by Aline Riva
She leaned closer and kissed him tenderly and that kiss brought light and hope back to his eyes. Then the phone on the wall began to ring, its soft tone purring through the silence and cutting short their shared moment.
“That must be Owen,”she said, “I can't think of anyone else who would call the internal line,” and she got up and went over to the phone and picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Hi Cherry... I was wondering if maybe I could come over today or tomorrow and take a look at the office, just to get familiar with everything again.”
Melody was on the other end of the line and Cherry had no clue what she was talking about.
“Why would you want to do that? Owen runs the office now and anyway, the museum is closed until spring.”
“But he said I could have my old job back. The other girl, she's just temporary and he's offered me full time. It was difficult when Drake was alive but he said it might be better if I come back now – he's yet to find a new tour guide too. Owen won't be doing much here, just stopping by to reply to calls and deal with paperwork. He was never as into the place as Drake was, that's why he's thinking of giving it a year and then selling up.”
Drake was still on the bed, he was sitting there with his gaze fixed on Cherry, silently demanding to know who was on the phone. She looked to him as she gave her reply.
“I'm sorry, Melody, it's not convenient. You'll have to call back after New Year. Sort this out with Owen another time, I have a lot to take care of in here and he's said nothing to me about you having your old job back... I have to go, bye.”
She hung up the call and turned back to Drake, whose eyes were firing up with anger.
“What the hell is he playing at, giving her another chance there? How could he do that after the trouble she caused in my life?”
She was wondering the same thing, but tried to think as kindly as she could, if only to calm Drake's anger and obvious hurt over the issue.
“Maybe he wants to be close to people who were close to you. It could be his way of dealing with the grief.”
“Grief?” Drake exclaimed as he stood up, “Melody was the worst mistake I ever made! She got her claws into me when my fiancée was unfaithful. She caught me at a low moment and made a play for me because I own this place – she was thinking about how much I was worth and what a nice life I could give her! I guess she didn't realise how forgiving I could be to my fiancée, or how quickly I'd see through her act!”
“But it didn't work out?” Cherry asked.
“My fiancée broke it off because, she said, I'd been seeing Melody. This was after I found out what a bitch Melody could be. Thanks to her I ended up with no one.”
“Maybe you were better off without your fiancée if she cheated first.”
Sadness reflected in his gaze as he thought of the love he had lost and his heart ached.
“It was a complicated situation. She was seeing a friend of mine. I was hurt and angry but I managed to forgive them both. Then Melody was there for me, seeing her perfect moment to make a move.”
“And what did Owen think about all of this?”
He shrugged.
“He said it was up to me. He thought Melody was a lovely girl. He never was a very good judge of character.”
“When she showed up here and I answered the door, she asked about your memorial service,” Cherry told him as she waked over to the window to join him by the closed curtains, where the white glow of the snow covered world made its way through the thin fabric as cold light.
“That was nice of her.”
“She also said she hoped you'd remembered her in your will.”
Instant hurt registered in his gaze.
“Sorry,” Cherry added.
“Well that's typical of her! She hasn't changed one bit, she's still a heartless bitch!”
“Let's not think about her now,” Cherry replied, “Unless you remember something about her visit that slipped your mind.”
“I can't remember anything,” he told her sadly, “I want to know who killed me, I want to know more than anything else in this world, I need to know – even without the threat of the demon I would still need to know who took my life that night and why. But it just won't come back to me!”
“Hot chocolate.”
“What?” Drake said in confusion.
“Hot chocolate, you need some and I'm making it. And you definitely need some light in here.”
She opened up the curtains to a snowy world outside with a snow sky above a sea that reflected its grey shading far off into the distance, then she left the room and went through to the kitchen. After setting some milk on to heat, she went into the front room and turned on the gas fire. As the bars glowed, it added an instant cosy air to the room just as Drake walked through the door.
“Sit down and stop worrying,”she told him.
He sank down on to the sofa.
“But there's a demoness after my soul!”
“Not right at this moment. Stop worrying...”
She left the room again and he gave a heavy sigh, looking to the coffee table and then to the warm fire as its glow seemed to banish the thoughts of winter chill from his body and his mind as he realised he was warm, even inside where he had imagined death had left him cold. It was then he realised Cherry had been right and he smiled, feeling reassured to know that all those thoughts of being cold inside really had been just his imagination.
Cherry returned with two mugs of hot chocolate and she sat down on the sofa beside him. The thought came to mind that some Christmas decorations would look nice in here – there was still time, Christmas Eve was three days away. But knowing he had until midnight on Christmas Eve to pay the demoness for his soul stopped her from mentioning it – she didn't know if he would make it and neither did he – they didn't even know if all the statements in the book were true. Waiting to find out seemed like a horrible way to learn the truth of the matter, but they had little choice with Drake's memory of his murder still a blank.
