1. 2 years ago 

   9

   “Excuse me, I’m sorry but the library is closing right now.”

   I stared into her eyes with intense fury and she began to crouch down to the floor; holding her chest in pain. Her body squirmed until it moved no more. The computers were at the back of the library. As I made my way back there I began to feel the weight of betrayal.

   I couldn’t make any sense of her leaving like she did. Why didn’t say anything? Why did she take her laptop? Why would she abandon me in my time of need? The anger in my heart was blistering hot and a little voice in my head said not to trust her and soon I would find out why.

   Most of the computers were logged off but I found one that wasn’t. I brought up the website again and entered the information. A woman appeared from behind a stack of books. She looked at me, then down at her watch, shook her head and continued doing whatever she was doing.

   Smart move on her behalf, nothing was going to get in the way of me finding out what was going on. The damn computer was much slower than I was used to but the address finally showed up.

   “Bay Lane, Tower Bay.” I read aloud. “I guess that’s where I need to go” so I went back to the front desk where the librarian’s body laid and I used the phone to call a cab.

   _______________________________________________________________________

   “Why have you summoned me?” I asked the book; whose silhouetted spirit appearing like charcoal black smoke turned to flames before my eyes.

   “You have not fulfilled the task I have given you. “ the spirit of Mahkrin Severah spoke and evoked fear in me I hadn’t felt in a long time. Her voice hissed like a snake and stinged like it’s bite. To hear her voice brought pain.

   “Nor will I EVER!” I responded with disgust.

   The red flames turned to flowing magma around me, threatening to incinerate me.

   “YOU HAVE NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER!” it flowed closer. “I HAVE GIVEN MY ORDER AND YOU WILL FOLLOW THEM” it flowed away from me. “SHALL I REMIND YOU OF YOUR PLACE?”

   The magma shifted and transformed to appear as my daughter.

   “Samantha?” I asked in terror.

   She appeared bewildered and scared as she reached for me. Then she began to scream horrifically as the lava burned her, taking her body whole.

   “STOP!!!” I screamed in horror. “Okay! Okay.”

   And in that instance she disappeared before my eyes.

   Everything turned to blue flames around me and scorched my skin. I screamed in torment and just when I thought I was about to die I was falling from the sky to the ground. Gasping for air, my heart pumped strong and I realized I was at Tree Hills Peak.

   _______________________________________________________________________

   “I’m glad you made it here safely.” I greeted Olivia in the driveway.

   “As am I” she said looking around for something. ‘Where is he?’ she thought.

   “David?” I asked. “He’s inside the house.”

   “Andy we have to get out of here. Annie will be here soon.”

   “What? What do you mean she’ll be here soon? She doesn’t know where I live.”

   “She does now thanks to David’s disappearance this morning. She put a tracking on his cell phone. The last known address said here.”

   I ran inside. “David let’s go.”

   “What’s going on?” he asked.

   “Your psycho wife tracked you here” I said angrily. “We have to go now!” I went to the kitchen and made sure the oven was off. Zueh was perched on the counter. “Go back up to the hills and wait for me there.” And he flew off.

   “David where’s your phone?” I asked.

   He thought about it. “The last I remember it was in the car. But the battery died just as I arrived here.”

   “Andy, where can we go to where she won’t find us?” Olivia asked.

   “I’m not sure but we need to find Ashley first.”

   “She disappeared?”

   “Yeah, about 15 minutes before you pulled up. I think I may know where to find her. But we can’t drive there.”

   “Well, we need to get far from here as soon as possible.” Olivia said.

   I stood there thinking to myself. Where could we hide the car? No garage, no cover what so ever. Then I remembered the little road that went down the cliffs, leading to a cave. I went back outside and they followed.

   “You see those group of trees over there?” I pointed to the hidden trail that lead up to Tree Hills. “Head that way. I’ll meet up with you in a moment.” I got into Olivia’s car.

   “Where are you going?” Olivia asked.

   “I have to hide the car.” I started the ignition and drove off to the cave.

   _______________________________________________________________________

   “Welcome to Tower Bay” I read aloud.

   Why would David come this way? I was surrounded by trees on both sides of the road. Visibility past those trees was poor. I could smell the salt water but I definitely couldn’t see it. The road winded all kinds of ways until finally the trees were more spread out and I could make out what was left of the sun setting over the water.

   “So this is Tower Bay?” I asked myself. Normally a sight like this I would lavish in; absorbing all its beauty. But the fury I felt blinded its beauty. There were so many little streets and dead ends. I became angrier just looking for the street. There was a young man jogging along side the road. I pulled up beside him.

   “Where can I find Bay Lane?” I asked the man; who for a moment stared at me in confusion when he noticed a slumped figure in the back seat. I smiled to distract him from the back of the cab.

   “Ah, you see those houses over there?” he pointed to a cliff way on the other side of the bay. “That’s Bay Lane, it’s kind of tricky to get there. Just turn around the way you came, make a right on the first street and stay on that road, it’ll veer to the left a little and feel like you’re going in circles but that’s how you get there.”

   “Okay, thanks” I turned around and followed his directions. It got real dark, real fast. The road turned left then right so many times it was almost impossible to be sure what direction I was going in. Finally, I began to see houses and the road was straightening out.

   There were only 3 houses on this road. The two to my left appeared to be abandoned and straight ahead for a distance was a lighthouse. I didn’t see my car anywhere but I continued to look around. I parked the cab and got out.

   Both houses were empty and had no sign of entry for quite some time. So I decided to go down to the lighthouse. There were many different tire tracks leading to that house. As I got closer, excitement grew inside me knowing that this had to be the location.

   _______________________________________________________________________

   “Get down.” I said to Olivia, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the ground.

   We hadn’t quite made it to the cover of the trees yet. I just happened to look back saw Antoinette standing in front of a car with it’s headlights shining on her; looking around. She turned in our direction as if she heard something. My heart pounded in fright. After this morning’s event I wanted to never see her again. She stood there for a moment and in the little while I prayed continuously that she didn’t spot us. But then she continued heading towards the lighthouse.

   “I don’t think she saw us.” I said.

   “Good, then you can let go of my hand.” Olivia said.

   Once Antoinette was completely out of sight we ran as quickly as we could to the trees. These woods were very unsettling. It was dark and crowded with thick trees, plants and grass. You could hear an owl or two hooting in the distance. There was an eerie feeling and we could feel we were not alone here.

   “It’s so dark. I can’t see a trail.” Olivia said to herself. Even now with both of us on the same side against her daughter she couldn’t bring herself to talk to me. It was time to figure out what her problem was.

   “Olivia, why…”

   “Shhh!” she cut me off. “You hear that?”

   I listened closely and could hear footsteps closing in on us.

   “Olivia? David?” Andrea called.

   I exhaled in relief that it wasn’t Antoinette.

   “We need to hurry. I heard her thinking of breaking into my house. We don’t want to be around when she’s figures out why she can’t get in.” Andrea said.

   She led the way and we followed.

   “Why won’t she be able to get in?” I asked.

   “My house was built to only allow those without the intent of harm inside.” she answered.

   We walked for a while. How she knew where she was going I don’t know. There wasn’t a very distinguished trail here. Obviously she was familiar with this territory. She stopped and looked up to the sky.

   “Zueh!” Andrea called and kissed twice.

   We waited for a moment and then he arrived; swooping down unto her arm. They engaged in a private conversation and Zueh flew off again.

   “We have to hurry, Ashley is here…but something’s wrong.” Andrea said.

   “What do you mean? Is she okay?” I asked deeply concerned.

   “David, I don’t know….let’s just hurry and get to her.” she said calmly and continued to lead the way.

   _______________________________________________________________________

   The insides of my body felt smoldering hot. The pain, everywhere, was paralyzing. I dared not to give into the pain and scream because it would only be worse. Then, I heard the whispers of voices I had not heard since before….

   “You have no choice…”

   “The door…it’s locked”

   “Let me out…”

   “It hurts…”

   “I will be freed…”

   “You have to….”

   “Ashley….”

   “Aaasssshhleeyyy….”

   “LET ME OUT!!!”

   “Stop it! STOP IT!!!!” I screamed.

   _______________________________________________________________________

   “You hear that?” I asked.

   “It sounds like screaming.” Andrea said.

   “Was that Ashley?” David asked.

   “Keep going straight.” Andrea told us and leaped off into the air headed for the peaks.

   I stood there in awe. “She can fly?” I asked.

   “Yes, but she has terrible motion sickness so she doesn’t fly very often. Something must be very wrong for her to have left like that.”

   Ashley was almost indestructible, and to think that something was wrong with her was troubling. We began to move very quickly to reach them.

   _______________________________________________________________________

   It appeared as though no one was home. The property was so beautiful and well kept. I knew someone would be returning in due time. But why wait? I tried to open the front door. But as soon as I touched the knob it burned my hand.

   “Ssssss” I hissed in pained. I couldn’t smell smoke. There weren’t any signs of a fire inside. I backed away, thinking, and then I approached the door again. I placed my hand against the wood pane. Splinters grew out of it and into my hand.

   “Awww!” I yelled. The long thick splinters went deep into my hand. I stepped of the porch, backing away from the house looking for another way. Now, I was more determined than ever to get inside.

   After I pulled as many splinters as I could out of my hand I picked up a stone, aiming for one of the first floor windows. I threw it perfectly and the glass shattered.

   “NO!!!” I tried to shield my face. The shards of glass blew to me slicing my face and arms. The stone came back with it too embedding itself into my cheek.

   Out.

2. 2 years ago 

   8

   ‘So was that dream, really a dream? It seemed so real.’ David thought.

   He was standing at the screen door when I was finally done straightening up and was going to sit and relax. But he kept going on and on about this dream. I really needed some silence.

   ‘If it wasn’t just a dream, then…it had to be a memory. If I was really Arthur…Why else would…’

   “What kind of dream did you have?” I finally asked.

   “I…I didn’t say anything.” He said.

   “No, you didn’t say anything but I can sure hear your continuous rambling thoughts.” I exhaled. “Please talk about it, because it’s driving me crazy.”

   “You can hear my thoughts?” he asked.

   “Right now unfortunately.” I smiled. “I didn’t mean to invade your head. I usually block everybody out. But it’s difficult when emotions are tied in. It…like…makes the signal louder.”

   “Wow…” he began to think ‘do they all have powers?’ so he asked “What all can you guys do?”

   “Besides hearing thoughts, I can manipulate dirt and metal. Ashley can read a person’s past, she used to be the doorkeeper to other worlds, but that was lost when…” I stopped myself. “I should leave that story for Ashley to finish.”

   He nodded his head, slightly confused. “What about Antoinette?”

   I laughed. “The most beautiful gift anyone could have besides love.”

   “And what is that?”

   “The power to heal.”

   David gave a short laugh; noticing the irony. He then looked at the clock across the room on the fireplace mantel.

   “I can’t believe its 4:30. I’m starving.” He said.

   “It’s 4:30 already?” I looked at the clock. “Olivia should’ve been here by now.”

   “Hey, where did Ashley go?” he asked while walking towards the door.

   “She went in search of the buzzing noise.”

   David left to look for Ashley and I rested my head on the back of the chair. Just the beginning of spring break and I have yet to enjoy a complete drama free day.

   “And I just know there’s more to come.” I said to myself.

   “Did she say she was going somewhere? The car is gone and she’s no where around.” David said from outside the front door.

   “No.” I got out of my seat and went to check for myself. She definitely would’ve said something before leaving.

   When I got to the driveway there was no car and no Ashley. I came full circle around my house and I didn’t see anything.

   “Strange.” I said. “Who knows what she’s up to. Let’s go inside, wait and I’ll make something to eat.”

   “Sounds good to me.” He said and headed back inside enthusiastically.

   I went back to where the car was last parked. Kneeling down, I grabbed a handful of dirt and rubbed it into my palms. Then I opened my hands and lightly blew the dirt away as I slowly rose to a standing position.

