Catching Temptation (In Darkness She Fades book 1)

by Sarah Erber

  Chapter Eleven

  Stricken

  The coldness of the night caresses my skin, while the noise of the forest deafens my pounding heartbeats. I kill the engine on the side of the highway. I am close to the stone archway. I can sense the goblins’ anticipation. The bike falls to the ground, as I head into the blinding thicket. Leaves, painted a decayed shade of death, fall from the tops of the maples and oaks. The faint roar of impending motorcycles teases my eardrums. The Demon King’s guards hunt me at this very moment. I wonder if Jenkins escaped from Victoria or if Victoria even made it out alive. Whelan never trusted me enough with his secret. It hurts that he kept it from me for all this time.

  The questions torment me, but I cannot turn back. I curse those stupid doctors.

  The crimson crystal in my tattooed hand glows in the dark forest. I caress the slick surface. The shedding trees part overhead. A sliver of the moon highlights the stone wall. I spy goblin eyes peering through the archway and over the wall.

  A cloaked figure stands in the center of the archway, waiting for my gift.

  My movements cease at the cursed entrance into the goblins’ world. I examine the disfigured face of the Goblin King. He is two heads higher than me. Our last encounter a few weeks ago causes me to blush and turn my face away. I regret not listening to his warnings. I feel like a traitor.

  He smiles at my shyness. “If you wish to free me, you must step through the archway, and hand me the crystal.”

  “H-How do I know you and your goblins won’t attack me after I help you?”

  The motorcycles halt in the short distance to the road. The screechy roars of the demon guards cause the goblins to bare their sharpened claws and chrome teeth. Their bronze bodies glisten in the moonlight.

  “Temptation, I give you my word, as a king, my goblins will not harm you.” The Goblin King’s patient voice comforts me, but his eyes express the urgency of our situation. “I’ll also need the crystal filled with Jenkins’ blood.”

  I reveal the other crystal from my dress pocket. Crap. I am gambling with my life. As I cradle the two spheres, the king’s eyes become bleak. I wonder what it must be like to live for the last one hundred and fifty years, desiring and wishing for the two objects I have in my possession. To have freedom an arm’s length away and not be able to grab it must be the worst kind of torture.

  “Temptation, stop, they’ll destroy everyone!” The guards jog through the woods. They are only a few yards away.

  I lock my eyes onto the Goblin King. The hope disappears from his demeanor and he bows before me. The surrounding goblins stare bug-eyed at their proud king on his knees. I share in their shock.

  “Please, Temptation.” He tilts his lump of a deformed head up. “Set me free.”

  Unable to refuse the pitiful sight, I take the last step forward, and enter the goblins’ kingdom. The king rises. The shouts from the demon guards increase. I place the two crimson crystals in the Goblin King’s awaiting hands. The crystals crack and the king places them to his parting lips.

  The crimson glow disappears into his crooked mouth.

  The only light in the woods comes from the moon, which shines through the skeletal branches of a dead maple tree. In a split second, the ground begins to shake. The goblins snarl at the demons. Fear etches on the demon guards’ faces. The stone wall cracks. The sound echoes throughout the forest like thunder.

  Remorse yanks me out of danger from the archway as it crumbles to the ground. The rocks clack together, reminding me of the sound of balls smashing together in a game of pool. “We be in yer debt Girlie, so ya can’t go dyin’ on us, can ye?”

  I open my mouth to reply, but it is too late. The goblins race over the mounds of rock left from the destroyed wall. The guards flee to their motorcycles, while the goblins chase them like bloodthirsty pit bulls. As more goblins rush past, I sense the king creeping up. Twirling to face him, my mouth drops open. The king’s face no longer resembles a mutated hyena. Instead, he looks human. Except for a very sharp bone structure, which he inherited from his goblin ancestors. The black cloak falls at his feet. With his humpback form gone, he has no need to cover up his body. His bronze skin displays black tattoo veins covering his muscular arms and naked torso. His chrome teeth appear a great deal sharper than Jenkins’ teeth. I nervously rub the metal necklace protecting my skin. The sharp angle of his thick eyebrows makes him look fierce and powerful.

  Realization dawns on me. “You’re the one who was in my bedroom the day I first came to Rosewood. The one who’s been stopping my suicide attempts.” I shake my head. “What happened to you? You look so barbaric. Yet you look human too.”

