Drawing Bloodlines

by Steve Bevil

  “The cliffs overlooking Lake Charleston,” said Jonathan, with a smile. “When I was little I used to come here with my father and watch him perform excavations of the area. I figured we would be safe here.”

  Nathan looked around him. He could tell that he was standing on top of a cliff, but it took him a moment to recognize where he was. Everything was still shrouded in gray. The sky above was quite familiar, however. The moon and stars twinkled just as bright as the last time he was out at Grimm Cemetery, in the Space-In-Between.

  Nathan followed Lafonda and Leah out to the cliff’s edge. Even before peering over, he could see the roof of the hiking and camping center nestled amongst the rows of trees that appeared to stretch out toward the horizon. Carefully, Nathan approached the cliff’s edge, paying special attention to the “Danger: Cliff Edge” sign, before peering over. Down below, he could see Lake Charleston, but instead of the small waves he normally saw crashing upon the half-circle beach around the lake, he saw what appeared to be ice. All of Lake Charleston was completely frozen.

  “How is this even possible?” asked Nathan. “We’re back in Illinois? Back in Cahokia Falls?”

  “Yes, technically,” said Jonathan. He paused to reposition his glasses. “But the Cahokia Falls in the Space In Between.”

  Nathan headed back toward him and he caught a glimpse of Malick walking about the forest, leading up to the cliffs. “Why did we bother taking an airplane,” grumbled Nathan, “if your Spirit Walker ability is intercontinental?”

  Jonathan laughed. “Yes,” he said. “I could have taken all of us to London, but someone would’ve had to create a doorway, so you guys could cross back to the other side. I can cross back over by transforming into my spirit form, which happens to be a black fox.” He shook his head. “But while in spirit form, I can’t take you guys with me.”

  “Are you saying we’re stuck here?” asked Leah, dramatically. She quickly left the cliff’s edge and headed toward them.

  “No, no,” said Jonathan, gesturing reassuringly with his hands. “After we think it’s safe, I’m sure I’ll be able to find someone to create a doorway to get you back safely to the other side.”

  “Umm, Nathan,” called Malick. He stood on the fringes of the forest.

  “What’s up?” asked Nathan, sounding confused.

  “I think you should come over here,” he said.

  Nathan stood by Malick. He immediately noticed that the trees closest to them, those surrounding the trail into the forest, appeared to be a dark grey. As he looked deep into the forest, everything appeared black.

  “Do you hear that?” asked Malick.

  Nathan and Malick became quiet, and all Nathan heard was the sound of his heartbeat quickening inside his chest.

  “What are you guys listening for?” asked Leah, joining them.

  “Shh!” said Malick immediately. “There’s something moving in the forest.”

  Leah turned her head, trying harder to hear the sound. “Whatever it is, it’s getting closer,” she whispered.

  Suddenly, Leah’s eyes grew wide as a metallic screeching sound echoed among the trees. “Necrocritters!” she shouted. Her hands trembled as she held out the crescent-shaped medallion.

  “Leah, wait!” Nathan shouted.

  “I–I won’t be a victim,” Leah stuttered, and she took off running into the trees.

  “Nathan!” screamed Lafonda. She called his name so loud that Nathan froze.

  Nathan turned around. In front of him, two slivers of light were fast expanding into two blue rectangular doorways — one near Lafonda, and the other one, close to Jonathan.

  “I think you better get over here,” she said.

  Nathan’s stomach twisted in knots. What should I do? He thought. Do I go after Leah, or do I stay here and help Jonathan and Lafonda?

  A high-pitched scream pierced the deafening silence. It sounded like it was coming from behind him. Nathan spun around. Past the dark gray trees, deep in the forest, bolts of white light intermittently shot out in all directions, tearing into the darkness. “Leah,” Nathan muttered, softly.

  “Nathan!” Lafonda yelled, and he turned back around to face the cliff again.

  “I just have to have faith that Leah knows what she’s doing,” he mumbled and he took off running.

  Malick had already joined the chaos and he appeared to be in a fistfight with Monique. “You know better than that,” Nathan heard Monique say. She delivered a successful sucker punch to Malick’s face. “Woman or not, never take it easy on an active member of the Vanguard.”

