by JN Moon
It was a kind gesture and Marcus’s face looked forlorn. He sighed and put his head in his hands. I gestured with my head, nodding that the others should leave whilst I stayed with him. Somehow maybe I could use this new gift to help them all.
Time, Dreams, and Concepts
Anthony
It was the strangest thing. I dreamt I was human again and living with Rachel and none of this paranormal nightmare had happened. When I woke up, I stretched out and felt such ease and rolled over on the huge Georgian bed, and it took a few seconds for me to realise that it had been a dream.
I sighed wearily and realised I was famished as my stomach rumbled and contracted. I got up and went over to the side board to use the stale cold water to wash my face and hands. My clothes stuck to my skin and felt grimy since there was no real way of washing other than heating the water on the stove and carrying it to the bedroom where the bath sat. Hot running water, even in these fine houses, hadn’t happened yet, so although I could wash my face and hands, washing as we do in the 21st century wasn’t an option. And it was dirty out there, and so were my clothes.
As I made my way down the twisty staircase, my thoughts were focused on getting Orion back with the others, but suddenly dizziness completely overtook me. My head swam as if I walked through jelly, and I fell on my arse sliding down the stairs. Everything wobbled, so I sat there putting my head in my hands and breathing deeply. Maybe this was magic, or the result of being in the wrong time? Did anyone else feel this? Oh God, don’t say it was that blood. Well, too late, I thought and slowly used the stair rail to steady myself, a vampire with no balance, and made my way to the living room where everyone else waited.
“It’s not just us, it happened to you, didn’t it?” Nathaniel sprung this question on me as I entered.
“I felt dizzy and everything seemed wobbly, if that’s what you mean. It was like walking on jelly.”
“But not us,” William replied wistfully. “It must be because you’ve all travelled back, the time distortion. Perhaps the time loop has affected you at last?”
As I walked across the room, something shifted and the floor seemed to twist. Disorientation filled me, pressure in my head, like my skull would combust. I put my hands to my head, screeching, looking up at all of us, including the Victorians were suffering the same fate.
I grabbed at the talisman Jamie had given me, hoping this energy shift would activate it or something, but nothing happened. Within minutes whatever it was passed, and we gathered ourselves together.
“What time is it?” I asked. The ornate clock on the fireplace had stopped working during that crazy incident.
“10:30pm,” Claude replied. “Yes, I know what you’re going to say. Let’s get to the loop now, I’ve had enough of this!”
“It’s too early in the evening, it always opened at midnight,” William replied.
“Damien’s spell worked, didn’t it? Mabel’s magic, her spell always opened the time loop, no doubt so she could eventually go through it. She must have used us knowing our energy would keep a crack open through time. There’s no reason why we can’t open it with Damien and perhaps the talisman Anthony has? Certainly, it’s worth trying. If we can work that, then let’s get the child,” Eliza replied.
“Let’s go now. We’ve stayed cooped in for too long,” I suggested. “I’m hungry and restless.”
Claude and his companions went off to the slums, whereas Marcus, Rachel, Nathaniel, Damien, and I went to the park. As for Sabian and his men, they decided to go to the portal and investigate it after eating. I remember Sabian saying they had a thirst for blood, a long time ago when I first met him. But I didn’t realise that they ate, well...normally. I did remember he had a strict policy of no kill in his pack.
For me, what shocked me the most out hunting was the cruelness in people’s hearts in this era. I understood that life here in this time was much harder and that was reflected in their minds. Upon hearing their thoughts, the dominance of malice was overwhelming. Their blood, however, tasted very different. Sweeter and purer and definitely more intoxicating. After drinking my first victim, I had to steady my unstable legs. As the blood ran through my body my head spun, and the sheer potency took me off guard.
Nathaniel, being the only one of us who had drank blood for over a century, watched, a wide grin wrapped across his face. Leaping forward, he steadied me as I swooned, and nodded to Damien and Marcus so they could take note.