   The dirt dispersed in the air and began to wind up towards the sky. I watched how it curved its way from North to East. It traveled fast; straight towards the hills.

   “Zueh, Zueh!” I called and kissed twice for my Red-tailed Hawk. Within seconds, she landed on my left arm. “Check the lands Zueh.” I told her and she flew off fast with my order’s given.

   I headed back into the house where David was patiently sitting in the den overlooking the kitchen.

   “So….the dream?” I asked.

   He sat up from a leaning position and cleared his throat. “Last night, I had this dream. I was in a church; standing at the altar with Ashley…We were getting married.”

   “What makes you think it wasn’t just a dream?”

   “It didn’t feel like a dream. I felt like I had loved her my entire life; like she knew me and loved me with all her heart….She was nothing like how she is now. How could I even begin to imagine her that way? Her skin was so…full of life, golden brown….and her eyes! Beautiful hazel, not the kind of hazel it is now. She wore her hair down, had on a beautiful white dress with her back completely out….”

   “So you dreamed of her wedding day? That’s amazing. What else do you recall?”

   “Well, Antoinette woke me from my sleep. But the last thing I remember were the church doors swinging open forcefully. Wind was blowing crazily and leaves flew inside the church.”

   “And nobody was there, right?”

   “No, there wasn’t anybody there.”

   “That was Antoinette trying to crash the wedding, but she couldn’t get in. But we were well aware of her constant efforts. You actually dreamed that? There’s no way you could make up such accurate details.”

   The phone rang. I headed to the kitchen, grabbing a pan from the cabinet and setting it on the stove on the way.

   “Hello?” I answered.

   “Oh! Andy!” Olivia said relieved. “I just passed a sign saying Tower Bay.”

   “Great! Just stay on that road and you’ll wind around the bay and then straight here.”

   “Okay, I’ll be there soon.” Olivia said and hung up the phone.

   “She’s almost here?” David asked.

   I hung the phone up. “Yes. She should be here in 10 minutes or so.”

   I could hear him debating whether he should stick around or hide.

   “You’re fine right here. You may be able to provide missing pieces to the puzzle.” I smiled.

   He looked slightly embarrassed and smirked.

   I returned to the stove and lit the burner. Zueh was outside of my front door sitting on his tree calling me; squawking.

   “David can you go open the screen door?” I asked.

   He left and within a few seconds Zueh swooped into the kitchen landing on my arm. I went into a small cabinet filled with insects in containers and grabbed some live beetles to feed him.

   David ran in. “A big ass bird just flew in…” he paused when he saw me feeding Zueh.

   David looked at Zueh wide eyed. Zueh had beautiful feathers the color of white, black, bronze and red. He stood 2 ft tall with piercing eyes appearing predatory.

   Zueh was showing minor signs of hostility with David. He started spreading his wings, showing off his 4 foot span.

   “David, don’t stare into his eyes.” I warned.

   “Oh.”

   “David, this Zueh.” I looked at Zueh. “Zueh, this David.” I introduced.

   “Hi.” He said hesitantly.

   “Zueh is like my watchdog. I sent him to search for Ashley.”

   David raised his brow.

   “Zueh, show me what you saw.”

   We stared into each others eyes and he showed me the hills; everything was in order. But when he flew over the heart of our land there was a severe thermal draft that caused him terrible turbulence. He couldn’t continue safely, so he turned back.

   I thought to myself. ‘How could the air pressure be so drastically different in that one area?’ While concentrating on that question I heard a car pull up. “She’s here.”

3. 2 years ago 

   7

   He got up from the couch. Muscles tight and peaking through his ripped and bloody shirt.

   “Ashley, I…we need to talk, but without you upset.”

   Andrea’s silence was noticed when she left the room quickly. The sound of the door closing behind her was followed by awkward silence.

   “Well?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

   “I’m not the same man.” He came closer to me. “I know things…things that are going to change how you feel about me.”

   “What are you talking about?”

   “It was wrong of me to have left you like I did last night at the hotel room. There was a deep connection when we met. You can’t deny that. Instead of embracing it further, I spoke to you disrespectfully when I felt guilty.”

   “And exactly what made you feel guilty?” I asked in a non believing manner.

   “Realizing I married for the wrong reason and loving you more than I could understand.”

   “How is this supposed to make me change the way I feel? You apologized. Great.” I said unenthusiastically.

   “God you’re stubborn.” He combed his fingers through his hair and let out a huge breath. “Why did you get upset when I called you Lee-Lee?”

   “Because you have no business calling me that.”

   “I think I do.” He smirked. “Where do you think I got it from?”

   He stumped me there. I really didn’t know. “Why did you call me that?”

   “It’s what I used to call you.”

   “No. It’s not.”

   “It’s what Arthur called you?”

   I approached him. “How did you know that?” I scowled.

   “Somehow…I just know. When I woke up, I felt different. Your face looks different to me now.”

   I didn’t know what to say. Lying to me would put him in a worse situation. Was he telling me the truth? Is that what he truly believes? I took a step back, turned around and headed for the kitchen. Andrea was sitting at the island, sipping coffee. I took the seat next to her and rested my head on the counter. She wrapped her arm around me.

   “Is it possible?” she asked softly in my ear.

   “I don’t know. I thought you were the believer.”

   His heart beat was getting louder in the other room and I could tell he was about to enter the kitchen.

   “Why haven’t you read him yet?” Andrea asked.

   “I have.”

   “Then why don’t…”

   “I don’t go around checking peoples past lives.” I interrupted. “I just look at what they’ve done in the past.”

   “And what did you see?”

   “That he had done nothing to warrant me killing him.”

   David opened the kitchen door. He just stood there staring at me.

   “So what happened to you?” I asked David.

   “It’s all kind of a blur. The only thing I remember was being at a park…I think…and…seeing this huge light far away.”

   “That’s all you remember?” I asked.

   He went into his pants pocket and placed a digital camera on the counter in front of me. The screen was cracked. I picked up the camera and turned it on. I couldn’t make out anything on the screen.

   “What’s supposed to be on here?” I asked.

   “I…can’t remember.”

   The phone rang.

   “Hello.” Andrea answered. “Yeah, we were just about to leave…Oh…Okay…its 622 Bay Lane, Tower Bay… It’s a light house…Bye.” She hung up the phone.

   “She’s coming here instead?” I asked.

   Andrea turned and nodded her head. “Uh…I think I should go and straighten up the mess in the living room before Olivia arrives.” She said walking towards the door.

   “Wait! Olivia’s coming here? Olivia, Antoinette’s mom?” David asked.

   Andrea stopped in her tracks. “Yeah.” She answered.

   “Man, that lady does not like me. I’ve never seen her leave her home for a simple visit. What happened?” he asked.

   “Apparently, Antoinette took something from Olivia’s house. It’s dangerous, especially in her hands.” I answered.

   “What did she take?”

   “A very sacred book.” Andrea answered.

   David stood, staring at nothing, when all of a sudden he snapped awake. “I saw a book…I saw a book I’d never seen before this morning at home.” He said.

   “What kind of book?” Andrea asked.

   “It looked very old, leather bound with a red ribbon. It was thick and heavy. Also, it had a lot of writing, from edge to edge.”

   “That was probably it.” Andrea said to me.

   “Did you touch it, David?” I asked in horror.

   “Yeah…to the page with the ribbon. Oh! I took pictures of what I read.” He pointed to the camera.

   Andrea started to back away as we both stared at him.

   “What?” he asked.

   “Hold still.” I approached him. “This is going to feel a little disorienting.”

   I put my hands to his head and closed my eyes. All of his memories rushed to me. I saw a gallery of incidents prior to him arriving here in that condition. But that wasn’t what I was looking for. I was searching for interference. Touching or reading the book made you susceptible to its persuasions, when you’re not aware of what it really is.

   I dove deeper into his ego. That’s where I saw him; his true self. There was no interference, but there was something else that shocked me. It broke my concentration and I dropped my hands from his head.

   “What did you do?” David asked as he tried to get his balance back.

   “He’s not tainted.” I said to Andrea.

   “Tainted?” he asked.

   “Well, it must have been the wrong book.” Andrea said.

   “No, it was the right book. I saw it in his memories.”

   “How?” she asked.

   I looked at David. “Anyone who see’s, touches, especially reads from that book can be possessed. It takes extreme awareness of its manipulations to avoid it. I conclude that you’ve seen that book before.”

   “I’ve never seen that book before today.” He argued.

   “You, physically, had not. But your spirit has.”

   With a look of confusion he asked. “How does that happen?”

   “Re-incarnation.” Andrea summed up. “What else did you see Ashley?”

   I took a deep breath. “Me.” I looked at David. “You have memories of my wedding day…34 years ago.”

   He had this perplexed look on his face. We all sat and stood there, pondering the thought.

   “What’s your birthday David?” Andrea asked.

   I laughed. Was I delirious? It made sense in a crazy way. “He was born the same day and year Arthur died.”

   “January 15^th?” Andrea asked David.

   He nodded his head yes. “1980.” He answered

   _______________________________________________________________________

   “Hi, can I get $30 worth of gas?”

   “Which pump, ma’am?” the cashier asked.

   “Uh…” I looked out the window.”…number 3 please.”

   As I walked to my car, I had the feeling that someone was watching me. It was so cold that my hands trembled as I put the pump into the gas tank. While it was pumping, I observed all my surroundings. A figure appeared from the shadows. My eyes squinted from the sun to get a clear view.

   “Annie?” I asked. “What are you doing?”

   She came to me with tear filled eyes. “Oh, mom!” she cried, wrapping her arms around me. “Please take me home.”

   I opened the passenger side door and placed her inside. The gas stopped pumping so I pulled it out. The car was nice and toasty when I hopped in.

   “David left me.” She cried, dropping her head into her hands.

   I started the car and then pulled off to go back to my house. The love I had for my daughter was unconditional. However, she creates these situations and is great at manipulation and lies her way through things. I couldn’t spare another ounce of sympathy for her. What should I do?

   “Mom? Did you hear what I said?”

   “Yes, honey.” I noticed gray clouds in the sky. Weird how a beautiful morning turns ugly by afternoon.

   “I suppose you think it’s my fault.” She said.

   “No. I’m just finding it hard to understand what would’ve caused him to do that. Yesterday things seemed fine.”

   “He was cheating on me mom.” She cried.

   My first inclination was to laugh. I wasn’t surprised at all with him cheating. I never like him, period. She was well aware of how I felt about him before they married. As her mother, I guess I have to console her. After all, I will always love and want what’s best for her.

   “How do you know this?” I asked.

   “A neighbor called me this morning and told me, while she was taking her night run through Lake Murr Park, she saw a mysterious woman dropping him off.”

   “That’s it?” I asked.

   “If it was all innocent, why didn’t she drop him off at the house? It was only 3 blocks away. He didn’t mention anybody dropping him off. I know he’s having sex with her…with that hoe!”

   Now I was pulling into the gated community I lived in. As soon as I get inside I’ll call Andy.

   “How do you know she’s a hoe? Your neighbor saw that too?” I asked as I slid my card key across the scanner for the gate to open.

   “She said the girl was driving a taxi! How sleazy is that?”

   “It’s a job Annie.” I shook my head and drove on. “She could’ve been just working. You shouldn’t believe all that he say, she say stuff. It’s very immature of you.”

   “Yeah, well, we’ll see who he’s with right now.”

   “What do you mean?”

   “During the eclipse he left me alone in the hills. He drove off with the car and left me stranded. I had to steal a car to get here and then ditch it. It was luck that I ran into you at the gas station. I knew you weren’t home…” she paused. “You never leave home” she looked at the dashboard. “Your gas is full. Where were you going?”