  Nathan stopped short of Jonathan, but his stomach dropped after catching a glimpse of Lafonda and Liz. They fought dangerously close to the cliff’s edge. “Lafonda, watch out!” Nathan yelled. Liz’s sword came close to taking off Lafonda’s head.

  To the side of him, Nathan heard a loud gasp, and then a soft thud, as if somebody had hit the ground. “Jonathan!” Nathan screamed.

  Jonathan lay motionless on the ground. The front of his shirt was bloody and slashed open. His dark, square-rimmed glasses lay crooked across his nose, and his cell phone lay precariously in the palm of his open hand.

  Eleazar closed in on Jonathan and it appeared his sights were set on the cell phone in his hand. “Stop!” yelled Nathan. Immediately, Eleazar paused.

  Slowly, Eleazar turned around and, with a devilish grin, he raised his long, double-edge sword and charged toward Nathan.

  Nathan’s heart pounded and the sound of it swelled in his ears. Quickly, he raised his hand, forming a pulsating ball of blue energy. But Eleazar was gone. Nathan spun around. He searched all around, but Eleazar had mysteriously vanished.

  Nathan lowered his hand. Before he could take a step forward to check on Jonathan, he felt a paralyzing pain across his back. The excruciating pain traveled throughout his entire body, causing his eyes to water and his hands to ball into fists.

  “Hello, Firewalker,” he heard someone say. Nathan turned around to find Eleazar standing in front of him. This time, blood stained the length of his silver sword. “I didn’t want you to miss me while I was gone … so I left a little souvenir on your back.”

  Nathan felt the anger building inside of him and his palms began to burn a bright red. Nathan looked down and, to his surprise, both his hands burst into blue flames. When he looked up, though, Eleazar was gone again.

  “What the…?” Nathan murmured. Suddenly there was a searing pain across his shoulder. Quickly, Nathan grabbed his shoulder to ease the pain. When he looked down, his hand was covered with blood.

  “Hello,” waved Jordan, playfully. “Did you miss me?” He pointed his sword at Jonathan, blood dripping from it to the ground. “I couldn’t just leave something for the Spirit Walker. I had to leave something for the Firewalker too.”

  Nathan looked at him, confused, while holding his arm, his vision blurring. What the heck is happening? He thought to himself. How can I fight them if they keep disappearing and then reappearing?

  “They’re mirroring,” yelled Malick. He was still attempting to avoid Monique’s punches. “It’s a form of traveling between realms — but it’s unique to twins.”

  “Right, he is,” said Jordan, and he landed a punch across Nathan’s jaw before disappearing again.

  “Try to anticipate their moves!” Malick yelled.

  Nathan shook his head; he was trying to restore his vision. He balled his hands into fist and then raised them to his face, preparing to block an attack. Swiftly, Nathan looked to his left and then to his right. He then took a deep breath and tried to slow his breathing. Okay, Nathan, he said to himself. You have to be alert. Try to Think. Where will they strike next?

  “Peek-a-boo,” whispered Eleazar, and Nathan ducked just in time, allowing Eleazar’s sword to go smoothly over his head. Eleazar was just as quick, however, and with the handle of his sword, bludgeoned Nathan on the side of his head.

  “Don’t just try to defend yourself.” shouted Malick. “Go on the offen
sive!”

  Nathan’s legs buckled and for the first time in his life, he thought he saw stars as his knees crashed to the ground. Eleazar was gone again, but everything around him started to swirl. He could still make out, however, that it was Liz and Lafonda who fought in front of him. “Go on the offensive,” he muttered.

  “Your shield may protect you from my energy balls,” Nathan heard Liz say. “But you’re about to learn the hard way what it doesn’t do.…”

  Nathan’s head stopped spinning just in time for him to see Liz’s hand pass through Lafonda’s purple energy shield as she slapped her across the face. Lafonda fell to one knee, and the sound of the blow echoed over the cliffs.

  “Number one, it won’t prevent someone from hitting you,” continued Liz. She raised her sword. “And number two, it won’t stop my sword from killing you!”

  A jarring metallic sound rang all around them as Liz’s blade met Lafonda’s sword. “And you’re about to learn the hard way that Lafonda Devaro is well-schooled in the ways of the sword!” bellowed Lafonda, standing up.