They spent the rest of the day up in the flat at the museum, by the fire, then as she turned to him and he kissed her, they had embraced and he had drawn her down to the soft carpet. Neither had thought of the demoness or the threat hanging over him as they had made love in front of the fire and then stayed on the floor embracing for hours after.
By the time it was dark and no stars could make their light seen through the heavy snow sky above, Drake and Cherry were in bed, wrapped in an embrace under a thick quilt and sleeping deeply. That night was peaceful, no otherworldly force interrupted their rest, it was as if the demoness had simply vanished – at least, for now...
When morning came and Cherry woke up to sunshine and a blue sky, she blinked away the last trace of sleep and looked to the window, wondering if she was still dreaming:
The heavy snow clouds had finally moved on, clearing the way for cloudless skies and winter sunshine. The sight of it made her smile, it was so reviving after days under the icy hue of the heavier weather.
She turned on her side to see Drake still sleeping. She watched him as he rested, taking in every detail of his face, her heart filling with love as she guessed this was the only time he would know peace, while he was oblivious to the world and the nightmare situation he was trapped in.
She gently kissed his cheek, taking care not to wake him, then she got out of bed and started her day quietly, allowing him more precious time to know nothing but rest and peace and freedom from all the things that struck fear into his heart.
Drake woke half an hour later when she returned with a tray containing breakfast and tea and set it down next to the bed. He opened his eyes and looked up at her, saw she was up and dressed and then he noticed the blue sky and the sunshine escaping through the curtain and he smiled.
“It's a lovely day!” he said in surprise.
“If it stays this way, the snow should start melting soon. Looks like the weather report was right.”
He sat up and r
eached for the steaming hot tea.
“I don't suppose that report also gave advice on how to deal with soul trading demons?”
Amusement sparkled in her eyes.
“Unfortunately weather forecasters know nothing about the occult. If they did we would never have to carry umbrellas again. But sadly, they have no magical powers. ”
“Shame,” he remarked, and sipped the tea.
Then he set it down again, feeling revived by the bright new day.
“I'm going to get up and have breakfast in the kitchen. Then I want us to go out. We should go back to my place, it's across the other side of town.”
“You think going home will help you remember?”
“I don't know, anything is worth a try,” he told her.
A short while later, they were ready to leave. After wrapping up warm to venture out into the snow, they left by the main entrance and headed over to the front parking area. It was then he stopped and stared at the empty space.
“Where's my car?”
“You died.”
“I know that, but I'm back now Cherry, where is it?”
She shook her head.
“I met you once, remember? There were several cars out here back then. That's all I know. Owen must have moved it, maybe he drove it back to your place.”
“If he's sold it, I'll kill him!” Drake said angrily.
Cherry said nothing in reply, knowing nothing of use and unable to think of any words that could ease his worry for the missing car. Knowing all she had heard about him, she wasn't at all surprised that Owen might have sold it as he wasn't too good with money – but she hoped that wasn't the case.
They took the bus back through town, then past the fields and Cherry's usual stop and went on for another mile. The journey was pleasant with sunlight shining down on fields where snow was showing signs of melting, here and there the snow had thinned, patches of ice were visible on pavements and greenery was starting to peek through the heavy blanket of white, a reminder that the darkest time of winter did not last forever.
They got off the bus on the main road, then he led her up a street lined with trees left bare by winter but still laden with snow on broader boughs. She held his arm as they carefully avoided patches of ice and walked through the remaining snow, then they reached the gate of a large house where trees were either side of the property, they too were bare and coated with snow but the hedges that ran along the pathway to front door were evergreen and here the snow was glistening between fresh leaves poking through, another reminder that colour was coming back to the world.
He unlocked the front door, they went inside and he shut the door behind them. The hallway was decorated in a shade of pale green and the carpet was light and soft, but the house was freezing.
“My car isn't outside,” he remarked, then he went through to the kitchen, switched on the boiler and joined her in the hallway, turning on the thermostat.
“Boiler fired up okay – it doesn't look like anyone has been here since I left,” he said, then he led her through to the front room, turned on a fire that flickered a gas flame over fake coals and heat instantly radiated into the room, banishing the chill.
“You wait there and get warm,” Drake told her, “I'll put the kettle on in a minute – I just need to go upstairs and get changed.”
She sat down on a comfortable armchair and watched as the firelight flickered. Then Cherry glanced about the room, thinking how ordinary everything looked in here, reflecting nothing of the fact that the owner had died and then returned to life. The only clue of his absence was the lack of Christmas decorations. Every other house in the street had lights at the windows or trees twinkling. This was the only house whose window had stood unlit with no trace of seasonal cheer.
Upstairs, Drake had used the bathroom to freshen up and then he had gone through to the bedroom, opening a door to a room he had missed – his own bedroom - where nothing was out of place. He guessed that was because Owen didn't have a key to his house, so had not been able to get in to start emptying the place of his belongings.
