Mary shook her head. “I don’t think so.” Her hair came loose, and she grimaced and started tying it back in a ponytail. “You have those bad dreams a lot. I can hear them. Remember how Bill used to say that you’d go psychic sometimes?”
Ally rolled her eyes. “Yeah. That was so annoying.”
“You do that a lot now, too,” said Mary. She fingered a lock of her hair. “You sometimes just sit and stare for hours. It’s…kind of scary.”
Ally snorted. “Mary, I’m fine.”
“You’re stronger than I am,” said Mary. “That’s why I’m worried. It’s…it’s like you’ve blocked off part of yourself, locked it behind a door or something…”
Ally smiled. “For the last time, I’m…”
Something buried deep in her mind lurched.
“What did you say?”
Mary blinked. “It…I didn’t say anything.”
“No.” Ally shook her head. “You said something. What did you say?”
“That…it’s like there’s something locked up in your head you won’t let out, like it’s behind a locked door or something,” said Mary. “I mean…you were adopted when you were ten, right? You don’t remember what happened before, you told me that. But what if it was something bad? Like something that happened to me, but only you don’t remember?”
Ally stood. “A door,” she whispered. “A door. I…remember. A door. There was a door.”
“Ally?” said Mary. She climbed to her feet. “You’re really scaring me.”
“It was in the woods,” said Ally. “We came through the woods.” She jumped the railing and walked across the yard.
“Ally!” Mary hurried down the porch steps and ran after her. “Where are you going?”
Ally reached the edge of the trees. She saw a half-overgrown path that led into the woods. “I remember this path. I was with Lithon. He was only a toddler. Mom and Dad were there…but they weren’t Mom and Dad yet.” She started down the path, Mary at her heels. It was cool and shady beneath the trees.
“Where are we going?” said Mary.
The path ended in a small clearing. Ally sniffed at the air, her mind swirling. There was something here. She could not have said what. Something crackled just beneath the level of her senses. “Here. It was here.”
Mary grabbed Ally’s arm. “What was here?”
“The door,” said Ally, staring into the air. “I remember. It was…stone, and carved. A symbol…an eye and a claw.” She shuddered. “I ran through the door. The light…the light was so bright. I was carrying Lithon. It slammed shut behind me. I couldn’t go back. I had to go back. But I couldn’t.” She blinked. “Mom and Dad were here. They were waiting. How did they know? Someone…someone had to tell…tell them…”
“Ally?” said Mary.
A wave of dizziness surged through her. Ally blinked, reeled, and fell to one knee.
“Ally!” shrieked Mary.
Ally licked her lips. A sheet of sweat poured down her face and soaked into her T-shirt. The world spun in a thousand circles around her. She closed her eyes, her breath panting. Her mind bulged and heaved, like something trying to claw its way free from a deep grave.
“Ally.” Mary knelt besides her and hugged her. “Don’t scare me like this, okay? Just don’t. Please come back.”
Ally blinked her eyes open. “What am I doing here?” Confusion washed over her in a great wave. “Jeez. What the hell am I doing here?”
“I don’t know,” said Mary. She sounded downright terrified. “You…you started acting all weird, and then you wandered down here…”
“Yeah,” said Ally. She shook herself free from Mary’s arms and climbed to her feet. “I feel fine. Just…a little confused, that’s all.” She remembered the events of the last few minutes in perfect detail. She could not remember, though, just why she had walked into the woods. “Weird.”
“I’ll say,” said Mary.
Ally sighed. “It was like a senior moment, but I’m a little young for that.”
“Not a senior moment,” said Mary, folding her arms. She still looked rattled. “An honest to God glassy-eyed psychic moment, like Bill always used to say.”
Ally scowled. “Don’t say that.”
“Then what was it?” said Mary. “Was it a seizure? Do…do you have a brain tumor, or something?”
Ally shook her head. “No. No. I don’t think that’s it.” She stared at the center of the clearing, frowning.
“Then what?” said Mary.
“It’s…” Ally licked her lips. Her eyes remained riveted on the clearing’s center. “It’s…as if…I’m looking right at something, but I’m not seeing it. I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I probably just dehydrated or something.”
