by JL Rothstein
I don’t think Gen heard anything when she was here, Kelly told herself. Is that good or bad?
Kelly descended further, several times along the way, she swore she heard the wind whispering to her. The voice wasn’t clear, and because of the rustling tree branches that rattled every time the air swooshed, she couldn’t be sure. If she had to guess what was being said, it would have been the word ‘go’.
Go where? she thought impatiently.
Arriving at what she believed to be the bottom of the hillside, Kelly felt no relief. With minimal light to guide her, she realized that her blood had pooled into one of her boots. Still gripping the weapon in her left hand, she carried on. Limping down a path with tall evergreen shrubs lining both sides, she felt air encircle her ankles and legs. The wind felt like it was wrapping itself around her, trying to bind her in place.
Pushing through the sensation, Kelly reached the end of the path, it opened to a courtyard with what she thought was a large oak tree in the center. The trees outer limbs rambled away from its wide stump as if trying to escape.
I want to escape this nightmare as much as you my friend, Kelly thought as she stared at the tree.
Looking at the size of the tree and how high the trunk’s offshoots were protruding up out of the ground, it would be better if she could just teleport to the other side. Closing her eyes, she tried to picture where she wanted to go, but it didn’t work. She was unable to bring herself beyond the tree.
Great, she thought. Either my powers don’t work here or I’m too weak.
If she could manage to climb over or under the limbs, she saw a path pickup on the other side of the tree. Realizing it would take too long to find another path around, she lumbered forward. Approaching one of the wider branches, she gingerly sat down. Bracing herself for the pain, she used her arms to push off and swung her legs over to the other side, then hopped down. She had to repeat this exercise several times; the entire process was slow and painful.
When she made it past the tree, the pebbled dirt road in front of her wound past several smaller trees, bringing her out to a larger park. Looking up and to the right, she saw the hillside she had just labored down from. Looking left she saw light shimmering off water in the distance.
Well look at me stumbling my way in the right freaking direction, she thought.
Feeling a moment of confidence, she stood a pinch taller and staggered toward the water feature. The large back wall holding the water in place was too far away to make out any details. She remembered Gen telling her about a fountain on the dark half of the park, one she had drawn a pretty good rendition of based on her verbal description. Hoping that was what lay ahead she kept moving.
As she got closer, the light beyond the water grew brighter and began to illuminate more of the line separating night and day.
This must be it, she thought. But I still don’t see any sign of Gen. Kelly reached the edge of the pool, she felt the lip of the fountain wall and realized it was made of stone. Now that more light was coming from the light half of the park, she could see more details of its ornate decoration. The carvings appeared intricate and three dimensional. It was a depiction of an Angel being chased by demons. The Angel held something close to its chest with its left hand, while the right hand reached to the sky. The Angel’s wings were being clawed at by beasts, the hideous act seemingly kept the Angel from ascending. Kelly turned away and sat on the edge of the fountain’s pool, her labored breathing getting worse.
Don’t stop! her body screamed. As she willed herself to stand, she heard a noise and froze. What the Hell was that?
Her body trembled as she realized she wasn’t the only thing breathing.
Briskly, Kelly moved away from the water’s edge and behind a wide jumble of barren hedges. The shrubs had lost their leaves, but the skinny branches had wrapped themselves around each other and grown into a masterful piece of camouflage. Like a giant wall of wicker, she hid behind its thick woven pattern. From behind the thorny wall Kelly peered in every direction looking for whatever else was with her, but she saw nothing.
Great, now I’m hallucinating, she thought to herself.
Stepping to her right she had to catch her breath to keep from screaming as a large gargoyle, facing away from her, flew up from a nearby boulder and landed at the top of the fountain.
It’s not a fountain, Kelly’s brain screeched, It’s a purity pool!
She scrambled back to the start of the barrier she was hiding behind and judged how many steps it would take to reach the pool. If the water was what she thought it was, it may help heal her wounds faster. The only reason it would be on the dark half of the park would be if the stories are true that Hell stole the Holy water, which wouldn’t be a stretch. Purity pools were from Heaven.