Shocking how the diet changes people at such a cellular level. In my normal time we have access to better food, but I guess medication and artificial ingredients really have tainted the blood and made it weaker.
“We’ll bury the bodies, no need to worry in this age.” Nathaniel grinned. I realised he was quite enjoying this trip down memory lane. I argued about dumping them in the river, I knew the city dumped all its waste there, but I was from a different era. Nathaniel shook his head in wonder. “You take his life and yet you worry about the environment? You didn’t even live in this time. By the time you arrive it will be cleaned up. And had you thought of the longer-term consequences for taking his life, maybe he would have had children and now the whole timeline...”
But as he spoke the place seemed to twist and tangle around us, like looking through a kaleidoscope. Gasping and falling, we all linked hands on instinct. A bolt of colours in rainbow hues warped across us, and a deafening sound so deep, resounded then was over in a flash.
Panting I stood up, looking down at the others. I implored Nathaniel with my eyes. “We have to move! A graveyard, where’s the nearest?”
Staggering up, he dusted himself off and sharply added, “That’s worse! I’m not going there! They’re full of decaying, filth ridden bodies buried on top of each other. Christ, even I might catch something. OK, green boy. There is a pauper’s place not far. We’ll find a space, and bury them there. I mean really we could just leave them here.”
“That’s stupid surely, they’ll see they’re exsanguinated and start a witch hunt. Which is, ironically, what we should be doing. No, these were vile, cruel humans but I won’t leave this mess for someone else to clean up.” I shot him a mean look. It was selfish to leave bodies to others, and though these men had been cruel and I didn’t regret taking evil away from society, they had still served my need and some respect ought to be shown.
I could see poor Marcus watching and listening to our dilemma, and it must’ve hit him. I had thought that he’d made peace with human blood long ago now, but then he never usually killed.
“It must be the blood we took from the ritual. It’s made us all brutally savage,” I said gesturing to the bodies at our feet. “We can debate this another time. Let’s bury these men and get to the time loop. We still have to help Marcus with Mabel and get Orion home!” What a freaky as shit situation we’re all in.
In the bleakness of the situation, laughter was contagious and Rachel spluttered out, “I’m glad I’m not here on my own.”
Illusions
Anthony
After our peculiar experience, we all met up under the Sycamore tree just off the city centre. I noticed that even though I was 150 years back in time the tree was still as majestic sitting as it did in the middle of a courtyard of shops and cobbled streets. Much needed in these foul times.
The streets were a bustle with street sellers with smells more pleasant than I’d noticed so far. Hot wines, sweet and pungent, roasted chestnuts and meat pies filled the air and street sellers packed into every available space. Trinkets, matches, boot laces sold by adults and those shoeless children, dirty and clothed only in rags. Swallowing hard, my heart, my belly felt nauseous seeing, feeling such desperation behind their hollow eyes.
As my friends chatted eagerly to Sabian and his crew, who were gorging themselves on the pies, mulled wine, and various seafood, I pushed past, hands in my pockets pulling out money to give to these kids. The children though were too wary to come near me, even though I held out my hand.
Luke strolled over. “They may not know what you are, but their instincts are sharp. Subconsciously they know you to be a predator.” Then he whispered, “Vampire. Most likely some of them have encountered nasty vampires before.” He looked me in the eyes with a warm smile and then he motioned to the children nearby to come forward, whilst he crouched down, face beaming.
Between us we emptied our pockets before Marcus came over, putting his arm around my shoulder. I glanced at the others and saw Rachel staring at me, as if in a dream. I tilted my head in a gesture of acknowledgment. She blinked and went back to listening to the others. Small gestures. Then we made our way to the tea shop.
Our faces dropped. Outside the café in full view of everyone the very air appeared ruptured, torn. Rippled and reflective like a mirror being spewed upwards like a fountain, but only we saw it. The mortals walked past, some through it and when they appeared out the other side they looked slightly transparent, as we followed them with our eyes, they shimmered faintly, completely unaware. For a few minutes we were all too stunned to speak.
