Trap

by Mary E. Twomey

  I’d saved him, but I couldn’t save my daughter, who’d been just a short walk away. Tears welled in my eyes, and I couldn’t stop the flow. It was like losing her all over again.

  “Hey now, that wasn’t meant to make you cry. It’s alright. You stopped them. No one’s going to spit on me anymore.” Danny mistakenly thought I was distraught about his public shaming. He shifted on the mattress beside me, bringing up the edge of the pink comforter to drape over our shoulders. He covered us and made what felt like a small fort we could confess our worries in. His arm wound around my hips, drawing me to his side so my cheek rested on his shoulder. When he planted a kiss to the top of my hair, that’s when the floodgates really opened. I clutched his shirt and wept into the material, hating myself for leaning on someone who was probably having his first day of normalcy in a month.

  I couldn’t help it. Von was just as lost and stressed as I was, Ollie was always somewhere else, and Allie was still sleeping. Life was crumbling to pieces around me, and I was barely able to assemble enough sanity to stand on my own.

  “Shh. It’s alright. Man, I hadn’t pegged you as a crier. I’m not all that great at this part of the job. Um, there-there?” He guessed at the right thing to do, awkwardly patting my back as I sobbed all the more. He kissed my forehead, making me feel five years old. I was so far from young anymore. I hadn’t been a child in ages.

  When Danny stiffened, my tears cleared just enough to look around to see what had startled him. I made out a glowing white blur floating before us, but Danny’s hand went over my eyes, obscuring my vision. “Danny, what is that?”

  “Nothing. You look tired. Are you falling asleep?” He sounded scared, forcing the idea of sleepiness on me.

  But then I suddenly did feel drowsy, my eyelids drooping. “That’s right,” Danny cooed as he pulled too hard. “Go to sleep.”

  I shrugged out of his embrace. “What? I’m not tired. I’m in the middle of a breakdown. You’re pulling way too hard, Danny.” I heard a crash, and whipped my head to see the source of the sound. Danny tried to keep his hand up to block my eyes, but clear as day I saw her.

  Floating two inches above the floor like a translucent apparition near the closet was a woman dressed in a long, flowing white gown. It was tattered at the edges, but still so pure a white that the dress itself appeared to be glowing.

  Her sleek black hair was pulled into a bun on the top of her head like a ballerina. Her arms were thin and translucent, and I could see blue veins through the skin.

  My racing heart seemed to stop at the face of Mariang staring out at me. Her cheeks were blushed with pink, making her arms appear that much paler. She was streaked in blood from her hairline to her chin.

  It was then I realized Mariang wasn’t staring at me – she was glaring with malice and purpose. My mouth fell open as a haunted house-worthy scream belted out from my diaphragm, filling the mansion with my horror.

  “You’re seeing things! You’re so tired,” Danny insisted, wrestling me down onto their bed as he shot waves of bliss through me. I thrashed and fought as best I could, but Danny’s Duwende abilities, coupled with his brute strength, were no match for even the strongest will to escape.

  It wasn’t until Mariang appeared floating a foot above me, her dress hanging down on Danny’s back that I stopped struggling. She was pissed, but all I could see was my sweet sister dripping with the blood she seemed to have no end of. It dribbled down on me, making me shriek with fear and a renewed desire to get the crap out of there. “What’s happening? You’re not supposed to be here!” My scream reached new heights when her docile hand struck out at me, her sharp nails raking the skin on my cheek until I tasted blood. Her ghost-like body could touch things hard enough to damage them.

  I wasn’t sure what hurt worse – the torn skin or that Mariang had raised her hand to me.

  Danny was frightened as he turned to bark quietly at Mariang. “No! You can’t do that! I told you that you could stay if you could control yourself. You can’t hurt her!”

  “You kissed her!” Mariang’s voice was furious, but behind the sound there was a metallic edge that was grating and inhuman. Her delicate voice was now braced with steel, making her sound like herself, but not.

  “I kissed her head! October’s like a sister to me. You know I’ve only ever loved you.”

