by JN Moon
“I can feel he’s been close by,” Marcus whispered and stopped abruptly.
“Orion,” I called softly. “Orion, it’s Anthony. Are you alright?”
Marcus raised his eyebrows, questioning my calling the child, but I saw no point in trying to sneak up on him. He no doubt knew we were here before we sensed him.
We heard his laughter and followed it to a little street alongside the square, and there he was, talking to a group of vampires dressed in Victorian finery and wearing masks. Something about them made me feel queasy, and the way they were laughing and petting him, and his innocent sounding giggling seemed to astonish and delight them. They were clearly fascinated with him. We stepped up a pace. “Orion! We were worried. Are you alright?”
He turned to look at us, his cherub mouth dropped, and he took a step back, closer to the group of decadent strangers.
“You are not his parents!” one of them stated, looking at us sternly. He stood taller than the others and wearing a top hat and tails, immaculately dressed, but the masks seemed as odd as the clothing. Their whole demeanour had changed. They’d been laughing, smiling and now their faces resembled stone, hard and rigid.
“Who are you?” Marcus asked.
They were not only dressed in antique clothing, something about them seemed from a bygone era. “No friend of yours!” A woman dressed in black silk and lace, so delicate that her bustle dress shifted as she moved, shimmering under the antiquated street lights.
A roar of thunder bellowed fast and pitch blackness fell, and seconds later the light came back. And they were gone, with Orion.
Witches and Gateways
Anthony
Evening arrived, and I was glad to get out of that dusty building and into the air. Spring was coming and although it remained still cold, sweetness and freshness filled my senses.
Only Trish and Nikki travelled in with us. Kyle and Anne were going to follow behind. We had to travel in small groups so as not to be detected.
I now saw accurately the advancements in society. Their quest to tighten security and keep out the threat of the blood angels. Building roofs everywhere had cameras to monitor security, and over the main thoroughfare of the city, from the rooftops of shops a force field buzzed. I nudged Marcus averting my eyes to it. I guessed humans knew about it, but it was only visible to immortals. It hummed in my ears, low and annoying. As we neared the city, I sensed a change in the feelings from humans..
As we walked into the city, and saw humans laughing and drinking, an air of fear touched me. Almost like their laughter, their smiles were forced. Marcus could feel it, too, and he looked at me to register this with a tilt of his head and raised his eyebrows. “I imagine this is what comes from living so close to death,” I answered his look.
Expectation and unease buzzed around the place, tension from mortals swept through me, but contrary to that, the streets were lit up with beautiful lights and sculptures, though some were partially torn down.
“Nikki, Trish, why are the sculptures and lights in shreds? Was that the blood angels?” I whispered.
“Yes, it seems there was an attack last night which is why everyone is on edge. Keep your heads down,” Nikki informed us.
It puzzled me why those creatures would act so barbarically. I got it that they were top of the food chain, but why the need to hammer it home on a daily basis? From our last adventures—and I use that term loosely—fear would be the reason for that. Like a bully, always making the grand effort to look mean, is really the most insecure person in the place. So what threatened them, I wondered? Except us, and they didn’t know we were here, yet.
Marcus and I didn’t speak. We tried not to look surprised at the number of drones in the city, and it seemed some people really did have their own personal drones. I was told these were automated and linked in with RF tags that some people chose. An upgrade, if you will, of personal security.
“So, the police? If you have a personal drone, that means you get help faster. Are they capable of firing?” Marcus asked.
“Some are capable to shoot, but you have to have a permit. Police, well that’s an old word. We have a military operation. There are rules, the drones record everything and as we said, some information is sent to a central database. Live feeds are used if weapons are involved, and these are sent to a national computer network. That way you can’t just shoot at random. Only blood angels, vampires, or under worlders are allowed to be shot. The penalties are heavy for misuse and because of that, society is fairly obedient.”
“I still don’t understand why you guys live like you do. With the tags, doesn’t that buy you in, so you can get somewhere to live, money?”
“It’s hard. If you want into the system, there are rigorous rules and checks. To rent a house, you need a bank account, to get that they have eye scanners. As they’ve been aware of our existence for a hundred years, they’ve gradually pushed us out. It’s worked; our numbers are dwindling. Well, not the blood angels, but the rest of us.”
We came into the little courtyard of shops with the large Sycamore tree and cobbled street, where this had all begun the day before. A side street adjoined the courtyard where we saw those masked vampires. It was still early, but it was incredible that most of the shops here remained the same. “It happened here, but we’re early. When we saw the time loop open the time of day was much later. Whether or not it does this every day, I don’t know. We’ll need to come back and see if the time loop opens at the same time. That would be a start,” I said.
At this point, Trish pulled a small object out of her pocket and placed it in the palm of her hand. Genius! The compass contained a needle that spun wildly, not wanting to settle anywhere. Walking around a bit to make sure it was the area and not a faulty compass, we memorised the exact spot. But we still had hours to go. Kyle, at this point, caught up with us and offered to take us to someone who might be able to help.
