Broken Butterflies

by Stephens, Shadow

  Ilisha kissed him, frantic for more, tears pooling in her eyes. Bram cupped her breasts, moving his mouth to take them in. In response Ilisha arched her back and laid her head back. He took his time with her, stopping when necessary to ensure her pleasure. Afterwards, they showered again and left to see Father John.

  Behind a vale of trees sat a cobblestone church. It was tiny in comparison to modern churches. The front doors took up most of the front of the building. Bram shoved them open and they creaked eerily. Just inside the door was a fount of Holy Water. Five rows of pews separated by an aisle ran to the front of the room. Two small confessional booths sat to the side. The wood looked as though it would crumble under the slightest touch. There were carvings of angels on top of each door, laden with red velvet in the windows. Along the ceiling were carvings of gargoyles. They each had a different face, but all were posed as if they would launch themselves from the walls. Pigeons cooed in the rafters, randomly flying in and out an opening in the roof. It was cold and silent.

  “This place is just wrong,” Ilisha said quietly.

  Just as she gripped Bram’s hand, a middle aged man appeared from the shadows. She expected to see him in a black suit and white clerical collar; instead he wore jeans and button down shirt. He was slightly balding, with sporadic gray hair. Walking with a casual gate, his hands in his front pockets, he smiled.

  “This must be Ilisha.” He held out his hand to shake hers.

  “Hi,” was all she could say. Her eyes darted around the creepy building.

  “This used to be a Catholic church. It has sense fallen into disrepair. Don’t let it get to you,” Father John said sitting on a pew.

  Bram and Ilisha followed.

  “So what’s up?”

  “I have a problem with her death maker. This seems to go beyond a normal death sentence,” Bram started.

  A pigeon swooped down from the ceiling and Ilisha yelped.

  “Let’s take a walk, shall we.” John got up and walked to the back of the church. The door opened up into the forest. “You knew this wouldn’t be easy.”

  “I’m telling you this is different.” Bram insisted.

  “As soon as they found out you loved her it started. What do you expect out of a prideful demon?”

  Ilisha piped up. “Excuse me? What does that mean, Father?” she said not knowing how to address someone of religion.

  He smiled. “Call me John.”

  She nodded and waited for an answer.

  “A death maker doesn’t like to lose and you chose to trust Bram that day. He’s been following you for quite some time.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this?” Ilisha asked Bram.

  “Because I didn’t think you wanted to know a demon has been stalking you, every minute of everyday these last few years.”

  Ilisha swallowed hard. “Even...” Ilisha pictured the grotesque demon watching her have sex with her ex-boyfriend.

  Bram cut her off. “Yes.”

  “Excuse me.” Ilisha put her hand to her mouth and ran behind a tree. She dry heaved a few times before spitting up acid and the glass of milk she had drank.

  Bram’s hand rubbed her back. She wiped her mouth on a leaf and got a piece of gum out of her bag.

  “Talk about fricken sick,” she said disgust filling her eyes.

  “Yes, but demons are on the perverse side.”

  “Did he watch us this morning?”

  “No, I would know if he was around, and besides, he wouldn’t want to watch me have you.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  Bram took her hand and kissed her gently. “Come on, let’s figure this out.”

  John was seated on a stump. “You’re on a slippery slope. You need to watch her at all times,” he warned.

  “I need to know what he’s planning,” Bram said.

  “I’ve been around for a while. I’m sure I can find something out.”

  “Why did you fall, John?” Ilisha asked, and then felt bad. “Sorry. It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”

  “It’s perfectly fine. I was under the rule of a corrupt king. His power overtook him. After I fell he ended up dying at the hand of his own son.” Bram stirred uneasy beside her, but John continued. “I couldn’t take the politics any longer, so I chose to live a life of freedom here, on earth. I had a difficult time when I came, so I decided to join the priests that help the fallen.”

  “Do you ever wish you could go back?”

  “Sometimes. I know our particular kingdom is in a better place now, but you can never go back if you fall.”

