Forest of the Forbidden

by W. J. May

  “Don’t mind him. He’s trying to figure out who’s behind the kidnappings.” Ruth gestured for them to sit. “Are you thirsty?”

  “Behind the kidnappings? I thought that the...thing...was behind it. It’s dead, right?” Sophie’s panic rose again. Her hands began to shake and she wanted to scream. Who lived like this, in fear all the time? A headache formed behind her right eye.

  The guys shifted like they gathered up strength.

  “Oh, he is dead. But there are more of them working on the kidnappings.” Ruth shared a look with Demetri and then a small bell pealed . “It seems someone else has arrived. Would you like something to drink?”

  Sophie shook her head. There was no way she was going to keep anything down right now. More of those things were out there?

  Tristan walked over to the table and pulled out a chair. His eyes met hers and he nodded at the seat.

  She tried to contain her smile but couldn’t. Instead, she focused on Demetri. He moved away from them to lean against one of the book cases. A second later Lilli caught her eye and smiled knowingly.

  Sophie shook her head. Soul mates didn’t exist. No matter that she felt this undeniable pull to Tristan or that her mind and body seemed to remember him from a time before they met.

  Impossible.

  Ruth swung the door open and allowed Morgan and Aidan to walk in ahead of her.

  Morgan did look awesome in her outfit but there were dark circles under her eyes. Like she hadn’t slept in a few days.

  Sophie immediately began to feel sorry for her. She understood what nightmares were like and how they could affect every part of a person’s life. Some of that pity evaporated when Morgan sat next to Tristan.

  Demetri waited for Aidan to sit, then pushed off from the book case and passed the file to Ruth. He came to the front of the table and made sure he had everyone’s attention.

  “Do any of you believe in demons?”

  “What?!” Sophie coughed.

  “Demons.” Demetri repeated like he taught a class of five year olds.

  “Demons?” Morgan frowned. “I came all the way out here, practically against my will, and you talk about demons?” She stood and wrapped her cardigan tighter. “This is ridiculous.”

  “What do you think attacked you the other night?” Ruth called out before Morgan could reach the door.

  Morgan paused. She faced the door but Sophie felt her struggle. On one hand she thought this whole meeting was ludicrous and on the other she so badly wanted answers.

  Sophie understood. She wanted those answers just as much, but demons? That was too horrific to consider. No one wanted to face that. “This is a little far out there.”

  “This isn’t a joke.” Demetri spoke. He watched the guys.

  Jackson and Tristan shared a glance. She could tell they seriously thought it over. Aidan leaned back in his chair. When she met his gaze he motioned for her to stay. To get those answers.

  “After all that you six can do, how can you not believe in the possibility of demons?”

  Tristan crossed his arms over his chest. “Why is one mutually exclusive to the other?”

  “Saying that we believe you, which I’m not sure yet, start from the beginning. I’m still curious as to how you knew we had these gifts. I know we didn’t use them in the open.” Jackson spoke up.

  Morgan slowly returned to her seat.

  “We’re from an island that has existed for thousands of years. Over those years our people’s sole purpose has been to hunt demons and we’ve developed many ways to do it. In the beginning, though, we were peaceful. We farmed, we gathered. The only thing we hunted was game. Then a group was discovered and brought to the Queen who had amazing talents that we’d never seen before. An Oracle, a shape-shifter, a fire starter, a girl who could disappear at will, a healer, and a man who could move things with his mind.” Ruth said. Sophie felt a shift inside of her. She could sense all of this happening. The excitement and then deep, deep sadness. It opened an ache in her chest and she pressed a hand there to staunch it. “A princess from a neighboring island was found murdered on our sands. It started a war that devastated our land and theirs. Little did we know, the Demoness had possessed the body of a priestess and that she’d orchestrated the murder to split up the Guardians.”

  “Demoness? Guardians?” Lilli’s eyes lit up. She always liked learning new things.

