by Simone Pond
I nudged Eli.
“We have a school project.”
He sounded more unconvincing than any of us. I don’t know if I was relieved that he was a terrible liar, or bummed that he blew it. Fortunately, Vago stepped in—as Bruno, Eli’s mysterious cousin, who only shows up when my guide dog isn’t around. I was counting down the days to when Aunt Ruthie would put that together …
“Actually … that’s only half of it. One of my professors has an event here tomorrow night and—”
“Oh, yes! Professor Whitmore! We’re all very excited,” Aunt Ruthie gushed.
“Anyway, Marlo here really wanted to attend. I tried to get her a ticket, but it’s sold out. I thought if we came by and talked to someone … well, I don’t know,” Vago said with an innocent shrug.
“Well, why didn’t you just say so?” She was addressing Eli when she asked the question.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
Aunt Ruthie stepped closer to Marlo, her pink spirit wrapped around her shoulder. “I absolutely understand your predicament. Whitmore is something, isn’t he? And it’s true, the event is sold out, but if you’re willing to be an usher, I can get you in.”
“That’s perfect!” I said.
“Yeah, perfect.” Marlo sounded a lot less enthusiastic.
“Now, I can’t do anything for the boys, since it’s a female-only event. But what about you, Sibby? Want to usher?”
I obviously couldn’t be seen at the event. I’m sure Whitmore had me on some demon kill list. But I needed to be close by. And I needed to be out of view of the security guards that would be stationed everywhere.
“Is there something I can do behind the scenes? You know how I am with crowds. And, I’d be a terrible usher.” I gestured to my eyes.
“I’m sorry, dear. Silly me.”
Eli cleared his throat and reached for Aunt Ruthie’s hand in an attempt to throw on some charm, probably to make up for his utter fail moments ago. “How about Sibyl and I hang out in one of the back rooms and listen in? We won’t be any trouble. In fact, we can get here early before anyone arrives. Nobody will even know we’re on the premises.”
Aunt Ruthie’s spirit brightened. “That’s a wonderful idea, Eli!”
And just like that, my boyfriend reclaimed his crown of glory.
“There are so many nooks and crannies in this place,” she continued, excited. “Come on, let’s go take a look around and pick out a spot. Now, you mustn’t tell a single soul about this. This is my first big soirée with the historical society. Want to look good for the ladies.”
Eli smiled. “You have nothing to worry about, Ruthie. We’ve got your back.”
He was right about that. We had to have everyone’s back at the event. Otherwise Whitmore and his crew of reptile demons would slaughter a bunch of innocent women. The sheer magnitude of the vision was beginning to press on my heart, but at least we had a way into the event. Now we just needed a way to stop the demon from pulling off the ritual.
Chapter Twenty-three
Sibyl
On the drive from the manor, we brainstormed methods for stopping Whitmore. We still didn’t know about his “supernatural credentials,” so when we got back to Eli’s house we combed through several of Esther’s books. Turned out the reptilian faction are high-level demons with extraordinary abilities to manipulate brainwaves and perception. Similar to telekinesis, but on steroids. Finding a way around that type of power would take some intricate strategizing. By late Thursday night, we had a short list of ideas and agreed to take a break to get some rest. Vago and I went home and passed out.
During the night, I found myself in another one of those half-awake, half-asleep dreamlike states. More of those oily evil spirits slithered into my room. That time they wrapped around my body and snatched me into an under-realm where the air was sulfuric and noxious. The atmosphere suffocated me. I gasped, choking to pull in a full breath, but it was impossible. Panic shot through me as my lungs ached for air. The more vulnerable I became, the more powerful the darkness became. My blood felt like sickles of ice, rendering me motionless. Shadows had shadows. The evil spirits moaned and lured me toward my own death.