  “Sorry, I’m still new to all this. Kingdoms?”

  Bram spoke this time. “The Heavens are endless. They are divided up into many kingdoms that are under the rule of a royal family. Even angels get out of line.”

  “Do they become demons?”

  “Sometimes. Other times they are just cast out to join the fallen. Depends on how wicked they are,” Bram added.

  John turned back to the subject at hand. “I’ll find out what I can. You stay safe.”

  Bram gave John knuckles, “You too.”

  Ilisha felt numb as they walked back to the car.

  “Are you okay?” Bram asked opening the door.

  “No, but what can I do about it?”

  It was time for Ilisha’s first shift at the hospital. She would be on the graveyard shift, which she preferred.

  “I’ll stay invisible, but I’m not leaving you,” Bram warned.

  “Great, now I have a baby sitter.”

  He took her chin in his hand and brought her eyes up to his. “It’s not like that.”

  “I know, but it’s just so ridiculous that you need to watch me all the time like some child that could drown.”

  “I don’t mean to smother you, I’m sorry.”

  “I know it’s necessary, but that doesn’t mean I particularly like it.”

  Bram kissed her and walked her out to the car. He stood on the sidewalk as she drove away. Ilisha looked in the rearview mirror just as he disappeared leaving only an empty sidewalk.

  The sun was setting when Ilisha parked the car and walked in. Rich was sitting behind the nurses’ station working on computer charts.

  “Hey! Big day. Glad to see ya,” he said smiling.

  “Thanks.”

  Ilisha wheeled up a chair beside him. “So where do we start?”

  She looked around the E.R. taking in her new surroundings while Rich finished typing. When he hit his last key he turned and said, “And now, let’s go on a tour.”

  Ilisha followed as he walked her to various supply closets, and around the entire hospital. “Here is the lab and blood bank.” He pointed to a guy in a lab coat with a stool sample. “And that’s Marcus.”

  Marcus held up the cup full of feces waving. Ilisha smiled and waved back.

  “He likes his stool,” she said chuckling.

  “That he does.” They continued walking. “Down this hall is the x-ray, and MRI.” He waved with his hand as if she knew the drill.

  The computer charting system was pretty ancient. “Wow,” Ilisha said when she realized it was DOS based.

  “Yeah, we don’t keep up with technology very well.”

  The radio crackled to life with a call from the local EMT’s. They were transporting a suicide attempt. He had taken two entire bottles of Tylenol PM. Ilisha rolled her eyes.

  “What, no sympathy?” Rich asked smiling.

  “Um, no.”

  Seconds later the siren could be heard.

  “Let’s do this,” Rich said.

  Doctor Vandor was on duty and he grabbed a pair of gloves. The nurses followed suit and waited for the patient to be wheeled in. Rich directed Ilisha and she grabbed the charcoal treatment.

  The man was fighting the EMT’s. “I didn’t ask you to save me,” he yelled.

  They transferred him to the hospital gurney and gave their report.

  “We found these bottles beside him. He wouldn
’t tell us how long ago he ingested, but from the way he’s acting I’d say it wasn’t longer than fifteen minutes. His ID said Jimmy Regan, which his girlfriend confirmed. She’s the one who called in the report and is being questioned by police.”

  The EMT’s took one last set of vitals and transferred the patient to the hospital gurney.

  “Thanks boys, we’ll take it from here,” Dr. Vandor said.

  The Dr. turned to Jimmy. “Do you know where you are Jimmy?”

  “Yeah, in hell!”

  “Are you going to behave for us, young Jimmy?” the Dr. asked coyly.

  “Kiss my ass!”

  Vandor ordered a blood draw and sent it to the lab to get toxicity levels. Ilisha tried not to smile when they got the results. She had already started the treatment, but from the levels knew he would be swallowing a hell of a lot more.

  As he continued to fight and refuse to drink the black liquid, his speech became more slurred and erratic. They were forced to put a nasogastric tube down to his stomach. After the dose was administered they left him in the room with a tech. She poked her head out and said, “He’s ready to pop.”

