by Lee Hayes
“Love is always enough.”
“No, sister, sometimes love fails; look at my failures.”
Clara coughed loudly and then spit out a wad of blood into her hands. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and then closed.
“Clara!” Addie screamed. “Clara.” Addie shook her.
Clara’s eyes opened. “I . . . I . . . have seen it. Blood of the father.”
“What?”
Clara looked at her one last time with eyes that were crystal clear. “B-b-blood of the father.” Suddenly, the room was filled with a warm, yellow glow. A sweet smell filled the room and wiped the entire house free from the stench of death and the shadows. Addie held onto Clara’s hand.
“It is my time, sister, but I bequeath to you my gift, the gift of sight. May it serve you well in these trying times.” Addie kissed her forehead and stepped back, letting nature take its course. Addie could hear choir bells as the life force from Clara drained away, leaving her body an empty shell.
“Dear sister. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Addie wept for hours.
CHAPTER 25
“Where are we, Eli?” Simon and Eli sat atop a hill higher than any mound Simon had ever seen. The hill was surrounded by the most vibrant colors, and the sun shone down with a brilliance that hurt Simon’s eyes, which had returned to their natural blue color. As far as his eyes could see, vivid colors sparkled in the hillside, creating the most spectacular vision he had ever seen. Even from their great distance Simon could see two great streams of the purest blue water that ran on either side of the peak. The calming sounds of the running waters rang out in a perfect, peaceful melody. The valley beneath them was fertile, full of life. In the center of the valley stood a huge edifice, a glittering castle made of what appeared to be solid gold. The word paradise echoed inside Simon’s head.
“We are at the top of the world—our world. From there we shall rule,” Eli said, pointing to the castle. “All of this is ours. The entire world. Our castle. Our land. Our rivers. Our people.”
“How did we get here?” Simon asked while looking around, seemingly unimpressed by what he saw. The darkness had settled in his spirit and he scratched his forearm to rid himself of the sudden itch that he felt over his body. He tingled.
Eli opened his arms wide and spun in a small circle. “I bring you to the top of the world and all you can ask is how we got here? Brother, don’t you know by now that we can move with our thoughts? We can do anything, and soon we’ll be able to do everything. Our powers have no bounds. The sooner you realize that, the better off we’ll be.” Simon pulled thin, cool wisps of air into his lungs and exhaled loudly, as if bored. He folded his arms and looked around casually. There was beauty everywhere and wonders abounded on every side of the mountain, but the majesty of their vantage point didn’t impress him much.
“Eli, what will happen during Ascension?” Simon asked, suddenly.
“We shall take our rightful place atop the world.”
“No, I mean what will actually happen? Will it rain and storm? Will we be bathed in blood? Will fire shoot from our eyes? Will the ground tremble beneath our feet? What?” As the words left his lips, Simon felt empowered by them. He thought of what it would all mean. Power. Blood. Pain. Terror.
Eli chuckled. “You’re funny, brother. Funny, indeed. Truth be told, no one really knows what’ll happen, except that our powers will . . . mature.” Eli said with a sparkle in his eyes, “An Ascension has never happened before. By the way, did you learn anything useful while you were in Grandmother’s captivity? The witches are powerful seers and they may have more information about the Ascension than we do.”
“I wasn’t in captivity,” Simon corrected and then searched his mind for any answers the book may have provided him, but none came.
“Think hard, brother.”
“I don’t think they know anything. They are as ignorant as we are. Simon rolled his eyes. “I am amazed that with all the power gathered on both sides no one knows more about the Ascension.”
“Well, it’s only a matter of days now. We shall all soon find out, together.”
Simon plucked a purple flower from the ground and brought it to his nose. “And, what about my power? You said it was bound by Addie. Will the Ascension break her spell? Do you even know the answer to that question?”
Eli paused. A speck of worry flashed across his face. “The universe has ordained our strength. There is no power on this earth that can prevent that which was meant to be.”
