I watched Liam retreat into his room. I couldn’t believe how understanding he was being. It was a relief, because as much as I wanted him, I wanted to figure a few things out before our relationship progressed.
I walked over to the coffee table and picked up the soda, Liam had left there. As I took a sip, his phone beeped, and his mothers’ name lit the screen. Worried that it might be important, I lifted the cell phone from the table to see what the text said. My soda dropped from my hands, while I reeled from the content of the extremely detailed text.
I hope you plan to take my advice from earlier. She has already gone through her ascension. It won’t be long before the coven will want her to take her initiation vows. If we have any hope of luring her into our coven, you need to seduce her now. You can’t keep putting it off. I know that you didn’t want this assignment, but the Cross girl is powerful and an alliance with her will be mutually beneficial. Seduce her and give her the ultimatum. Once she has joined our coven, you can go back to sleeping with as many humans as you would like.
I was shocked. Liam had been pretending this entire time? I was an assignment? I tossed his cell phone on the table and looked back at the door to his bedroom. I felt torn. One piece of my soul insisted on confronting him, while the other desperately wished to flee. I felt raw and betrayed. How could I have thought I meant something to him? Why had I been so stupid? I left the apartment and ran down the street before opening my cell to text Izzy.
Izzy picked me up a short while later to take me home. I knew she could see how upset I was, but for once she didn’t push me to talk. She let the silence soothe me and I was grateful for it.
Izzy stopped in front of my house, and said, "Savannah, if you need anything or just want to talk… call me, okay?” I nodded and bolted from the car. My feet couldn't move fast enough to propel me towards the house. I was fleeing a tsunami that threatened to wash away the safety net I built around my core.
I ran into the house with tears streaming down my face. I came to a quick stop in the hall, when Ash bared my path. Backing up, I tried to avoid him, but he wouldn’t allow it. His arm snatched out to grab me around my waist and lifted me into his arms, to cradle me.
“What’s wrong?”
I struggled in his arms, kicking my legs and wiggling to get free. When that failed, I started pounding on his chest with my fists. “Let me down!”
Ash laughed. “Well, this seems familiar!”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I crossed my arms and pouted, while giving him a cold stare.
“The first day we met I carried you into the house and you struggled just like this. Remember?”
I became more pliant and my tears stopped. “Put me down, Ash.”
His face became serious as he lowered me gently to the ground. He kept his arm wrapped around my waist and my body pressed to his. His body protected me from the rogue wave that massaged my emotions in a turmoil. The safety net Liam endangered was now more solid than ever before. Ash held it together, he pressed the rope, and maneuvered it to a placement that allowed me to breathe once more.
“I’m not letting you go until I know what’s wrong. Did Liam do something to you?” My face froze. Ash’s arm dropped and he growled. The house shuddered as the noise echoed against the walls. “I’m going to kill him!”
Ash pushed past me. I rushed to stop him, but he spun around to push me away. Throwing my arms around his neck, I massaged his lips with mine. At first his body was still, but then he relaxed and pulled me closer. He was like a starved man, using my mouth to sate his hunger. It was an passionate kiss fueled by his anger. My blood simmered at the contact, forcing my body to be instinctively wanton. Ash tried to slow the kissing, but I pressed harder and gyrated against his hips in a sensual dance. He groaned and backed me up until my heels hit the staircase.
Ash didn't falter at the inconvenience the stars proposed. He lifted my legs to straddle his waist, climbed the stairs, while kissing me with renewed passion. I couldn’t think, breath or deny the electric charge between us. Suddenly, every aspect of myself was desperate to have him; all of him.
Ash kicked his bedroom door open, slammed the door behind us and pushed my back against it. His hands slipped up my thighs to gently push my dress up a few inches. This evoked a purr from deep within my chest.
Against my lips, Ash spoke. “Did you just purr?” I laughed, and pressed my breasts against his chest. I held onto him, chaining him to the fervor, forcing him to succumb. The rhythm of my heart beat faster to match his. I didn't want anything between us; I just wanted him.
Tearing at Ash's shirt, the buttons scattered across the floor. His shirt soon followed. His lips moved away from mine, but before I could protest the lost contact, he rained kissed down my neck to my shoulder. He slipped the strap down and held it to reveal my milky skin.
I felt overwhelmed and pulled him back to my lips. My hands skimmed across his chest to lay flat against his firm abdomen. He groaned, while I nibbled on his lower lip. My hands lowered to unbutton his jeans, but he pulled away. I grabbed his neck to pull him back, but he took my hands to pry them away with a determined intensity. “Maye will be home any minute.” He took my left hand and kissed the palm before putting more space between us.
I stood still, trying to understand what had just happened, and failing to dispel the energy surging through me. Ash's face was flushed and his chest gleaned from our efforts. I had an urge to lick the moisture that trailed down the planes of his stomach.
“What did Liam do?” I shook my head to beat out the sexual thoughts and focused entirely on his words.
“Ugh, I don’t want to talk about it.” I walked to the adjoining bathroom, but he pulled me back against his chest.
Whispering in my ear, he said “If you don’t tell me what he did, I am going to assume the worst and hunt him down. The way I promised him I would if he hurt you.”
“Fine!" I jerked my body away from Ash. "He was dating me, because his mother ordered him to. They wanted me to join their coven.” My voice caught on the last word. Ash spun me to face him, with a concerned expression on his face.
“It’s their loss. You wouldn’t really have left us, would you?”
“Of course I wouldn’t. I just feel so stupid.” I covered my face with my palms, as though hiding my embarrassment, but I knew it was futile.
Ash leaned forward to gently kiss the tip of my nose. “Don’t. They’re the stupid ones. Besides, it’s going to be nice not seeing Liam anywhere near you.” His right side of his mouth quirked up in satisfaction.
I smacked his shoulder and danced into my bedroom. I didn’t hurt anymore. Ash had healed the crater Liam had left in my heart. It merely took a frenzied make out session to erase the emotional decay that had eaten at me earlier.
I was beginning to feel fickle, but the truth is that even when I was with Liam, I had wanted Ash. Now that Liam was out of the picture, I ached marginally, but Ash bared me from any further pain.
It wasn’t long before Maye came home to find me lying on my bed. I remained on my back with my gaze fixated on the ceiling. At least, that is what it would look like to everyone else. I was actually sorting through Kit’s memories. It was interesting to look at the world through the eyes of a cat. They processed their memories differently and relied heavily on senses rather than emotions. Emotions were developed over time, but once they had grown, they remained firmly in place. A feline could love with an intensity that humans couldn't match.
“Darling, how was your date with Liam?”
I turned onto my side and propped my head up with my hand. “Let’s just put it this way, you were right… he’s bad news. I should have taken Josephine’s vision more seriously.” I allowed my head to plop back onto my pillow with a vengeance.
“I take it that means you won’t be seeing him anymore?” Her voice sounded annoyingly optimistic.
“You guessed right. Please, just don’t ask for more details.”
“Alright, child. If you decide you need to talk, you know where to find me.” Instead of leaving my room, as I expected, Maye came forward to sit on my bed. “Is there something going on between you and Ash?”
I sat up straight and scooted as far from her as possible. I racked my brain for the right thing to say, but the truth was that I didn’t really know what was going on between me and Ash. We hadn’t defined the changed between us or what it meant for the future. How could I answer Maye’s question, when even I didn’t know the answer?
“I don’t know.” I said, decisively.
“You don’t know or you don’t want to say?” I remained silent, because it was a little of both. “Child, I love you and Ash. I’ve watched your relationship grow. If you have feelings for one another don’t worry about my acceptance. I want the best for both of you. Now, give me a kiss. I’m going to bed.” I kissed her cheek and she laughed, as she exited the room.
“Well, that’s a relief.” I was shocked, when Ash pushed the door open.
“You were eavesdropping?” My pillow hit him square in the chest.
“The door was open and sound carries in this house. You expect me to ignore your conversation when I am the subject of it?”
“Yes, no, I don’t know! It’s just rude! What if we were having a private conversation?” Ash could be so frustrating sometimes, but he was also strangely adorable.
“Well, if that were the case, I would recommend closing the door and talking in a whisper. Otherwise, it’s impossible for it to be private.” He laughed and moved forward. “So, what is going on between us?”