Only Kyle could take us to this person. I suspected he meant a necromancer until he said, “No, I had thought that, too. They’re really rare, and anyway who wants to raise the dead when the living is just as gullible! And generally, the living smell better.” He chuckled. “No, I spoke to a few close friends and they recommended this woman. I don’t know her well; I’ve only met her once before. Magic is a dying art. Even less speak about it. And I had to lie to my friends and say I was investigating some macabre whisperings from the city. I didn't want to jeopardise your plan. It could affect us all.”
“I’m very grateful for your help,” I told him. The witch lived just off from the city centre, to my surprise not far from where Nathaniel had lived in my other reality.
I found walking through the city hideous and distracting with those fucking drones everywhere. Last time I had been in the city, it was the scream of wraiths and now drones.
The others, I suppose, knowing no different, didn’t seem affected by it. They’d got used to the white noise of incessant buzzing.
Relief filled me when we got to the front door which was answered by an austere woman in a plum crushed velvet skirt suit that looked designer, and blonde hair clipped back tightly to match her severe face. Her lips matched her outfit, as her skin matched her hair. A witch, with no black hair dye, no tassel clothing, no tattoos. More chic than gothic. Her home was a town house, very expensive and exclusive.
“You’re Marcus, Anthony, and Kyle. I was expecting you. This way.” Her voice sounded throaty as she addressed us individually. Her eyes bore into mine like she searched for my soul.
The house had an entrance as grand as itself, and its classic checker board tiled floor and faint blue walls added a striking elegance. Everything about her home had the wow factor. Soft velvet rugs, flecks of silver, contemporary furniture that looked like you would melt into it—all blended smoothly with a darker atmosphere from the half-closed wooden shutters. A tunnel of light from the street lamps outside shone through, highlighting the massive modern art painting of a skull on the wall. I could
tell instantly that the picture was an original. There must be money in magic. I’d like to live like this.
I wondered then just how much had been changed with Orion being taken back through time. Artists, wars, technology. We’d only been in this reality a day so didn’t have much of a clue. I hoped I’d never know.
“My name is Althea. I know why you have come; please sit down. I know what Kyle told me was a lie. I would be a poor witch if I didn’t know that!” She turned to me and Marcus. “A fascinating tale. Orion was originally from your time?” She spoke with an air of uncertainty. “And you want to go and find him?”
“Exactly. We need to restore what’s happened. He disappeared so fast. You know about the time loop?”
“Of course, I know of it though I’ve never used it. I’ve also seen the masked vampires, but I have no other information about them. I’ve never attempted to make contact with them.”
“Surely as a witch the time loop intrigues you?” Marcus asked gently.
She nodded. “I don’t know enough about the power of those vampires, or the time loop. We all have our limitations. I know mine. I could no doubt enter, but as they look like they come from the Victorian age, that’s not a place in time I’d want to be stuck in. They weren’t especially kind to witches then!” She frowned as she spoke.
She shuffled in her lavish armchair and then slipped off her elegant shoes. I wondered how she afforded all this; she was obviously good at what she did. She was human, I smelt that as soon as her door opened, and no feeling of evil emanated from her.
“So, say I help you, do you know how you’d get back?” she asked.
“No, but we’ve both had experiences of travelling in time loops. Last time we used a dark mirror. Life got pretty hectic after that.”
“A vampire and a dark nephilim! Most unusual. You,” she spoke to Marcus. “You are not like any creature I’ve seen before. Not like the blood angels or vampires. Obviously, you’ve taken blood yourself and yet you seem calm, organised. And you’re friends with vampires!” She frowned and twisted her mouth at the unusual visitors before her.
Marcus raised his forehead and grinned. “I was hoping you could help us get in, and give us some way to get back.”
“There is something I have that may help you.” Althea got up and went to a bookcase. From behind some books she pulled out a little box and from that a small compact mirror. Carved gold swirls decorated the casing. Handing it to me, she said, “This is no ordinary mirror, open and see.”
Inside, the glass gleamed black and silver. “It’s obsidian, often used for scrying. A dark mirror, very old and very powerful. If you know how to use it, it could bring you back.”
“I know how. Thank you!”
“But I will need something from you, from both of you.”
I knew she would say this. She would want our blood for some ritual or other, but we really had no choice. Knowing what I do about the nineteenth century, I wouldn’t want to stay long and I’d pay any price with a ticket to get out once I’d found Orion.
“Of course, I take it you won’t be drinking it?” I asked.
Smiling with relief that I wasn’t about to argue or just vanish with the mirror, she got up and ushered us into her kitchen. “No, that won’t be necessary. If you could just put some in here.” After handing both of us a phial, she stood waiting expectantly.
“Well, I’m not happy with this arrangement. You have Anthony’s, I don’t think you should have mine,” Marcus defended.
Althea’s face dropped. I quickly intervened, “His blood, being that of nephilim and vampire, is lethal to most. Mine should be...sufficient.”
“No, the deal is both of you or nothing at all. I respect your concern and I don’t ask lightly. The mirror itself is priceless. You can buy any dark mirror, but not like this. It’s been infused with magic and protection. If you were any other I would never have offered it,” she said firmly.
