by J. E. Cluney
Emma looked excited as her head poked out of the fridge, but it turned to annoyance as two mars bars soared overhead, screeching as they flew across the room.
“Tony!” Teresa scolded as Emma turned on the two flying chocolate bars.
“Daaaaddddd,” she droned out, rolling her eyes as the mars bars dove down over my head.
So he’d used his pixie magic by choice. Something I was yet to learn.
Emma huffed as she strode over to the table, holding her hand out as her eyes glowed a soft green.
The two mars bars spiraled out of the air and into her awaiting hand.
“You’re no fun,” her father pouted.
I just grinned at his playfulness. This was what a family was meant to be like.
“Well, if you’re going to have it, at least share with Allison,” Teresa said, giving in as Emma grinned and plopped down beside me.
“You can call me Ally,” I said, thanking Emma as she handed me a mars bar.
“Right, well, dinner shouldn’t be too long, we can do this reading now, or wait until after?” she suggested, flicking her eyes to Tony who took the cue to focus back on the sizzling bacon and eggs he’d been cooking for dinner.
“Now would be great, if that’s okay,” I said as I tugged the mars bar wrapper open and took a bite of the delicious goodness.
“All right, well, Emma told me what cards you got, but we’ll redo the reading from scratch anyway,” Teresa said as she reached for a wooden box at the center of the table on the purple table runner.
She got the cards out and held her glowing blue hand over the deck, and I watched in awe as they floated into the air, shuffling magically. Emma had done hers by hand for my reading. Did it have any extra effects?
“Emma said you wanted to know about your abilities and powers, and your future, is this correct?” Teresa asked quietly as her eyes had the same light blue glow.
“Yes,” I murmured, resting my mars bar on the table.
“I’ll need your date of birth, and your parents’ names,” she said softly as the cards settled into four piles.
“20th of April, Gerard and Christine Smoak,” I answered. This was definitely like Emma’s earlier reading.
“Deceased, how?” Teresa frowned.
“Car accident,” I sighed. I had a feeling this was going to be a lot like Emma’s reading.
“Yes, but no,” she murmured, causing both Emma and I to frown.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Police and most involved believed it was an accident,” Teresa mused, cocking her head, her eyes flicking around. She was listening. To the dead maybe?
“It wasn’t an accident,” she said, and my stomach flipped as my body went cold.
“What?” I said, unable to comprehend what she’d just said.
It had to be an accident, everyone said it was.
“Give me your hand,” Theresa said firmly, thrusting hers out.
I shuddered as I hesitantly took her hand, and her eyes glowed brighter as her foreign, wriggling energy wormed through me like tendrils seeking out answers. Nothing like Emma’s magic, which had rippled through me and mingled with my own.
This one was prying, searching within me.
Cards broke free from the piles, the same five from my earlier reading. ‘The Father’, ‘The Eye’, ‘The Lone Wolf’, ‘Family’, and ‘The Banshee’. These ones were hand-painted as well, but different to Emma’s. Darker, more eerie. ‘The Father’ was a man holding one hand to his chest, cast in shadows. ‘The Eye’ was a creepy looking eye that looked to be flicking around, which sent chills through me. Maybe holographic, no, definitely moving. Terrifyingly scary.
‘The Lone Wolf’ was a black wolf standing proud on a rocky outcrop staring over a valley with a full-moon. ‘Family’ was an image of black silhouettes huddled together, and ‘The Banshee’ was a terrifying woman with her arms raised out to her sides, a flowing, tattered white dress on and shadows curling around her. She looked to be screaming, but it was the black eyes that made my blood run cold.
Did it have something to do with my parents death?
“Something is hunting you, watching you,” Teresa said, her voice taking on an eerie echoing sound. It chilled me to the bone, but her grip on my hand was deathly, and I couldn’t pull free.
‘The Eye’ card glowed brighter than the others as it floated forward.
“This creature has separated you from those around you, but it has also protected you when needed. It needs you,” Teresa’s chilling voice cut through me. “It was the cause of your parents death, and it will soon find your new family, intent to split you from them. This new family is a mix of love and friendship, romantic relationships. More than one. A binding done within you, linking you to them. Your power comes from your father’s side, long back in the line, a powerful creature, shrouded in darkness,” Teresa’s eyes clenched shut as she hissed, as if in pain. “You have only scratched the surface of your true power. Death becomes you, it is all that you are, your past, your present, your future,” Teresa’s voice grew louder, echoing around the room.
I whimpered as I strained against her grip, desperate to free myself.
These words were scaring me. I was being hunted? My parents death was not an accident? Death was my future? What did she mean by death becomes me?
Fear coursed through me as Teresa’s nails dug into my hand.
“Mom!” Emma shouted as hissing and soft screams circling us, filling the air with a thick magic.
“Teresa!” Tony was beside her now, trying to pry her hand off of mine.
Those fingers were painfully bruising me now, but her words echoed through my mind.
“Allison!”
Marcus. His voice flooded my head with terror, and I shrieked as I pulled free from Teresa’s grip.
I shot a look of panic at Emma, who looked like she was about to pass out as she called out to her mother.