I couldn’t look him in the eyes. I felt bare in front of him. My other pillow lay on the bed in front of me; I grabbed the pillow and wrapped my arms around it. “What do you think is going on between us? Other than all the kissing…”
Ash sighed, “I think you like kissing me and I think that you shouldn’t be kissing anyone else.” His eyebrow raised to question how I felt about it.
“I do. Like kissing you, that is… Now that I know the truth about Liam, I don’t plan to be kissing anyone else anytime soon.” I shrugged and avoided his eyes. Instead, I focused on my quilt.
“Ever. You don’t plan to kiss anyone ever again.”
The dangerous possessiveness I had seen at the bonfire was back. Ash’s intimidated me when his back straightened and his pupils melted to an acidic fire. I half wanted to flee the intensity that filled the room, but the other part of me…yearned for him? The feeling began in my throat, trailed along the side of my neck, and rushed down my spine to pool in the lower half of my body.
This was something new. Evidently, I am the type of woman who likes a possessive alpha male …Huh, who would have thought?
“Ash, I can’t promise that and I am not going to lie to make you feel better. I can promise that you are the only guy I want to be kissing, now.” I nibbled on my lip in uncertainty, because I knew this conversation was going to change the fabric of our relationship. It was as though we had spent years sewing a quilt and now we were removing the stitching to start over.
“S, we can’t do this half way. You know that, right? I mean, you are either mine or you're not. Half and half won’t work, because it would ruin our relationship.”
I nodded. I had been worrying over the same thing. We stood balanced on a teeter totter. Once small move on either part could leave one or both of us sprawled against the sandy ground. “Let me sleep on it. I’ll give you my answer first thing tomorrow. Okay?”
Ash nodded. “That’s reasonable, but S?” I looked up. “Make sure that you are certain about your decision, okay?” He didn’t wait for my response, but closed the bathroom door firmly behind him.
I watched the door for what seemed like forever. I was afraid of what it would mean to make the decision, because it would impact our relationship forever. I wasn’t even certain I should be making a decision like this given everything that was going on. I just got out of my first relationship and still felt betrayed. Plus, the demon was still out there and I hadn’t figured out what to do about that.
Something moved within me and Kit appeared in spirit form to pace around my room. His fur was silvery blue and his lengthy form took up most of my room. He sniffed the perfume on my dresser and sneezed; shaking his head in agitation. I laughed, when he pawed at the bottle, pushing it away from him. His eyes were curious as he paraded around to examine every corner of my bedroom. Once he was satisfied, he fell to the floor on his back, and wiggled his body in contentment. He kept his eyes on mine, while rubbing his back against the floor.
It was amusing to watch a panther cavorting like a kitten, but I needed to get some rest. I changed into a white satin slip, climbed under the covers and patted the blanket. Kit jumped onto the bed to lay his head on my legs with the rest of his body squeezed against my side. I thought he would be heavy, but the pressure was no more than the weight of a feather.
I remained awake, thinking about everything that had happened to me in such a short time. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do about Ash, but I didn’t think I could avoid kissing him. I couldn’t kiss him and keep our relationship as it had always been. Ash explicitly stated that it was all or nothing. I would have to choose all, because I couldn’t face being left with nothing.
My decision was made. Sensing my peace, Kit raised himself over me and his spirit sank back into my flesh. We became one again and I was reassured by his presence. At least there was one amazing gift Liam had left me. I would cherish Kit for the rest of my life, however long that would be.
12: Divine Energy
In sync with my recent dreams, the demon plagued my every vision. I worried that he might be really affecting my dreams. I reasoned that if he could haunt me in person, why would he choose to terrorize my dreams? Wouldn't reality be worse than fantasy?
Asmodeus's face swam into my vision and I struggled to get away. His arms grasped me to squeeze the air from my lungs. I tried to pull away from the darkness, but it smothered me, pulled me down into its oceanic depths. I began to hyperventilate, while crying for someone to help me. Did my thoughts lure him to my dreams? Had he come to finish what he started?
I forced myself to be still and breathe evenly. Blackness permeated my eyesight, but my other senses sharpened. I squirmed in an attempt to escape my assailant until I breathed in the smell of wildflowers. A cool breeze tossed my hair into my mouth, and I heard leaves flutter. I was in the forest. This was my territory. I knew this forest and I could easily find my way home once a chance to escape presented itself. Willow and I had built a fort here when we were younger. I usually sought it when I was troubled and thought it would make a wonderful hide out.
My attacker stopped to set me against a tree trunk. The wood rubbed my shoulder blades raw through the satin fabric of my nightgown. I felt vulnerable. A rush of air collided with my frame, but before I could kick my abductor; he took off my blindfold.
My eyes swam with tears, but focused enough to see Ash smiling at me. I slapped him. “What the hell are you doing? Are you crazy?” I smacked him, as he laughingly danced out of reach.
“You said you would give me an answer first thing tomorrow. It’s midnight, which is first thing tomorrow.” He held his hands in front of him, as if expecting me to launch an attack.
“Ash! I meant after a night’s rest! How could you do that to me? I thought you were someone trying to kill me!”
Ash cleared his throat and looked around, causing me to take in my surroundings. My jaw dropped. We were standing in a place of divine energy. Places of divine energy were inordinately powerful and hidden from ordinary humans. Witches had to cross a threshold of power to access them. There were only certain times, when we could cross the threshold. Witchlings weren’t allowed to enter these places, but I wasn’t a witchling any longer.
Divine places had been described to me many times, but never had their description lived up to the reality. I was standing in a field su
rrounded by a forest. A full moon brightened the star in the sky. Colored lights, which resembled the aurora borealis glistened across the inky blanket. The moon highlighted the azure flowers that pollinated the field. Everything had an dream-like inner glow. Animals weren't afraid of us here; a deer grazed in the far parts of the field near the foliage of the forest, while a falcon watched from a nearby branch.
“It’s beautiful.” I walked into the field of flowers and trailed my fingers against them. Tingling started in my fingers and quickly spread to the rest of my body. The sensation intoxicated me. Laughing, I spun in a circle with my arms stretched wide.
Ash stood a few feet away and watched my excitement with an amused smirk. “There is a reason why they call this a divine place.” He nodded towards the flowers. "Taste the petals." I looked at him in digust.
“Ew… I don’t make a habit of eating flowers. I’m more of a meat and potatoes kind of girl.”
“Nothing in this place is as it seems. Seriously, try it.” He picked a flower and handed it to me.
I looked around and realized that he was probably right. This placed looked, felt, sounded, and even smelled different. Why wouldn’t it taste different? Shrugging, I plucked a petal and hesitantly placed it onto my tongue. It didn’t taste the way I expected. Instead, the taste was like pure emotion centered on my tongue. The petal liquefied as I rubbed it between my tongue and the roof of my mouth. The petal went straight to my head and intensified my emotions.
“Oh my God, this is amazing!” I looked at the flower in shock and back at Ash. “Is everything like this? I mean, do the leaves taste like this too or is it only the flowers?”
“Everything tastes different, but I don’t recommend eating bark; it's a little too tough and I don’t think you would enjoy having splinters in your tongue.”
Kit could feel my joy and emerged from my body to run across the field. The deer looked up at the intrusion and hurriedly went back to eating.
“What the hell is that?” Ash jumped back several feet and looked at Kit in horror.
“That is Kit. He’s the only good thing I got out of my relationship with Liam.” Kit rushed back and butted his head against Ash's hip, which nearly knocked him over.
“Okay. How did you get Kit?” He still had a stricken face, but he had warmed to Kit and was petting the panther.
“He was dying and Liam’s coven performed a bonding ceremony. Kit is my spirit animal; I can take his shape and he can live in transparent form outside of my body.”Ash nodded in acceptance and pulled me into his arms.
“You owe me an answer.”
Seizing the change of subject, I danced out of his reach and attempting to be coy. “Hmmm… I think this place is a little too distracting. I don’t know if I will be able to give you an answer.” I looked around, laughed, and ran for the forest. I jumped over logs, ducked beneath branches, and moved as far into the forest as my feet could take me. Ash made noise as he ran to catch up to me and quickened my steps.
I halted when I came to a lake. It was different from the sort of lakes I knew of. The water resembled liquefied silver, but it was thin enough to swim in. I kneeled at the edge of the water, trailed my fingers through it, and watched as it came alive. The liquid substance traveled up my arm and onto my shoulder. I started to panic, but the water transformed into a small bird and rubbed its head against my cheek.
