Rise From Darkness

by Ciara Knight

  Alexander tried to shoo Patronus from the room but he couldn’t get him to leave Bruce’s side. Blood flowed from a cut on his right hand. He needed stitches or healing.

  Alexander slowly spread his wings while he watched Patronus. The dog didn’t seem to care. With a sigh, he bent and focused on the one cut. Strength drained from his body while the skin closed one inch at a time. After several minutes he fell back on the floor too exhausted to heal any more.

  His chest burned as if he just finished a marathon in frigid temperatures. There was no choice but to stop and focus on getting him into bed and cleaning up the mess. That much he could do in human form. He would heal the other wounds later.

  “Well Patronus, I guess I need to try to get him into bed and bandage his arms.”

  Patronus trotted out of the room.

  “I guess you’re not going to help.”

  Alexander threaded his arms under Bruce’s shoulders, pulled him up, and slung his upper body onto the bed. Bruce didn’t even stir. He lifted his lower extremities onto the bed and bent down to pick up the shards of glass.

  Patronus entered the room with a white box in his mouth.

  “What is it boy?” Alexander patted his head and took the box. It was a first aid kit. A little bewildered but thankful he removed bandages and wrapped the rest of Bruce’s shallow cuts.

  Alexander spent the rest of the night sitting on the floor watching Bruce sleep. Patronus curled by his side. He had to figure out how to help this man. But how?

  Chapter Twelve

  “Where am I?” Gaby could barely speak. She raked her sandpaper tongue over her teeth and attempted to swallow but there wasn’t enough moisture.

  “You’re at our house.” Sammy took a washcloth and blotted her brow.

  The cool cloth soothed her aching head. “What happened?”

  “Rest dear. We’ll fill you in later.” Grace approached the bed and sat by her side.

  “Water—” Gaby rasped.

  Grace signaled Sammy out of the room.

  “Sammy will bring you some. Do you remember anything?”

  “No. Not really.”

  “That’s probably a good thing right now dear. I’m not sure how long you’ll be with us. It’s better you rest for now.”

  “What do you mean?” Fear bubbled up inside at her words.

  “You were wounded, child. You’ve been very sick and need rest.” Grace stroked her hair out of her eyes.

  “Wounded? How long have I been out?”

  “It was an accident dear. You’ve been out for days.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?” Gaby tried to sit up but she couldn’t. Suspicion crept in. “What’s going on, why am I stuck?” She looked down to find her body secured to the bed with large leather straps.

  “I’m sorry about that. We had to keep you from hurting yourself.” Grace’s smooth tone provided no comfort to Gaby.

  “Hurting myself? Where’s Alex?”

  “He’s at your home caring for your father.”

  “My father? Is he hurt?” She pulled against the restraints, panic rising as she strained to free herself. “No, my father will move us. He can’t know I went out with Alexander or we’ll be packed and gone by morning.”

  “Don’t worry about that right now. Everything is going to be okay. You just need to relax.”

  Relax. How was she supposed to relax? Her father would tear them apart if he knew they were involved. Wait. Something wasn’t right. Alex - Forras - a fight- mother.

  “Alex…h-he…killed m-my mother.” Tears started to stream down her face. She looked down to see a strange bubble form on her skin. “W-what’s happening?”

  “Calm down. You must calm yourself, it’s the only way we can save you.” Grace stood over Gaby and placed a hand on her shoulders. A sense of peace overcame her for a moment. She took in a calming breath and relaxed back into the bed.

  “Save me from what?”

  “Yourself dear…yourself.”

  Fear and anger warred against peace. Peace lost.

  “I’m scared. What’s happening…w-why am I…?” Her body started to shake and her eyes burned.

  She tried to reach up and grab Grace. She wanted to hit her, shake her, scratch her, kill her. Why did she want to kill her?

  “Here’s some water.” Sammy leaned down to hold the glass for Gaby, but she took the water in her mouth and spat it at her. Gaby tried to bite her but Grace pulled Sammy away.