“You speak with such confidence, Eli, but I can feel something inside me. It’s like a noose tightening around my neck. What if her spell cannot be broken?”
“It shall break,” Eli said with impatience. “It must break.”
“If it doesn’t, what will happen?” Simon scratched his arm, again. Eli looked at him, but did not mention it.
“Simple. We’ll be denied enough power to rule, and I’m sure the witches will attempt to seal all of us in shadows forever—that cannot happen. The spell will break and so will her neck. Eetwidomayloh said so.”
Simon smiled. “Eetwidomayloh. Tell me about him.”
“Didn’t you learn of him in Addie’s book?”
Simon looked at Eli with impudence; a hint of anger seethed just beneath his skin. “I want you to tell me about him, Eli.”
“He is the source of all shadows. He is the bringer of the fire. He is death and he is father to the shadows. He has always been. He is endless.”
“Endless and apparently impotent.”
By the expression on Eli’s face Simon surmised that his words shocked his brother. “What do you mean?”
“He is the source of all shadows but remains entombed. He is powerless to free himself from the Shadowland.”
“Only The One—only we—can unlock the door to his cage and allow him to walk the earth; that is our power—the power of The One.”
“Oh, I see. Do you love him?”
“Love? What is love? I respect him.”
“Does he respect you?” Simon’s voice was peppered with sarcasm.
Eli contemplated the question, pausing momentarily and then speaking introspectively. “He will. They all will.”
Behind him, Simon hid his smile and paced around the hillside, his mind suddenly on fire with thoughts of things to be. He could still feel the darkness crawling inside him, becoming him. His skin itched. It felt like thousands of hairy spiders crawling slowly over his body, inch by inch, weaving together a web of new skin that would finally fit his face, his true face. It was a joyous feeling. He stepped closer to the edge of the mountain and inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with power.
“And what of Mother? I want to see her.”
Eli frowned. “In due time, brother. In due time.”
Simon felt a surge of hatred rush through him; it was thick, like molasses. “Why do you hate her so much?”
“Who?”
“Our mother.”
Eli raised his left eyebrow and looked at Simon. “Who said I hate her?”
“Don’t be coy, brother. I can smell the hate on you. What did she do to you?”
Eli smiled. “Let’s just say we have a complicated relationship.”
Simon shook his head from side to side, disappointed in Eli’s words. “One of my recurring childhood dreams was that my mother would one day find me and whisk me away from the orphanage, or whatever foster home they stuck me in. I dreamed of her being a famous movie star or a singer and that when she found me we’d live this wonderful life. Suddenly, I feel disappointed.”
“Don’t let my words or feelings disappoint you; you’ll have more than your fair chances of being disappointed by her.”
Simon wanted to find out more details about Eli’s complicated relationship with their mother, but he didn’t want to bear Eli’s burden. He turned his back and took a few aimless steps away and he focused on expelling Eli’s hate for their mother from his system. Eli’s cross was too heavy
for Simon to carry.
“Eli,” Simon said, his voice solemn as he changed the subject, “with all the power you have and the shadows have, I don’t understand how you, of all people, couldn’t find me. We are one, aren’t we? Are you telling me that one witch’s spell is more powerful than all of you? Is the dark really that weak?”
“She’s not just any witch. Grandmother is a witch of the highest order. Her powers are . . . great.”
Simon shrugged off his words. “Still, she will have to die. She stole me from my family. Deprived me of my heritage. Killed my father. She is the enemy.” Simon spun around quickly and faced Eli. Then, he spoke in a booming voice that spread out evenly in every direction. “I want you and every shadow everywhere to know that I will have no patience for weakness. In the new world, failure will be dealt with harshly. Instantly.” His voice bounced off the side of the mountain, causing large stones to shake and roll down the hill.
Eli’s face froze in a half-smile, one part admiration, another part uncertainty. Maybe fear. Then, his smile cracked. “Spoken like my true brother.”
“And what should I know of you, Eli?”
“You already know me. I am you. We are the same, you and I.”
