Thief: X

by E. I. Jennings,

  Slowly we made our way downstairs, checking every room. I stopped when we reached the kitchen, I lowered my gun and turned to Marshall,

  “What was that about?” I glared,

  “I felt something coming.”

  “That it?” Smidge and Cerberus bounded into the kitchen, “So you woke me up because you felt these two terrors coming?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” I was about to moan about still being exhausted when an explosion rocked the house, “What the hell was that?” Marshall questioned,

  “It’s the spells on the door. Finally, someone managed to shut my bloody front door. Unfortunately, for them to react that badly means something really bad is trying to get through.” The house shook again, “You two guard the back door and nothing gets in alive.” I said at Smidge and Cerberus,

  “Are you insane?” Apparently so,

  “I’m sure if Cerberus can guard the gates of Hell she can manage my back door!” He pointed to Smidge, “You can be so discriminating sometimes.”

  Cerberus shook her tiny head, which turned to two and then three. Gradually she took on mass until she was the Cerberus she’d been in Hell and then it was Smidges’ turn. The skin under her fur started to bubble until it broke open. Within a blink of an eye there was a copy of Cerberus in front of us and Marshall’s mouth was hanging open,

  “Oh that? Yeah, she belonged to a Djinn…a Genie and becomes whatever she needs to be.” I laughed at his face but then another boom rocked the house. That was when the scratching started,

  “Are they coming through the roof?” Marshall looked up and a piece of ceiling hit me in the face,

  “Looks like it.” Damn, I never thought about spelling the roof. Who came through the roof? A tracker poked its head through the hole, “You’re getting on my nerves now!” I shot at it but my aim was off and then I started swaying.

  Marshall caught me but I didn’t have time. I could deal with trackers, Marshall couldn’t. One scratch or bite and he’d be dead. I snatched a shotgun that I’d taped under the kitchen counter and started shouting again. Those little buggers were fast. The last boom took the front door off the hinges,

  “Hi honey, I’m home.” Clockwork sang.

  So now I had Clockwork coming through my front door and trackers all around me and I felt as weak as a kitten. Wolfie and Sister Succubus were next to join the fracas. All Hell was breaking loose and I was bang in the middle. Clockwork was cackling like the psycho he was and I was trying to kill as many trackers as I could, but they were still coming. They were like ants swarming and we were drowning. Cerberus and Smidge were holding them back, ripping and tearing limbs. My house was being slowly demolished and I knew in that moment I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t understand why the trackers hadn’t killed us. I was running out of ammo and they were still coming full force from all directions.

  I was pushed to the floor as I was pounded harder and harder. I could hear Clockwork laughing and it was fuelling my anger. Placing my hand on the concrete floor of my kitchen, I looked deep inside its molecules. If I still had my ring I’d have used the diamond but concrete would have to do. I had to stop fighting to concentrate. My skin began to change, slowly turning from pink to grey. I was nearly there when everything fizzled out. Damn it! I was too weak thanks to Dorian.

  Claws scraped my arms and I was pulled to my feet, dragged down the corridor and dangled in front of Clockwork,

  “I thought you’d put up a bit more of a fight?” Clockwork was handed a broad sword and placed it under my chin,

  “If I squeezed your clown nose would it squeak?” I snorted and he dug the point of the sword harder into my neck,

  “Even now when you’ve obviously lost, you’re still making jokes.”

  “Well come on, look at you. What’s with the clown outfit? You’re obviously an intelligent man and the clown thing is a little disturbing.”

  “Exactly.” A plan was forming in my head. Maybe I could take care of Clockwork now, when he thought I was beat, “As much as I’d love to chat I’m afraid you’ve become somewhat of a thorn in my side and that just cannot do. You are a liability to my plans so I’ll be cutting off your head now.”

  I had two seconds when the tracker let me go so Clockwork could swing his sword to take my head, and that was all I needed. As the tracker let go I fell to the floor and rolled towards my side table, pulling a Glock from under it. Yes I was paranoid enough to keep guns all over my house, but did you blame me when this happened? I pushed to my feet and pulled the trigger, hitting Clockwork square in the forehead.

  My inner demon cheered but it was short lived. I watched in horror as the bullet hole glowed and healed. Clockwork used my shock to swing his sword. My last thought was; fuck me he’s a sin eater!

  “Well that was quick. I have to say I’m a little disappointed.” I was back in the wasteland of my dreams,

  “I know I’m dead this time. I felt my head leave my shoulders but I should be waiting to be judged, not here.” I was holding back a sob. As much as I’d longed to end my pain, I’d never expected it to end like this,

  “And may God have mercy on your soul.”

  “I don’t have a soul.”

  “Of course you do. What on earth has that demon been teaching you?” Cain clicked his fingers and my sofa appeared. He sat and patted the cushion next to him,

  “Obviously not enough.” If I was dead I may as well be comfy so I sat next to him,

  “You have a piece of my soul. My God you know nothing! How do you think I created your spark?” I blinked at Cain, not knowing what to say, “Whether you like me or not, you owe your existence to me and that my dear has benefits.”