“Scared?” Ash spoke at my shoulder and scratched the liquid bird between its wings.
“Does the water always do this? Does it normally take the shape of animals?”
“No, not really. It probably sensed your curiosity and was attempting to soothe you.”
“Wait, the water is an empath? What happens if you swim in it?”
Ash sighed. “Yes, the water here is a living being and an empath.” Laughing, he continued. “I don’t think the water would mind if you take a swim. Though, you should know that the water affects inhibitions.”
“Hmmm… what type of inhibitions?” I pushed the strap of my dress off my shoulder and the other soon followed. “Don’t watch!”
“I think it’s a little late to tell you what kind of inhibitions.” He said, as he turned away from me.
I pushed my nightgown past my breasts and over my hips to let it fall around my feet. I wasn’t wearing a bra, but I kept my silk underwear on. The water was warm around my hips. It moved up to cover the length of my skin below my neck. I floated on my back before letting my feet to sink toward the bottom.
“Ash, are you going to leave me to enjoy this on my own? Come on, get in here!”
He turned back to face me. “Give me an answer and I will. Otherwise, you can meet me back by the threshold.”
I thought about making him beg, but thought better of it when he started walking away. “Yes! My answer is yes!”
“Yes, meaning all?” I nodded in confirmation and he quickly stripped down to his boxers.
My heart beat raced, when he swam close to me. He dipped his head beneath the water and shook the excess liquid from it. Smoothing his hair away from his face, I slid my hand down to his shoulder, biceps, chest, and finally his abs. He pulled me close, until my naked breasts pressed against his chest and sucked in his breath sharply.
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.” Grabbing his head, I pulled it down to kiss me. I enjoyed his reaction to me. It made me feel a combination of excitement and power.
Ash set me away from him and splashed some water in my direction. “I think someone needs to cool off.”
“Mmmm…and you don’t?” He laughed, but we both knew he didn’t need to answer the question.
We swam for a while; playfully dunking each other and splashing. When I walked out of the water, I expected to have to wait a while to dry off, but the water trailed off my form, leaving my skin pleasantly dry.
Ash led us back to the field of flowers and to the threshold. While witches could only enter a divine place at certain times, we could leave whenever we wanted. Before we stepped over the threshold, Ash stopped me. He kissed me deeply once more. Then we held hands and walked through the threshold.
ASH
Last night had been more amazing than I had hoped. The joy on Savannah’s face, in response to the purity of the divine place, was the happiest I had ever seen her. I walked into the halls of my high school with a wicked grin on my face, which is how Griffin and Isis found me.
“What’s with you?” Isis wasn’t used to me smiling anywhere near her.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I stopped when I saw their faces. They looked grim.
“She means, why are you so happy after what happened?” Griffin grabbed my shoulder. “I thought you would have more sense than that.”
“Whoa.” I held my hands up in defeat. “What happened?”
Griffin and Isis looked at one another and Griffin nodded. “Another kid died last night a few towns over. You didn't hear?" I nodded. "Remember Michael?”
“Michael, the shy guy on the baseball team?” I tried to grasp an image of him, but had trouble remembering conjuring an image of him. Isis nodded.
Griffin swiped his fingers through his hair and looked around to make sure no one was watching us. “That’s not all. Michael went on a lunatic rage last night and killed his whole family. Then today, a kid dropped dead in the hall and two others had psychotic breaks. They were removed to a mental health ward.”
“All that happened this morning? First period hasn’t even started yet!” I couldn’t believe what was happening around here, but I was beginning to worry that something supernatural was happening. These occurrences couldn’t be coincidences.
“That’s why school was called off for the rest of the week.” I turned at Savannah’s voice and saw Willow and Izzy standing with her.
“Hey, Savannah. How are you feeling? I haven’t seen you since your ascension.” We all looked at Isis in shock. “What? I can’t be worried? She looked like she was being bathed in th
e flames of hell! Even I was worried.” She shrugged, as if being worried about others was a common occurrence for her.
“Um, I’m okay. I guess…” Savannah crinkled her eyes and shifted from one foot to the other.
“That’s great! If you need anything…” Seeing our faces, Isis made an irritated sound and stomped off. Griffin soon followed.
I turned back to Savannah. “That was weird. What are your plans today? I mean, since we don’t have school.” I wasn’t sure if Izzy and Willow knew about last night, but I wanted to spend the day with Savannah. I could already feel my lips against hers, while she pressed her body to mine.
“She is hanging with us today. She already promised.” Izzy’s voice was laced with venom, unlike her normal cheerful self. Willow didn’t look much happier.
“Alright. Alright! She’s all yours.” I grabbed Savannah’s hand and held her eyes, as I slowly kissed her palm; savoring the contact. “I will see you later.” She nodded and I walked away to gain my composure.
I located Griffin and Isis in the parking lot. The three of us decided to see a movie and get some lunch. It was early afternoon when I arrived at home.
“Maye! You home?” I called out, with no answer. Instead, I heard voices murmuring in the living room. Following the sound, I found Savannah and Liam in a deep discussion.
“What the hell is he doing here?” I rushed forward to pull Liam off the couch, but Maye came out of nowhere and dragged me into the hallway.
“Think with your head, boy. What is throwing him out going to do other than anger Savannah?”
I stopped trying to press my way into the room and looked at Maye helplessly. “What should I do, then? After what he did to Savannah, I’m supposed to just leave him alone?” I spoke through ground teeth.
“Yes. Savannah is a big girl and she can handle herself. Leave them be.”
Maye walked away with a look of pity. I sat on the stairs with my head in my lap. I could hear Savannah and Liam talking, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I comforted myself with the thought that if they were talking, they weren’t kissing.
Liam walked into the hallway and stood at the door to wait for Savannah. A few minutes later, she walked up to him with an apology for making him wait. Her back was to me when she leaned up to hug Liam. He buried his face in her hair, squeezed tight and gave her a lingering kiss on the lips. My insides screamed at their kiss, but I forced myself to remain still. I turned my gaze to a used a picture that hung on the wall next to the door. I used the painting as a focal point and bit my lip. My lungs started to burn, but I refused to allow them control.
I was concentrating on the willow tree in the picture, when it began to smoke and caught fire. The flames released my tension, which made me slow to react. When Savannah started shouting, I stood quickly. The flames were traveling up the photo to lick the wall. She looked at me in horror, while I tore off my shirt and hit the frame to knock it from the wall. I used my shirt to smother the painting until only smoke remained. Meanwhile, Liam rushed towards the kitchen to get the fire extinguisher.
Liam came back into the room and stopped. I followed the line of his sight to see Savannah standing with her arm stretched towards the wall. The fire that had traveled up the wall was now frozen. We turned in unison when Maye stumbled into the hallway. Her hands were covered in dirt and she held a spade in one hand. Her expression was as icy, as the flames Savannah froze.
“My, what happened here? Are you all okay?” Maye looked us over for injuries and then at the ice laced wall.
“Oh dear, that wall is charred to pieces.” She sighed, seeing my guilt ridden face. “Hmmm…I suppose you are responsible for this?”
I cleared my throat and glanced back and forth at Savannah and Maye. “Yes, but it was an accident.”
“I’m sure it was. I remember your father had a similar accident, when your parents had a nasty fight. You need to control your emotions, Ash. I don’t think that the insurance company will be too happy with me if you burn this house down.” She shook her head and waved her hands at the three of us to get out of the house. We left the door open to allow the house to breathe and moved away.
“Sorry about that.” Savannah apologized to Liam and walked him to his car. I stood and watched. This time there was no kiss.
“Ash…”
I held up my hand to ward of her questions. “Why were you kissing him?”
“That? It was a goodbye kiss! It was a harmless peck.”
I bared my teeth at her. “That, was not a goodbye kiss. A goodbye kiss is a peck on the cheek or a chaste one on the lips! I told you it was all or nothing, because it would be too complicated to be halfway. You said you were in and the next day you’re kissing your ex? Why was he even here?”
She sighed, and blinked away tears. “He called and asked me to meet him. I told him that I didn’t think it was a good idea, but told him he could come here. He just wanted to explain…”
“I don’t care. You should have told me before he came and there was no excuse for that kiss!”
