A World Divided
Page 28
The face that stared contemptuously at Alex was unmarred. It was unnervingly perfect.
“So, here we are,” said Daemeon, sneering. “I’ve been waiting for this day a long time.”
“Bravo on capturing a sixty-five-year-old man. You must be very proud of yourself.”
Color rose on Daemeon’s cheeks. He’d always wanted his brilliance acknowledged, ever since the first day he’d stepped onto the castle grounds. Alexander could still see that malnourished boy of seven or eight eagerly vying for praise from authority figures. Alex had felt sorry for him at the time, but then he’d been in his early twenties. He was more interested in making a name for himself in the military than in the antics of a young boy.
“You are not superior, old man.” Daemeon’s voice cracked, and his eyes flashed red. “What sickness burns in your mind that makes it acceptable to brainwash a woman into loving you? Was it some twisted game to you? You stole the only person I ever loved from me, and you wiped every memory of me from her mind. You think I’m the monster, but you’re wrong. It’s you. It’s always been you. You and your brethren who so callously throw the lives of the lesser away. Your government, who get fat while children die of starvation in internment camps. You are not blameless.”
Alex opened his mouth to speak but was struck by a tickle in his throat. As he coughed, the wire dug into his neck. Warm liquid fell, soaking his shirt in a sticky mess. His mind blinked in and out, threatening him with blissful unconsciousness. Finally, he pulled himself together.
“I knew your mother before the war,” Alexander said in a raspy voice. “I watched her devolve into madness. The woman I met all those years ago was kind and respected life above all else. She became that woman again after she was separated from you. I had my suspicions that she was being controlled by an outside force. I do admit that I didn’t suspect you for a long time. Your power never seemed very incredible.”
Daemeon’s jaw tightened, but Alex continued, “I didn’t force her to love me. In fact, I tried very hard to stay away from her, but I discovered that true love can’t be separated. She may have lost her memories, but she didn’t lose her spirit. You were poison to your mother, and if you continued using her, she would have died.”
“Liar!” Magic burst from Daemeon, stealing the air from Alex’s lungs. “You stole her from me, and now you get to feel the way I felt when I found out the truth. Caitlin!”
The cell brightened. His daughter stepped in front of him, flames sparking from her dress. Her hair was wild, flowing freely in a breeze that touched no one but her. Her beauty was insurmountable. Alexander gasped. Caitlin raised her milky eyes to him and in a voice of Power she said, “Die.”
Epilogue
They made it back, all together, to the Kowalski’s home. The first few days were chaos. Officer Clemmens’ body had been removed. Even his police cruiser was conspicuous in its absence. An inquiry into his disappearance was made, but nothing ever came from it. None of the policemen had known him well. He’d transferred from out of state, and when his previous precinct was questioned, they claimed no knowledge of his person. An internal investigation took place, but it wasn’t broadcast to the public. Detective Stathem stayed out of the investigation.
All the news channels ran were stories of the miraculous return of young Elise Kowalski. Detective Stathem was the first to break the trance shock had placed on the group. He regained the authoritative composure that was lost to him in the world of magic, and he came up with a plan. He knew of an old, run-down cottage deep in the woods. Happenstance had brought him upon it several years earlier, and it would make the perfect location for a crazed lunatic to hold a young girl and her mother. He used his authority to get the other three moving when they would have curled up and cried.
That night they made their way to the location and set the scene. In the early hours of the morning he burst into the police station with Elise in his arms and Ashley trailing behind. They told their stories over and over about a scary man who had kidnapped them and Caitlin. Ashley feigned amnesia, which wasn’t difficult, and Elise claimed to be drugged most of the time. A nationwide plea went out to find Ashley’s family. Lots of phone calls came in, but they all proved to be false alarms. She became a ward of the state and was adopted by Henry. The process was expedited.
A sketch of Dave circulated, as well as photographs of Caitlin. He was said to be armed and dangerous. The public was to call an 800 number if they had any information about their whereabouts. Again, many calls came in, but nothing came from them.
Henry returned to the sprawling mansion where he left his mother-in-law and was told by the staff that she and Lockland had left for parts unknown. He had no way of tracking them and no way of contacting any of the Clarensdell outposts. Speculation flew about Lisa and Alexander’s whereabouts, but Henry never said a thing about them. It was infuriating to the public. However, as all sensational news does, enthusiasm died down and public attention turned to the next horrific story.
Henry and the two girls started a life for themselves, but they never stopped searching for a way back. Elise said she could feel a flutter in their house and on their street. Something felt heavy but exciting. Henry feared the sensation came from the door that had never been closed. The door that slowly, but surely, filtered the magic from beyond into his own mundane world and allowed him to see terrifying glimpses through his wife’s milky view on the television screen.