I pushed away from the table, snatching up my bag as I ran through the living room and out the front door.
I had to get away from there. From that magic that was prying deep inside me, uncovering things I didn’t even know.
I ran down the darkened street, my joggers scraping on the asphalt as the warm night air clung to my clammy skin.
I gasped as tears streaked down my face, but I didn’t stop running. The image of the banshee kept flashing into my mind, terrifying me and pushing me onward.
What did it all mean? What was I? What was the creature hunting me?
Is it here right now?
The thought made me stumble as a scream coiled up in my throat. I held it back as my eyes flicked around the darkened street, only a lone streetlamp at the far end lighting my way.
A rush of air sent shivers through me, and then the hand gripped my shoulder.
This time, I didn’t hold back the bloodcurdling scream.
10
Marcus.
“Ally, it’s me!” I shook her as her scream rung out in the night air, ringing in my ears and sending a wave of panic through me.
Those terrified, teary eyes turned to me as she gasped and choked.
I pulled her trembling body against me, stroking her hair as I reassured her that it was okay.
But nothing was okay.
I’d felt her utter fear, her panic. I’d felt that witch’s magic within her, and I’d seen things. Things I couldn’t explain.
I’d go to Lucas with them, to find some answers. Ally didn’t need to know, because I was sure she hadn’t seen what I’d seen.
“She said my parents’ deaths weren’t an accident, and I’m being hunted,” Ally whimpered against my chest, her hands curling into my shirt as I held her tight.
I knew about her parents, but being hunted? That was new news to me.
“It’s going to be okay,” I murmured as I ran my fingers through her thick, brown hair. I pulled the ponytail out in doing so, wanting to relax her with the soft touches. My little sister had l
oved it, so I figured it was worth a shot.
Ally’s trembling lessened as she huddled against me, hiding her face in my chest as she cried silently.
“How will it be okay?” she asked in a hushed tone, her soft doe eyes flicking around the area nervously.
“You have me, you have the boys, we’ll take care of you,” I promised.
“She said this creature will find me, it’ll want to split us,” she murmured, unknowingly wiping her tears on my shirt as she sniffled.
“It can try, but we won’t let it,” I said softly as I caressed her hair.
“Can you take me home?” she asked gently.
I chewed my lip at this. The scene I’d left was probably not the scene she needed to walk in on.
Allison’s eyes widened, and I cursed under my breath. So much for Lucas’s spell warding my mind from her. Hopefully she hadn’t seen into my mind enough to see what I’d seen during her reading. She didn’t need that.
“Seriously? They’re doing that,” she baulked.
“I’m sorry, you weren’t there, they thought they’d take advantage of it,” I groaned.
“I don’t care, we’re adults, please, just take me home,” she sniffled.
I groaned, hating that I’d have to walk her into that fiasco.
But I could sense her amusement at it. She’d probably be more interested in it if it wasn’t for the whole thing with her parents and being hunted.
I lifted her into the air, holding her tight against me, and flitted us home.
“Bee Sting!” Skip shouted as I flitted us through the door.
I was intent to take us straight upstairs, to zip past the episode in the living room.
But Allison wriggled in my grip as Skip called out, and I unhappily released her.
“No, no.”
I could hear Ollie panicking as bodies moved in the living room, and I followed after Allison, a little curious to what her response might be.
“Oh, my God,” Ally’s jaw dropped at the three naked people in the living room.
Ollie had flopped onto the red lounge, his face bright red as he covered his manhood with a cushion and frantically scanned the area for his clothing.
His shorts were hanging off the corner of the TV, and I had no idea where his shirt was.
His briefs were gripped tight in the woman’s hands, who was on her hands and knees.
And Skip was balls deep in her from behind.
“We thought you were staying at Emma’s tonight,” Skip defended himself, but he didn’t pry himself free from the woman, who was now staring up at Ally with a cheeky smile.
Asshole.
Ally just stared at the pair, and I could sense her uncertainty as to what to do. I stepped up beside her, watching her face with interest. The emotions that ran across it were interesting. Confusion, shock, a hint of lust, covered with jealousy. Then her eyes swept over the naked woman, over her perky breasts, her crew cut hair that was swept to the side and suited her defined facial features, her straight nose and high cheekbones. I could hear her mind going over this woman, before her eyes fell to the leather bracelet she wore on her wrist.
Everything fell into place and Ally gasped as she leaned into me.
“Lucas?!”
“Told you it was an interesting dynamic, and call me Lucy,” she said, still on her hands and knees with Skip inside her.
Ally just shook her head as her mouth opened and closed.
“It just happened,” Ollie murmured from the lounge, but I could see the instant regret as Ally’s focus shifted to him.
He cowered under her gaze, guilt spreading across his features as he refused to meet her eyes.
It made me smirk. He was so infatuated with her, but even he couldn’t deny he wanted action.
Lucy was the one willing to comply with ease.
“You have a barbed penis, how can you get oral?” Was all Ally managed to say.
Skip laughed at this, making Lucy tremble as he moved against her from it.
Ollie’s face just reddened.