“Ash, please…”
I shook my head, got into my SUV and drove away. I left Savannah standing in front of the house with tears trailing down her face. I watched her form shrink in the rear view mirror. I didn’t like seeing her sad, but I hadn’t left to punish her. I left, because I knew I was losing my temper and I didn’t want another accident to happen. I also wanted some time to clear my head and to make certain my reaction was warranted. I knew that it made sense for Savannah to want to hear Liam’s explanation. She made a smart choice in having him come to the house, instead of meeting him somewhere. However, their kiss was burning an angry hole through my rationality.
13: Revelations
SAVANNAH
I waited outside for Ash to come back, but he didn’t. Maye called me in an hour later. I retreated to my room shut the world out. My solitude would bar further complications. I worried about Ash. It was understandable for him to be angry about my kiss with Liam, but I hadn't expected the kiss. Would I ever figure out how to handle men? I couldn't help but think that the movies, pronouncing women as the confusing gender, had never been a teenage girl caught between two witches and a psychotic demon.
Later that night, I heard Ash in the hallway outside my door. His footsteps paused. I held my breath waiting for him to knock, but he continued to his room.
I picked up my mothers' journal, because I promised Willow I would study it some more and I hoped it would distract me. I hadn't picked the journal up since Izzy’s mother died. My past was something I tried to keep separate from my present. I didn’t want the ghostly child I once was, to haunt me. My greatest fear was myself; my past. It terrified me that my memories had the power to destroy my soul. Reading about my mother would awaken those memories.
I piled into my bed with more pillows than usual and used the light beside the bed to examine the journal. I skimmed through the parts that had nothing to do with the demon. I didn't enjoy thinking about my mother as a regular person. Reading her thoughts and worries made her seem a mere mortal. In my mind, she was an immortal executioner who continuously raked her axe against my brain stem. I couldn’t escape her and I couldn’t run. I was eternally bound in chains and some part of me would always be in that cage, where I watched her terminate countless lives.
My parents had decided to trap Asmodeus to gain his power. However, they first needed to learn his true name. The names of demons and angels contained power of the named one. After many failed attempts to learn Asmodeus's true name, my parents summoned the archangel, Haniel. Strangely, he was known for keeping lost secrets. He willingly gave my parents the information they needed.
I was completely immersed in my mothers’ journal, when I read how they summoned Asmodeus. It was hard to believe that they hadn’t ended up dead. Apparently, the name Haniel gave them was false, which amused Asmodeus. Left with no life lines, my parents had a single choice open to
them; a bargain.
At first, Asmodeus wasn’t interested in a bargain. After all, he was the highest ranking prince of hell; only Lucifer sat above him. However, when I crawled from my crib and into the circle, his tune changed. My mother begged him to leave me be, but Asmodeus bent down, picked me up and smelled me.
I was in shock. Asmodeus had held me as a toddler and he didn’t kill me? My mother begged for my safety? This journal was going to give me a headache, while it turned my world upside down.
Asmodeus knew I was descended from the Cross lineage, but he smelled something more in my blood. He accused my mother of consorting with an angel, but she denied the accusation. Angered, Asmodeus hooked his hand around my neck and squeezed. My mother begged him to stop, but he wouldn’t. My father stepped in. He shouted that I was a Nephilim and my mother looked at him in shock.
The angels had been forbidden to mate with humans, but one angel had found a loophole. To possess a human and have that human, mate with another. It wasn’t technically against the rules. An angel had possessed my mother without her knowledge. My mother didn’t have time to be angry with my father and rationalized that I was still her daughter. I was unique because I had three biological parents. Huh, hadn’t I lucked out? Three parents and none of them stepped up to the plate to be a real parent!
The rest of the journal, was even more shocking than the realization that I had an angel for a parent. Since school had been called off, I dialed Willow and Izzy the next morning at seven. When they arrived, we secluded ourselves in my bedroom and I told them everything. They stared at me in horror, when I told them about my absentee parent, and couldn’t believe that there was more.
“Asmodeus told my parents it made me stronger than the Nephilim. I was descended from the Nephilim, who had fed on the blood of a demon and I was also the child of an angel. He explained that it made me an entirely new species. It meant that I was more angel than human, but with demonic powers thrown into the mix.”
“Geez! Girl, you have the most screwed up life ever!” Izzy said, before I finished explaining.
“Ummm… yeah!” Willow joined in the distress over my horrible life.
I sighed and continued, “Having the Cross blood was a bigger plus because it meant I was descended from the founders of two covens: Sacred Moon and Meadow Falls. Meaning I could be initiated into both, which included a massive amount of power. Asmodeus made a deal with my father. He would wait until I was old enough to be initiated into a coven. Once I was, he would use me to tap into the collective and sacrifice every member of those covens, me included.”
“Holy Hell!” “Crap!” Izzy and Willow shouted at once.
“Yep, the story of my screwed up life continues. Apparently, my Mother didn’t agree with the deal. They decided to build up enough power of their own to stop Asmodeus from taking me, but accepted that the covens would still be sacrificed. Their way of protecting me, was to sacrifice innocents to gain enough power and keep me safe.” I paused, while they absorbed everything.
“Unable to internalize the power, it would be the equivalent of a nuclear bomb if they absorbed that it. I, on the other hand, was not a witch. As a child, they had turned their power on me. It had felt like darkness was burying into my soul, they were giving me more power. Enough power to provide protection once I could access it.”
I cried. Izzy held my hand in comfort, while Willow sat behind me on the bed to wrap her arms around me in a hug. I was lucky to have two amazing friends.
“Do you think you can tell us the rest?” Willow whispered in my ear, squeezing tighter.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“There's more?” Izzy was horrified, but nodded for me to continue.
“My mother wrote that their deeds to gain me power corrupted them. Their souls darkened until they remembered their goal, but not the reason behind it. They couldn’t experience love any longer. Before their souls were completely lost to darkness, they threw themselves into one last act of love. They trapped the demon in the bloodstone box, hoping I would only have to call my extra power, as a last re-resort.” Sobs racked my body, but Izzy and Willow helped me to gain composure.
“Shhh… it’s okay. None of this is your fault.”
“Yeah, Willow is right. If your parents hadn’t summoned Asmodeus in the first place, none of this would have happened!”
“That’s not why I am crying.” Izzy handed me a Kleenex to blow my nose with. “I’m crying because this means that they loved me. They did all those horrible things because they cared. All this time, I thought they were evil, but they became that way to protect me.”
The way I saw my parents was different now. They were parents who made a mistake. They were corrupted because they did the wrong thing for the right reasons. I wasn’t unloved; I was loved too much.
“Why did the bloodstone box keep him trapped?” Willow’s question made me smile. I knew she would understand my need for distraction. I leaned into her hug to show I was grateful.
“Bloodstone is a unique stone. It gives the user power over demons, while protecting them, and it destroys evil. They trapped him inside the small box. To keep the bloodstone from touching him, he had to revert to an insubstantial form. The bloodstone also made the symbols more effective. It would have perfect if I hadn’t knocked the darn lid off.”
The next day, Ash was still avoiding me. After the things I had learned, I wasn’t up to hunting him down. Instead, I sought out the comfort of my forest. The trees were welcome friends that didn’t demand anything from me. They gave me sanctuary without hesitation. I had been pushed towards a mind altering quicksand. It trickled down my throat to envelope my heart in its grainy grip. The images from my childhood were suffocating me and I needed relief.
Kit emerged, as an apparition that was far more real than the forest around me. As part of my soul, I could sense his worry for me. He rubbed his head against my skin and wrapped his tail around my legs. It was strange that he appeared as a ghost, but people could physically interact with him. I always expected my hand to pass through him, but it would come into contact with a physical body, complete with soft fur. Kits eyes glowed bright blue, his fur had a filmy black texture, but his form was mostly a silvery blue shade. He was magnificent.
I sat down with my back against a towering tree, the nearby foliage leaned over to provide a canopy of warmth. Kit arranged himself into a crescent shape with his head in my lap. His touch brought with it an intense comfort. Gone was the quicksand; Kit had chased it away. His gentle purr quieted my thoughts and I fell asleep. I must have slept for hours, because when I opened my eyes the sky was dark.