  “Where is he?”

  “Who child?” Grace touched her hand.

  “Alex. I want Alex.”

  “I can get him.” Sammy headed for the door but Grace held up her hand to stop her.

  “You can see him soon.” Grace smiled at her.

  Why did she smile? Was she in on it? Did she help murder her mother? “You! You helped him, didn’t you? It’s your fault my mother’s dead. You killed her. Murderer, you’re all murderers!” Gaby’s voice was deep and full of hate. She could hear the power she now possessed. She tried to break free from the straps. It’d be so easy to kill them all. Make them pay. They should all pay.

  ****

  Alexander searched the house. Every cabinet he opened, every bed he looked under, he found another bottle. After he threw all the obvious paraphernalia away, he started searching less conspicuous places. The inside of a cookie jar revealed a sample size bottle of whiskey under some cookies, the bottle of water tucked in the back of the freezer was vodka, and the bottle of coke hidden behind some crackers in the pantry was spiked.

  The pattern seemed to reveal he was a hard liquor man. Whiskey definitely his drink of choice, but anything would do. Alexander even found a bottle of peach schnapps in the back of his sock drawer.

  Did Gaby know how bad his addiction was? He entered Bruce’s room and covered his nose from the stench of vomit and urine. He’d propped Bruce up on two pillows to sleep. His eyelids fluttered only to close again.

  In a strange way Alexander welcomed the task at hand. Cleaning the room and caring for Bruce gave him something to focus on instead of Gaby suffering and hating him at his home. The connection he had from the first day he met her had changed. It was muted, dark, instead of happy and longing. The worst part was he couldn’t hold her hand, caress her face, or kiss her forehead without her wanting to claw his eyes out. Not that he didn’t deserve it.

  He bent down and picked up the clothes Bruce wore the night before and put them in the washing machine. Where, of course, he found another bottle of liquor hidden behind the detergent.

  A loud thump startled him and he ran back to check on Bruce. He was sprawled across the floor face down.

  “Come on man. Let’s get you back in bed.” Alexander tried to lift him but Bruce shoved him and cursed.

  “What the hell are you doin’ in my house? Where’s my daughter?” Bruce spit and wagged his finger at him.

  This was it. He had to tread cautious. “Sir, you’re in no condition to be around your daughter.”

  “You son of a—”

  Alex remained calm and focused. “Sir, let me help you back to bed.”

  “Get your hands off me. Where’s my daughter?”

  “She’s safe.”

  “Safe? Are you sayin’ she isn’t safe around me? I’m the only one she’s safe with.”

  “I’m sorry sir, but for now I’m not telling you where she is, not until you calm down and sober up.” How could the man in front of him be Gaby’s father? He wasn’t there to judge, but there was no way he was going to let Gaby move back in with him like this, if she survived. Still, his patience was being tested.

  “Sober up? I’m not drunk. Who do you think you are comin’ in my home and insultin’ me?”

  “I meant no insult it’s just that—”

  “It’s just what?”

  Alexander glared down at the drooling and shaking man. If he weren’t Gaby’s father Alexander would just lift him up and throw him across the bed. Maybe scare the demon alcohol out of t
he man when he spread his wings and ranted about his sin. Yeah, that would sober Bruce up quick. It would also blow any chance of Alexander ever seeing Gaby again. Assuming, she’d ever agree to see him after what happened. How did things get so screwed up?

  “Listen, you can sit there all day in your own vomit or I can help you up.”

  His red swollen eyes cast down. He raised a hand and scrunched his face, gagged and dispelled more fluids to the side.

  Alexander stepped back and took a quick breath through his mouth trying not to get sick himself. With a sleeve covering his mouth, he made his way to the bathroom and retrieved paper towels and a damp washcloth.

  “Come on, take my hand.”

  “I can do it myself,” Bruce snarled. He slipped and fell back repeatedly until he gave up and raised his hand to Alexander.

