“What are you daydreaming about? I asked about that strange noise.”
The boy shrugged, his facial expression the perfect imitation of an innocent child’s. “I have no idea what that sound is.”
“I’ve spent too much time here. I’ve got to get to Roanoke as soon as possible.”
Boozer opened his mouth wide and roared and then began pounding his chest again. The sound of his voice was coarse and discordant and his chest, taking a beating, vibrated like a tom-tom drum.
Infuriated, Eris sent a burning beam in Boozer’s direction. “Listen, you fool, I can’t let you run amok out there with the humans. You’re dim-witted with a brain the size of a pea and if I let you out, you’ll do something stupid and have the authorities swarming all over this place. I have business in Roanoke and I refuse to allow your primal urges to stand in my way.”
“Roanoke, Roanoke…I’m sick of hearing about that place,” the boy cut in. “I’ve risked everything to get you out of the Dark Realm and you reward me by bringing this Neanderthal with you. My plans have precedence over yours and I can’t think clearly with him stomping about and pounding on this chest.”
“Your childish revenge will be dealt with when I return from Roanoke with my jewels,” Eris said as she patted her coiled hair, taking the loosened coils and twisting them back into the glamorous upsweep secured with Catherine Provost’s hairpins.
“Why do you care about that old-fashioned jewelry? If it’s diamonds you’re after, my mother has plenty of those locked in a safe. And I know the combination,” he said smugly.
“I don’t want your mother’s inferior jewels. I’m going to Roanoke to retrieve my very own powerful and precious goddess ring.”
Before the boy could comment, Boozer bellowed again. Leaning against a tall bookcase, he worked on his erection, using frantic hand strokes, irritatingly audible as his calloused hand scraped angrily against his thick phallus that pulsed with raw desire. The release he desperately sought did not come and Boozer dropped his head in frustration and wept. His tear drops, thick and oily, were a wretched sight. “Lemme outta here,” Boozer sobbed.
“I’m going to let you out, but you have to promise me that you’ll be careful and do your deed with discretion.”
“I promise,” Boozer croaked, holding up a malformed hand.
“You’re making a grave mistake,” the boy cautioned.
“Listen to me, Boozer, you must use stealth. Leap up to rooftops and then crawl across very quietly. Use your sense of smell to sniff out a female. If you detect a male scent, move on to another house. Do you understand?”
“Yes, goddess.” Boozer smacked his hands together with glee. Eris led him to another room with a side door. He dropped to his hands and knees. Poking his head outside, he cautiously looked left and right. Determining that the coast was clear, he raced outside, running low along the wall of the house, and then scampering up the gnarled trunk of a tree. Leaping from treetops, Boozer avoided the long driveway that led to the main road.
“Nothing good is going to come of this,” the boy said ominously. “But then again, being that tonight is Halloween, Boozer might fit in quite nicely.” Tauntingly, the boy arched a brow.
“Who cares if he fits in or not? I’m going to Roanoke with or without Boozer. The nanny is going to take me.”
“How is she going to manage that? You left her down in the cellar depleted of blood; she’s probably half dead by now.” The boy snickered. “Oh, Wicked One. You never listen to reason and you never learn from past mistakes.”
“Be quiet. What do you know? You’re a boy?”
“I’m a man,” the child insisted. “And I have manly urges. Now that Boozer is out on the prowl, I’d hoped you and I could spend some time together—pick up where we left off.”
He closed his eyes in blissful remembrance of the wanton times they’d spent together on the Dark Realm. “Wicked One, I’ve been waiting for this day for so long.” He held out his small hand. “Come join me in my bedroom. Lie down with me.”
Eris’s cackling laughter echoed in the quiet house. “You amuse me, little boy. I refuse. That miniature body you chose is appalling. Now, be a good boy and go upstairs and operate your contraption. Go to that source of vast information—”
“The internet,” he informed sullenly.
“It doesn’t matter what it’s called; just find out if there’s anything else I can use to help keep my lovely body glorious throughout all of eternity.”
“All of eternity?”