The frigid air warred with my breathe to create a milky steam, while the hairs on the back of my arms stiffened. As I started my walk back home, a branch snapped behind me. The noise originated in a shadowed area of the forest, where the trees were tightly packed together, concealing the presence of someone else. I took a step closer and saw the shadows rise from the darkness. Trembling, I took a step back and crashed into something hard.
Arms spun me around, slammed me into a tree, which knocked the breath from me. Asmodeus rose out of the night and came forward to press me further into the wood. His hand lay in the center of my ribcage and I worried he might shatter them with his strength.
Asmodeus leaned forth and sniffed my flesh before locking his eyes with my own. “Did you enjoy your mothers’ journal?” His accent was as dark and terrifying as the rest of him. He eased the pressure on my chest and I could breathe again.
“What?”
He laughed and grinned, sardonically. “You honestly believed I wouldn’t know about your little scavenger hunt? That I wouldn’t watch every move you and your friends take? Oh, little Anakim. You have much to learn.”
I recognized the term, Anakim. It was another term for the Nephilim and it bothered that he referred to me that way. “If you have been watching, then why haven’t you done anything about us?”
“You think I am worried about a witchling, a human, and you? I am far more powerful than any of you.” His face descended until it was less than an inch away and he snarled.
“That’s not it, is it? You are weak!” I spat in his face and he used the back of his left hand to wipe it off.
“Feisty, aren’t you? I am never weak. I merely don’t do anything without good reason. You will learn that soon enough.” I laughed. “Your insults will gain you nothing, but will cost you something.” He let me go and backed away. The inscriptions along his skin shimmered and burst into a blinding glow.
“Run, little Anakim. I want to play.” His wings spread wide. Smoke billowed off his skin and his eyes glazed over to display the fire within. I screamed and threw my strength into running. Fighting the forest, I had to carve new paths to push my way through the forest and away from him.
I found myself tangled in some branches. They tore at my skin, clothes, and hair. Refusing to give up, I push harder, but was lifted off my feet into the air. Asmodeus had me in his grip again, but this time his arms did crush me. Blood spilled from my lips, while the sound of my bones shattering, left an ache deep inside. Tears shed to pool on the floor beneath me. I was slipping, my mind was floating in a mist that made it difficult to concentrate, but I didn't give up. I push and kicked, though it was futile. I wasn't strong enough.
“Savannah! Wake up dammit!” A harsh smack against my cheek tore me from the nightmare. My eyes opened to find Ash standing before me. I was still leaning against the trunk and a few feet away, Kit sat next to Ash. Through our bond, I could feel Kit’s confusion. I made a small attempt to send waves of comfort, but we both knew that it wasn't much of an effort.
I couldn't stop the river from flooding my eyes and spilling over onto my already moist cheeks. Kit rubbed his head against my arm, while Ash pulled me into his arms. “Kit showed up at the house without you. I followed him here. Are you okay? I thought you were injured or something!”
“Just, just hold me, please.” I griped his shirt to pull him closer. Kit spirited back into my form, while Ash lifted me into his arms and carried me back to the house. I closed my eyes until I felt my bed beneath me. “Thank you.”
Ash sat next to me on the bed and stared at the ground. “Don’t be. You can’t help your nightmares.” He gave me a tiny hint of a smile and started to leave, but I grabbed his arm and pulled him back to the bed.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry that I kissed Liam. No matter how I rationalized it, I should not have done it. Once I knew I hurt you, I shouldn’t have made excuses, because if it hurt you then it was wrong.”
He looked at me when I had finished. His eyes were soft, as he leaned down to kiss me. “It’s fine. I reacted too harshly. I love you, S. Now, get some rest. We can talk about this when you feel better. Okay?”
“I love you too. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I think so.” He folded the blanket over my body and I curled into it. I fell into a peaceful sleep after Ash left.
I woke to my phone buzzing on the nightstand. It was only six at night, but it felt much later. It was Izzy calling, but I couldn’t bring myself to pick up. I hit the ignore button and fell back to sleep. I had earned a break, hadn’t I?
The next morning, I climbed out of the shower and brushed the fog away from the mirror. I let out a shriek at the sight of the angry red blistering on my chest. It was in the shape of a hand; a very large hand. Panicking, I threw on some clothes and ran over to Willows house. I couldn’t be alone right now. The demon had visited me in my dream and left a souvenir; a painful souvenir. He could reach through the veil of dreams to hurt me. Was there anywhere I could be safe?
Willow wasn’t home, Ash was at Griffin’s and I didn’t want to worry Maye. I briefly thought of Izzy, but didn't want to bring up sleep and demons after the way her mother died. It would open up memories and I did not want to responsible for deepening wounds that hadn't had time to heal.
I resigned myself to decorating my room with symbols of protection. It was unlikely that they would stop Asmodeus, but they might slow him down long enough for me to get help.
When I got home, Izzy was waiting for me on my bed with her arms crossed and a caustic look on her face. “Why didn’t you answer my call?”
I didn't have time to deal with drama right now. Ignoring her call one time should not earn me a trip to the land of angry Izzy. A small headache had begun to chip away at my patience. It was irritating that I would have to explain myself right now.
“I was sleeping.” I pinch the area between my eyes, threw my purse to the ground, and grabbed some Tylenol from my nightstand.
“Really? Your excuse is sleep? What if my call had been urgent? What if I was in danger or I was going to commit suicide? What then?”
“Obviously that wasn’t the case or we wouldn’t be talking right now. Honestly, Izzy. I was half asleep and wasn't really thinking about all the bad crap you might calling me over. I have enough to deal with! I don't think should be angry with me over one missed call.” I knew I was whining, but I felt like I was going to have a mental break down. Besides, with the stress I had been dealing with, I needed the sleep.
“Complications? That’s what I am to you?” Izzy shot off the bed in anger, walked to my bookcase, took a book and threw it at me. I ducked, but another soon followed and hit me square in the chest, where the demon had burned me.
“Ow! What are you, two? You are behaving like a lunatic toddler with tantrum issues! Calm down.” I closed my eyes and calmed my breathing, while Izzy did the same.
“I am not behaving like a toddler and I have good reason for acting like a nut job.” Izzy's voiced sounded calm.
“Whatever your reason is, it can’t compare with this.” I pulled the top of my shirt down to expose my chest. Izzy gasped at the hand print. “That’s why I needed rest. Okay? The demon did this and I was exhausted. I’m sorry, but I can’t be expected to drop everything just because you call. You’re my best friend, but I needed to take care of myself.”
Izzy opened her mouth to speak, but Ash came into the room and stopped dead in his tracks. “What the…?” He looked at Izzy in shock.
“What is it? Ash? Hello, earth to planet Ash?” I waved my hand in his face, but he remained frozen.
Izzy cleared her throat. “I can tell you what’s wrong with him.” She smiled. I crossed my arms, waiting to hear how she had suddenly tapped into the psychic network. “He saw ghost.”
“A ghost?” I laughed, hysterically. A small snort escaped to punctuate exactly what I thought of Izzy's statement “That is your explanation?”
“Um, yeah. I’m the ghost, moron.” My laughter came up short and I looked more closely. Izzy form transformed into a mirage of transparency, as she stepped into a patch of sunlight. “Cool, huh? I can look real or I can look like a ghost.” She giggled.
I knew she was serious because of her drastic mood change. She didn’t look quite like Kit, but she was still a ghost. Kit materialized to examine Izzy. Izzy's unnatural acceptance of Kit caused confusion on my part. Through my body with Kit, I was able to piece together enough to know that he was able to communicate with Izzy. Evidently, communication barriers didn't exist in the spirit realm.
“How?” My voice was soft and came to a dead end with my confusion.
Ash walked over to sit on the bed with his head in his hands. Izzy stopped petting Kit and became serious. “It was the demon. That’s why I called you. He came after me. I called, while running away from him. I needed your help.” She shrugged.
“Oh my God!” Izzy's flippant acceptance surprised me because it was the polar opposite to my own.
“He said, he warned you that your insult would cost you something, and I was the price.” Izzy took in my tears and willed her body to solidify. “Savannah, it’s okay. It didn’t hurt. It was quick. One moment I was alive and in a blink, I was a ghost.” She gave me a hug and I cl
ung to her.
“What is this about a Demon?” Ash spoke from the bed.
