by Carver Pike
“We weren’t gonna kill him!” Billy’s buddy yelled.
“Please!” Billy yelled.
Haylay’s finger was pulling the trigger back and he was surprised it hadn’t yet gone off. His heart pounded, threatening to explode through his chest. But something was stopping him from firing the gun. No matter how right it felt, something about it still seemed wrong.
He knew from all of his time spent with Gabe and Lisa that images served a single purpose on this lighter side of the mirror. They were there to do what their weaker version was unable to. He was here to kill because Hollis didn’t have it in him. It was his destiny. It was pre-written. He didn’t have much of a say in it because he was an image and images were naturally the bad guys.
“You can control it. Nobody is in control of that body but you, Miss Haylay,” Haylay heard Heather’s voice back at the junkyard. “I know I haven’t known you long, but from what I’ve seen, you’re the toughest bitch on the planet.”
She’d believed in him. She’d believed he could control this anger and stop himself from killing the men. She’d tried telling him that he didn’t have to do this. What if she was right? What would happen if he crossed back through the mirror without killing these guys? For one, Hollis wouldn’t be guilty of murder and find himself rotting away in a prison, like so many other people whose images had done their killing.
He wondered if it had ever been done before. Somehow, he doubted it. He wanted to kill these men so badly that he couldn’t believe any other image could hold back. He was having a hell of a time fighting it himself.
“You can control it. Nobody is in control of that body but you, Miss Haylay,” he heard Heather say again.
“I’m in control,” Haylay heard himself say.
“Yes, you are,” Billy agreed. “You’re the man. You’re completely in control”
“I’m in control,” Haylay repeated.
“You sure are,” Billy agreed.
“Motherfucker, will you shut the fuck up? I’m havin’ a moment here!”
Billy ran his pinched fingers over his lip, doing the “zipping them up” gesture.
“Do you have a camera?” Haylay asked.
Billy had to think about it for a second, but then he nodded his head.
“Go get it. And don’t you dare try to leave this apartment. You might be fast, but I promise, I’m faster.”
He nodded his head, disappeared, and returned a few seconds later with an ugly, dirty, but functional digital camera. Billy sat down on the bed and waited for further instructions. Haylay went into the closet and snapped a couple of pictures of the treasure pile in the closet.
“This is what’s going to happen,” Haylay said as he made his way out of the closet. “I just took a picture, some hard evidence of the stash y’all stole from the church.”
Billy nodded his head. His buddy just looked at the floor and tried to keep pressure on his wound.
“I’m not gonna kill y’all. Why? ‘Cause I’m better than y’all. Just ‘cause Miss Haylay’s an image, don’t mean he gotta act like one.”
“I don’t know what that means, but I agree. You’re better than that,” Billy said.
“So I ain’t gonna kill ya. But I am gonna walk out of this apartment with that photo. You’re gonna take your buddy here to a hospital and make up a good story. Tell ‘em he shot himself with his own gun tryin’ to clean it or somethin’.
Billy nodded.
“Don’t try no funny stuff. First, I don’t think y’all want anyone knowin’ a big dude in drag made you look like a couple of pussies. Plus, remember, I got these photos. Any bullshit and I show it to the cops. And if you mess with Hollis again, he’ll show it to the cops. Y’all got two days to return all this shit to the church. I don’t care how, just make it happen.”
Billy nodded.
“Billy seems to understand,” Haylay announced to his buddy. “How ‘bout you?”
“Yes, please. I feel like I’m gonna faint. Just let me go to a hospital.”
Haylay smiled at the two men.
“I’m gonna give you a piece of advice. Stay the fuck away from mirrors. ‘Cause y’all wouldn’t last a minute in my world. Believe that.”
Haylay walked out of the apartment with a sense of pride, a new camera, and an intense blue jewel stuffed in his pocket. He didn’t know what the magic was behind the jewel, but somehow he knew he needed to get back to his world, and show it to his friends. But first, he needed to find Heather and thank her for saving his life and for saving Hollis’ future.
Chapter 14 - As It Was Written
Her silhouette in front of the window, with rain pattering down outside and lights shining from lanterns in the windows of other buildings far below the tower, was like a piece of art. Everything appeared black and white from where Hawks stood. It was beautiful, in a strange sort of way. Ayana seemed to sense him behind her as she turned her head slightly to the right, her long hair hanging down over her cheek like drapes meant to keep her beauty under control.
Hawks, despite all that had happened over the past couple of days, had an aching in his gut and a stirring in his pants. He wanted her badly. Yet, her resemblance to Savannah was frightening. Sometimes when he looked at her, he felt a sense of relief, like he was getting a second chance, but other times he felt guilty, like this could be a test, a test he would surely fail.