   Dammit! I wasn’t prepared for her to ask me that. “I…I was going to drive up north; do a little camping, fishing. You know get away. Anyways, what did you mean ‘we’ll see who he’s with right now’?” I pulled into my driveway.

   “Most likely he has his cell phone. If he does, when I go on your computer, I’ll be able to track him down.” She got out the car and headed for the house. I followed.

   “What’s the point in doing that?” I unlocked the front door. “You’re going to chase him down?”

   “Mom…”she looked at me with serious eyes. “David has hurt me. You know I can’t allow an action like that to be unpunished.”

   She turned and walked towards the library. I was about to go to the phone and make a quick call when Annie called me.

   “Mom! Come on! Let me show you!” she yelled from the library.

   It never ceased to amaze me, how quickly her moods change. Hysterical crying turned to premeditated revenge in an instant. I went to the library and saw that she made herself comfortable at the desk.

   “It’s so simple to do it.” She said excitedly while pointing to the computer screen.

   I grabbed a chair and sat next to her.

   “Hmmm.” She grunted.

   “What?”

   “The last known location was 2 hours ago. His phone must have died.” She stood up real fast. “I didn’t realize how bad I needed to use the bathroom. I haven’t gone since this morning at home.” She left quickly.

   I didn’t agree with this. But I was curious as to where he was…even two hours ago; since it was possible. So I clicked the “X” on the map and an address popped up.

   “Bay Lane, Tower Bay.” I gasped and then I pulled the folded piece of paper from my pocket. It read the same address as the computer. “David’s at Andy’s house?” This was too much of a coincidence and not a good one.

   I turned off the computer and ran to my bedroom. In my nightstand was a cell phone. I never used it; only for emergencies. This was urgent, so I took it. Annie was still in the bathroom. I went back to the library and grabbed my laptop and power cord. As I was running out the door I heard her washing her hands. I hopped in the car and quickly drove away.

   _______________________________________________________________________

   Things were calm and quiet for a little while. Nothing could get the blood stains out of the couch cushions, pillows, towels or the wood floors, except for good old magic. We straightened up the room in silence.

   There was so much thinking going on, that I completely ignored this distorted buzzing sound in my ear. It was a very low sound; almost unnoticeable. But once I noticed it, it grew louder as if nagging me. It was starting to drive me crazy.

   “Andrea do you hear a buzzing noise?”

   She listened for a moment. “No, I don’t hear anything.”

   “It’s driving me crazy!” I walked to the front door screen and opened it. Today was a bizarrely windy day. For the third time today the breeze brought blood. It was stale. As I let go of the screen, I heard a scream coming from around the side of the house. Only for a moment did I hear it and then there was buzzing again.

   A girl screamed. “No! No! Let me go!”

   I ran to where the noise came from. There was nothing. Just David’s car was there. His blood that was in the seat saturated the air. The car door was still open. It didn’t make any sense. I know what I heard. But it was obvious that there was no one else here.

   “Are you okay?” David asked, startling me.

   That’s weird, how come I didn’t hear him approach? “You didn’t hear a girl screaming a moment ago?” I asked.

   “No.”

   Thump. Thump. “Let me out!” a girl’s voice yelled from the trunk of David’s car. There was pounding coming from the inside.

   “Who’s in there?” I asked David.

   “Who’s in where?” he looked confused. “What are you talking about?”

   “Who’s in the trunk, David?” I demanded.

   He looked at me as if I were crazy. I went closer to the car and grabbed the keys from the ignition. There was no sign of a pulse or any warmth to indicate life. Just a buzz. I walked around to the trunk. When I looked back for David he was gone. It puzzled me how he came and left without me noticing his footsteps.

   I unlocked the trunk and opened it. “Oh! Shit!”

4. 2 years ago 

   6

   “This is the spot. Lay the blanket down here.” Annette said. “We have less than an hour before it begins.” She said as she sat down.

                   “You know I’ve never seen an eclipse before?” I sat on the blanket. “How long will it last?”

                   “A minute or two.” She took her ponytail out, letting her curly hair fall past her shoulders. “What kind of tea did you bring?”

                   “I brought Chamomile and Cranberry-Apple.”

                   “Tea would be perfect right now. It’s kind of chilly today.”

                   “What kind?”

                   “Ummm, how about the Chamomile.”

                   I placed the backpack in between my legs. She was sitting across from me, so I knew she could not see everything I was doing. I took the cigar out of my pocket and grabbed a tea bag and paper cup from inside the backpack. The cigar was stale and broke apart easily into crumbs at the bottom of the cup. I put the tea bag in and opened the thermos. Steam rose from it and I was immediately relieved that it was still hot. My hand was shaking nervously as I poured the hot water into the cup.

                   “Are you alright?” she asked.

                   “Yeah.” I handed her the cup. “I guess my adrenaline is still pumping from that hike up.” I poured the water into another cup for me and grabbed the Cranberry-Apple tea bag. “You never cease to amaze me.”

                   “What makes you say that?” she smiled.

                   “You walked all this way without one complaint.” I sipped my tea. It was chilly today and the tea felt warm and comforting going down. “Is the baby doing okay?”

                   “Yeah.” She caressed her stomach. “Everything is good.”

                   “Oh, yeah, what happened last night? What was so urgent that you had to leave?”

                   “My mom had a nightmare about me.” She half-smiled and rolled her eyes. “She’s just getting old.”

   ‘Getting old’ Now that I think about it…if Annette is as old as Ashley said, then how is her mom still alive? Is she a witch too? Wouldn’t surprise me if she were.

                   “Is she okay now?”

                   “Yes.” She set her cup down and I was very surprised to see it was empty. I wonder how long it would take to kick in.

                   “So, let’s continue that conversation we had at home.”

   She let out a heavy breath. Obvious exasperation. “Really?”

                   “I want to know more about my wife. We didn’t date very long and got married so fast.” I grabbed her hand. “I need to know more about the mother of my child.”

   She started laughing.

                   “What’s so funny?” I asked seriously.

                   “Me, a mother, that’s what’s funny.”

                   “I don’t get it.”

                   “No, you wouldn’t.” She said with an attitude.

   I let go of her hand. She was starting to piss me off. But anger wasn’t going to control me right now. This bitch had hers coming and I AM going to be part of her down fall.

                   “How come you don’t talk about your family?” I asked.

                   “Because they’re worthless. They don’t understand my views on life and they deny themselves their true calling just like our father did.”

                   “You have siblings?”

   She looked at me with apprehension. “Yes. Two sisters.”

                   “Where are they?”

                   “I don’t know and I really don’t care.” She gazed at the sky. “One of the best days I had is when we agreed to stay away from each other.”

                   “How did that happen?”

                   “One of my sisters had an affair with a boyfriend of mine at the time. They fell in love, got married and had a baby. The day her child was born was the day she decided I was no longer welcome and that if I stuck around she would…”

                   “What?”

                   “She would make me live to regret it or die.”

                   “Why would she say such a thing?”

   She gave me an evil smile. “Because I poisoned her darling husband.”

                   “You did what?!” I asked disgustedly.

                   “Don’t look at me like that. I was very gracious to have let him live so long after what he did to me. He didn’t even die until a month later.”

                   “I can’t believe you.” I stood up off the blanket. “You’re evil…How can you…” All of a sudden I couldn’t talk. My lips wouldn’t open. I touched my mouth and I couldn’t feel it. It was a smooth surface of skin. My mouth was gone. I started to panic. She got up and shoved me into a tree without even touching me.

                   “Everything I do is what’s best. You think I’m evil? Just wait and see what I have planned for you.”

   _______________________________________________________________________

                   “That was fast. So what happened?” she asked.

                   “It’s bad Andrea.” I approached her. “Olivia said that Antoinette took the book.”

   Her eyes widened in horror. “When?”

                   “This morning.”

                   “We have to go find her.”

                   “Olivia wants us to be at her house by 3.”

                   “Ashley…”she grabbed my hand. “As soon as this hill top lights up, we’re gone.”

   I nodded my head in agreement.

   _______________________________________________________________________

                   “If it weren’t for you and your questions, we could be enjoying ourselves right now. But instead you’ve gone and pissed me off.” I slapped him, abrasively across his face; making him fall to his knees. Blood began to cover his left cheek from the deep cuts left behind.

   I looked away from him and up at the sky. “It’s time.”

                   The moon was slowly making its way across the sun. The sky was becoming an odd combination of day and night. In a matter of seconds, only the rim of the sun shone over the moon.

                   I was standing there, watching the celestial event with David kneeling beside me, holding his bloody face; when something far away caught my attention. I glanced at David to make sure he was seeing what I was seeing.

                   Oh my God! My mouth! Where’s my mouth? How can this be? Owww! My face feels like it exploded. I’m in so much pain. I continued rocking back and forth frantically feeling where my lips should be and trying to stop the bleeding.

                   I wanted to run as fast as I could. When I tried to get up Annette looked at me. She quickly looked back and I followed her gaze. Far away, in the distance, were hills and mountain tops all around us. But there was one that stood out the greatest. It glowed.  In the darkness of the eclipse, somehow, it was as bright as the sun. This light was pure white.

                   Annette was frozen in amazement. Her attention was miles away. I had to get away from her. I was able to get to my feet unnoticed. Backing away, I missed my footing and tumbled down the way we came. As I descended I could feel my lips forming and splitting open. I rolled and tumbled into a bush, forcing a branch through my left shoulder and breaking off.

                   A sound, so unfamiliar to me, filled my ears. My mouth strained with intensity to open. Tears built up rapidly and I realized I was yelling in pain. I wanted to stop screaming before she noticed I was gone. It was difficult, but I got up and continued running.

                   I looked back a few times, but I didn’t see her. A street was coming up. My heart beat grew faster as I got closer. Cars swerved and passed me by as I tried to get across. Many drivers were honking their horns. Our car was just a few more feet when I fell to the ground. I was losing a lot of blood.

                   Crawling the rest of the way was making my shoulder hurt and bleed even more. I finally made it to the car and grabbed the keys from my jacket pocket. When I got inside, I immediately locked the doors and started the car. My body began to tremor. I turned up the heat and punched the gas. I have to make it there fast before I go into shock.

   _______________________________________________________________________

                   “I’m really happy you did this.” I hugged her. “That was quite a show, huh?”

                   “It sure was.”

                   “I know you’re anxious to get back. She won’t be ready for us for several more hours. So we might as well not rush.” We started heading back down. “By the way, I met one of your students today.”

                   “Really?” she smiled. “How? When?”

                   “Earlier, when I checked your phone message. His name was Patrick. A cute young boy. He was climbing a tree.” I laughed.

                   “Oh yeah, he does that. Patrick’s a very intelligent and social boy.”

                   “Social? He was climbing a tree all by his lonesome. Not a friend in sight.”

                   “That’s just how he is. So what happened?”

                   “He was bleeding from a gash on his elbow, so I took him back to your house where he could clean up.”

                   “That was nice of you.”

                   “Andrea?”

                   “Yes.”

                   “Now that we have a place to call home, I was thinking about bringing Samantha out here.”

                   “That would be wonderful! I would love to have my niece here.” She slowed her pace and looked me straight in the eye “Do you really think you can live here?”

                   “I do. It’s just the transitioning. I’ve kept her isolated all this time.”

                   “Well, she’ll have to go to school; which will be tedious because she already knows everything.”

                   “Exactly my point. She’s 30 years old.”  

                   “Yes, but she’s of your blood. We might as well not even count by earth years. Developmentally she’s only 16 years old. We’ll just place her in the 10^th grade. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

                   “I can tell you’ve thought about this before.” I smiled.

                   “Oh, for so long; you and Sammy are the only true family that I have.”

                   With that last statement, Antoinette’s face popped in my head. I suddenly had the feeling of sadness. I was going to have to stop her…forever.

                   Andrea’s house came into view. There was a car in the driveway. The interior lights were on and the driver side door was open.

                   “I wonder who that could be.” Andrea said.