  “Help!” I yelled over and over, hoping anyone was near enough in the massive house to hear us.

  Danny clamped his hand over my mouth in fear. “No! They can’t take her! I need her!”

  My terror was washed away in ripples until Danny panicked and shot a tsunami of peace through me. I wilted on the mattress, swaddled in feet-smelling sheets as the world and all of its problems left me in a blustery wave.

  In that surreal moment, my eyes closed as I felt myself leave me, too.

  Twelve.

  My Upper Hand

  I opened my eyes to a bright light that couldn’t be blinked away. I held up my hand to shield my eyes, but only found relief when a body stepped in front of the blinding glow. “That’s better. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”

  A chill ran up my spine at the voice I’d hoped I would never hear again. I wanted to run far from the sound I’d once drawn comfort from. I remained on my back until I found enough of myself to sit up.

  Mariang was a ghost now.

  Danny had blissed me out, which meant I was dreaming. Sama had found me in my forced sleep, and there would be no escaping. I couldn’t bang myself in the head to wake up this time. Who knows how long someone as practiced as Danny could knock a person out. I took a deep breath and decided to play the game. If Sama wanted me here, then I would be here. I wouldn’t spend my life hiding, clinging to Von like a blankie I needed to fall sleep. “Help a girl up, will ya?”

  Sama seemed surprised I didn’t come at him swinging. Honestly, I was so turned around, I didn’t think I could fight him with a clear head. Sama was a mind games master, so knew I needed my wits about me if I was going to play his game. “Um, sure. Okay.” He gripped my forearms and pulled me to my feet, surprised as I was that he hadn’t been clocked across his chiseled jaw yet.

  “Where are we? I can barely see anything; it’s too bright.”

  “Terraway. This is the land of three suns, where the Goblins inhabited before you wiped them all out. Most people can’t stand the brightness here.”

  “Hello, then why’d you choose this place for a reunion?”

  Sama sounded confused, which meant I was winning. Even though my eyes were only opened to slits, I was winning. “I wanted the advantage, in case you were opposed to a reunion at all.”

  “Fat lot of good that’s doing you now. I can’t even have a conversation with you. It’s too bright.”

  “There’s a home we can use just over there.” Philip motioned with his hand, but I couldn’t see much.

  “Are you expecting me to know where you’re pointing? Dude, I don’t know Terraway. Just lead me where I’m supposed to go.”

  His voice darkened. “You’re tricking me. You want me to take you somewhere you can see, so you can overpower me again.”

  I placed my hand on my hip and huffed. “Fine, then let’s stay right here. I’ll just cover my eyes like an idiot and we’ll have a good old catch-up just like this.” I covered my eyes with both hands and moved my shoulders animatedly. “So, how’s it going? Shoot my dad in the back with an arrow lately? Boy, do you know the way to a girl’s heart.”

  “Ezra’s not your father. I knew your father, and Ezra’s not him.”

  I hadn’t expected him to give me information that was so precious on a whim. “You knew my father? What’s his name? What was he like? ‘Knew’? Does that mean he’s... Is he dead?” So many more questions came to me, but I couldn’t work them all out of my mouth in a recognizable order. I didn’t realize how much I craved knowledge about the man who’d given life to me and never came back to see how it all turned out.

  “He’s no
t dead.” Philip let out an irritated huff that I’d turned his planned rapefest into a Q & A. “You truly don’t know who he is?”

  “Hello, does this look like the face of a girl who’s got a clue?” I’m sure I looked pretty silly, giving him attitude while my hands were shrouding my face. “Seriously, Philip. Tell me who my dad is. If you know, you should tell me.”

  “You have all the clues; you’re just refusing to put them together.” He pried a hand from my face to wrap it in the crook of his elbow. Then shielding my face from the sun, he led me forward through sand that was so hot, I was starting to feel it through my socks. I hadn’t thought to give myself a wardrobe change in my transportation to my bliss world, so I was in the same jeans, green t-shirt and purple tank top I’d been in when Lang had laid me down in my bed.

