I sat on the sofa before my shaking knees gave out. What was I doing here? I was in some crazy guy’s house letting him tell me about crazy things, and I was being drawn into believing it. My life had never been normal, but that doesn’t mean I should believe everything Ben was telling me. And now my tattoo had mysteriously gotten bigger and more intricate. I must be hallucinating. What kind of oil did he use on my feet?
“What—why did it do that?” I asked still trying to believe what just happened.
“The oil I used, being in another monster’s presence, or maybe, it was just time for it to change.” His eyes were gentle, and sincere.
“This is crazy,” I whispered, but loud enough Ben could hear it.
“Your hexmark, if strong enough,” he said, gently running his fingers over my mark, “can eliminate the demon that haunts you in the darkness, stares down at you with glowing eyes, and cools the air around you when in your presence.” Ben gazed steadily into my eyes. “I know you know what I say is true. There are too many things that are falling into place for not only you, but me as well.”
I shook my head. I had to get away—to reason everything out. “I have to go…have to get out of here,” I said, standing up as the room spun.
Ben steadied me before I landed face first into his solid wood end table. “No, the serpent’s oil is making you dizzy. You aren’t going anywhere.”
I closed my eyes because I couldn’t focus on anything. Everything twirled like I was on an amusement ride. Ben placed a pillow under my head and covered me up with a blanket. I should be freaked out, but I wasn’t. Call it instinct, a sixth sense, or a gut feeling that I felt with Ben. I knew he wasn’t going to hurt me and deep down, I felt a connection.
I opened my eyes to see him staring curiously back.
“My name isn’t Beth, its April, April Snow.”
Ben smiled and leaned forward. “It’s nice to meet you April Snow.”
I woke to the smell of bacon. It smelled delicious, and made my stomach ache with hunger. I pushed myself up to see Ben working feverously in the kitchen. I pushed the blanket away, and walked over to the bar and sat down. He didn’t take notice, but instead, shoved a plateful of bacon, hash browns, eggs, and toast in front of me.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked so I made the monster special.” He smiled at his pun on words. “I’m sure you must be famished.”
“You must like to cook.” I took a bite of the scrambled eggs, and raised my eyebrows in surprise of how good they tasted.
“Yes, I do like to cook. I find human cuisine diverse and inspiring.” Ben took one of my slices of toast. “In fact, the jam I put on your toast, I made from the raspberries I grow in my garden.” He acted like I should be impressed.
I nodded my head and put my fork down.
“April,” Ben said my name with a sincerity that I never heard before. “Are you alright?”
“What do you think?” I asked slightly on the sarcastic side. “I ran away from the institute I was staying at, witnessed a man getting the life sucked out of him, let a,” I looked at Ben, I couldn’t wrap my mouth around the word monster, “stranger,” I said instead. “I let him take me to his house where he fixed my boo-boos, and now I’m eating a five star breakfast with enough food to feed ten people. Of course I’m not alright.”
I covered my eyes with my hands and let out a sigh.
“So,” he said, after a few seconds passed. “You think this breakfast is worthy of five stars?”
I removed my hands from my eyes as he looked down at his plate.
“Didn’t you hear me? What you told me…what happened last night…my tattoo…”
“I heard you perfectly clear, and you need to suck it up a little bit.” My mouth dropped open from shock. “Do you think you’re the only one who had a lot dumped on them? You’re not the only human to get bit and become a monster.”
“Yeah, but,”
Suddenly, a knock pounded on the door followed by the doorbell. I swung around and peered at the door and then back at Ben. I looked at him as to what I should do.
“I’m sort of expecting someone, and they won’t care if you’re here or not. Just stay where you’re at.”
“Wait,” I said, getting off the stool. “What if it’s someone from the search party?”
Ben smiled. “Then I will suck the life out of them.” His tone had a playful tease to it, but I really wasn’t sure if he was kidding or not.
I stepped back into the kitchen, half hiding behind the bar as Ben opened the door.
“It’s about time you opened the damn door,” a woman with blonde hair said as she burst inside. “I think someone, teenagers of all things, followed me from Iethia. I outran them though.” She pulled from her grey leather pouch a compact mirror, and flipped it open.
She messed with her shoulder-length hair as she held the mirror from several different angles before shutting it.
“So, do you have it?” She asked in her quick voice.
Ben smiled at her. “First, I’d like you to meet a friend I just met last night.”
“You mean you have someone here and you didn’t say anything?” She scolded as she followed with her eyes Ben’s hand that pointed towards me. She sniffed the air. “She’s a half-baked. What are you doing with her? Are you taking a pet with you when you go to sanctuary?”
“No, she isn’t a pet. She’s the piece that I believe completes my circle. The fates have given me a present, and I would like you to meet her. Her name is April Snow.”
She looked like a porcelain doll with her perfectly wavy blonde hair that looked like it was combed about a hundred times a day. Her pale skin was flawless and her eyes were a bright shade of blue, almost like she was wearing contacts.
“And this is Yolanda,” Ben said, motioning towards her.
From her leather purse, Yolanda pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. “April Snow,” she said, through a puff of smoke.