                   A strong breeze brought the scent of blood my way. I instantly recognized the smell.

                   “It’s David.” I said in shock. “He’s bleeding a lot. Something happened.”

                   “Well, go and see. I should be there in 20 minutes.” She said.

                   “Andrea I can carry you.” I insisted.

                   “No, no, you go on ahead. I’ll be there.”

                   “Alright.” I ran off quickly.

                   Oh the blood! The amount that was exposed was sure to be a lot by the smell of the air. When I approached the car his heart beat was very faint. He was partially hanging out the car.

                   “David?” I grabbed his slumped body, took him inside the house and laid him on the couch.

                   The blood was immense. Here he was an open buffet. Blood lust was rarely avoidable. Why would he come here in this condition? Did he want to die? He was unresponsive. I needed to act fast if I was going to save him.

                   His face had three long, deep gashes along the left side; exposing his flesh and bone. I could tell that the protruding branch had not pierced his heart. Pulling it out was going to be agonizingly painful. Hopefully the pain will wake him up.

                   “Okay David.” I warned. “I’m going to pull the branch out.”

                   I placed one hand on his chest to pin him down. With the other hand I gripped the wood and yanked it out. His body jerked wildly and he screamed louder than I had ever heard before.

                   “David, it’s going to be okay.” I said while he continued screaming. “You have to drink this.” I raised my wrist to my mouth and bit down. My blood came to the surface and I held my arm over his mouth to let it drip inside.

                   Within a minute, his wounds began to heal. Shortly, his heart was strong and his breaths were full and deep. 15 minutes later he was sound asleep. I got up and went to the bathroom to grab a wash cloth. Then I went into the kitchen to get a bowl and filled it with water.

   When I went back to him, Andrea was just stepping through the door.

                   “What happened?” she stared at all the blood on the floor.

                   I sat down on the couch beside David and starting wiping away the blood.

                   “I don’t know what happened. I found him unconscious. His face was slashed and that branch impaled his shoulder.” I pointed to the wood covered in blood and gore on the floor. “He’s still healing.”

                   “Was it Antoinette? Do you think she found out?”

                   “I don’t know.”

                   “Mmm…” David moaned and was struggling to get up.

                   “Don’t try to move.” I eased him back down. “You’ve got to rest longer. You lost a lot of blood.”

   I got up from the couch and was about to grab a mop when he started mumbling.

                   “What did he say?” I asked Andrea.

   She shrugged her shoulders.

                   “I’m sorry Lee-Lee” David whispered.

   Andrea and I looked at each other.

                   “What did you say?” I asked David. I heard what he said, but I couldn’t understand why he said it.

                   “Lee-Lee, I’m sorry.” He said again.

                   My heart sank deeper into my chest. I swore I felt it thump when he said ‘Lee-Lee’. I looked at Andrea again. We both had blank faces.

                   “David?” I grabbed his face. He appeared to still be sleep. He didn’t respond. “David!” I called louder to wake him up.

                   “Arthur?” Andrea asked timidly.

   I stared at her. “What the hell are you doing?” I snapped. “Why…?”

                   “Don’t.” he whispered.

                   “David…” I called.

                   “No.” he finally opened his eyes. They weren’t the same. David’s eyes were dark brown. Now, they were hazel…just like…

   Andrea gasped when she noticed his eyes.

                   “David?” I asked again very slowly. His stare drew me in and for a moment I felt…a sense of security I hadn’t felt in years.

                   “Page 803…” he grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly. “…you have to.” He closed his eyes. His head dropped to the side and his grip on my hand loosened.

                   “He’s sleeping.” I said.

                   We were both quiet. We didn’t understand what just happened. But, at the same time, we knew exactly what we saw or…who we saw.

                   I’m not sure how much time went by, but we stayed in that room, motionless for a long time. When he woke up, his eyes were dark brown again. He looked at me with a relieved smile and adoring eyes.

                   “Man, are you a sight for sore eyes.” David said as he sat up, leaned forward and laid a soft kiss on my lips.

   He caught me way off guard. “I must not be doing my job. I thought you were scared of me.”

                   “Not anymore.” He tucked one of my curls behind my ear; caressing my lobe at the same time.

   His touch felt so good, I quickly rose to my feet. “Maybe, you shouldn’t forget whose the prey and whose the predator.”

                   “Lee-Lee, you can’t…”

                   “What is all this ‘Lee-Lee’ shit? Where the hell did you get that from?” I yelled.

5. 2 years ago 

   5

   I heard a small noise. It sounded like coughing coming from upstairs. Was Annette smoking? I heard it again. She probably was. I grabbed my camera from the desk against the window and took pictures of what I’d just read. Whatever it was, I knew it was important. I slid the camera into my pants pocket and closed the book.

                   I went down to the basement. When I turned on the light I was shocked by what I saw. It seemed like the clutter grew double the size it was when I last came down here.

                   “I am not about to look through all of this.” I said to myself.

                   I turned to head back up when something behind the stairs caught my eye. A heavy white sheet was partially draped over a painting. I pulled the sheet off and was stunned. It was a portrait of a couple. The woman was Ashley and the man looked like me but…different. It was eerie and reminiscent of my dream. I stood there, staring at the painting, when Annette called me.

                   “David?”

   I pulled myself away from the painting and went around the stairs. “Hey.”

                   “No luck?” she asked from the doorway.

                   “No. Do you realize that all of that down there is a fire hazard?”

                   “I know. I’m so lazy. I don’t want to have to lift a single finger.”

   I could tell she smoked. She would never admit to being lazy.

                   “So what time are we leaving?” We walked up the stairs and to the kitchen.

                   “Around 8:30.”

                   “Should I bring tea for later?”

                   “Tea? I’m surprised. You usually request juice.”

                   “I need to relax. Remember I didn’t sleep well?” I took a seat at the kitchen table.

                   “Oh. Sure. Tea sounds fine.” She sat down.

                   “You know I was thinking about some things a few days ago and forgot to share them with you.”

                   “Oh, yeah? What was it?”

                   “Someone asked me what were the most important days in my life and I was wondering the same about you.”

                   “All my important days were followed by deep disappointment.”

                   “Really? You don’t have any truly happy moments?”

                   “Nope.” She said and then quickly tried to back track her mistake. “Well…I had some happiness when I married you.”

                   I realized I should be careful of what I ask. She might reveal too much too soon and start to wonder why.

                   “So what important days disappointed you?”

                   “My 18^th birthday, I suppose was the first. My father married a woman, who was not my mother, on that day. He promised my mom he would marry her. We made so many plans. Everything he said was a lie.”

                   “I’m sure that was tough. How did you get over it?”

                   “I never really got over it. Though, when he died, I felt a lot better.” She suddenly stood up as if realizing she said too much and was about to leave the kitchen.

                   “Wait. Don’t leave. Sometimes, it’s okay to feel more at ease after someone’s death.” I said, trying to persuade her not to leave. “Come back and sit.” I patted the seat she rose from. “We seldom get an opportunity to just talk.”

   She turned around. “We can talk at the park. Right now let’s get ready to go.” She continued exiting the kitchen and went upstairs.

                   I ran water into the kettle and placed it on the lit burner. While waiting for it to get hot, I patted my pocket to make sure the half I had broken off the cigar, was still there. I made club sandwiches and wrapped them up. Annette bought a big bag of potato chips, cookies and paper cups and plates. I made sure to grab those and a few tea bags. Since the picnic basket was buried in chaos, I packed it all in a back pack. The tea kettle began to sing in no time. I poured the boiling hot water into a thermos and sealed it.

                   “Is everything ready?” Annette asked as she came down the stairs.

                   “Yep.” I replied and we both headed out the house. As I closed the front door I peeked at the living room table and noticed the book was gone.

   _______________________________________________________________________

                   “Wrong! Andrea, where has your memory gone?” I laughed.

                   “I’m never wrong. You must have the wrong information.”

                   “You would like to think that, wouldn’t you? But you are wrong. The answer is 6 not 5.”

                   “What?” she continued to disagree. “It’s Oklahoma in 1907…Arizona and New Mexico in 1912…and Alaska and Hawaii in 1959.”

                   “And Utah. It was admitted to the union in 1896. So that’s 6 states since we were born.” I smirked.

                   “That figures. We were only 3 years old. How was I to remember that?”

                   “You’re still wrong.” I boasted.

                   “Next question, please.” Andrea hated being wrong, especially when we quizzed each other.

                   I tried to think up another question to test her on when I heard a high pitched sound in the distance. I zeroed in on it and figured out what it was.

                   “Andrea, your house phone is ringing. Do you want me to go get it?” I stood up.

                   “No! Why run all that way? Let the machine pick it up.” She waved her hand for me to sit back down. “I forgot you could hear that far. I wouldn’t send you back down there just to answer the phone.” She laughed.

                   “It was probably important. I mean, who wants to call you?” I smiled.

                   “Ha, ha, very funny.” She laughed. “At least…” she continued talking but I heard the answering machine pick up and I zoned her out.

                   “Andy? A-Andy? Are you there?” It was Olivia. She sounded very anxious. “Please call me as soon as you get this message. Okay?” the sound the phone made when she hung it up suggested that she was very scared.

                   “Andrea! Mom Olivia just called…something’s wrong.”

   Her expression turned worrisome. “What?”

                   “I’ll be back.” I took off.

                   I ran through the thick woods; brushing against overgrown plants. I was almost to the house when all of a sudden the feeling of flames tickled my throat. I stopped and strong hunger overcame me. My eyes zoomed in on a spot of blood on a tiny blade of grass. I inhaled the sweet, fiery smell of warm pulsating blood. It was pumping fast.

                   I began to follow the scent. Like a lion, I was stalking my prey. The trail led me to a tall tree. There was no other hint as to where to go except up. The tree was thick with branches and leaves; very ideal for climbing. With effortless strength, I shook the tree. A tiny splatter of blood hit my cheek. I wiped it off with one finger and licked it up.

                   “Mmmm.” It was hot, sweet and young. Young blood was highly delectable, but it reminded me too much of Samantha. “I know you’re up there.” I walked around the base of the tree. “I won’t hurt you.”

   There was no answer. “Come on. If I truly mean you harm, I would’ve climbed the tree already. So, come down before I come up.”

   There was still no answer. “Alright then.”

   I planted my hands and feet onto the tree.

                   “No!” A young boy yelled from above.

   I got off the tree and crossed my arms.

                   “Y-You really won’t hurt me?” he asked.

   I started tapping my right foot and rolled my eyes. “I already told you the answer to that question.” My anger was very easily ignited. “I don’t like waiting. Come down before I change my mind on not hurting you.” I gritted my teeth and felt my canines starting to protrude.

   Leaves began to float down. I heard the boy making his decent. I stepped back giving him room to land.

                   “Well, hello there.” I greeted him.

   He backed into the tree with apparent fear. I analyzed him from head to toe. He looked around as if he wanted to run. When he tried, I caught his hand and pulled him back.

                   “That’s not nice.” I took a deep breath and grabbed his face. “I said hello.”

                   “Hi.” He said under his breath.

   I let go of his face and smiled. “What are you doing around here?”

                   “Nothing.” He breathed heavily.

                   “So…why did you try to run just now?”

                   “Y-You scared me.”

                   “Did I?” I smiled.

   He nodded his head yes.

                   “How?”

                   “No one ever comes around here; ex-except me.”

                   “Hmmm.” I stared at him and decided I wanted to ask him more questions. “You have to come with me.” I grabbed his arm and continued heading to the house.

                   “Why?” he refused.

                   “Because you’re trespassing.”

                   “Where are you taking me?”

                   “You’ll see.”

   The house was close. We cleared the woods and had about half a mile to go. We passed a couple of houses before he noticed exactly where we were going.

                   “Tower Bay? You’re taking me to Ms. Marone’s lighthouse?”

   I stopped in my tracks. “You know my sister?”