  Pointy ears poke out of his sleek hair. The Goblin King chuckles and cocks his head sideways. Never blinking, he says, “When Jenkins took my magic, he really took most of my soul. He wanted to imprison me because I kept taking his victims. He feared women who could see goblins, like you, because he believed they would help me based on my appearance. So, he took my very identity and bestowed upon me a gruesome body.” The amusement in his voice holds no anger. I would be angry if someone made me look as hideous as a harpy. “But since I have his blood in me, I look slightly different than I did a hundred and fifty years ago. As for my human features, my ancestors had a thing for Native American women. And it would seem I also like dark skinned women.”

  I blush until his previous words sink in. “Do you mean Jenkins is over a hundred and fifty years old and he still acts like a teenager?”

  The king grins. “Jenkins became a demon when he was a teenager, so his mentality will always be that of a teenager. But he never understood humans, anyway. He believes they only care for beautiful things. He underestimates them, just like he underestimated you.” He circles me. A bizarre kind of pulsing vibe flows off him.

  Perhaps it is magic.

  “He believed you to be broken from the tragic accident with your parents, and therefore never took you as a serious threat. Yes. You would be a challenge for him to control, but I believe he thought threatening to kill your only remaining family members would drive you to be submissive to him.”

  At the mention of my family, I snap out of my trance. “Goblin King–”

  “My name is Silus, Temptation. It’s about time you used it.”

  “Right. Silus. Remorse told me you’re in my debt for freeing you and your goblins.”

  Silus presents a teasing smile and folds his strong arms across his chest. “Is that a question or do you have a request of me?” The muscles along his torso bulge. The last goblins run past and a terrifying scream echoes in the distance.

  My hair whips past my face, causing it to reflect the moonlight. “I want you to save my family. I know I can leave Rosewood, but I want my family to leave, too. I’m afraid Jenkins has already killed them because of what I’ve done. Craven and the rest of the bikers are trying to protect them, along with the Peters. I helped them before I came here. I don’t know if it gave them the time they needed. I also saw my friend, Whelan. Did you know he is a demon?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is he working for you too?”

  “He agreed to protect you where I could not. In exchange, I agreed to help him to save his Victoria.”

  Eyebrows rising, I ask, “His Victoria?”

  “Whelan was already…involved with Victoria before she came to Rosewood. Her family was lured here by recruiters. It took him a while to enter Rosewood, because–”

  “Only those who are invited to Rosewood can find it,” I finish.

  “Exactly. Victoria had already been bitten by the time he arrived.”

  “This is horrible!”

  Silus frowns. “Are you in love with Whelan?”

  “What? No! It’s Victoria.”

  “You like women?”

  “No! She was fighting Jenkins in the cave. I’m not sure she survived. Whelan ran after her, but I told the golden statues not to let him find the cave.”


  “Whelan will be fine. He is a rare kind of demon.”

  A silence stretches between us.

  “Will you save my family?”

  “Consider it done.”

  Relief sweeps through me, but the predatory glare Silus is giving me, makes me retreat a few steps.

  “And since this evens us up, I’m unbound to you.” Silus unfolds his arms. His nails grow an inch. The antifreeze colored liquid, drips from the points of his chrome teeth.

  “No! We’re not even yet, because you haven’t saved my family. They’re still at the theater house and the more time we waste here, the more likely it is Jenkins has already done something to them.”

  Silus rumbles out a throaty chuckle. “Don’t worry, Temptation, I’ve already instructed your family’s safety is our first priority. However, I do need to get into town. I’ve waited a long time to kill Jenkins, so let’s be quick about this.”

  I stumble backward over the fallen stones. “You told me you wouldn’t hurt me after I freed you. You lied to me!”

  “No. I told you my goblins wouldn’t hurt you. I never said I wouldn’t hurt you.” Silus lurches forward.

  I spin on the spot and dash toward the road highlighted by the moonlight. The wind swirls my hair in the air. The breeze swishes over my necklace. I sense Silus’ ascension and sprint harder toward the road. I snap my head to my right. Silus is running next to me, replicating my strides. He does not even break a sweat. He is teasing me. I spy the motorcycle ahead.

  “Gotcha,” he whispers.

  Warm arms encircle my waist and reject me from taking the last few yards to the motorcycle. Voice shrill, I aim a kick and make contact with his stiff legs.

  He grunts and then chuckles. He spins me and we stand so close the tips of our noses touch.

  I intend to kick him in a better place this time, but he twists my arms. I cry out in pain. Silus pushes me backward and I stagger. The bark of an oak tree grazes the naked flesh on my back. As his body pushes against mine, he pins me to the dry tree. A few leaves glide to the forest floor.

  A couple of tears escape my eyes. “Y-You’re going to kill me?”

