by Geri Glenn
He kisses the top of my head before removing me from the wall and laying me down on the bed. His arms wrap around me, tucking me tightly against his body. “Sleep, baby.”
Closing my eyes, I feel contentment and wholeness wash over me. I want to feel this for the rest of my life. “I love you, Merrick,” I whisper. “More than anything in this cruel world, and more than whatever lies beyond it. You’re all I need.” I’m asleep before he even has a chance to reply.
Chapter Fifteen
Cyrus
-
A deep rumble and the sound of glass shattering wake me from my peaceful sleep. Sitting up quickly, I look around at the dark room and try to understand what exactly is going on. The loud rumble gets louder, and the room shakes—the whole house shakes. The pictures and books on my shelves fall to the ground, and I can hear glass breaking downstairs.
Emersyn sits up beside me, crying out in shock. “What’s going on?”
Climbing from the bed, I reach for my pants, tugging them on. “It’s starting, Em. Get dressed.”
The sounds of gunfire and terrified screams echo through the night, coming from just outside the house. My eyes find Emersyn’s in the darkness and we both scramble about the room, dressing as quickly as we can. When we’re finished, I grab her hand. “Stay where I can see you at all times.”
She nods and her eyes shine with tears. “This is it, isn’t it? It’s Le Vieux.”
I kiss her hard and fast before pulling back. “I don’t know, Em, but if it is, I need you to know something.” If this is our last moment alone together, I need her to know. “Em, I fucking love you. I love you so goddam much.” Tears spill from her eyes, sliding down her cheeks as she squeezes my hands. “Don’t ever forget that, baby. You hear me?”
She sobs loudly, nodding her head. I nod back and give her a wink, trying to look much more confident than I actually feel. Turning, I look towards the door as the house trembles all around us. “Cyrus!” she cries, panic clear in her voice. I look at her once more and can see the decision to be strong happen in her mind. Her shoulders square and her back straightens. “I love you too.”
My heart soars. Kissing her forehead, I pull her from the room and into the hall. Joey and Merrick appear at the same time, both of them charging down the hall with determination etched on their faces.
Without a word, the four of us move down the stairs, intent on finding Father Martin. At the bottom of the stairs, we find him staring out the window, a gun clenched in his hand, surrounded by the rubble that was once part of our home.
“Father,” I call over the growling of the earth. Without turning, he motions us over. My hand is still holding tightly to Emersyn’s as I weave my way through the debris. When I get to his side, my gut clenches when I see what he’s watching.
The street is busy with people running, crying, and fighting. I watch in horror as one man steps in front of a speeding car. The car screeches to a stop, barely missing the man on the street. He raises his arm and fires his gun three times through the windshield. The sound of the car horn joins the symphony of terrifying noises that are ringing through the night. The man turns towards our house, and Emersyn gasps when his yellow eyes glow brightly in the darkness.
“What the fuck is happening?” Merrick calls.
Father Martin looks back at us wearily. “It’s time. Le Vieux has reached full power. If we don’t act now, the world as we know it will end, and all of human kind will suffer an eternity in torture and pain.”
“Fuck that,” I declare. “This Old Fuck has picked the wrong hybrid to piss off.” Summoning my sword, I look to my sister.
“What’s the plan?” she asks, already reaching down and pulling a dagger from her boot.
“We go on campus, find this fucker, and we kill him.” I grit out between my teeth.
“We don’t even know what the key is yet. How can we kill him without knowing?” Emersyn asks.
“If we can’t kill him, we can at least wound him.” Joey informs her before turning her attention to Father Martin. “Father. Stay here and dig up everything you know about how Le Vieux was trapped in the earth before. If you find anything, get it to us as fast as you can. We’ll just have to hold him off until you get there, or pray that we find the key within the next ten minutes.”
Just before Father Martin can get too far, we hear a loud crack and the house shakes. “The house isn’t stable. We need to get out of here,” Merrick declares, already trying to pull Joey out the door.