                   “Yeah, she teaches Art at my school.”

                   “I guess I can’t treat one of her students like any old trespasser.” We continued walking.

                   “Then let me go.”

                   “I can’t do that just yet.”

   We got to the house and I put him in a seat. I went to the answering machine and pushed the play button. I needed to hear the message again.

                   “Andy? A-Andy? Are you there? Please call me as soon as you get this message…Okay?” Olivia sounded more distraught now that I could hear her clearly. I picked up the phone and dialed her number. The phone didn’t even ring before she picked up.

                   “Andy?” Olivia answered the phone.

                   “No. It’s Ashley.” I paused for her reaction. The last time we spoke wasn’t very civil. I accused her of lying about where her daughter was. Antoinette always kept in contact with her mom. So I knew that Olivia knew something but wouldn’t say.

                   “Ashley, I swear I never knew where she was. I communicated with her once in a while; but I hadn’t seen her; not until last night. I should’ve helped you a long time ago. Now I fear it’s too late.”

                   “Mom what happened?” I was worried now. Olivia was usually very optimistic.

                   “I had her come see me. There was something I needed to tell her. It made her very upset.” She took a deep breath. “Ashley she took the book! THE book”

                   “What? When?” this was bad, very, very, bad.

                   “This morning. She ran out of here so fast…I didn’t realize…”

                   “Oh no.”

                   “There’s something else.”

                   “What is it?”

                   “Can you and Andy meet me here at 3pm?”

                   “Okay.”

   She hung up the phone. This was very serious. There were many spell books in our family. But only one that was never to be used. This particular book had been passed down from generation to generation since about 33 A.D.

                   “Look, I promise I won’t say anything and I won’t trespass again. Can I go?” the boy pleaded.

   I refocused and turned to face him. “Not yet.” I sat next to him on the couch. “What do you promise not to tell?” I asked curiously.

                   “What you are.”

                   “And what is that?”

   He shrugged his shoulders. “Not human.”

                   “What’s your name?”

                   “Patrick.”

                   “How old are you Patrick?”

                   “14.”

                   “Aren’t you a bit old to be climbing trees?”

                   “I don’t know.” He raised his right hand to wipe sweat from his face.

                   “Do you need a band aid?” I could still smell his blood.

                   “Yes.” He said hesitantly.

   I got up and went to the bathroom. Andrea always kept her first aid kit there. I grabbed a band aid and the bottle of peroxide from the box and took it to Patrick.

                   “Thank you.” He pushed the sleeve on his right arm up and applied the peroxide to his bloody elbow. “I didn’t realize I was bleeding so much.” I handed him some alcohol wipes. He used it to wipe the blood that dripped down his arm. “How did you know I needed a band aid? You can’t tell with this black t-shirt.”

   I headed to the front door. “You can go now.”

                   “Wh-That’s it? I can just leave?”

                   “With the promise you made to me earlier.” I held the door open.

   He thought about it. “I promise.” He quickly put the band aid on, pulled his sleeve down and ran off. I laughed each of the 4 times he looked back to make sure I wasn’t going after him. Now, I needed to return to Andrea.

6. 2 years ago 

   Part: 4

   We walked forward, about 40 yards, to a very steep cliff.

                   “Oh…Andrea, it’s amazing. You couldn’t have found a more beautiful place. I love it. You can see everything; all the hills surrounding the town…” I stood awe-struck.

                   “I knew you would love it here.” She sat down on the grass and I joined her.

                   “I see how that was the only way to get here. There’s no way anyone could climb that treacherous terrain; not without gear at least.”

                   “You could.” She smiled.

                   “I wouldn’t choose to, if I had another option.” I half laughed. “I really do love it. We’ve got the bayside behind us to the west, with an awesome view of the coastline going all the way North and South in the distance. This vast expanse of the valley to the east. It’s 180 degrees of perfection.”

                   “There’s another reason, besides the obvious scenery, why I snatched up this land here.” She patted the grass.

                   “Oh? What other reason is there?” I continued to watch the sun rise.

                   “In approximately 4 hours from now, we will be watching the third total eclipse to land on Friday the 13th, viewable from this stand point, in the last 50 years.”

                   “What’s the significance?”

                   “Do you remember the camping trip dad took us on when we were little?”

                   “Yeah, he took us to Mt. Lua’La. ‘The highest extinct volcano on planet Earth’ he said.” I smiled at the memory.

                   “It took us 3 days to climb to the top, powerless! Dad was so adamant on not depending on his powers. When we finally got there, we grabbed some volcanic rocks for souvenirs. Do you recall the story he told us?”

                   “Something about a safe haven…?” I started to think hard to remember his exact words. “He said… ‘In a world that changes and grows; our true age never show. Sooner or later people get suspicious. Some will admire, some will be vicious. A mountain or hill that once bled; will be a safe haven, when we have fled.  Volcanic soil bares all kinds of life. Creating bonds greater than you and I. But one more element will be needed. A cycle of moons, a pattern to precede it.’” Then it clicked in my head and I put it all together. “He was telling us how to anchor ourselves?”

                   “It’s the only way to establish a true coven’s foundation. Once the light from the suns rim shines around the moon, this hill top will glow.”

                   “Glow?” I asked.

                   “By us, simply, being here during the eclipse, the soil will absorb our life source; not taking from it. The glow should only last a moment. When it’s over, we’ll finally have permanence. This land will always hold our best interest at heart.”

                   “How did you figure all this out?”

                   “I’ve been looking since dad died. But when you disappeared in search of Antoinette 15 years ago, it became the most important thing to me. I knew that if we had had an anchored coven, a lot of what we went through wouldn’t have been an issue.”

                   “That’s all dad ever wanted; was for us to have a real home. He would be proud.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. She laid her head against mine.

                   “He wouldn’t be proud of his daughters fighting.”

                   “I’m sure being killed by one doesn’t make him proud either.”

                   “I know it won’t end well.” She looked me straight in the eye. “I love her because he’s our sister. But I curse her for all that she’s done as our sister. Dealing with her wickedness has disheartened me. The condemning spirit has been evoked in our favor. Her time has come.”

   _____________________________________________________________________

                   ‘Do you Arthur James, take Ashley Marone to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forth?” the minister asked.

   I looked to my left where she stood. Our eyes met and I was overwhelmed by the love and passion we felt for each other. Her beautiful hazel eyes, long curly eyelashes and full pillow like lips were set perfectly on her golden brown skin.

                   “I do.” I answered fighting the tears leaving my eyes.

                   “…And do you Ashley Marone, take Arthur James to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forth?”

                   My heart wanted to explode from my chest. If she rejected me, I would cease to exist. I prayed she didn’t change her mind. It felt like it took forever, waiting for her answer. I started to hear ringing in my ears. It grew louder and louder, until it was all I could hear.

                   She looked at me and mouthed “I do.”

                   The ringing was deafening. The church doors swung open forcefully, startling everyone. There was a lot of wind, but no one was there. The ringing continued again and I started to wake up.

                   Half asleep, I reached for the phone on the side of my bed. “Hello?” My voice was a tired whisper.

                   “Why can’t you answer the phone? I have been calling and calling. Were you sleeping?” Annette asked with an attitude.

                   “Obviously.” I said sarcastically.

                   “Why are you talking to me like that?”

                   “Look, I had a long night. I had a hard time sleeping and when I did fall asleep, you call. Not once, but twice and get an attitude with me because I’m sleep and didn’t answer the phone. Why couldn’t you just leave a message and be on your way?”

                   There was an awkward silence for a moment.

                   “I’m sorry that I initially had an attitude.” She said sincerely and oddly pleasant. “But you must be out of your damn mind if you want to blame me for your sleepless nights!” she hung up the phone without another word.

                   Her voice had a dark tone to it at the end. I laid there thinking that that conversation wasn’t going to make my tasks any easier. I wanted to call back and make it better before she got home. But I didn’t feel like speaking to her or her mom.

                   Something inside me different. A part of me didn’t care if Annette/Antoinette was upset. I sat up trying to remember my dream. This was weird because it didn’t feel like a dream. It felt more like…a memory. Now, more than ever, I wanted to speak with Ashley. But instead I have work to do and I need to quickly decide how to do it.

   _____________________________________________________________________

                   “Calm down Annie.” I had to repeat to myself the whole way home. There was no way I was going to let David see me upset. Besides, when I’m done with Ashley I won’t need him anymore. I won’t need anybody and then I can handle Andrea with her righteous self.

                   I pulled into my driveway and grabbed the thick spell book from the passenger seat. It was easily three times heavier than it appeared to be. I carried it to the house. When I walked inside I smelled smoke. Not just any smoke; it smelled familiar. I put the book down on the living room table and followed the scent upstairs to the bedroom. David was coughing as I walked through the door.

                   “Hi…” I went to sit by him at the bay window, where he had just put out a cigar. “…were you smoking?” I asked incredulously.

                   “Hi.”David smiled. “Smoking? No. I tried to, but it burned the hell out of my throat. I started coughing and choking. I guess 7 years will make you lungs virgin again.” He laughed.

                   “Yeah, 7 years will do that.” I looked at him suspiciously. “I never knew you used to smoke.”

                   “I guess I could say the same about you.”

                   “What?” I was confused now. How did he know that?

                   “I found this…” he picked up the cigar. “…in a book in the library downstairs.” He smiled at me. “One of your books.”

                   “Mine?” I couldn’t recall ever hiding cigars in my books. “Which book?”

                   “It was in an Encyclopedia.”        

   I thought about it for a moment. “Ashley’s?” I whispered under my breath.

                   “What did you say?”

                   “Nothing.” The books were Ashley’s. The cigar was probably in it when I took her things. “What letter did you find it in?”

                   “Letter?” he was thinking. “Ummm…W…?”

                   “You don’t sound very sure. What were you looking up?”

                   “I don’t know…I couldn’t sleep, so I just grabbed a book. Letter W was one of the shortest sections, so I just flipped through it and there it was.”

                   “Hmmm.” This was bizarre. It’s too much of a coincidence. Randomly, he chose the ‘W’ section of Ashley’s Encyclopedia’s. He couldn’t have know that, but W? W was filled with information on witchery. Was he suspicious? How could he be? I must be over-reacting. Except…Now that I think about it…when we were younger, we almost never smoked anything but Balao. I looked down at the cigar and noticed the green Vegas leaf it was wrapped in. If this is Balao weed then its mixture would prohibit lying. And he did smoke it. I should ask him something.

                   “Where were you last night?”

                   “Here.”

                   “Before you got home.”

                   “You already know I was at the gym.”

                   “Until almost midnight?” I could tell he wasn’t telling me the complete truth. That meant that it wasn’t Balao.

                   “Why do I feel like I’m being interrogated?” he asked in frustration.

                   “I’m sorry.” I wanted to change the conversation back, so I gave him a short kiss on the lips. “You’re right. It was mine. I completely forgot about it.”

                   “It would’ve been nice to smoke with you today during the eclipse.” He eyed my belly.

                   “Yeah, it would have been real nice to smoke again.” Especially today. But I can’t, at least, not in front of him. Why did I tell him I was pregnant? It’s so limiting. Oh yeah, so he would finally marry me and I could keep him close and handy. If only my spells worked on him, I wouldn’t have told such a lie. “You could still smoke, if you wanted to.”               

                   “Uh, no. I think my smoking days are long gone. As demonstrated earlier.”

   I laughed. “You amateur.”

                   “I guess I am. Do you want me to get rid of it?”

                   “No.” I said too quickly. “I, uh, want to save it for another time.”

                   “Okay.” He got up. “It’s almost 7 am. I’m going to the basement to look for the picnic basket before we leave.”

                   “Good luck!” I smiled.

                   “I know.” He laughed. “Come find me if I don’t come up after a while.” He left the room. I looked at the ash tray. It was tempting me to smoke.