  “Don’t make me feel like I’m a dummy. Not when you can actually help me.” I wasn’t sure it was wise to scold the powerful warlock, but I had nothing else to keep him in line, so I grasped at the few straws available to me. “Who’s my father? And why didn’t he ever come back for us?”

  “Such importance you place on the idea of parents. Mine are long deceased, and I haven’t given them a thought in decades. You’re wasting your life, pining like this.”

  “Please, Philip.”

  He softened as he led me forward toward who knows what. “You called me Philip. I rather like your name for me. Sama means evil. I’ve been using it for so long, I can’t remember my original name. Maybe it was Philip. I like to pretend you see past the evil that the world sees, your gaze cutting straight to the heart of me.”

  “Well, you only started being evil toward the end, so old habits and all. You really don’t remember your true name? I guess I thought Sama was it.”

  “Sama’s the name I took after I tore my master’s heart from his chest.”

  I huffed and stopped in my tracks. “I can’t do this. You have to take me somewhere I can actually see. The sun’s hurting my eyes, Philip. Anywhere else, really. You can pick.”

  “Very well. I’ll take you home, then.” He covered my eyes with his hand, I felt a whoosh, and when he let go of my face, I could see again.

  “Oh, that’s way better. Thanks.”

  His voice was grand, dripping with trepidation. “Have a look at my kingdom, hani.”

  I suppressed a shudder. “Um, I can’t actually see anything, you know. I still have bright spots messing with my vision. Give me a minute.” I blinked a few times and saw the island with the trees peppered throughout, each one stripped bare. There was an ocean behind us, and the smell of the pure water revitalized my senses. “Oh, I remember this place. I guess I didn’t realize this was your home. In all your time here, you never thought to decorate? Make it a little homey?”

  Philip laughed, and the sound bubbled out of him like he’d been holding onto the joy for too long. “Decorate? No, I’ve been a little busy with my army, and besting the kings of Terraway.”

  “Oh, right. You don’t get bored here without anyone to pass the time with?”

  Philip shook his head. “Terraway thought it was a curse I took on myself when I grabbed hold of the elixir to eternal life, but no curse in the world feels as good as this. Being young and powerful forever? I’ve perfected my magic. It’s only a matter of time before the other kings bow before me, touting my curse as the biggest blessing in all of Terraway.”

  I cast him a dubious look. “How about we talk less about what a megalomaniac you are and more about this curse you took on yourself. It made you forget your own name? That’s like, the saddest thing I’ve heard in a while.” Second to Danny resurrecting his fiancée so he didn’t have to live without her. That was sadder.

  Philip pfft’d, as if the sordid details of how he’d gotten so powerful were beneath remorse. “It was so long ago; I don’t know what my master’s original plan for me was. I only know that nothing I did lived up to it, so he died as he lived – dissatisfied.”

  I swallowed, unsure how to handle a conversation where violent homicide was thrown around so haphazardly. “That sounds hard. Do you think it was worth it? Living without your Kapre master so you could be alone forever?”

  Philip stiffened, and I wondered if I was about to catch myself a beating. “I’m not alone. I have an army full of subjects I can command at will. Not just the undead, either. I’ve found a way to create loyalty, to forge a family of my own. When they die in battle, I just raise up more.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that, so I stuck to nodding.

  “And I’m not alone right now. I have you.”

  “Oh, hun. Most days I barely have me. That you’re chasing me now? Kinda pointless. I’m bottom of the barrel these days. Not the prize you’re thinking I am. Shows how thin your options are. Even with all your undead lovelies, you’re chasing some other dude’s washed-up woman?” I nodded once. “Desperate. Get a real girlfriend. I’m not even really here. This is all our dream.”

  Philip scoffed with a hint of a laugh to his attitude. “I can’t believe you’re still not afraid of me. After everything that happened the last time, you still talk to me like a girl who needs a strap taken to her pert little backside. I may be desperate, but you’re the foolish one.”

