Cloak of Echoes

by CK Dawn

  Mattox tugged at his hair in frustration. She was bound to be a walking target for any netherwalkers in the area. Even though Emma was his first assignment, Mattox knew full well the Court would have swooped in if they had known she was harboring so many humans’ emotions. He had broken protocol again when he had kept that information to himself. Now he was regretting those decisions immensely. Bernie’s going to kill me, he thought as he tried to call Emma. Wait, what am I thinking? Bernie is a true Southern Gentleman. He’ll have Lourdes Reese kill me, banishing me to the-- There was no answer, but Emma’s sweet voice was telling her caller to text her because voicemail was archaic. Mattox relented and made a second phone, call this time to a friend in the Court. He walked out to the courtyard, slipped off school grounds, and headed straight for Emma’s apartment.

  A cold front had swept in and the midday sky was a dark gloomy grey. Just great! Mattox grumbled to himself as he tugged his jacket closed. He concentrated and opened all his senses, something he didn’t do very often. The empathetic noise could be maddening to the untrained. Mattox sympathized with the struggles Emma was facing. He listened to everyone around him, hoping someone had seen her, but there was nothing. Dociles are useless! He thought, but kept his senses open to them none-the-less. Then, as he neared a dark alley a block from Emma’s apartment he felt it, her bliss. Emma, no!

  Without thinking, Mattox ran down the alley. He found Emma sitting in front of a rusty metal door that had been painted shut years ago. She was staring up into the sky, unblinking. Her back was hunched and she looked like a rag doll or a dog’s chew toy, limp and wilted. He rushed to her side and grabbed one of her hands, but it was too late, the shadow was already materializing, it had sensed him as a guardian and a threat. Mattox put his finger against her lips, knowing the fog in her mind was lifting and she was about to scream. “Emma, you have to shut it off,” he whispered not giving up hope.

  She looked at him then, confused, “Shut what off? Mattox, what’s happening?” Emma turned her head towards the unnatural shadow as it floated off the windowless brick wall to the ground. It rattled and vibrated with power as the temperature around them cooled to almost freezing. The shadow, moving of its own accord, started to transform. Emma seemed transfixed as the edges of the shadow slowly, impossibly morphed into thick, animal-like legs.

  Mattox grabbed the sides of Emma’s face, “You’re being hunted. You need to shut out everyone’s emotions. You have to try, Emma, please.” Never losing physical contact, Mattox helped Emma to her feet hoping there was still time to run, but the translucent shadow creature was already becoming solid, and they couldn’t outrun a krim in its four-legged form. Still making contact with her skin, Mattox pushed Emma behind him. He became her physical and mental shield as the unnatural shadow morphed into a huge corporeal beast. Mattox concentrated all his energy on becoming a void in space, an empty pocket of nothingness, along with one scared neophyte in tow.

  Dark grey, billowing shadow became opalescent skin. A slick black body and pristine white, razor sharp fangs appeared in front of Mattox. It weaved back and forth searching for them. He’d never seen a krim in real life before and was stunned at how beautiful its skin actually was. Simulations in the virtual chamber had not done the creatures justice. The surface of the netherworld creature’s skin shimmered from emerald green to fiery red, but always within the blackest depths Mattox ever seen. No eyes greeted him, krims had none in either form. An expanse of its opalescent skin stretched out across the bridge of its forehead and nose. This creature had no need for eyes for it only needed to sense the emotional signature of its prey. Its massive head was only an inch away from Mattox now. In frustration, it snorted air, blowing Mattox’s hair from his forehead as it searched for its prey. A droplet of its icy snot landed on Mattox’s cheek and singed his skin. Mattox winced in pain and barely let out his breath. His faint whimper filled the air with a frosty trail, betraying his location. The krim stopped moving and zoned in on Mattox. More of the creature’s snot and spittle fell to the ground and shattered as ice. As it reared up on its back legs for an attack, Mattox squeezed his eyes shut and prepared to be slaughtered by the beast.

  “Hey! Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” A female voice yelled from behind the creature as a faint boom from her weapon filled the alleyway. It was Lourdes Reese. Relieved, Mattox let out the rest of his breath and pulled Emma to safety behind a dumpster. Lourdes and her partner Ryan Kapoi hit the beast with another stun shot, but it still didn’t go down.

  From behind the dumpster, Mattox was looking over Emma to make sure she suffered no injuries. “Emma-”

  “I’m fine. I’m fine. Or, at least, I think I am.” She tried to stand up, but Mattox knew how weak she still was from being in the creature’s snare. He tried to help her so they could leave, but she was determined to stay. “I just... I need to see.” Emma was able to twist herself enough in order to look at the combat between Kapoi, Lourdes, and the otherworldly beast. “What is that thing? It’s like you made us invisible.” She furrowed her brow and looked at him. “And, who are they?” Emma asked the last question pointing to Lourdes Reese and Ryan Kapoi now locked in battle with the krim.