  Liz came in fast at Lafonda, lunging forward with her sword. Lafonda quickly blocked her attack, leaving a gash across Liz’s cheek in the process.

  “Things just got a little more serious,” grumbled Liz, while wiping the blood from her cheek with her hand. She took a few steps back, removing her black trench coat, and tossing it on the ground.

  “How’s the arm?” asked Lafonda, mockingly. She eyed the white cloth bandage wrapped around Liz’s arm.

  “It feels great actually,” sneered Liz. She had a devious grin on her face as she cast a look toward Jonathan. “Probably fairing a lot better than your Spirit Walker, I suppose. I really didn’t appreciate our last run-in at the good doctor’s office. Hopefully now, he’s learned his lesson.”

  Nathan watched from his knees as Lafonda and Liz swung their swords at each other, exchanging blow after blow. “Go on the offensive,” he muttered and he witnessed Lafonda disarm Liz. Her sword landed in front of them, on the ground.

  “Give up!” demanded Lafonda, extending her sword arm. Liz attempted to retrieve her sword, but Lafonda was quick and pointed her blade directly at Liz’s throat. “I’m warning you,” she said. “You won’t get another chance to surrender.”

  Go on the offensive, the offense, he ruminated. In a blink of an eye, Liz charged Lafonda. They both fell over the cliff’s edge.

  Nathan couldn’t believe what had just happened in front of him. “Lafonda!” he screamed.

  Nathan’s mind and body felt as if he burned in a haze. For a moment, he thought he was looking through fire. Nathan looked down and saw the scorching red flame burning in his hand. When Eleazar rematerialized in front of him, he threw it in his face.

  Stunned, Nathan staggered to his feet. Everything was still a haze and it was as if everything played out in slow motion. He watched as Eleazar ran around in circles, his face contorted with agony. Eleazar appeared to be screaming bloody murder. He saw Malick break free from Monique, knocking her down. He also witnessed Malick run to the cliff’s edge, diving to the ground. Nathan couldn’t hear anything. It was as if someone hit the mute button, and he didn’t hear a sound.

  Slowly, Nathan made his way over to Malick. It wasn’t until he realized that Malick was mouthing his name over and over, that he could finally hear him.

  “Nathan, help me!” he heard Malick say. Nathan continued to stand still. He appeared almost zombie-like — aloof.

  “Lafonda, I’m going to need you to grab my hand,” said Malick. There was a sense of urgency in his voice. “I promise you, I won’t let you fall.”

  Lafonda? Nathan pondered, still in a daze.

  Malick turned to look at him. There was desperation in his eyes. “Come on, Nathan!” he pleaded. “Snap out of it!”

  Slowly, Nathan began to speak. “Lafonda?” he muttered. Nathan looked down and hanging from a tiny branch in front of him was his childhood friend. She dangled several hundred feet in the air.

  “Lafonda!” he yelled, taking to the ground. He leaned over the edge of the cliff, next to Malick, and felt queasy after looking down at the frozen lake.

  “Okay,” said Malick, addressing Lafonda. He almost sounded out of breath. “When you’re ready, I want you to reach out and take my hand.”

  Lafonda took a deep breath and, for a second, closed her eyes before nodding her head. She looked up to the gray branch that she held, protruding outward from the cliff wall. Slowly, she released one hand and attempted to grab Malick’s, only to quickly retract it again.

  “I–I can’t!” she shouted, her voice quivering.

  “You can,” said Malick. Tiny beads of sweat began to accumulate on his forehead.

  “I–I can’t,” she said again. She sounded defeated. “My hands are too slippery. Every time I reach out, I feel like I’m going to fall.”

  “You can do it,” said Nathan. Malick looked at him with worry. “You just have to try again, one more time.”

  “Look at me,” said Malick, calmly. Lafonda looked into his eyes. “Don’t look at the branch. Don’t watch you hand. Just reach out and keep your eyes on me.”

  A few moments passed, but Lafonda’s eyes never left Malick. She took a deep breath, and the moment that she reached out, the branch snapped. Malick, however, had snatched her hand.

  Malick and Lafonda continued to look at each other. Both exchanged thankful glances as the branch fell without a sound, to the frozen waters down below.

