Soul Inheritance

by Honey A. Hutson

  Pride stirred in her. These were her ancestors. All of them were trapped here and the time had come to set them free. She turned and wandered into the dining room, through the kitchen and into a small eat-in area beyond. This led back to the hallway where the entryway was. Across the hall, behind the stairs was a storage area that opened up to a music room where a piano, base, violin and other instruments still resided. The strings were long since gone. A large birds nest, probably a crow’s, was nestled in the hole on the base. She reflected on how empty and deserted it looked as she passed. Beyond that was a huge ballroom.

  This opened out onto a veranda which had at some time been glassed in. Much of the glass panels were now broken. Tree limbs littered the stone floors, several of the weathered chairs had been crushed or just fallen apart from exposure.

  “Winter storms can be pretty bad here,” Jim said, noting her pained expression, not entirely understanding why the condition of the place seemed to disturb her.

  “Yea, I know,” she said absently, turning and wandering through the ballroom and to the stairs. She started to ascend and Jim followed at a respectable distance.

  On the second floor were bedrooms, each still laid out with their furniture intact, bedding still in place. Each was made, the coverlet devotedly tucked in around the pillows as if their occupant might have just left, except that the cobwebs and dust were everywhere. Perfume bottles, powder containers, shaving kits all laid in careful order on the dressers, webs hanging between them and the mirrors.

  “It’s like everyone just walked away and never came back,” Jim said, finally unable to take the silence any longer.

  “They did, actually. Each time one of them died it was presumed they would return, so their room was left as it was, waiting for them. Only something happened, the rate of children being born began to change. Their numbers started depleting, until there was only two left.” The night before came to mind.

  He cleared his throat, resisted the urge to tell her. “The two that died in town. But this place hasn’t been touched. They didn’t take nothin’ with them.”

  “They planned on coming back. Or at least she did. He loved her so much he wanted to set her free. She was the family member, so he was married in. Maybe he didn’t like being permanently added. He’d have been trapped, too. The only way to set a soul free from the family was for that person to burn alive, right? He couldn’t have done that here, so he convinced her the only way to rebuild the family was to move into town, get people to trust them. Like them.”

  “Why not here?” Jim asked.

  “Because it’s not just the family here. The lake, the house, this place – it’s an entity of its own. It won’t let itself be destroyed. This whole thing with the family gave it life, but its loyalty is only to those who would protect it. It’s been empty all this time, it’s loyalties to the family that abandoned it are weakened. It’s mine now, I’m its hope. As long as I protect it…” she realized she was rambling.

  “But he protected it all this time,” Jim said, becoming uneasy suddenly in the house. Listening carefully as her loyalties to this place revealed themselves.

  “Yea, but I have something to offer he doesn’t,” she returned.

  “What’s that?” he asked cautiously.

  “Life. A chance to return to its former glory. Its home and I have the means and the desire to restore it, if I can just get rid of the rats that plague us both.” She was almost whispering now as she leaned in against the wall, spoke as if she were speaking to the house itself.

  Jim wasn’t sure if she was playing along or if she meant it. What he did know was that the entity that the house was part of would know and it would react accordingly.

  ‡

  After exploring the rest of the floor they moved on to the third level. There were various rooms for sewing and other activities. They stood in the hallway, staring down at the end they hadn’t seen. Katherine seemed to be dreading that part, hung back as if debating not going any further.

  “What’s wrong?” Jim finally asked.

  “My room’s down there. And the nursery.” Pacing for a moment she finally took a deep breath and forged on.

  The nursery was neatly kept, toys in their place, rocking horse sitting by the window where a child could look out at the lake. She lingered there, wondered again what had become of the children. Likely they’d grown to productive members of the family, maybe even stronger than most, with their mother’s blood added to Greystone’s.

  Finally she re-emerged in the hallway. From the side came a massive blow that threw her to floor, head spinning. Nigel stumbled forward, reaching for her throat as he fell on top of her, bloodied legs giving way. In the momentary struggle she saw the light that filled his eyes, turning them the sickly yellow-green that reflected in the eyes of the wolves.

  Jim rushed from the nursery, pulled Nigel off Katherine, slinging him down the hallway. He landed on his feet, sneered at Jim as he stumbled forward again. The two men faced off. Katherine saw it for the distraction it was and turned toward the final room.

  Stepping into the sunlight she went to the window and stared out at the veranda, the last of its unbroken panels gleamed in the light of late evening.

  “Bring back memories?” the wispy voice she’d expected asked from across the room.

  The door shut gently as Greystone stepped from behind it. He flicked the lock. Katherine summoned all of her courage and smiled. Concentrating she let Miranda come, kept her just close enough to see, just close enough to feel, just out of control.

  The green eyes muddied as Greystone came near, pulled her close, smelled her hair, ran his hands down her back. Returning the caress she closed her eyes, felt the passion she remembered in Miranda, let it flow from her so he would feel it. He picked her up in his arms, laid her on the bed, his weight pressing her into the ages old bedding. His claws ripped the buttons from her shirt, sent them flying around the room.