  Ilisha walked through the door just in time to see him fill a pink, plastic, bedpan with black liquid. Jimmy gagged several times after. She handed him a wet paper towel and slid a stool up beside his emergency gurney.

  “You ready to talk?” she asked placing a clipboard holding a paper chart and pen on her lap.

  “Fuck off.” Jimmy rolled over and turned his back.

  “Have it your way.”

  Rich waited to see if she got any info. She shook her head no.

  “Well, they have a bed ready in the psych ward.”

  “I hate these fake suicides,” Ilisha said sliding the chart back in its slot.

  “Fake?” one of the techs asked.

  “Yeah, if they really wanted to die they would do a better job. It’s just a cry for attention,” Ilisha explained.

  Once Jimmy was finished puking up charcoal the psych ward assigned one of their biggest techs to come and get him.

  Hours passed and nothing else was happening. Ilisha grabbed her bag and walked to the cafeteria. She paid for a soda and some chips and walked back down the hall. One of the lights, further down the hall, flickered. As she passed below it the buzz rang in her ear. For a split second it went completely out. Ilisha watched a shadow move a few feet down the hall. It was free standing and nobody was at the other end. She felt panicked for a second, but the light came back on and Ilisha put on a brave face. Determined not to let Damon get to her she continued to walk ahead. Bram appeared in front of her, causing her to jump and drop her bottle of soda.

  “Don’t do that!” she scolded.

  “Damon, he’s watching you from afar.” Bram pointed down the hall. “Don’t ever go after him.” His eyes were stern.

  “I’m not going to live my life in fear.”

  “You can’t beat him, Ilisha, you need to understand that,” Bram spoke softly, but firmly.

  She bit her lip annoyed.

  “I’m sorry I’m being so brash, but he will kill you. Don’t make me battle in public.”

  “I know, but I’m just sick of this.”

  “Let’s get you another soda.” He took her hand and walked her back to the cafeteria.

  It was no surprise when Bram ordered a couple sandwiches. They sat at a table in the corner away from everyone.

  “Sorry the night’s boring,” Bram said taking a huge bite of his sub.

  “It’s just typical ER work. Sometimes it’s crazy busy, other times you sit around with nothing to do.”

  “Mmm, this is good,” he said taking another bite.

  “You’re the only person I know who likes hospital food.” He took another bite. “Talk about boring, you’ve just been standing around watching me.”

  “I get to see you, so that makes it un-boring.” Bram smiled softly.

  “Eventually you’re going to get sick of being around me. It’s like those couples that work together and live together. By the time they get home they retreat to opposite sides of the house.”

  “I’ve been with you all day every day since you were born, I don’t think I’ll be getting sick of you anytime soon.”

  She waited until he finished his food and walked back to the ER. Everyone was sitting around the nurses’ station reading, or doing puzzles. “Still nothing huh?” she asked taking a seat.

  “It’s a full moon so it will pick up, trust me,” Rich said.

  “So true,” Ilisha said taking a drink of pop.

  “Why are all of us medical peeps superstitious?” a tech named Mandy asked turning the page of her magazine.

  “Because it’s all true,” Rich said.

  Just as he spoke the receptionist came in looking frantic. “Someone get out here, there’s a weird guy walking around talking to himself,” she whispered urgently.

  “So it begins,” Rich said.

  Ilisha and Mandy followed Rich. When they opened the door the man was standing in the corner carrying on a one way conversation, peeling the wallpaper off the wall.

  “Hey buddy, what’s going on?” Rich asked casually.

  The man turned, startled. “They’re after me.” His eyes were dilated and bulging.

  “Who’s after you?” Rick asked.

  “The Secret Service. I killed the President.” The man leaned into Rich as he spoke, which caused Rich to lean back.

  Ilisha could smell the man from where she stood. She was sure he hadn’t showered in weeks.

  “Come with me.” Rich put gloves on and took the man’s elbow.

