What Lies Beyond

by B. B. Palomo

  Without the connection to Roland, the space around us began to deteriorate, falling away like flakes of paint being peeled from a wall. I looked at my dad, fearful this would be the last time I ever saw him. There were so many things I wanted to say, needed him to hear, but our time was running out quicker than I could put them all together.

  “It’s okay.” His soothing voice almost brought me to my knees.

  “You should be angry,” I argued, not understanding how he could look so calm after everything that happened. His lips curled slightly as he shook his head.

  “You”—he reached out and touched my cheek, the feeling so close to how he’d do it when he was alive—“need to stop being angry. I’ve never blamed you. You’ve only ever blamed yourself.”

  “Dad?” I cried as the last of the walls around us vanished. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. “Please don’t leave me.”

  “I could never,” he said before his eyes widened.

  He was jerked forward, landing on his stomach in front of me. I had just enough time to recognize those long, demonic fingers wrapped around his ankle before he was pulled back into the closing hole in the ground.

  “No,” I screamed, lurching forward, only catching the tips of his fingers with mine. “Dad!”

  My grip held for only a second before he was ripped back from me and falling over the ledge. I rushed to the edge. The only thing keeping me from jumping in was Cora, with her arms wrapped securely around my waist.

  “Let me go,” I cried, falling to my knees. “Please.”

  “I’ll never.” She squeezed tighter, keeping me from jumping to my demise.

  I turned into her, burying my head in her neck as I cried. Fat, broken tears streamed down my face. I thought we’d won, that it was over. Time and time again my dad had sacrificed himself for me, and now I could never say how grateful I was.

  “He knows,” Cora said, reading my mind. “You have to push on, for him.”

  “I will,” I promised to the void behind me. “I will,” I said again louder, hoping that somehow he and that demon heard me. I was going to get stronger, live happier. I would make his sacrifice matter.

  As if time did not exist, I blinked, and we were back in the broken circle. My hand still clenched Cora’s shirt before my knees gave out, sending me crashing to the dirt.

  “Willow,” my mom yelled, running until she crushed into my body.

  Grammy didn’t stop her like I’d expected. Maybe she sensed the same thing I did. There was a shift in the air, and even though it was primarily dark out, I could see more clearly than ever before. Mom knelt beside me, pulling me into her arms painfully.

  “I was so scared,” she cried, rocking me back and forth like I was a child who’d been lost in the grocery store. “Don’t you ever do that again!”

  “Mom,” I squeaked. “You’re choking me.”

  “Sorry.” She laughed and dialed it down.

  “I don’t think I can promise you that,” I said, seeing Grammy come to stand next to her as a puzzled look fell over her face.

  Grammy squeezed her shoulder, willing her to understand what I was saying. After a few moments, she sighed, resolved. She knew there was no changing my mind on this. I finally understood what I needed to do, what I was meant to do, and there was no way I’d ever go back now.

  Adira had helped Noah up, supporting him as he limped over. Even though it felt like we’d been away forever, it seemed it was only moments here. Still, within that time, all the women had vanished, my great-grandma included. Grammy must have seen me looking because she spoke up.

  “Their ashes are scattered through these trees. Your energy gave them a source to help, but you didn’t force them here. They came because you’re one of them, and we always protect our own.” Her eyes flipped to Cora’s spot briefly before settling back to mine, and I knew she sensed her there.

  Cora gave me a quick wave, her eyebrows shooting up before I could ask her to wait.

  “I’ll be back,” she said, and I believed her.

  “Noah!” I crawled forward as he bent for me. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m okay.” His voice was raspy. “Ego is a little bruised.” He choked on a laugh and then stopped. “Willow, I’m so—”

  “Stop,” I said. “It wasn’t you.”

  “It’s over?” Adira asked.

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “It is.”

  She exhaled, surprising me when she dropped to her knees and hugged me tightly.