   _____________________________________________________________________

                   As I made my way down to the basement, I noticed a book on top of the living room table. It was extremely thick and noticeably old, very old. I walked over to it. The cover seemed to be leather. However, it didn’t look like any leather I’ve ever seen before. There was a red ribbon sticking out from between the pages.

                   I opened the book to the page the ribbon book marked. The pages were filled with calligraphy from edge to edge. I started to read a little of it.

                   “Oh, shit.” I whispered. It was a spell book. I immediately knew that this was not meant for me to see nor read. I closed the book and backed away. She must have been distracted to have left it here. Probably distracted by the smoke.

                   It was good I lit it when I did. I put it out right in time for her to already assume I had smoked. And she questioned me. I guess Ashley was right. This book is proof that Annette is a witch. If she’s a witch, by Ashleys’explanation, then she really isn’t pregnant. Can’t say I’m not happy about that.

                   This whole situation is really out of control. How did I end up in the middle of all this supernatural bull shit? Until last night I never gave a thought into believing or disbelieving the existence of vampires and witches. This is a lot to take in. I needed to know what else to expect, so I went back to the book and opened it to the same page. I gave one last glance upstairs. I heard the bedroom door close and I proceeded to read.

   _____________________________________________________________________

                   I locked the door. I knew that David would be down stairs for a while so I had time. I picked up the cigar and held it for a moment, letting the smell fill me with nostalgia. I started to reminisce about the last time I smoked.

                   “Did you hear me? I just told you that Arthur has asked me to marry him.” Ashley said excitedly.

                   “Yes. I heard you.” I exhaled; smoke filling the air.

                   “It figures.” She rolled her eyes at me. “Can’t you be happy for me?”

                   “Now that’s not a fair question. You know I just smoked.” I put out the cigar. “But, if you must know. No, I can’t be happy for you or your Arthur. He’s just like our father; NOT a good thing. Why he’s chosen you, I can’t imagine. But, hey, maybe two nothings CAN make something.” I smiled.

                   “You know, he’s always been just like our father. But you didn’t seem to have a problem with that when you dated him. I think your just suffering from a typical case of jealously. I have so much pity for you. Daddy always said for every 5 witches there’s one born completely void of love and compassion. You must be that one.” She came closer to me. “You’ll never do better than me or have what I have as long as you’re an evil bitch.” She headed for the door. “Don’t show your face at my wedding.”

                   “I wouldn’t miss not going for the world.” I smiled.

   I started to laugh and decided ‘why not?’ I put the cigar to my lips and lit it with the lighter he left on the window seal.

7. 2 years ago 

   Part: 3

   I stepped through the door brushing my fingers across the bulge in his pants, calling my name. I could feel the heat emanating from his body and hear the blood pumping through his veins. He wanted me. We both knew it. Even after being, dismissed, he still enraged my curiosity. There was something…about him.

                   “Ugh! Whatever you were cooking smells horrible.” I covered my nose.

                   “I, uh, didn’t cook. I don’t smell anything.” He sniffed around.

                   “It’s like rotten eggs and garlic.”

                   “Sorry.” He shrugged his shoulders and closed the door.

                   Now was my opportunity. “I’ll be back.” I told him and dashed off quicker than his eyes could follow.

                   I searched everywhere on the first floor for it. Nothing. So I went upstairs. I found nothing there except an ominous looking black vial. It had a label that read: Anti’Ash. I opened the vial and… “Yep! It’s coming from this.”

   It smelled even worse from the source. “Anti’Ash? Like…anti-Ashley? This broad made some funky ass shit perfume to keep me away?” I started laughing hysterically. “Oh! I’m going to enjoy this so much more now.” I set the vial back down and continued my search.

   The last place to check was the basement. I looked and looked. There was more crap here than the rest of the house put together. I saw papers blowing in the far corner. Wondering where the air was coming from, I went to look. There was a breeze coming from behind the organ against the wall. I pushed it away. There was a man sized hole; a small tunnel. I crawled through it, ending up in a very dark room. My eyes adjusted-more than any human could. Instantly I saw what I was looking for; along with other things that belonged to me. I grabbed it, put everything back in its place and went to David-who was right where I left him.

   “Here it is. The clock I was telling you about.”

   He didn’t really look at it. “Where did you find it? You were gone only…a minute?”

   I gave him half a smile and said. “We can talk now.”

   He led the way to the kitchen and we sat at the table. “Okay. Talk.” He was anxious to be told everything he didn’t know. So I began.

                   “My name is Ashley Marone. I was born November 11, 1893. I was the last child born of Aaron Marone. His first child was Antoinette born March 11^th, 4 months later Andrea was born on July 11^th and then 4 months later, me. We all have separate mothers. Our father was a busy man as you can see. One man and six women, we all fought for his attention. But still were able to have a good relationship with each other, except Antoinette. To other’s she would appear happy, bubbly, you know a cheerful person. But under all that is…a bitch.” I laughed.

   “Anyways, so it’s my 21^st birthday and I wanted to stop by ‘mom Olivia’s’ house to give Antoinette some cake and ice cream since she didn’t come to my party. My father said he’d be happy to take me there. When we arrived he went off with Olivia. Antoinette was not happy about it at all. Her inner light grew dark. After, like 30 minutes we heard her mom yelling ‘You do this every time! Dammit Aaron! I hate this! You’re making me crazy!’ Naturally we go to the bedroom door to check and see if everything’s all right. ‘Olivia you already know how I am. Why do you expect anything else?’ Then we heard something fall, glass was breaking and there was pounding on the door. We bust in the room and see Olivia hitting our dad. He was just trying to get away, not fighting back. He used magic to stop her. An orb of power thrusted her off him and into the wall. I went to check on her. She was a little dazed so I helped her up. When we turned around Antoinette stabbed our father with a shard of glass she found on the floor and then…he died.”

   “She killed her own father?” he asked with disgust.

   “The first of many others.”

   “Others? This can’t be true.”

   “Oh, it’s very true…So our relationship at that point was well past downhill. After that day her vendetta against Andrea and I began. Of course, we defended ourselves. After 65 years of tricks, betrayals and fighting she got real creative and put a hit out on us. December 25^th 1979, I was 86 years old…”

   “86?” he interrupted. “You don’t…”

   “I know. When natural born witches hit age 10, the aging process decreases by 70%. So, when I say I was 86, physically I’m 23.”

   “Oh.” He said looking confused. “Wait! Witch? I thought you were vam…”

   “So it’s Christmas and we’re eating dinner-me, Andrea and our moms, Olivia too. It really was a wonderful day, until this man barges through our front door. It was all so fast. Andrea and I stood together fighting him. Our powers combined were much more powerful than separate. We couldn’t understand why or how he was so strong, but we held on to our shield. Then, out of nowhere Antoinette comes walking through the door, through our shield-smiling. She didn’t say a word as she came closer. She smacked Andrea in the face-breaking her focus; breaking our shield. The man moved in fast. In the same moment I realized the shield was gone, his mouth was firmly planted on my neck. I remember pain…severe pain, but only for a fraction. Then pleasure, then confusion and then darkness. When I awoke, I was this.”

   “Wow.” He looked deep in thought.

   “Andrea passed out from over exertion. Our mother’s couldn’t stand up to him. Antoinette knew it would take an immortal to bring me down. Our powers didn’t work on each other and were too strong for mere humans. So there was no fight to be fought when he took me.”

   He took a deep breath. “What happened when you awakened?”

                   “It was frightening after I woke. I had the thirst and fatigue of a thousand men wondering through the Sahara in a sandstorm. It was disorienting. I remember Paul…” thinking of him almost brought a smile to my face. “…he opened his wrist letting his blood drip into my mouth. His blood empowered me; made me feel indestructible. It was a high like you couldn’t believe. My teeth were sharp, I could see better, hear better, move better. I was stronger, faster and smarter. Throughout the entire transformation he told me he was sorry, over and over.

   I drifted off for a moment-memories running through my mind. I looked at David. Our eyes met for a moment and I sensed a different energy from him.

                   “She did that to you?” he asked sympathetically.

                   “That and many other things. Don’t feel sorry for me. I don’t want your pity. I like you and all, but don’t think for one minute that I would spare you life if you fail me. Patience was not an attribute I had in my human life, nor do I have in this one.”

   He nodded his head in understanding and straightened up his posture. I placed the clock on the table.

                   “This is the clock I told you about.”

                   “Clock?” he squinted his eyes. “I see a small wooden square with two wooden sticks on the front. How is that a clock? It has no numbers on it. It’s so small. How is a key the size of my fist going to pop out of there? Definitely an antique. It looks like a 3 year old make it.” He laughed and then looked at me.

                   “Are you done?” I scowled.

   He stopped smiling and nodded his head.

                   “I made this clock and I wasn’t 3 years old.” I faced it toward me. “This was among the many things your wife took from me 15 years ago. I’ve missed it very much.” I looked up at him. It was time for him to know some things about his wife. “You don’t seem to be very excited about have a baby. Is that something you wanted?”

                   “How would you know anything about how I show my excitement?” he asked with obvious defensiveness.

                   “I only ask because what I’m about to tell you, may or may not make you feel better about the situation.”

                   “What are you about to tell me?”

                   “Your wife can’t be pregnant.” I waited for him to respond.

   He sat there, frozen with a dazed and angry look on his face.

                   “When witches pass a certain age, we can no longer bare children. Sorry.”

                   “It’s funny. You don’t sound very sympathetic.”

                   “I’m not trying to.”

                   “Why would she lie?”

   I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe so you’d marry her. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

   Surprising, the furious look on his face sparked a warning inside of me. I ignored it and started rotating the wooden hour hand… “07:04, 11:11, 05:30 and 12:25.” I said aloud pushing the dial button after every sequence. The bottom of the clock popped open, showing a hidden compartment. I slid the opening off. My ring and my crushed Balao weed wrapped in a Vega leaf were inside.               

                   “It’s still here.” I smiled.

                   “How did that…?” he was in awe.

                   “For the past 15 years I’ve been trapped by the night-unable to bask under the sun without the demon showing; unable to watch it rise or set in public view. This ring allows me to walk in the light without burning like you.” I slid the gold band onto the ring finger of my right hand.

                   Once the ring was on, a light as bright as the sun enveloped my body, as well as the room. The light blinded David’s eyes. By the time it cleared enough for him to see, I was gone.

   _____________________________________________________________________

                   “Ashley?” I couldn’t see anything. I felt around the table. The clock was gone. “Ashley?” there was no answer. After a few seconds of stumbling around, looking for her, the light dimmed. I could see. Ashley wasn’t here. I noticed a piece of folded paper on the chair she was sitting in. I unfolded it and the cigar from her clock rolled out. The note read:

                   ‘Give her the cigar. The combination of the Balao weed and the Vega leaf form a very potent truth serum. She’ll be more than delighted to smoke it. Choose your questions wisely to get the dates. It wears off quickly. DO NOT LEAD HER TO SUSPICIONS. DON’T TELL HER THE CONTENTS OF THE CIGAR and last but most important DON’T SMOKE IT.” At the bottom was more writing. ‘P.S. She may refuse due to her ‘delicate condition’. Sprinkle half of it into a cup of hot tea. You’ll have more time to question her. But she has to consume it all at once.’

                   As soon as I was done reading it, it mysteriously caught a flame. Not even ashes were left behind. I walked to the front door. I stepped outside hoping to see Ashley. She wasn’t there. In the distance I could see the sun would be rising soon.

                   “So much for getting a good night’s sleep.” I mumbled to myself and went back inside the house.

   _____________________________________________________________________

                   “Reminds you of Arthur, doesn’t he? He is very attractive. Can’t say I blame you for…”

                   “Andrea, please. You’re really reading too much into this. He is mere food to me.” I cut her off before she could finish that ridiculous statement.

                   “Mere food?” she laughed. “Dear sister, have you forgotten? Or has it b been so long now, that you choose to not believe?”

