Forest of the Forbidden

by W. J. May

  Tristan placed a hand on her knee. She stilled instantly. Heat spread up her legs to her stomach where a horde of butterflies blossomed.

  “The haunting sounds like Samuel.” Demetri told them.

  “Who’s Samuel?” Aidan asked.

  “He’s Akeldama’s pet demon. Does all her handy work. He’s been with her since a few years after she was born.”

  “That’s a long time.” Sophie mumbled. “Did I destroy him with the light thing?”

  “The light thing?” Ruth smiled. “No, he only works in illusion, what you saw that night was all in your mind. He likes to use mental guerrilla tactics to force his prey to hurt themselves.”

  “So he can’t have his own form?” Sophie pressed. “Like one that looks like someone else?”

  They all paid attention to her now. It must have been her earnest tone. She cleared her throat. “I mean, I was just wondering.” Please, God, tell me I didn’t murder my ex, she thought.

  “No, it wasn’t real. We’ve been keeping close tabs on all of you, so we would’ve heard about the attack as it happened.”

  “How did they find us?” Tristan kept his hand on Sophie’s knee.

  “Cairo escaped. She could’ve led them here.” Demetri didn’t spare their feelings. “This means Akeldama has found you as well. This is going to get ugly.”

  “That’s so stupid.” Aidan ran a hand through his hair in annoyance.

  Sophie wanted to agree. Life was so much simpler before all this happened. Now they had to worry about demons attacking them from everywhere and a crazy, hell-bent, queen demon determined to destroy them.

  Just another day, right?

  “We want you to train us. So we can protect ourselves.” Jackson spoke up.

  Sophie shook her head. The boy was so quiet that when he did speak up, his voice demanded that people listen.

  Demetri opened his mouth to say something. By the look on his face, Sophie imagined it wasn’t going to be pretty, but Ruth touched a hand to his arm. He followed her to a corner where they whispered fiercely.

  Ruth gestured to make a point and Demetri nodded. His scowl didn’t disappear even when Ruth started smiling.

  She headed back over to them. “You have to train seriously. We won’t waste our time.”

  Sophie waited a moment, giving the others one last time to disagree. Everyone nodded. “Deal.”

  Demetri inclined his head. “Very well. Training starts tomorrow after class.”

  Sophie looked around the classroom, not recognizing it as hers. Her movements, her thoughts, didn’t feel like her own. They were detached and vulnerable.

  The professor was giving a lecture about syntax in research papers. She tuned his voice out and tried to figure out where she was. The girl sitting next to her rolled her eyes.

  “Morgan? Are you even listening to me? I said, you need to stop hanging out with those losers and bring Tristan and Jackson to the party.”

  Morgan? She was in Morgan’s body?

  Sophie felt Morgan’s annoyance like it was her own. Morgan hated the fact that she wanted to defend them. Most of all, she wanted to hate Aidan and the way he made her feel.

  It made Sophie want to smile. If she’d had a mouth of her own. Then she noticed who the other girl was and frowned.

  Laura. Morgan’s supposed best friend.

  The thing was, Morgan really couldn’t stand Laura. So, Sophie wondered, why would she continue to hang out with her?

  The professor’s voice stopped. Morgan turned toward the front of the classroom.

  Dean West stood next to the professor. Sophie watched through Morgan’s eyes as the dean’s arms gestured forcibly and her hair, normally never a strand out of place, frizzed out of a sloppy ponytail.

  They turned and looked at Morgan.

  Sophie felt the chill as deeply as Morgan did when the dean looked straight at her.

  “Morgan, if you could please come with me.”

  It was a command. Morgan ignored the looks of curiosity from her classmates as she grabbed her stuff and followed the dean out of the room.

  Sophie listened to the thousand thoughts that crossed Morgan’s mind.

  Did the dean know about her talents? Did the cops somehow discover that a demon had actually attacked them in the library? Did the cops know about the others? Then, her derision at wanting to warn them.

  “Come right this way, Morgan.” Dean West slowed her hectic pace to walk beside her.