  Without a word, Alexander helped him to the bathroom and put him in the tub. Bruce appeared confused until Alexander turned on the cold water and hosed him off with the sprayer, clothes, and all.

  Bruce twisted and fought but ultimately he was too weak to defend himself.

  “Here, dry off and change while I work on cleaning up your room. Fresh clothes are on the hamper.” Alexander left the bathroom with the mouthwash in tow as a precaution.

  After changing the sheets, he slipped his cell phone from his pocket and dialed home. It only rang once before Sammy’s cheerful voice answered.

  “How’s it going over there?” Sammy asked

  Alex ran his hands through his hair. “I can’t believe she’s had to live like this. He’s in a bad state.”

  “You shouldn’t be there. What if he finds out—”

  Alex sighed. “He won’t. How could he possibly figure it out?”

  “Still, be careful.”

  “I will. How’s Gaby?”

  There was a long defining pause. His heart pounded faster.

  “Oh God, please…no…I—”

  “No Alex she’s alive. I’m sorry. It’s just that, well, she’s not herself. She’s so angry and confused. I don’t know how Grace can stand it. I wish I could do more, but Grace says it’s better if she stays with her.”

  “I wish I could be with her. I wish, I wish I hadn’t—” his voice broke.

  “Don’t blame yourself. You didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  A fissure ran through his chest threatening to break every rib under the pressure of guilt. “I should’ve told her the truth. I should’ve stayed away from her.”

  “Who are you talking to?”

  He spun around to find Bruce leaning against the door jam.

  “I’ve gotta go. Call ya later.” Alexander hit end on his cell before Sammy could even respond. “I was talking to my sister.”

  Bruce took a step toward the bed and almost toppled over. Alex steadied him and helped him back into bed.

  “Why are you here?” Bruce held his belly and he looked up with pleading eyes. “You need to tell me where my daughter is.”

  Alex focused on remaining calm. “I’m sorry sir, but I can’t.”

  “You can’t or you won’t?”

  “Both, sir, it’s best for both of you.”

  “No, I’m her father. She needs to be home.”

  Alexander squatted down to the linoleum floor and started to clean up the mess. “No offense, but do you really want her to see you like this?”

  “She’s my daughter, I have a right…” Bruce’s snores filled the room.

  With the exception of snorts and grunts from Bruce, the silence in the house would have been deafening. Trying to keep his mind off Gaby, Alexander checked three more times for hidden bottles, cleaned the bedroom and bathroom, and started another load of laundry.

  He spent the next twenty minutes pacing the floor until he couldn’t take it anymore. He looked in on Bruce one final time and took off for his home.

  He landed on the beach and walked up the front steps.

  Grace exited the front door, arms crossed and eyes set. “What do you think you’re doing? You know you can’t be here. It’ll just aggravate her condition.”

  “She still hates me, doesn’t she?” Alexander sunk onto the white wicker love seat on the front porch.

  “She doesn’t hate you son. If she did this wouldn’t be so difficult for her.” Grace put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

  “It’s all my fault. All of it. Why do I hurt everyone I love?”

  Grace set next to him and took his hands in hers. “You need to trust she will get through this on her own. I know it’s hard for you, but you have to stay away. You can’t help. Trust her. She can fight this on her own. She’s a strong girl.”

  “She’s been through so much. You wouldn’t believe how she’s been living. That man calls himself her father—”

  “Don’t judge, Alexander. You have no room to judge. None of us do. Help him, put your talents to use and help him recover.”

  Alexander wanted to go inside and be with Gaby. Hold her and tell her to fight, to live. Sure, he longed for her forgiveness. But if hating him got her through this, then hate him she should.

  “I don’t know if he can be saved. He’s so far gone.”

  “There’s always a chance. I won’t give up on Gaby and you don’t give up on Bruce. We can save them both.”

  “I’ll try, but not for him. I’ll do it for Gaby. I know I caused his pain but he shouldn’t have abandoned Gaby because of it.”

  “Alexander, you don’t know what he’s been through. You can’t know everything. If you don’t give him a chance, he won’t be able to heal.”