The heating was coming on now, pushing out the cold. It was warm enough to get changed and so he did, putting on fresh clothing, thicker, darker jeans, better boots that would not slip in the snow, a warm jumper in a shade of blue that smelled clean - it had been such a relief to change out of clothing he had worn at the museum for more than a day. Now he felt human again, properly alive, back to himself once more. He paused by the mirror to comb his hair, then he left the bedroom and went back downstairs and straight to the kitchen to make some tea.
While Cherry was in front of the fire enjoying what felt like real normality for the first time in a long while, as she reflected on how she had never appreciated life without a demon around until she had been stuck with one, the firelight flickered, making the room cosy. Even the view of the snow outside had no power to make her shiver. The house was heating up fast as if Drake had never been absent.
He came in with the tea and set it down on the table, then he sat in the other armchair by the window, looked to the fire flickering silently and watched the flames for a moment, enjoying a brief sensation of peace that only home and its familiar comforts could bring.
Cherry had been watching the fire too but firelight had made her think of the power from hell that had brought him back and the power that he still carried as she recalled the silver sparks that had crackled from his palm in the shopping centre.
“Drake,”she said, turning to look at him, “You know when you brought the gargoyle to life -”
“Oh Cherry, not now - I just want a normal morning at home, I really need this!”
“I know that, but I was just saying -”
“Do you have to?”
“Yes...because I need to tell you, please don't bring any more inanimate objects to life. Promise me you won't do that again. We don't even know where that gargoyle ended up!”
“It probably chased off the demoness then lost power and fell to the sea with a splash, as a lump of useless concrete.”
“I hope you're right,” she replied and then she sipped her tea.
As Drake lifted his mug he watched as the steam rose from it, getting the oddest feeling. Cherry was looking to the fire, sipping her tea and still going on about that gargoyle:
What if it was still alive and flying? Was it dangerous?
She had no clue that he was staring into the steam as it rose from his china mug, now seeing not the comfort of his own home, but the office at the museum:
The scene had taken over his entire awareness, blocking out his own front room and the firelight and the woman he loved, even the sound of her voice was gone. He was back there, right before his collapse...
“So,” Owen said, “If I stop taking risks, you'll forgive me and I owe nothing, right? Debt's written off?”
“I said so, didn't I?” Drake replied as he sat back heavily on the sofa at the back of the office, thankful for the cushioned support of the chair as the head ache that had kept coming back throbbed with a vengeance and he rubbed at his temples, blinked away blurring vision. He looked up at Owen, who stood there by the table, swirled the last of his whiskey then downed it and set the glass on the coffee table.
“Thanks for that,” Owen replied, smiling.
“That's what friends are for...and I need an aspirin. I feel terrible.”
“You should let me make you more tea,” said Owen.
It was then as he looked up at his best friend he noticed his eyes were ice cold and that smile on his face.. there was something chilling about it...
“Maybe I should go home,” Drake said blinking again as he sat forward and rubbed again at his temples as light flashed in front of his eyes, “This is so weird, I don't get migraines.. but I think I have one now... I feel dizzy...”
Panic was rising inside him, but as he looked up at Owen, his business partner still wore that same cold expression.
“I bet you do.”
Drak
e felt weakness sweep over him as he wondered if he might be on the verge of passing out. His head was agony and his limbs felt heavy. He knew something was very wrong, not only with him, but with Owen, who was simply watching, unconcerned for his fate...
“Owen, I'm not well.. I think I need a doctor.”
“It's a bit late for that. You've spent years keeping me in check, restricting my spending and my percentage of the business! What is it about me that makes you feel that you have to keep on forgiving me, why, Drake? I slept with your fiancée and you forgave me, you blamed everything on Melody -”
“It was her fault, she got between me and my efforts to get back with the woman I loved! What's this about, Owen? I'm ill... I'm getting worried -”
“Don't be,” Owen said as he stepped closer, “It's a poison extracted from a rare flower that grows only in the Amazon rainforest. Melody has a friend who brought some samples back. Its' not considered dangerous in plant form because the poison extraction from the root is complicated – but Melody has a little secret. She used to work in a lab. I've slowly been poisoning you for six weeks. I don't think I need to do it any more. By the way, it's lethal. There's no cure.”
Drake looked at him in horror, then staggered to his feet.
“You.. you wouldn't kill me... you're my best friend...help me, Owen...
please...”
He swayed on his feet, reaching for him as Owen's resolve suddenly wavered and panic reflected in his eyes. This was no longer a fantasy about revenge, about robbing the friend who had controlled his finances and his share of the museum for so long... this was murder, he was really killing his best friend, Drake was dying in front of him...
“It was the money.. I wanted the museum! I'm sorry... Sorry, Drake... “
As his words sounded sharply drowned out, the room spun to blackness and Drake fell to the floor. He heard Owen sobbing, then a door opened and closed.
“Is he dead yet?” asked Melody casually.