The Way

by Janet Parsons

  Degarl looked out once more onto the ocean. Lilith could wait; he decided to get in the hidden elevator, tapping a sequence onto an area of tiled floor near the entrance of the viewing room. The elevator walls came up around him and he descended to the caverns to check on his secret. The caverns were located below the house and down through a coastal section of the cliff. He stepped from the elevator, onto the rocky floor of an enormous cave. A vast, deep, pool of water lay visible, lit by the bright moon from a naturally formed gap in the cliff facade. Degarl picked up a long timber staff and, reaching the edge of the pool, immersed it, pushing a twig lever that emitted a low, booming, sonar frequency. He watched the surface of the water start to bubble and glow with a fiery red and then saw the gargantuan arcs of a gleaming spiny, scaly, form rise from the center of the pool towards the edge. He stood back away from the rim, aware that the massive head about to burst through the surface, would bring with its emergence a huge wash of water, ruinous to his pristine formal attire.

  An enormous roar sounded as the scaly head rose towards the cave roof and then with incredible grace for its size, curved back around, landing gently beside Degarl. The enormous yellow eye facing him, a long black narrow slit, blinked as he approached the extensive scaly, snout. The creature yawned, showing menacing rows of jagged teeth.

  “I didn’t mean to wake you, Arack, I just missed you. I have been lax with our regular training sessions, but when Lilith’s people leave tomorrow I will be sure to make up for some lost time.” He reached out under the massive jaw and gave him a good scratch with the staff. “You can go now. I had best get back or she’ll have a search party out.”

  The beast made a low grumbling sound and lifted its head to look directly at him before it turned and submerged back into the depths.

  Degarl looked at the almost still surface of the pool, as a gentle ripple from the center moved out to the rim. It always amazed him that such a mass of a creature could exit with such decorum.

  He felt such a strong affiliation with Arack. They were both beholden to a life against their will. For centuries, Arack had been held captive as one of the pieces of the Bureau’s artillery. Kept caged in an undersea abyss, tormented and abused by his keepers, he was kept on a strict manufactured diet, denying him his natural food source for many years. He was occasionally let out to hunt which over the years resulted in major carnage as the beast fought to satisfy his craving for prey. Zie had underestimated the dilemmas that the lack of training had caused.

  The past decade, Zie had given Degarl full responsibility as Arack’s keeper, as Degarl’s natural affinity with animals could perhaps curb the voracity that the years of maltreatment had created. The beast needed to be disciplined in a way, so when he was required to perform a task, he could do so without causing a catastrophic scene.

  Degarl had taken the keeper role much further. He had reprogrammed Arack to answer only to his requests, rewarding him with long hunting sessions. Theirs was a relationship based on trust and a profound spirit magic that neither Zie nor any Fȍe would ever fully comprehend.

  After whizzing back up through the cliff, Degarl alighted on to the tiles and made his way to the entrance foyer. Lilith was dressed in a strapless, ruby-red lamé evening gown complete with a dramatic black organza shoulder flourish and fishtail. “About time you showed up! Where on earth have you been? You know how important tonight is. I have strategically selected this group as there are some major power players among them. The first few cars are already here so we must take up our positions. Ground staff are assisting with the parking so they will be at the door any moment. Come, stand right here and let me straighten that tie.” Lilith snapped out her orders and reached out her long black-gloved hands to adjust the tie. Degarl intercepted her left hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it.

  “You look absolutely ravishing in red this evening,” he said, knowing that the timing of his compliment would soothe her temper.

  Immediately delighted and distracted, Lilith turned and looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. “Yes, I must agree, this gown absolutely suits me doesn’t it? I don’t know many women who could pull off the theatrical flair of this line.” She twirled around, not taking her eyes off herself.

