by Hadena James
And I could feel the magic. Feel it building, not his, but mine. Some part of me was fighting against the healing, some magical part. I wasn’t sure why, but it didn’t like it. It was probably the Human side.
“Well?” Anubis asked. His voice sounded very far away, as if it were echoing from a mountain range. I wasn’t sure who the question was aimed at. I was even less sure that I cared. At the moment, I was working very hard not to let the magic take control of me.
“Well,” Levi gave a long, drawn out sigh, “it’s working, but I don’t think it’s working well.”
“What does that mean?”
“She is fighting it,” Levi told him. They both sounded far away, as if they might be shouting to each other from different mountaintops.
“Should we stop?”
“We’ve already started,” I croaked out the phrase and felt a tiny puff of magic escape with it. It was visible in the air. A spell, cast by itself, tangible in a way that I had never seen before.
“What is that?”
“A spell,” I croaked again. I was beginning to feel very weak. “We have to stop.”
Another puff of magic. Larger this time, entered the room. It was unsure what to do. So it hung as a dark aromatic cloud, just under my ceiling.
“That’s something I’ve never seen,” Levi was removing his hands from me.
“Me either,” Anubis answered, he moved closer to me. “Can you do something about it?”
“I don’t know what it is or where it came from.” I was feeling a little better without Levi’s hands on me. “All I know is that it is a spell.”
“Spells aren’t exactly visible, Brenna,” Levi told me.
“True, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a spell, Levi.”
“Okay, it’s a spell, what do we do with it?” Anubis was moving in to protect me.
“We let it cast itself,” I pushed magic towards it. I felt the two collide. Felt the spell grow in strength. There was an audible “whooshing” noise followed by a loud pop. The spell disappeared from view. In its place, there was a dark cloud and it was raining fish.
“Fish,” I wrinkled my nose. “Not what I expected, but it could have been worse.”
“Why is it raining fish in your bedroom?” Levi asked me.
“Because the spell didn’t know what to do. I gave it strength, but not guidance. I think it just sort of picked up on the spells that have been cast inside the house. Since this is one of Daniel’s favorites…” I shrugged. “On the flip side, I don’t hurt as much.”
“The spell didn’t know what to do?” Levi cocked an eyebrow at me.
“Witch magic isn’t like Demon magic. It doesn’t have a purpose until the practitioner gives it one. Demon magic is automatic. If you don’t tell it to do something, it automatically heals things. Witch magic just sort of hangs around until something happens. I gave it strength, but not purpose. It found the residual spells of the house and cast itself.”
“Witch Magic can cast itself?” Anubis was looking at me a little sideways.
“Yes, because it is just energy, unguided energy with no purpose of its own. I think, if I had been in full control of my Demon powers, I probably would have returned the magic and healed Levi. Since I don’t…”
“I get it,” Levi looked at Anubis. “Think of it as a lost dog. It will just wander around until something happens.”
“Exactly,” I sat up in the bed. “However, I do feel better. Not great, it was rather unappealing, but better.”
“You requested the healing and then call it unappealing?” Anubis shook his head at me.
“Well, it was different. I’ve been healed before, but it didn’t feel like that. That wasn’t exactly pleasant. Then again, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant either. I don’t think I can describe it. I hope not to do it again anytime soon.”
“At least you have a hope,” Levi looked at the cloud. It was diminishing in size. Live fish were flopping around on the floor. “Can you do something about that?”
“Nope, go throw them in the pond.” I shrugged. “That’s what we do with all of Daniel’s fish.”
“At least it wasn’t frogs,” Levi scooped up several of the fish and walked from the room. Anubis followed suit. I considered it and decided I didn’t really have the energy for such a task, but my room wasn’t smelling real great. I went into the living room and curled up on the couch.
“Fish?” Gabriel asked.
“Magic finds other magic,” I closed my eyes. “I’m really sleepy.”