Kelly struggled to remember the full origin, but the legendary stories were only coming in bits and pieces. She knew that long ago, Harac, the leader of the Hellion beasts, led a rebellion against the Accord. It wasn’t his first nor his last such battle.
Harac murdered the Angels watching over the Garden of Eden. Stealing the sacred water from the garden, he hid it in an unknown plane. The demon leader created several pools which helped demonic beings maintain their strength and was even thought to give some of them immortality. Kelly remembered the lore of how the first Hell Fighter was born from a Hellion drowned in the pool. The beast had been beaten, mutilated and then lit aflame with Hell Fire. With its body twitching in pain it ran to the pool for relief, but instead found itself being held under to the point of death. What came out of the pool was not what went in. The demon that burst to life out of the pool was taller, stronger, and its venom was so potent it had the power to kill Heaven’s Guard. Legend says the pools are ferociously defended by gargoyles who drink and bathe in its waters.
The gargoyle Kelly was watching had begun to dive back and forth from the top of the fountain to the bottom, partially submerging himself along the way. As it shook off the remnants of water, it turned toward the light half and flew away.
“Here goes nothing.” Kelly grunted and then ran for the pool.
When she reached the edge, she leaned in, and with a leap of faith splashed as much of the water up and onto herself as possible. When the frigid drops of fluid reached her skin they sizzled, her entire body shook. The force of the shock to her system knocked her back and off her feet. When she landed, a streak of lighting shot across the sky. She looked for the gargoyle who had flown off to her right. When the lightning bolt lit up the sky, she saw its red beady eyes find her in the distance. Shrieking, it darted down from a wooden perch aiming straight for her with its large jagged talons ready to attack. Feeling for her weapon, Kelly sloshed on the wet ground, never taking her eyes off the gargoyle’s position.
She took a deep breath and when it got within a few feet she felt the cold metal of the trident. Grabbing the handle, she swung the weapon across the gargoyle’s ankles. The beast howled in pain and retreated to the trees. She got to her feet and knew the fountain was working as she felt a surge of energy. Before there was time to be relieved, she heard footsteps running up behind her. She turned to face whatever was coming, but it was too late. Kelly was punched in the chest, the force thrust her to the ground. She slammed her head against the marble decking that lay in front of the fountain.
A large demon loomed above her. She guessed it was female by the shape of her curvy figure. She must have been eight feet tall, skinny, with long braided hair that swung across her back. When Kelly locked eyes with the demon, the luminescent green glow was like a flashlight in a storm. Kelly saw the trident down by her bloodstained boot. She kicked the weapon up toward her hand. Kelly felt minimal pain; the water from the purity pool was working. Wrapping her fingers around the handle, she jumped back to her feet.
“What do you want demon?” Kelly spoke first.
“Feeling better, Guardian? I have to say, I didn’t think you’d be smart enough to bathe in the fountain,” the demon mocked. �
��I followed your trail of blood. Seems you’ve lost quite a bit since you arrived.”
“Who are you?” Kelly asked.
“Who am I?” The demon responded. “I think you mean what am I?”
“Fair enough,” Kelly retorted. “What are you then?”
“I belong here, and you don’t,” the demon taunted.
“I’m just passing through, not a whole heck of a lot going on here,” Kelly feigned bravado. “I’m happy to make my way out now.”
“I don’t think so, Guardian.” The demon crept closer. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Kelly knew she was in trouble. “What could I possibly have that you want?”
The demon slithered closer which revealed more details about its features. The demon’s protruding breasts were barely covered by the billowing drape-like top that hung loosely off her shoulders. Her pants were the same tone as her skin, in the darkened setting she appeared nude. Her hair was the color of sand, her skin like dust. Everything about her was washed out and pale, made more ghoulish by the glow of her green eyes.
“Tell me what I want, and I’ll kill you quickly,” she hissed at Kelly.