  The doorbell sounded and Synan appeared from the hallway and prepared to open the door. “Everything is exactly as you requested, madam. The waiting staff have—”

  Lilith cut in, “Of course it is. Well, get to it and open the door then.” She smacked her ruby red lips together, checking her reflection with one last glance. “It’s show time.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Rush

  “The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them”

  – ERNEST HEMINGWAY

  Beth slowly turned her head in the direction of the eyes. Yep, they were definitely the shape of eyes and now not just one pair; there appeared to be a whole squad, all red, glowing and watching her. She turned her head slowly to the right and saw more eyes.

  Even though the night air held a chill, she felt hot beads of sweat appear on her face, her palms starting to moisten. Her heart began to thump loudly and she tried to recall a heart-centered breathing exercise from karate, that she had used in the past when panic rose.

  “Calm, keep calm, just breathe, all a dream, calm down,” she muttered. She took a breath and closed her eyes. It was at that moment she caught wind of the most noxious odor, causing bile to rise in her throat. How disgusting! Good old mind, getting all the senses involved. She slowly opened her eyes and again turned to her left, hearing the creaking of the tree branches.

  Suddenly, what appeared to be a long-clawed hand grasped at her shoulder from behind. Her reflexes saved her from contact as she dodged out of the way, though she did not escape injury, as a wiry tree branch slashed her cheek. She felt the stinging warm trickle of blood begin to run down her face. She opened her mouth to scream, but her throat had constricted so tightly, not a sound came out.

  Beth closed her eyes again, this time sternly rationalizing with herself. Calm down, it’s just tree branches and the eyes, probably some kind of red glow worm things. You know how your mind conjures up this crap. Now get a hold of yourself, open your eyes, turn around and wait for Tamara—who if she could see what was going on in your head right now, would presume you had been indulging in the cheer girls’ Mood Enhancers.

  Beth’s eyes sprang open and she turned around resolutely, preparing to call again for Tamara, for surely, she had to be ready to go back now. Her resolution dissolved into horror as there, standing in her path, holding Tamara’s torch, was a creature. The glow of the torch illuminated oversized bat ears, a bulbous nose, pointed chin and cheeks fixed into a bizarre grin resembling the face of an evil marionette. It’s bulging eyes shone red against the light.

  Beth began to tremble, digging her nails into her clenched fist. Then she felt a burst of adrenalin kick in – if this thing had her torch, where was Tamara? She forced her quavering voice out; “What have you done with my friend? Tamara, Tamara, are you okay?” Her voice sounded tinny and hollow.

  There was no answer. Beth felt a shot of fear right up her spine.

  The creature remained steadfast, just staring into her eyes. Beth took a frantic, quick glance around to see if there was anything she could use as a weapon and then shifted her eyes straight back to the creature. One of the solar light spikes was just near her left foot. Not taking her eyes off the predator, she crouched sideways and grabbed it; at least it had a pointed end.

  Gauging the gap between the creature and a thick tree trunk beside the path, her martial arts mind calculated there may be just enough room for her to do a basic aerial maneuver, land past the creature and in the ‘girls’ bathroom’ to see what had become of Tamara. She had to be in there; it was a dead end.

  * * *

  The campfire was still burning strongly as the singalong continued with a few of the students taking up a solo as their confidence grew.
Shelby sat on one side of Daybian and made sure Caleb was on the other side. Keeping Jemma and Ashley at bay was proving to be a challenge as any time she moved slightly away from him, there was a chance one of them might take her place, and she had to keep her word to Miffy.

  Kim Flanders finished overseeing the clean-up crew, came over, and found a seat on one of the logs. Professor Cragg was completely engrossed in a science journal, reading it via torchlight. Obviously, campfire singalongs were not in his area of interest.

  “Have you done a headcount since dinner?” she asked him, wondering how on Earth he had been chosen to lead the expedition. Although he had a brilliant science mind, the practical side of keeping tabs on a group of teenagers in the wilderness, appeared not to be in his skill set.

  He looked up and peered at her over the tops of his glasses. “What’s that dear? A head what?”

  “Never mind, get back to your book. I’ll do it.” She stood up and counted the students, finding there were two missing. She signaled to Logan to stop playing and stood up on a tree stump. “Okay, we are two campers short. Can someone let me know if they are missing a tent buddy?”