  “Help me — pull — her — up,” said Malick, his voice sounding strained.

  In one big effort, Nathan and Malick pulled Lafonda up. Her feet were back on solid ground.

  “I’m sorry about Liz,” she said, softly. She peered one last time over the cliff before burying her head into Malick’s shoulder.

  “I guess the frozen lake is now Liz’s watery grave,” said Malick.

  “I guess so,” said Nathan, somberly. He peered over the cliff, catching a glimpse of the frozen lake. “And I guess the third time is the charm.”

  20

  NO SWORDS, NO SHIELDS, NO ARMOR

  There was a faint sound of someone moaning behind them. Nathan, Lafonda, and Malick turned around to see Monique helping Eleazar through a blue doorway, near the fringes of the forest. Eleazar appeared in pain as he held his face and Monique had an intense look of hatred as they hobbled through.

  “Is it me, or did she not just look at us with daggers in her eyes?” commented Lafonda.

  “No, it wasn’t just you,” said Malick, gravely. “And I’m sure we just had an invisible bull’s-eye marked on our heads.”

  “Did you guys hear that?” asked Nathan, stepping away from the cliff’s edge.

  Lafonda placed a lock of her long black hair behind her ear and positioned her head sideways to listen closely. “I thought it was Eleazar, but it still sounds like someone is moaning.”

  “Jonathan!” said Nathan and Lafonda, in unison. They both ran to him, kneeling down, but Malick stayed behind.

  “Ugh,” Jonathan moaned, slowly sitting up. He stopped to cradle the wound across his chest, and then adjusted his glasses so that they lay properly on his face. He then looked at them with grave eyes. “Monique … she took my cell phone.”

  Nathan quickly turned toward the blue doorway that Monique and Eleazar escaped through, but it was already gone. “We have to get it back!” he blurted.

  Suddenly, there was a metallic screeching sound and a small shadowy figure bounded into the air at them.

  Nathan gasped. He recognized its gerbil-like fury face, sharp claws, and teeth. “Look out!” he shouted.

  Quickly, Nathan raised his hand to form a fireball to protect them, but raging through the air was a bolt of white light. The dark fury creature crashed to the ground, dropping mid-air.

  “I think that was the last of them,” said Leah. She stepped out of the dark grey forest, her hair and clothes appearing disheveled. The medallion in her hand glowed hot,
ready to fire again, but like a scurrying rat, the menacing-looking creature took off into the forest, vanishing into the shadows. “There were so many of them, but suddenly, they were gone.”

  “You’re getting pretty good with that,” said Lafonda, staring at the crescent-shaped medallion. Leah smiled. “The Necrocritters probably left after Liz.…” She hesitated, pausing to look at Malick.

  “After Liz plummeted to her death,” finished Malick. He had picked up Liz’s black trench coat and sword and walked in their direction. “The way she was acting was completely reckless, and her death is no one’s fault but her own.”

  “Come on,” said Nathan, helping Jonathan to his feet. He then took the sword out of Malick’s hand and gave it to Lafonda. “We need to get going. If we’re going to complete the Legend of the Firewalker, the prophecy, we’re going to have to get that phone back.”

  “But why? They have what they wanted,” blurted Lafonda. She placed the sword down at her side. “I’m sorry that all of Jonathan’s research has been destroyed — but if we walk away now, all of this can be over. Things can finally get back to normal.”

  “Normal?” asked Nathan, dramatically. “And what do you expect us to do? Just go back to Cahokia Falls? Hope that Monique and the others feel the same about Liz’s death the way that Malick does?” He pointed to Leah. “And hope beyond hope that the Fallen Ones will forget about Pius’s medallion?”

  “I get the point,” said Lafonda. “But look at you — your back, your arm — you’re bleeding!” She took ahold of his arm. “How can we fight if we’re all beaten? We need to rest. Get you and Jonathan back to Angela, or Ms. Pam, so they can heal you….”

  “I’m not sitting around anymore,” said Nathan, taking back his arm. “I’m not leaving it up to them to decide whether to leave us alone, or to attack us.” He turned to look at Malick and nodded. “It’s time we bring the fight to them and attack them first, go on the offensive.”