“Of course. Do you think I plan on returning to the Dark Realm?”
“No, but I assumed that eventually you’d want to go home— to the Goddess Realm.”
“Never! I refuse to allow those self-righteous goddesses to have power over my fate. I do, however, plan to lure my sister, Tara, to this Earthly Realm.”
“Whatever for?”
“Let’s just say…she deserves her comeuppance.”
“Is she pretty?” He looked hopeful.
Eris shrugged. “I suppose, but not as pretty as me. We’re complete opposites in our appearance and temperament.”
“What does she look like?” The boy stroked his hairless chin.
“She’s compassionate and weepy.”
“Her appearance...” he prodded.
“The fair maiden type. Long bronze hair, chestnut eyes, with honey-colored skin.”
“And her body? Is she well-endowed?”
“Her breasts are very large but her hips are narrow, her legs slender and, did I mention that she’s not physically strong?”
The boy was wheezing. “She sounds scrumptious. I must meet her.”
“Why?”
“You’ve rejected me based on my appearance. I’m sure your sister will see the real me…besides, there’s something about goddesses that I find extremely arousing. Once you’ve been with one, an average woman simply doesn’t measure up. Do you mind if I work my charms on Tara before you exact revenge?”
“Sorry, little boy. You’re not her type.”
The boy flinched and then pouted. “She’s a compassionate goddess. She’ll understand that although I’m trapped in this deficient little body, I’m of superior intelligence, clever… and I’ve always been quite the ladies man.”
“Tara doesn’t like boys or men. She’s in love with a half-bird.”
He peered at Eris questioningly. “Half-breed?”
“No! I call her a half-bird. Her lover’s name is Zeta; she has wings like a bird. Zeta is very unique. She pleasures Tara with her two sets of genitals. Zeta has a male appendage as well as a female opening. Tara adores her. Think you can compete with Zeta for my sister’s affection? I think not!”
“You’re probably right. I can’t compete, but I’m thoroughly aroused.” The demon boy began to pant with lust. “I want to fornicate with both of them.”
“If you figure out how to keep my limbs intact, I’ll try to work something out. I’ll lure Tara and her lover here. Then I’m going to break Tara’s heart. I know how to cause her deep pain…pain so severe, she’ll keel over and die!”
“Make sure you keep her safe and sound until after I’ve had my way with her and the bird woman.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Once you’ve been satiated by Tara and Zeta, I’m going to castrate her half-bird lover, right in front of Tara’s eyes. If that doesn’t do the trick, then I’ll force Tara to watch as I rip off the wings that my sister absolutely adores!” Eris grinned. The smile twisted into a sneer when the buzzing upstairs commenced again.
“That’s the nanny’s cell phone,” the boy explained.
“Oh, one of those tiny talking mechanisms? Yes, I remember tinkering with one during my last visit here. Why does it keep buzzing?”
“It’s probably my father. Trying to get in touch with her to find out how you’re making out in the new nanny position.”
Anxiety twitched the muscles in the boy’s face. “If he doesn’t speak to her, he’s going
to become concerned. Who knows what might happen. He or my mother might become alarmed enough to slip away from the campaign trail and come home.”
“Good!”
“Not good,” he disagreed. “I’m not ready yet. My plan is not in motion.”
“Then hurry up! I have to get to Roanoke. The sooner your mother gets here, the sooner I can be on my way. I don’t know why you’re holding a grudge against her for something she did hundreds of years ago.”
“You’re a fine one to talk. You’re still obsessed with those Stovalls.”
“Not really. I simply want my jewels. The gall of that obnoxious child to frolic about adorned with my precious jewels. When I arrive in Roanoke, she’ll prance no more. I’m going to maim that little jewel thief of a child—break her arms and legs and disable the pompous rascal for life. After that, I’ll leave the Stovall family alone. They are really out of fashion with me and totally irrelevant now. My latest grudge is so much more exciting; it makes me tingle with wicked desire. As I told you, my mealy mouthed sister and her winged lover are the focus of all my wrath and rage.”