  “I’ll try. Just make sure you take care of Gaby. If she asks for me, you promise to let me see her?”

  “Yes, of course. Just have faith.”

  He scoffed, stepped from the porch and took off. He could hear Grace’s sigh before he reached the tree line.

  The house still smelled of alcohol and vomit. He wished he could’ve at least seen Gaby. What did he think would happen? He knew what he’d hoped would happen. She would call out for him the minute he stepped onto the porch, begging him to stay by her side. Maybe, just maybe if he could help her father it would help her forgive him.

  Bruce’s screams summoned him back to reality. He raced inside and found Bruce in his room, holding a knife, eyes wild, staring at the wall.

  “I told you to stay away. You won’t get me too.”

  “Bruce, its Alex. Who’re you talking to?”

  Bruce turned abruptly, his face covered in sweat. “Oh G-god, i-it can’t be.”

  The look of horror on Bruce’s face made Alexander turn and look behind him, even though he knew no one was there.

  “Bruce. It’s okay.” He took a step and lifted his hand to remove the knife but Bruce shot up and lunged to stab Alexander. Jumping out of the way, he stood back trying to decipher what was going on.

  “Y-your wings, they’re beautiful.” Bruce’s face changed to a look of awe as he lowered the knife long enough for Alexander to pry it from his grip.

  The calm moment passed as quickly as it started. “You’re o-one of them aren’t you? Coming to finish me off? Takin’ my wife wasn’t enough, now you’ve stolen my daughter and now my life?” A vein pulsed from Bruce’s forehead. “You don’t belong here. It’s unnatural.” He slurred and spit as he spoke.

  Alexander felt the hatred growing stronger in the room.

  “How can you live here with us? You’re not human, you’re pure evil. You might have wings but your eyes are evil, you—”

  Bruce continued but Alexander lost focus. How could Bruce see his wings? He went to the mirror and looked, as if he might have changed from his human form without even knowing it. But all he saw was a human boy staring back at him.

  “What, you don’t know how hideous you look? Or are you gloating at your superior strength? Don’t think I can’t kill you, I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.”

  Alexander continued to look at his perfect reflection. It was probably unnatural not t
o have a blemish on his face, no scar, no acne, nothing. Just perfect bronze skin and bright green eyes, it wasn’t a normal teenage face, he knew that, but it wasn’t the face of a fallen angel either.

  He glanced back at Bruce, trying to figure out how he could see his angel form without Alexander revealing it.

  “Do you smell that?” Bruce’s snarl turned to a broad smile stretching from ear to ear. “It’s beautiful? I…it’s her. Am I dying, goin’ to Heaven? It’s not where I thought I was destined but it’s where she’d be.”

  “What do you smell?” Alexander sat on the corner of the bed and looked into Bruce’s dazed eyes.

  “Perfume, shampoo, perfection, all of her smells.” Bruce continued to stare off at nothing.

  “Who?”

  “Eliana, my beloved, my wife. The most perfect woman ever to walk this Earth.”

  Now Alexander was completely confused. Eliana was dead. How could Bruce smell her? Forras, it had to be Forras. Alexander went to the window and scanned the backyard. No sign of him, but he had to be there. What else could it be?

  He checked the room for any more weapons and pulled a gun from a drawer. He moved the knife to the kitchen. After checking the inside of the house, he walked around the outside perimeter. He stopped by the tree he used to sit in to listen as Gaby slept.

  There was no sign of Forras, only memories everywhere of Gaby.

  He returned to the house and watched Bruce lying on his side mumbling to an invisible Eliana on the pillow next to him.

  Unable to watch him any longer, Alexander left. It pulled at his heart to watch the man. Was it so bad if he let Bruce enjoy being with his wife for a few moments, the wife Alexander had taken from him a little over a year ago?

  Alexander shuffled his way up the stairs to Gaby’s room. He stood in front of the door contemplating whether to enter, then heard Gaby whimper, a soft sigh like a small child waking from a nap.