                   “Arthur died a long time ago. Why must you bring to the surface, what I’ve tried so hard to bury?”

                   “I’m sorry. But I tend to believe what a man says in his death bed.”

                   “Andrea, he was poisoned! He was delusional…You mean to tell me, you actually believe that David is the source? How convenient that is. I find my sister… I find the source.” I said condescendingly.

                   “It actually makes sense. Arthur told you himself. ‘My love for you is never-ending. Never retreats, only extending. This body has taken its course. I’ll re-incarnate into a new source. When blood is gifted, love will unlock. From that day on your curse will stop.’ Think about it Ashley. Antoinette must have done a lot of lying, scheming and spell casting to get a sane mane to marry her. He must be very valuable to her. She couldn’t possibly love anybody as much as she loves herself. Another 100 years will never change that.

                   “Wow, you’re really bugging out on this.” I was tired of arguing. When Andrea had a point to get across, it was useless debating it. So I humored her.

                   “You know he smells the same as Arthur did.” I added just now realizing.

                   “Really?”

                   “AB- is a very rare blood type.” I said distracted by the light on the horizon.

                   “Finally got you ring back, huh?” she asked noticing my finger.

   I nodded yes. “It’s exhilarating to see daylight without third degree burns from UV rays.” I looked at my skin. “No matter how much the color in my skin protected my from the sun before, being this monster….the melanin is completely useless.”

                   “You are no monster.” Andrea said forcefully.

                   “You say that now. Think about those first few months. I could have killed…”

                   “Alright that’s enough!” she started thinking. “You didn’t have that ring earlier. How did you know you would get it on time?”

                   “I didn’t.” I stepped off her patio. “I just happened to show up at her house and she wasn’t there. So I took advantage of the opportunity. Come on. Let’s see this land of ours.”

                   “You just happened to show up?” she smirked.

                   “Yes.” I said slowly.

                   “Right, okay.” She said disbelieving.

   She led the way. We walked because Andrea said it was only accessible that way until we made a road to get there.

                   “Do you realize what day it is?” she asked me.

                   “Friday the 13^th.” I answered.

                   “Yes. But do you realize the importance?”

                   “No.”

                   “There’s going to be a total eclipse today.”

                   “Oh, yeah, I knew that. What’s so important about that?”

                   “Well…first tell me what your plans are for our sister.”

   Before I could give her an answer, I had to explain something else that I knew would upset her.

                   “The day when dad died, as a birthday gift he gave me the ivory key.” I paused to look for Andrea’s reaction. I could see she was upset when she stopped walking and faced me.

                   “What!?” her eyes watered and tightened.

                   “Father made me promise to keep it a secret. He said that it should never be used. If so, there would be serious ramifications.” I explained.

                   “You should have told me…”

                   “I wanted to tell you.”

                   “We could’ve used it to…”

                   “What don’t you understand? Any time you unlock the gate, whether it’s for good or bad, unimaginable things will happen.” I said with annoyance.

   She wiped a tear from her cheek. “All these years; all of the struggles and our losses. I wished father would’ve given it to me before he died. Now I know he didn’t even have me in mind.”

                   “I’m sorry Andrea.”

                   “I guess he chose the right person to leave it to. I would’ve used it a long time ago.” She started walking again and I followed. “Anyways, what does the key have to do with Antoinette?”

                   “Remember the first lock I made?”

                   “The clock? Yeah. You tried to hide everything in there. I remember how excited you were when it worked and how furious you were when Antoinette took it.”

                   “I hid the ivory key in the clock.”

                   “WHAT!?” Andrea was appalled and her eyes widened.

                   “Don’t worry. I got it back. Well…sort of.”

                   “What do you mean ‘sort of’?”

                   “When I hid the key I enabled a security spell on it. In the case that the wrong unlock code is entered a new one would have to be created. The new code would take 15 years, a new moon and 2 days after an eclipse to be set. The night she took it I felt her trying to break the spell.”

                   “It’s been 15 years. A new moon has come, that’s why there’s a total eclipse today.” She realized.

                   “Exactly, so I have until midnight Sunday to unlock it before she can and lock it again with a different code.” I sighed. “I can’t tell, but I don’t think she’s aware of what’s inside. Regardless, she knows it’s extremely important and WILL be waiting to unlock it.”

                   “How do you expect to get the dates from her? Your vampire hypnosis is not going to work.”

                   “I know. I gave David a Balao cigar to give to her.”

                   “Balao? I haven’t seen that kind of weed in years. I thought these young kids smoked it up.”

                   “I think they did; faster than they could grow it. I still had one inside the clock that I had forgotten about.”

                   “I thought you couldn’t open it.”

                   “I had different lock and unlock codes for different items. The security spell was only for the key.” We kept walking through the woods.

   I could see a large clearing up ahead about two more miles. “I can’t believe it boils down to me depending on him.”

                   “Maybe subconsciously you know you can trust him.” She looked at me from the corner of her eye and saw that I didn’t like her comment. “Stop playing yourself. I can see into you. You care about him more than you’re allowing yourself to see.”

                   “Andrea…”

                   “No, you need to listen.” She stopped walking again. “What’s the harm in testing my theory? Remember what Arthur said ‘When blood is gifted, love will unlock. From that day on your curse will stop.’ So, I don’t know, let love come in and lure him into willingly giving you his blood.” She continued walking.

                   “And then what? I’m human again? My curse is lifted?”

                   “Well, I don’t know about being human. Maybe one of your other setbacks is what will go away.”

                   “Set backs? That’s one way of putting it. Understated though.”

                   “Again, what’s the harm in finding out?”

                   The rest of the walk was silent. We got to the clearing in no time; and it was the most beautiful place I’d seen in a really long time. Uninhabited, untouched, pure land. A hill top overlooking the Village by miles with Tower Bay behind us. The clearing was edged with an unusual collection of trees and ferns of all kinds. The sun was over the horizon now; shedding light to the massive land we now owned.

                   “Welcome to Tree Hills Peak, little sis.”

8. 2 years ago 

   Part: 2

                   I could see my house in the distance. The lights were on. Annette was probably up in her office working. Not one idea came to mind as to how I was going to do it. All I had were questions. Eighty years? How old was she? How old is my wife? What all is Annette into? I approached my front yard. My heart was beating so hard my chest was aching. I started to hyperventilate. The keys rattled in my hand as I unlocked the door.

                   I walked in quickly realizing I was alone. It wasn’t like Annette to leave home with the lights on, especially at this time of night. The phone was flashing red. I walked over to it and noticed two messages waiting. I pushed the play button.

                   “David, honey, I got a call from my mother. She said it was urgent that I go meet with her. I’m headed there now. Call me as soon as you get this message. I love you.” She sounded very anxious.

                   “Great! She’s not even here.” I sighed in relief. Then the second message began to play.

                   “It’s me again. My cell is dying so I’m cutting it off. Call me back at my mom’s house before midnight. You know how mother detests late phone calls. But if I don’t hear from you, I should be back by 7am. Don’t forget, tomorrow is a very important day. So be ready by the time I get back. Bye.”

                   I picked up the phone and dialed Annette’s mother’s house. It was almost midnight and the phone kept ringing.

   ______________________________________________________________________

                   The phone rang just as I was letting Annie in. She was in a rush.

                   “I’m sorry mom, I have to pee really bad.” She said running to the bathroom. “Answer the phone! It’s probably David!”

   I looked at the clock as I went to pick up the phone. “Hello David. Just getting in, I presume.”

                   “H-Hello Ms.  Clarke.” He said nervously through the phone.

                   “Tell me David, do you make a habit of coming home so late?”

                   “Wh…”

                   “Is there something more exciting outside of home?” I interrupted.

   He was silent for a moment. “Um…Ms. Clarke, ma I speak with Antoinette?”

   Did I just hear him ask for Antoinette? “Who did you ask for?” There’s no way he could know.

                   “An-Annette…of course.” He said apprehensively.

                   There was something different about the way he sounded. It was more…desperate. I laid the phone down and walked to the guest bathroom where my daughter was. I knocked on the door.

                   “I’ll be right out.” She said. I leaned against the wall and waited. The door knob turned.

                   “Annie, honey…what’s going on with David? He sounds very odd.”

                   “What do you mean? Is he on the phone?”

                   “Yes.” I answered. She started to walk towards the phone in the living room. I grabbed her hand. “Wait.”

                   “What is it mom?” she asked looking confused.

                   “David doesn’t know about you past. Right?”

                   “Of course not.” She saw the perplexed look on my face. “What’s wrong?”

                   “He asked to speak with Antoinette.”

                   “Oh! Mom.” She said with disregard. “You probably just heard him wrong.” She walked over to the phone and picked up the receiver.

   ______________________________________________________________________

   I heard him breathing heavily. “David?” I called.

                   “Hey. Is everything okay?” he asked.

                   “Yeah. I think. I just got here a moment ago and haven’t had a chance to sit and talk with my mom yet.”

                   “Oh…” he took a huge inhale and exhale.

                   “Baby, what’s wrong?”

                   “Nothing. I-I just…I just need you here.” He sounded worn.

                   “I think all those late nights are wearing you down. Get some sleep. When you wake up, I’ll be there.”

                   “You’re probably right.” He yawned. “But it’ll be hard to sleep without you.”

                   “Awww. I miss you too. Do you want me to call you before I leave?”

                   “Yeah.”

                   “Okay then, I will call you. Good night.”

                   “Good night.” He hung up the phone quick. As I put the phone on the hook my mother entered the room.

                   “So was I just hearing things?” she asked in a slightly sarcastic manner.

                   “I’m not sure. He definitely sounded odd. Almost…”

                   “Desperate?” she included.

                   “Yes. Exactly that.” I agreed. “Well, anyways, what did you want to talk to me about that was so urgent?”

                   “First, let’s sit.” She had bad news written all over her face.

                   “Mom, you’re scaring me.” My heart beat began to race.

                   “Well…Honey…it’s a scary situation.” She held my hand. “It came to me tonight. This…feeling that something has begun. A cycle. I don’t know much, except that, in three days time, exactly 72 hours from now…” she paused and stared deep into my eyes. “…what happens in these next few days will drastically change this….life you’ve acquired.”

                   “What do you mean ‘drastically change’?”

                   “I don’t know…I don’t’ think it’s good.” She looked down and away.

                   “What can I do?” I stood up. “There has to be something I can do.”

                   My mom shook her head and continued looking away from me. I followed her teary gaze to a picture on the wall. It was my father’s portrait. She turned to me.

                   “Annie, you’ve done unspeakably bad things-to the innocent, the guilty, strangers and family. It’s inevitable…completely unavoidable. The time has come to reap what you sow.”

                   “How can you say that? I’ve done good things in my life.”

                   “Everything has been solely for you, no matter whom or how many get hurt.” She got up and walked toward my father’s portrait. “Your father, your sisters…me.”

                   “My father? You mean the no-good warlock who made babies up and down the countryside?

   Who lied to you, screwed around on you, told you he would marry you and instead married Andrea’s mother on my birthday! Let’s not forget when he came over with Ashley. How he tried to keep me busy while he tried to reclaim you.”               

                   “You didn’t have to kill him!”

                   “And you didn’t have to constantly let him use you! I mean, is it really so bad that he’s gone?”

                   “Sometimes…” she shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder how you came from my body.”

   I was so angry now. How could she not understand that those were good things? I got rid of people who were threats to our happiness.

                   “I’m going to bed. I need to find a spell to conjure up.”

                   “It won’t help. You’ll just make things worse.”

                   “We’ll see about that.” I left the room and headed upstairs to the library. After I grabbed the book I was looking for, I headed for the closest bed.

   ______________________________________________________________________

                   There was knocking at the door. I got up to see who it was. I opened the door. There was no one there, only the fog that slowly crept inside. I closed the door and turned to go back to bed.