No way! Evil wouldn’t win. I needed to wake up. Snap out of it. But I couldn’t do it on my own. I needed help. With my last strains of consciousness, I pleaded for help. Called out to something inside of me. A source of power. A pleasant fragrance wafted to me. Jasmine … And then the blueish-green glow I had seen under the gazebo and in the previous dream-like state returned. A glow pulsed all around me. I was able to pull in a mouthful of air, deep into my lungs. I remembered where I really was: in my own bed. I knew I had to get to that light coming from the floor. I had to touch it. Forcing myself to move, I rolled over and dropped off the side of the bed and hit the floor. Once my hands touched the streams of radiant blue-green light rising from underneath, the noose of the evil slipped away. I could breathe again. Peace filtered through me. Calmness returned.
The low sound of Vago’s bark filtered into my brain.
Woof! Woof!
“Sibby! Wake up!” Aunt Ruthie’s voice echoed from far away, though her fingers clenched my shoulders.
Vago’s paw scratched my leg, sending a ripple of awareness to my body. Gravity returned. The smell of powdered sugar and vanilla beans, traces of night cream. Aunt Ruthie stood over me. Vago jumped onto my bed and put his snout next to my face, covering me with wet licks.
“Okay, okay. I’m awake!” I pushed him back and sat up.
Aunt Ruthie’s spirit was a dim lavender. “Oh, Sibby. That sounded awful. I heard you from all the way upstairs. Was it about the accident?”
I nodded—though it wasn’t about the accident, in a way it was related. Because after the accident some portal had opened up, and I had stepped into a bizarre universe that on a good day freaked me the hell out. But I didn’t want to talk about the accident. Or the dream. I wanted to breathe. I wanted to hold onto the soothing and peaceful feeling of that magnificent light. I now believed it was in fact coming from the Holy Rock.
Woof!
“I’m fine, buddy,” I assured him.
“How about a cup of warm milk?” Aunt Ruthie suggested.
I chuckled. “That sounds awful. What time is it?”
“A little after four,” she said.
“Do you have any of my dad’s Baileys? Maybe some of that with some decaf …”
Silence.
“You’re only nineteen, Sibby …”
“I’m a mature nineteen. Besides, I’m not going out. It might help settle my nerves.” I didn’t need to settle my nerves, but I did need to get back to sleep.
A long pause ensued, but then Aunt Ruthie helped me out of bed. She put my robe around my shoulders as I slid into my slippers. The two of us went to the kitchen, tip-toeing as if unwilling to disturb the stillness of the night. Vago padded behind us, his nails clicking against the hardwood floors.
In the kitchen, Aunt Ruthie brewed coffee—caffeinated was all we had—and dug around in the cabinets searching for the old bottle of Baileys Irish Cream. I sat, petting Vago and making a mental note to remind him to check out the gazebo, again. In our fury to research the lizard demon, we had neglected the Holy Rock. It seemed like there was a supernatural block on our thoughts. Maybe evil wanted to get to it first? Whitmore had the power of mind control, but was it that powerful?
I leaned under the table and whispered to Vago, “Gazebo.”
He let out a burly snore, already fast asleep by my feet. Vago definitely had something going on with him. Maybe that dog bite had done more damage than we thought? Either way, my guide dog wasn’t being a very good docent as of late.
Aunt Ruthie and I sipped our Baileys and coffee quietly. And I thought we’d head back to our bedrooms, but we never went back to sleep. We sat at the kitchen table and talked until morning birds chirped outside the windows. The Baileys loosened both of our tongues. It also gave me the confidence to tell her the truth
. I was tired of spinning lies. So as we sat at the table sipping coffee doused with whiskey, I told her everything that had happened since the night of the accident. Every single thing. I didn’t hold back. I explained about the angels carrying away my parents’ souls. The demon with the wings of fire named Abaddon. The evil Spirit Handlers. I explained what really happened to Chief Pike and why nobody would ever find him. I even told her about Vago being a dog shifter. And Marlo having the ability to teleport.
Of course she didn’t believe any of this nonsense and told me I should write it all down and send it to a publisher. I wanted her to believe me, but she wasn’t buying a single word. But I felt better. Telling her the truth was cathartic and I vowed not to lie anymore.
She cupped my face, coffee and twinges of whiskey exuding from her breath. “I know you lost everything that night. I can see why you’d want to make up such stories to cope. Though you lost so much, take heart knowing I gained a great deal. I love you, Sibby.”