  “Hide me,” the man insisted.

  “No problem, come on.”

  The man followed Rich to a room, without a fuss, but as Ilisha crossed the threshold the man, who had seemed gentle, lunged for her. She dodged him and he fell to the ground, face first, breaking the skin. Blood ran from the wound around his eyes. He screamed hysterically, grabbing for her legs. “You’re going to die soon,” he snarled.

  Ilisha stepped back shocked. She stood there staring at the man.

  “Ilisha, what’s wrong with you? Get security down here!” Rich yelled.

  She forced herself to blow it off and ran for the phone.

  Security and the psych ward were called. Four men showed up, out of breath. They jumped on his back like the man was a gator that needed to be restrained. Dr. Vandor had already ordered the drugs and the psych nurse jammed a needle into the man’s thigh. They held tight and waited for the drug to take effect. As soon as it did, the staff placed him on a bed and wheeled him out.

  “Well, apparently he didn’t like me,” Ilisha said, willing herself to believe this was just a random incident.

  Rich gave a chuckle. “It is a full moon.”

  Ilisha looked up at the clock and cracked her knuckles; it was time for her shift to end. She was use to crazy events, but they still zapped her energy. As she walked to her car the early morning sky caught her eye. She lingered for a moment as the dark blue horizon began to show hints of orange popping through from the rising sun. A better sight was waiting for her when she turned back toward the parking lot. Bram leaned against the car waiting for her.

  “You made it through your first shift,” he said pulling her into a hug.

  “There is nothing like a couple of crazy people to make things interesting. Please tell me that last guy wasn’t Damon.”

  “Damon was speaking through him, yes. The guy is schizophrenic and Damon used that to his advantage. There was nothing I could do to stop it without causing unnatural things to happen.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like slamming the guy against the wall to knock him out so Damon couldn’t use him.”

  “Yeah probably better that didn’t happen.”

  Bram took the keys from her hand. “You sit back and relax.”

  The drive home took only a few minutes, but Ilisha was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open. Go
ing through the motions she showered quickly, threw on some PJ’s, and then collapsed onto her bed, her wet hair fanning around her on the pillow. Bram pulled the shades down to block out all the light, then curled up beside her.

  She woke five hours later feeling refreshed. Her eyes blinked against the dark of the room, as she stretched her arms. She rolled onto her side. There was only empty space where Bram should have been. She rolled over and saw the green and purple neon of his delicate butterfly wings bobbing up and down as he perched on the dresser top. Ilisha knelt down so she was at eye level to him. He was no bigger than her palm and his butterfly form was beautiful to her.

  She adjusted the shades a bit. A small line of sunlight was inches from Bram. She walked out quietly and let him sleep.

  Two days later Ilisha woke in the same clothes she had on the day before. Her arms wrapped tight around her pillow as the soft morning light hit her face. Once again Bram was not beside her. The blankets were smooth and the pillows had no indentations. She walked down the stairs to see him sleeping on the couch, face down, wings stretched out. Kneeling beside him on the floor her hand stroked the soft feathers. A smile came to his face before he opened his eyes. He pulled his wings in. The skin on his back opened as they retracted, then closed over them.

  Bram rolled over. “Did you sleep well?” he asked groggy.

  “Yes, but why are you down here?”

  “I kept seeing that Damon would make another move, but it didn’t happen.” His hand stroked the side of her face.

  “Thank you for always looking out for me.” She gave him a quick peck on the lips. “We need to get ready.”

  Once cleaned up, they walked over to Dena’s house for Sunday breakfast. Her mother was hobbling around the kitchen on her crutches as if they were a normal part of her anatomy. Ilisha looked at the amount of food.

  “Mom, it’s just the three of us.”

  “You said he’s a big eater.”

  Ilisha nodded her head.

  Bram came into the kitchen, eyes wide. “Wow, this smells great.”

  Ilisha grinned.

  “Will you two grab this stuff and put it on the table,” Dena asked.