“Are there more?” Fenrir asked.
“It’s still raining in my room.” I felt sleep suck at me. “I will nap here.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
If anyone answered me, it was lost. I was asleep before they could speak. I dreamed of magic and double souls. It was not a good dream. Double souls are toxic to the body and eventually, one soul wins the battle. It isn’t always the original soul either. Sometimes, it’s the interloper. It is forbidden magic. An offense, punishable by death. I dreamed of that too. I dreamed of Death, the person. I dreamed that I was sitting on a hill, looking out at the world and Death was standing next to me. He spoke in tones too low for me to hear. I had died. Put to death for forcing a foreign soul into Chiron’s body. Death had no face, no real features. He appeared to be wearing a hangman’s hood. There was a noose around his neck. No black robe, no clothing at all except for the hood. His body was the palest green I had ever seen. He was chanting something to me, over me. I couldn’t make out the words.
I awoke to find myself laid out on the floor. Anubis was kneeling over me, his hands on my chest. Levi was at my head, his hands on either side. They were both chanting something. Behind them, I heard Fenrir howl, the sound was pure animal.
“Oh, God,” Gabriel’s voice broke through the howl.
“I saw Death,” I said looking into Levi’s face. “I dreamed I performed forbidden magic and was put to death. Death was standing over me. He wore a hood and a noose. He was almost green, but not quite. He was chanting.”
“Death is not a real being,” Levi said removing his hands. “And that is why we do not perform healings on mortals.”
“They dream of Death?”
“No, they die,” Levi nearly shouted.
“Leviathan,” Anubis had a tone to his voice that was reserved for use on insubordinates.
“Anubis,” Levi challenged.
“She didn’t die, just came close,” Anubis told him.
“She dreamed of death and forbidden magic, it’s a sign,” Levi answered.
“We don’t read signs,” Anubis countered, “only Centaurs read signs.”
“It doesn’t matter.” The malice left Levi. “She lives.”
“She lives.” Anubis also took a breath and seemed to calm.
“What now?” Levi asked.
“We continue,” Anubis answered.
“My niece had better not die during the Maturing. It will not be good.”
“Agreed,” Gabriel answered before Anubis could even open his mouth. “She took Fenrir to wolf form as she was dying. I’m not sure how long before he can change back. A while, I’d guess. He doesn’t seem very happy.”
“No, no he doesn’t,” Ba’al was the first to laugh. As the giggle began in Ba’al, it spread out, overtook the other men in the room. When they had finished, it was lighter somehow, airier.
“Okay, another crisis averted and only twenty-six days to go.” Gabriel was suddenly standing over me. “I would appreciate you not doing that again.”
“Me too.” I couldn’t shake the feeling that the magic in my dream was still lingering. “Do all of you feel normal?”
“How do you mean?” Levi asked.
“Do you feel like yourself? I didn’t force another soul into your bodies?”
“No,” Ba’al said, “I don’t believe you did. I don’t think you were actually casting.”
“I feel the remnants of magic.”
; “So you did cast something?” Anubis asked.
“I think so.” I frowned. “Could I get up? I don’t really feel all that bad, just creeped out.”
“Creeped out,” Levi made a complicated gesture that involved his head and his horns. “Never a dull moment.”
“Very true,” Anubis and Levi helped me to my feet. Fenrir was pacing in circles. There was a puddle on the floor and I was pretty sure it contained flesh.
“Ugh,” I sat down on the couch. “Fen, do you feel okay, other than the wolf thing?”
Fenrir gave a howl. It was loud and long. He padded over to me, his feet hushed on the hardwood floor. He nuzzled my leg and licked my hand.
“I think that’s a yes.” I looked at him. He licked me again. “Okay, well until you change back, we’ll go with yes, you feel fine.”
He seemed to consider this for a second. His large, wolfish head cocked from side to side in a slow rhythm. Finally, he curled up on the floor near my feet.