I wasn’t sure if she was going to say anything else or if that was it for her hello. “Nice to meet you, Yolanda,” I said, with a smile.
“I bet you don’t even have to train this one. She’s probably putty in your little monster hands,” Yolanda chuckled.
I gave Ben a skeptical look, and even thought of leaving, but I didn’t. Ben knew more about me than I did myself.
“So,” Yolanda slid her eyes over to me and then back at Ben. “Do you have your muffin recipe for me?” She crossed her arms as swirls of smoke filled the air.
“First, let me get you an ashtray.” Ben tromped into the kitchen. “I did just purchase that rug, and now it’s ruined,” he said under his breath as he passed me.
Yolanda took the ashtray and smirked at Ben. “What are you, Martha Stuart now?” She took a puff of her cigarette.
Ben glared at her.
“Look, I don’t have much time, and I’m sure you don’t either…the muffin recipe.” She prompted again.
Ben went over to a roll top desk, and pulled out small metal box. It was about the size of a jewelry box, but much thinner. Yolanda’s eyes sparkled as Ben handed it to her.
“I’m trusting you, Yolanda, not only with my safety, but a human child as well.” Ben gazed steadily at her.
“She’s practically a monster too, not human.” She put the box safely in her leather pouch.
“She’s in limbo, and under your laws, still human.”
I had about a million questions running through my head as I listened to their conversation.
“If you’re using her as leverage, don’t. I uphold my word, unlike a lot of my kind that don’t know the meaning of trust.” She placed her hand on the door knob. “I’ll be back in a week to get you, and your April Snow.”
Ben nodded. “Yolanda, I’m trusting you,” he repeated.
“I know, and I hold that trust sacred.” She left with a nod and a quiet click of the door.
Ben stood by the door for a few moments letting his hands rest on the richly stained wood
panels.
“Who—who exactly was that, and where are we going in a week? And what did she mean by muffin recipe?”
Ben didn’t answer right away as he took in a deep breath and slowly released it.
“It was a special muffin recipe, that no one should have, and I’m trusting Yolanda for its safe disposal.” He turned around with slightly glowing eyes.
“So, is she a monster, or something like one?” I could hardly believe I was asking such a question. If I was back at Sunrise Acres and asked that question, my nightly pills would probably double.
Ben smiled. “No, she’s not a monster, or anything like one. Yolanda is an angel.”
Seth
“Did you smell more than one angel?” Malachi asked as we made our way through the thick forest littered with fallen limbs and rotting leaves.
“Just one, and was a female. She could have just been passing through and portaled her way out of Iethia, especially since her scent ended abruptly.” I looked down at the map. A thin line glowed on the map and showed where we were at on the hidden trail. It was our only way of knowing where we were going.
“How much farther?” Nessa asked behind me.
“Not far.” I glanced back at her not really knowing how far we had to go.
We traveled blindly through the forest. My uncle made this map secretly a long time ago. It was designed to only be used by blood relatives, and only the ones he selected. I was honored when he asked me, and couldn’t decline his offer.
The darkness was slowly being dissolved by the sun breaking over the horizon. Beams of orange and gold lights illuminated what foliage was left on the trees. As we passed by the massive oaks, a few of their leaves fell around us as if greeting us. This part of the forest was quiet, and hardly anyone ever came here since it borders the Wildlands of Iethia.
“Those were good,” Malachi said, eating the last of the bagels.
“What are you doing?” Nessa stopped and pointed at the crumpled sack that Malachi discarded to the ground. “That’s littering.”
“So,” Malachi said. “I don’t think there is anyone to give me a ticket out here. And besides, it’s biodegradable.”
“That’s not the point.” She picked up the sack and shoved it into Malachi’s chest. “Dispose of it when we get to where we are going.”
He burrowed his eyebrows at her, and then gave her a sly smile. “No, and I don’t have to, half-size,” he walked past her, bumping into her shoulder.
Nessa turned into a small rabid animal when you got her mad, that I’ve witnessed her do before.
“Nessa, the mission,” I reminded her, and tried to calm her anger. “Let it go.” Her eyes flickered at me; she wasn’t letting it go, and reached for her small leather whip.
About as quick as a lightning strike, Nessa had her whip wrapped around Malachi’s feet. He landed with a thud, face first. Nessa took the paper sack and shoved it in his face.
“We are trying to make a better world for ourselves and for the future of the monster race. And you add to the trash that’s we are trying to clean up. Whose side are you on anyway?”
Malachi spit out the leaves that had gotten into his mouth as he sat up and unwrapped his feet. His face was red, and his eyes slightly glowed. Nessa planted her scowling face into his.
“It’s just a paper sack,” Malachi stood up. “You should calm down before you break a blood vessel, half-size.”
Nessa tightened her fist.
We were wasting time, and my credibility as a leader was slowly crumbling. Uncle Hes wanted me to be a leader, and gave me this opportunity that he could have easily given to someone else. I could hear his displeased voice already. I had to do something, otherwise this would never cease.
“Stop!” I yelled as a few leaves fell around us from the vibration of my voice. “We don’t have time to argue about littering, who’s right, and who’s wrong. Malachi, don’t liter because you are leaving a trail for someone to stumble on. We need to be quiet and move as quickly as we can. There is a lot at risk here, not only for us, but for humans as well as monsters.”
