The Life & Death of Jorja Graham

by Brynn Myers

  As the hours continued to pass, my body remained immobile but Rhetta’s mind began to awaken. Her anger continued to seethe and I heard every wicked thought she had. Cat would be the first victim to suffer the brunt of her wrath and then she planned to kill my aunts simply because she could. Rhetta went on and on about what she’d do once she was able to move and then what she’d do once Lilith was released. Lilith was a merciless killer, even to those who were faithful to her. Whatever Lilith wanted, she got––one way or another. As images flashed of what Rhetta planned, I no longer had the luxury of hoping for a miracle. I had to stop Rhetta. I had to stop this all.

  c h a p t e r

  TWENTY-TWO

  The sun began to rise over the oaks and the tension within Rhetta was as thick as the fog over the marsh. She’d already checked the Farmer’s Almanac five times to confirm that the full moon had already begun, 8:16 am, November 17th. I wasn’t sure how many times she needed to read it before she’d finally believe it, but now it was all I could think about too. Rhetta had run around the house arranging everything exactly as Lura specified in the journals and was prepared––or so she thought.

  The front door slammed open and in walked Corbin, Cat and her mother, Lucille, and her grandmother, Adelaide, and then finally Lucas. All five of them came in without hesitation and stood together as they stared up at Rhetta. Corbin’s fury was unmistakable; his eyes teetered between cognac and black as he clenched his fists.

  “Time is up Rhetta. Release Jorja or suffer the consequences,” he growled.

  She laughed as she looked at them over the railing and I knew time was up. Rhetta had been chanting in her mind and I could already feel twinges of energy as they floated over my skin. My mind flickered in and out of darkness as the static charges continued to build. I knew with each word Rhetta chanted that I was fading away.

  “It’s clever of you to bring back-up but nothing will stop me. The ritual has begun and it’s time for you to pay for all you've done,” Rhetta taunted.

  Cat, Lucille, and Adelaide pulled out cloth bags and formed a circle around them before they linked hands and began to chant their own spell. None of this, however, was fazing Rhetta. She continued to taunt Corbin, assuming he’d be the weakest link considering his affection and willingness from before to stop the moment he thought he’d hurt me, but as the foyer was filled with voices intoning Latin, Rhetta was taken by surprise. Lucas and Corbin both moved so quickly they appeared as blurs before they materialized on the landing near the door of the bedroom. I think they believed they had her cornered as they stalked towards Rhetta, but unfortunately she had another plan.

  She gripped the pendant, hoping to hold onto our connection because whatever Cat, Lucille, and Adelaide were doing to draw her out of me, was beginning to work. Rhetta backed away slowly, pretending to be unaffected by everyone, but the closer she got to the stairs the clearer her plan became and I had no way of warning anyone. The time was now. I had to put my plan into action. I’d lived a full enough life I supposed, well maybe not, there were still things I wanted to experience, things I’d hoped to accomplish but now all that mattered was this…protecting the ones I loved would now become my legacy.

  Corbin must’ve thought Rhetta was going to jet down the stairs because he ordered Lucas to the base of the stairs but instead, she ripped the necklace off and slammed it to the floor, the blood in the locket pooling out from the shattered glass. I felt it the moment Rhetta left my body and I reached for the railing. My body swayed near the edge of the landing and I looked over at Corbin and mouthed, “I’m sorry, this is the only way.” Before he could reach me, I let go and tumbled down the grand staircase, the sound of my bones and the wood colliding pounded in my ears. I knew it was the right thing, the only thing I could do. If I died, Lilith could not be reborn.

  I could feel each of the broken bones and the warmth of my blood as it began to run cold. Most of the pain was radiating from my lower back but I was still conscious despite the fact my heartbeat had already begun to slow. I was dying and I’d accomplished my goal. The world would never be subject to Lilith’s reign and Rhetta would no longer have a body to inhabit.