I implored Marcus, who looked pissed off, but bit his wrist and dropped his blood into the phial.
“I won’t misuse this, I promise. And I will watch for you both in this time.”
Laughing, I couldn’t resist saying, “In a crystal ball?”
She raised her eyebrows at my sarcastic comment. “I will scry using a dark mirror. Either way I will try to see you. I sense a different energy about you, Anthony. You have a talisman of power on you, from a being in another dimension?”
“You are good, no wonder you’re rich! Who I know is my business. I’ve watched enough sci-fi to know I’ve said too much in this reality!” I joked.
“And you think you’re ready, now?” she questioned, as she scanned my face.
“No, but I’d rather get it over with. And you don’t know anything about these masked vampires?”
She paused. “I did read some text about them, but there was nothing of much value in it. Other witches have over the years tried and failed to make contact. Some may have even entered... Let me look it up.”
As we followed her back to the living room, she turned to ask, “Are you really going back dressed like that?”
“I hadn’t even thought about clothing. I suppose we would have to find something more appropriate, but I was keen to get there tonight.”
“Would you like some help with your clothing?” she asked.
“That depends,” Marcus replied sharply. “What will it cost us?”
She ignored his cold response and lightly said, “A lock of hair.”
“You have our blood, which now binds us to you. Hair as well? What is your plan?” he shot back.
“Marcus, calm the fuck down! Althea is trying to help us. Without her, we may be here forever!” I scolded him.
Unfazed by his abrupt rudeness she spoke, “I want the same as you.” And looking at Kyle she said, “The same as him. We want to go back to your time. To a time without drones, without surveillance, without blood angels. Surely, you understand, and surely, you wouldn’t deny us that. I feel your energies, both of you; you cannot wait to get out of this time.”
I couldn’t blame them. Sci-fi, time-space continuum, whatever. It was already messed up.
“Okay, I don’t know how we can do this. Kyle, what about your friends? How could we ensure that they can be in our time if we get Orion back?”
Kyle looked to Althea.
“Simple,” she said. “We will each drink a drop of Anthony’s blood. Marcus, your blood is lethal, but using a drop of Anthony’s blood I will cast a binding spell. Each will take a drop, that way we will be drawn back to Anthony, as he has the best chance of getting us out of this reality. Kyle, can you get your friends here, now?”
Marcus and Kyle’s faces dropped simultaneously. I was less shocked or worried now. Kyle spoke first, “But how will you know he will be okay?” He pointed to me.
“I don’t, but unless you have a better suggestion that is my plan. Anthony and Marcus have three hours before the time loop opens. I want to bind my familiars and a few others. I will perform the spell before they leave.”
“If we succeed, your reality should become ours anyway. I think!” Marcus mused.
“You can cast this spell so quickly?” I interrupted.
“Why ever not? Oh, you think I have to wait for a full moon or something. No, our real power comes from within, Anthony. Your blood is just binding us.”
Kyle started texting his friends and Althea spoke softly, “Just make yourselves comfortable in the living room. I’ll be in the kitchen, but I mustn’t be disturbed for about thirty minutes. It doesn’t take long to set up.”
Trish, Nikki, and Anne turned up whilst Althea was casting her magic, and we all waited in the living room impatiently. I wondered if I would notice anything—green smoke, strange tingling sensations. But I felt nothing and everything seemed very normal.
“I wish I could go with you, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Trish said.
“No, I think until we know what’s happened it’s better,
safer even if just Marcus and myself go. You know where we are, and we might need you yet. Our friends from our time probably have no idea what’s happened to us.”
Marcus nodded. “Even though I wasn’t happy with my blood and hair being used by a witch, I’m more reassured that you guys are here and know where we’re going, and that Althea possesses some magic. It’s a safety line. We have no way of knowing what lies through there, or how we’ll get back. Just stay close to Althea, we’ll see you soon enough.”
Once Althea returned, we said our goodbyes, and left to see what we would find at this mysterious time loop.
The Old City
Anthony
Like clockwork figures, they appeared and we were waiting. No one else seemed to notice them. Maybe it was a paranormal thing. But as soon as I saw them, I grabbed at one of the vampires, her clothes silken and dirty in my grip, and whipping my head around saw Marcus do the same. I didn’t want them to get away again. Their mouths dropped open like ventriloquist dolls. Eyes wide with fury, they screamed violently at us. A blaze of light so bright my eyes inevitably shut for an instant, and a cold powerful wind whistled past us.
The next moment everything was still. Opening my eyes, I saw we were in the same location, but looking around everything felt different. The city, as quiet and dark as a crypt.
The first sense that really hit me was the smell—human waste, manure, and God knows what else.
In slow motion, I realised I still clung to the masked vampire who thrashed and cursed at me, but her attempts were in vain. Marcus did the same, unwilling to let go and be let loose here, although he’d been immortal longer and had told me that he’d been here in the centuries past. His face, the reaction to the smell, I couldn’t withhold a splutter of laughter. His mouth formed a huge oval, he furrowed his brow, and issued a loud, “Oh God!”