  Toby who had been busy trying to toast and eat as many marshmallows on a stick as possible, immediately answered with a mouthful of sticky mess. “It’s Beth, Ms. Flanders, she went with Tamara Muir to the bathroom. They’ve been a while, do you want me to go check on them?”

  “No, that’s fine as long as they are together. Give them a few more minutes. I will check on them then if necessary. Now, play on Mr. Yeats, where were we?”

  The music started up again.

  Professor Cragg excused himself. Citing he needed to retire for the evening now that Ms. Flanders was back to take over the supervision, he headed off to his tent.

  A few minutes later, Tamara staggered into the clearing, her face intensely pale and covered with dirty, brown tearstains, her breathing laboring as she wobbled around for a moment. Her eyes were rolling, seeming not to be able to focus on anyone. Disoriented, she lifted her arm and weakly pointed back to the track, falling with a thump to the ground behind Shelby and Daybian.

  Shelby, Jemma and Ashley gave a unison fever-pitched scream and there was a cacophony of shocked gasps from the other students.

  Ms. Flanders sprang to her feet, calling for order in a composed, authoritative voice. “Mr. Yeats, please go and find Beth.”

  Logan had already reached the opening of the track before the request was spoken and was racing along it.

  Ms. Flanders continued, “All other campers are to remain here! That’s an order! Toby, go get the Professor right now, Caleb hold this torch still and overhead and Daybian, bring me the first aid kit.”

  Quickly kneeling next to Tamara, she found a weak pulse and thoroughly checked her airways and all over her limbs for any injuries. There were only a few surface scratches on her legs from the foliage, and her pulse was slightly picking up strength and pace. Several of the students were beginning to crowd in.

  “Stand back please, it appears she has just fainted.”

  Toby arrived back with the disheveled Professor, who was muttering and spluttering about having just gone to sleep and Daybian appeared with the first aid kit.

  Ms. Flanders calmly continued, “Okay, Daybian, put that down and help me gently roll her onto her side. The rest of you people, move back, you must give her space. She is not injured, so give her a minute to come around and we will see if she can tell us what happened.”

  There was no sign of Logan or Beth. Toby looked anxiously over to the entrance to the track. “Ms. Flanders, can I go and see if Mr. Yeats needs any help?”

  “No, definitely not. All of you are to remain here. Professor, please sit the students back down around the campfire, right now.”

  “Yes, yes, course I will, come along students, everyone take a seat.” The Professor prattled on, “I can’t play an instrument like Mr. Yeats, but I can share some thrilling stories with you, particularly from the science journal I was reading this evening.”

  Audible groans resounded from around the fire.

  “At least we won’t need a bedtime story. This should lull us off to sleep nicely, but I hope he nods off first so I can go and find Beth.” Toby sat down next to Nathan and Gary.

  Nathan looked over to him. “Beth will be all right. She looks like she can handle herself. We heard what she did to those guys in the harbor. Gary plays chess against the kids from that school and we knew it was her from their description. Mr. Yeats will bring her back in a minute.” He gently placed his hand on Toby’s shoulder for reassurance. “Don’t look so worried.”

  * * *

  Beth took a mighty breath inward, her heart thumping like the bass in a serious sub-woofer. Just as she was about to launch herself at the trunk, she felt a hand grasp her shoulder.

  “Beth! Stop! Listen to me, you’re going to be okay, just do as I say.” Logan’s voice sounded tense and terse, and he lowered his tone to add, “We have to get out of here, now!”

  “What about Tamara? We can’t leave her to this, this thing! What the hell is it and how did it get her torch?” Beth whispered. She trembled as she thought about poor Tamara, the noxious smell causing her throat to constrict and making it difficult to take a breath.

  The creature, still standing holding the torch, glared at them, making a high-pitched screechy call, quickly answered by a volley of similar calls.