  “Nothing regarding you can be beneficial for me.”

  “And yet you’re here and not in the mists waiting to be judged.” A glass of wine appeared in his hand and he took a sip,

  “And none of that helps me.”

  “Stop being so selfish, of course it does. I knew sparking a girl would bite me in the arse.”

  “Thanks!”

  “You’re my construct, Alexandra. You can do whatever I can and you’re whittling my gift away. Although the whole sin eater thing was unforeseen. Who knew you had that particular genome in your family? It’s almost comical.”

  “I’m glad I amuse you.” I sighed,

  “Stop being sarcastic. By now you should be doing this…” I watched as his hand turned to liquid,

  “I can.”

  “No you can’t. You have to touch something.” He changed from water to stone, “Can you see me touching anything?”

  “I need my ring to do something like that.”

  “You need nothing of the sort! Once you’ve touched something it's absorbed into you. You just haven’t figured out how to utilise what’s always been there. You lack the knowledge.”

  “I’m dead. Does it matter?”

  “Have you even been listening?” Cain threw the glass of wine on the ground and smiled as it smashed,

  “Should I have been?” Cain mumbled something under his breath that sounded like it had something to do with a donkey and a prostitute,

  “You’ve been depending on your sin eater side for too long. You have my curse and believe me, even getting your head cut off isn’t enough. Right now you’re a puddle of silver goo on your hall carpet and if you don’t listen, that’s how you’ll stay.”

  “Of course I believe you.” I was being sarcastic of course and Cain knew it. With another click of his fingers a TV appeared in front of us.

  “Let’s see what’s on the Alexandra channel shall we.” He clicked his control and I was suddenly looking at a pile of goo on my hall carpet, “Told you, you’re goo.”

  “How can I believe you? For years you’ve tormented me.”

  “Urgh, we’re back to that old argument. Let’s just say tormenting you didn’t have the effect I wanted. As my parole’s getting closer I’ve been persuaded to try things differently and lucky for you, it means I have
to be nice. For now.”

  “Is that Adram?” I watched Adram come on the screen and then he was shouting at Wolfie and Sister Succubus as they clambered from the living room looking like they’d been pulled through a bush backwards,

  “That stupid demon. He should have told you all this and look at him flapping about. Are those heels? My God they are.”

  “Shit, he’s just stepped on me.”

  “Well then, you better figure out a way to reform.”

  “I thought you were gonna help me?”

  “I may be behaving but I didn’t say I’d hand everything to you on a plate.”

  “Why isn’t there any sound?” I got up and banged on the TV,

  “Because we’re in your brain and it’s decided not to give us sound.” He said like I was an idiot and I twitched, “Can you even feel your body, or your goo?”

  “I can feel my body here but it doesn’t feel like I’m goo on my carpet.”

  “Why do I bother?” He grabbed me and pushed me on the sofa, pinning me down with his knees, “If you don’t pull yourself together everyone you care about will die. Is that enough incentive?”

  “Get off me!” I yelled trying to push him off,

  “Your cowboy is trying to be a hero and has no idea what Clockwork is capable of. Did you even think about your mother and brother?”

  “Leave them alone!” I felt my skin pulse,

  “I’m not going to do anything to them, unfortunately if you think Clockwork left them behind then you’re even more stupid than I thought. Not only did he take your head as a trophy he thought they would make a great addition to his little foray.”

  “I’ll kill him!”

  “And how will you be doing that when you’re stuck here.” I had to do something and that meant I had to get back,

  “You’re to blame. All of this is your fault. You should have cut ties with your family years ago but you wouldn’t and now look at you.”

  “Get off me.” I yelled,

  “The only way out of here is to go there. Now sort yourself out.”

  “Fuck me sideways on a Sunday morning!” Adram screamed when I opened my eyes and sat up, “That was some freaky shit!” Ok, he was more than screaming, he was hysterical,

  “Adram, stop screaming my head hurts,”

  “But how? I was told Clockwork took your head.”

  “You were right all along Adram; I share Cain’s curse which means I can’t die.”

  “I…” Adram was officially lost for words. All he did was stare and it was starting to freak me out.

  Everything suddenly hit and I ran upstairs to where I’d last seen my mom and Cam. They were gone but Clockwork had left a message in blood on the wall; I win.

  Cain was right. I should’ve cut ties to protect them. I knew better. Adram had told me the same,

  “It’s ok, you know?” Adram said behind me. Those four words crushed me and I ran.

  I needed to clear my head. I needed to come up with a plan. I needed to get my mom and brother back. I needed to kill Clockwork once and for all. My head was spinning. In this state I couldn’t win a fight with a butterfly. I felt vulnerable and that was happening too often for my liking. I soon found myself sitting on a bench opposite the church.

  Being excommunicated had devastated me. I never told anyone, not even Adram. Father Thomas had been a friend and it burned even more when he refused to stop my excommunication. I felt betrayed and hadn’t stepped foot in Havenbrook’s church since. Yet here I was. I needed guidance and I was sitting staring at a place I couldn’t go. Demon’s started to burn when they set foot on consecrated ground, me not so much but it didn’t help. I’d always felt a pull to this place and yet I was too scared to go in,

  “He’s following them you know?” Adram poofed next to me and I sighed,

  “Go away Adram.”

