by Vera Sparks
That was my silent promise to Maria as we continued on.
8
“Why’s Percy here?” Alex asked instantly now that the said ‘wolf was gone.
“He came to try to fix things,” I muttered as he stiffened, his gait faltering beside me.
“And?” Alex managed to withhold from growling.
“And, I told him I’m not ready to pursue anything, there’s too much going on. He’s accepted that, for now,” I said.
“Why didn’t you tell him about me?” Alex asked, but he was neither annoyed or upset. Only curious.
“Because, we’re not labeling us yet, I thought. We’re seeing how this goes. Besides, he’d have a fit and probably challenge you to a fight or something stupid,” I rolled my eyes. Werewolves were so hotheaded and irrational at times.
“True,” Alex managed a smile.
“So you can stop being so tense, everything’s fine with us,” I sighed.
“I just wasn’t sure,” he defended himself.
“You know I can hear you both, right?” my father cut in as he came to a halt in front of the final warehouse. “You should be on your guard, you can talk about this later.”
I pursed my lips at his intrusion to our conversation but said nothing as I looked up at the towering warehouse, its old brick exterior stained and streaked with moss. The smashed windows only added to the disdainful look, and the shadows surrounding it, every crevice and corner, made me shudder.
Of course she was hiding out in this creepy building.
Alex slipped his hand into mine and I gave it a grateful squeeze.
“Well, let’s get this done,” my father said as he started towards the dented metal door.
We trailed after him, and I played out what the plan was.
Walk in there, spy Monica in the open warehouse, go invisible and jump to where she was and yank the pendant off of her before she could touch me, then jump back to my father so he could destroy it. I scoffed and Alex shot me a confused look. I doubted it would be that easy. I was not that lucky.
My father pushed the door open, the hinges rusted and creaking under the sudden movement. Definitely not going for a stealthy approach then.
Alex pulled me in after him, and I drew in the dank, damp smell of the warehouse. The moonlight filtered through the overhead skylights, half of which were smashed wide open, hence the damp, musty smell.
The faint light from the outside streetlights filtered through a far window, but the warehouse looked completely deserted, the large, open-plan room devoid of any movement. No Monica in sight, just a few abandoned crates.
“Where is she?” I asked, but dreaded it as the demonic laughter echoed around us.
Yep, definitely not going to my plan.
“So the Warlock finally shows himself? I felt you at the restaurant, your warding was strong, but not strong enough for a demon.”
The voice was barely recognizable as Monica’s, it was twisted and cruel, laced with an evil that chilled me to my core.
“And there’s this one. The strange ghost girl. Sorceress too, but weak. Still learning.”
The voice echoed around us and I glanced around, searching the shadows for any sign of her. It sounded like she was everywhere. Like it, was everywhere.
“And look at this! A vampire, how cute. I can’t wait to see him roast!” Monica cackled cruelly, the sound bouncing around the room. “No matter, I’ll finish with you three. I’m quite liking it here. This woman makes a perfect host, so sweet and deceiving, a perfect meat suit.”
I gripped onto Alex’s hand painfully, but it didn’t bother my stoney vampire companion in the least. I shot him a confused look, hoping he’d elaborate on the whole host/meat suit thing.
“A demon is possessing her,” Alex bent down to whisper in my ear.
I gritted my teeth at the thought. What about the pendant? Did that matter at all then?
“Stick to the plan,” my father murmured, barely audible.
What, the one where I steal the pendant? Or just getting the pendant? Because I couldn’t see Monica anywhere to jump to.
I could see my father scanning the warehouse in confusion, desperately searching for our target.
“Reveal yourself, demon,” my father commanded.
The terrifying cackling rung out around us as it laughed a chilling sound.
“Oh, but I’m not even hiding!”
The voice was suddenly very clearly coming from above us, and we all snapped our necks to look up.