“I think werewolves are allowed on the furniture,” I told him. He didn’t look up at me.
“Am I allowed to pet him?” I asked.
“Pet him?” Gabriel tried to hide a smile.
“I have the urge to pet him.” I shrugged.
“I don’t think he’ll mind,” Ba’al told me.
I reached down and buried one of my hands into his fur. It was soft and fluffy. He opened his eyes for a few moments. He nuzzled into my hand before letting them close again.
“Yeah, I think he’s okay with it.” Gabriel smiled.
“Well, do you need me anymore? Nancy is giving me fits because of the baby.” Levi was standing.
“If I do, I’m sure you’ll get a call,” I told him.
“Good, Uli is teething and he cries all the time. Fangs come in so easily, I wish the rest of the teeth did.” Levi gave me a quick kiss on the head and left.
“Are you alright?” Gabriel asked after Levi had left.
“Well, I am pretty sure I cast a spell as I died, and I also think I might have leeched survival energy from Fenrir. Those two things have me slightly disturbed, but otherwise, I’m good.”
“Fine, it’s nearly dark. We’ll have some dinner and everyone will go back to what they were doing before.” Gabriel strolled into the kitchen.
We all followed, even Fenrir. At the table, he curled up on the floor at my feet. I frowned at him.
“Do we really think he is okay?” I asked, as Gabriel began putting stuffed manicotti on my plate.
“Well, if you are right and you sucked energy from him, I imagine he’s tired and it explains why he’s in wolf form.” Gabriel put three of them down and added a little more sauce.
“You said you dreamed of forbidden magic?” Ba’al asked as his plate was filled.
“There are five spells Witches are never allowed to cast. They are considered pure evil. They are automatic death sentences for a Witch. One is called The Double Soul. The Witch forces the soul of a dead person into the body of a living one, essentially creating a being with two souls. Two souls cannot inhabit the same body. A war begins within the being as the souls battle for dominance. It causes the mind to break. They do crazy things and eventually, the stronger soul will win. It isn’t always the original soul. But what the soul wins is a damaged psyche. The brain is essentially corrupted. They usually go insane within a year and die. My mother once told me that Jack the Ripper was caused by a double soul.”
“And you dreamed you cast the spell?”
“I dreamed I cast the spell on Chiron, but you have to touch the person to do it or the original soul is too strong to give in to the invader. So, Chiron was too far away.”
“So, you didn’t cast the spell on Chiron, but you definitely cast a spell?” Ba’al asked.
“Exactly, and I don’t know to what or on whom.”
“Could you have just forced magic into the aether?” Anubis asked.
“Not likely. I don’t normally have the ability just to force magic into nothingness. I usually force it into something, even if it is just more magic.”
Ba’al got a really stupid look on his face. His skin seemed to pale a little. His mouth wanted to work, but it didn’t seem to remember how.
“Could you have forced magic into magic and broken a curse?” He finally asked.
“I suppose so, but there aren’t a lot of cursed items in this house. My mother isn’t a huge fan.”
“But there is the sword and the spell book.” He paused. “And Anubis.”
“True, but I don’t feel like I broke a curse. That has a different feeling.”
“So, you could have just strengthened magic that already existed?” Ba’al asked.
“Are you going somewhere with this?”
“Perhaps you should turn around,” Ba’al said.
I turned. In the doorway was a figure. He was nude except for a noose and a hangman’s hood. His skin was a very pale green. There were no real features on the face.
“That is what I saw in my dream,” I finally said after staring for several moments.
“What is it?” Anubis asked.
“It’s Death,” I answered.
“Death isn’t a being.”
“I think he would beg to differ,” Ba’al answered.
“Brenna?” Gabriel said my name softly.
“I don’t have a clue what to do about it. I can’t bring things into existence. And I have no idea how Death got into the house.”