  Silus cocks his head sideways. His black eyes penetrate my own. “I thought it’s what you’ve wanted most in the world since the death of your parents. The one thing I’ve barred you from over the past year. Are you telling me, when you’re about to have your deepest wish come true, you don’t want to die?”

  I consider Silus’ words. I have longed for death over the past year. “I wanted to escape my memories. Death seemed like the easiest choice at the time, but I have a new family. I’ll find a way to deal with my past. Besides…” I shift my head to rest more comfortably on Silus’ large arms. “My aunt and uncle love me–”

  Silus snorts and relaxes his grip on my wrists. “You know your aunt only tolerates you. I used the white mask in your home to watch the way your family treated you. I saw what she did to you the first night you came to the theater.”

  The anger in Silus’ voice causes me to falter in my thinking. “Why would you care? You want to kill me?”

  Silus displays another sinister smile. “Do I?” The lime-green liquid leaks out of the points of his teeth once again. “I will never be dishonest to you, Temptation. This is going to be sharp and unpleasant.” He seizes a fistful of my hair and yanks my head sideways. His clawed hands grasp the necklace. It shatters like glass.

  I scream. It is all I can do. Powerful jaws lock on my neck and bite down, causing the points of his teeth to dig deeper into skin and muscle. I stop screaming and gasp for air. He is not sucking my blood. The veins all over my body are on fire. Using my free hand to grab a handful of Silus’ hair, I try to yank him away from my throbbing neck.

  He compresses harder, releases my hair, and captures my hand. Untangling it from his own hair, he pulls me into a tighter embrace.

  A spiking fever makes my eyes water. My legs go limp and Silus gently lowers me to the cold ground. No longer able to lift my arms, he arches back, and gaze upon me; apparently pleased with my frailness. “Y-You going to watch me die?”

  Silus leans forward and places a light kiss on my lips. My eyelids flutter in alarm. “Whether you live or die is your choice, Temptation. I’m grateful to you for freeing me. Even if I did have to bow to you.” He chuckles and strokes my cheek. “You are an amazing woman. I hope you decide to stay alive. Goodbye.”

  In an instant, he vanishes. As my vision blurs and I close my eyes. I listen to the tree branches knocking together like battle drums overhead. The combating demons and goblins growl in the distance. I try to embrace the final sounds I will ever hear.

  Reopening my burning eyes, I am at the theater house, staring up at the roof. I fly in the air and land on the balcony rooftop. Turning, I stare down into the crowded street. Goblins and demons battle below; their black blood splatters the buildings and street signs. A few lampposts on the Peters’ front lawn are destroyed. Shards of glistening glass cuts into a few of the goblins’ feet. Their cries of pain cause my anger to grow toward the zombie demons.

  Over the edge, I spot my family huddled together in front of the Peters’ front door. The Peters, the biker gang, and to my surprise, Victoria and Whelan battle the other demons in front of the theater.

  Whelan saved Victoria.

  He constantly glances at Victoria, while fending off the other demons. Victoria belongs to him.

  Craven stands closest to my family. I turn to my right and realize I stand next to one of the stone gargoyles. I stretch out my hand and rest it on the gargoyle’s ugly head. My fingers are unnaturally long. They look like a giant bronze spider on the stone statue. Then, Silus’ voice fills the air.

  “Awaken!”

  I watch in horrified fascination. The statue cracks and stone, thin as glass, falls from the gargoyle’s leathery skin.

  The thing speaks in a hoarse tone. “Master, what do you wish of us?”

  Us? I glance at the other statues. Those little gargoyles were throwing stones at me on the first day of school. I knew it!

  Again, Silus’ voice echoes through the air. “Kill the slave demons.”

  The sound of cracking stone erupts from every edge of the theater roof as all of the gargoyles awaken. With a screech, they soar down to the street to assist the goblins with their prey. A gargoyle swoops and attacks Mr. Dredfield; a twinge of anger grows in me. I thought they were going to try to save everyone. They said if Jenkins is killed, everyone will return to their human selves.

  A cackling laugh comes from the direction of the old-fashioned doorway leading back into the theater house. I scream while Silus’ voice, full of mockery, echoes into the night air. “Jenkins...you’re looking well.”

  Jenkins’ face glows in an unholy sort of way. He snarls. “I can see Temptation betrayed me, but not to worry. I’ll take a piece of her when I am done killing you. Although, if you promise to behave, you could be my pet again.”

  “You’re the only one who’ll die tonight Jenkins and don’t worry about Temptation. I’ve already claimed her. She belongs to me.”

  Outrage swells up inside me.

  Jenkins laughs. “No, she doesn’t. You forget, goblin.”