“I’ll grab what I need. I’ll stay far enough away to not draw attention to myself, but close enough that I can get to you when I find the information you’ll need.” Father Martin turns to take a step in the direction of the living room, but before he gets too far, he turns back to us. “I know you can do this. I have faith in all of you.” Then he’s rushing into the living room and tossing book after book into a bag. Then he’s gone.
“Let’s go!” Merrick yells again.
We move as one out the front door, knowing there’s no going back. Just as we make it onto the sidewalk, the house groans, and you can visibly see it cave in on itself, though it’s still standing, somewhat. Thank God we got out of there when we did.
Walking down the path to the street, I take in everything around us. Houses are burning, and people are running around crazy in the streets. The rumbling has stopped, but the devastation the earthquake has caused is all around us. Bricks have crumbled from the outer walls of houses, trees lay on the ground and across cars. Cracks are all across the pavement, and the only light to break up the darkness is that of the fires going on all around us.
With no time to waste, we move towards campus, needing to find out where Le Vieux has risen. I don’t know if we will even find him there, but it’s our best start. With every step we take, the evil gets thicker, and the pandemonium around us gets crazier.
Merrick tries to stop a fight between a man and a woman, but the minute he gets in between them, the pair forget their quarrel and turn on him. Joey and I move swiftly into action. She kicks the woman in the face, while I put the man in a chokehold. With that problem taken care of, we continue on towards the campus.
Cyrus, keep walking as if you can’t hear me. Joey’s voice in my head almost makes me pause, but I do as she says and keep walking. I feel it calling to me...the evil. I’m fighting it, Cy, but I might lose. I need you to promise me something.
Don’t say that, Jo. You will fight it, and you will fucking win, you hear me?
Yeah, I hear you. But if I can’t, I need you to be the one to do it.
What are you talking about? Do what?
I need you to be the one to stop me, no matter the cost.
Are you fucking kidding me?
I mean it, Cyrus. If I go crazy again, who knows what will happen. I almost killed Merrick last time, and if I ever hurt him, I would never forgive myself. Promise me, Cy. Promise me that if I can’t fight him off in my head, that you will kill me. Promise me.
I turn to look at my sister. Her expression is hard and determined.
I love Merrick. I would ask him, but I know that he would never do it because he loves me too.
What about me, Joey? You’re my goddamn sister, for fuck’s sake!
I’m asking you because I know you’ll do what’s right. I know you love me, but I know that deep down, you are more good than I could ever hope to be, and you will always do what’s right.
Fuck. This is such bullshit. Emersyn bumps her arm into mine, silently gaining my attention. She looks at me cautiously, obviously clued in on the fact that I’m upset about something. And then it hits me. Joey is asking me to prevent her from hurting the man she loves, like I love Emersyn. I would never forgive myself if anything I did ever brought harm to Em. I can’t let Joey live with that regret when I know that the same regret in me would bring me to my knees.
All right, Jo.
Promise me, Cy. Promise me that you’ll do whatever is necessary to stop me, even if it m
eans killing me.
I promise that I won’t let you hurt him, Joey. I will stop you, but I will not kill you. I can’t, Jo. Please don’t ask that of me.
I see the pain in her eyes, and know it was no easy task for her to ask that of me, but I can’t do it. Even if she tried to kill me, I still wouldn’t be able to. With a simple nod, I know that she has agreed. Good thing too, because it’s all I have in me to offer.
We round a corner, and as one, we screech to a stop. This is it. This is where we’ll find Le Vieux. We’re still two blocks from where the ritual was to raise him, but I can feel it. This is the place. Demons stand on guard, surrounding a large cloaked figure as buildings burn all around them, fires raging and casting off extreme heat. When the figure in the center of the circle lifts his head, I feel the evil burning deep inside my soul, trying to claw it’s way out.
Emersyn’s hand lands on my shoulder and with great effort, I let my love for her beat that evil down to the recesses of my mind where it belongs. I will never let this fucker win. He will not control me.