“That is quite the offer,” Kelly retorted.
Kelly circled around and with her back to what she believed to be the light half of the park she began slowly retreating. The demon smiled and seemed content to walk straight toward her.
“Not in the mood for a fight, Guardian?” the demon taunted. “That’s too bad.”
Kelly watched the demon come at her. Sticking her right arm out in front of her to defend, Kelly swung the weapon in her left hand, taking off a slice of the demon’s flesh as the blades of the trident made contact. The screech from the demon echoed throughout the park, the gargoyle shot into the air mimicking the sound.
As loud as it was, Kelly could still hear the seething breaths of the female demon. Kelly swung again but missed. This time the demon counter punched hard and landed a blow right in the center of Kelly’s stomach. On impact, Kelly was thrust through the air and rolled several feet before crashing to a halt against a large boulder.
Gasping for breath, Kelly felt the pain in her abdomen return. Whatever stamina the fountain had provided was now fading. The demon rolled her over and sat on top of her, gripping her face in one hand, she used the other to lean down on the open wound of her stomach.
“Now, tell me what I want to know,” the demon demanded. “Where is my brother?”
Kelly felt the demon’s hand slide from her stomach, up across her chest and stop on her forehead.
“You’re bleeding badly inside, Guardian,” the demon crooned. “Tell me, why do you smell of Hell Fighter?”
Leaning down closer to Kelly’s face the demon sniffed, her crushing weight against Kelly’s chest nearly made her pass out. As Kelly felt her body wanting to give up, she could feel the demon enter her mind and panicked. Yanking one arm free from beneath the demons knee she swung straight up and landed a blow just below the chin. The demon howled, and Kelly used the opportunity to thrust up and roll the demon off.
Once on her feet, Kelly used the adrenaline coursing through her and took off running for the light half of the park. She had no energy left to teleport, all she could do was hope to get close enough to be able to talk to Gen. Kelly assumed the area was being cloaked, that’s why she couldn’t see or hear Gen. Maybe, if she got to the other side and connected with Gen, the cloaking would falter or break. As her feet brought her closer to a wooden pergola overhang, she heard the demon laughing behind her. The wind carried the sound of the demon’s high-pitched cackle and Kelly focused in on the target, panting hard as she made her getaway.
The sun’s cascading rays warmed Kelly’s body, with each step she gained confidence and sensed her strides were getting longer. She never slowed, and she never looked behind her. The memory of her brother Michael’s words rang through her head: Don’t turn around. Turning around slows you down and wastes time, time that an enemy can use to narrow the distance.
As Kelly neared the trellised opening, she saw the outline of a figure on the other side of the entrance and knew it was Gen. She had no strength to call out, she was struggling just to catch her breath.
Just a few more feet, damn it! Kelly’s mind screamed.
She heard the flapping wings, but never saw the gargoyle until he was hovering in front of her. Its feet tucked in, the beast thrust them out toward her as she reached it. The gargoyle appeared in front of her so quickly that she had no ability to change course or stop her forward momentum. As his feet connected, she was knocked several feet back through the air, rolling to a stop at the foot of the female demon. Kelly could feel her back split open with a new gaping wound.
The demon lifted her foot and stomped it on top of Kelly’s chest, then she leaned down to peer into Kelly’s eyes.
“You are brave, Guardian,” the demon hissed, “but oh so stupid.”
Kelly coughed up more blood, gasping for air, she couldn’t respond.
“Did you think I was going to let you cross to that side?” The demon chuckled. “Now what fun would that be? We’re just getting to know one another. My name is Sonoran.”
The demon stepped off her chest, reached down and grabbed Kelly by the hair, dragging her away from the light half.
“My family will come for me.” Kelly choked out the words as tears of pain wet her bruised and ripped face.
“Let them come,” the demon bellowed.
“They’re already here,” Kelly let the words roll out not knowing if they were loud enough to be heard.
The demon dropped her and turned around to face the light half of the park.
“So, that’s your family over there, is it?” The demon loomed above her peering over to the other side. “She is not as brave as you.”