My mouth dropped open as I stared in horror. Monica was perched on the ceiling like a spider, somehow stuck up there with her hands and feet, but that wasn’t the creepiest aspect, not by a long shot.
What made me queasy and desperate to hightail it out of there was the way her head was twisted upside down, that twisted, unnatural Chesire cat grin marring her face. And now, to add to things, her teeth were pointed, glinting in the soft glow of the moon filtering through a broken skylight nearby.
“Dammit,” my father muttered.
That was one way to put. I couldn’t exactly fly.
“What the fuck?!” Alex gaped at the demonic woman on the ceiling, her sky blue dress, the same one from the restaurant, torn and tattered as she scuttled across the ceiling like a hungry spider. The way her limbs moved was unnatural, and I gasped in utter horror.
“Protect yourself!” my father ordered as Monica began hurling red glowing magic down at us.
I slammed my barrier up, praying it would hold against her. I was still astonished I’d been able to protect Alex outside.
Alex flitted around the warehouse, dodging the red sparks raining down on us.
My father launched yellow and white magic back, but she deflected them with ease.
“This is going to be so much fun!” Monica cried out gleefully as she dropped down onto a metal beam, her limbs cracking to hold herself upright. Her head remained upside down with that terrifyingly wide, unnatural grin.
She began chanting and my father swore as he flung magic at her, which she waved off easily.
It took me a moment to realize what was happening as my eyes fell to the strange black pool forming on the floor before us. It was spreading and growing, seeping across the concrete as she chanted.
“Ivy! Help me!” my father shouted as he continued bombarding Monica with magic.
I stumbled backwards, away from the eerie black pool oozing towards me.
“Trudo,” I muttered as I raised my hands towards her, the faint blue glow illuminating me in the darkened room.
Nothing happened, and I scowled. Why hadn’t he taught me how to hurl magic instead? It looked like it was of more use, although she was deflecting it with ease right now.
Monica shrieked as she leaped to another rafter, a crate smashing against the ceiling right where she’d been. She snarled as a thick black tongue snaked out of her mouth.
“Naughty little vampire, you should learn to play nice!” Monica tutted as she took up her chant.
Her voice boomed out the final two phrases, and my father ordered Alex and I to leave, to flee from the area.
I soon figured out why.
The black pool before us gurgled and pulsed, and I cried out as I stumbled backwards. A large form was slowly rising from the black oozing puddle, and Alex was by my side instantly.
“Time to go!” he said as he hefted me to my feet. Our escape was thwarted as Monica laughed maniacally, a blast of flames circling the room and providing a flaming barrier.
No way out.
I contemplated jumping, but I cast the guilty though aside. I wouldn’t abandon Alex or my father.
“What the hell is that?!” Alex muttered, his eyes wide as he stared behind me. I turned, dreading whatever it was that had formed out of the black pool.
I gaped at the large beast, its red eyes glinting in the darkness, easily ten feet tall. If I could describe it in simple terms, it looked like a huge canine creature, but it had no tail or ears, just a g
aping wide mouth with razor-like fangs. It’s grey, leathery hide was oozing black sludge which rose off of it, as if defying gravity. And it was staring at us.
I threw my arms up as it launched forward, the flames bursting to life and pummeling into the creature.
Alex stood stiffly by my side as I focused all my energy into forcing the creature back with my fire. I was not going to risk it getting to us.
I latched onto Alex’s arms and let myself slip into the ghost realm somewhat, making us invisible. A wave of unease washed over me as red glowing spots danced around me. I’d never seen this before.
And the demonic canine creature, it was focused on me. It could still see me.
“Fuck,” I breathed, shuddering at the realization.
It snarled, a beastly, unearthly sound as it came at us again.
I shot more flames at it, screaming as I used every ounce of my ability to force it away from us as I made us solid once more. No need to hide if it could see us. If it could see us, it could probably hurt us too.
I miraculously managed to hold it at bay as I snuck a glance at my father, who was now somehow up in the rafters as he flung magic at Monica. She was snarling and leaping around, obviously well-matched against him.
