The Mark (Weeping Willow Book 2)

by Steven Evans

  I started remembering the nights we had spent together, and suddenly all was forgiven. But, had it been her? Was this the same Willow? I was filled again with those old emotions of desire and lust. My concerns abandoned me as my actions no longer seemed my own. I reached out and tried to pull her closer.

  She disappeared through me and laughed, “I’m not that Willow! I’m governed by compassion and sympathy. My mind doesn’t conceive of sexual exploitation or of human needs. I am not that Willow!”

  She began twirling around and laughing diabolically.

  She smirked as she pointed around and said, “I bet you didn’t even notice the third and final stage of the storms raging all around you!”

  Suddenly, my stare was broken by the winds surging. The force was nearly bending the weeping willow tree in half. Its limbs, all touching the same part of the ground, were crackling like they were about to split. The sky, blustering noisily, was sending sparks and flares booming from one star to the next. The rain was being driven recklessly into the ground before ricocheting up and away, felt like tiny daggers piercing my flesh.

  She stood there, reveling greatly in my reaction.

  “You can’t save me! You couldn’t save your family! You won’t save yourself! These words aren’t meant to condemn, but merely to enlighten.”

  “So, you’re not that Willow, huh? You seem to have the same penchant for the dramatic. Your ways may be different, but you both have the same ends in mind.”

  “Not true…” she said. “My ends are justified by my means. We may be the same entity, but we are very different beings!”

  “Yet, if I kill one, I kill both! That’s my only priority.”

  “You really don’t listen, do you? Everyone here has warned you and tried to make you see that you have no power, but you still believe that you control your own destiny. If I didn’t allow it, you couldn’t control your own breathing!”

  She gazed up at the night sky and began chanting. Looking at me longingly, she motioned for me to take her hand.

  “Lover, do you realize where you are”

  Nodding my head, I said, “Of course, I’m standing under the willow tree.”

  Mockingly, she squealed, “Look again!”

  My feet felt the cool icy waters of the spring, and inch by inch, my clothes become soaked and heavy. I had to spit water out of my mouth in order to speak.

  “What… how? When did I walk into the water? How’d I get here?”

  “Your lust guided you and blinded you to reality at the same time. You were blinded by your desires, and I bet if I asked for it, you would even offer me your heart again.”

  I barked in defiance, “At least give me one question! Answer one question for me, and then you can do what you want with me.”

  “One question! You want only one answer from me; is that what you’re begging me for?”

  “Yes,” I said. “One answer is all I want.”

  Her chin rested thoughtfully on her palm as she said, “What do you have? What question will I answer? Make it a good one, because you only get one!”

  “You said that you’re not that Willow, right? So why would Willow… would she… you… why would either of you allow these people to live if vengeance was your main goal? You say you are the compassionate and sympathetic one, yet she agreed to let them live, even if it’s a nonexistent life with no hope of a true future. Why?”

  “Lover, as long as Willow lives, then I also live. As long as I live, then Willow will live. As long as these sheep live, then we both live. The answer is in the blood. As long as the blood remains stable, then we both live. Does that answer your question?”

  “How do I fit in the picture?”

  Her mood shifted drastically, and the ambience became less inviting. Her eyes became a deep dark black color, and a tar-like substance began to seep from them.

  Her mouth remained motionless as her words flew through the air, “One question! You said one question and one answer! You’re starting to bore me now, so this little game must end!”

  She waved her hand, and instantly the night prepared for another victim. The water felt like frozen shards of glass as it slid down my throat. I was choking and fighting for a waterless breath of air. I could sense my energy being drained by each ripple that gently caressed my body. I was losing the will to endure, losing my grasp on life itself.

  “Oh, Lover, would you like some assistance? Never mind! No need to answer! Hahaha!”

  The current of the spring was rocking me to sleep. My eyes no longer considered staying open, and they closed.