For a moment the demon paced back and forth as if contemplating her next move.
The demon smiled down at Kelly. “Let’s go say hi, shall we?”
“Wait, what do you want to know?!” Kelly yelled trying to stall. “I’ll tell you, just ask!”
“You already told me, when I was in your head,” the demon spit at her. “You don’t know where my brother is but maybe your family does?”
The demon grabbed Kelly by the back of the sweatshirt and dragged her back toward the light half of the park. As the sun washed down upon her, Kelly saw the bloodied trail the new wound on her back was leaving behind them. Her jeans were soaked in blood, one of her boots had been ripped off, and Kelly could feel unconsciousness tugging at her like an old friend.
When the demon released her grip, Kelly rolled over and knelt in the grass below the pergola. “No!” Kelly screamed at the back of the demon. “Leave her alone!”
She watched the demon ascend the walkway, each step shed more and more light toward the figure standing at the entrance. There in the bright light of day, Kelly saw Gen standing under the trellis unaware of what was coming.
Kelly labored to her feet, but she saw two of everything. She knew the dizzying effects of blood loss meant she could be of no real help to Gen and she was too weak to make it back to the purity pool. Kelly looked down at her left leg, somewhere in the engagement she got caught up with her own weapon. The trident was wrapped in the tattered T-shirts that lay dragging behind her. She retrieved the weapon, pulled it back and prepared to throw it. As she slowed her breaths, she heard Gen scream, “Kelly!”
Fear focused Kelly’s vision, she used the last of her strength to throw the weapon at the demon. As the trident left her hand, Kelly collapsed to the ground, unaware if it reached her intended target.
Lying faceup, Kelly viewed the sky, one side pale blue with puffy clouds, the other a scarcely lit starry night. Well isn’t that something, Kelly mused.
The cold had seeped into her bones, she felt numb. Thank God for small miracles, she thought. She heard yelling and screaming, but nothing was making sense. She heard the sound of stomping feet, something was running toward her, th
en Gen’s face blocked out the sky.
“Kelly!” Gen cried, but the clarity of Gen’s voice soon drowned in the darkness that enveloped Kelly.
Attempting a reply Kelly’s lips moved but only muffled moans escaped. Kelly felt transported, the aroma of flowers and fresh cut grass filled her lungs. Somehow Gen must have taken her to the light side of the park.
Kelly vaguely heard the female demon taunting after them. “It doesn’t matter, she’s as good as dead. You’re never getting out of here.” The demon’s voice was like an echo far away and sing song.
Kelly felt Gen cradling her body. The beginning words of prayer whispered all around her, but Kelly could not form the words to join in. Sleep was beckoning, Kelly desperately wanted to drift off into slumber.
As she felt Gen’s tears reach her cheeks a calming sensation came over her. The end was near, her mind beckoned her to say good-bye. Inhaling sharply Kelly whispered, “I love you. Tell them I love them.”
Kelly felt Gen tremble. “No!” she mumbled in the mash of Kelly’s hair. “You tell them yourself, when we get home.”
Kelly coughed and more blood trickled from her trembling lips.
“Tell Jared …,” Kelly heard the weakness in her own voice. “I would have married him. Tell him he was worth waiting for.”
Gen was speaking, but Kelly could no longer decipher the words through the siren of silence that wrapped itself around her. The ground beneath her shook and the wind picked up. Kelly’s vision went completely dark, her beaten and broken body gave out. Her hands fell into the lush grass below. Feeling at peace, Kelly closed her eyes and felt the last breath of air seep from her lungs.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Kelly woke to the sound of her name being called. The voice was masculine with a gravelly tone that sounded worn with age. Though the voice was unfamiliar, she felt no apprehension nor concern. Swinging her hands up over her face she shielded her eyes as they struggled to open against the glare of a blinding white light that seemed to press against her body. She way lying down, but the surface beneath her back was rock hard. Fortunately, she felt no pain nor discomfort.