  “I’ve waited so long. For a little while there I thought maybe she’d gotten the better of you after all,” he breathed as he nibbled, careful not to draw blood.

  Pulling his face to hers she kissed him passionately, made it a point not to speak. Miranda stirred, creating a storm she could barely contain. She tried to strike out, to warn him he was in danger. The lack of control was making her furious, the rage made her stronger. Katherine’s control began to slip, coming out as Miranda’s passion.

  Greystone grasped her wrists as she tried to push him back. Staring into her eyes he laughed.

  “She’s giving you a run for it isn’t she? Concentrate, keep her down,” he cooed.

  Katherine did as he said, driving Miranda back just enough to control her. Breathing heavy she tried to think of a way to get him back where she’d started out.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, raising up, looking into her face.

  “Dust,” she breathed. “Let’s get off this bed. It’s hard to breath.”

  Sliding from the bed, he took her with him, wrapping her legs around his waist. Quickly he pinned her to the wall, continued his nuzzling. Katherine dropped her legs to the floor, pushed back on him, kissing his chest passionately, shoving him toward the other corner, the one that looked out over the veranda. As she gave one last powerful shove reinforced by a burst of power he grabbed her wrist to pull her near. They both went crashing through the window, plummeting toward the ground below.

  ‡

  Jim heard the door click shut behind him, but was otherwise occupied with Nigel’s advance. The eerie eyes burned with hatred as Nigel ran at him, throwing them both to the floor where they struggled. Finally able to get to the gun Jim shoved him back long enough to get off a shot.

  The sound resounded through the house, along with the sound of shattering glass and a sharp scream from the room behind him. Nigel stumbled backward, held his left side and stumbled into one of the
rooms down the hall.

  For a moment he was torn. If he let Nigel go he would just show up to wreak more havoc at the worst time. The power surge that he’d seen emanate from Katherine ran through his mind. Knowing she could take care of herself and that ultimately this was her battle he chose to pursue Nigel.

  The room was empty, but a connecting door stood open with bloody fingerprints bent around its edge. Jim followed the blood trail as it led through the house, down the stairs and into the kitchen. A door on the far end stood open, leading to a cellar.

  Cautiously Jim approached, listening carefully for movement. He took an old lantern from the shelf beside the basement, pulled out a lighter and lit it. To his amazement it still worked. Carrying it carefully in front of him he descended the stairs.

  There was no movement in the darkness. The lantern light didn’t reach far, but Jim had no doubt Nigel was squatting here in darkness, just waiting for him to get close enough. Shelves of old jars lined one stone wall. The smell of damp stone and dirt permeated the air.

  Something moved behind him and he spun around to face it. What he expected to see was Nigel, what slithered from the darkness was the thing Katherine had described seeing in her car. The terrifying description had not done it justice as it rose up from its coils and swayed, it’s pale, bony torso ghostly in the dim light, tongue flicking in and out.

  “Welcome to the family!” it hissed as it sprang forward, causing Jim to stumble backward and spill to the floor.

  The lamp flew from his hand and landed with a clatter on the floor. The glass broke, but the wick still burned. The thing now hung in the air above him, ready to pounce.

  The ring on his finger burned, shimmered in the dim light. Its glow spread out, quickly finding a mark in the thing that would have torn him to shreds. Now it recoiled, screamed in horrified amazement as the light enveloped it, sent it screaming back to where ever it had come from.

  Jim sat stunned on the floor, heart beating so hard he thought it might jump right out of his chest. There was still Nigel to contend with, so he got up, brushed himself off and reached for the lamp. Before his hand could grasp it Nigel emerged from the shadows.

  The men exchanged blows, wrestled on the dirt floor, fighting for control of the gun. Nigel had the advantage, the unnatural strength he’d been given to function at all. He finally sat astride Jim, leaned on him as he tried to turn the gun inward. It twisted in his grasp. Jim couldn’t be sure which way it was pointing. He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.

  ‡

  Katherine was unexpectedly yanked out the window with Greystone. Screaming she closed her eyes tight, waiting for impact as she plummeted toward the stone floor of the veranda.

  Just as suddenly as she’d been jerked out the window, she was snatched from the air, only feet from colliding with the glass roof. Greystone’s arms wrapped around her as he lifted them both, flapping his wings effortlessly. He headed for the cove, where he finally came to rest, dumping her on the shore. With speed and precision he pinned her to the mossy ground. Anger glistened in his eyes and his breath quick and heavy.

  “Let her out!” he snarled. “Don’t you get it. You’re not going to win. You’re not meant to win. We have the power here, you’re just a mistake,” he spit out the last word with contempt.

  “She’s not going anywhere. You two made the mistake. When you assumed you could control me, just take my life over. Turn me into what you are,” she returned the sentiment, but he only glared at her.

  “You let her out or I’ll kill you now,” he pinned her arms above her head, stretched her out beneath him, drawing out the long claws of one hand.

  Katherine stretched her neck, put her face as close to his as possible. “You try and I’ll stomp her out of existence before I draw my last breath.”