“Yeah,” said Mary. “Right. We should take you to see a doctor.”
Ally shook her head and turned away from the clearing. She didn’t want to look at it anymore. It gave her a headache, for some reason. “I don’t need to see a doctor.”
“Whatever,” said Mary. “You do something like this again, wander off into the woods babbling about invisible doors or whatever, I’ll…I’ll knock you out and take you to the doctor myself.”
Ally burst out laughing. “That would be a sight.” They started out of the woods.
“I’d do it,” said Mary. “I mean, you just stood there staring. I could sneak up behind you and conk you over the head.”
Ally laughed again. “You’re a true friend, Mary.” They climbed up the slope and into the backyard. The smell of fresh-cut grass hung in the air. Katrina stood on the back step, staring at them.
“Hey,” said Ally. “The yard’s done.”
Katrina frowned. “Where did you go?”
“Just out into the woods for a bit,” said Ally. Katrina’s frown deepened. “Why? What’s wrong?”
Katrina folded her arms. “Nothing.”
Ally sat down and poured herself a glass of lemonade. “You don’t look as if nothing’s wrong.” Mary opened her mouth. Ally glanced at her, and she remained silent.
“Did you see anything?” said Katrina.
Ally took a drink. “No. Just some trees, a path, and an empty clearing. Do you want some lemonade?”
“Sure.” Katrina stared out into the woods, her lips compressed into a thin line.
“Mom.” Ally leaned forward. “What’s wrong?”
Katrina swirled her glass of lemonade. “You heard me and Simon talking about the memories, right?” Ally nodded. “Not all the memories are good. Not by a long shot.”
“What happened?” said Ally, curious.
Yet some small part of her mind whispered that she did not want to know.
“Simon was…mugged,” Katrina said, pointing at the driveway. “Right there. The mugger got his wallet, his keys, and his van.”
“Oh my God,” said Mary.
“How come you never told me this?” said Ally.
Katrina sighed. “Simon doesn’t like to talk about it. I don’t, either. Ally. Don’t mention this to your father. If we’re going to talk to you about it, we have to do it together.”
Ally hesitated. “Okay.” Katrina had left something out. Ally was sure of it. “I won’t mention it.”
Katrina nodded. “Good. I…”
The back door banged open, and Simon walked out, iPhone in hand. “Katrina! Guess what? The travel agent called. He was able to get an extra ticket for…”
Katrina gave him a ferocious glare. “Simon.”
Simon blinked. “Oh.”
Ally frowned. “Extra ticket for what?”
Katrina rolled her eyes. “Good one, Simon. Real good.”
Simon groaned and dropped into the last empty lawn chair. “I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”
Katrina nodded. “Oh, yeah.”
“Oh, come on already!” said Ally. She looked at both of them. “Extra ticket for who?”
“You may as well tell her,” said Katrina.
“Okay,” said Simon. “Fin
e. An extra ticket for Mary.”
Ally blinked. “A ticket to what?”
“You know how we said you had another graduation present coming?” said Katrina.
Ally grinned. “A car, I hope?”
“Dream on,” said Simon. “No. We’re going to Europe, Ally. Britain, Spain, France, Italy. For six weeks.”
Ally’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“Europe.” Simon waved his hand. “You know, largish continent, a few thousand miles that way. A graduation present. I’d wanted to go sometime in the next few years anyway, do some research at a few of the monastery libraries in Italy.” He grinned. “A lot of good stuff in there. Anyway, your mom suggested that it might make a good graduation present.”
“Oh my God.” Ally began to hop up and down in her seat, much to her embarrassment. “Oh my God. Yes!” She jumped up and engulfed Simon in a huge hug. “That is so awesome.”
“Ally. Can’t breathe,” said Simon. Ally blushed and let go.
“Happy graduation, Ally,” said Katrina. “You deserve it.”
“No I don’t,” said Ally. “But thank you. Oh, wow. Europe. This is so cool.”
“See?” said Simon, turning to Katrina. “She’s surprised. Doesn’t she look surprised?”