  “Marshall’s following them. Clockwork didn’t take him.”

  “He’ll get himself killed.” I wasn’t really interested. I had too much swimming in my head,

  “I don’t think he’s cared much for himself since his wife died. His daughter is all he has.” I looked at Adram in surprise, “What? Did you never ask him?”

  “He still wears his wedding ring.” I shook my head and Adram sighed,

  “You really never asked, did you? You can be such an idiot. He wears his ring to remind himself that her death was his fault.”

  “I can’t believe I never asked.”

  “Neither can I because he likes you too.”

  “You said it yourself Adram, he only cares for his daughter,”

  “I think that changed the first time he saw you. Just ask him you idiot.”

  “Right, of course.” I said and Adram rolled his eyes at my sarcasm,

  “So, why exactly are we sitting here?”

  “Remember when you used to find me here and take me home?” I laughed. I always ran to this very bench when things got too much,

  “Of course I do, but why here? I never understood that.”

  “I think I need to speak to Father Thomas. I’ve always been drawn here. Always.”

  “What you waiting for?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “I think the great Xan is scared?”

  “Leave me alone Adram.” I punched him in the arm,

  “Not until you go and talk to the man. I think it’s time you asked him why he didn’t stick up for you.”

  “I think you’re right.” I sighed. It was time I asked,

  “I’ll wait here for you.”

  I wiped my sweaty hands on my thighs and walked towards the heavy oak door. It’s amazing how something so beautiful could feel so unnerving in that instant. I’d put myself in my own protective bubble so I wouldn’t feel as vulnerable as I’d done the night I made the scars on my wrist and now my bubble had popped. I climbed the steps and half expected my feet to burst into flames but nothing. Over the years I’d convinced myself that nothing good would come from me going back into this church. The front door opened and Father Thomas smiled, pushing up his glasses on his nose,

  “I’ve been waiting for you Alex, for a very long time.”

  Chapter Twenty Three

  I walked into the church for the first time in nearly twenty years and nothing had changed. A stained glass window looked down on me from the other side. Wind had blown the original window out last year and it had been replaced with a non-descript mural of coloured glass. My dad had offered to pay for more elaborate lead work but Father Thomas refused, saying simple was better. I could look in the eyes of an Hell beast and not bat an eyelid but I was scared to be here,

  “You’re not going to burst into flames.” Father Thomas said,

  “I might,” I snorted,

  “Not all things are black and white Alex. You know this better than anyone. Demons can rise and Angels can fall.”

  “I’ve not come for a sermon.”

  “I know. Follow me.” He headed for the confessional, opened his side and got in,

  “You have to be kidding me?” I muttered to myself,

  “Get in Alex!” Came a muffled shout and I winced.

  For once I did what I was told. I’d always felt claustrophobic in these things, not that I’d sat in any recently. We sat in silence until I couldn’t take anymore,

  “So what now?” There was still silence, “I’m not saying it.” Silence, “Why are you doing this?” Silence, “Urgh…” I swore I’d never set foot in this church again and yet here I was. I knew what I had to do but didn’t want to admit it to myself. I took a deep breath,

  “Forgive me Father for I have sinned. It has been nineteen years since my last confession. My sin is that I don’t give a damn.”

  “And yet you were sat on my doorstep?”

  “Oh my God he speaks!”

  “I see you’re still the same blasphemous self.” Father Thomas laughed,

  “If you cared that much you wouldn’t have allowed them to excommunicate me.” It gra
ted on me more every day,

  “Come.” I heard a click and then the side of the wall slid sideways exposing a set of stairs, “It’s time I told you the real reason you were excommunicated.”

  It seemed everyone had a secret and Father Thomas’ was under the church. I half expected him to light a torch but he flicked a switch and strip lights crackled into life.

  “I swear if you’ve got some sort of sex playroom down here, I’m turning back around.” I laughed but apparently Father Thomas wasn’t amused.

  The staircase turned spiral and still we went down. I was starting to think we were walking to Hell and then I was stopped by a wooden door. The thing that unnerved me was the carving of an eye inside a sun in flames. I’d seen a lot of occult symbols in my time but this was something different.

  “Are you ready for the truth sin eater?”

  “Prffft.”

  He pushed the door open and I was surprised to see an actual cave. I didn’t know Havensbrook had anything like this. Of course it had been modified so there was electricity but it felt weird. Book shelves had been carved from the stone walls and filled with books. A long table running down the middle dominated the cave. The more I looked around, the more I realised every surface was covered in something.

  “Is that my house?” One wall was covered in TV screens,

  “Of course and there’s the Wheel Inn.” He pointed at another screen, “Your parent’s house…”

  “Are you stalking me?” I joked,

  “Yes.” I grabbed an antique knife from another table and pointed it at him, “It’s ok Alex, it’s my job to watch you.” Why did that not surprise me,

  “Talk!”

  “I was trying to. It’s probably easier if you sit.”