  “Thank goodness.” She sighed. “What do you say we get the hell out of here?” Before quickly adding, “No offense, Grammy.”

  “None taken.” She helped Mom up as I followed, dusting myself off. “My aging self can only take so much excitement anyway. Same time tomorrow?”

  “No,” we said quickly, followed by nervous laughs and a need to get out of this clearing.

  Without the sunlight bathing the ground, we had to follow Grammy to find our way. I hung back, making sure everything was clear. I didn’t want to leave any remnants of Roland on what I now felt was sacred ground.

  I didn’t tell Mom about Dad. I didn’t think it was the time, or if there ever would be one, honestly. The burden of knowing his soul was somewhere down there with Roland would be mine to bear. I glanced around one last time, promising that if there was a way to get him out, I would, and as if to encourage me, a tender breeze tickled my cheeks.

  “Everything okay?” Noah asked, reaching for my hand, which I took, lacing our fingers together. I looked up toward the sky as a single snowflake fluttered down, melting on the tip of my nose.

  “Yeah.” I smiled at him. “It will be.”

  Epilogue

  I shoved my textbook into a brand-new backpack, the Demonology title disappearing behind the terra-cotta canvas. The quiz I’d clutched in my hands crinkled as I walked down the steps to my professor. She smiled as I handed it over, wishing me a good weekend. On the way to my car, I drafted a quick text to Noah, reminding him I’d be home later than usual, and he needed to give Sasha, who no longer avoided me like the plague, her treats. We had a dinner date planned with Adira, who I’d seen a little less since Noah and I moved from town, which we were still trying to adjust to.

  Every chance available, we all got together, and it always was like no time had passed. Adira was the same rambunctious spirit she’d always been, but now she took school a little more seriously, having switched her major to design. She was good at it too. We let her run with the decorations in Noah’s and my condo, and it turned out to be the perfect mixture of modern and comfort, twisting little bits of us both throughout the design.

  I opened the door to the silver Mazda hatchback and threw my bag onto sunburnt seats before getting in. Mom and Grammy pitched in to help me get my own car when I announced I’d like to start driving again. It still wasn’t entirely comfortable for me, but every day it got a little bit easier, and now I could do the speed limit instead of going ten under while annoyed drivers honked from behind me.

  Winter had passed in a blur, the snow melted, and the viridescent vegetation brought color back to the world. I rolled down the window, loving how free the wind blowing through my hair made me feel, and back out of my parking space. I checked the address on the envelope sitting in the passenger seat once more before placing the car in drive. The sun warmed my skin as I hit the road, pulling my sunglasses down and turning up the radio loud enough to drown out the mid-day traffic.

  Mom had been spending more time with Grammy. They’d picked up gardening, some of the herbs they now used together, with Grammy teaching her the ins and outs of more profound readings and exploring energies. Luckily, we all stayed far away from Ouija boards now, having learned the hard way that no amount of money was worth opening doors that were much too hard to shut. The whole experience stayed with each of us differently, but even as terrifying as it was, I was thankful because it showed me who I really was.

  Unfortunately, Noah’s dad got sick a few weeks after
everything settled down. He was better now, but some of the responsibility of running the company was now on Noah’s shoulders. He was handling it well, but just like I’d struggled to have an honest talk with my mom about needing to leave and start living my life, he was going to have to decide if this was what he wanted to do forever. He’d been working on his art, painting emotional yet beautiful pictures of what we’d gone through. I was hoping to convince him to pursue it, but whatever his choice was, I was going to support him like he’d always done for me.

  The drive south took a few hours. I passed a county jail, and it made me think of Timmy. He’d gotten into some trouble for drinking and ended up spending a few weeks away when his parents’ money couldn’t buy him an out. Rumor had it that he was under strict lock and key until he got his act together.