Simon walked over to him and stood side by side, draping his arm around Eli’s shoulder. “Yes, we are, aren’t we?” Eli pulled away and took a few steps closer to the edge of the mountain and looked down on the glimmering castle. His eager face was filled with wonder, excitement and awe. Simon could feel Eli’s strong desire and his dark aspirations.
Simon looked at his brother and the world through newly formed eyes. “I thought you said we were going to have some fun?”
In a flash, the brothers stood outside the huge golden doors of the glittering castle. Slowly, the doors swung open and they stepped inside a great hall with large alabaster columns lining the long aisle. The other hues in the room were dark, dull shades of metallic gray and basic black. There were no windows in the hall, and even though not a sliver of sunlight could be seen, Simon could still see everything with crystal clarity, even the shadows lurking in every corner. The darkened room was in stark contrast to the heavenly scene outside.
Eli marched down the hallway with his usual harsh footsteps and Simon followed behind him. When they reached the end of the hallway they took a left and ascended a long staircase that led to another long hallway. Eli stopped and looked back at Simon, when they reached the end and were greeted by a double-set of black doors. Eli placed his hand on the knob and slowly turned. The doors opened and they stepped inside a cavernous room decorated in earthly brown tones.
“Welcome, Simon,” Eli said as he ushered him into the room. “These are my quarters. Make yourself at home.” Simon stepped inside and the doors closed behind them.
Simon looked around the room. An expensive-looking, brown leather sofa was pushed against the wall. On the opposite wall was a bar that was complete with exotic liquors and drinking glasses of every kind. Behind the bar were a few small stairs that led to a vast bookshelf built into the wall. Simon eyed the shelf and tilted his head upward, realizing that the bookshelf rose endlessly into the ceiling and probably beyond.
“This is the dark library. Every spell that has ever been written by a shadow is archived here. There is much power here.”
“Oh, I see,” Simon said.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” Simon nodded. “Would you like a drink?”
“Certainly. Surprise me.” Eli moved over to the bar and began mixing various liquids together. He clanked ice cubes in a glass and poured a clear concoction over the cubes, which made cracking sounds the moment they came in contact with the beverage.
“Here, try this.” Simon moved over to him and brought the drink to his nose, smelling it before he sipped.
“What is it?”
“You said surprise you. Try it.”
Reluctantly, Simon took a sip and immediately felt his knees buckle. He felt as if he was drinking hellfire. A burning sensation moved down his entire body, igniting every cell.
“Don’t worry, brother. You’ll get used to it.” Simon watched Eli take a gulp. Not to be outdone, Simon took another sip and winced.
Simon moved to a globe of the earth that sat on a stand in the corner. The globe was the size of a huge beach ball. Simon put his hand on it and made it spin.
“This will be our world,” Eli said. Simon faked a smile and half-listened to Eli ramble on about being kings and their reign.
“I wanna have some fun,” Simon said, putting an end to Eli’s incessant rant about power and glory.
Eli smiled sinisterly. “You sure about that?” Simon nodded as Eli set down his drink. “Let’s try something. Here, take my hand.” Happily, Simon set down his drink next to Eli’s and took his hand. He instantly felt a wave of emotions from Eli. He felt his ambition and his lust and his hatred and even his jealousy—jealously directed at Simon. Simon smiled as Eli spun the globe again.
“All right, Brother. Concentrate,” Eli said as the globe slowed. Simon felt his body tingle. With his index finger, Eli slowly touched the globe when it stopped circling. Immediately, Simon heard a great noise and saw ripples in the waters off the island of Japan. Rising from the globe were the screams of thousands of people.
“What did we just do?” Simon asked in confusion.
“I wanted to test our strength.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We just caused an earthquake, which will trigger a tsunami. Many will die,” Eli said, nonchalantly.
Simon was in awe. “I can hear them scream. I can feel them.”
“Wonderful, isn’t it? If we can do that, imagine what we’ll be able to do after we ascend.”
