by Ash Night
I opened my eyes to see her trembling, looking fearfully at my chest. I scrambled back so fast my ankle banged against the wall and I saw stars. Blinking back the colored spots that were obscuring my vision, I focused on her. “Zoey, what’s wrong?”
She pointed at my chest. “There’s two,”
“See? I can’t even have a decent heart beat for you!” I snarled, jumping up off the bed, my sudden anger being enough to fully heal my ankle. The monster’s power was unraveling around me like a cloak. I could feel it, but I couldn't contain it. A dark part of me didn't want to. It liked this feeling of power.
"It's okay, Eli. I love you and we can get through this." She replied.
I laughed. "It'll never be okay, Zoey. I'll always be insane."
"Eli..." Zoey tensed up, her fight or flight response set on flight. I backed away.
“Please don’t run. I’m fine. Please don’t be scared of me.” My heart shattered at the thought of her actually being afraid of me. The monster roared inside of me. I growled. That did not help my case with Zoey. She jumped slightly and bumped into her bed.
Her face was drained of all color and she was shaking badly. My heart stopped as I ran to her dresser. In the mirror stared back a demon beyond any in AngelRose. It was worse than it had ever appeared before. I was the monster times ten.
My hair had grown longer. My eyes shone bright green. My nails had turned a sickly yellow color and extended into fine, sharp points. My skin had paled until it had taken on a gray hue. My fangs were a brilliant white, giving me the impression that I could rip into Zoey’s throat as if it were butter. The face in the mirror grinned a grin that would make anyone go insane. I had a feeling I was going to the deepest depth of insanity. I was in a Hell I couldn’t escape. It followed me like the darkest shadow. Inside I was shaking as bad as Zoey while the monster in the mirror roared with laughter.
You don’t belong here, Elijah. The voice said, rumbling inside my head like thunder. I was minutes away from bashing my head in just so everything would slow down. If everything would stop for just a minute maybe I could figure this all out and retain some control. If that option was even possible.
I know. Why am I forced here if I would only hurt Zoey? I thought sadly, not trusting my voice. A shudder ripped through my body painfully. I heard a bone crack, only to heal moments later. I threw back my head and howled. What the hell? I wasn’t a werewolf!
It’s called primal instinct, Elijah. Most creatures do it. Not just werewolves.
Leave me alone! I screamed. You are not helping!
I’m hurt, Elijah. After everything we’ve been through you can’t come to me? The voice mocked sounding hurt. I could practically hear it smile.
Go away, dammit! Everything just stop! Please! I begged. The monster glanced at Zoey in the mirror, smirked, and turned on her. She looked like she had had a heart attack. She stood frozen under the gaze of the monster. Her breathing and heart had actually stopped for a few seconds. Now her heart was stuttering and she was hyperventilating. Her eyes bulged, as wide as saucers.
Zoey! No…Please…Don’t hurt her! I tried to yell out but my voice was frozen, cut off from my body. I was trapped inside my own head. The monster stalked closer and soon Zoey was curled in a ball on her bed, muttering incoherently, her hands over her ears in a childish gesture. Tears leaked from her open eyes but I doubt she noticed.
“Zoey Lockhart, “ the monster rasped. It pointed a finger at her. She squeaked as if it had shocked her without even touching her. “I have come for you.”
She’s mine, bastard! You can’t have her! I thought indignantly. I tried to move my legs but it was useless.
I could only watch as the monster destroyed my love.
Chapter 29
Eli had transformed before my eyes. His wonderful smell, like a campfire burning and just a hint of spice, turned into a horrible, putrid odor like something that had been sitting at the bottom of a swamp for years. His hair was long in the back like a mullet. His beautiful eyes were green now. His beautiful tan skin had become gray.
“Wh-what do y-you want?” I asked, my voice barely scraping past my vocal chords. My mind was blank, hitting fuzzy static where thoughts should have been. I was amazed I was still alive.