  I woke up, back in my bed, still feeling the cold waters choking me and hearing her spiteful laugh. My clothes were drenched, and it was nearly impossible not to fall off the bed as I pulled the garments over my frozen body. My body, which still felt the indulgent need to experience Willow’s treasures again, couldn’t have responded in a helpful manner after being as it was still partially paralyzed from the icy waters of the spring.

  Night after night, this same scenario played out. Without fail, I tasted the icy cold spring waters and didn’t care about the storm around me. I enjoyed seeing her in that form-- the compassionate one. Man, that sounded so messed up just thinking about it. My mind returned to that sensual kiss she had bestowed on me. Nothing had ever felt as natural or as right, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t force myself to exit that memory. I found myself despising waking up in my bed, because I knew that it meant it would be several hours before her lips touched mine again. I wouldn’t allow myself to think about how I’d react once the storms ended and she left. There was no way of knowing if I would see her again.

  ***

  The storms may have subsided, but my need for her continued on. The ground was no longer soaked by rain, but now my pillow had replaced the ground, and my tears imitated the rain. My soul be damned! I wanted her!

  Chapter Sixteen

  James

  I tried to erase the impact of her soft sweet lips on mine, but it was no use. My mind had slipped back into the murky trap that Willow had laid out all those months ago. She was cunning and knew exactly how to tempt me. I thought I was strong enough to resist, but I easily fell for her again.

  I can’t do this! She can’t control my thoughts or my actions. I must do as my angel said and find the secret to the mark. As long as I was focused on Willow and the pleasures our bodies shared, I would never continue on this journey. I would become the next victim. Willow would have won without much effort, and I would have let my family down once again. That would not happen!

  I had to find James and get the answers I needed by any means necessary. Even if he didn’t want to, he would come clean about it all. He would give me the ammunition I needed to defend myself! If I had to become the monster that had been hunting me, I would gladly accept that role.

  ***

  James, as usual, was easy to find. It was around noon, so he was busy annoying people at the drugstore. The looks thrown my way as I marched down the road only served to bolster my resolve. The people still continued the same routines and couldn’t be bothered for more than sneers and evil eyes. I just shot back a ‘go to Hell’ stare and continued to James.

  “There you are! You sniveling little cesspool! We have to talk!”

  “Look, you…we can’t do this here. We can’t do this now!”

  I was spitting nails as I grabbed his collar. I yanked his chin to the counter, “James, now!”

  “I can’t tell you nothing here.”

  The customers were too shocked to move and just stood there, staring in disbelief. I knew that they couldn’t do anything, because it wasn’t allowed in their daily routines. Hearing all the commotion, Mr. Allen hurried from his secret spot in the back of the store. Immediately, his jaw hit the floor! He didn’t know whether to run for help or try to interfere.

  I released my hold on James and turned to Mr. Allen.

  “What? You gonna play the hero now and save James from the outsider
!”

  Still in shock, Mr. Allen said, “What are you doing?”

  James, scooting closer and closer to the doorway said, “I told you I couldn’t talk here.”

  Mr. Allen stammered, “James, you won’t talk anywhere! You know better than anyone the swift punishment that awaits anyone who aids the outsider.”

  “So, Mr. Allen, then you will answer my questions.”

  “Haha! You won’t get anything from me.”

  Exhausted by his incessant complaining, I turned and faced Mr. Allen.

  I sneered, “You have no idea how far you people have pushed me!”

  Looking none too surprised and not willing to back off his high horse, he said, “City Boy finally lost his marbles, huh?”

  “You just don’t know how many marbles I’ve lost, Mr. Allen!”

  I rushed him, and he cowered like a whimpering animal. My sympathy all used up, I rapidly swung my foot up and caught him squarely in his withered berry bag. He fell, gasping for air, and his face turned a beautiful shade of deep blue. With Mr. Allen no longer a worry for the time being, I turned my attention back to the kid at the center of this mess.

