by Diana Estell
“I just thought of something …” Dagon said.
“Well, that’s a first.” Mr. Cool crossed his arms.
“Very funny. So funny. I forgot to laugh.” Dagon shook his head.
“Hey, that’s good. Where did you hear—” asked Friar.
“From Mary.” Dagon said in a haughty tone.
“She’s clever. A definite keeper,” said Sledge.
“Yes, to all of that. Now, have all of you been taking the doses of lemon drops I prescribed when you infested my life again?”
“How kind of you to be so considerate for our well-being,” Razz said, spreading his arms out. “We have all been taking the poison … oops, I mean … crap, I mean the bountiful provision you provided us with.”
Dagon stomped his foot.
“A lemon drop a day keeps Savila away.” Razz snapped his fingers.
Dagon fought the urge not to laugh as he started walking again. Taking Mary’s porch steps two at a time, he approached the front door, adjusted his clothes, ran his fingers through his hair, then rang the doorbell. He listened for Mary’s characteristic bare footed sound. He waited and waited and waited. Worried, he debated on peering through the walls, when he heard a toilet flush, followed by turning faucets. Closing his eyes, he relished the sounds of her feet. Opening his eyes, he relished the sight of her blue eye squinting through the peep hole. Opening his arms, he embraced Mary as she bounded out the door.
“I know it hasn’t been a long time since we saw each other, but I missed you.” Dagon said, lifting Mary slightly off the ground.
“I always miss you.”
Dagon gingerly placed her back down.
“How about we go for a walk for a change. It’s such a nice day to stay indoors. We’ve been so little outside together.” Dagon held one of her hands.
Mary bounced on her toes. “Definitely a good idea and fresh air is good.”
“Yes, it is.” Dagon leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“Nope, right here.” Mary motioned to her lips.
Dagon chuckled and obliged, forgetting about walking anywhere or anything, except…
“I need to get my purse.” Mary paused, breathlessly whispering in his ear, then kissed him behind his ear.
“Uh huh … yes … that’s good.”
Mary stopped and left, leaving Dagon momentarily stunned.
“Got it!” Mary slung her purse over her arm. With keys in her hand, she locked the door, jiggling the door knob several times, then placed the keys in her purse. “Let’s go!”
Holding hands, they walked down the porch steps toward the sidewalk, and turned left.
“Do you smell smoke?” Mary looked up at Dagon.
“I do,” said Dagon without inflection or reaction.
“I see flames!” Mary looked up at Dagon.
He nodded. She stopped.
“We should call 911!” Mary’s eyes widened, saucer sized.
“What for?” Dagon asked without inflection or reaction.
“What do you mean what for?” Mary quickly let go of his hand and ran in the opposite direction.
“Where are you going?”
“We’re driving!” came her heavy-breathed response.
“She’s athletic,” said Razz.
“Driving where?”
“Just come on!” Mary ran to the back of the house, fumbled in her purse, pulled out her keys, and unlocked the driver’s side door. After unlocking the door for Dagon, she started the car.
Dagon opened the car and peered inside. “We’re driving in this?”
The Cherbs bent over laughing.
Mary pounded on the steering wheel. “Get in!”
“All right, I’m getting in.” Dagon smiled stiffly, stooped down, and squeezed his tall body into the car.
“What are you doing with that thing?” Dagon stared at the cell phone Mary pulled out of her purse.
“What do you think I’m doing? I’m calling 911!”
“What can one of your friends do?”
Mary looked at Dagon liked he had five heads. “911 is for emergencies, like fires.”
“That fire is not any ordinary fire.” Dagon waved his hands.
Mary ignored him, dialed 911, and told the dispatcher roughly where she believed a fire was. Hanging up the phone, she tossed it in a cup holder. Mary gripped the steering wheel, Dagon sat frozen, hands in his lap, and the Cherbs rolled on the ground holding their stomachs from laughter. Soon, they were driving down the road.