Simon spun the globe again. “Let’s see what else we can do.” He grabbed Eli’s hand and when the globe stopped he touched an area near Joplin, Missouri. Again, they heard screams, but not the sound of the earth moving. Terrified screams echoed across the room like faint whispers, but there was power in their terror. Simon breathed deeply, trying to inhale all of their fear.
“What did you do?” Eli asked delightfully.
Simon looked at him slowly and smiled. “Tornadoes. Lots of tornadoes.”
Eli stepped away from the globe and strolled around the room. “There’s nothing we can’t do together. We will be invincible.”
“I’m bored now. Let’s do something else.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Something . . . fun.”
“Follow me,” Eli said with a wink. He moved quickly out of the room and down the hallway, taking a different set of stairs to reach the bottom level. They walked to the back and took another set of golden stairs that winded down into the basement.
“Are you ready for this?” Eli asked, with a wink.
“That depends on what it is.”
“Put your hand on the door.”
“What?”
“Just do it. Trust me.” Simon watched Eli place his palm against the door and shudder, as if in extreme pleasure. Curiously, Simon placed his hand against the door and immediately felt a surge of heat race through his body. The feeling ignited a ravenous sexual desire that overwhelmed him and buckled his knees. Quickly, Eli grabbed Simon around the waist to keep him from falling.
The doors to the room flung open and the sweet funky smell of sex hit him like a tidal wave. Simon looked into the room, which was pitch-black, like he was staring into vast nothingness; yet, he knew that it was far from empty. He could hear a faint hissing emanating from the void, an enchanting hissing sound that beckoned him forward. He looked at Eli who had already started unbuttoning his shirt.
“Let the games begin,” Eli said as he removed the rest of his clothing. He winked at Simon and stepped into the room, disappearing into the blackness. Slowly, Simon removed all of his clothes and stepped into the dark, completely naked.
When he entered the dark, a mass of naked bodies slowly came into view; bodies writhing aroun
d each other, hot flesh melding into hot flesh. Simon felt hands and fingers touching him as he moved through the room. The sound of the orgy of bodies slapping against each other was almost more than Simon could stand. Finally, he stopped in what he thought was the center of the room and looked around for Eli. Within seconds, he was surrounded by indistinguishable nakedness that finally brought him to his knees.
Hours later, after they had spent their sexual energy and finished ravaging the bodies of their willing consorts, Simon and Eli lay in the center of a pile of naked bodies, exhausted. The room was dark and the leftover smell of sex was thick. Simon smiled to himself as he thought of the ways in which he had unleashed upon them. His sexual storm tore through crowd, blurring the lines between pleasure and pain. His experience had been awesome and they had begged for him. Never—not even with Brooke—had he experienced such vast and endless pleasure. Here—wherever he was—all of his senses were magnified in ways that defied his imagination. In this room, the slightest touch from anyone ignited a flame in him that demanded immediate attention. He blasted through the room, all flesh and brawn, touching and licking and kissing and grabbing and pounding.
Simon stood up and began to walk through the dark room. He was spent, fully used up from his experiences, but he wanted to soak in a tub. He hoped he could recall how to get to Eli’s room; this castle was gigantic.
As he moved through the room, trying not to disturb anyone, he suddenly felt queasy and he struggled for breath. Instantly, he dropped to his knees and instinctively drew his hands to his throat. He heard a faint sound and at first he thought it was a hiss, but it wasn’t. This time, he could hear words; like someone chanting.
He struggled to speak, to repeat the words out loud, but his voice was a whisper. “Ties . . . bind . . . tight . . . night.”
“Simon,” Eli called out. Suddenly, Eli was upon him, his hands pressing on Simon’s shoulder. “What is it, brother? What’s wrong?”
“I . . . I . . . don’t know. Can’t breathe. Help me.” Eli tried to remove Simon’s hands from his throat, but when he did, Simon let out a screech that tore through the room, causing the shadows to cry out in horrific pain. The force of his yell even caused Eli to stumble back a few steps.