  The house I was looking for was tucked in the back of the subdivision on a large cul-de-sac. I put the car in park and took a deep breath before exiting. The sturdy two-story house was unimaginative, blending into the same designs and gray colors of the track homes surrounding it, but with the lawn ornaments and big welcome sign, it seemed cozy. I approached concrete steps, four treads descending from the door, all while clutching the piece of mail in my hand.

  I took them two at a time, nerves making it hard to breathe. I wasn’t scared of the person behind the door. It was more like I was afraid I’d get disappointed and start from square one again, or maybe I was just worried about the person standing behind me. I was doing this for me, but mostly it was to bring that peace to them. Before I knocked, I turned back to the car. Cora was sitting in the passenger seat, throwing me a thumbs-up for support. I smiled back at her and knocked a common beat against the door.

  I heard shrill screaming and the quick slaps of bare feet against expensive tile. I giggled, still feeling the need to run and hide from guests at my front door as an adult. Grammy made fun of me for it, stating that people were excited for unexpected visitors in her day, and I made sure not to bring up that I found it hard to believe she was getting very many of those. The child was shushed, and a few moments later, the lock clicked.

  “Hello.” The resemblance of who I’d seen was uncanny. “Can I help you?”

  I hesitated as relief swelled within me. “Umm, hi.” I smiled and tried to think of how to do this. “You don’t know me, but I was wondering if you had a moment to talk about Emma?”

  “My daughter?” he asked, confused.

  “No.” I shook my head, turning to see the happy tears already streaming down Emma’s face. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but I have a message from your sister.”

  A Word from the Author

  Thank YOU so much for supporting me and my work by giving this book a chance. As a special thanks, read to the end to get a sneak peek of The Blood Society, my debut novel—available now!

  If you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to leave a review. Your words are invaluable to authors and help get our books in the hands of readers who don’t know us yet.

  Acknowledgments

  This story wouldn't have happened without the love and support of my husband, who was always there to wrestle our two-and-a-half-year-old away from me so I could finish each chapter. Thanks and love to my sister Lauren who is always there to remind me that imposter syndrome is normal and that I can overcome it. My friend Tabitha was the best beta reader someone could ask for, reading through this story and all of its changes without complaint—you and your feedback mean so much to me! All the thanks to both my editor Emily and cover designer Hampton, who played a significant role in this story's finished product and image. As always, the writing community and other indie authors deserve thanks. I have met the most amazing and supportive friends through this process and can't wait to see them succeed in all their dreams. Lastly, a loving thanks to my father-in-law, who is always near in spirit even though he is not with us physically anymore. I miss him dearly, but I know—because he would never let me forget—that he is proud of me.

  About the Author

  B.B. Palomo is an American author from the state of Arizona. A writer at heart with a wild imagination, she has always had an affinity for the supernatural. Her debut novel began as a short story written in the fourth grade. While it was nowhere close to the writing prompt assigned, her teacher gave her credit anyway, noting the creativity B.B. demonstrated. This encouragement sparked her dream of becoming an author.

  Even though B.B. was born in Arizona, she is not the desert heat’s biggest fan. Give her the subtle crunch of freshly fallen snow under her boots any day. In school, B.B. often used the old trick of hiding a book within her textbook while pretending to follow along with the rest of the class, though she still placed significant value on her studies. After graduating high school, she moved on to study business management in college.

  B.B. now works as a licensed financial principal by day and works on her novels and blog by night. She is a wife and a mother—to an amazing daughter and a few fur babies—but when she does manage to find the time to unwind, B.B. enjoys a tall cup of coffee to go with a great book, all while daydreaming about the next story she wants to bring to life.

  To learn more about B.B. you can visit her website at authorbbpalomo.com

  The Blood Society

  Chapter One

  Breath escaped me in quick gasps as my lungs struggled to push oxygen throughout my body. Dirty water dripped from rusted pipes, forming puddles along the dimly lit tunnel situated under an abandoned warehouse. It was an old trading path, one not known by most, but I had access to the original building plans, which made it easy to find. Lampenflora covered the decaying concrete path, mixing with the stench of stagnant water, making my stomach tighten and churn as I struggled to keep from slipping.