  I can feel Silus’ anger increase.

  “You drank my blood from the crystal and when you pumped your venom into Temptation, part of me went into her, too. I know she’s watching us – through your eyes.” Jenkins leers at Silus. “I can feel her. She’ll never be submissive to you. Either way, it won’t matter because you’ll be dead before dawn, and she’ll be under my control.” Jenkins lunges forward and slashes at Silus with his clawed hands.

  Silus jumps, twists in the air, and aims his fist at Jenkins’ skull. A cracking sound echoes, while a sharp pain travels up my hand and on top of my own skull. I gasp. “I see you’re still slow, demon.”

  Jenkins sneers at Silus. Black blood drips from his nose. “You barely touched me.”

&nbs
p; I snort. Bull crap, my head feels like it was hit by a ton of bricks.

  “I might not be as fast as you, crossbreed, but I can still hurt you in other ways. Let’s see how loyal Temptation is to you when you cannot even save her family.” Jenkins sprints and leaps off the balcony roof.

  Silus does not hesitate.

  I can feel his heart spike with fear.

  He hurdles over the ledge, snatches Jenkins in mid-air, and then slams him through one of the theater windows.

  Jenkins’ claws grow longer and his fangs drip a sickly white liquid.

  Silus mimics his actions. They circle each other like predators. Silus lurches forward and slashes at Jenkins.

  Jenkins blocks Silus’ attacks.

  The darkness of the room would have been blinding to me, however, Silus’ sight is perfect in the blackness. Through his eyes, everything illuminates in shades of gray and platinum. The objects touched by the moonlight, like Jenkins’ swirling violet-red eyes, sparkle with an otherworldly beauty.

  Jenkins’ unnatural grin stretches out even wider. “Why don’t we leave Temptation out of this one?” Before Silus can respond, Jenkins dives, and sinks his teeth into Silus’ skin. Blistering pain runs through my veins as I hear Silus’ painful growl before losing all sight.

  Minutes pass. The night breeze caresses me, beckoning me back to reality. My eyes flutter open. The skeletal tree branches wave overhead. I shift my sore skull off the tree root and realize I can transfer my body more freely. Hoisting myself up off the ground, I snatch a nearby tree limb for support. My head throbs, but my mind soon focuses on the one thing I need to do. Help my family escape. I locate the opening of the woods leading to the road. As I rub my neck, I cringe, and withdraw my palm. Wetness covers it. Even though I cannot see it in the dark of the night, I know it is blood. I untie the black lace sash from my waist and bind it around my neck, careful not to cut off circulation. At the road, I hurry over to my vacant motorcycle, and haul it to a standing position. Swinging my legs over, I kick start the bike into life.

  Once I get a view of Rosewood, the roars of the battling immortals bid my heartbeat to quicken its’ pace. The flickering lights of the town are like an old battlefield of the past. Unlit shops remain undisturbed as I pass. The run-down gas station comes into view on my left. Dark figures fly overhead. I speed up; glad not to be the one hunted by gargoyles. Dead bodies are everywhere. The goblins are winning. Applying the brakes, I stop at Mrs. Peters’ home. The biker gang is blocking the entrance.

  Craven extends his pale hand toward me. He helps me up the broken stairs. “You shouldn’t have come, Temptation. The Goblin King wanted you to stay where you would be safe. You need to go back. Hide in the goblins’ cove.”

  I do not agree. “I’m not going anywhere without my family. I gave Silus and his goblins their freedom. I want mine. I’m taking my family and leaving Rosewood.”

  The biker gang bares their fangs. “You’re not to leave Rosewood. Your family can once the battle is over. When the king kills Jenkins, the spell will be broken over Rosewood, and everyone will be free to leave.”

  “Every tormented soul except me, right?”

  The leader tips my chin up with one long pointy finger. “Do you think after causing this kind of change we’ve been dreaming of for well over a century, we would allow you to leave? Don’t you realize what you have done for us? You have given us the chance to unite the goblins and demons under one leader! Silus is both goblin and demon, thanks to you.”

  “But why do I have to stay? If I’ve done something so great for your kind and the goblins, then why would you imprison me?” Tears form behind my eyes at the unfairness of it all.

  Craven slants his spiked head. He stares at the bite mark on my neck and answers, “He chose you for our queen. With you, we’ll have a link to the human world and a better knowledge of it.”

  I try to argue more, but no words emerge. The thought of marrying Silus, is both exciting and horrifying. Everything is happening too fast. I cannot think straight.