“It’s beautiful,” Ayana said, as she turned back to the window. “I’ve never been this high up before. It all just seems so far away, and separated from us, like I’m watching the world carry on from some safe haven.”
Hawks hadn’t been sure about joining her in the room. She’d snuck off to be alone, in one of the empty offices, and he’d followed close behind. He couldn’t let her out of his sight. Now, alone in the room with her, he closed the door behind him and walked up behind her.
He cautiously placed the tips of his fingers on each side of her waist. He half expected her to pull free of his grasp, but she didn’t. She seemed to be soaking it up. When she didn’t move, he realized he was safe, and he put his chin on her right shoulder, to join her in gazing out the window.
“You’re right,” he said. “It’s nice. From up here you wouldn’t think it was so crazy down there.”
Ayana turned her face so that her lips were only inches from his. He could feel her breath against his mouth, and he cherished it for a moment, fighting back the urge to kiss her. If he did, the moment would be over, and a new one would begin. But there was time for that new moment. Instead, he decided to enjoy the one he was currently in. Her lips so close to his made his heart thud a little bit. He realized he was concentrating on each breath, hers and his, and the two combined made him feel as if he were suffocating.
“I wonder what the other version of me is like on the other side,” she said.
Hawks hadn’t thought about it before. Was there another version of Ayana on the other side of the mirror?
“I don’t think you have one,” Hawks said, instantly wishing he could take back his words when he saw the look of concern flash through her eyes. “You’re a supernatural, aren’t you?”
“What? What’s that?” she asked, pulling away from him and turning so they were face to face.
“I mean you’re not human, right?”
She squinted her eyes and turned up one corner of her mouth. One of her fangs peeked out, and her look of disbelief said it all. He’d asked a ridiculous question.
“What do you think I am? A monster?” she asked. “Of course I’m human.”
She turned away from him and focused on the window.
“I thought that with the fangs you were something else…something…”
“They’re just my teeth. I’m not a vampire or anything.”
“You’re not?”
Ayana laughed.
“You thought I might be a vampire, and you kissed me anyway?”
“I would kiss you a million times no matter the situation. I like you, Ayana
. Something inside me…nothing could ever taint you in my eyes.”
She turned her face to the right again and he leaned forward, placing his head against the window as he directed his lips and eyes at hers.
“I just want to be with you,” he added. “I didn’t mean anything by my question. I just…I don’t know.”
She took his hand in hers.
“I’m what they call an Antwa Warrior. All of my people have teeth like this. We use them for fighting. It’s what all the animals do, and we’re just a more civilized animal. I was trained to be an assassin. That was before my people were destroyed and I met up with Sasha and his gypsies.”
“I’m kind of embarrassed right now,” Hawks replied. “I’m really sorry if I offended you.”
She smiled. “So you would have still liked me even if I was a vampire?”
“Yes,” he assured her. “It doesn’t matter what you are.”
She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed him gently on the lips.
“I promise not to bite you,” she said.
“I can’t make the same promise,” he joked.
“Would you say you’re devoted to me now?” she asked.
Hawks wasn’t quite sure he understood the question. Devoted how? He had strong feelings for her and could think of no other. He couldn’t imagine another woman stealing his glance, let alone his heart. The answer had to be yes.
He nodded.
“My people. We are a very devoted people,” she said. “And when a man loves a woman, when he’s pledging his devotion to her, he has to claim her if she’s willing.”
“Claim her?”
“Yes.”
Fire ran through his limbs and his cock pressed against his pants. He hoped claiming meant what he thought it did.
Ayana glanced up at him, her brown eyes looking so innocent, yet devilish at the same time. God, she was fucking beautiful. Hawks fought the urge to rip her clothes right down the middle. He wanted her. As impossible as it seemed, he knew he was falling in love with her.
“I am willing,” she said.
With that, she unlaced her top and let it fall from her shoulders. Hawks took a step back just so he could see her more clearly. Her smooth shoulders led down to her strong arms and strange tattoos on her chest. Markings, symbols of her people. He reached out to touch them, feeling the grooves in her skin and he realized they weren’t paint, but some sort of carvings.
The top slid down more and got hung up on her tits. Hawks let his hands fall down to the fabric barrier and he tugged softly, helping it pass over her nipples. Dark, large, erect nipples beckoned him. He wanted them in his mouth.
Fuck, he hadn’t been with a woman in so long. His head swam and he remembered to breathe.
“Claim me,” Ayana said. “I am willing.”
She opened her mouth, revealed her fangs, and slammed them down into his shoulder. The pain was immense and he slapped an open palm against the window as he fought through it.
“Yes,” he said, loving it.
The pain was necessary. His cock throbbed and the ache in his shoulder burned, stoking his fire. He pulled off his shirt and tossed it to the ground. Blood from his shoulder ran down his chest as he dropped to his knees, pulled down her pants, and lifted one of her legs up onto a nearby cabinet.