  Rhetta’s ghosted image hovered above the landing and I managed a smirk as she glowered down at me. Cat stopped chanting and ran to my side but her mother and grandmother continued on. Corbin was there too, on the other side of me, but my focus was on what was happening above them. I was fixated on Rhetta as she floated above the broken pendant. It was then that a humid gust of wind blew into the room and thousands of bright blue butterflies began to swarm overhead. I couldn’t figure out where they were coming from and then I realized––it was the same image from the book. The spell had already begun and when Rhetta spilled Lilith and Lura’s blood, she'd completed the summoning.

  The air grew cold and I could feel the darkness settling in. I tightened my grip on Cat’s hand and used the other to touch Corbin’s face one last time. My heartbeat barely registered and I could feel my soul rising as it pulled away from my body. Cat screamed as Corbin became enraged. I’d done it, my body was broken and battered but more importantly, it was unusable. I watched as my father, the Creole maid, the hippie, and the Mary Kay lady emerged from the walls along with dozens of others following behind. My father took hold of my hand and we turned to watch Cat and Corbin mourn my passing. The tearful moment however, was quickly interrupted when the butterflies no longer fluttered and the woman I feared emerged.

  Lilith looked at the ghostly Rhetta, then down at my lifeless shell. Her non-corporal form started to shimmer as if she was readying herself for something and in a flash she jetted towards the base of the stairs and entered my body, healing it instantly. She opened her eyes and a sneer crossed her face. She stood, brushed the sleeves of my shirt and turned to face Corbin.

  “Oh, you missed me,” Lilith purred at Corbin.

  “I didn’t raise your conniving ass. You will never see past these next few moments. I will kill you where you stand.”

  Lilith arched one brow. “Then if you didn’t summon me who did?”

  Rhetta wafted close to Lilith and dropped to her knees, her ghostly form wavering. Lilith snapped her finger and Rhetta appeared before her, a picture of her youthful self.

  “My queen,” Rhetta said as she bowed her head in reverence.

  “You released me?” Lilith said with disgust.

  “I did. It was what your daughter taught me to do.”

  Lilith’s eyes filled with blood, the excess spilling down her cheeks. “Where is my child?”

  Rhetta shot a look over to Corbin. “He killed her and I am begging you to let me stand by your side and avenge her death––together.”

  Lilith scoffed. “I will avenge her on my own. I don’t need a lowly human's assistance.”

  “I meant no disrespect, my queen.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t and whatever reason Lura chose you is over now. You were incapable of protecting her so you are of no use to me.”

  Lilith struck with the speed of a viper. Two puncture holes into the side of Rhetta’s neck and blood began to flow down her back in a steady stream. She fell to the floor with a thud and unlike before, her soul melded into Lilith. Her body began to disintegrate and it was obvious there was no coming back from whatever it was Lilith had done. I tried to feel remorse for Rhetta, but could only muster, “she’d brought this on herself.”

  There was something incredibly surreal about watching yourself do such heinous things, I mean, I knew it wasn’t me doing them, but that wasn’t really the point. Rhetta had claimed my body and used me to release Lilith and now Lilith claimed my body to brutally kill Rhetta. What was next? Who was next? The other ghosts had wandered up to the landing and I followed. There was nothing else I could do at this point. It was clear. I was no longer the one in charge.

  “So you killed my child,” Lilith spat at Corbin.

  “It only seemed fitting since you plotted to kill Quentin,” Corbin replied h
aughtily.

  More blood filled Lilith’s eyes as she flexed her fingers, twisting them to form a writhing snake in her hand. The snake continued to grow large enough to wrap its thick body around her and wind its way towards Corbin and Lucas. At that moment, he and Lucas both shifted into towering beasts with bulging arms and horns protruding out of the sides of their skulls. The only way to tell them apart was by the flames surrounding Corbin. He roared and the chandelier above shook, dropping a few of the crystals to the floor below.