  A thunderous crash echoes out from the town square and shakes the ground like an earthquake. Somehow, I know Silus is there in the town square. A moment later, a large Ferris wheel rolls down the street parallel to Main Street. Hanging lamps smash to the ground. Without thought, I jump off the stairs and sprint toward the street leading to the carnival.

  Craven blocks me from continuing. “My orders are to keep you safe. Get back to the theater house!”

  A sharp pain enters my chest. “Silus is in trouble.” I move past Craven with inhuman speed.

  Silus has a lot of explaining to do.

  The square is the epicenter of the battlefield. I dodge flying metal. It was a part of the Spider-leg Twirl. The carnival rides are torn down and being used as weapons. I hear a grunt along the side of the buildings. A collapsing ticket booth pins Remorse to the ground. The drama teacher, Mrs. Kindal, picks up a metal bar from a broken ride. She raises it, clearly aiming for Remorse’s head.

  He sneers up at her. “I’ll not fear ya in death!”

  I bound forward. Mrs. Kindal swings the bar down. I shield Remorse with my body and snatch the bar in my bare hands. Pain shoots down through my palms.

  Mrs. Kindal’s eyes reflect the decades of insanity built up in her mind. “I never liked you Temptation. Always in the way. Always disrespecting our master. You’re no better than those filthy goblins you freed.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” I say and yank the bar from her hands. I shove Mrs. Kindal back with my feet. The bar extends out in front of me like a sword. It shakes while I say, “I suggest you leave before you’re killed. I don’t want to kill you, even though you’re no better than Jenkins.”

  “Stupid brat!” Mrs. Kindal lurches forward and rams herself into the metal bar. The metal sinks into her stomach, but she drives it further into her own flesh. Mrs. Kindal claws at me. I try to duck her blows. Mrs. Kindal strikes out and slashes my shoulder.

  “How dare ya hurt our queen?” Remorse drags himself out of the rubble and pounces on Mrs. Kindal. “Get outta the way, yer majesty!”

  I project the bar away and retreat. Remorse exposes his needlepoint chrome teeth. They drip a white liquid. He sinks them deep into Mrs. Kindal’s neck as she makes a final attempt to attack. Her hellish scream causes me to clutch the spot on my neck where Silus bit me. Remorse remains latched to Mrs. Kindal’s neck like a wildcat attacking prey. Her eyes roll in the back of her head and she drops dead to the ground.

  He shuffles away from her to stand next to me. “Ya should be at the theater house. Whatcha doin’ ‘ere?”

  “Silus’ is in trouble.” I study the warring creatures. “I don’t know where he is, but he’s been hurt.”

  “There be nothin’ ya can do. Me master be powerful enough to defeat Jenkins. But he’d be pleased ta know ya care–”

  “You’re mistaking my intentions, Remorse. I want to leave Rosewood, but Craven said I can’t.” I frown at Remorse when he gaffs my response.

  “Yer not ta leave. And that be the end of it.” Remorse forces me toward the theater house.

  “No.” I slip out of his gnarled fingers. Dashing back into the carnival battlefield, I ignore Remorse’s pleas. Through the crowd, I dodge debris, and avoid the dead carcasses. I can feel panic arise in Silus for fear of my safety.

  Strong arms cage my body and lift me into the air. As I hold the bronze arms on my abdomen, the town square passes under us. We are fast approaching the theater house. A large window breaks open and we land in a Victorian room, which resembles a stylish living room. The room holds only dim lighting. Voices applaud us from the walls.

  “Glad to see you made it out!”

  “We were worried for awhile.”

  “We’ll keep you safe here, your majesty.” A sun on the wall beams at me.

  “I’m not your queen,” I say to the idols, “and I’m not staying here.” I pivot in Silus’ arms,
glaring up into his eyes with open defiance.

  Amusement replaces his concern for my safety.

  “There’s nothing funny about our situation, Silus.”

  He throws his head back and laughs. “Temptation, you’re the most fun I’ve had in over two hundred years. I do think I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  “A hundred and fifty of those years don’t count because you’ve been locked away.”

  Silus laughs even harder.

  “I want to escape from Rosewood. I’m not a thing, I’m a person. You can’t keep me as a prisoner!”

  His facial muscles flex into seriousness. “What will you do if I release you? Go to college? Start a family?” His loving emotions change to jealousy, burning like dry ice against my heart. “Forget about me?”

  I decline to meet his line of questions.

  “Do you really think your aunt will allow you to stay with her family, after all this?”

  “Families don’t abandon each other. They’re not perfect, but they’re also not cruel.”

  Silus stares in thoughtful contemplation at my unyielding determination. “You might be safer outside of Rosewood.”