I hugged her, pressing against her billowy chest. “I love you, too.”
She kissed my forehead tenderly. “Now, I must get ready for work. Big day today. Are you and Eli still planning to come to the event?”
I nodded, wiping off my wet cheeks with the back of my hand.
“Make sure you arrive no later than four o’clock,” she said.
“Got it.”
She dashed off to shower and get dressed, and I poured some more coffee—black, no whiskey.
“Well, Vago,” I said loud enough to shake him awake.
He bumped his head coming out from under the table.
“Big day for us, too. We have a demon to stop and a Holy Rock to find.”
Woof!
“Also, I told Aunt Ruthie everything.”
Woof?
“She didn’t believe a word of it.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Vago
That Friday morning Aunt Ruthie gave Sibyl and me a ride to Eli’s house. Me in dog form, of course. Sibyl decided we were skipping classes to check out the gazebo, and then lock down our plan of attack.
Aunt Ruthie glanced over her shoulder to the back seat. “So, Vago, I hear you can shift into a human.”
Woof!
I considered shifting right then and there just to spite Sibyl for mentioning anything to Aunt Ruthie, but I didn’t want to get into an accident.
“You two are quite the pair,” Aunt Ruthie said.
“We’ll just have to show you one of these days,” Sibyl teased.
Woof!
“I’m looking forward to seeing that!” Aunt Ruthie said with a chuckle. “As well as Eli’s lightning. And these Spirit Handler thingies you mentioned.”
Sibyl shook her head. “Trust me, you don’t want to see those.”
Aunt Ruthie turned down the long driveway to Eli’s house and parked in the front.
Sibyl sat for a moment, then said, “Be careful today.”
“I’m always careful,” Aunt Ruthie replied.
“Extra careful.” She leaned over and kissed her aunt’s rosy cheek.
“Another one of your visions?”
“Let me remind you about Chief Pike …”
The car was quiet for a moment or two.
“Chief Pike had everyone fooled,” Aunt Ruthie said.
Sibyl opened the door and got out, then leaned back down. “Exactly. So, whether or not you believe anything I told you, just be on high alert. If something seems off, it is. Text me right away.”
“Okay, dear,” Aunt Ruthie said.
Sibyl opened the back door and let me out.
“Just keep your eyes open,” Sibyl said. “We’ll see you around four.”
***
Inside Eli’s house, I shifted back into my human form, and put on my old jeans and a t-shirt. Since I wouldn’t be seeing Brooke, I didn’t bother wearing my new designer clothes. I joined Sibyl, Eli and Marlo in the kitchen. We drank piping-hot coffee, waking ourselves up. A grogginess hung over me. The last few days dealing with those crazy dog shifters had been grueling. Eli and Marlo looked a little bleary in the eyes too. Probably from studying all night on top of everything else. Sibyl was the only one revved up and raring to go, opening books to where she marked them and pointing to scribbled notes that none of us could read—especially her. She took a huge swig of coffee, almost choking on it.
“So, what do you guys think about my plan?” she asked.
“Have you been drinking?” Marlo asked Sibyl.
“No. Well, yeah. I mean, a little bit. I had some Baileys in my coffee around four this morning. Couldn’t sleep. I had another one of those night terrors.”
Eli poked his head up. “Another one?”
Sibyl sat on one of the stools. “Yeah, but it’s a good thing. They always end with that beautiful light rising up from underneath the floor. Which reminds me,” she said, looking at me. “The Holy Rock. We need to check out the gazebo. I think there’s something out there. If not the rock, at least a portal to it. And the fact that we keep getting distracted tells me we’re headed in the right direction. It’s like evil is trying to keep us away from it.”
As Sibyl was talking about the Holy Rock, I set down my mug, feeling a bit second rate. It was my job to find the rock, but I hadn’t been focused—at all. My mind had been in a dust cloud consumed with classes, Whitmore, and the evil dogs. But the main source of distraction was Brooke Thorne. Man, I was embarrassed. I had let a girl get between me and my calling. Unprofessional.
