The Many Lives of Avery Snow

by Christy Sloat

  “Oh, sorry. The last one on the street.” I pointed to the last cabin on the road. Dallas pulled the truck into the newly paved driveway. The cabin was so peaceful looking. The sun was just now going down over the lake and it had cast a glow around the cabin.

  “Wow, this is more like a mansion than a cabin,” Dallas remarked. I laughed loudly. It was very true. When you think cabin you do not picture this place. This cabin was more glass than cabin. The whole front was wood but the sides and back was pretty much all windows. It was three story’s high and the yard was huge compared to all the other lots. The front of the yard had the best landscaping on the street.

  Kerri’s parents had money, and it was easy to tell when you looked at this place. They had definitely wanted their daughter to do more than manage a retirement home. They would have preferred her to be a doctor or lawyer but according to Kerri she felt Sunrise Estate’s was where she wanted to be. All I knew was she was supremely happy.

  I, on the other hand, well that remains to be seen. If you would have told me I would be an aide for Sunrise Estates I would have laughed, but I do love my job. I felt sort of sad, like I missed it. It had been forever since I was there.

  We went inside and dropped our bags at the foot of the stairs. It smelled heavily of lavender and I knew that the maid service had just been here to clean. Mrs. Louse loves lavender and she requested that the house always smell of it. I had no idea how they did it, but they did.

  Landon went straight into the living room area and stared out towards the lake. Dallas took my hand and led me upstairs, shushing me on the way up. I giggled like a little girl, totally forgetting why we were here in the first place. The second floor consisted of three bedrooms spaced evenly throughout the floor. Each had their own bathroom and huge walk in closet. It was more like there was three master bedrooms.

  We continued to the third floor which had an office to the far left and a huge room that was considered the entertainment room. The massive windows surrounding the rooms came with room darkening shutters that covered the windows with a push of a button. There was a drop down movie screen with another push of a button.

  We didn’t stop to enjoy any of this, today we just went out to the deck through the sliding glass doors. The air hit me as soon as we walked out and I breathed deeply, clearing my nostrils of that horrid lavender scent. The lake was quiet and we watched the sun continue to settle while he wrapped me in his strong arms. I had never felt safer in all these few months. I did not want to leave his arms. He began kissing my neck and it sent shivers throughout my body. I had really wanted to spend the first night here alone with him, but plans had changed. I guessed we would have to play catch up another time.

  “This place is amazing isn’t it?” Dallas asked sounding like a kid in a candy store.

  “Yeah it’s one of my favorite places. It’s magical here.”

  “Right here in your arms, this is magic. I love you Avery and I am so scared that I will lose you.” His voice choked.

  I turned to face him. His head was down, his dark hair almost red with the glow of the setting sun. He would not look at me. I didn’t know what I could say to assure him that things would be okay. Heck, I didn’t even know if they would be okay. I was just as scared. We were going up against something very dark and very unreal. I tried my best to sound reassuring.

  “Everything will be okay as long as we stay together, remember?”

  He nodded, still not looking at me, and I grabbed onto him as he scooped me up into his arms. We stood that way for a while. When I opened my eyes I peered over Dallas’ shoulder and saw Landon looking at us from inside the room. He just stood there watching us.

  The rest of the evening was pretty quiet. Landon went to bed early, presumably because of his unhappiness. I tried to ignore it, he had to get over it. Dallas and I watched old movies on the TV downstairs deciding that the movie theatre would be too weird. We opted for quaint and romantic. There was popcorn in the cupboards along with tons of other food that we could use for the remaining time spent here. I knew Kerri had something to do with that.

  We sat snuggled up on the couch, no talking, just being with each other. It was about an hour later when I heard a thump upstairs. I jumped up, scaring the daylights out of Dallas, he had been asleep and I didn’t know it. The thump noise was very loud like something big fell. I took off running up the stairs as fast as I could. I felt the burning in my very out-of-shape legs as I decided to take two stairs at a time. Dallas was right behind me and trying to push past me. I suppose it was a protective boyfriend thing so I let him pass me. He went for the door to Landon’s room, but it was locked.

  “Landon, you alright in there?” He yelled. There was no response on the other side. I stared to get worried. What the hell was he doing in there? And why did he lock the door? It seemed so strange to me. Dallas banged on the door but still no response.

  “Okay babe, stand back I am gonna have to break the door down.” He was pushing me out of the way.

  “Go ahead…” I did what he said and got out of the way, nervous as to what was behind the door. Dallas took three big steps back, turned to his side and rammed the door with his body. It broke open and he rushed inside with me following. Landon was on the floor of the room, lying in his stomach. I ran over to him and we both tried to wake him. He just lay there, motionless. I put my hand in front of his open mouth and I felt air. Dallas checked his pulse, something I didn’t think to do.

  “He’s alive, but unresponsive,” he concluded. He ran for the phone and once he picked it up I saw a feather. It was ebony black. I jumped away from it, crawling on hands and knees to Dallas. I thought if I was quiet about showing it to him we could somehow protect ourselves better. I stood up slowly and grabbed the phone out of his hand.