“Oh fuck!” Stuart spat. Some ladies and gentlemen passing us looked at us with dagger eyes as the word fell from Stuart, and again the tension, the stress and urgency of our dilemma and someone’s prudery over a word caused a burst of laughter, restrained tension to come pouring out.
“Anthony, get your talisman,” Damien managed to say.
Our Victorian friends returned looking vibrant and beaming. I stopped for a moment. I’d only ever seen them looking that happy the night they’d taken Orion and when Damien showed them his phone.
“What in the name of God!” Claude exclaimed.
“It’s a rip in time. When Mabel created it using yours and hers magic she ripped a hole in time and space. Actually, in our time this has been explored in much more detail, but if you do decide to come with us you’ll be able to find out about that. We’re about to see if we can stabilise it.”
A bark of laughter shot from my mouth, I jolted back. This was the most Tim had spoken since he’d arrived, he was the youngest of Sabian’s pack and like Luke, new. When he’d shifted he’d become the jaguar, powerful and wild, which was the complete opposite of his human character. He appeared toned with a lithe frame with rich, short curly hair, and olive skin.
He crouched down beside the opening of the light, intently explaining to Claude who had become instantly fascinated and who kept uttering, “Marvellous, just marvellous!”
I had to turn away and smirk. These adventures were seemingly part of paranormal existence. Deadly scary, but they brought a mix of creatures together who I’d never meet as a mere mortal. In this instant I embraced it. I knew I’d never look back, never want to be mortal. But I do miss coffee and food. Smelling it doesn’t cut it.
I handed Tim the talisman and looked at Damien who had his eyes shut and murmured something to himself. Passers-by were giving us a wide berth. Fortunately, with it being late now they were starting to dwindle. The teashop owners had stayed open late and were closing up. A burly brusque looking man kept coming out and frowning at us, but we ignored him.
“Shouldn’t we wait until these people are gone? What if they call the peelers?” Eliza frowned with worry, her voice squeaked as the shop owners constantly stared at us.
“Who’s the peelers?” I asked.
Marcus laughed, “Police,” and added quickly, “A story for another time.”
“No, we need to get out, and if we wait and come back it might be gone. If we can ensure it’s stable, some of you can leave if you want.”
As soon as I finished speaking two policemen appeared. It seemed someone had gone to get them. Their outfits were ridiculous by our standards, but I was able not to smirk. No mean feat, I can tell you. I stood up along with Sabian.
“Good evening, officers. I’m sorry if we caused you alarm. We’re from the Royal Society. We are Geologists, and it appears there could be a spring under here. It is of great interest to our university,” I completely bluffed. I remembered Rachel had loved science and really, I just threw the words together speaking in my most elegant English. I couldn’t look at Marcus because I could feel his emotion and he was about to burst with laughter. Claude and William however just looked sincere and impressed by my performance.
“Very well, Sir...?”
“Sir Maddock, Constable, and this is my esteemed colleague Sir Marcus Standridge. I do hope that we’re not an inconvenience here. We will not be much longer, but we need to make our assessments so I can write up the report.”
I didn’t want to use Marcus’s real last name since he was already, supposedly living in this time- or at least had done before and by addressing ourselves with our full titles made us sound people of note, in this time. It carried more weight.
“Very good, sirs, carry on. We were just checking. We had reports, that’s all. Now we see it’s gentlemen scientists, we won’t worry, but if you can hurry up please.”
I shook his hand. “Thank you so much, good fellows. We won’t be long, I promise!”
Poor Marcus, he couldn’t speak to them, I could hear him pretending he was clearing his throat as he held in his sniggers.
“Right, Damien, do you think you can do it?”
Damien had busied himself with the others whilst the two policemen were there, now he turned to me. “Honestly, I have no idea, but I guess we have to try.”
Sabian looked worried, frowning as he watched. I, too, was scared. If we closed it...but that didn’t bear thinking about.
Tim was scratching his head and Nathaniel and Rachel were putting their hands precariously close to the distorted time field.