Mary parked her car a block away from the fire. Grabbing her phone, she and Dagon got out of the car. Mary locked the car, placing the keys in her purse, and ran toward the fire, Dagon following. Sirens could be heard in the distance. In a small park, dozens of trees were on fire. Mary redialed 911, giving the dispatcher the exact location, hung up, and placed the phone in her purse. Flames scorched nearby benches, engulfing them in flames.
“This whole place is on fire! What’s taking them so long!” screamed Mary, while looking at her phone.
“This is not a normal fire,” Dagon said without inflection or reaction.
“How can you … here come the firetrucks!”
The firetrucks stopped. Several firefighters got out. “Where is the fire?” asked one of them.
“What’s wrong with you? It’s right there!” Mary pointed.
“You called a false alarm in? That’s illegal.” A firefighter sharply pointed a finger at her.
Dagon put on his coat. “Leave,” Dagon whispered to the firefighters.
“The park is on fire. Can’t all of you see that!” screamed Mary, holding her head.
From unbelief, confusion, fear, or a combination of all three, the men got back into the fire truck.
“Wait, why are you … why are they leaving?”
“This is no ordinary fire, Mary.” He placed his hands on her shoulders.
She shot out from under his hands. “Don’t go in there!” She screamed at several people walking through the blazing fire, untouched and unharmed. A few of the people laughed, not paying Mary any attention.
“This can’t be. They’re not affected by it. They can’t see it?”
“In one reality this is happening. Yes, they can’t see it, but this is nonetheless, lethal.”
A girl sat on one of the benches on fire. Wearing a white hooded cloak, Savila sat next to her. “How innocent she is.” Savila’s blood red fingernails, raked through the girl’s hair.
The girl showed no acknowledgement of Savila. But Mary did. She freaked. Her whole body shook.
“Savila.” Mary covered her mouth.
The little girl looked up at Mary and ran off.
“Nice to meet you, Mary.” Savila’s words came out in a hiss.
Dagon put himself in front of Mary. “Stop with the games, Savila.”
“Of course not,” Savila said with a smile.
Red hot flames covered parts of Savila’s face. Between flickering flames, she smiled. Mary peered around Dagon, then jumped back behind him when Savila vanished into thin air.
Mary shook clinging to Dagon’s waist.
The Seraphs stood looking out Mark’s bedroom window at an all too familiar scene: smoke.
“Dagon must be hurt.” Magethna looked at Dorian.
“We are not here to …” said Dorian.
“We can help where we can!” said Magethna, pointing in the direction of the smoke.
In an instant, all the Seraphs froze.
“This is more than smoke …” said Raglen.
“A park is on fire!” said Mystil.
“This is not just Dagon. We shouldn’t let that park burn! Those poor people. I would write this down in my scheduling book.” Magethna put her hands on her hips.
“Look, the people are not physically on fire, but it is hard to watch,” said Raglen.
“More to the point, it bothers Magethna. The devious desires of Savila bothers all of us,” offered Mystil.
“Let’s go put it out
then.” Dorian stood with crossed arms. “I will go with Magethna.”
Raglen and Mystil nodded.
Dagon remained silent, watching Magethna and Dorian glide into the park with raised swords. Mary stood beside him, facing the direction of the fire.
Their presence veiled from Mary or any humans, Magethna shouted, “Dagon, stop this nonsense!”
“Now, Magethna!” Dorian flashed his sword.
With force, Magethna and Dorian crossed their blades, holding them steady.
The Shadow Kings came out of the ground. Each of them tore two spikes from their crowns and placed them like an X across their chests.
Rays of light shot out of the Seraphs blades, circling the flames.
The Shadow kings flicked one of the blades, gathering some of the flames, and twirling it around the spikes, like cotton candy. The Shadow Kings propelled the coiled flames at the Seraphs.
The Seraphs braced themselves. “You won’t win!” shouted Dorian.
The spiraling flame hit the Seraphs swords with fierce electricity. Magethna and Dorian momentarily lost their balance.