  “You’d rather I cower? Something tells me you’ve got enough of that in your life – people bowing down whether you deserve it or not.” I bumped him with my hip, trying not to be afraid. Most people stick to the “don’t let him smell your fear” mantra. I’ve found it’s more effective to just stop feeling fear altogether. “Tell me about my father. You’re getting us off-track.”

  “Well, let’s start from what you know of him. Surely your mother told you his name or showed you a picture.”

  “That shows how little you know about me or my life. Bev said his first name was Goodfer, and his last name was Nothing. Never saw a picture of him. Never knew his name. Doubt he knew mine.”

  “He knows your name, of that much I’m certain.” There was a smirk to Philip’s voice. “I could tell you, but I think I’ll let you find out for yourself one day. The surprise would be the main event of our time together, and that’s not what I had in mind for us.”

  I blanched, but was pretty sure I did a good enough job at hiding my distaste. “Don’t be gross. I’m here willingly. Don’t push it.”

  Philip chuckled darkly. “I think we both know I’ll do as I please. You have so much spirit in you. Breaking you will be a satisfying victory. I haven’t had one of those in ages. The other Omens gave in so easily to their fate. You’re the only one who’s risen to be my equal.”

  I jerked my hand from his arm. “I’m nothing like you. I didn’t murder my teachers, and I don’t command armies of darkness.” Bruce Campbell can take care of those, no problem. I tried to summon my inner Bruce that could take out his boomstick and light up the night right good. My chin rose and my shoulders rolled back when my favorite horror movie superhero swelled in my spirit, giving me peace I couldn’t have located on my own.

  Philip was unperturbed. His hand rested on my back to lead me forward. “How many of your loyalists have died to protect you? And I saw you at the funeral of Lady Mariang through the eyes of my army. You commanded nations when they tried to spit on Danny. Admirable, but not so different than what I do. I force the undead to follow me, you force live subjects to serve your whim.”

  I guffawed, shocked at the things he was accusing me of. “I can’t believe you just said that to me. You’re a jerk, and I’m nothing like you.”

  Philip laughed loudly. “Oh, you’re exactly like me. That’s why you despise me so now.”

  “I despise you because my sister’s a friggin’ vegetable. I despise you because you tried to force yourself on me. You tried to mind-warp my fiancé. You shot Ezra in the back! Curse or not, if you value your life, you’ll not push me today. It’s been a long one.”

  Then it hit me. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, giving me chills that invigorated me. The way to take
Philip down was literally at the tip of my tongue. I saw it all clearly, a master plan of epic proportions falling into place. No one had seen the solution, but there it was. I knew how to put an end to my eternal tormentor. I knew how to kill Sama.

  Thirteen

  Philip, the Gentleman

  My intake of breath was the only indicator that I knew what had to happen next. Philip thought he had me, but as it turns out, I had him exactly where I wanted him.

  Almost.

  Philip had been talking, but I didn’t care. I cut into his words with a curt, “I think we should meet.”

  Philip stopped abruptly, and I nearly pitched forward on the hot sand. He righted me, bringing my face up in his hand so he could search me for lies. Unfortunately for him, I was still blinking the errant stars from my vision, so I couldn’t focus perfectly yet. It didn’t do much for him as he tried to examine me for tells. “Why would you want that?”

  “Because this is bullshiz. You want to scare me into being with you, but you won’t see what it’s actually like for me to be with you. It’s cowardly. Let’s try it for one week. A whole week of us being together, living under the same roof that’s not in our dreams and see if we’re even good together.”

  “You’re up to something. You don’t want that. You screamed when I touched you last.”

  I tilted my head to the side with an arched eyebrow. “I think that’s a pretty typical response from any woman you force yourself on. I’m talking voluntarily this time, the two of us just seeing if we gel. Then if it works out, great. If not, we can move on.”

  Philip’s voice came out insecure, which was my favorite shade when worn on a power-hungry megalomaniac. “We?”