  Hope swells in me. “So, you’ll let me go?”

  Silus grins and leans closer. “Yes. But don’t think it will last forever. On the winter solstice, an eclipse will happen. During that eclipse, all barriers between worlds will be broken. I’ll come to retrieve you then – with or without your consent.”

  I shove his arms off my waist. “You’re nothing but a beast!”

  Silus laughs. “And you’re a beauty. We make the perfect fairytale couple.”

  I do not resist a snort. “This isn’t a fairytale, it’s a nightmare. Besides, last time I checked, fairytales are happy and joyful with handsome princes and princesses.” My disapproving eyes square him off. “You’re no handsome prince and I’m no princess. We’re both far from ever becoming those stereotypes.”

  The Goblin King’s delight grows. “But if I remember correctly, you did lose your glass slippers tonight.”

  I ignore his teasing remark and saunter to the shattered window. The chaos outside is calming to a low rumble. The goblins must be winning.

  Silus positions himself behind me once again and leans forward to speak in my ear. His breath sends a chill of adventure running down my spine. “You know, true fairytales are of the most unlikely couples, and the battles they fight together. These characters have tragic empty lives, until they finally find one another.”

  His message is in his voice; in his tender tone. A tone someone uses to speak to a lover.

  “I think we need to split up. Your goblins seem to have overtaken the demons, but Jenkins is still in town, isn’t he?”

  “He’s somewhere, hiding no doubt. I want you to stay here until this is over. Your family members are in the ballroom with the Peters. You can wait for me there. Jenkins cannot stay hidden forever.” Silus strokes my shoulders with his spidery fingers. It is a comforting gesture, a warming relief for my loneliness.

  I start to leave.

  Large fingers circle my hands.

  Silus twirls me into his arms and steals my kiss, my mortality, my soul – everything. Nothing in the world matters. Nothing will dare hurt me. The rapid beats of his heart pound against my chest. Adrenalin courses through my veins as arms explore my lower back. Silus is literally the man of my dreams.

  Breaking for air, Silus gazes into my swirling jade-violet eyes. “I love you, Temptation Belladonna Falls. I will come back for you, no matter where you go.”

  Nodding, I slide out of his embrace. Without a backward glance, I leave the Goblin King. Once the door closes behind me, I suffer a twinge of loss.

  The sun and moon medallions on the walls guide me to the cluttered ballroom. Their constant praise annoys me. At the top of the balcony, I see my family with a harassed Mr. and Mrs. Peters.

  “I don’t have a bloody interest in what your king wants! We’re leaving–”

  “Mr. Falls, if you exit the theater, you’re in danger of being killed. Can’t you understand we’re trying to save your lives! Temptation is still out there somewhere–”

  “I’m here, Mrs. Peters.”

  Everyone gasps.

  I rush down the stairs and descend into the now depressed ballroom.

  “Thank goodness!” Mrs. Peters dashes forward and embraces me. Mr. Peters follows behind his wife.

  Although I appreciate the Peters, I am studying the reactions of my family. Aunt Sally and Uncle Jack control no emotions on their faces. Even my two cousins do not convey any feelings.

  “We were afraid Jenkins captured you.” Mrs. Peters motions at my family. “I’m trying to explain to them how dangerous it is to leave.”

  “I can take them.” I untangle myself from the Peters’ hugs.

  “But the king objected to–”

  “I spoke with Silus a moment ago. He said we’re free to depart from Rosewood.” I catch my Uncle Jack’s eye. “Do you have the keys to your car?”

  Uncle Jack blinks as if startled to hear me speak directly to him. “Yes. It won’t do us much good, since the car is sitting at home.”

  “Come on. We need to return to the front of the theater.” The Peters begins protesting, but my family follows without hesitation. “I’ll need to borrow your keys, Uncle Jack.”

  “You’ll get caught if you try to run home and get it!” Uncle Jack’s disapproving tone lifts my spirit. At least he still worries about me.

  “Trust me.” I say at the entrance of the theater and hold out my tattooed hand.

  He twitches his mustache. Sally nudges him. “Fine.” He shoves his hand into his pocket and withdraws his shining keys.

  In a flash, I grab them and dash home. It takes less than thirty seconds to arrive home and two minutes to pack some bags. I think I am getting the hang of this. In the car, I scoot forward and place the keys in the ignition. I reverse the car out of the driveway and then head back to the theater. Goblins stalk the roads. Bone masks cover their faces. At the corner of Main and Weeping Willow Lane, I wave my family over. Grabbing my bag, I step out of the car, and move aside for Uncle Jack to take the driver’s seat. Aunt Sally rushes to the other side, while ushering her boys to climb in back. I remain where I am on the corner of Mrs. Peters’ lawn.