  Mattox opened his mouth, but could not seem to make a sound. He sputtered for a moment and could feel his face flush. “I’m sorry, Emma. I--”

  “Wait. You… knew? You knew what I’ve been going through? How?” She shook her head. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me keep thinking I was losing it? You hid all of this from me! You knew about me, about my senses, didn’t you? Even before we met?” Her last statement was more of an accusation than a question.

  “Yes,” was all he could muster.

  “And that thing, you knew it was hunting me, and didn’t say anything?”

  Mattox didn’t know what to say. How could he explain that it had only been a possibility up until the moment he had found her lying in the alley? How would she ever understand that he just wanted to be near her before changing her life forever? “You’re right. I should have told you. I should have told you everything.”

  Just then Lourdes created a violet orb and surrounded the beast. The sphere hissed and popped before disappearing, taking the creature with it. Emma’s eyes grew wide. “I can’t do this.” She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head before bolting from the alley, “This can’t be real!”

  “Emma, please!” Mattox yelled as she ran down the street. In an instant he thought of something and yelled before she disappeared. “Emma, your mother’s letter!” but she didn’t stop.

  Mattox turned and gave Lourdes a pleading look.

  Lourdes held up her hands, “God, Mattox, what were you thinking?” The hunter shook her head, probably realizing Mattox didn’t need much of a lecture. He could only imagine how defeated he looked. Lourdes sighed, “At least you called us, but you could have gotten yourself killed!” Lourdes scolded.

  “I, uh-” Mattox didn’t know how to explain the situation without sounding like an idiot about his first assignment.

  “Lourdie,” her partner said seeming to understand the situation.

  “What!” she whipped her head around and put her hand on her hips.

  “Kid’s uh, got a crush.” Ryan Kapoi whispered in Lourdie’s ear trying to explain Mattox’s embarrassment. The master hunter sighed, crossed her arms and let her partner ask his questions.

  Mattox gave the hunters an abbreviated run-down of his entire assignment. He glossed over the infatuation part, he still felt embarrassed by that. He ended his account with the tactic he used at the last minute that bought enough time for reinforcements to arrive.

  “Do you think it worked, you shielding her? Could the krim sense either of you?” Kapoi asked. He seemed intrigued by the possibility.

  “I’m not sure. I don’t think it could.” Mattox was thankful the focus had shifted away from his screw-up. He was a shepherd, not a hunter. He knew better than to confront a krim like that.

/>   “Well,” Lourdie stared Mattox down. “You better go get her, Romeo!” she admonished. “And, fix this fast before we have to report it. Without you shielding her, she’s a walking buffet for any netherwalker within a ten mile radius. With all those emotions flowing through her she might as well have a neon sign above her head!”

  Ryan Kapoi looked at his partner in protest, but Lourdie held up her hand.

  “He can do it. Can’t you, Mattox?” Lourdie demanded. She pushed a button on her stun baton and the purple glowing blade disappeared as her weapon transformed into an innocent looking flashlight. “Just no more dark alleys, capiche?”

  “Y- yes. I mean, no, it won’t happen again.” Mattox stuttered and took a deep breath.

  “Good. A rogue neophyte running around is the last thing the King’s Court needs right now. Especially one that can’t control her powers.” Lourdie stated coolly. “You should have told us that from the beginning, Mattox.” The hunter began walking down the alley towards the street. Mattox could sense a tension in Lourdie that had nothing to do with him or his current debacle. Though his hearing wasn’t as keen as the hunters, he thought he heard her mutter something about packing for London and ‘tally-ho’, but he dismissed it. It was none of his business and he knew a pissed off Lourdes Reese wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

  Kapoi followed his fellow hunters lead and holstered his own weapon. His black carbide stun rifle turned into an even larger flashlight. Ryan Kapoi, a former marine, turned to Mattox. “Get it done, or I will report it,” he urged Mattox before running to catch up with Lourdie.

  5

  Emotion Surfing

  Emma flew through her bedroom door and locked it before collapsing on her bed. Her own anger, fear, and disbelief all fought to be acknowledged as she tried in vain to block everything out, including her own emotions. Her anger won momentarily as she got up and knocked things off her dresser, looking for her mother’s letter. How could you leave me, Mom? I need you! Then she saw the corner of the dusty envelope peering out below her dresser. She picked it up and tore into it. Blinking away her tears slowly, Emma focused on her mother’s words.

  Dear Emma,

  Oh my darling girl I love you so much! If you’re reading this then something has happened to me. I’m so sorry to have left you so soon. Just know that I am proud of the young woman I know you are becoming and that I love you more than anything.

  I have to admit, I don’t like having to write this letter, but it is necessary. I’ve already seen some changes in you that you are probably starting to realize aren’t normal, but, my darling girl, they are as natural to us as breathing. I guess, since you’re reading this, I haven’t told you about the King’s Court yet. I’m guilty of wanting to give you a normal life for as long as I can. So it’s okay to be mad at me, honey, just don’t be scared, it’s perfectly normal and everything is going to be alright. I just wish I could be there to comfort you.