  “What’s this about?” Morgan asked. They turned to the right and she realized they headed toward the dean’s office.

  “There was a guest speaker here yesterday that gave a lecture on finances for the marketing majors. She asked that I allow her to interview a few students for an article she’s writing.”

  Sophie felt a fissure of darkness at the dean’s words. It stirred slowly, like an awakening predator.

  “I’m not a marketing major.” Morgan spoke up. She remembered that she and the others were missing yesterday.

  “Ms. Newland specifically asked for you.” The dean stopped at the doorway to her office. It was solid oak, no one would be able to hear the dean’s meetings.

  Sophie felt Morgan’s fingertips disappear.

  Morgan shoved them behind her back. There was a distinct fear coming from her friend now, and Sophie understood it.

  Why would the speaker ask specifically for her?

  “It’ll only take a few minutes of your time.” Dean West nodded for Morgan to enter her office.

  Taking one last look at the dean, Morgan entered the office. The door shut behind her and she assumed the dean was making sure she stayed inside.

  A sweep of her gaze revealed the office was empty. Sophie knew that’s what Morgan saw but with her psychic senses she felt so much more. The dark tendrils danced all over the corners and shadows spun over the walls.

  They were excited, ready. Waiting.

  Sophie squirmed, wishing she had some way to warn Morgan. She needed to run. Now.

  The windows to the office were covered by dark burgundy curtains. No one in the courtyard would be able to see inside.

  “Hello.”

  The temperature of the room plummeted.

  Sophie tried to scream for Morgan to go, jump through the window; anything but turn around. She recognized that voice.

  Morgan whirled around to see a woman in a red pantsuit standing in front of the door. She was stunningly beautiful, with the face of an angel. Her blue eyes held no warmth as she tilted her head to the side.

  “Hi.” Morgan’s voice shook a little.

  Sophie had no idea how to warn her. She screamed, she cursed, and then she screamed again. Nothing was working.

  She was just an observer. She knew it was a vision. But, she couldn’t stop herself from trying.

  Morgan convinced herself that it was just an interview, even though her heart thudded painfully. The woman only wanted to ask her some questions.

  “Why don’t you have a seat? We can discuss this comfortably.” Newland looked Morgan over closely.

  Sophie wanted to scream that her name wasn’t Newland. She wasn’t a speaker at all.

  Morgan took a seat in one of the dark leather chairs in front of the desk and Newland walked around her. Morgan shivered, her nerves taunt with fear.

  Sophie felt she was pacing, even though she didn’t have a solid form. She wasn’t a ghost either, and unlike her other visions, she couldn’t interact at all. Her only hope was that this one was far enough out that she could still help when she woke up. There was a clock on the wall behind the demon. It read two o’clock.

  Newland sat forward. Sophie’s and Morgan’s attention both pinpointed on her. “How long have you known about your powers?”

  A strangled sound escaped Morgan’s mouth. Her left hand disappeared completely.

  “Ah, so you do not know who I am?” Triumph laced Newland’s voice. She stared at where Morgan’s hand used to be.

  “Akeldama.” For
her part, Morgan’s voice didn’t shake. Her eyes widened. She struggled to break through the shock.

  Akeldama giggled. The skin on her face rippled like it couldn’t contain the evil within.

  “This is going to be much easier than I anticipated. You, all alone. Why aren’t you with your companions?”

  Morgan’s breath came in quick gasps. Her right hand gripped the arm of the chair.

  Sophie tried to figure out a way to warn Morgan. The darkness thickened. It slid behind them and blocked the doorway. Morgan couldn’t see it but something told Sophie that she could at least tell it was there on a subconscious level.

  Morgan broke through her shock. She had to think. Had to make it out of this alive.

  She dashed for the door, knocking her chair over.

  Akeldama appeared in front of it just as Morgan reached for the door knob. Red eyes stood out against black scales that undulated down the left side of her face.

  Morgan screamed. She stumbled. Her legs bumped the fallen chair and she hit the ground on her knees. Her only thought was to get somewhere she could disappear. Then she could think. Could figure out a way out of this.