  “You’re familiar with the story of Christ’s crucifixion? Judas hung himself on a hilltop and all his entrails fell to the ground?” They nodded. “The Demoness was born that night out of the shame and hatred Judas felt for himself and his blood seeped into the dirt.”

  “Her name is Akeldama.” Ruth continued. Sophie began to sweat at the sound of that name. “And what she did after the war was truly the work of a malevolent creature.”

  Flashes of blood and screams of terror rose in her mind. She shut her eyes against it, but the flow kept on coming. Faces and graves popped up before fizzling into darkness. Sophie reached her fingertips to her temples and prayed the pain would go away.

  “The Guardians were given no other choice but to drink a potion that would separate their souls from their bodies. When Akeldama found that they escaped her, she viciously murdered the priest who’d helped them. She used his body as an example to the people of the islands.”

  “Harold.” The priest’s face surfaced in her mind. Sophie remembered his limp from the vision.

  “Yes. His name was Harold.” Demetri nodded. “The Demoness enslaved the people of the island. A rebellion started. The rebels escaped from the island and trained to become the Society we are today.”

  “We believe that you are the six Guardians reborn. That means Akeldama is getting ready to strike and whatever it is, it’ll be big and involve millions of deaths.” Ruth finished.

  “I just can’t believe what you’re saying is true.” Aidan tapped his fingertips on the table. His fingers warmed up and little soot marks appeared on the surface. “Demons? Reincarnation?”

  Ruth continued on. “You are part of a prophecy to stop Akeldama from opening the Rift and letting Lucifer out. He was banished there years ago on the other side of the demon realm. If he’s released...well, you understand.”

  Sophie knew she tried to reason with them but it wasn’t the right choice of words.

  Tristan ran a hand down his face. He seemed tired, they all were, and the conversation seemed to push them over the edge. “Lucifer?” His voice lowered. “I have class tomorrow.”

  He stood to leave. When he met Sophie’s gaze she joined him.

  Ruth’s smile disappeared. The others all rose and gathered around the door.

  Jackson turned the knob and gestured for Lilli to go first.

  “They won’t stop hunting you. People are going to die because you won’t face your destiny!”

  A heavy weight settled on Sophie’s chest and she kept close to Tristan. They made their way up the stairs and out of the church. It didn’t seem inviting now that they’d basically stated that the owners were cuckoo.

  Still, the thought nagged her mind. What if every word they spoke was true? Would they be sacrificing innocent people because they didn’t believe? The man that attacked them in the library made a believable demon.

  They stepped out onto the cobblestone path and cold air greeted them. The rain was gone but clouds settled low over the city.

  When they passed the gates, Tristan stopped. His yellow eyes shone in the night. “Can you believe this? Demons? Lucifer? An ancient society who’s only purpose is to keep demons at bay?”

  The others stopped at the frustration in his voice.

  “If demons aren’t real then what attacked us the other night?” Jackson asked. He stood still against the gates. “It had scales and wings.”

  “What if they’re telling the truth?” Lilli agreed. “Are we sacrificing innocent lives? Haven’t three students been kidnapped already?”

  “You can’t be serious! Those students
were not kidnapped by demons.” Morgan shook her head. “Demons do not exist!”

  “If we’ve decided that we don’t believe, can we go home?” Aidan had his hands in his jacket pockets and his body hunched. The wind tried to ruffle the spikes in his blond hair. “I’m freezing.”

  They started back toward the bus stop.

  “We’ll find out soon enough anyway.” Aidan continued. They huddled around the bench at the bus stop. “Another girl will be kidnapped and we’ll know it was our fault.” Guilt hit Sophie and she stared at her feet. She remembered her dreams. The girls and the fear that bubbled out of them.

  “Shut up, Aidan.” Morgan’s snapped.

  * * *

  Chapter Eight

  Sophie tried to ignore the awkwardness of class the next day. She sat and doodled flowers all over her notebook. Lilli sat on her left side, chin resting on her hand, and eyelids drooped low. Aidan sat on her right, snoring softly with his head tilted back against the chair.