“You,” it insisted. “Come. Come away with me to AngelRose, Zoey. We can live there forever where time stands still.” I hated that the first thing Eli had ever said to me was now spewing out of that monster in its ugly, rasping voice.
I hit it square in the jaw. Probably not the smartest thing I have ever done, but I was mad. Mad that this thing was quoting Eli. Mad that it had changed Eli’s appearance. Mad it had taken Eli away from me.
It laughed at it turned his head exactly like Eli had done when I’d slapped him, except the monster was smiling. “Not the smartest thing to do, little girl.”
I let out a scream and attacked him. I’d never gotten in a fight with anyone before, but it was as if I was possessed by something that knew exactly what to do.
I was beating the crap out of Eli.
Eli
She was beating the crap out of me. Well, not really, the monster was just confused and all the random kicking, punching, and hair-pulling Zoey was doing wouldn’t do any good once the monster had a second to think, but man did it hurt!
The monster grabbed Zoey and threw her back onto her bed. She was stunned, but okay. I tried to regain control before I did anything to hurt her. For a few heart-pounding moments I was afraid I was still helpless, but some higher power must’ve been looking down on me because I was able to jump out the window and run as far as the city before I blacked out.
Zoey
Okay, weirdest experience ever. I breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on my bed, my whole body shaking. My mind tried to process the experience but I just couldn’t. Instead I picked up a notebook and a pencil and began to write.
The words flowed effortlessly and I was lost in a writing bubble until I finally looked up and saw my clock read 5:00am. How long had I been writing? I’d written forty-seven pages so far so I must've been writing for quite a while. I smiled proudly. This was the most I’d gotten done since the whole mess with Eli began at the beginning of summer. It was hard to believe it had only been five months since he’d waltzed into her life and now he was choosing to waltz right back out. We had to find a way to stay together. It was impossible to think of life without him. Even when he’d made me forget him a few months ago, my heart had felt empty.
Feeling for my phone in my pocket, I took it out and dialed his number. After three tries and no answer, I gave up and went to bed.
Waking up to my alarm clock blaring after only an hour of sleep was not a good way to start a school day. At least on weekends I could sleep in. Groaning, I smashed my hand down on my alarm clock and sat up. A scent caught me off guard and I breathed it in. “Hey Zoe,” Eli grinned at me. He was floating above my bed, above me, on his stomach, his head resting on his hands as if he were resting on a solid surface instead of thin air.
“How the hell are you doing that?” I asked, still blinking sleep from my eyes.
“Magic, princess Alexis, simply magic,” he said, quoting a line from one of his plays.
“This is a dream, isn’t it?”
Eli rolled over in the air only to lay in the exact same position. “I’m flattered you remember the scenes of my play so well, princess.”
“Well, Ari said that line to Alexis in a dream.” I said. “And it was the key scene,”
"Yes," Eli laughed. "Anyway, I figure this is the only way I can see you without the monster...you know."
“That was really scary,” I hugged him and, to my embarrassment, started shaking and crying uncontrollably. His scent was so comforting. I clutched him tighter as if I could meld with him and that evil monster would get pushed out for good. He held me just as tightly, his breath hot against my ear.
“I am so sorry that happened. Something slipped. That was too close. Wa
y too close.” He said softly. I froze. That sounded too much like his play. I knew the lines just as well. I was like Princess Alexis. I would not let him go.
“No,” I answered with all the conviction I could muster. “You will not leave me again.”
“I could run. You’d never catch me.” He chuckled softly. I felt sick, my heart dropping through the floor.
“You can’t outrun your problems, Eli.”
“Then, Princess, I shall run to the ends of the earth.”
Chapter 30
I woke up too soon, shut out from the dream that may have been my last with Eli. He’d ripped out my heart and took it with him. Now I knew how he felt when I wanted to leave AngelRose. Everything was just flip-flopped. Eli didn’t want to leave because he had friends and family in AngelRose, save for Sky. Eli didn’t want to leave because his mind couldn’t handle ‘forever’. Eli wanted to leave to protect me.