  “Tamara’s okay, she made it back to camp. There’s no time to explain this to you now! There are Vollens to our left and to our right. Give me your hand; you are just going to have to trust me, okay?” Logan had leaned in from behind, speaking the words slowly and clearly into her ear. He reached around and grabbed her hand, interlocking their fingers.

  He continued his instructions. As the noise from the Vollens had reached an uncomfortable volume, Beth could feel his breath in her ear. “When I squeeze your hand, get ready to turn and run. Stay with me; wherever I go, you go. Understand?”

  Beth nodded. This wasn’t how she had imagined her first time being so close to Logan, surrounded by some freaky demon-looking things. Her head and heart filled with terror, but she felt an incredible strength and heat through their hands clasped together. They were both completely still and for a moment, as she reveled in his touch, it felt as though time had stopped and that the horror surrounding them might be all just a bad dream.

  When suddenly she felt a firm squeeze as Logan turned, she spun and took off after him, meeting his pace, feeling as though she wasn’t touching the ground. The trees lining both sides of the path were a blur, and noise from the creatures shrieking and the cracking of undergrowth reverberated on both sides.

  Suddenly Logan pulled her off the path and they headed through a tangled mass of distorted undergrowth. Massive tree roots caused the ground to rise and fall like an unforgiving ocean. Beth’s legs were gouged and scratched by prickly bushes; moving so quickly she was unaware of the blood running down from the wounds like crimson rivers. The Vollens’ footsteps behind them made the ground shake as if in an earth tremor.

  Her throat was burning as she gasped for breath, trying to keep up with Logan. She let out a scream when her ankle twisted on a particularly large, knotty tree root that hid a deep hole on the far side. Beth stumbled, losing grip of Logan’s hand and felt herself hit the forest floor. From behind she felt a wiry, taloned grip secure her left ankle. Her heart felt as though it would leap out of her throat, as the intense fear caused a sweat all over her body. It took every ounce of strength in her to overcome the crippling thoughts and she reacted with a swift blow from her right foot to the creature’s face. It let go with a low howl.

  In microseconds, Logan was at her side, helping her up. “Are you okay? We’re not out of the woods yet, but we’re about to be. Hold on.” He grabbed her hand again and they took off at a brutal pace. Her heart pounded and the breath caught in her throat, causing a searing pain in her chest. They burst through the edge of the trees an
d into brilliant moonlight, showing the large flat expanse of Frankenstein Cliff. Their pace did not slacken as the thud of footsteps pounded behind them.

  Beth panicked as they were fast running out of solid ground. She looked over at Logan, who still gripped her hand. “Beth, hold on tight. You have to trust me, do not let go! I will not let anything happen to you. You have to believe me!”

  Beth said a silent prayer. She had seen the sheer cliff face and the enormous drop. There was no hope of surviving a fall of that magnitude.

  She looked over to his handsome face. He stared into her eyes as his grip on her hand tightened, and he drew her in closer. Beth felt a rush of warmth course into her chest. Somehow, a fatal leap with Logan was a peaceful option compared to being left to the fate of the foul Vollens on their heels.

  CHAPTER 17

  Flight

  “Freedom lies in being bold”

  – ROBERT FROST

  From across the harbor, the lighthouse stood illuminated by the giant moon, giving a life-sized snow globe effect. Returning from their card game, Lionel turned to Maggie who was staring silently out the window. “Why so sullen and serious tonight, Maggie? You couldn’t concentrate on your hand the whole game. Not like you to be so contemplative when there was such a grand amount in the kitty.”

  “Please just get me back to the lighthouse, Lionel, I need to get my cards. I can’t believe I left them on the table. So absentminded of me.” She spoke in a somber tone.

  “Your tarot cards, yes, I thought it was odd as you always consult them before any major stakes are laid on the table. Don’t fret, we’ll have you back in a jiffy and you can make us a nice hot tea, or better yet, an Irish coffee; You’ve got that fine drop I brought you back last year.”

  “I’ve told you before, they’re much more than tarot cards, they actually hold vital messages. And yes, you can have whatever you like to drink, just step on it.”