  “Avery what the hell are you doing? I have to call the…” He stopped short as he noticed what I was pointing to. His face went pure white. He grabbed me and we walked toward the window. He looked outside onto the balcony and so did I. We saw nothing so we checked the closet and bathroom. Still nothing. Landon remained motionless but breathing heavily now. It instantly came to me I knew what was happening.

  “He’s dreaming. Dallas he is dreaming and the feather means that Dedrick is there with him.”

  “Then why is the feather here? And how the hell did he get on the floor?” He pretty much shouted. I took a step toward Landon eyeing up the feather.

  “Oh my God! I know why. Lillith did it as a sign to show us what is happening to him. Spirit Guides can’t get involved or help their souls against the Dark Guides.” I was proud that I had figured it out. “She knew if she put the feather here we would know who it involved. And she pushed him off the bed so that we would hear him fall. Maybe she couldn’t talk to us to warn us. They did say they had a meeting with the council today.”

  Dallas picked up the feather and observed it, flipping it over in his fingers.

  “Yeah that makes sense. Maybe the council said no more interfering or maybe no more talking with us. I think we are on our own.” He looked up at me and I knew it was a big possibility that he was right.

  Chapter 25

  Plan

  We sat there for a few more dumbfounding minutes trying to think of what the hell to do. Then it dawned on me what I needed to do. The answer was there all along. I needed my Watcher, a twin soul and a Spirit Guide willing to break the rules. Only the last part confused me. Obviously they weren’t interested in breaking the rules since they were not here now. Lillith did volunteer for the job, but I didn’t see her.

  I ran down the stairs almost as fast as I had ran up them and I grabbed my phone on the landing. I dialed Justin and he answered on the first ring. He sounded weary and I felt sorry for that. I spoke as fast as I could and told him what was going on.

  “Okay so you need me there right?” He was obviously still half asleep. Of course I needed him, he was moral support in a way. The next number I called was my father. Unfortunately h
e didn’t answer his phone so I had to leave a very awkward message. I hoped that he understood what it was I needed from him. It was imperative that he be here and help. After that was all over I started to pace back and forth. It was all I could do now since I couldn’t do anything without them being here. And they lived far away, my father living the farthest.

  So it was about two hours later when I heard a knock on the front door. I was in the living room by myself reading trash magazines to kill time. Dallas had not left Landon’s side. I didn’t speak my plan to him but I think he trusted what I came up with. I opened the door and shockingly saw Ianni standing with Justin and my father. I almost cried at the sight of them all standing there. I reached out and grabbed Ianni into a very strange but needed hug. She hugged me back and although it was comforting it felt somewhat different.

  “How did you get them here? I thought you didn’t come to help because you were in trouble or something.” I ushered them into the house and I saw three more figures walking up the driveway. I stood there peering into the darkness straining my already tired eyes.

  “Don’t do that with your eyes Av, it will cause wrinkles.” It was Kerri followed by Aunt Paul and Lillith. I screamed and ran towards them. I blame my tiredness for my weird behavior. I grabbed Kerri and my aunt into a huge giant group hug. They giggled and hugged back. I smiled at Lillith and voiced a quiet, ‘Thank You’ to her. She smiled back and bowed her head.

  Once we were all assembled into the house they all spread out in the living room. Kerri made sure everyone was comfy and didn’t need anything. Then she sat down next to Justin and listened in.

  “Okay, so I think you all know what you’re doing here right?” I asked as I got a nod and yes from them all. Dallas was the only silent one. “Well I have a plan to help Landon and it’s going to be crazy but I will need all of your help and support. I don’t want to hear anyone try to talk me out of it. Got it?” They nodded again.

  Now came the hard part. I had to tell them what my crazy tired brain had come up with. I also wondered, at this point, how filled in everyone was on the situation but knowing they all rode over here in one car I knew either Lillith or Ianni took care of that.

  “Well if I enter a dream state I can definitely get to Landon. But that won’t help him any. Even though Mr. Grey will most likely be there and Lillith can be, I can’t get my father there. So my idea is a little more intense and it involves bringing Dedrick to me.” I took a heavy breathe before continuing and I was interrupted by Ianni who stood up.

  “I have to tell you first about what happened today at the council before you think of doing anything Avery.” She said it so quietly I almost asked her to speak up. “The council will not allow us to interfere in anything that involves the Dark Guide’s no matter the situation.”

  “But wait! I thought Lillith was willing to volunteer as the Guide who breaks the rules.” I exclaimed.

  “Yes. Please listen Avery. If she does she will be cast out. We are not talking about small ramifications like the changing of wing colors.”

  I wanted to cry when she said this. I couldn’t see that happen to Lillith. She loved her souls too much to leave them and live on Earth. I looked at her and she stared at me with a burning fire in her eyes. I knew that her unhappiness had nothing to do with me, but for the situation. She loved Landon and she was mad she couldn’t help him. I also knew she wanted to take a chance to get to Dedrick and end him.