If the monster would just leave, we could be together. Everything would be perfect. At least we would be happy. We could live a relatively normal life with a cat, assuming we could get Sky to the earth plane, and maybe even kids. I’d always wanted to be a mother. Eli could sell his plays while I get money from writing novels. It all would be perfect.
“Zoey! Breakfast!” My father opened my door and peeked in. “It’s Saturday. Why is your alarm going off?”
“Uh, guess I forgot to unset it,” I replied, cursing Eli’s prank. He’d done that intentionally even though he could’ve shut me out without blaring the alarm. I shut it off, finally noticing I hadn’t even heard it this whole time.
Dad chuckled. “Well, the early owl gets the best tree to sleep in,”
“What?” I asked.
He chuckled again. “That’s right, you’re a teenager who’s barely woken up. I’ll try not to make you think too hard, cupcake.” The scent of pancakes hit my nose as I walked down the stairs with my dad. I remembered how much Eli loved breakfast food and half-expected to see him sitting perched on a bar stool, talking to Mom in that corny English accent, just like he had the first day he’d come, and then he would offer me a bite off his fork.
My heart nearly plummeted through the kitchen floor when I saw that bar stool empty, my plate beside where his should have been. Eli belonged here, my mother loved him, my father would learn to. He was part of my family.
“Where’s Eli?” Dad asked. That reminded me that they thought he was in the guest bedroom. Eli or the monster, I don’t know which one, had compelled them to sleep through the whole thing last night. I shuddered. What if they had come upstairs? Would the monster have attacked them? I didn't want to think about that. I didn't want to think about Eli having more guilt than he already had.
“He needed fresh air and went for a walk. He’s probably sleeping on a park bench somewhere.” I chuckled nervously. I really didn’t know where he was. He hadn’t told me.
Dad frowned. “As long as you don’t pick up any bad habits from him,”
I laughed. “Dad, it’s my senior year. It’s a little late for me to be bad. I have two months left.”
“I know, but I still don’t know if I approve of that boy. He seems like a troublemaker.”
“He is not, Harold. He is a perfect gentleman, perfect for Zoey.” Mom said, waving the spatula at him. “You just can’t see that.”
I ate in silence, knowing if I accomplished what I wanted to do, this may be the last breakfast I would ever have with them. Hugging them both goodbye, I walked to Abby’s house. Abby answered on the first knock. I swear that girl has ESP or something. “Hi Zoey!” She hugged me.
“You’re up early.” I said, walking in. I always liked Abby’s house. It was full of cool artifacts from all over the world. Her parents were archaeologists so they traveled a lot. It was tough on Abby but at least we would have the house to ourselves.
“I’m a morning person when school isn’t involved. More time to enjoy not being there!” We both laughed.
I sighed, thankful for the momentary relief from the growing tension that was in my shoulders. “Abby, I have something to tell you and you cannot tell anybody. Not even Gwen.”
“Okay,” she replied, all serious now. I could trust Abby with this.
“I’m going back to AngelRose.”
Eli
My finger stopped short on a note as I heard her. She wanted to what?! I got up from my manifested piano, taking one quick glance at the looking glass, willing her to reconsider, and ran back to the castle. It wasn’t as easy as it had once been. While I’d been away, the demons had spawned like mad. Fighting them off was more annoying than anything. Most of the demons created had been lesser demons, but occasionally, I would run into one that was stronger than the others. The castle seemed farther than ever.
Finally close enough to see the castle, I let out a string of curses. A giant blue-skinned Cyclops stood in my way. He looked at me dumbly and roared, swinging his big wooden club down at me. What a bad time for a cliché! “Move it, ya oaf.” I snarled, jumping out the way and jumping onto its head to poke it in the eye with a branch I'd snapped off a tree. It roared in pain and I cracked it on the head, using the same branch as a baseball bat. It fell with a thud and disintegrated into nothing but a big pile of jellied goop that looked a lot like the stuff the Shadows were made of.