  His body continued to change, his skin turned black as cracks formed over the surface, and flames began to show through. Corbin was no longer the gorgeous dark-haired man I’d fallen in love with. He was now a monster with molten rock for skin and fangs protruding from his mouth. He snarled and hissed, calling forth a fiery whip made of lava and wound it around the snake Lilith had created, burning it to ash.

  Cat had run to her family’s side when Lilith took control over my body and they’d united to form a circle of pure white light. Thankfully they were protected from the battle raging between the demons, but suddenly it was as if someone had hit the pause button at the crucial scene in an action flick because all at once, everything stopped. The only people still moving were Cat, Lucille, Adelaide, and an unknown ethereal figure who now stood in the center of their circle. She was majestic. Her hair shimmered like silver silk against her sheer gown and her eyes were color of the sun. The ladies all smiled when they saw her and released their hands.

  “Astra, thank you for answering our plea.”

  “For you Catarina, it is my pleasure.” She looked over at Lucille and Adelaide. “You’ve trained her well and again honor me with your dedication.” They both bowed their heads, then turned their attention to me.

  The woman they called Astra looked up and was in front of me before I could blink. She tilted her head slightly and ran her hand through my ghosted form. “This was not how things were supposed to be. You were to be his…Corbin’s salvation after all the darkness he’s had to endure.” She looked over her shoulder at Corbin who was still frozen; mid-roar as the flames he was emitting remained immobile, just millimeters from Lilith’s face. “My name is Astra. I am the caretaker of all things human and demon, justice incarnate, the keeper of balance."

  I just stood there, staring at her, dumbfounded. It was one thing to be blindsided by the fact that your boyfriend was the demon leader of hell. But now, a goddess-like being was standing in front of my dead self, telling me she’s the keeper of balance. What’s next, will a host of heavenly angels be arriving momentarily?

  “I'm not expecting any, no,” she responded.

  "Oh my God, you can hear me?"

  “Anything you think or say.”

  "Please forgive me. I meant no disrespect."

  She smiled. “No offense was taken. This has all been a lot to comprehend but you are handling it quite well.”

  I huffed and then mustered my courage. "Well, it’s one for the books that’s for sure. I never imagined things like this could exist. May I ask you a question?"

  Astra nodded slowly.

  "I hate that my death has caused this. I thought I was stopping everything and now it seems I’ve only made it worse. My fate is sealed, but can you save him?"

  “You are willing to sacrifice yourself for him, even knowing his true nature?”

  "I am."

  She waved her hand and Corbin was transformed into his human self. He was confused for a moment but when he saw Astra, understanding dawned. “You never told me this would be part of the deal, Astra. I never would’ve endangered her life if I had any clue this would be its end,” Corbin snarled. “Grant me my one request, return her to her family and friends, they need her.”

  Astra looked between the two of us and then stood silent.

  “What are you waiting for? You know I’m owed one desire and this is what I ask,” Corbin demanded.

  “But that is the problem; her request is to save you. Both of you wish to save one another and I cannot grant them equally.”

  Corbin cocked his head and then came to stand in front of my ghosted form. He never took his eyes off of me as he asked Astra to allow us the ability to communicate with one another. She nodded regally, then in the next second I was made corporeal. I knew it was only temporary, but I’d take whatever I could get. This was my chance to say goodbye.

  “I'm sorry, I thought I was helping,” I said as my voice quivered.

  “Never apologize for doing what you thought was right. I’m the one who is sorry. I’ve lost you and this is the one thing I can do to fix this. Let Astra bring you back to your family. I can take care of Lilith. I want you to do this for me.”

  “And how would I be able to live with that choice, Corbin? I get my life back but have to live without you and with the knowledge of what Lilith has planned for you. ” He gave a quick shake of his head as his brows furrowed. “She intends to use you to have the children she couldn’t keep with your brother. You are the key to her taking over the realms. You are the one she needs to create an army of demons bred only to do her bidding.”