“I’ll call Magnus,” Ba’al moved. Death moved as well. His hands found the knot at the base of the hood and loosened it. Next, he pulled the hood from his head.
Whatever I was expecting was not what I saw. The face was devoid of skin, bones showed through bits of loosely hanging muscles and ligaments. Maggots crawled inside of them. His eyes were piercing and looked like flames dancing in the darkness.
I shrieked. Fenrir rose from the floor, hackles raised and began growling at the figure. Gabriel turned white with light. Ba’al was ruthlessly dialing numbers on his cell phone.
“Ask if he can fly?” Anubis said loudly to Ba’al.
“He’s a Witch, he can’t fly,” Gabriel responded, his voice sounding ethereal and unreal.
“Then go get him,” Anubis shouted. Death wasn’t moving any more. He stood frozen in time, his mouth open, and eyes glaring at me. Only the maggots seemed to be moving. I gagged and forced myself not to vomit.
“On it,” Ba’al said, he left the dining room in a flapping of wings and odd noises. I imagined he was talking and flying at the same time. I stared at the figure and wished to wake up.
“How…”
“I don’t know,” I snapped at Anubis, “I really don’t know.”
I closed my eyes, refusing to look at the specter any longer. No one was moving, even Fenrir seemed to be mesmerized and unable to growl any longer. There were noises and a crash. Death didn’t turn, I know because I opened my eyes.
“Jesus Christ,” Magnus’s voice came to me from the other room “do you have any idea who that is?”
“Uh, no, but I wouldn’t mind it not being in my parents’ kitchen.” I yelled to him.
“Brenna, what the fuck happened?” Magnus came into view. He skirted around Death.
“I died and somehow, cast a spell as I did it.”
“You seem surprisingly calm for all that.” He frowned at me. “Are you in shock?”
“Yes, I believe I am. I dreamed of Death, and now, he is standing in the kitchen. Only, in my dream he didn’t remove the hood.”
“Well, first of all, that isn’t Death. Second, I don’t know how you resurrected a soul. Third, I don’t know why you resurrected this particular soul. And fourth…” Magnus stopped and looked at me. “This is terrifying and exciting and interesting.”
“Who is it?” Anubis asked.
“You don’t recognize him?” Magnus asked.
“No, do you?” Anubis snorted.
“Yes, the first soul to die on this planet.”
He frowned. “The Hanged Man is a myth, but the story is one that isn’t.”
“Don’t talk in riddles,” I snapped, yelling loudly at Magnus. I dropped my face into my hands.
“Fine, Brenna, meet your dead uncle, Sonnellion, the tenth brother and the first soul ever to die on the planet.”
“What?” I didn’t look up as I asked it. I was pretty sure I had heard him, but something told me I had to be wrong.
“Sonnellion, he is the Hanged Man. When Lucifer put him to death, Sonnellion requested that his brother hang him from a tree to make an example of him. Lucifer did so.”
“I remember that. He hung for a year. His body not decaying. We put a hood over him because he didn’t seem to change,” Anubis finally said.
“The only part that rotted was the part that was covered by the hood, so we buried him after another year,” Gabriel responded.
“Why is he in the kitchen?” I asked, still refusing to look up.
“I don’t know. Maybe he was lonely in the living room,” Magnus answered.
“Really? Jokes?” I finally looked at him and frowned.
“Brenna, you have a dead Demon soul in the kitchen. And I have no idea what to do about it. Jokes might not be a bad thing at this time.”
“Okay, I take your point.” I frowned harder. “If you don’t know what to do about it…”
“What did you dream exactly?” Magnus asked.
“I dreamed that I was put to death for casting The Double Soul. I forced it into Chiron. Suddenly, I was sitting on a hill with Death looking down on me and chanting something. Then, they brought me back from the dream and what I assume was a final death dream, and felt I had cast a spell, but couldn’t figure out what spell or on whom. Everyone said they were all right. We were eating dinner and then, well, he came into the room.”