  James, steadily inching away, tried to run, but my anger was faster than his legs. He was stuck in that confined space behind the counter, and I easily pounced on him. As I felt my fingers digging into the soft meaty flesh of his throat, there was a sudden pain in my skull, and things went black.

  ***

  There was a haze smearing my vision. As my eyes tried to focus, I saw the familiar dungeon that I had called “Hell” only a few days ago. The Sheriff and Mr. Allen were sitting in the other room, but this time I wasn’t shackled. The door to the cell wasn’t even locked, and there was nothing physically keeping me from walking away.

  The Sheriff hopped to his feet, “You gonna settle down now?”

  I shot Mr. Allen the dirtiest look I could manage as I approached the desk.

  “Sheriff, you know I’m really getting tired of bleeding in your jail!”

  The Sheriff looked smug. “Well, now, I think we can all agree that Mr. Allen just acted out of pure instinct. Poor James may be on the slower side of intelligence, but he doesn’t deserve to be manhandled. Mr. Allen did what any concerned citizen would’ve done in that situation, fearing for poor James as he was.”

  I lunged for Mr. Allen, and before anyone could react, I was bouncing his head off the wooden boards on the floor. My anger in control, even with the Sheriff and James trying to pull me away, his head still cracked the boards into splinters. Seeing this, I released Mr. Allen and rolled over by the desk.

  “Boy, now I’m going to have to protect Mr. Allen.” His grin spread from ear to ear. “Now, you’ve given me all the reasons I need to take more than a little blood from your hide.”

  “Sheriff, fuck off! You know as well as I do that you can’t harm me! Willow won’t allow it! Mr. Allen should be praying that I finish what I started before she comes to make him pay for not obeying her command.”

  “What are you talking about? More big city lies!”

  “Then go ahead, Sheriff! If I’m so full of shit, do your worst! Go ahead and kill me! But first, are you sure Willow isn’t watching and listening?”

  I could tell he still wanted his pound of flesh, but he cautiously made his way to Mr. Allen. Eyes affixed on mine, he reached down and grabbed Mr. Allen’s wrist. A quick look of relief crossed his face as he picked him up and carried him to the hard metal cot.

  “Boy, you’re lucky he’s still alive! But you’re still gonna have to pay for this.”

  “Sheriff, being in this town is punishment in and of itself. Whatever your simple little brain is concocting, you may as well forget it, because Willow has vowed certain and immediate death for anyone who harms even a single hair on my head.”

  He leapt to his feet and rushed over to me. Clutching my belt and the back of my collar, he picked me up above his shoulders and hauled me to the door. His rage manifested in frustration as he tossed me nearly all the way across the narrow street.

  “I want so much to beat you to a bloody pulp! I want to see your brains splattered in the dirt right here in front of my office. I want to hear you crying like a little bitch when you realize you’re in over your head. But as much as I’d love seeing your tears, I can’t bring myself to follow through with it.”

  “You know why, Sheriff?” I smirked. “Because Willow won’t let you do it. What I did to Mr. Allen is nothing compared to what she did to Mr. Harte for defying her power and control. Hahaha, you’re a big pussy and can’t admit you fear what you don’t believe even exists!”

  The Sheriff just turned and went inside the jail to check on Mr. Allen, slamming the door behind him in disgust. I picked myself up and saw James quickly heading towards the alley. I wouldn’t let him escape to his playground-- not this time!

  “James! Don’t make me chase you! I won’t hurt you if you give me the answers I want.”

  His stride slowed, and he appeared to become less nervous. He looked back at me, and his smile returned.

  “Look, I told you that I can’t talk in front of the others. It doesn’t matter if you beat me like you did him or not. I’m not allowed to talk unless we’re alone.”

  “So, start talking!”