“Don’t harm her until after I’ve sampled the goods,” the boy reminded Eris.
Eris checked her hands and smiled, satisfied that they were remained undamaged. “Bring me that buzzing contraption that belongs to the nanny. I want to have a word with your mother.”
“No! You’ll ruin my diabolical plans.”
“I can’t wait around here forever, you know. You’re going to have to trust that I know what I’m doing. Don’t you want your mother to come home without guards or even her husband for protection?”
“Yes, most definitely. It would be ideal to get her here alone.”
“Then leave it to me. I know exactly what to say that will bring her here, quickly and without a horde of security guards.”
The boy’s smile spread wide. His beady eyes twinkled with malice. “Good idea.”
“When she arrives, we’ll end your mother’s miserable life and then I’ll summon Tara. Now bring me the nanny’s talking device.”
“That’s not a good idea. The nanny’s not in any shape to talk. We don’t want to arouse my parents’ suspicions.”
“Don’t question my judgment, Xavier. I know what I’m doing.”
“If you say so.” He shrugged and left the room. If his mother came home unexpectedly, then so be it. Eris would be caught with her guard down, but he’d have a devious plan already in motion.
Death was too good for his mother and his former unfaithful wife. She deserved far worse. He intended to involve Catherine Provost in a scandal that would end her political career and send her to prison. Child molestation was a terrible crime. Pedophiles were reviled—even in prison.
He began to formulate a sinister plan and could hardly control the urge to howl with malicious laughter. He’d set up a hidden camera. When his mother arrived, he’d pretend to be violently ill and trick her into his bedroom.
Eris didn’t need to know the details of how he planned to finally settle a centuries-old score. The press would salivate when they got their hands on the footage of Catherine Provost molesting her own child. The presidential candidate would be wise to have another vice presidential nominee on hand as a back-up.
Excited with his idea, he raced into Jen’s room, and grabbed her phone off the night stand. Downstairs, he handed the cell to Eris.
As if on cue, the cell phone vibrated against Eris’s palm.
“Catherine,” Eris said, reading the name that appeared on the screen of the small phone.
“I tried to warn you,” the boy said grimly. “Should I fetch my ailing nanny?” he asked with a smirk.
Eris ignored his sarcasm. She flipped the phone open. “Hello, how are you Ms. Provost?” she said, using a voice that was identical to Jen’s. “Oh, Ethan is fine.”
She flung the boy a triumphant smile and continued talking to his mother. “The new nanny is great. Ethan seems to really like her. She’s with him right now. Reading to him while he’s sitting in front of his computer…you know…looking at those bridges.” Eris’s words were followed with a nervous giggle, giving an uncanny impersonation of Jen.
“Wicked One,” he whispered, impressed.
Eris shot a smug look in his direction.
Gesturing, he gave her performance an enthusiastic thumbsup.
“Baby, you got me stalking you. What’s up? Why you avoiding me? Pick up the phone.” Rome put laughter in his tone, trying to use humor to hide the hurt that he was feeling in his heart. “I got my Obama look tonight…a black cashmere coat…a fly suit—I’m looking all GQ for you, baby,” he continued, sounding playful and lighthearted, though inside he was anxious and confused.
He gave another burst of nervous laughter. The sound rang so false, Rome couldn’t go on pretending. “Look, I have to keep it real. I’m sitting in my truck, not too far from your house. I’ve been waiting for a couple of hours. I guess I should take a hint and recognize that I’ve been stood up. I can’t understand it. Why didn’t you call and tell me something?”
He sighed. “I don’t know what I could have said or done that pissed you off like this. I mean, damn…you won’t even take my calls. Listen, whatever I did, I apologize. Okay, Pretty Red? Another thing, I don’t care whether you’re mad at me or not, I’m not giving up on us.” He paused again, his mind racing for something else to say.
“So…um…I’m about to turn around and head on home. I’ll be in the crib if you decide you want to talk. Bye, baby.”