  “What?” His look was a mixture of confusion and disgust, both of which I understood.

  I moved my hands to his face and held him gently. “I’m human. I was going to die no matter how hard you tried to stop it. Don’t you see, our love was doomed from the beginning but this…this can make it right. I save you and you save the world,” I said, giving him a somber smile.

  He sighed then kissed me. “Why could you not have been born a demon?”

  “Well, according to my mother I was.” I smiled.

  “I love you, Jorja and I will love you for the rest of my existence. There will never be another.”

  “I’m dead, Corbin. You have my permission to love again,” I teased.

  “Maybe, but there are ways to cheat death, Jorja,” he said as he looked over his shoulder at Astra.

  I shook my head as I pushed passed him, down past the “statue” of Lilith in my body, and over to Cat. “How do I get myself into these things?”

  “I have no idea,” Cat responded. “At least we’re sure you're not afraid to fully commit.” We both laughed.

  “Thank you for coming for me, for giving me this chance to say goodbye. I just have one thing to ask. Can you please take care of my aunts? This will devastate them, but I know you can help to ease it somehow.”

  “I’ll do my best, but losing you won’t be something any of us will get over any time soon.”

  “I love you too, Kitty Cat.” We hugged for a long moment before I walked over to thank Adelaide and Lucille.

  It wasn’t as if there was a clock ticking or anything but I knew this gift was about to come to an end. I turned back towards Corbin and reached for his outstretched hand. I was ready to accept my death and I knew everything from this moment on would be okay.

  I embraced him one last time and whispered the words I knew he needed to hear. “I don't care that you're a demon. You’ve more than proven what kind of man you are. Thank you for showing me what love really looks like. I truly do love you.”

  “Please let Astra bring you back, please,” he begged.

  “This is how it’s meant to be but I do need you to promise me one thing…stop that bitch at all costs. I don’t want to have died in vain.”

  Corbin dropped his head and refused to look at me any longer, the pain of my choice was obviously more than he could accept. Astra came up behind him and laid her hand on his shoulder.

  “Corbin, as I’ve watched and listened, I realize now I wasn’t wrong about your future together. My error was that I was wrong about the lifetime. You and Jorja are meant to be but she must be reborn again to do it.” He shook his head and stared at the floor. “You have to let her go, so she can come back to you. Lilith rules this body now but soon Jorja’s soul will find its way to you and in her next life, the two of you will be together. I promise.”

  He looked at Astra then back to me. “I wi
ll find you and when I do, I’m never letting you go.”

  He pulled me close and kissed me until I faded away in his arms. It was then that they all began to make a plan.

  c h a p t e r

  TWENTY-THREE

  Corbin returned to the spot he was in and transformed back into his beast while the women did exactly as Astra instructed. The blood and broken glass from the pendant hovered above Astra’s hands as Cat and her family began to chant again. A silver cloud encased them, protecting them from what I was sure was to going to be a vicious battle. With a flick of Astra’s wrist, the chaos that stood frozen was once again animated and all hell broke loose. Corbin used his fiery whip to slash into Lilith’s skin but she healed as quickly as she'd been struck. Lucas, also in his monstrous form, tried to distract her by attacking her from behind, giving Corbin a greater chance of exacting a lethal blow.

  Lilith was so ensconced in the battle, she ignored what Astra and Cat were doing, at least until she dropped to the ground. Astra had done something to the blood from the locket and it was beginning to take effect. Lilith was losing her hold in this world. Corbin had gained the upper hand; Lucas had restrained her and was turning her towards the chanting women. A blast of bright white light illuminated the room and everything had become stark and desolate within a matter of seconds. When the room returned to normal, Lilith was gone and Corbin and Lucas were on their knees, gasping for air in their human forms. I heard Cat and Corbin ask in succession if it was over, to which Astra only smiled.