  “So anyhow with that said we have devised a plan of our own.” She faced Lillith who now stood. “I have been feeling this certain way for a long time. And it only happens to a handful of Guides. I mean not every Guide wants to become human.”

  “What?! No, not you. You can’t,” I yelled fighting back tears. I couldn’t see Ianni lose her home and be stuck here on Earth. She would never return Home. She would be stuck here forever.

  “I have thought about this a long time Avery. Way before this situation presented itself. I actually think this is a sign that I should do it. I have always longed to be human. So it will be I who breaks the rules.” My head spun I was so upset. I looked around and everyone looked at me like they all agreed with her decision.

  “Someone help me talk her out of this.” I was hoping for backup but never received it.

  “Ianni spoke to everyone in the car and they are all on board. She wants this Avery, let her do it. We can’t take down Dedrick without her.” Lillith’s voice made me sick but I listened and sat down. Dallas rubbed my back. I looked up at him but his eyes didn’t meet mine.

  “So what now? You’re going to go a rogue and come to Earth after you are cast out? What will you do with your life, work in fast food?” I knew it sounded stupid but I had to know what she planned on doing with her new life.

  “Well I was sort of hoping you could help me until I got myself situated here. Maybe we could be roommates or something like that,” she replied very seriously. “After our meeting today we convinced Gunther to only shave one of your memories instead of all three of you.” She smiled so hard I recognized that she was proud of her accomplishment. But I wasn’t, I didn’t want any of us to forget. But did we have a choice?

  “Of course I will help you Ianni, but I have to ask who Gunther is and why is he so eager for us to forget?” I asked her but it was Lillith who answered me.

  “Gunther is the head of the ReLife Council. Let’s just say he is a big deal there okay? He wants us to be able to return unharmed and for your souls to return unknowing of what you know. With a little help we changed his mind. He feels now that maybe two of you should remember. That this will bring you peace in your lives. But one must not remember.”

  “It will be Landon right?” Dallas interrupted. He stopped rubbing my back. I knew he would be against my plan and especially now hearing that Landon could forget everything that was too hard for him to swallow.

  “Dallas it’s the right thing to do. He won’t forget everything about his life just the supernatural part of it. That’s all,” Ianni said encouragingly. I could not argue with Ianni on this part. It made me think that maybe it was right. Maybe it would end up being a blessing in disguise. He would be able to live without the pain of knowing who he really was and who I was. Dallas looked down at me, meeting my eyes for the first time in hours and said

  “Do you think this is right? Are you okay with this?” I nodded just to appease him and then he sat back in his chair and gave up. He just wanted what was best and I guess me being okay with it made it okay in his mind.

  “Okay now for my plan,” I spoke. “I need you all to leave the house. I will call him here and I will stage a fight with Dallas. I will be very distraught and upset and I will tell him I want to make a deal with him. He will come. He always comes where pain is.”

  “Why would we leave the house?” Kerri asked.

  “Because Kerri he will know you are all here. The Dark Guides won’t come where an audience is,” Ianni responded. “He won’t come if you simply call him Avery. He has what he wants right now. He has Landon, why would he give that up to come here?” This part I did think about. I thought about it as I paced back and forth waiting for all of them to arrive.

  “I am going to call Benjamin, not Dedrick. Benjamin wants me and Dedrick wants Landon. And when he comes I will make a deal with him. My soul for Landon’s.”

  They all screamed at me. I heard some ‘no ways’ and some ‘are you out of your minds’ I knew they would respond like this so I sat there patiently waiting for it to sink into them. It was a good enough plan and it was all we had right now. Landon was upstairs lying on the floor still. We had no clue as to what was going on with him. I just prayed he would be strong. After a few minutes they all calmed down and I got to finish my statement.

  “I am not going to really give it to him guys. I will offer it and ask that Dedrick be the one to take my soul, so then he will have to rip Dedrick from Landon’s dream. I will make up some elaborate story as to why. And when this happens, Lillith
I need you to go get Landon out of this house.” She gave me a reassuring nod. She would do it and I knew she would.

  “Then what? We rush in and take them down?” Justin asked. It was then that I realized he had been so quiet all night.

  “No, that won’t work, they don’t go down like that. They are not easily killed. They are pretty much indestructible. You will be needed Justin. In order for this to work we will need your abilities to read them. To read the situation going on in the house,” Ianni said. “Once Landon is out of the house I will come in and assist Avery. I will help with my Light to kill one of them. You see, they are bonded by the Darkness and we the Light. So if I interfere I will be killing one of them. Something forbidden. You don’t use the Light to cause harm.”

  “That is why you will be cast out?” Aunt Paul asked. She sat with her hands carefully folded onto her lap.

  “Yes Paulina, that is correct. The Dark Guides will not be expecting this. They would never think we would give up our lives as Guides to save a human.” It hurt me to hear that Ianni would be using her God given abilities to cause harm. I knew it was my fault and I felt very guilty. If not for me she would not be in this situation. Unfortunately I didn’t really know any other Spirit Guide willing to do it.

  “Well who will kill the other one? The one you don’t kill?” Kerri asked.