  “Temptation, get in the car.” Uncle Jack’s brow drops beads of sweat onto his shirt while his eyes dart to every dark corner in sight. He cringes as a goblin limps by laughing and carrying a bloody knife.

  “I’m not going with you, Uncle Jack.”

  Uncle Jack narrows in on me. “What?”

  “I need to stay a little longer. I know I’ve caused you a lot of problems over the past year, and I’m grateful that you’ve all put up with me, but now you can see I’m not crazy.”

  Uncle Jack steps out of the car, the protests of his wife and sons forgotten. Fear of the demons and goblins seem to extinguish in this moment. “Temptation, you are my niece. I’ve watched you grow up right along with my own children. You’re the closest thing I have to a daughter. I–” His eyes are watering. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you from the start. You were never one to make up stories. I should have never allowed that doctor to send you to that psychiatric hospital for all those months.”

  Tears drip from my eyes. I wished to hear those words so badly from Uncle Jack, but thought the day would never come. The remaining weight on my heart lifts, tearing away the lingering depression of the past. I truly embrace the freedom of my past. “Are you going back to Urbanna?”

  “We are going back to Urbanna.”

  A sharp pain enters my chest. Jenkins is hurting Silus. The battle is shifting.

  “Uncle Jack, you said you regretted not trusting me, so trust me now. I need to stay here a little longer. I’ll follow you to Urbanna. I’ll find you, but I have to help someone.”

  Uncle Jack paces the pavement mumbling.

&n
bsp; “Dad! We have to go!”

  Carting me into a hug, he says, “You better follow or I’ll come back. I swear I will!”

  “Thanks, Uncle Jack.”

  Releasing me, he hops back into the car and drives out of Rosewood. I inhale a deep breath before facing the theater.

  My bare feet beat against the grass. The goblins keep the townspeople at bay as I sprint into the theater house. The hallway does not smell of lemon or cleaning supplies anymore. The odor of death wafts through the historic house. Depositing my bag in the hallway, I return to the balcony. The Peters talk in rapid conversation with Whelan and Victoria below. I jog down the stairs, careful to tiptoe around the sharp crystals from the fallen chandelier.

  “Temptation! We thought you were leaving?” Mrs. Peters says.

  Whelan grips Victoria’s waist. Victoria’s face looks bruised and scratched from the Cyclopes rats.

  “I have an idea how to help Silus,” I say.

  “Silus?” Victoria asks.

  “The Goblin King.”

  “Oh.”

  “I remember Silus telling me that the only thing that calms Jenkins’ demons is song. That’s why he held Victoria and me in such high regard. So I thought why not have Victoria and I sing, and see what happens to Jenkins.”

  Victoria’s eyebrows rise and the first genuine smile I have ever seen forms on her lips. “I’ve always wanted to try a duet.”

  “That’s brilliant,” Whelan says. “The speakers extend out of the theater and all around the town square. I’ll repair a few of the damaged cables.” He jumps on stage and off to the side to tinker with the sound equipment.

  “Well, Dearies, what are you going to sing? We don’t have a band and I’m not sure I have any modern music–”

  “I have something.” Victoria follows Whelan and whispers to him.

  On the stage, I pull out two microphones. Another painful pressure to my throat causes me to choke. I drop the microphones. Mr. and Mrs. Peters rush to my side. Their worrying voices are surrounding me. I can only succeed to choke out the word, “Silus.” I feel his heart leap and wonder if he heard me speak his name. The pressure on my throat disappears. Inhaling a few times, I manage to say, “We do this now. We’re out of time.”

  Victoria snatches up the microphones from the waxed floor and hands me one. “Ready?”

  The Peters move aside so I can stand next to Victoria. “What are we singing?”

  “A classic with a modern twist. I actually got the idea from your obsession with opera rock.”

  A drumming beat echoes out of the theater and courses through Rosewood. I recognize the revised beat pulsing with electric guitars. “The Phantom of the Opera!”

  Victoria smiles. “Fitting, isn’t it? You lead first.”

  The tone of the music slows a little and I burst into the song. Closing my eyes, I will myself to see through Silus’ eyes. He is standing on top of a building overlooking the carnival and listening to my singing. All of the demon townspeople below stop and listen. They do not flinch or fight back as the goblins tackle them to the ground and tie them up against the broken debris from the carnival rides.