  A noise coming from outside startled Emma. She looked up from her Mother’s letter to her bedroom window. Mattox was on her fire escape crouching at her window. Emma shook her head trying to keep her emotions buried. “I don’t think I can do this,” she said to the locked window.

  Mattox stood outside with a pleading, yet sorrowful look. He was the most adorably miserable looking supermodel puppy she had ever seen. She let out a laughing cry as she walked to the window, unlatching it. Mattox entered, sat down beside her, and grabbed her hand. “Yes, you can. I’m right here. You need to feel your own emotions, Emma, it’s important.” All of a sudden Mattox didn’t seem like a void of space anymore. With the touch of his hand Emma felt a surge of warmth and kindness radiate into her body. It mingled with something else, he felt for her rose above his other emotions and she blushed. He tried to hide his affection and focus on the more benign emotions, but part of him didn’t want to, part of him wanted to scoop her up and claim her as his own. The thought made Emma’s heart pound hard and fast. Emma was falling for Mattox too. She had been ever since he stepped through her classroom door and smiled at her. She let that feeling come to the surface and pushed it into Mattox.

  He smiled that same warm sincere smile and bent down and kissed her. His lips were full and soft against her own like she knew they would be. With a breath, Emma let a little moan escape her lips and Mattox kissed her harder. With the kiss came more emotions, everything from love and regret to sorrow and joy filled her.

  She pulled away suddenly. “Why regret?” she asked

  Mattox shook his head and sighed. “I’m doing this all wrong. I wasn’t supposed to fall for you, but I can’t hide the way I feel.”

  “Then don’t.” Emma touched the red welt on his cheek left by the netherwalker and touched her lips to his, almost demanding to be kissed. She flooded him with her desire. He answered her back with a wave of his own passion and deepened their kiss. His hands went around her waist, pulling her closer, and her arms instinctively went around his neck. An almost feral rumble resonated in his chest as his hands began to explore her body. Just then, her mother’s letter crinkled in her hand and Mattox pulled away to look at her.

  Mattox looked at the letter in her hands. “Emma, I’m sorry.”

  “Maybe this is why they sent you. Whoever they are,” Emma shook her head back and forth leaning against his forehead. “I’ve buried my emotions for so long, I don’t think anyone else could have gotten them out of me.” She looked down at the half read letter. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

  Mattox looked at her bedroom door and opened his mouth to protest but Emma cut him off.

  “It’s locked,” she blushed. “I want to be alone with my mom’s words without everyone’s emotions getting in the way, if only for a little while. Can you keep them out and then let me fall asleep in peace? I’m exhausted. Ju- just hold me?” she asked shyly.

  “That I can do,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Tomorrow I’ll start teaching you how to shut them out yourself.”

  “Really?” her exhaustion was averted for a millisecond as Mattox snuggled in behind her as the big spoon.

  “I should have said this a while ago,” he said, nuzzling her ear sending shivers down her spine. “Welcome to the King’s Court, Emma.” He consciously sent her feelings of contentment as he ran his fingers down her arm.

  “Hey, that means your emotions, too. No cheating,” she teased.

  “Sorry,” his breath tickled her neck. “But, tomorrow you’re all mine.”

  “And the next day?” she asked hopefully.

  “And the day after that, and the day after that,” he smiled against her skin.

  Emma snuggled into his embrace and sighed deeply as he created a cocoon of silence around her. “The King’s Court?” She asked.

  Mattox chuckled and whispered, “Keep reading.”

  The changes you’re experiencing are quite normal for us, honey, from where we come from. From the moment you were born you were able to pick up on other people’s emotions and comfort them. I think you’re meant to be a shepherd, like me.

  Emma began to cry and Mattox squeezed her gently. She let her own emotions flow freely and finished her mother’s letter with a new sense of peace, understanding, and closure.

  We come from a long line, descendants of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. It’s crazy, I know, but true. Search your feelings and you’ll know it’s true. There are secrets in this world that most people (we call dociles) don’t know about. Secrets such as creatures called netherwalkers that feed on human emotions for their masters in the Netherworld. Secrets such as Guardians, members of the King’s Court that defend our realm, keeping the netherwalker threat at bay. I hope you never come across one of these creatures, honey, but know that there are hunters everywhere defending us from them. I was a shepherd in the King’s Court until I met your father, and yes, he’s a docile. Shepherd’s guide neophytes (unknowing descendants like yourself) into the court. I never told your father my secret, as it wasn’t mine alon
e to tell and I never felt the need to share the secrets until I had you. I chose to become a sleeper within the King’s Court, only becoming active if needed, choosing to live a docile life with you and your father instead. Every day with you both has been a blessing and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Hopefully by now the Court will have sent a shepherd to guide you in and prepare you for your gloaming bond. You can trust them, honey, they are good people. Your gloaming bond will explain almost everything to you instantly and I regret that I won’t be there to physically experience it with you. But during your bond, you’ll sense me and all our other ancestors that came before us and know we will always be with you. I know this is a lot to take in, but don’t hide from your emotions, embrace them, honey. They are so much a part of who you are meant to become. I’m so proud of you!