We needed this to end, now.
I imagined a stray blast of my torpedoing flames spiraling off to the side and lashing upwards at Monica. And just as I pictured it, my fire obeyed.
Monica was caught off guard by this sneak attack and turned to defend herself.
It was the moment my father needed.
He lurched forward in a flash of yellow, boosting himself with his electric affinity I imagined, and tore the pendant off of Monica’s neck.
She wailed and swore as my father shot back down to the floor off to my left to avoid her wrath. She twisted and contorted as she let out inhuman shrieks, her long black tongue flailing wildly around her head.
She threw out her hand as it glowed red, and the hound I was keeping at bay with my fire spun on its heels and leaped for my father. Its snarling, open mouth sent a shiver down my spine.
My father was unprepared for this attack as he focused his magic on destroying the pendant. I saw the potential scene play out in slow-motion. My father realizing the incoming attack but not acting fast enough, the creature tearing into him with its deadly sharp teeth, blood spraying everywhere as my father howled in pain and was torn apart.
“Dad!” I shrieked, focusing everything I had on the monster headed for him. I wanted it gone, dead from this realm, to not be able to harm anyone ever again.
I flung my hands out, and a vibrant white light that lit the room up burst forth, and I had to close my eyes from the sheer blinding power of it.
I felt the magic drain forth from me as I collapsed to the floor, and darkness swallowed me up before I could say a word. I could only pray it had worked.
The darkness I drifted through was a welcome one. Devoid of any worries or stress. I wasn’t sure where I was, or what was going on. Just that I was floating peacefully. Nothing mattered here, everything was just right. Neutral.
A light appeared, and I drifted towards it, intrigued by the faint glow.
I blinked slowly as Alex’s face came into focus as he stared down at me hard, and everything came crashing back.
“Dad?” my lip trembled as I spoke, but my voice sounded distant, like I was stuck behind a wall of cotton.
“He’s fine, you saved him. You killed that thing,” Alex gave me a stupefied smile as he shook his head.
“Good,” I breathed. I still felt airy, light and free.
“Monica is herself again, your Dad destroyed the pendant and cast the demon out of her. It’s gone now. She’s hurt pretty bad though,” Alex’s voice was hard to hear through the strange haze surrounding me.
Then my father was beside me.
“Her life essence is fading,” he stated as he looked down at me. Worry creased his brow as he gritted his teeth. “Take Monica to Saint Peter’s if you can, I need to help Ivy.”
“Why’s she keep doing that? Fading in and out?” Alex’s voice rose as he glanced back at me. Another floating wave washed me over and I relaxed.
“She’s struggling to remain in the living realm. Something’s gone wrong with the link to her body,” my father stated, although I barely heard him as I gazed up through the broken skylight.
The moon beckoned me to glide up and join it in the sky, to dance among the stars. I smiled at the idea.
Then I was moving, lifted up in someone’s arms and the view to the sky overhead vanished.
I wondered vaguely where we were going, but I ignored it as I closed my eyes.
“Stay with me baby girl,” my father’s voice was scared, and I wanted to reassure him. Tell him I was fine, that I felt fine. Everything would be okay.
I drifted in and out of consciousness. One minute we were in the car with my Dad casting concerned glances at me constantly as he drove, the next we were in my apartment. He lay me down on the couch, and I distantly wondered why my body wasn’t co-operating with me. Why wouldn’t it function right?
“I’m going to go with you to the middle realm princess,” he smiled tenderly at me, but the concerned lines at the corners of his mouth gave away his worries.
“I’m okay, I like it here,” I sighed.
“I need you to take me there sweetie, we need to fix you,” his voice was strained as he spoke.
“Why? What’s wrong with me?” I pouted as I lolled my head to the side. A grey haze was filling the edges of my vision, but it didn’t worry me. I felt too at ease right now.