I had forgotten that Ash was in the room with us and realized that he didn't know anything about the demon. Izzy and I took turns filling him in on all the details, until Willow showed up and took over. Apparently, Izzy visited Willow before me because she wasn’t remotely surprised to find two spirits in my bedroom.
13: Tracking Prey
ASH
We attended Izzy's funeral three days after Izzy’s transition into a ghost. She smoothed her form into a translucent replica, but allowed Savannah, Willow, and me to see her. We didn’t tell Maye about Izzy's ghost, but I had a feeling Josephine knew. She gazed at the spot Izzy stood in, as if looking past the material world, and into the spirit realm.
Izzy’s Dad, asked Savannah and Willow to sit with the family and to speak at the service. I sat with them for moral support, but I felt like a stranger. It was my first time in a church and Izzy wasn’t completely dead to me. Hearing everyone cry over their loss made me feel like an insensitive spectator, because I wasn't joining them in their moist ridden grief. Izzy was as real to me as she had been a week ago.
“This is awesome! Oh my God, did you see? Triton is actually crying! Who knew he was even aware of my existence?" Izzy's laughter echoed off the painted glass, but only the three of us were aware of her. She was excited to see who really cared about her and who was attracted to the drama her funeral presented. “Get it, invisible? I’m a ghost…”
“Shhh… Stop it. This isn’t funny.” Willow whispered from the corner of her mouth, while Savannah glanced to see if anyone heard.
“What? I’m dead. If I have to die, I might as well enjoy it. Besides, most of these people didn’t even care about me. They are only here for the pity party.”
Izzy walked to her casket to see her body and let out a owlish shriek. "Ugh! Why would they put me in a pink floral dress? Shouldn't the last dress my body will ever wear, reflect me?" She looked at us in disgust, shook it off, and danced back to our bench.
The priest ran through the traditional funeral speech, while Izzy serenaded us with own version. Hers consisted of finding poking and mocking everything the priest said. It was quickly obvious that she wasn’t a fan. The whole time her family had belonged to this church the priest had made her feel like the spawn of the devil. She thought it was because she dressed like a Goth, and she wasn't a fan of judgmental people.
The priest didn't miss a beat, as he talked out of his ass. “Izzy was a kind and generous girl, who touched the heart and soul of everyone she knew. She will be missed.”
Playing a game of mockery with the unknowing priest, Izzy spoke in a exasperated tone. “More like, Izzy was a nice girl that everyone avoided. She had a few people who cared, but the majority will forget her once this drama has passed. Her wardrobe will be missed, but will comfort many trash bins and Goodwill.” She made a disgusted sound about her wardrobe. “I can’t believe my Dad threw out all of most of my clothes and gave the rest to Goodwill! I spent years putting together the perfect wardrobe. Now, it might as well rot, because it certainly won’t be appreciated.” She pouted and went silent.
After the service, close family and friends were invited to brunch. Willow and Savannah sat across the table from me, fidgeting with the bread on their plates, while Izzy eavesdropped on nearby conversations.
“I wish this would be over already.” Savannah sounded miserable, but I was less worried about her, than I was about Willow. Willow's sallow skin and dark puffy circles around her eyes made her look like the living dead. It was not a good sign, but I knew it was common when someone died. Even if that loved one turned into an annoying ghost, who developed a knack for stalking.
The next day, Savannah showed up at Griffins and demanded to see me. Griffin barred her from entering, but Savannah wasn’t having it. She threw the force of her power against him and watched as he flew backwards into a wall.
“What the hell!” Griffin tried to stand but dizziness caused him to fall back to the floor. His ear was bleeding, but he didn't seem to notice, as he glared at Savannah in hatred.
“S, what the heck are you doing?” I pulled her away from Griffin.
“Willow is missing. She never made it home after the funeral and I’m worried. Izzy can’t even find her.”
“S, she probably just needed some time to herself. I’m sure she’s fine.” Savannah's eyes darted to Griffin before dropping her head into her hands. She was shaking in panic.
“She’s probably hiding from you. Do you normally barge into people's houses and throw them into the wall? Is this a psychotic tendency I should look forward to in the future?” Griffin stood and glared at Savannah. He shot an accusing stare at me.
Savannah looked up from her hands and shouted. “Shut up!” Griffin went silent and stared in awe. Savannah turned back to face me and spoke radidly. “No, see the coven gathered and with the murders and people going crazy…Then Josephine said she saw the sigil of death and there was blood. Oh God, there was blood!” She covered her mouth and fell against me. “I can’t lose anyone else. I can’t take it.”
Griffin wobbled forward to put his hand on Savannahs back. It was the first time he showed her compassion. He cleared his throat. “Where was the blood?”
“Um, they found it on the porch. There wasn’t a lot, but enough that we know she had an injury. The bench was turned over like something knocked into it.”
Griffin nodded and looked me in the eye. “That means there was probably some kind of fight. That’s good though. There’s no body, which means she ran for it. The only place for her to run without anyone finding her is the forest.”
“You think she’s hiding in the forest?” Savannah’s voice held a ray of hope. I took up Griffin’s cue.
“Yeah, she probably got lost running away. We should organize a search party and comb the forest.”
Savannah's posture changed from distraught to optimistic. She straightened, wiped the tears from her cheeks and kissed me. She then threw her arms around Griffin's neck and squeezed. He patted her back awkwardly and grimaced at the pain from his head injury. Griffin may be a jerk around Savannah, but he was really a good guy. Only someone who is noble would forgive someone this quickly after being blasted into the wall.
The community gathered at the coven’s circle, while the local police shouted instructions on how to perform a search party. We would begin at Willow’s house and spread out in a circle, while shouting her name. They told us to go in pairs and remain in sight of at least one other group, at all times.
I grabbed Savannah’s shoulders, forcing her to look at me. “You told me you could take Kit’s shape. Do you think you can do that now?”
Her eyes darted back and forth, but she nodded. “Why?”
“Animals are predators; they track their prey. If you change into Kit, you can smell something of Willow’s and track her scent.”
“You want me to go get something of hers?” Griffin’s spoke gently.
Savannah nodded. “Yeah. Uh, grab the teddy bear on her bed. She sleeps with it every night and won’t wash it, because it’s old. She doesn’t want it to lose its stitching.”
Griffin raced over to Willow’s house, darting between people who were pairing up for the search. I silently held Savannah until Griffin brought the teddy bear back.
“Got it. Now, where do we do this shifter thing without creeping out the regular people?”
I led them towards the shed behind Maye’s house. It was for Maye’s gardening tools and the size of a small bedroom. Once the door was closed, I turned to Savannah.
“Okay, now we have privacy. Work your magic.”
Minutes ticked by during which, the most interesting thing that happened was a fly landing on my hand. “Come on, S. Hurry up.”
“I’m trying! This is the first time. They didn’t exactly give me an instruction manual.”
My arms lifted in defeat and
gestured for Griffin to take over. “I don’t know much about shifting, but I would imagine you have to concentrate on your bond.” Savannah looked at him in wonder. He shrugged. “Ash filled me in on your ability.” She threw a contemptuous look my way, but focused again on Griffin. “Concentrate on your bond and immerse yourself in Kit’s memories. Use his experiences to guide you through his senses. Basically, think like a panther. They’re strong, fast, and great hunters. They are black and easily blend in with the night. Use all of that. Theoretically, if you immerse yourself, your body should follow the path that your mind creates.”
I briefly wondered where Griffin had learned about shifting. It wasn't something that the coven taught us.
“Okay, I’ll try. Just turn around and don’t watch me.” Neither of us turned. “I’m going to undress! I would imagine that this will rip my clothes and you boys are going to carry them, so I can change back into them when we find Willow. Turn around!”
We may have turned, but I still got a side show. There was a mirror propped against the wall of the shed, which allowed a perfect view. I wasn't trying my skills at being a peeping tom, I just wanted to watch her shift. My curiosity got the best of me, but I was still a man, who liked what he saw.
For a long while, nothing happened and then came the seizure. Black threads multiplied and spread across her skin in a maze. The threads transformed into fur, as they burst through her flesh. Her eyes widened and grew. The bones in her back broke and set in new ways. Her face resembled a kaleidoscope, as it shifted into its new setting. The whole process looked painful, but in way it was also beautiful.
