Shadow Heights (The Dark Side Trilogy Book 1)

by E. N. Goeking

  “This is fucking disgusting man!” he yelled while glaring over at Chad. “Absolutely gnarly.” Chad didn’t seem to notice Ryan’s hostility because he didn't flinch an inch. He was laying on the floor in the fetal position. I wouldn’t have been surprised if his thumb was in his mouth. They had the spot cleaned up rather quickly and Ryan ran the towels downstairs, starting the washer immediately while Jaden helped Chad get back on his feet.

  “You want to crash here tonight buddy?” he asked.

  Chad gurgled a “yeah” and Jaden chuckled at his current state. He placed Chad’s arm around his neck and walked him into a spare bedroom. Chad started to slip on the wet floor and his shoes squeaked against the hard-wood floor.

  “Puke in the trash can if you have to man,” he announced while leaving the room. Before Jaden closed the door, I could visibly see Chad laying down head first into the mattress sound asleep. He turned to face me but stopped himself. He lifted up his hands. “Let me wash up first.”

  “Okay.” I walked up the stairs and tiptoed across the hallway floor, avoiding the wet spots. I went into his bedroom and sat the beer cans on his dresser. I pulled out a pair of low-rise gray pajama pants and slipped my feet in them. Footsteps sounded nearby and I felt an unusual sting on my rear end. I looked back to see Jaden staring at my half-naked form.

  “Sorry.” His eyes rose up to mine and he grinned.

  “It’s okay.” I continued to pull up my pants but did it more dramatically this time just to tease him. It was the alcohol; I normally wouldn’t be acting so seductively. He bit his bottom lip as I covered myself, hiding any trace of my black lace panties. An abrupt laugh escaped my chest as I watched his expressions go from excitement to disappointment in less than a second.

  I zipped up my bag and sat it in the corner by his dresser. I could feel Jaden’s magnetic pull as he walked closer to me. As I stood up, his body warmed me from behind. His forceful arms wrapped themselves around me, going underneath my shirt, rubbing the bare skin of my tummy.

  “We should try my experiment later,” he whispered into my ear. His warm breath blew across my skin and I trembled.

  “Okay.” A knock sounded on the door and he snarled in frustration.

  “I’ll see you guys in the morning,” Ryan shouted. “I've had enough excitement for one night.” He continued to rattle on to himself as he walked to his bedroom. Being frustrated by the endless disturbances, Jaden broke away from me to grab our beers. He chugged his down, damn near drinking the whole can. He grabbed a joint from his drawer and lit the end on fire.

  “You want to smoke again?”

  “Why not? You only live so long.” I nodded in agreement. I’d rather be risky than regret my wasted days.

  “You’re a bad influence.”

  “If that’s true, what are you doing here then?” He smirked.

  “Because I like being bad,” I joked with a laugh.

  “I'd say that were true.” I smacked him on the arm.

  “I just want to be near you, it doesn’t matter what we do together.”

  “So, I kind of feel like a jack ass asking this but...can I consider you my girl?” The sides of my mouth ascended my face and I nodded without hesitation. “I feel like I've been waiting lifetimes for you.” I gazed into his eyes and they were soft in the red light.

  “Jaden, you are literally the sweetest guy I’ve ever met and not evil like some are suggesting.”

  “It’s fortunate for me, then, that you’re blind to the darkness.” I narrowed my eyebrows as I thought about his words. He crossed his legs, balancing his ankle on his knee. He relit the joint and hit it a few times before handing it over. He let the smoke out in spurts, trying to hold it in as long as possible.

  “So...have you had a lot of girls in here?” I asked while an odd expression appeared on his face, perhaps he was surprised by my query.

  “I’m very particular about the girls that I spend time with, let alone the girls I allow in my room. I’m kind of neurotic about my things if you haven’t noticed and girls are no different.” I nodded my head but I figured he was a guy that would give me a typical answer. I was pleasantly surprised. It was nice to not have to imagine him sleeping with a bunch of girls in this bed, where I was presently sitting.

  “What about you?” He glanced over with genuine interest.

  “I’m not into girls.” He broke out into a trail of laughter and fell to his side. He shook my arm with playful ease as his amusement faded.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Well, I’ve never had anyone in my bed because of my parents living at home. I’ve had to choose more creative places.” His face lifted to a grin and I blushed.

  “You’re always so sarcastic.” His hand caressed the strands of my hair, sending my nerve endings into a fury.

  “I’m sorry,” I felt slightly offended.

  “Don’t apologize. I like it.”

  “So, what’s going to happen now? I keep waiting for a ghost to come running out of your closet or a ufo to land in your back yard.”

  “Oh well that happened a couple months ago, so you shouldn't worry.” He chuckled.

  I shook off a chill as my imagination went visual.

  “I have no idea what’s going to happen but I know it can’t be good. There are no signs pointing to a positive outlook. We’re both pretty thoughtless for getting so close.”

  “That’s a horrible thing to say.”

  “Well, it’s a little late for pleasant tidings Mina. I’ve never gone through this with another person and I can only imagine what this is going to do to you. Get ready to change.”

  “In what way?” I intervened since I hated change and fought it tooth and nail.