Rome backed up and made a U-turn. Instead of zipping onto Germantown Avenue, which would be a speedy route home, he drove slowly, taking a scenic tree-lined winding road with bubbling brooks and a picturesque autumn landscape.
Normally, the beauty of nature both soothed and mesmerized him. Sometimes he marveled at the majesty of a red maple tree or gazed in awe at a sturdy oak that stood at least fifty feet tall and could well be one hundred years old or more. But tonight the beautiful scenery was meaningless.
Rome’s cell was set up in the cup holder next to his seat. He kept picking up the phone and checking to make sure he hadn’t mistakenly turned the volume too low. Jen’s call was important; he didn’t want to miss it.
Acting like this wasn’t cool at all. For so long, he’d guarded his heart. He was probably a classic example of a male all messed up in the head with an Oedipus complex. Yeah, he’d had a childhood crush on his mom, he admitted to himself. The way she danced in her old videos, that look in her big doe eyes made her every young boy’s dream.
He couldn’t honestly exclude himself. But after she’d rejected him, acting like she forgot she was his mother, he grew into manhood keeping a close watch on his heart, never opening up or allowing himself to be vulnerable. Never letting another woman get close enough to break his heart.
Jen was different. So wholesome and sweet. Nothing city slick about Jen. So what went wrong? he wondered, anguished. Damn, he missed his baby. He wanted to see her pretty face; hear her laugh; hold her again. He swallowed. He wanted to feel her skin against his, even if she told him it would be the last time.
The night that held so much promise. Rome patted his coat pocket and felt the square box that contained a ring. He shook his head. Wrong move. Jumped the gun; moving too fast. Only a love-struck sucker would think it was a good idea to buy an engagement ring in this early stage of the game.
Good guys always lose, he told himself. Still, too stubborn to admit defeat, Rome continued cruising down the long, winding road. Wasting time, lingering around Chestnut Hill, hoping Jen would return his call.
“What the fuck!” Something big leapt from a tree and shot across the sky. He screeched to a stop, lowered the window, stuck his head out, and craned his neck upward.
“Oh, shit!” He flinched as he gawked at the huge, shadowy figure that was leaping from one treetop to the next, in pursuit of something. It was happening so fast, the creature was a blur, but from what Rome could make out,
the thing looked like a flying ape or a soaring Sasquatch.
He threw the truck into park and grabbed the gun he kept under his seat. Standing outside his truck, he walked a few paces, his head upturned as he scanned the tall trees. There was no movement and he didn’t see a thing except the dark sky, the stars, and the eerie light of the half-moon.
Was it some sort of high-tech Halloween prank? There were a group of Goth teens in the area. Known troublemakers. Rome had to haul a few of their asses into the station on more than one occasion for disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and other misdemeanors. He doubted if those zombie-looking kids were capable of pulling such an elaborate stunt.
That flying Sasquatch was some serious, supernatural shit. I’m trippin.’ I’m starting to see bizarre, horror-movie scenes. It’s time to get off this dark, lonely road and take my ass home. Rome tugged the handle of his truck, but rustling sounds made him whirl around, gun drawn.
He looked up. The top of a maple tree swayed in the moonlight.
Something had definitely jumped off of that tree. What? A wild animal? And where had it gone? Hell if he knew. He’d better call the station and let the officers know that there was some mysterious activity—
A woman’s distant scream interrupted his thought. Rome knew the area well and the only home in this remote area was the Abramson home, a gorgeous colonial about fifty yards past the bend in the road. Ms. Abramson, a recent widow, lived alone.
A sudden sweat dampened his brow. Acting on instinct, he quickly climbed back inside the truck, and got behind the wheel. Without mulling it over or devising any kind of plan, he tore off in the direction of the Abramson home.
The front of the house was dark. He parked the truck, got out, looking up, scanning the treetops. Nothing going on up there. Maybe he’d imagined it all. Breathing more easily, he started to walk up the steps to the house and ring the doorbell and ask Ms. Abramson if everything was all right; perhaps warn her to keep the house locked up tight. Just in case.
The Sorceress Page 25