With each crack of her bones, I could feel Griffin cringe beside me. Savannah didn’t make sounds of distress, but when the process was finished she growled. I turned around to take in Savannah in her feline form. As a ghost, Kit had blue eyes, but Savannah as a panther had bright yellow eyes. She was 8 feet long with sleek black fur.
Her roar rattled the shed. She shook her head and approached Griffin to sniff the bear in his hand. Nervous, he backed away. “Man, this is weird. Savannah, you know all those times I was an ass, I was just kidding.” He laughed and looked me in the eye. “She could tear my throat out.” He loosened the neckline of his shirt and opened the shed door. Everyone else had already entered the forest.
“S, if you can understand me lick my right hand.” I held my hands near her, fighting my instincts to run from her predatory form. She flicked out her tongue, catching the barest hint of my skin. “Okay, you track her and we will follow. Just, make sure we're able to keep up, okay?” She snorted and raced off with us following.
I couldn’t believe how fast she was. She tore through the forest, easily maneuvering around each obstacle. Unfortunately, she had to pause repeatedly for us to catch up. Often we would watch from a distance, while she climbed trees to lie on a branch.
Griffin and I were exhausted from running through the woods, when Savannah halted. She started circling, which reminded me of a cat chasing its tail. However, the anxiety coming off her in waves was vastly different than the playful attitude of a kitten.
“What’s wrong with her?” Griffin crouched near Savannah, while I searched the surrounding woods. “Ah. Here’s her problem.” I looked back to see Savannah nosing aside some leaves. Griffin lifted a leaf for me to see; droplets of blood smeared the waxy surface.
“Damn.” Savannah’s eyes glowed at me before she turned and sprinted away. We followed until she slowed. Her form began to slink low to the ground like a cat does when stalking prey. A head of us, I could make out the shape of a shed and realized it was the shed Willow and Savannah used to play in as children. My stomach clenched. What if Willow was dead too?
We neared the shed and Savannah sniffed around the edges. I opened the door, but it was empty.
“S, she’s not here.”
She let loose a deafening roar and starting using her paws to dig at the dirt around the shed. I looked closer and saw that there was a large cavern underneath, which the shed had been built on. Savannah was attempting to pull the dirt enough to squeeze through the opening. She wiggled her head through until only her body remained on the outside. That was when we heard the scream. It was loud enough that I thought an animal must be dying, but I could recognize the tone as Willow’s.
Savannah’s efforts increased, while I bent down to help push her through. Griffin and I soon followed. The cavern was a tiny basement to the shed, but large enough for the four of us to fit in. Griffin took out his cell phone to light up the surrounding area.
Willow was against the far wall; trying to shrink into it. Her skin was covered in layers of dirt, while clumps of mud and stray branches peppered her hair. Her nails were red from clawing at the wall behind her. She had left some decent sized abrasions in the wall.
Willow didn’t seem to recognize us. Her head shook back and forth, while her hands tore at her hair and cry’s racked her body. Griffin and I inched away from her, while Savannah moved forward. Willows picked up a rock and threw it at Savannah hitting her in the head.
Savannah whimpered, lowered herself to the ground and slowly inched forward. Her paws were outstretched and Willow watched like a hawk. Rolling onto her back, Savannah began to rock from side to side. She was trying to convey her harmless nature and Willow seemed entranced enough to allow Savannah near. For her last roll, Savannah ended up next to Willow and lifted her head. She moved forward and licked a large gash on Willows arm.
The sound that burst from Willow was one of defeat and acceptance. She pulled Savannah onto her lap and held her. Slowly, Savannah’s body changed until she was naked in Willow’s arms. She then moved to hold Willow and gently rocked her until she quieted.
“Shhh… Willow, everything’s fine. No one is going to hurt you. I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”
“Me too.” Their heads snapped up at Izzy’s voice and Willow’s eyes held recognition.
Willow looked at each of us in turn and took in Savannah’s naked state. “Why are you naked?” We all laughed.
“When I shift, I don’t get to take my clothes with me. I didn’t think it was a good idea to take the time for clothes, when you obviously needed me.”
“Oh.”
I handed Savannah her clothes, which she quickly put on. Willow allowed me to help her up and out from under the shed. On the way back to the search party, she explained that the demon had been in her head. If was telling her to kill someone and without knowing what else to do, she slammed her head into the porch. Her rationality had fled; she just wanted him out of her head.
Once she injured herself, the demons voice stopped. However, when she turned, she found him standing across the street and ran for the forest. She hid beneath the shed because she knew Savannah would find her.
SAVANNAH
I wanted to tear him limb from limb. I was so furious that I had half a mind to hunt down the demon. However, Willow’s mind was weakened by his onslaught and I couldn’t stand to leave her so soon. We each took a shower and curled on her day bed. She was shivering and kept moving her hand to make sure I was still next to her.
Why did Asmodeus want to take everything from me? Hadn’t he had enough? I ached inside at how terrified Willow had been, and the thought that she suffered through it alone, while I searched for her. Izzy stayed with us, but sat near the window watching the moon. Kit sat next to her. These were my two best friends; my family. I couldn’t allow him destroy my world.
I had spent my childhood being led on a leash through each trial. When I came to live with Maye, I promised myself that I wouldn’t allow my world to be dictated. This was five steps further than dictating my life; he had turned me into a puppet, while he created the stage.
“I can’t let him do this anymore.” I was hardly aware I spoke aloud, but Izzy turned to face me and Willow sat up. “He’s going to keep going until he kills everyone. That’s what the journal said. My parent’s killed all of those people to give me en
ough power to stand up to him. I think it’s about time I did.”
“Are you crazy? All he has to do is wiggle into your brain and pop goes the weasel.”
“Izzy, I don’t think that helps anything.” Willow’s voice shook. “Savannah, I know you feel responsible, but going all superhero on his ass isn’t going to help matters. He’s too strong.”
“Did you really just say ass?” Izzy laughed until it turned into a mad giggle. Willow responded by grabbing her teddy and throwing it at Izzy, but it merely passed through her to hit the window. “Ha! You can’t hit me unless I let you.” They demonstrated their maturity by sticking their tongues out at one another.
“Seriously, you guys! What else am I supposed to do? I can’t sit around while he kills people. Willow could have died and Izzy, you already have.” The three of us were silent, while we each thought about everything that had happened. “This isn’t a discussion, okay? I am taking this fight to him. There is no doubt about that. I just need to figure out how to do it. You can help me make a plan or stand by and watch. Either way, I have made my decision.”
14: Intervention
ASH
I slept until noon the next day and found Savannah’s bed empty. Maye was at an elder gathering and knowing Savannah, she was at Willow’s. I walked over to Willows intending to offer some solace, but when I got there I was marooned in the living room.
“Hi.” I turned to find Willow standing alone.
“Um, is Savannah here?”
“She’s still sleeping.” I gave her a confused glance, since Savannah never slept past noon before. “I placed some herbs in her breakfast to make her sleep. She didn’t get any last night.”
“Oh. I tell her I was here.” I began to leave, but Willow stopped me.
“She’s going to get herself killed. She wants to go after him, alone.” I halted, but didn’t turn to face her. “She thinks she can do it by herself, but she can’t. She will only allow me and Izzy to help her create a plan, but wants us to remain behind when she goes after him.”
“I won’t let her.” I tuned my head slightly, while I spoke and walked out the door.
“I know. That’s why I told you.” She closed and locked the door behind me.
My mind went through all of the possible scenarios and realized that Savannah is too stubborn for me to stop her. However, I could help her. Obviously, she didn’t want the coven in on this. I could understand that. With that many people, it would turn into a massacre. Besides, most of the coven was against using their power in such a way. That left me two choices; Griffin or Liam.
I got in my car and drove. I knew where to go, because Maye insisted on knowing Liam’s address when Savannah dated him. I memorized it the first time she gave it to me. He opened on my first knock and I gave him credit for not wearing a surprised expression. He merely opened the door and stepped aside for me to enter.
“I’m sure there is a good reason for you being here? Decide you need to attack me again? Maybe you want to piss outside my door to mark your territory?”
“Savannah is in trouble.” Liam’s attitude went from sarcastic to serious in the space of seconds. I sighed. “Look, we hate each other. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that much out, but we care about Savannah. If I am going to keep her safe, I am going to need more than a witchling, ghost, and spirit animal.”
“What do you need?”