  “In every way. Look at how your life has changed already in such a short period of time. I think it’s officially too late for us to forget each other. I’ve only recently come to grips with your importance to me and I’m willing to travel great lengths to keep you.” I could feel the love I had for him swelling in my heart like a sponge. “Let’s enjoy our privacy while it lasts.”

  “Good idea,” I agreed. He pulled my neck to his mouth, kissing it softly at first and then increasing his intensity. He took the time to taste me like a fine wine, breathing me in and savoring my flesh and this time there were no interruptions to stop us.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  I know what you’re already thinking, they did it. Well hate to burst that bubble but we didn’t. Not even close. Last night was wonderful, though, even without it. We got to know each other’s bodies without going too far, as hard as it was not to. We shared a great night of passion that only brought us closer together.

  When I woke up the next morning, he was planning something secretive for the two of us and I had no idea what it was since I was being kept out of the loop. I know he had a lot of private conversations on his phone while I hung out in the living room watching some horrible all-female talk show, lecturing us women on how to live our lives.

  I still had to deal with my mother and this was beginning to bug me. She was expecting me home but I wasn’t quite ready to leave. I had to come up with a great excuse to stay one more night. It wasn’t only the fact that I didn’t want to face the house, my dad, and my recurring nightmares but I wanted to be with Jaden. After spending so much time with him recently, I was becoming attuned to his moods. The feeling I got from his eyes and from his touch was equally different. With his eyes, it was a needle-like pulse piercing through me and I felt it on my body wherever he laid them. It only got stronger the closer we got to one another. His hands were different. They were electrifying and so unstoppable. They had the ability to stop all pain.

  It was amazing that he could feel that electric ooze running through his body at all times, enlivening him. I secretly wondered how he got this ability and if his father had the same thing but as I thought of this, I remembered the daydream I had with the flowers. Joseph had used his hands to inflict pain upon his father with th
e same kind of force. Was it some kind of genetic anomaly? What I found most interesting was that it could only be expelled through the hands and not the rest of his body. I would think it would radiate out of him at all points of entry.

  As happy as I was that he was finally letting me in, I wasn’t satisfied by his vague recall. There were so many things I didn’t understand, too many holes in his stories. I still needed to know more history, family stories, and personal things of that matter. I wanted to trust Jaden and I felt that I could, but I couldn’t be sure. What was I thinking? I'm in love with him but I can't trust him. Get it together, Mina.

  He kissed me goodbye before leaving but without revealing where he was headed. He assured me that it was nothing to worry about. While spacing out to the over-the-top drama of daytime soap operas, my thoughts drifted to Greg. I was wondering what he was doing at that moment. It was still a little unusual not being around him. When you get into a routine of seeing someone day after day for years, it’s a little unsettling if you’re not a big person on change. I hadn’t talked to him in over a week, a record for us, and I was worried our friendship was disappearing. I decided to call him, be the bigger person.

  It rang a few times but then his voicemail picked up. He better not be avoiding me. He never missed my call. Even if he was working he’d answer just to say he’d call me back. I hoped he wasn’t angry with me. I didn't think Greg was the type of person to hold a grudge. The sound of his voice helped stir my spirits and I was glad it was his and not a prerecorded manufactured one.

  “Hey Greg. It’s Mina. I haven’t talked to you in a while and thought we should catch up. I hope nothing’s wrong. Call me back when you get this. Bye.” I closed my phone and sat it on the table in front of me waiting for it to light up. I tugged at my lip as worrisome thoughts entered my brain. I knew nothing was wrong but I still had an edgy feeling about the whole thing.

  While trying to distract my mind, my eyes drifted to a full bookshelf on the opposite wall. It caught my eye because all of the books were arranged by size and color. What a neurotic person? I couldn’t believe how much detail went into how the books were placed. They were all pushed out at an equal distance to seem proportionate. I got up and walked over to scan his selections but I was afraid to touch any of them for fear of messing them up. He had a lot of old classics and quite a few books I had never heard of. A lot of books on esoteric topics like black magic, alchemy, sacred geometry, and astral projection.

  I pulled one out and read over the back of it.

  I heard voices of children outside playing and I moved the curtain back to peer out. Two little girls were riding bikes on the sidewalk nearby. They reminded me of Caylie and I, back when we were younger. It’s unfortunate that life can change relationships so easily over time. It wasn’t necessarily either of our faults; we had just grown apart. I was glad that my sister hadn’t been affected by the house, at least not yet. She was both physically and emotionally weak, and there would be no way she could save herself from danger. I was always the stronger daughter, taking on tasks well above my age, bearing the brunt of everything.

  Before I could get ready and start my night with a clear mind, I needed to talk to my mom. Now was as good of an opportunity as any while everyone was away. I had no distractions to make me nervous or cause problems.

  I made my way to the coffee table and grabbed the phone, dialing my house number. I walked up the stairs while it rang.

  “Hi, sweetie,” she answered.

  “Hey mom.”

  “I was just about to call you.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. Are you gonna be home for dinner?”