  She wished she could fall asleep but figured that having visions and jolting awake would make people nervous. Instead, a flower garden cropped up on her paper. The sound of Ruth’s voice droned on and on and Sophie began to resent the fact that she was nothing like the gun toting woman from the other night.

  Her thoughts turned to Tristan. Nothing could erase from her mind the way he looked when the guys had rescued them. That strength and fierceness was extremely attractive to her.

  Ruth crossed the whiteboard. She moved slow and ungraceful, allowing her straw hat to tumble to the floor a few times. Every time it hit the ground the class groaned.

  Sophie thought she played her part well. She definitely didn’t remind her of a demon-hunting assassin.

  The darkness tickled the back of Sophie’s neck. It started slow at first and then became more urgent. More demanding. Chill bumps slid up her spine and then down her arms. Her stomach twisted.

  Something was wrong.

  She went to shake Lilli and the door to the classroom swung open.

  The darkness flowed in, thick and heavy, and surrounded Sophie. The door smacked the wall behind it. Aidan and Lilli jumped in their seats.

  Dean West stepped in and beelined for Ruth. The class started to come alive again.

  “What is it, Sophie? You’re pale.” Aidan leaned over. “Is something wrong?”

  Sophie nodded. She watched the dean whisper in Ruth’s ear. She couldn’t force herself to speak.

  Ruth’s face never changed. The silence stretched out while Ruth waited for the dean to shut the door on her way out. Then she faced the class, pushed her glasses up her nose.

  “I’m sorry to inform you that there is a mandatory meeting in the auditorium. Another student has been kidnapped.” Her eyes settled on Sophie, Aidan, and Lilli; then the others.

  The classroom erupted into whispers.

  Sophie’s stomach clenched.

  Lilli gripped her arm. Her face lost all color and she shut her eyes. Like she could block out the truth.

  Aidan grabbed her other hand and squeezed. His remorse snaked up her arm.

  “Class, calm down. You are to go straight to the auditorium now. Dean West will explain more at that time.”

  Sophie met Lilli’s gaze. What she saw in those green eyes mirrored her own.

  Guilt.

  They stood mechanically, grabbed their stuff, and followed the rest of the class out. Tristan and Jackson caught up to them when they exited the building.

  Tristan put his arm around Sophie’s shoulders and looked down at her. “You okay?”

  “You seem to be asking me that a lot lately.”

  He nodded and pulled her closer. His warmth chased some of her fear away. She wanted to focus on being held by him for the first time, but she worried about who was kidnapped.

  “It’s not our fault.” Jackson said to himself. Sophie noticed that his mental blocks stronger than ever. He shielded Lilli from the jostling bodies of their classmates.

  Students spilled out of every building and herded into the auditorium. The crush of bodies was stifling and the whispers rose to a dull roar the nearer they got to it.

  Morgan brushed by, following her friends. After they passed she glanced back, fear clear on her face.

  Aidan winked at her and the fear melted into annoyance.

  It seemed their destiny was no longer asked for them. It drafting them.

  The dean already stood on stage, microphone attached to the lapel of her jacket. Sophie and the others pushed to seats near the middle. The lights were dim, giving the situation a more dire feel. It took only minutes more for the entire campus to fill the auditorium.

  The dean cleared her throat and a hush settled over the student body. “As I’m sure most of you know by now, Katie Moore has officially been reported missing. The authorities are doing everything they can to help locate her and the three other students that have disappeared. I know that all of you are scared but we must remain calm.” She gestured to a line of security officers behind her. Sophie recognized Demetri’s stature in the line. Beside him, the other officers looked like rookie recruits. “These gentlemen are doing everything they can to assure your safety. In any case, the campus rules are as follows: One, no one is allowed to go anywhere at anytime alone. A group of three is the minimum.” Half the students groaned and the dean held up her hand for silence. “If you can’t find a group, these gentlemen will be happy to escort you. Two,” she held up two fingers, “there is a curfew of ten o’clock.”

