Motioning them aside the group of people quickly separated. The waters of the lake seemed to part as something moved through them, making its way to shore. It found its feet, waddled forward, shaking the water from its thick, brown fur. Beady eyes sparkled in the firelight, long canines gleamed from either side of its mouth. It came forward, halted on the shore there as if unwilling to come further.
Walking to it Greystone reached down and grabbed a collar around its neck, pulled it struggling toward Katherine. Finally he tossed it at her feet. It laid there, its head tucked under front paws, hiding its face.
“Up!” he ordered the thing.
It did as it was commanded, as though it had no choice but to obey. It pulled its paws under it, pushed slowly upward until it stood on all fours. Its head rose until it was on eye level with Katherine.
The features seemed familiar at first. With growing horror Katherine realized it was her father. Tears streaked down her face, hatred filled her heart. He’d betrayed the family, so he’d become one of the creatures that haunted the lake.
A cruel and hateful laughter rang through the air as Greystone collected his pet and went to the center of the torches.
“We must ensure the survival of the family. In order to do so we must roll Katherine’s cleansed essence, our only hope for survival, back into the folds. As we did with Miranda so shall we now do with her. Join me in my request.” Greystone raised his arms, let a deep hum resound from him. It grew in volume, was then joined by the others.
There was a soft rattling of leaves behind her. She grimaced, closed her eyes tight as she felt a tug on her bonds.
“Shhh, wait,” Jim’s whisper came from behind her.
Holding her hands in place, though they were no longer bound, she waited. When the group seemed most distracted Jim pulled her into the shadows. They moved as quickly and quietly as possible. They’d only progressed a few hundred feet when a roar radiated from somewhere behind them.
Finding her feet on a trail Katherine shot through the narrow opening in the trees, Jim on her heals. In only minutes they found themselves in the clearing, the hunchbacked cabin before them. Katherine paused, headed for the shelter of the fragile structure.
“No, no,” Jim yelled, “The truck, we have to make it to the truck. We won’t survive in there.”
Grabbing his hand she dragged him toward the cabin. “Trust me. I know what to do.”
And she did. She knew very clearly what had to happen. Greystone was at the center of it all, he was the glue that held the family together. The cabin door slammed behind them, the bolt was put in place.
“Fire, build a fire,” she gasped, trying to catch her breath.
Jim did as he was told, though he wasn’t sure he understood. Taking the bottle from his pocket he sprayed some of the fluid on the wood and lit it. The dry kindling and paper came to life with a whoosh.
“Come,” Katherine said, facing the door. “Put your arms around me.”
Jim stood behind her, wrapped his arms tightly. Katherine took a deep breath, closed her eyes and concentrated. The creatures were gathering, coming into the clearing from all sides. She could feel them as clearly as if the walls were not there and she was watching them come.
One large wolf made his way forward, padded up onto the porch. Katherine let forth a small burst of energy, sweeping him away like a leaf in the wind. The others moved forward, tried to overtake her by sheer numbers. She let them come, let them gather until they were all near the cabin walls. Another burst radiated forth. The pool overflowed, washed over her body and Jim, spread outward seeping through the walls and smashing into the creatures, dragging them backward toward the tree line.
None were able to resist save for Greystone. He strode through it unaffected. The door cracked and crumbled under his weight. Standing before her he snarled in anger.
“You’re really pissing me off! What good does it do to run?” He stepped into the cabin.
Katherine used her mind to shove Jim away, toward the fireplace. He did not fight, but stood ready, trying to figure out what she was doing. The squirt bottle slid easily from her pocket as she moved toward Greystone, sprayed it in his face and down his chest, tried to retreat.
Moving quickly Jim grabbed a piece of burning wood from the fire. In one swift movement Greystone snagged Katherine’s shoulder with one strong hand, dug the claws in deep as he yanked her like a fish on a line, holding her by the speared shoulder to his chest, using the other to grasp her by the neck.
“Do it!” she hissed as the claws dug in deeper. Taking the bottle she squeezed it again, spraying them both.
“Yea, go ahead. But she’ll burn with me," he snarled, teeth at her ear. “How much do you love her?”
“If you love me you’ll do it.” The claws gripped her throat now, dug in to prevent her from speaking. “Trust…” she managed.
A shadow moved in the darkness as another of the creatures rose up behind them. The family was converging and they were both going to die. At least he could save her from a more horrifying death. In a movement that felt like jumping out of a plane without a parachute he sprang forward, touched the fire to Greystone’s arm. The flames leapt high and hot as the shock and surprise lit his face and the shadow behind them sprang forward.
It landed on Greystone’s back, dug long claws into his neck and face. In his surprise he released Katherine who crashed to the floor, flames licking her shirt. Jim leapt to her defense, beating the flames out with his bare hands. As the fire died leaving only smoldering wounds he pulled her to the corner, away from the thrashing beasts.
The creatures struggled, the flames growing, catching the floor around them on fire. It spread over the old, dry wood as if it were paper, consuming Greystone and the muskrat creature and blocking their only way out.