I spied Otis beside me, his worried, mismatched eyes peering at me. I willed my arm to rise to give him a gentle pat, but it refused, so I could only stare at the pig.
“You’re disconnecting from your body,” his voice broke midway through as he looked away. I frowned as I realized he was fighting back tears. I knew I should be sympathetic and try to reassure him, but all I could do was stare at him.
He stood up and put together the finishing touches of a ritual on my coffee table that I hadn’t noticed earlier. With a wave of his hand, the bowl at the centre of his chalk drawn design on my table burst into blue flames.
“All right, I’m linked to this world,” he sighed as he sat beside me on the couch.
“That’s good,” I murmured absently. A soft snuffle and snort came from beside me, and I felt Otis’s snout nudge me gently.
“Can you take me to the middle realm?” he asked gently.
I frowned as I processed his words, my mind struggling to understand things now.
“We need to go to the ghost realm first,” I said slowly.
“Right, show me the way,” he smiled as he took my hand.
I returned the smile, content that he wanted to join me in a little exploration. I felt like I was floating on the clouds, but I focused enough to drift us both into the ghost realm. The world around us turned to shades of grey, everything losing its color. I looked over at him, at his sharp intake of air at the sudden change.
“It’s not much fun here,” I told him as I stood up, my body finally co-operating. But my mind was foggy and hard to get through, and I struggled to remember what we were doing.
“We’re going to the middle realm,” my father reminded me, as if he was noticing my hesitation as I forgot.
“Right,” I nodded, and I summoned forth my fire.
We left the grey-scale version of my apartment and now stood in the Elemental Institute, flooded with color.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise.”
My father tensed at Jasmine’s cool voice as she appeared at the top of the stairs to our left.
“Jasmine,” my father growled.
“Finally, you come to see me. And yet you bring her,” Jasmine scowled at me.
I ignored her look of contempt as I focused on staying upright. I felt weak and tired, and sleep sounded perfect. I could certainly use it, but I hadn’t slept since my de
ath.
“Why’d you say you were an elemental?” I asked, my mind managing to grasp onto something that had been bothering me.
“That’s an easy one. I’ve been keeping tabs on your spirit, waiting for it to fade to nothing. You were strong, but as soon as your affinity came to life, you were pulled to your body, in this realm. I had to make something up, and I figured, seeing that it was fire, an elemental flair would work. That’d keep who I was a secret too, since your father had made sure you knew nothing of me,” she said as she shot him a dark look. “That way, you’d come to me, and each time you came to this realm, you’d get weaker.”
“You attacked me last time,” I said slowly, the gears in my brain running on nothing.
“A mishap. Being trapped here for so long, as a spirit, you sometimes lose yourself,” she shrugged, as if it’d been nothing.
My father waved a soft glowing blue hand in front of him, and his face twisted into a snarl.
“Her body is here, where?”
Jasmine’s face dropped as she leaned against the railings in her sky-blue gown. “Why must you ruin all my fun, Graham!”
“You murdered my wife!” he shot back.
“Pfft,” Jasmine waved her hand. “That was nothing. When I found out you married such a lowly witch, I couldn’t have that. And then, to add to it, I discovered you had a little girl, imagine my surprise,” she smiled strangely, but I was too clouded to fully comprehend what was going on.
“Where’s her body? Why is it here?!” my father tried to keep his voice level, but it was booming through the open room.
“You should stay out of my affairs!” Jasmine snapped as she shot a green flash of energy at him. He deflected it with a flash of white, and I slunk into the corner, feeling all the life fading from me.
So this was how it was truly going to end? Here in this realm as my father fought Jasmine?
I'd hoped it’d be different.
“You trapped me here!” Jasmine shouted. “I was too powerful, you couldn’t just kill me. So you banished me here to live out my days until I faded away into nothing more than a vengeful spirit. You stripped me of my powers, but I’ve been slowly building them back up.”