  “Katie?” Lilli whispered. Tears sprang to her eyes and leaked over. Jackson pulled her closer and whispered in her ear.

  Sophie cried quietly in the darkness of the auditorium. Katie’s red hair and cheery face filled her mind.

  A warm hand envelop hers.

  Tristan’s essence encircled her. She looked up into his face.

  He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. “Did you know her?”

  Sophie nodded since she didn’t trust her vocal cords to work. When she did, she said, “She was our waitress at Jack’s.”

  Fear and anxiety welled up in the auditorium and Sophie fought hard to keep the emotions from overwhelming her. Everyone worried that they might be the next to disappear.

  “Classes are dismissed for the day. I want all of you to return to your rooms and above all...be careful.”

  Tristan didn’t let go of her hand when they stood and followed the herd of students out onto the campus.

  Aidan stuck close to her other side, radiating unease and he glanced around to find Morgan.

  Having them on either side of her helped to keep most of the emotions from the students at bay. It was nice not having to rely on herself for once.

  Jackson and Lilli threaded through the crowd ahead of them. Sophie noticed that Jackson’s face hardened as he defended Lilli against the sway of people.

  The quietness was unusual and eerie. The crowd passed the courtyard and then split off into the many different directions it took for everyone to get where they were going.

  Sophie, Aidan, and Tristan caught up with Jackson and Lilli before they reached the dorms.

  The guys walked Sophie and Lilli up to the door. Aidan stopped a few feet away to give them some privacy. He turned around, like he was the lookout, and leaned against the wall. Sophie could feel his awkwardness from where she stood.

  “Are you sure you don’t want us to stay?” Jackson asked. He ran a hand down Lilli’s arm.

  “No.” Lilli smiled weakly up at him. “I’m exhausted. I think I’m going to study for my biology exam and go to bed.”

  Sophie unlocked the door. Tristan watched her pocket the keys and sighed. She knew she was pale and maybe a little disheveled, so she wished he’d look somewhere else.

  It was almost too much. She could feel him close and wanted nothing more than to throw herself in his arms and be comforted, but her stomach pitched around from all the emotions of the scared students and faculty.

  “Take my numb
er, Lilli. I want to know that if you need me, you can reach me.” Jackson urged.

  Lilli nodded and put it into her phone.

  “We should all switch numbers. Just in case.” Aidan mumbled. He pushed off from the wall and joined them. “I’d hate for you girls to be caught alone again.”

  Sophie hurriedly entered the guys’ numbers into her phone. It was only a matter of minutes before her breakfast made its reappearance and she’d prefer to be in the bathroom than out here in the hall.

  She murmured her goodbyes and rushed into the dorm. In her hurry she didn’t notice the phone falling from her pocket.

  Tristan started to go after her but Lilli placed a hand on his arm.

  “She’s not feeling well. It’d be best if you left her alone for now.” Lilli frowned up at him. “You might embarrass her if you go in there.”

  Sophie barely made it to the bathroom before all the excitement got the better of her and she vomited. The horror of the past week finally surfaced.

  The creature, attacking them in the library.

  The visions of the woman, evil and dark.

  Katie, missing.

  Faintly, she heard her phone ringing. The images flitted through her mind again but she forced them down. Her body ached. She stood and went to the sink and brushed her teeth.

  “It’s your mom. Do you want me to tell her to call you back?”

  Sophie looked over at Lilli, who stood in the doorway with concern in her eyes, Sophie’s cell phone in hand. “No, I’ll talk to her now.”

  Lilli nodded and passed her the phone. “I’m going to go to the room and study a little.”

  Sophie wondered how her friend could focus. Lilli looked shell shocked and tired. “Hey, Mom.” She spoke into the phone and walked into the living room.

  “Sophie, darling, are you okay? Your dad and I saw the news.”

  Sophie shut her eyes at the sound of her mom’s voice. Tears threatened to leak out. She sunk onto the couch. “There’s been another kidnapping.” She gripped the phone. “I knew her.”