“You are defeated.” said Lamel.
“Savila did not create light. The One Voice did!” shouted Magethna.
Even stronger radiant light rushed out of the Seraphs blades, quenching the fire in the park.
“She is the created light and can bend it anyway she pleases,” sneered Ligon. “No amount of light can deny blood owed to Lady Savila.”
“The debt you seek may cost you more than blood,” said Magethna.
“We used a fraction of our power, and yet the both of you almost fell,” said Listian. “The boy’s hour is almost upon him.”
The Seraphs did not respond back, their blades still holding. The Shadow Kings sheathed their spikes back in their crowns, glanced at Dagon, and dissolved back into the ground.
“For the record, I didn’t start that fire,” said Dagon to the Seraphs, but it was Mary who answered him.
“I believe you. I believe all of this.” With her mouth pressed against Dagon’s dragon coat, her words came out mumbled.
Dagon’s body jerked. “Oh … um … that is smashing … I’m glad, luv.”
Mary squeezed his waist. Magethna smiled. Dorian raised his chin, his eyes scrutinizing. Both Seraphs sheathed their blades and left.
Mary inched her way around Dagon.
“All is safe.” Dagon turned around and held her.
“Like hell it is!” Mary backed out of his arms. “I saw her. I’m not sure how. No, don’t try and hold me, not now. Answer me, how … is the fire gone? Seconds ago, everything … how did this happen?” Her hands touched her lips. She shook, dropped her hands, and darted back behind Dagon.
“What is it?” asked Dagon.
“I saw Mr. Bennett. I can’t look at him now. Not with …” Mary mumbled her lips pressed against Dagon.
Sure enough, Henry stood outside of his jewelry store, looking in their direction.
“So, you do know him,” Dagon said as he veiled them. “Don’t worry. He can’t see us anymore.”
Henry turned and went back inside his store.
“I hope he didn’t see me. Not like this,” said Mary.
Dagon reached for her hand. She threaded trembling fingers through his.
“Don’t think this means I don’t want answers.” Mary said.
“I know.” Dagon led her to one of the benches.
Mary touched the bench in several places.
“It is quite cool I can assure you.” Dagon said while sitting on the bench.
Mary gently lowered herself, her hands in her lap. She didn’t look at Dagon.
“Tell her you put the fire out!” shouted Mr. Cool.
“I won’t tell her that. I don’t want her thinking I started it,” said Dagon.
“I would have helped, boss, but the fire … too many bad memories.” Friar pointed to where his eyebrows used to be.
Dagon nodded and sat sideways on the bench. “Mary …”
“How did …”
“Let me explain. Savila started the fire. She wanted you to see it. I’m assuming to frighten you.”
Her mouth set as sharp as her body did when she turned her position. Her left knee resting on the bench. “Well, she succeeded.”
“I’m sorry about that. Please believe me when I tell you I had no former knowledge of Savila’s plan for the fire and for you to see it.”
“Then why did you take me here?” Popped veins on her forehead replaced wrinkles.
“Well, truth be told, you took me here.”
She shifted her weight to one foot, her body inching off the bench.
“Please don’t leave, let me explain.”
She sat.
“Do you think I would have wanted you to see that?” Dagon spread out his arms.
“Actually, no … but why then?”
“First, I had no choice. Second, what is the human expression for turning a bad situation into good?”
“Oh … turning lemons into lemonade.”
“What is lemonade and what is the origins of this phrase?”
“It’s a cold drink made from lemons and sugar. I’ll make you some. I’m not sure of the origins, but lemons are sour, but as a drink, it’s sweet.”
“This then, is what I did, though I would not classify it as a good choice, but maybe unavoidably beneficial. The fire was only a fraction of what Savila is capable of. Only a fraction of what the world has in store. The impending doom is coming. Unfortunately, your mortal eyes needed to see this.”
“I believe you, Dagon. I would have to be as dumb as a stump to not see it.” Mary stifled a laugh bordering on hysteria.