I stood up. “Sib, I owe you an apology for being so lame about this. You’ve been on me for almost two weeks. Time to settle this once and for all.”
“Don’t feel too bad. Like I said, I think some outside force is distracting us. I’m pretty sure Whitmore’s been messing around with our minds, putting a supernatural block on us,” Sibyl said.
“The books say those reptile ones have intense mind control powers,” Eli agreed. “So, it’s very possible he found a way to distract you, Vago.”
Marlo asked, “Do you think I can do the same thing?”
Eli shrugged.
Sibyl said, “I’m sure at the rate you’re going, you’ll be able to control the world in no time.”
I headed toward the back door. “I’m checking out the gazebo. Anyone else interested?”
Marlo put down her cup and followed me. “Hello? A rock that allows us to communicate with the divine? I’m in!”
Eli grabbed Sibyl’s hand. “Come on. Let’s check it out.”
Sibyl laughed. “Finally!”
Chapter Twenty-five
Vago
When we stepped outside to check the gazebo, the weather had taken an abrupt turn. Thick pewter clouds covered the sky and a chill swept through the yard. The wind picked up, rustling the leaves of the large oaks. The once pristine, painted white gazebo was cracked right down the middle. Broken wooden beams had fallen and criss-crossed over the top of each other. The dome—tilted on a slant—was precariously balanced on a few of the remaining pillars.
I looked at Eli, laughing in amazement. “Whoa, dude. You really nailed the shit out of that thing.”
A drop of rain plunked onto my forehead and rolled down the side of my nose. I wiped it off and stepped closer to the gazebo, slowly circling the perimeter. Something otherworldly lingered in the air, tickling my nose.
“Storm’s coming,” Sibyl said.
Maybe that’s what was bugging me.
“Yeah, it looks like a nasty one, too.” Eli walked over to the steps of the gazebo. “Maybe stand back, Sib. This thing is on its last leg, and I don’t want that dome to fall on your head.”
She laughed. “You’re the one who attracts falling objects … But sure, I’ll stand back while you brave men poke around.”
“Hey, I’m helping too!” Marlo said.
The scent drifted by again. An intoxicating metallic aroma that twisted and threaded through the air whenever the breeze grew stronger. I thought maybe it was the ex
cessive vines of jasmine hanging from the pillars. But I inhaled deeply and knew it wasn’t that.
“What’s going on, Vago?” Sibyl asked.
“Something in the air,” I said.
“Probably the jasmine,” Marlo said. “I’ve never seen so much of it!” She stood in the middle of the gazebo, stretching out her arms to point out the obvious. Her tan boot nearly slipped into a large crack.
“Careful there, Blink.” I pointed to the damaged planks.
She folded her arms across her chest and lifted her chin. “I prefer Jenny Quantum, thank you very much.”
“Okay, okay. But seriously, watch your step. Don’t want you falling into some portal.”
“Guys,” Sibyl said.
“What’s up?” Eli peered over to Sibyl.
She stood under a tree, shielding herself from the increasing drops of icy rain.
“I’m catching something, too. Something that smells distinctly of tuberose.” She sneered at me.
“What’s that look supposed to mean?”
“You don’t recognize the scent? Uber sweet with just a hint of dirty … Someone you know likes to bathe in it,” she said.
And it hit me like a beam of wood. Brooke Thorne. But why would she be hanging around at Eli’s house?
“Something I should know about?” I asked Eli.
He chuffed, scrunching up his brows. “I have no clue what you two are talking about. But Sibyl’s right. There’s something under that plank of wood next to Marlo’s boot.”
Sibyl ran over to the gazebo and stood on the outside next to the handrail. “Is it glowing?”
Eli and Marlo knelt down.
“There’s something—it’s not glowing—more like glistening,” Eli said.
The rain started pelting down, making loud plunks on the top of the dome. The wind picked up, howling and moaning. I couldn’t move my feet. Or my arms. My head spun with the roaring of thunder. I felt myself slipping away from the others. What was happening?
Sibyl turned around and stared at me. Or maybe it was through me. Her blond hair whipped around her cheeks, and then her pale blue eyes lit up to white. She began to sway.