The figure steps forward and I hold my breath, waiting to see his face, but it remains hidden under the shadows of his dark hood. When he finally speaks, his voice is deep and oddly hypnotic. “Welcome, children. I’ve been waiting for you.”
-
Joey
-
Hearing Le Vieux speak sends a shiver running up my spine. Stepping closer to Merrick, I clench my fist tighter around my favorite dagger.
“Well your wait is over, fucker. Any last words before you die?” My brother spits out, hatred and anger clear in his voice.
I wish I was as strong as him, but I’m not. I can feel the evil trying to seep into my pores. So far, I’ve been able to beat it back, but it’s exhausting. I just want to give in to it, let it take over, but I know that would be wrong. I don’t want to be evil—I can’t be. Father Martin and the entire world are counting on me. Cyrus and Emersyn are depending on me. But most importantly, Merrick could never love a girl that gave in to evil. I grit my teeth and glare at the vile creature before me. No, I have to hold strong.
Laughter from Le Vieux breaks me out of my thoughts. “Oh, young Cyrus. You really do have a lot to learn. For starters, you should always watch your back.” Just as the words leave his mouth, Cyrus and Emersyn are ripped from our sides.
Five demons have them circled. Cyrus stands in fighting position, with Emersyn tucked into his back. I move towards them to jump in and help, but realize that I need to trust my brother. I know it’ll be difficult by himself, especially with Em caught in the middle of the fight, but I know he can handle himself. Fighting back the instinct to fight, I turn back to Le Vieux.
He’s dropped his hood, and his pale white skin glows in the firelight. As soon as my eyes reach his large red ones, I’m lost to him, as if I’m in a trance. The sounds of my brother fighting for his life fade and I lose track of Merrick beside me. All I can see is Le Vieux.
We finally meet, I hear in my head, but I don’t recognize the voice. It sounds neither male nor female, but the tone is soothing, and I find I like it. It’s hypnotic, and I instantly feel like I could listen to it all day. This is meant to be, you and I. All you need to do is give in to me, Joey. Join me, and together we will rule all the worlds.
It all finally makes sense. The trance. The voice. The words. I want so badly to say yes, to go with the voice and allow the evil part of my soul to take over, but the look in Merrick’s eyes as he’d sunk deep inside of me, flash inside my mind. His flushed cheeks and the look on his face when he said he loves me.
I will never join you. It’s a whisper at first, but with each word, I gain confidence, my voice getting louder. I know my place in this world, and it’s not beside you. It’s killing you! I’m screaming inside my head, but I know by the look on his pasty white face, that he can hear me.
Tsk. Tsk. You can’t kill me, little girl. I am the true Alpha and Omega. There is no stopping me.
I can and I will, I say calmly. I take a step forward, ready and willing for this battle to begin, but Merrick reaches out and stops me. I’d forgotten he was even here.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he yells.
I shake my head and try to think rationally. Yes, I want this battle to start, and I want to be the one to drive the dagger through Le Vieux’s dark soul, but Merrick is right.
“I’m sorry,” I say softly.
“Don’t let him do this, Joey! Don’t let him get to you!”
His voice is quickly followed by Cy’s voice in my head. Joey! Snap the fuck out of it!
All these voices have my head spinning. Through it all, I can hear the crazed laughter coming from Le Vieux. Never before have I felt insane from this power, but I’ve never had more than one person inside my head at once, and I’ve never been this close to pure evil.
I’m fine! I say to both of them. I’m fine, I promise. I won’t let him get to me.
Suddenly, out of nowhere—or maybe I was just too inside my head to see it—ten demons have surrounded us. Twisting my head, I can still see Le Vieux watching me.
“If you won’t join me, then you’re useless to me.” Le Vieux speaks calmly in his own voice. Then the demons attack. One by one, we fight them off. We’re able to kill them easily, but as soon as we kill one, another takes its place. If this keeps up, we’ll all be exhausted before the real fight even begins.
I spare a glance to where Le Vieux was standing before, but he’s no longer there. Frantically looking around, I see him walking away, heading down the road towards the city.