I got two sorrowful and embarrassed looks. I think they finally understand the importance of this mission, and I hoped I didn’t have to remind them again.
Quietly and with a quicker pace, we walked through the pathless forest that was truly magnificent. This would be a place Ezra would like. She liked nature and found the peace and quiet comforting. I had taken her to the gardens of Duneloc, but they were nothing like this. I looked up at the tall trees that framed the blue-violet sky through their barren and wildly twisted branches. Yes, she would like this, but I’d never get to hear her say it.
Suddenly, a gust of wind stirred up what leaves had already fallen and plucked the remaining from the limbs. Through the blizzard of leaves, I saw someone standing in front of me. She was dressed in a purple gown that moved like mist around her. Her eyes were soft and locked with mine.
“Ezra,” I said her name as I gazed at her.
“Your thoughts can bring me closer to you.” The wind caught her dark hair as the leaves became entangled in it. “You can bring me back my love.” Her voice whispered around me.
“Seth, are you alright?” Nessa asked as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
I looked at her and then back at where Ezra had stood.
“Yeah, fine,” I looked at the map. “Let’s keep moving.”
We stood in a clearing and the line one the map had stopped moving. The landscape showed no signs of a door, portal, or anything resembling the passage that angels had used centuries ago. The map said otherwise.
“Are you sure that the map lead us to the right location?” Malachi asked as he stood beside me and gazed at the map.
“The line hasn’t moved and is a flashing dot now.” Malachi, I knew, couldn’t see the blinking dot that stated we had arrived at the portal, so I rolled it up and looked around.
“Then it must be here somewhere.”
“Yeah, but where?” He asked.
“Here!” Nessa exclaimed.
Malachi and I went over to where she was on hands and knees pushing back leaves and grass to reveal a stone ledge. We helped Nessa clear off several stones that looked like white marble and cut in perfect squares. It was about the width of a set of double doors and looked to only be the threshold of a once magnificent door.
“This looks like this hasn’t been used in a long time.” Nessa said with dirt smeared on her cheeks. “I thought your uncle said it was used not too long ago.”
I ran my foot along the edge of the stones. It had been buried for some time, and left to turn into ruins. Something wasn’t right about this.
“Do you think the map lead us to the right place?” Malachi questioned.
I bent down and ran my fingers over the beautiful stones. My fingertips tingled. “We’re in the right place.” I looked over my shoulder at Malachi. “We just have to reveal it.”
“Reveal it?” Nessa questioned. “How are we going to do that? Magic? We are just monsters, not magicians.”
I unrolled the map hoping to find a clue.
“How do you know that it needs to be revealed? Maybe your uncle was wrong and the portal was destroyed and buried.” Malachi stood beside me glancing at me and then the map.
“No, I don’t know why, but I know we are here and just have to find a way to work it. The angels were good at hiding things of importance. Do you think they would have the portal all lit up with a signage and all?”
Malachi shrugged his shoulders. “I guess not, makes sense.”
“Uncle Hes always said the important things are hidden where least expected.”
I looked at the map trying to decipher the lettering written under the detailed drawing of the door. It was written in the language of the angels. Why didn’t my uncle tell me what to do when I got here? Surly he knew that the portal had to be revealed and I had no idea how to.
“Can you make anything out?” Nessa asked coming ov
er and stood on my other side.
“No,” I said, frustrated.
“It’s in the language of the angels.” Nessa looked closer at the map.
“Yeah, I know, and none of it makes sense. I can’t read a word of it.”
“It says the word blood a lot,” Nessa said, as she gazed at it.
“You can read it? Where did you learn to do that?” Malachi asked surprised.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Here and there. I went on the road with a gypsy a few times, and they knew the language really good. I tried to get them to teach me, but they wouldn’t so I tried to learn what I could.” She looked back at the map. “Blood of my blood is the dominate saying, and it’s hard to read the rest.” She looked up at me. “There’s a warning there too. It’s that mark right there.” She pointed at a line with two lines intersecting it at the top.
“Blood of my blood,” I repeated out loud, and then several times in my head.
Uncle Hes said that a lot to me. He always said that I had a lot of his blood in me—we were alike in many ways. He had seen the angel portal before, and used it. Why didn’t he tell me how to use it?
Blood of my blood. Those words meant something, but what did they mean in the workings of the portal.
“Angels are bound by blood.” Nessa spouted off like she was reading from a book. “That’s what the gypsies always said. They were obsessed with them, and know many things about angels.”
I rolled up the map, and walked over to the stones. I gazed down at them wondering if I should chant, cast a spell or jump on them as I’m casting a spell and chanting.
“Angels were always doing things with their blood—like bonding, and it was even used to immortalize humans and even monsters. There are actually many fables about them that the gypsies know.” Nessa bent down beside me and ran her fingers over the white marble stained by years from being underground.
“Blood of my blood,” It finally dawned on me. I looked over at Malachi. “Do you have your dagger?” I asked as his eyes widened.
Dancing With Monsters Page 3