  “Ok, here it is: the secret behind the mark… it has everything to do with the bloodline. There’s a beginning and an end. We all know why we’re being punished. Even if we can’t remember, we know why. We know your story. We know why you’re here. The reason no one wants you here is because the story begins and ends with you. You’re the reason we’re all here and the only way we can die. Maybe this is not a true existence and we should’ve died many years ago, but when this is all you have, all you know, you don’t want to lose it. You are the Alpha and Omega! It begins and ends with you and even if they don’t know why they hate you, they feel down deep in their souls what you are. They know who you are. They know what’s about to happen, and they will do everything they can to ensure that you don’t get the opportunity to fulfill the prophecy.”

  “James, you’re like a broken record, kid. Tell me something I don’t already know. Tell me why I’m the one!”

  The once bright sunshiny day suddenly turned into night. The air violently gusted from one side of the alley to the other and swirled upward before reversing direction and shooting directly into the ground. Dust flew around us and filled my eyes.

  “James!” I was frantically thrashing my arms in hopes of finding him, but it was no use. I screamed, “James! James, where are you?”

  His voice was muffled. It sounded like he was being gagged. I could hear his pitiful moans and whimpers, and I struggled to make my way to him.

  “What’s going on here?” I asked when I reached him.

  I covered the top of his head with my jacket as he spat dust and dirt from his mouth.

  He cried, “It’s a sign! She’s not happy with me.”

  “Will she come for you like she did Mr. Harte?”

  “No! She won’t do that, but this is her way of letting me know that I’m telling you too much. You’re not ready to know everything yet. Or, at least, she’s not ready for you to know.”

  “I’m not ready? James, I need to know! I’m not just gonna sit back and let her have her way with my life. She will not gain my soul! I have to stop her, and you’re my best chance!”

  “Ok, look, all you need to know is this. We are all food for her soul!”

  “James, damn it, no more games! Be straight with me!”

  “I can only say what I’ve already said. The secret behind the mark: we are all food for her soul!”

  This kid was certainly getting on my nerves but, maybe… just maybe, it made sense. The people in town always did the same things. Every day it was the same thing. They never changed direction or altered course in any way. Maybe James, poor simple-minded James, could only tell me certain tidbits of information as Willow deemed necessary. He kept saying the same phrases
over and over just as the people had walked the same path day after day.

  I was about to jerk my shirt away and let the dust tear him apart, but he vanished. It wasn’t night yet, so why had he disappeared? He had said that Willow didn’t want me to know yet, but also that he had already told me what I needed to know. Why did that kid have to play his damn games?

  Chapter Seventeen

  First Taste of Blood

  James was now missing; there hadn’t been any sign of him for days. I knew that Willow’s hands were to blame for his absence, and as much as I wanted to feel sorry for him, I couldn’t bring myself to admit it. The people in this town had long ago overstayed their welcome. Their borrowed time had now come due!

  I knew the only way that I would discover the answers was if I challenged Willow. I just hoped that I could ignore the primal attraction that surged through my veins whenever she was around. But how could I get her attention? How could I make her face me?

  I had to become the monster I had been running from. I had to match her vengeance with my own. I knew that she needed to feel threatened in some way, or she would never appear. I spread my wife’s favorite afghan on the floor beside the bed and then stripped all my clothes off. I sat there naked, cross legged on the floor, and prayed.

  I wasn’t praying for my soul anymore! No, I was asking for the strength to carry out my plan. I was calling out to whatever god would listen, for the strength to do what I must. I asked that my memory would not haunt me during my trials, and that a little mercy would be shown to the lost souls condemned by Willow. Though their salvation was not my main concern, I knew that this was the last time that my compassion and I would meet.

  After finding my center of madness through meditation, I came face to face with the hate I now relied on. I was calm, collected, and focused. I knew what must be done! I had found a new intimacy with the monster hidden in the darkest regions of my heart, and it felt incredible, but also eerily comfortable.

  ***

  I set out on my way into town. My plan was about to be set in motion, and these last few minutes of sanity were fleeting, as rage now filled my thoughts. This town wouldn’t know what hit it!