She wore no panties and her pussy was unshaven, untrimmed, and completely natural. Fuck, he wanted her. She’d said humans were animals. He felt like one now as he dove into it, taking her in his mouth, scooping his tongue up, parting her lips, and settling on her clit.
She gasped and fell back against the window, her naked body slapping the glass as he lashed at her clit. She went wild. Her hips rolled, trying her hardest to fuck his face.
“Claim me,” she hissed as she pulled his head up by his hair and reached down to pull his cock from his pants.
Hawks was a fan of foreplay and he knew he’d relish in it with his warrior princess later. Now was the time for fucking. He needed to be inside her. He grabbed her thighs and hoisted her body into the air.
She was the perfect partner, wrapping her legs around his waist as the wetness of her pussy and the swollen head of his cock collided. He slid into her roughly and they both cried out in pleasure. He gripped the back of her neck, slid his fingers into her hair, and pulled her gorgeous body down onto his dick.
With his chest against her tits, his hand cupping her tight ass, and his cock buried deep inside her, he fucked her up against the wall with a strength and power he didn’t know he possessed.
There, in the Observatory of Oddity, Hawks claimed Ayana.
***
Back in the main room, Gabe sat on a couch, with Oddity across from him in an oversized armchair. Leaning back in his seat, with a warm blanket on his lap, Oddity looked like an old grandfather from another planet. Tact rested on the floor with a pillow tucked under his head.
“Thank you for letting Lisa and the boys use the guestroom,” Gabe said. “We haven’t had the chance to rest since this all started. Well, we rested for a little while at that guy Jaundice Jones’ house, if you want to call it resting.”
Oddity clapped his hands together and laughed.
“Ah, yes, you met Jaundice.”
“You know him?” Gabe asked. “I assumed you don’t leave the tower often.”
“No, I don’t know him. I have seen him, though, in my visions.” Oddity laughed again. “And he is one sneaky little man. Very resilient, always getting into trouble, but somehow managing to weasel his way out of it. I like him. Let’s just say if my visions were like cable TV, I’d choose to watch Jaundice’s channel most of the time.”
“And what’s the deal with this general?” Tact asked.
“We are not what you would call friends,” Oddity said. “He craves power. I have power. Well, not as much power as I once had, but still, enough to scare him away from attacking the tower. He tried once. He will never try again.”
“This world never fails to amaze me,” Gabe said. “Anyway, thanks again for giving us a place to rest. I’m sure Bronc and Emma appreciate their room, too. You have no idea what that poor couple has been through.”
“Oh, I have some idea. You must rest while you can,” Oddity replied. “The road ahead is long. Besides, what is a guestroom when you never have guests?”
“Must be lonely up here all by yourself,” Tact said.
“I have my visions to keep me entertained. It is not safe for me out there.” Oddity pointed towards the window.
Hawks and Ayana entered the room, wrapped in each other’s arms. Hawks was glowing and Gabe hoped they’d done something worthwhile over the last hour.
“I’ve seen my own death,” Oddity continued. “And it is not here in this building.”
“That’s some trippy shit,” Tact said. “I don’t know if I’d wanna know when I die.”
“It’s as much a curse as it is a blessing,” Oddity admitted.
“Look,” Gabe cut in. “I visited the Soothsayer back at The Dwellings, near Darkar, and…”
“The Soothsayer is dead,” Oddity interrupted. “He was killed two days after he assisted you. Courtesy of Lord Colossus.”
Gabe lowered his gaze to the floor and rubbed at his temples. It seemed that every single person who’d helped him was now dead. He closed his eyes for a moment and gripped his hair in his right hand, yanking just enough for the slight pain to overpower the ache that was beginning to rattle his head. He opened his eyes and continued.
“He said that I was the Haissem. What is that all about? What am I supposed to do here? I just want to live a normal life with my wife and my sons.”
Oddity leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling.
“How do I explain this?” he asked the empty space above his head. “Let’s deal with one question at a time, as you seem to have many, Gabe. And my head throbs enough just focusing on one issue at a time.”
“Okay,” Gabe said as he lifted his face and looked at Oddity. “Hai
ssem. I know that’s Messiah in reverse.”
Oddity nodded his head. Tact seemed to tense up a little, hearing this story for the first time. Hawks and Ayana made their way over to where they were all seated. They sat next to Gabe on the couch. Lisa stepped out of the guestroom and leaned against one of the columns, prepared to listen to what Oddity had to say. Everyone wanted to hear this.
“The Soothsayer was wrong,” Oddity announced.
“Wait,” Gabe said, holding his hand up. “How could he be wrong with all of this stuff that’s happened?”