“Merrick, we can’t let him leave!” I cry at the same time I stab my dagger into the eye of a demon, then reach behind my back to grab my sword to fight off two more.
He doesn’t even get a chance to answer me as he wildly swings his fiery sword around, beheading three demons in one swoop.
Thinking of our options, I come up with the only one that makes sense. “Move closer to Cy. Let’s move!”
We both swiftly, but smoothly, maneuver ourselves closer and closer to Cyrus and Emersyn. Demons keep coming, the supply of evil bastards seeming never-ending.
As soon as we’re close enough, Merrick and I push our way into the middle of the circle that surrounds my brother and Em.
“Need a hand?” Merrick asks, cockiness dripping from his voice.
“Nah, but I can see you do.” Cyrus shoots back at the same time he does a roundhouse kick to the face of a demon that’s trying to get the better of Merrick.
I fight off a few, and I finally see my opening. Taking a step back, I look to my brother and then to Merrick. “Keep them off me.”
Without waiting, I run and jump over the one demon standing in my way of the path that will lead me to Le Vieux.
“Joey! Joey, get back here!” I hear Cyrus yell, but I ignore him.
Running full speed, I put my dagger away and reach behind me for my second sword. As soon as I’m within striking distance, I lash out with the long blade, but Le Vieux hears me coming.
“Change your mind, did you?” he spits, dodging my sword before lifting his leg and landing a powerful kick to my midsection. My body crumples and the blow has me flying backwards, through a brick wall.
Lying amongst the debris, I can hear Emersyn scream and Cy’s angry roar, but what has strength igniting inside my veins is the fearful shout from Merrick that is laced with pain. “Joey, no!”
I shake my head and struggle to move the brick and mortar away from my body. A shadow overtakes the opening of the hole. “Still alive in there, little girl?” Le Vieux asks in sickly sweet voice.
He steps inside, and I’m once again stricken by his appearance. Pale and sickly, thin and hairless. As he gets nearer, I struggle harder, trying to pull myself up, but there’s something pinning my leg down. I can’t move!
“When are you going to realize that you can’t beat me? You can’t destroy me without destroying yourself!” he yells. And then I get it. I understand now
.
The scroll had said in order to defeat Le Vieux, we had to destroy the key to which he came. That would be me. I am the key. I’m the one that had let evil in, but I’m also the one that overpowered that evil. I let my love for Merrick and the goodness he saw in me overcome the evil in my soul. I’m the key, and I have the power to beat this fucker once and for all. I have to willingly sacrifice myself to save this world. I have to die to defeat Le Vieux. It all makes sense now.
A boulder comes flying at Le Vieux from nowhere, knocking him to the ground. He’s not moving, but I’m not stupid enough to believe that’s all it takes to put him out of the game.
Merrick runs through the debris and frantically looks around, searching for me. “Merrick! Help me get this off me. I’m pinned,” I say, directing him to where I still lie on the ground in a giant pile of rubble.
Running over, he effortlessly lifts the piece of rock holding me down. “Are you okay? Where are you hurt?” He rushes the words out and runs his hands all over me.
“I’m fine,” I declare, pushing him away and looking over to where Le Vieux was lying moments ago. He isn’t down anymore; he’s standing taller than he was before, his body somehow bigger.
Cyrus and Emersyn come running into the building, followed closely by a hoard of snarling demons. “Kill them!” Le Vieux roars in a voice that has the demons rushing to follow orders, trying to take us out.
Fighting one off, I force my thoughts into Merrick’s, praying that he will hear me. I know how to kill him. I know who the key is. We can end this once and for all.
I see his head whip around as he slices the legs off a demon to his side, then punches one in front of him right in the face.
Cyrus, can you hear me?
Yeah.
The key. It’s me. You need to kill me.
No!
We have to end this. He’s too strong, and if we don’t do this now, he’ll send this world into flames. You know it’s the right thing to do. It’s the only way! I have to die.
“NO!” Cyrus yells, but it’s lacking the punch he had moments before.