“I could try and go through?” Rachel offered. The rest of the men looked shocked. “That’s a good idea!” Tim answered, and then stammered quickly, “No, not you, but get a stone or something...”
“Wait! I’ll get something,” Eliza replied. She walked off back towards the busy area where most of the street sellers were leaving. She came back and handed Tim a variety of knickknacks.
Tim threw a fork in carefully and then covered his head with his arm, expecting it to be thrown back out. We waited with baited breath, it went in and nothing. Then he put in some matches. Still nothing. Scratching his head again, he stood up. “We won’t really know.” Then he walked around it as if he expected it to be the other side.
“Look, I’ll go,” Rachel announced suddenly and threw herself at it, but Damien caught her arm just in time. “You will not! Christ, Rachel, you could die, or worse!” he shouted, frightened at her recklessness.
“I will die or worse if I have to stay here! Let go of me. Never do that again!” She was angry at him. I didn’t miss her anger. But I wasn’t gloating, he was right of course. “I will go through and see if I can come back.”
“I don’t know if it’s stable though. Damien, let’s try your spell and I’ll place this talisman at its base,” Tim suggested.
Again, Damien started chanting under his breath whilst Tim delicately threw the talisman into the light stream’s base. Nothing. We all sighed simultaneously and as Rachel was about to defy reason, the thing disappeared. Gone.
“Fuck, shit! Crap, you have to be kidding me!” Luke belted out. At that moment my heart fell into my feet. My breath seemed to catch, a sudden coldness hit me at my core. Oh God, no...
In a flash, the thing came back, but looked like a diaphanous mirror and was streaming multi-coloured light. I looked at it, my mouth open like a fool. I watched in horror as Rachel and Luke flung themselves inside.
“Well, what the fuck!” Nathaniel said, his eyebrows raised in shock. “She’s braver than me for sure!”
“I can’t wait any longer, now that this looks stable I have to find Mabel. I will go alone.” It wasn’t a question from Marcus, more of a command. I was never good at following orders.
The Sorceress and the Demon
Anthony
I felt it as we were in the carriage, and so I knew Marcus and Nathaniel felt it,
too. A sinking, heavy sensation in the pit of my stomach. Looking out of the window, I concentrated on thinking about how I’d never get used to the jerking and soreness sitting on an inadequate cushion in this carriage. Or the smells, or dirt. I thought about anything other than what was chiefly on my mind.
The crumbling walls were the same, the overgrown grounds, the ivy and as we neared the house, which we did on foot, the drive being too overgrown for anything else, it looked dilapidated as before. But I knew.
The others agreed to wait by the gate as backup should we need them. We’d definitely need them, but I tried not to let Marcus hear that thought.
Marcus pressed his lips as he walked like steel, rigid and tense.
Mabel answered the door, her lifeless eyes contrasting with her delicate smile. Her face looked peaceful, too peaceful, and I knew my hunch had been right. She had no heartbeat.
Following her in, we acted normally enough, but Marcus’s anger was building fast, about to erupt. I couldn’t stop him. I mean physically I couldn’t nor was that my place to.
She led us to her drawing room and Orion sat casually on her high-back crimson-red chair. He pretended not to notice us at first, with a tome on his lap, his feet on a foot stool, and a human woman standing beside him holding her wrist out meekly as he turned to it, licked the wound, then returned his head to his book. Orion whispered something, waved his fingers over the book, and a thin sliver of smoke appeared then evaporated.
Marcus’s face turned red with rage and he flew at Orion like a cannon ball, bellowing so loud the windows shattered spider web cracks. Orion’s face changed from calm to fear as he dropped the book, jumping into the air above and behind the chair, but Marcus ploughed on regardless. The winged demon squeezed his hand through and up onto Marcus’s chest and spat some language. Marcus shuddered and bolted back violently. Orion’s face had changed in his anger, skin grey like decay but his eyes...they were white slits, mean looking, and his fangs seemed longer.