a compass, a knife, and a watch, besides a few other things.”
Nathaniel’s wide eyes gleamed and he couldn’t contain a huge smile. “I heard a little about Marcus’s and Anthony’s experience in the time loop, hence the coat! And yes, I’ve brought a few things.” He undid the buttons on his long black woollen coat to reveal a small, sheathed sword inside. He looked at everyone, a childish grin on his face as if expecting praise.
I glanced at Sabian and his pack who were also dressed in long coats. I guessed these worked wherever you end up. They carried backpacks. Sabian nodded, not revealing what they were carrying, but to indicate they were ready.
Sabian introduced them. “This is Luke and Tim, the newest members of my pack, though neither of them are lycans. They shift into...something else. Stuart and Craig have been with me a long time, both lycans.”
I nodded, as did they. I really wanted to know what Luke and Tim shifted into, but now was not the time to ask. I’d have to wait and see, but as they weren’t forthcoming I guessed it wasn’t the done thing to probe. Warmth filled my heart knowing that we were now a team of some force.
So we waited in front of the tiny tea shop. We didn’t look too out of place. Bath is a tourist city and there are always groups of people hanging around.
I grew aware that I kept rubbing my hands together, and Nathaniel rocked back and forth on his feet. Only Damien and Sabian and his pack were calm as we waited. And waited.
At last we heard the clock start to chime for midnight, and all of us moved instinctively forward a step. Focusing completely outside the café, I forgot to breathe, my body tense. Nathaniel had one hand inside his coat, poised to draw his sword, and everyone else stood taller, waiting.
A shimmer of light appeared glistening before us, and out stepped four vampires decked in Victorian elegance, wearing masks.
“What the...” Sabian spluttered.
They looked uneasy, but they stopped as soon as they saw us.
“You don’t have much time. You’re all looking for Marcus and Anthony?” the male vampire with white hair asked urgently.
“Yes, you have them?” Damien enquired calmly.
Shifting looks from one to another, the first vampire spoke. “They came through here, yes. You’ll need to hold onto us, this only lasts a few minutes and then we’re back in our own time.”
“Are they alright?” I asked quickly.
“For now, your timing is good, we need you. Orion has been taken. Quick!” They held out their hands and we each locked onto one. Tingles of sensation ran through my limbs as I held the vampire man’s hand. No time to ask questions. It looked like a history lesson and I never did like history.
A brilliant bolt of light and then pummelling wind and darkness all around. Bitter cold engulfed me. Noticing my body was rigid, I began to breathe again and tightened my grip on the vampire’s hand. Just seconds but it seemed longer, we were standing in the same place, but from the smell I instantly knew we were indeed back in time.
Swaying and staggering, these vampires held out their hands to steady us, moving quickly between us.
The other male spoke. “My name is William, this is Claude, Eliza, and Rebecca. We would like to know your names, too, but first we need to get you back to our lodgings. You look too out of place. Come, we must hurry.”
We followed them, staying to the side streets. I held Damien’s hand to steady myself. I suspected Sabian and his men, Nathaniel, and I were all feeling the same disorientation. Dizziness sent me stumbling a little and almost drunk. It smelt revolting, and I couldn’t help but glance at my boots and see the filth on the pavements. It was eerily quiet and the darkness of the streets cast ominous shadows down passageways and corners.
Before long, we arrived at their house and they hurriedly unlocked the great door and ushered us in. It was cold in there and the hairs on my arms stood on end. I hoped they had a fire upstairs.
“Are they here?” I asked.
“Yes, they have not long come back from trying to persuade Orion to come home. They were unable to do this, and were upstairs considering how to get back to you when we had to go out and walk through the time loop,” William replied.
“Why do you do that?” I couldn’t mask the curiosity in my voice. “I mean, do you do that every night? Why?”
Rebecca was behind me when she spoke and immediately removed her hand from her lips as all turned to face her. “It is crazy. It is, but we...” She paused. “A witch cast a spell on us, we have no idea why. We think that the spell caused the rift, the time loop. We had just come back from a masked ball and were laughing until we realised that she was spying on us. As soon as we spotted her, the witch held out her hand and something shot out of it, and we ended up in this loop of time.”
Her head dropped as she spoke. “We have tried many time
s not to go to that place, but each night we are compelled against our will to dress the same and walk there. And try as we have, we cannot seem to stay in your time.”
My mouth dropped open. Whatever purpose could that serve? Unless the witch used them to cause the time loop, so she could use it for herself. That must be it.
As we walked into the living room, Anthony and Marcus both stood up, their eyes wide with surprise, then both beaming as they rushed to see us. “What’s happened? How did you get here? Why didn’t you come back?” All spluttered out of my mouth. Nathaniel and I embraced them, relief swept over me.
“God, what a relief. So you came back through the time loop?” Anthony asked. “And everything’s okay, back in our time?” he asked quickly.
“Yes, why wouldn’t it be?” Anthony and Marcus flashed a look at each other, before Anthony continued.
“We can’t say too much. I mean I don’t know if we can. However, if we don’t get Orion back, everything will be...fucked. But, he doesn’t want to come back, he’s bewitched by a sorceress. We are so glad you’ve come. I was just discussing going back to get you.”
I shook my head trying to understand him.
Marcus continued, “Rachel, when Orion was taken, for us at least, standing near that time loop, reality changed. The world—our world—wasn’t the same. It was like we were in a future, and it wasn’t good.” He lowered his voice. The grave look on his face sent a shiver down me.
“We were lucky, we befriended vampires there, and a witch who helped us get here, but we didn’t know if we used the time loop again we would get to our own time or the alternate time.”
“How is that even possible? Three different versions of a time?” I asked. My mind spun with the plausibility. If it hadn’t been Marcus or Anthony telling me... As I thought that, I realised that there were loop holes in time. Or space, or whatever. Physics was never my speciality.