“Simon,” said Katrina. “Your luck has been reduced to tattered shreds. I suggest you don’t push your shreds.”
“Yes, dear.” He grinned. “The best part is that the university is paying for most of it. I just have to do some research, well, a lot of research, while I’m in Italy.” He shrugged. “Of course, we have to pay for Mary’s ticket ourselves. We’ve been planning this for about a year and she came up…um…rather suddenly.”
“Really? We’re taking Mary?” said Ally.
Katrina nodded. “We knew you wouldn’t want to come unless she came, after she moved in with us. So we got an extra ticket.” She looked at Mary. “If Mary wants to come, of course.”
Mary looked back and forth. She stood up, opened her mouth to say something, and started bawling.
Simon flinched. “What? Did I say something? What?”
Ally took her hand. “Mary. You okay?”
She sniffled and wiped at her eyes. “I’m…I’m fine. It’s just…no one has ever done anything this nice for me before.” She squeezed Ally’s hand. “Except for you.” She looked at Katrina and Simon. “Why are you so nice to me? I just moved in with you one day. Most people would have thrown me out.”
“Well.” Simon coughed. “It seemed the right thing to do at the time, and, well, I….”
“What Ally’s dad is trying to say,” said Katrina, “is that we’re used to taking in people, I suppose. Ally and Lithon are both adopted, you know that. And Simon and I have been through some rough times together.” She looked at the woods and shuddered. “So I guess we couldn’t have turned you away.”
Ally grinned. “So you’ll go?”
Mary rubbed her eyes and nodded. “Yes. Yes! I’ll go. Oh my God. Europe. I never thought in a thousand years I would ever go to Europe.” She giggled through her tears. “I never thought I would get to go to California.”
The back door banged open. Lithon walked out, a bucket and a mop in hand. “Hi everybody.” He dumped the water over the railing. “Hey! Lemonade!” He frowned. “Did I miss something?”
Chapter 15 - Changelings
Anno Domini 2012
The office door swung open, and Wycliffe glanced up from his desk. Goth strode inside, his leather jacket creaking with every step. The ceiling lights glimmered off his mirrored sunglasses.
“You wished to see me?” said Goth.
Wycliffe cursed and threw his pen down. “Yes, damn you! I don’t suppose you even have any idea why?”
Goth grunted and said nothing.
Wycliffe stood. “Two days, Goth. Two days! Do you have any idea what kind of problems you caused by disappearing for two days?”
“Minor concerns,” said Goth.
Wycliffe threw up his hands. “Is that so?” He walked forward and poked Goth in the chest. “I’ll have you know…”
Goth hissed, a glimmer of red light appearing in his sunglasses, and Wycliffe felt weight of the winged demon’s glare. Terror struck him like a hammer, and he took a step backwards before he regained control of himself.
“Do not,” said Goth, his fangs flashing behind his lips, “touch me.”
“Alright,” said Wycliffe. He felt sweat dripping down his back. This was foolish. He had nothing to fear from the winged demons, so long as he had the black magic. “Fine. Just tell me where you thought fit to go without telling me.”
Goth remained silent, the glare of red light seeping through his sunglasses.
Wycliffe folded his arms. “You’re not even going to bother to tell me? Don’t you think I know already?”
“Then tell me,” said Goth.
“It was on the news last night,” said Wycliffe. “Two women were kidnapped not twenty blocks from here. Eyewitnesses say an unknown assailant, described as a large man in black, grabbed them, threw them into a van, and drove off.” He gritted his teeth. “Twenty blocks from here, Goth. Did you have something to do with this?”
Goth said nothing.
“The police are investigating this, damn you,” said Wycliffe. “They even came here to ask questions, cross-examined several employees. Do you even realize the potential danger?”
Goth shrugged. “If they find me, I shall dispose of them.”
Wycliffe slapped the desk, his anger boiling over his fear. “I can’t have the police snooping around here. I have enough weaponry to conquer a small nation locked up in 13A. I have a Russian Mafia boss, who happens to be buying a nuclear weapon, and his pet assassins staying here, and I have you and your kin here. I have quite a bit I need to keep quite secret, wouldn’t you agree?”