I dashed into the castle, running down the hall to my room. I didn’t know why exactly. I had no way to stop her from coming. AngelRose had a strange way of bringing people here. I just hoped she’d appear in my room like I had in hers. I was completely aware of the ironic symbolism the bedrooms represented. It was like a bad pun.
“Zoey?” I flew into my room and heard the same booming sound that I had the first night. It meant she was here, but not here, in my room. She’d landed somewhere else. I raced outside and tore through the trees at full speed. Where is she?
You tell me. I have no clue. Why not ask the monster? He seems to have a good sniffer. The voice chuckled.
“No way,” I muttered. My eyes, ears, and nose would be good enough. I coughed and gagged as a horrendous odor hit me. The stench of decay and death was enough to make my skin crawl. It was coming from inside a cave and I sensed Shadows everywhere.
With all senses on high alert, I crept forward, wondering how the hell I was going to beat all them if they chose to attack. The two in the art room that day were almost more than I could handle. Taking on this many was insane.
Good thing I was insane enough to do it.
Zoey
The art room was cold and dark. It was the complete opposite of the day I had painted Eli’s eyes. Where was Eli anyway? No sound was coming from his room. He wasn’t at the piano. I got up and walked out of the room, searching a few rooms I thought he might be in. When those failed, I walked around outside, praying the protection spell was still in place.
A low howl alerted me and shivers went up my spine. The wolves were still here. It was silly to think they were the same ones that had tried to attack me before, but I did. I ran as fast as I could, not knowing or caring where I was. Coming to a sturdy tree that was solid enough to climb, I began my ascent. Could wolves climb trees? Even if they couldn’t, what if the same laws that allowed Eli and me to walk on the ceiling applied to them as well? I scrambled up the tree anyway. When nothing followed me, I almost laughed.
The wolves weren’t following me after all. I was just being paranoid. A nervous fit of laughter threatened to consume me. Before it could, I whipped my head around at what sounded like an old man coughing. A troll, not a troll doll with all the wispy hair, but a eats-goats-under a-bridge troll stood on the branch beside me. I screamed.
“Get out of my tree, girl, or I’ll kick ya out!” The troll exclaimed. It looked like Grandpappy Smurf on steroids. The troll was as big as a toddler and old as dirt.
“Did you see a boy come through here? Black hair, violet eyes, wearing a gray jacket?” I asked as if talking to a troll was perfectly normal.
The troll scoffe
d. “No, now get out!” I glared at the troll and dropped out of the tree. Walking back to the castle was the best bet I had. I walked to my room, putting the weird little troll out of my mind. It was exactly the way I’d left it. Eli hadn’t even made the bed. The small gesture of leaving everything untouched was enough to bring tears to my eyes. Maybe he had expected me to come back.
I curled up on the soft bed under the big red quilt. It was so warm. Suddenly my whole body felt like a dead weight. I hadn’t realized how exhausted I’d been until just now. I really should wait for Eli to get back from wherever he is. I thought. My body protested, becoming heavier and heavier. Sinking deeper into sleep, I finally let it claim me.
My dreams were filled with nightmares. It was the last one that stuck in my brain, all the others were of faceless goblins and demons too unimportant to remember. The last one was the nightmare with Eli. I still couldn’t move and it played out exactly the same way, but with subtle changes thrown in. The Grandpappy Smurf was burning in his tree. The grass was damp. Eli was sweaty. Carved into the gravestone was the name Zoey Valentine.
I gasped, awake but still terrified. What did it mean? Did it mean anything? This was AngelRose, where the term illogical was invented so it might not mean anything at all. In my stories Eli was always having scary dreams and most of them meant nothing. It seemed silly to compare the Eli of my stories to the real deal. The one in my stories, even if literary agents thought it was good, was a watery paper-cutout of the real one. It didn’t even begin compare.
Sky meowed and jumped into my lap. “Hey Sky, do you know where Eli is?” I asked. Most people would probably feel stupid asking a cat a question like that and actually expecting them to lead you to the answer, but I didn’t. Sky was smart enough to be a human. She looked at me with big aquamarine eyes and cocked her head. She didn’t know either.