LIAM
If Ash showing up at my place wasn’t bad enough, the news he came with was much worse. My head pounded from everything he told me. We managed to agree that we would confront Savannah about her plan and the stupidity behind it. Willow and Izzy were already on board. After we developed our intervention, we went to railroad Savannah into being part of a plan, rather than the sole participant.
We found Savannah rifling through boxes in the attic. It was a tight fit, but we all managed to squeeze into it.
“What now?” Savannah’s lips took on an angry pout that was completely kissable.
I expected Ash to take the lead, but Willow stepped up to the plate before him. “We are here to help and not just with the plan, but the execution of it.” Willow gave Savannah a sarcastic smile, and said “This is not a discussion. We are confronting him and we are creating the plan. You can help or stand back, while we take care of everything. Sound familiar?”
Savannah smiled. “Do you have to use my own words against me? I suppose this means that the boys have been filled in on everything?”
“Yeah.” Willow glanced at everyone in confusion. “You’re not going to argue? You know, tell us we can’t help or something? I had an argument all planned out!”
“You’re angry that you don’t get to argue? Typical!” Izzy shouted from behind all of us.
“Willow, I know you better than you realize. I knew you were going to stand by; I just hoped you would. You’re going to do this against my will, but if I work with you… I might be able to keep you all safe. God, you make me seem so irrational sometimes.”
Savannah shook her head and went back to digging around in random boxes. We all chipped in and brought the items we found to Savannah’s room. The girls placed the items on the bed and waited for Savannah to talk.
“Alright, I am building my plan based on my mothers’ journal. Bloodstone is the key here. Obviously, it works since it trapped him. Now, my theory is that if we managed to get the bloodstone inside him, we might be able to kill him. I mean, my mother said he couldn’t even touch the stuff.” She shrugged, sat on her bed, and leaned on her pillows.
“That’s it.” I couldn’t help it, but her plan seemed a little bland. “How are you doing to get it inside him? How are you going to live long enough to get that close? Oh, and what if it doesn’t work?”
Ash spoke from beside me. “Easy, the plan doesn’t work; we die. Then the covens both die and its celebration time in hell.” He walked over to a box with bloodstone decorated across it. “What if we made a bloodstone dagger? If we did that, it could puncture his skin.”
“Liam’s right, though. How do we get close enough? He’s strong.” Willow fidgeted with the sleeves of her shirt and I could see she was frightened.
“My panther; I’m strong in that form and fast. I can take care of him physically, while you guys attack him magically. One of us just needs to get close enough to stab him, while he is distracted by the others.”
“Still a problem guys” Izzy spoke from the corner. “How exactly do we make a bloodstone dagger?” We looked at one another and not a single one of us put forth an idea.
“You make it with light and dark magic and forge it in the essence of a spirit.” Unanimously, we turned in horror to find Maye standing in the doorway. “You honestly believe I have remained oblivious to everything that’s going on? Give me some credit.”
“Maye, you know? How?” Ash moved closer to Savannah and sat beside her on the bed. Savannah placed her hand over his mouth and spoke. “We have to do this. Please, don’t try to stop us.” She pleaded.
Maye gave us a warm smile. “I’m not going to stop you; I’m going to help you. Liam, Ash, Izzy come with me. I will need all three of you if we are going to make this dagger. Savannah, go outside and practice maneuvers as a she-panther. Willow, watch her and practice some moves of your own.”
No one moved. “If you all want to stop this thing, we better get moving. I’m a lot slower than I used to be. I’m no spring chicken.” She cracked a smile and went downstairs.
“She seems smart.” I felt stupid saying it, but I needed to break the silence.
“Yeah.” Everyone else spoke at once.
Izzy, Ash, and I trailed downstairs to find Maye. We left Willow and Savannah alone in the bedroom with shocked expressions still frozen on their faces. Maye brought us downstairs and into the basement. She signaled for us to come closer and moved aside a painting to reveal a small handle. She turned it and the wall opened up into a study.
“Come on in.
” Maye smiled back at us.
We filed into the room; Ash sat in a velvet chair beside an antique cabinet. Izzy took up the space behind the chair and I leaned against the wall we came through.
“Now, if I heard right, you need to make a weapon from bloodstone?” We nodded. “I have just the thing.” She opened a large trunk and took out a large box, which she set on the desk. Unlatching the box, she opened it to reveal a scabbard inlaid with ivory. She pulled a straight edged dagger from the sheath. “This is a stiletto. It’s Italian.”
Maye handed the stiletto to me. The blade was sharp with decorative inscriptions along it. The hilt was shaped like a triton and was perfectly balanced with the blade. It wasn’t an overly decorative dagger, but it looked deadly.
“What are you doing with a dagger?” Ash leaned forward with a worried expression. “I thought you didn’t believe in violence?”
“Just because I don’t believe in violence, doesn’t mean I don’t believe in protecting the ones I love. Besides, I’ve never used it.”
“Okay, does anyone else think it’s totally cool that Maye owns a dagger? I mean, talk about crazy!” Izzy spoke and then shrieked in excitement. “So, how do we do this?”
Ash and I used our magic to encase the blade in a thin layer of bloodstone from a large chunk that Maye provided us with. We left the sharp edges untouched to allow for easy puncture. We then followed several rituals to destroy and ward off evil. When we were finished, Maye looked to Izzy.
“What? What am I supposed to do?” Izzy waved her hands in the air. “I’m a ghost remember? I’m pretty useless.”
Maye shook her head in amusement and walked with the dagger to Izzy. She then waved the dagger through Izzy’s insubstantial form and held it where Izzy’s heart would have been. Izzy gasped in amazement.
“That tickles!” She bent over laughing and Maye removed the stiletto. It no longer gave the impression of bloodstone. The center of the blade held a deep metallic blue shimmer, while the edges glowed white.
Looking at the dagger in awe, Maye spoke quietly against the blade. “Kissed by Death.” Maye’s words brought the blade to life. When she moved, the air gave it a fiery embellishment. “That is the blades name.” She walked to Ash and handed it to him. He took it carefully. “Savannah must be the one to wield it. I expect you to make certain she doesn’t get herself killed doing it.”
“I’ll protect her.” He nodded seriously and slipped the blade into the scabbard.
SAVANNAH
Willow and I sat outside, wondering what the others were doing. It was strange that Maye already knew everything, but even more bizarre was the fact that she wasn’t stopping us. Why hadn’t she said anything before?
“S, we have the dagger.” I turned to see everyone coming outside, while Ash handed me the dagger. I looked at the blade and thought it was pretty, but it didn’t look anything like bloodstone.
“Guys, I thought you were supposed to make a bloodstone dagger. This is… I don’t know what this is.”
“S, believe me, it’s bloodstone. It just looks different because Izzy blessed it or something.
“Oh. Okay.” I examined the dagger more closely and sat back on the grass beside Willow. The world felt like it had slowed to a snail's pace. Our plans suddenly seemed real. Thinking about them and executing them were entirely different. Everyone seemed hesitant to break the silence, but Maye stepped forward and severed the string. She effectively pushed us over the cliff into the arms of the future; we just didn’t know what that future would be.
“You have the tool. Now, you just need to figure out how to bring Asmodeus to you and how to keep him there long enough to kill him.”
“Maye.” I shouted before she could leave. “Why are you letting us do this?” She turned back to look at our group.
“I’m not letting you do anything. If I told you not to, you wouldn’t listen. I’m choosing to support you in the decision you have made. I’ll still be waiting inside with Josephine. I will probably end up baking a kitchen worth of baked goods, while worrying over all of you. There is a definitely possibility that I will wear the carpets down with my pacing.” Maye walked forward and held my cheeks.
“Darling, you and Ash are my world. Josephine warned me that this was going to happen. I had to stand by and let the pieces fall where they may. I love you.” Maye hugged each of us in turn and walked back inside.
“Have any good ideas?” Liam spoke while the rest of us remained in awe at Maye’s reaction.
Willow chipped in her two cents. “Well, I guess we could summon him…”
I knew that would bring Asmodeus to us, but I was worried that the coven could get hurt. “If we did it in the forest, we wouldn’t have to worry about anyone getting caught in the middle.”
Everyone agree, we spent the afternoon hammering out the details and the part each of us would play. We decided that the following evening would be the right time to put our plan in place. The sooner; the better.
15: To live or die
SAVANNAH