  Akeldama moved slowly around the chair.

  Morgan’s body started to shake. Her hand reappeared.

  Sophie fought against the restraints her vision had set, but the harder she struggled, the weaker she felt and she knew she needed to see what happened.

  “You call yourself a Guardian? All I see is a pathetic weakling who can’t even realize her true potential.” Akeldama came two steps closer. Morgan’s breath hitched as the demon gripped the handles of the chair. “There is no where for you to go.”

  The chair smashed against the wall. The sounds of the pieces battering the floor jarred Morgan into action. She crawled backward underneath the knee space of the dean’s desk.

  Akeldama cackled. The demon’s excitement over the hunt dwarfed Sophie.

  Morgan leaned back against the drawers. Her eyes darted back and forth for a way out. She had to find a way out.

  “The others won’t save you.” The demon whispered in her ear.

  Morgan paled and turned her head, met the red-eyed gaze. It was no more than a few inches from hers. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a claw gleam in the light.

  She clinched her eyes shut and disappeared. The fear gagged her. She fought against it and scuttled around the desk, still invisible.

  Akeldama rose to her full height. The pupils of her eyes were whole now, taking in every movement in the room.

  Morgan crouched behind a potted tree. She breathed in and out slowly, tried to be quiet. For all she knew, demons could have bionic hearing.

  “I will find you, Guardian. I can smell you.” Akeldama swiped at a bookshelf next to her. It cut cleanly in two and then fell to both sides.

  The window is too far, Morgan thought, and so is the door. Either way I’m going to have to make a run for it.

  Morgan bolted.

  Akeldama heard her footsteps and swiped her claw.

  Pain seared across Morgan’s side. She cried out and covered it with a hand, trying to press the pain away. The shock of it forced her to reappear.

  Akeldama’s focus zeroed in on where she stood. Her lips turned up.

  The air in Morgan’s lungs felt too thin. She gasped, trying to draw in more. She knew there was no way out. A pressure built in her body as she watched Akeldama shift her weight back and forth between feet. Needle pricks of sensation swarmed her body.

  Akeldama lunged.

  Sophie shot up. The scream in her throat didn’t make it out as she bumped heads with Lilli, who was knelt over her. It took a few seconds for her to realize she wasn’t in the dean’s office, but on her kitchenette floor.

  Lilli groaned and rubbed her forehead then pulled Sophie up to stand. “You were on the phone with Todd and then you fainted. I couldn’t wake you up.”

  Todd? Sophie thought. She tried to remember being on the phone. Todd had been telling her something about Roman. Then, sweet relief when she learned he was still alive. Then, the piercing headache when she’d started to see the vision of Morgan—

  “Morgan!” Sophie looked at the Hello Kitty clock on the wall. It was 2:08.

  “What?” Lilli brushed a strand of hair back from her face. She frowned at Sophie’s manic expression.

  Pop.

  “What was that?” Lilli squeaked.

  Horror projected into Sophie’s mind. She knew who it was without even having to look. Morgan had finished the vision without her.

  Once she entered the living room, she saw Morgan swaying on her feet in the center. The cheerleader’s gaze widened and her mouth formed a small “oh”.

  “Oh my God.” Lilli covered her mouth with her hand. She took a deep breath.

  Morgan took a step toward the couch. Her knees buckled.

  Lilli managed to catch her before she hit the ground and helped her the rest of the way. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

  Sophie listened to Lilli’s soothing tones and followed.

  Words formed on Morgan’s lips. No sounds emerged.

  “Shh.” Lilli stroked Morgan’s curls and murmured soothingly. She shot a questioning look at Sophie.

  How was she to explain that Akeldama had found them? Sophie lowered herself onto the couch. “Morgan, I had a vision just before you showed up here. I know what happened.”

  Fat tears rolled down Morgan’s cheeks.

  Sophie knew she was replaying what happened in her mind, and that the demon’s laughter echoed through it. When Morgan’s sobs subsided, Sophie asked, “How did you get here?”