“They’re not real barbs, not sharp like a real cats. More… soft, squishy,” Lucy said thoughtfully, her breasts bouncing as she cocked her head.
This drew Ally’s gaze, but she snapped her eyes back to Ollie, although the blood had seeped to her cheeks.
Ally snorted out a shocked laugh as she stared at the three naked people. Skip was struggling to refrain from moving against Lucy, who was biting her lip as she watched Ally curiously.
“I’m going to shower,” Ally finally said, the air rushing out of her lungs as she spun on her heels.
She didn’t know how to react to this, not with what was going on.
I chose not to follow her, wanting to give her some space while she showered. I’d catch her after, try to reassure her.
“Everything all right?” Lucy asked, following the question with a moan as Skip began rocking against her once more.
“Definitely not, I’ll talk to you guys once you finish here,” I waved offhandedly at the naked group. The air was filled with the smell of sex, but for a first, it didn’t affect me. Not with what was going on with Ally.
I strode past the doggy-style pair, smirking as I heard Ollie rise to resume his position in front of our interesting housemate.
I’d let them get this out of their system before I dropped this bombshell on them.
I needed to talk to Lucas badly.
I strode into the kitchen, blocking out the grunts and moans coming from the living room.
I grabbed a bag of blood from the fridge, sighing as I bounced the bag in my hand.
My mind slipped back to feeding off Ally, of tasting her sweet pixie blood.
I scowled as I pushed it aside and raised the tube to my lips.
Now was not the time. I was worried for her. Big time.
I could hear the shower running overhead, and I could feel her uncertainty and confusion coursing through me.
There was something going on, something big. Something that involved what I’d seen in her mind. A memory so old and hidden, she wouldn’t even know she had it. But I’d seen it. I’d seen that fatal night of the accident through her child eyes.
I’d seen the monster.
I shuddered as it flashed into my mind once more.
I’d seen that creature before, in a tome about rare supernaturals. I bet it was the same thing that had killed Wayne.
Why though?
And why was it after her? What did it want?
I sat down at the table as I mulled over this, waiting patiently for the sexfest in the other room to end.
I’d finished my blood bag and sat for a decent amount of time before Lucas finally strolled in. Butt naked, of course, and fully male again. His pentagram tattoo stood out on the left side of his chest, roughly the size of a fist. Infused with protective magic, powerful stuff. No witches or warlocks could mess with him thanks to it.
“Still weirds me out. Where’s the sperm go?” I frowned. I knew the boys loved not needing to use condoms with him while he was like that. But I was damn curious.
He couldn’t fall pregnant, although that would be utterly hilarious if he could, and disturbing. I pictured him groaning as he walked around the house with a pregnant belly, holding it in annoyance. I cracked a smile at this.
“It’s magic, it’s not meant to make sense,” Lucas shrugged. “So, what’s up with Cupcake?” he asked as he went to the fridge and tugged the door open.
“She learned her parents’ death wasn’t an accident,” I stated, sighing as I eyed his rounded arse. He really needed to put some clothes on before Ally came down.
“You told her?” Lucas sighed as he shut the door with the orange juice in hand.
“No, Emma’s mother did, in the reading. Told her she was being hunted too,” I frowned, watching as he poured himself a glass of juice.
His body was angled my way, and I rolled my eyes as I avoided the sight of his hanging dick.
“If T
eresa saw that, then I’d believe it. She’s a powerful psychic,” Lucas muttered as he ruffled his hair before picking up his glass.
“When she was connecting with VB’s magic, I saw something, I saw the night of the car accident. I saw what attacked them,” I murmured, frowning at my finished blood bag on the table. The memory played out in my mind like a horror scene.
“What?” Lucas asked once he’d swallowed.
“A wendigo.”
“Are you sure?” Lucas focused on me now, the statement catching his attention.
“Positive, with the horns and weird deer skull face thing,” I murmured, clenching my jaw as I tried to picture it clearly.
Rain spattered against the windows, and a sense of unease washed over me. Even mom and dad seemed disconcerted. Something was off. We could all feel it.
“How’s she doing now?” her father asked, his face a blur, focusing on his driving. The windscreen wipers swept back and forth rapidly in an effort to clear his line of view.
Lightning lit up the area, and I shivered as I huddled into my pink jacket.
“She’s doing better,” my mother murmured as she turned to me. “You feeling better now?”
I nodded softly, fear rippling through me. I knew something was horribly wrong, but mom didn’t seem to understand that.
What followed was a blur.
Dad cursed and shouted as lightning lit up the road once more, revealing a dark figure standing out before us.
The car veered, and I screamed as we slid off the embankment and the vehicle rolled.
I heard mom shouting for me, but everything was happening so fast.
Everything moved around me, and I was thrust against my booster seat belt, hanging from it as we tumbled over and over.
Things must have gone to black, because the next thing I knew, I was blinking, my body aching as I whimpered. Dad was slouched against the airbag, and mom’s head was lolled back against her seat, blood trickling from her nose and split lip.
“Mom?” I whispered.
I froze as the sound of crunching metal reached my ears, and I huddled against my seat as my father’s door was torn clean off.
The man from the road, the creature.