  Water soaked through my boots, saturating my socks as I ran through the puddles. Their splashes echoed throughout the stone construction as the weight of my feet destroyed their holding cell. I could no longer be discreet. The tables had turned and now I was not the hunter but the hunted. I wanted to laugh to stifle the nerves rising in my chest. Every step I took was giving away my location and if I didn’t act fast, I would be screwed.

  This started as only the best of intentions. There are only so many hunters and jobs get turned down all the time. It had only gotten worse as our population dwindled and theirs increased. I figured I would handle this one. It was only supposed to be two vamps, however that quickly turned into a horde and now, despite promising I would not do this, I was running for dear life from one that turned out to be much stronger than the others.

  My senses were on high alert, like a caffeine overload my body trembled slightly, disobeying my strict training. The light was finite and dim, straining my eyes as my pupils attempted to adjust properly. I tried to listen over the sound of my running, aiming to get a read on how far away the beast was. Each step shot lightning bolts of pain through my legs as they carried me forward impelled by the adrenaline that was coursing through my veins.

  I allowed myself only a moment to slow down and cock my head slightly to listen harder for my target. Raspy unneeded breaths blasted out of dead lungs, closing in on me quicker than my legs could move. I ducked behind a nearby wall, the bricks slimy and cold against my bare arms. The abrupt temperature change sent goose bumps crawling up my shoulder as I pressed myself closer, willing myself to become invisible. I wasn’t supposed to be on this mission alone. Who was I kidding, I wasn’t supposed to be on this mission at all, but I had an act for bending the rules. No one knew I was here. No one was coming to get me if I didn’t make it out of this alive. I should have been more than prepared, but this one was strong, and I, well, I was still healing.

  Sliding my hand across my waist, I felt along the leather of my utility belt until my fingers brushed the engraved wood of my stake. The vampire was moving fast, splashing through the same puddles I had just run through. Unnatural grunts of frustration escaped from its mouth when it thought I had escaped. I stretched my se
nses out, trying to calculate its next move. My target wasn’t using their animalistic ration to hunt me anymore. It was angry.

  Potentially over the five dead vampires I had quietly staked before they realized they were under attack.

  The movements trailing behind me stopped so rapidly I almost failed to notice the way the sound was sucked from around me. I made my breath shallow, pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth, not wanting to make a sound until he got closer so I could catch him off guard. Cool air lingered in the tunnel, but a bead of sweat trickled down my forehead anyway, carving a pheromonal streak down my face. A sound of acknowledgment escaped his throat, followed by a guttural roar that bounced off the walls surrounding me.

  Frustrated, I bit my lip hard enough to taste copper. It smelled me.

  Gripping my stake, I swung around the corner, sliding through the water, and ended in a crouched position facing my enemy. The vampire I encountered was dressed in the carcass of an old suit, the fabric barely clinging together enough to stay on his body. It anticipated my move, throwing a quick jab to my sternum, hitting right on target and forcing me back. I managed to stay upright as it ran toward me. I escaped the swing of his clawed hand, moving just in time to only feel the wind of the swipe against my face. I swung around, using my momentum to kick him perfectly in the head, causing a low growl to rumble from his core.

  A moment passed, neither of us moving. His eyes were like black orbs searing into me. Flesh was pale and pulled too tightly against his sharp bones. Blue capillaries mapped their way around an emaciated body as two snake-like slits vibrated back and forth with each short intake of breath. I never got used to it. They all seemed to have their own features, accompanied by the trademarked ones we had grown accustomed to. The moment passed before I could initiate a move first. The creature came at me, slashing his claws, left to right, with no contemplated movements. I pulled out my stake, narrowly dodging the attack, and pointed the petrified wood at the atrocity that stood before me.