  Victoria joins me. Pulsing into a strong, beautiful beat, the music makes me feel empowered.

  Honing in on my ability, I try to see through Jenkins’ eyes. He is crouching on top of the clock tower in the town square. Unable to move or even see his demons falling at the hands of the goblins, his only focus is on the theater house. The buzzing of his heart imitates the hum of an angry wasps’ nest, but as Victoria and I sing, the buzzing ceases and gives him a moment of pure bliss. He feels human.

  I pause. Victoria continues.

  Silus’ yell and a burst of pain in the back of my head, sends me swirling back to myself in the theater. I sway.

  “Come on, Girlie! Me master be gettin’ the better of Jenkins. Keep yerself awake!”

  Remorse’s grin at the balcony snaps me back into reality. I join Victoria as we hit the climax of the song. Desperate to see the battle raging between Silus and Jenkins, I attempt to shut my eyes again.

  Victoria snatches my wrist, to get my attention, and then shakes her head.

  Victoria’s right. Focus. Sing.

  The song ends and a huge uproar of praise courses from the outside of the theater.

  “Yah did it, Temptation! We captured the townspeople.” Remorse waddles down the stairs.

  “Did Silus kill Jenkins?”

  Remorse stops. “You tell me, girlie.”

  A knot forms in my stomach. What if he did not win? What if he… Shaking away the gut-wrenching thoughts, I focus in on Silus once again.

  Treetops zoom below. He whips his eyes over every dark inch of the forest. Panic seeps in with every beat of his wings. “Temptation get out of my head. I need you to abandon Rosewood. I’ve lost Jenkins. It isn’t safe!” I want to protest, but Silus touches his thumbnail into the palm of his hand. “I’ll miss you, Temptation.” Pushing down, his nail pierces his own skin, and blood rolls off his palm. The pain travels to my hand and I regrettably leave Silus’ mind.

  “Be our master winnin’?”

  Fluttering my eyes to get adjusted to my reality, I spot eyes peering at me from all angles of the room, waiting for my answer. “He needs your help finding Jenkins. He’s scanning the forest.”

  “Jenkins be afraid of us goblins. We’ll not disappoint his expectations of us, will we?” Remorse forms an impish smile at the sound of the cheering goblins as they march toward the exit.

  Caressing the scar on the palm of my hand, I think, I’ll miss you too.

  Victoria, Whelan, and the Peters join the goblins in search for Jenkins. I follow behind, picking up my bag when I make it to the hallway. Beyond the front door, townspeople clash their teeth together at the mocking goblins. Since the music died, their old personalities resurface again. The biker gang’s motorcycles no longer inhabit the street, but Jerald’s did. Swinging a leg over the motorcycle, I start the bike, and take off down West Ironwood Drive. Checking my mirror, I spot Remorse’s scowl as I depart Rosewood. Trees devour the scenery and I focus on the road. Passing an aging tombstone, I check my rearview mirror to see the words, Welcome to Rosewood. A tall man stands in the road behind me. Wings expand in the moonlight. Slamming on my brakes, I skid to a halt. “Silus? What are you doing?”

  “Don’t insult me by mistaking me for him.” Jenkins arches his head up so the moonlight sketches out his sharp features and horrible teeth; his feral eyes lock only on me. “My blood is in you too. You can run Temptation, but I will find you.” He stands parallel with the sign, unable to cross the threshold into the human world.

  I carefully situate myself on the motorcycle. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out between us, Jerald.”

  A side of his face twitches.

  “I fell in love with Silus a long time before you and I. He never did anything to threaten or hurt me. Your brother did. You did. Silus will find me. You won’t because you’ll be dead.”

  Jenkins expels a roar, creating earthquake like vibrations on the ground. Another dark figure with wings lands behind Jenkins.

  It is Silus.

  Jenkins’ face lights up. I realize Jenkins used my own ability against me to lure Silus to our location. Whipping a fist around, Jenkins slams it against Silus’ chest, knocking him to the ground.

  Instinctively, I move to aid Silus, but he shouts, “Temptation run!”

  Jenkins advances on Silus and bares his fangs.

  Silus rolls to his feet and jolts forward. Jenkins attacks, but Silus jumps upon Jenkins shoulders. Pushing off, he shoots up into the night sky. Jenkins roars again. Extending his black wings, he ascends into the blackness of the night sky to hunt Silus, abandoning me to the waving trees masked with shadows.

  I take off on Jerald’s bike. The tiny back road Aunt Sally took when we came to Rosewood appears on the left. Leaning the bike, I swerve down South Branch Road.
The further I travel from Rosewood, the more I die inside.