“Trust me, you are way smarter than a stump.”
They both laughed, for a moment, that is.
“I’m truly sorry for all of this. As to how the fire was extinguished, this was accomplished by light.”
Mary’s eyes eyelids shot up. “Light?”
“Well, you see … um … ok … there are other Seraphs here—”
“Whoa, what? There are more … here?” She waved her arms.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Dagon stroked his chin.
“You most certainly did not!” Her hands flew to her hips; her lips set in a thin line.
“Oh, in that case. There are four Seraphs guarding Mark’s house.”
“This is good. If they’re like you and guarding Mark—”
“They are not like me.” Dagon stuck his chin in the air.
“Well … ok … but they are guarding Mark, right?”
“Yes, but only to keep him safe, until …”
Mary waved her hand. “I get it, really wish I didn’t’”
“So, the Seraphs can’t prevent Mark from being taken?”
“No, but I want to save you from the consequences of death’s eternal sting.”
She moved her mouth to his ear and whispered. “I love you and believe you. We can try and co-rule and sack that witch.”
“My sentiments exactly, and Mary, I love you.”
Her hands flew around his neck. Her lips pressed against his.
Dagon wound his fingers in her hair. Her belief helped him to move further toward the light. They kissed and …
“I know, it needs to be legal. I can wait, for a while at least.” Mary batted her eyes.
Dagon leaned down and kissed her cheek.
19
It’s All in the Packing, Luv
The shaded trees in the park cooled the heat of the day. Dagon’s arms held Mary, her head on his chest as they sat on the bench.
“How do you know the Bennett family?” asked Dagon.
Mary let out a deep sigh. “Francis Bennett and my grandmother were BFFs.”
“What does BFF mean?”
“It means best friends forever.”
“I see. Did you ever visit them?”
“Many times, me and my sister, Catherine, would go with my grandmother to see them. Their
kindness makes this …”
“Terrible,” finished Dagon.
Mary sat up and looked at Dagon. “Could you have put out the fire?”
From terrible to worse … what else is new? Dagon got off the bench, his back to Mary, hair gently blowing around his neck.
Mary got up, went around, and faced him. Her dainty frame was dwarfed next to Dagon. Sunlight streaked across her face, causing her to squint as she craned her head.
“I could not have prevented or extinguished the fire.”
“And … you made the firefighters leave?”
“Told them … made them, something like that.” Dagon smiled at her.
“Um … oh … never mind. Wait, your title is light, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but not in this context, I’m sad to say.” Dagon’s shoulders sagged.
“But for co-ruling, it is.” Mary put her hands on her hips.
“With my title, we have a shot.” A long shot, that is.
“How was I chosen?” asked Mary.
From terrible to worse, to ghastly … yep, nothing new. “Your kindness and compassion are unsurpassed. You’re gentle, and yet, have a take charge personality …”
“You mean, bossy?” Her hands fisted in the top of her skirt.
“Well, yes, but in a good way.” Waving his hands, he continued. “You take care of me and get things done, and you’re very brave.” Dagon leaned and kissed her cheek.
Her hands went around his waist.
“Tell her she’s hot,” offered Razz.
“I can’t be the only one like this,” she pressed. “Why me?”
“She’s got a point,” said Sledge.
Dagon let out a deep sigh. “I don’t want to say what I’m about to say, but regrettably, I must. Remember when we talked about the woman on the bridge and that was you? That’s important to remember.”
“Yes, I do remember you telling me.”
“Of all those people on the bridge, you didn’t fall. I knew then that you were unique. Legions of Seraphs and all of humanity fell. Except for you. The purest of hearts. Unfallen.”
Mary looked at the floor, brow creased. “Then why Mark? Mark needs to bring Savila that stone, so we can save humanity. But why him?”
“Mark is heir to the Stone. Savila wants Mark taken soon. Your part will be easy. You spot Mark and direct him where to go.”