Goth did not seem impressed. “You have the power of the Voice. Use it on any interlopers.”
“I can’t use the Voice on every person in America,” said Wycliffe. “If any sniff of any potential scandal gets out…I don’t even want to contemplate the problems that would cause.”
“Your point?” said Goth.
Wycliffe sighed. “Just try to be more discreet.” He wondered if he could use the Voice on the winged demons. Some gut instinct told him it would be a bad idea. “Try not to make such messes. For a nightmare of black magic and shadow, I think you could kidnap people a bit more…quietly.”
Goth almost smiled. “Very well.”
Wycliffe rolled his eyes. “Might I ask why you thought it necessary to kidnap those women?”
Now Goth did smile. It was not a pretty sight. “My appetites required satisfaction.”
Wycliffe felt his stomach turn. “Are they still alive?” He’d long suspected that Goth had set up a lair somewhere in the city.
“One. For now,” said Goth.
Wycliffe grimaced. “Why on earth are you keeping her alive?”
“I may wish another son,” said Goth.
Wycliffe’s nausea grew. “Don’t you have offspring already on your world?”
“Several,” said Goth. “They grow to maturity. Two in particular, twins, have reached the fullness of their powers. They will prove troublesome. But my offspring will fight amongst each other and slay one another. I will then devour the survivors.”
“How very civilized,” said Wycliffe.
Goth sneered. “I survive.”
A thought occurred to Wycliffe. “But why father a child on a human woman? Won’t it be…I don’t know, half-human, half-demon, or something? Why not knock up a winged demon woman?”
Goth chuckled. “There are no women of the kin.”
Wycliffe’s frown deepened. “Then how…”
Goth grinned like a toothy wolf. “One of the kin will claim a human woman as his mate and father a son on her. He will keep the woman in captivity. When the child is ready to be born,” Goth’s smile widened, “it claws its way free of her womb and takes its
first meal on her flesh.”
“Dear God,” said Wycliffe. “That’s ghastly.”
“We are the kin,” said Goth. “We survive.” He chuckled. “They tried to exterminate us. The High Kingdoms, the Wizards, the Knights, they all feared and loathed us.”
“I can’t imagine why,” said Wycliffe.
“But Lord Marugon has exterminated them, hunted them down like vermin,” said Goth. “They have perished. The kin have survived. And now their world belongs to us.”
Wycliffe raised his eyebrows. “Then why are you here?”
“Because,” said Goth, his voice a quiet hiss. “Your world. It fascinates me. So full of darkness and power. Not even Lord Marugon himself could have dreamed of your world.”
“A ringing endorsement, indeed,” said Wycliffe. “There is one thing I wonder about, though.” His lip curled. “There are no female winged demons. They can only father offspring on human women. Correct?”
Goth nodded.
“Then how did the winged demons begin?” said Wycliffe. “How did they originate?”
Goth shrugged. “I know not. I care not. Perhaps Lord Marugon knows. You may ask him, if you wish. But it matters not…”
The door opened a crack. “Senator?” Kyle Allard stepped inside, briefcase under his arm. “We had an appointment…”
Goth spun, his lips peeling back in a wide snarl. Allard yelled and hopped back a step, his briefcase falling to the floor. Goth towered over the skinny man like a wolf looming over a lamb.
“Goth!” said Wycliffe. “Mr. Allard. Do come in. Please pardon Mr. Marson. He’s very zealous in his job.” He put on his kindliest smile and picked up Allard’s briefcase. “You have met Mr. Marson, haven’t you? He’s head of security here.”
“Charmed,” said Allard.
“I’ll see you tonight, Goth,” said Wycliffe, his tone dismissive. “Ah…make sure you carry out Mr. Marugon’s instructions. Without making a mess, please.” Goth stalked out of the office. “Mr. Allard. Are you quite all right? You look as if you’re about to faint.”
What had he seen in Goth’s face? Did he know too much already?
“Yeah,” said Allard. He wiped his mouth on his hand. “Yeah. I’m…I’m fine. It’s just a hot day out.”
A Knight of the Sacred Blade Page 18