  “Well, that’s what I called you about,” she stayed silent, “I think I’m gonna stay here for one more night. All of my friends want to go out like old times and I can’t just turn them down. I haven’t been out much and you’re the one that’s always on my case about getting out of the house.” I had to catch my breath after I spoke because I said my entire speech in one breath.

  “Okay honey. You’re right. I won’t say anything else. I’m glad that you’re going out and it’s good that you see Greg. He’s such a sweet boy.”

  “I know,” I heard a car door slam outside and I ran to the window to look out. It was Chad and he was headed for the front door.

  “Just promise you’ll be home tomorrow and at a decent time I might add.” I rolled my eyes and headed back downstairs.

  “I will. Thanks mom. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Bye.” I hung up the phone just in time, right before the doorbell rang. I hurried down the stairs to answer it. Chad smirked after seeing me and I couldn’t help but scowl at him.

  “Hey Mina, can I come in?” I was still blocking the door but I decided to move. It wasn’t my house to decide who was allowed and who wasn’t. I followed him into the living room and sat on the couch opposite from him. “Where’s Jay?”

  “I honestly don’t know. He should be back soon.”

  “Are you still mad at me about yesterday?” I avoided his eyes and answered truthfully.

  “No.”

  “You guys got plans for tonight?”

  “I think so. He won’t tell me what they are, though.” I flashed to the memory of Chad last night, lying on the floor in a ball. “How are you feeling today? Last night, you were pretty...you know, sickly.”

  He chuckled in an effort to stifle his embarrassment. He ran his hand through his hair while he spoke. “I know. I took it a little too far.”

  “I’d say that was an understatement.” The clock in the kitchen started chiming and I knew it was six o’clock. I had to get ready for my date. “What are you doing here anyway?”

  “Jaden’s getting me some smoke.” He exhaled a drag and a cloud of smoke formed overtop of his head. I was surprised by this new enterprise.

  “Oh. Does he do that a lot for you?”

  “Most of the time. He's got the best.” We sat there quietly for a moment, both of our attentions turned to the television screen. “It's fucked up what happened last night.”

  “I know. I've never seen anything like that.” He let out a single laugh.

  “Welcome to Shadow Heights.” I furrowed my brow.

  “Why, does stuff like this happen a lot here?”

  “This town has a life force of its own and Jay knows this more than anybody. It's a nice place to live for sure but strange things happen here that no one can explain. It takes a lot of backbone to make it here.”

  “Do you think Jaden's family has something to do with it?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Everyone in town seems to believe it but I'm kind of on the fence. I mean, people are already pointing fingers at him for last night. I wasn't surprised when the cops showed up.”

  “Why is that?” Confused, I looked over.

  “The woman who died. There are those who think he caused it.” I scoffed.

  “That's ridiculous. How could anyone think that?” He took a drag from his cigarette, resting his feet on the coffee table.

  “Because of the prophecy.”

  “Wait, the what?” Chad knew he revealed something he should not have.

  “It's nothing.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “They're just old scary stories, Mina. Myths. Stories the religious folks of town create because they have nothing better to do with their time.”

  “I don't follow.” I searched his eyes for falsehood.

  “Jaden has a reputation for being a bad dude and even though he hasn’t caused any problems in years, he is always the first to take blame because he's a Laenzar.” I was growing increasingly aggravated by our conversation. I sat up from the couch and walked away.

  “I’m gonna get ready for tonight. Stay and wait for him if you want.” I went up the stairs and gathered my things. I decided on taking a shower; I wanted to be perfectly clean and refreshed for our date. Anxiety was growing inside of me but I was ready for anything to happen
. Our relationship had progressed over the weeks and I felt ready to make that next step if the chance to do so was upon me.

  As I passed back into the hallway, I heard the television blaring loudly downstairs. Chad must've turned it to a sporting event because I could hear the voices of announcers in the background. I closed the bathroom door and started the shower. I laid out my outfit on the counter, hoping to keep it from getting wrinkled. I felt comfortable now being in his house, even with him gone. The only mystical being I had to worry about was him and I could handle that.

  I stripped off my clothing and stepped into the shower. The water was still slightly cold and I turned the knob to add more heat. The water ran over my head and I let it roll down my face. The streams of water began to steam and I shrieked, removing myself from the waterfall of inferno. I reached around the water and turned the knob, only a millimeter at a time. Once I got the water to the perfect temperature, I closed my eyes and relaxed.

  I turned to face the shower wall and let the water pulverize my skin while I washed my body with an exfoliating scrub. Before I got out, I enjoyed the warmth surrounding me for a few more minutes.

  “Jaden’s a lucky guy,” a voice spoke near me and my eyes popped open under the water. Chad was peeking at me from around the corner.

  “Get the hell out of here!” I shouted while trying to cover up my body. Like it mattered now, he had already seen every inch of me. Who knew how long he had been standing there? After a minute passed, I hadn’t heard the bathroom door open or close and I wondered if he was still in there with me.

  I opened the shower door, revealing only my face and saw him standing up, using the toilet. “What are you doing?” I demanded, appalled that he would do that with me in the room.

  “What does it look like?” He turned slightly, flashing me his manhood. Disgusted that he could be so crude, I slammed the shower door and stepped back into the water.