Jim tried to pick up his pack from the floor. Withdrew with pain. A hand snatched it from him, threw it through the window, shattering the glass and frame. Without hesitation he followed Katherine to the window.
“Ladies first,” he said, then shoved her through the hole and jumped out behind her.
The leg that met the ground first took all the weight, then snapped. Katherine cried out as Jim landed awkwardly beside her. The creatures that waited outside were growing agitated as they felt the turmoil of what was happening. They gathered, moving steadily toward them.
With a crackle the fire spread and the beasts in it’s midst’s gave one final roar as the whole cabin went up in curling, whipping flames. The world went silent and still around them as the wolves halted, looked at her with grateful eyes before dissipating into the smoke and misty fog that now flowed around them. The creatures too dissolved like wisps of smoke from an extinguished candle until the clearing was empty.
The roar of the fire slowly returned and the sound of the wind whipping the trees around them as a storm blew in. Jim lifted Katherine in his arms, carried her to the edge of the clearing where they watched the flames consume what was left of the cabin. The rain fell in thick sheets, putting out most of the smoldering support timbers.
The water on her face felt good, though it stung the burns on her shoulder. Laying there looking into the dark sky Katherine felt the stillness of the lake. Nothing remained, save for one. The one rising from the extinguished fire as a wisp of smoke.
The wisp lingered, seemed almost to take form as it floated through the sprinkles of the dying storm. Katherine sat up, tried to stand, but couldn’t.
“What is it?” Jim asked hesitantly as he noted her sudden attention to something he did not see.
“It’s okay,” she said, “It’s all going to be okay. You can go on now, Dad.” She reached over and took Jim’s hand. “I’m in good hands.”
The misty form dissipated, leaving them alone. Jim helped Katherine onto one foot. She tried to stand on the other, couldn’t.
“Sorry,
but it’s a ways out, there’s only one way to do this.” He grinned roguishly, then bent and threw her over one shoulder.
“Oh, okay. Now I see how it is.” She laughed despite the pain as he headed for the truck.
‡
After a trip to the medical clinic in a hotwired red truck and a days rest Katherine and Jim found themselves standing before the gates to the lake as the Sheriff and a few deputies’ unloaded four wheelers.
“Sorry Ms. McKalister, but we don’t have any maps on yer place he’re and I don’t wanna get nobody lost.” The sheriff was a strong, brawny looking man with a beer gut.
“It’s quite alright. And it’s McKlannen. We know the place rather well now.” She smiled at Jim, who just rolled his eyes. “Besides I need to assess what it’ll cost me to put a road in here.”
Everyone standing within earshot stopped what they were doing to stare at her braced on crutches. Jim turned with a questioning look.
“What would ya want ta do that for?” he asked in a low voice.
“Well, I’m coming home for good. I’m going to renovate the place.” She moved forward on the crutches tenderly, paused to look back. “You coming?” she asked.
Jim followed her to the four wheeler the Sheriff had loaned him.
“Katherine, what’re ya talking ‘bout?”
“You just going to stand there with all these people looking at us, or are you going to help me on this thing?” She smiled pleasantly as he lifted her in his arms and sat her on the seat. “We’ll discuss this at the house, without so many ears,” she whispered when he leaned close.
‡
At the house she stood leaning on the crutches looking up at the towering structure. As she made her way up the steps she knew she was finally home for good. Jim handed her a small bag at the top of the steps.
“He’re’s yar pain killers and water. Ya doin’ okay?” He put an arm around her, hugged her.
“I’m fine.” She smiled through the pain, knowing the medication would go unused. She couldn’t afford to take the chance.
The deputies proceeded past them to the basement to look for Nigel’s body. The story was that they’d come to check out the condition of the property and the ex-lover had followed them. The shooting of a serial killer was justifiable. The retrieval of the body was worth going into McKlannen territory heavily armed, in a tightly knit group, with the owner.
“So what’s this ‘bout coming back he’re ta live?” he asked. “I mean, not that I don’t want ya ta stay, but we could live in my house, or buy a place. Why he’re?”
“This place’s been in my family for centuries. I can’t just leave it. The bad stuff’s gone and I kinda think it’s my responsibility to see it stays that way. Besides, it’s beautiful, just think about it. Renovate the house, clear the trees out so you can see the lake. You’d be living on your very own lake!” She smiled warmly, stroked his face.
Hesitating he looked out at the trees, as if looking past them to a lakeside view. He turned back to Katherine. “That an invitation?” he asked with a smile.
“Sure is.”
“Jim, we need you down here a moment,” the sheriff said, coming to the end of the hallway. Jim went to assist him, leaving Katherine standing there alone.
The lake water wafted up fresh and clear, the crisp fall breeze caressed her face as she closed her eyes and pictured the lake and house as it would be by this time next year. Turning she made her way through the door and knew she was finally home, once and for all, after all the centuries of wandering.
The family line would continue after all, for a long time to come as she and Jim raised their baby and her brothers and sisters here on the lake. Generations would follow them, until the McKlannen-Lancaster family stood strong again.
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Soul Inheritance Page 22