  Lilli met Sophie’s gaze over the top of Morgan’s head. Her concern broadcasted.

  For a minute Morgan was silent. Her body still shook and pieces of it kept disappearing and reappearing randomly. Like she was a bad signal on satellite. Sophie and Lilli ignored all of that and waited for her to speak.

  “I don’t know how it happened. I was there in the office with that... creature ... and the next thing there was a pressure building in my body. I felt like I was being stretched uncontrollably, and then I opened my eyes and I was here.”

  Sophie thought about this for a moment. Earlier that week, she’d emitted a purple light that demolished demons. There was no telling what each of them were capable of. They’d never had a reason to explore what they could do.

  She told the girls this.

  “She knows who we are.” Morgan whispered. Her voice was steadier when she grasped Lilli’s hand.

  There was a sharp instant of panic.

  “What are we going to do? If she knows who we are, how can we hide?” Lilli glanced at Sophie.

  “I don’t know.” Sophie stood, started to pace.

  Morgan bristled at Sophie’s accusing tone.

  “It could’ve been any one of us.” Sophie went on. “What if she attacks us again? Are we prepared for that? Can we handle it? I think we’re in this whether or not we want to be.”

  “We should call the guys and let them know what happened. They’re probably in class but I’m sure they’ll head over when they read it. And we need to let Demetri and Ruth know.” Lilli grabbed her cell phone and sent a quick text out to the guys telling them what happened and that they were okay.

  “Sure. Whatever.” Morgan took a few calming breaths. “Can I have something to drink? My mouth is really dry.”

  Sophie grabbed a can from the fridge. Her mind whirled around, trying to figure out what Akeldama wanted with them. Was it just to annihilate them? Or was there a bigger plan? She tried to tune into her instincts as she handed the drink to Morgan.

  “You need to stay here tonight.” Lilli told her firmly as she guzzled down the soft drink.

  Fear flashed in Morgan’s eyes before she masked it. “That’s probably a good idea.”

  * * *

  Chapter Sixteen

  Once the guys, Demetri, and Ruth learned about the attack on Morgan, training began at a rapid pa
ce. Almost every night the group met at the bus stop after classes and headed to the church’s basement, where they learned how to use their gifts with precision and agility. On the off times when they weren’t training, the group was usually studying or doing homework in the girls’ dorm.

  There was a rule now that none of them was to go anywhere alone, including home on the holidays. Demetri drilled into their heads that there was safety in numbers.

  Sophie felt a bit safer knowing that Ruth still acted as a professor and that Demetri was still a security guard on campus. She’d even seen Father Kent dressed in his clerical robes in the back of classrooms or strolling near them when they walked from class to class.

  In the small locker room in the basement of the church, Sophie pulled on her training clothes. Morgan and Lilli were deep in discussion behind her.

  “How do you feel about going home with Aidan?” Lilli asked this slyly while she tied her tennis shoes.

  “I have to sit with him for two days, at his house, pretending to be his girlfriend.” Morgan slammed her locker closed. “How do you think I feel?” She stormed out of the room, leaving the door to bang shut behind her.

  Lilli giggled a little. “She’s so defensive about it. I can’t help myself.”

  “She’s my training partner today, remember?” Sophie sent a baleful glance at Lilli. “And now you pissed her off. Thanks.”

  “How do you feel about going home with Tristan?”

  The question caused warm sparks to center in Sophie’s stomach. How did she feel about taking Tristan home to her family? A small smile touched her lips before she could stop it.

  Lilli nodded, satisfied. “Yeah, I thought so.”

  “What about you? With Jackson?”

  “Same.” Lilli rubbed her hands together. “I’m off to keep the boys alive. Hopefully, they’ll leave wounds I can fix.”

  Sophie shook her head and they parted ways. She wasn’t looking forward to fighting Morgan while she was in one of her moods. The girl was vicious and invisible.

  When Sophie reached their training area, Morgan and Ruth already had the large blue mat rolled out. She stopped at the edge and waited on Ruth’s command.

  Morgan narrowed her eyes and took her place at the other side. Inwardly, Sophie winced.