  “I’ll have her back. You won’t win,” he snarled.

  Ripping a piece of her shirt away he bound her hands, tied them to a nearby tree limb and let her sit there while he thought about the situation. After sitting by the waters edge for a while contemplating what to do he got up, sneered at her. Katherine called up all the power stirring in her core, threw it toward him as he strode in her direction. He waded through it, unaffected.

  “That doesn’t work on me. You’ve truly surprised me Katherine. You’re stronger than I would’ve ever thought. Once again she’s out of reach. But what’s another twenty years or so in the face of eternity? If I curse you back into the power, then pass it on to another family I’ll still save her, still get her back.” He spread his wings and disappeared into the fading evening, leaving her there to wonder.

  ‡

  Jim shoved Nigel off, put one hand on his stinging arm. The bullet had grazed him, but ultimately found its mark. Now Jim knelt next to him, put the gun close to his chest and fired the fatal shot into his heart. The glow in his eyes died away and was gone.

  Upstairs Jim checked his pocket for the squirt bottle. It was still there. He went back to the third floor, stared out the broken window at the veranda below. Katherine wasn’t lying down there in pieces, so Greystone must have taken her, but where?

  As he watched something large flew over the tree tops from the lake emitting a piercing wave of sound. Greystone lighted on the ground outside the veranda, went about gathering torches, disappeared into the house, then returned. Instead of flying back out he stalked into the woods, toward the cove.

  As Jim found his way down the stairs he heard things stirring in the rooms and in the cellar. He rushed out the front door and down the steps, snagging his pack as he went. Things moved behind him as he reached the trees. He looked back to see movement in the windows, the house came alive with shadows and lights, eyes that gleamed out into the growing gloom of late evening.

  Heart thundering, fear for Katherine growing, love for her spurring him on, he ran through the trees. The limbs grabbed at him, tore through his shirt, ripped at his legs. The stings went unnoticed as the smell of the lake water grew stronger and the light of torches shone through the dense trees.

  Chapter seventeen

  Miranda squirmed inside of Katherine, who now pressed down on her with a vengeance. If Miranda got out now it was all over. She watched as Greystone set the torches in two rows, leading from where she was tied to the water. Things began to stir. She could feel them rising up from a place she’d been unaware of before. Creatures like him. Family members trapped here in various forms over the centuries.

  There was a convergence taking place. The placid surface of the lake became choppy, water curling in toward shore. The dark liquid seemed anxious to reach out for her, draw her down into its depths. Greystone knelt, turned his head to the moon and stars, sat there waiting.

  The dreams came back to Katherine. All that she’d learned rolled through her head like a movie. The creation of this place, the children standing at his feet, the gathering the night Miranda had died as his wife. The night she had died as someone else’s. How much she’d changed between the two lives. Her progression had been taking her in the direction of acceptance. The fire hadn’t changed that so much as the act of love that spurred it. Like Jim’s love had changed her outlook, her fundamental direction.

  That was when she realized what had ultimately turned her. Love. The love her grandfather had for her grandmother had spurred him to save her by setting fire to their bed with them in it. Set her free, or so he thought, from this curse. He’d cleansed her soul, but because she was bound to the family by different means she’d still been born into the line. Katherine found herself wondering what had happened to him. Thought of Jim. That was why they were so immediately drawn to each other. Tears threatened to come, blurring her vision. It no longer mattered.

  The wind picked up, blowing the colorful fall leaves from the trees in showers. Her heart ached for Jim. If she wasn’t faring well then he must be dead. With everything that was rising up it was on
ly a matter of time if he wasn’t already. The ring could only protect him from so much, unless he ran, left the lake. He wasn’t that kind of guy and she was sure of his fate if he hadn’t, just as she was sure of her own.

  The dagger gleamed in Greystone’s hands as he knelt, his wings slowly spread as he concentrated on drawing power to him, drawing the family together. The night he’d sacrificed his wife that he might regain her in another life was replaying itself. She’d been set free by the fire. Unless she did something quick she was going to be starting all over again.

  From the trees to her right emerged the slithering thing she’d seen in the car at the hospital. It grimaced in her direction, took its place near the water. The glowing eyes of the wolves emerged one at a time, slinking from the growing shadows to sit in ragged lines. Their deep gray coats gleamed in the torchlight; their eyes were focused on their master.

  Other creatures appeared from the woods one by one. Each part animal, part human, part unearthly. One took the form of a large bear, claws long and sharp, body thick, covered with dark fur, face clearly human. Another had the bearing of an upright cat, fur tawny and sleek. Each was unique in its own way, no two were alike until nearly a dozen of them stood silently at attention.

  Greystone stood, turned, his back to the lake, arms spread. Before him a mist grew and undulated, flowing to and fro between the torches. Slowly, as if reluctantly, it began to form shapes. Human shapes. Each developed until they were clear and solid.

  Each wore the clothes of the last time they’d lived. Some were from as early as the turn of the seventeenth century, none later than the nineteen thirties. Katherine searched through them for her father, did not find him there. Greystone came to stand beside her.