                   “Hello David” she appeared right before my eyes.

                   “Ashley?”

                   “David.” She came close, caressing my arms as she pushed her breast against me. “David, I need you.” Her hands slid down to my sweat pants. She pulled them down and grabbed me with a tight grip. Her tongue flicked and licked all over. It felt so good. I rested my hand on her head. I started to moan and groan. Damn! She knew how to handle that. I opened my eyes and looked down at her. She was watching me enjoy. She pulled it out of her mouth.

                   “I’m so thirsty.” She said as she started to kiss my inner thigh. I felt a sharp pain and then the most extreme pleasure I ever felt. I saw blood start to trickle down my thigh. She looked back up at me and I could see perfectly. She was sucking blood from my thigh. I screamed horrifically and suddenly…everything changed.

                   I was lying in my bed under the covers. “Was I dreaming?” I breathed heavily and lifted the sheets and checked my legs. No blood, no punctures. “I must have been dreaming.” I said to myself.

                   There was knocking at the door. I got up to see who it was. I opened the door, but no one was there. I stepped outside to get a better look.

                   “Did you have a bad dream?” Ashley asked smiling from cheek to cheek. She was standing off the side of my porch.

                   “More like a nightmare.” I responded and she laughed as she stared at the moon.

                   “Was it a nightmare earlier tonight at the hotel?”

   I folded my arms over my chest. “No, just everything since that.”

                   “Are you afraid of me?”

                   “You killed a man right in front of me. So, yeah, that would make me afraid of you.”

                   “Does it make any difference that he was a very bad man?”

                   “No.”

   “You’re probably right. I am a ‘sucker’ for 0+ blood. He didn’t even have a chance.” She snickered.

   “How did you know he was a bad man?”

   “Intuition.”

   I shook my head in frustration and let out a huge sigh. “Look! I don’t like mind tricks and I’m tired of asking questions with half ass, bullshit answers. Give it to me straight.”

   She looked down from the moon to me. “Only if you invite me in.”

   I thought about it hard. If she was going to kill me, she would’ve done so already. I wouldn’t have to worry until midnight Sunday. So, I stepped inside, holding the door open. “Well, come in.”

9. 2 years ago 

   Part: 1

                   “I told you it would be worth it.” She said breathing heavily. Sweat from all her pores around her collar bone down to her breast glistened. Her nipples were still hard from having sex. It was great sex. Probably the best head I’ve ever had. But, honestly, was it ‘worth it’? How could I do something like this to Annette? I should’ve never let this happen. She’s just so irresistible.

                   “No.” I threw the sheets off me, got out the bed and went to the door where my clothes were. “Ashley, I can’t see you anymore.” I pulled my pants up and looked at her.

                   “Excuse me?” she had a glare so mean it made me ask myself exactly what had I gotten myself into. “You think you can just…decide it’s over?” she rose out the bed and walked towards me. “You need to really think…about what you’re saying.”

   God, I wanted her. Every muscle in my body was trying to stop what I was about to do. “I already have and I’ve made my decision.” I opened the door and headed down the hallway. I pushed the elevator button as I buttoned my shirt.

                   “David?” her voice was gentle and innocent. It took me by surprise when I turned and saw Ashley standing behind me naked.

                   “Yeah?” I tried to say dismissively.

                   “You’re not sorry now…” her eyes were dark and fierce. She smiled, showing off her perfect teeth; some of which came to an unusual point. “…but you will be later.”

                   The elevator opened. I felt a strong urge not to turn my back. She waved good bye and winked her eye, still smiling. I backed into the elevator. The door closed and I let out a huge breath of air I didn’t realize I was holding.

   _____________________________________________________________________

                   The sound of his racing heart beat faded as the elevator closed-even more as it descended from the 3^rd floor. T went back to the room. The anger inside me was clawing to the surface. My vision turned red. I stood there at the door trembling with fury. I closed my eyes and made myself calm down. I gathered my thoughts quickly deciding that tonight would be perfect for paying my sister a visit and initiating the plan now. I got dressed and leaped out the balcony window. I landed discretely beside the left passenger door of the taxi David was about to catch and got in.

                   “Tower Bay, please.” I asked the driver.

                   “That’s almost a 2 hour drive lady. You got the cash?” he turned to face me. I stared deep into his eyes and he nodded his head. I leaned back into the shadows of the back seat as David hopped in the taxi.

   _____________________________________________________________________

                   “Where to?” the driver asked.

                   “North side of the Village.” I told the driver and relaxed back into the seat looking out the window. As the buildings and people whipped by remorse and regret began to set in. Regret for betraying my wife and dismissing Ashley so rudely.  All of a sudden I felt cold and still. There was some sort of presence beside me. I turned my head and saw two glowing, reflective eyes. A silhouette sitting still. I leaned away. Instinctual fear kicked in.

                   “You need to listen and listen close because I don’t repeat myself.” She said as she let the city light hit her face.

                   “Ashley? How did you get…?”

                   “That’s not important!” she interrupted with an angry tone.

                   “The hell it is! What the fuck do you want?”

                   “Hmmm.” She smiled. “If you only knew-you wouldn’t be using such tones with me. Apologize. Now!”

                   “Fuck you! Bi…” she put her hand to my throat, cutting off my air. I couldn’t breathe. I fought against her strength, her power, but it was useless. I became light headed and my vision blurred. She came close to my face staring at my neck.

                   “It’s too easy to kill you. It would bring me little happiness.” She cocked her head to the side, put her nose to the air and took a long sniff. Whatever she smelled was pleasing to her. Then she released me. The driver was completely unaware of what just happened.

                   “Wh-What are you? What do you want?” I barely managed to say while gasping for air.

                   “Shhh…” she put her finger to her lips. “Oh! Driver?”

                   “Yes?” he answered while glancing in his rear view mirror.

                   “This may be an odd question to you. But are you O+? Your blood, I mean.” The same time she asked, she began to trace her finger against the glass that separated us from the driver.

                   “Uh…Yeah…I think so.” He looked back at her. “How did you know?” he asked surprisingly.

                   “Lucky guess.” She finished tracing the circle-more of an oval shape that took up nearly the whole plate of glass. “Do you have Creole blood?”

                   “Yeah! My grandparents back in Louisiana are Creole.” He became aware of the intersection we approached. “We’re coming up on the Village.” He noted to David.

                   “Never mind that. Just go to Tower Bay.” She said before I could respond. “I just love Louisiana pickings.” She sat back in the seat with a smile and looked at me. “Are you ready to listen?”

                   “Yes.” I whispered. My throat was sore.

                   “Great! Your wife has something of mine. What you need to do is get it from her and give it to me.”

                   “My wife? How did you know I was married? I never told you…”

                   “NO QUESTIONS!” she interrupted me. “What you’ll be looking for is a key-unlike one you’ve ever seen before. It’s about the size of your fist. It takes the form of a pyramid and is made of ivory. It lies within an antique clock made of wood. The clock is essentially a lock. It takes a 4 digit code to unlock it. Each digit is a date; just the month and day. Are you following me?”

                   “I am.” I replied.

                   “If the date is…May 28^th, then you would move the hour hand to 5 where the minute hand hits 28. After each date, press the button in the middle of the dial. When you’re done the key will be revealed to you?”

                   It was silent for a while. I was confused and it showed.

                   “Here we are…Tower Bay.” The driver announced about an hour later.

                   “Pull around to the back please.” She told the driver. He did as she asked. “Your wife knows the dates.” She continued to inform me. “You have until midnight Sunday to give me what I want. That’s 3 days and 2 hours from now.” All of a sudden she traced the circle on the window again and punched through. Glass shattered everywhere and now there was a huge opening. She went through it, grabbing the driver’s neck. Then she looked back at me, eyes black and teeth sharper than ever. “Stay there.” She pulled his neck closer and bit in. The driver didn’t scream. He resisted and quickly stopped moving. I was frozen, scared straight.

                   “Well, well, well. Who do we have her?” A woman approached my window out of nowhere. I screamed loud and long until Ashley’s hand covered my mouth. She turned around wiping blood from her face.

                   “Hello, Andrea.” Ashley greeted the woman, got out the car and hugged her.

                   “So, who’s the guy?” Andrea stared at me with hungry eyes.

                   “Ugh! Long story. Let’s talk inside.” She started to walk away and then turned around to face me. “Don’t run. I’ll find you if you do.”

                   They both laughed and disappeared. I felt paralyzed as if I were tied up. She knew I could not run.

   _____________________________________________________________________

                   “Ashley, why did you scare the young man like that? He’s practically in shock.” Andrea laughed.

                   “Andrea…that ‘young man’ is the husband of Antoinette Marone.”

                   “No! You found her?” she asked incredulously.

                   “Yeah, she goes by the name of Annette Mariner now.”

                   “Oh my. It seems that time is a boomerang named Karma.” She gave a crooked smile.

                   “Yes, and you know that I’m absolutely excited about it. Thirty years it took to find her and now I’ll finally have what is rightfully mine.”

                   “So…what is it you’re looking for here?”

                   “My  Shroomalllow.”

                   “It’s downstairs, I just moved it from the attic.”

                   “Why?” I questioned her because it was not like her to mess with my things.

   “I needed to borrow your maps and land survey to chart and mark property lines. Your menagerie was blocking me from getting them. That wasn’t a good place for it so I moved it.”

                   “You were scouting land?” I asked.

   Andrea became giddy like a little girl. “I found this piece of land nestled away in the hills. I bought it…it’s mine, well, ours!” she smiled.        

   “Ours?”

                   “Yes. Ours. Your name is on the title too. I named it ‘Tree Hills Peak’”

                   “I like.” I looked out the window to check on David-sitting still, shaking his head. The information I gave him marinated long enough. “I need to go. I have work to do. Take me there at dawn?”

                   “Sure… but how without being…?

                   “Just let me worry about that.” I left the front room and headed for the basement stairs. I turned on the light and the entire room was illuminated. Immediately I spotted the menagerie that contained my vine; still growing strong after all these years. What was once a tiny shroomallow berry seed grew into an eighteen foot vine the last I saw it. Now it was a tangled mess occupying nearly all the space within the 6 foot by 3 glass case.

                   The vine was healthy, but soon would have to be replanted. I unscrewed one side and instantly one of the vines extensions stretched through searching for something to anchor to. I quickly shut the glass, slicing off the extension.

                   “Perfect.” I had sliced the right size of the shroomallow I needed. I screwed the glass side back and went upstairs to the kitchen to grab a zip lock bag to put the vine into.

                   Andrea was talking to David when I made my way outside to the car.

                   “David was just telling me that our sister is expecting a baby.” She smiled at me.

                   “Y-Your sister?” David asked looking sickly and curious.

   I just gave him a smirk. “I didn’t know that. I would say ‘congratulations’ but…I’m not.”

   David’s eyes dropped.

                   “You’ll find out in due time.” Andrea said as she walked with me to the driver side.

                   “I’ll see you later.” I told her as I got into the car; pushing the driver’s lifeless body to the passenger side and drove off to the village.”

                   The ride there was quiet and fast-not nearly as long as it would’ve taken the taxi driver. I looked at the rear view mirror and saw David watching me from the backseat.

                   “Why are you doing this?”

                   “Oh! There’s eighty years of reasons-all too much to get into. Whatever she gets, believe it was long time deserved.”

                   “My wife is a good person.” He argued.

                   “I beg to differ. Your wife is the reason I am what I am and that only covers one day in our heated past. Is it so hard to believe your ‘good and loving’ wife is a lying ass bitch? Then, again, she probably believes you would never cheat. Huh? Your blind, open your eyes.”

                   I parked the car near Lake Murr, blocks from his home. I grabbed the driver pulling him out of the car. I carried his body 30 yards to the lake and threw him in. I jumped high in the air, landing right next to David’s window. He was startled.

                   “Get out, go home, don’t mention me, and don’t waste any time. I wouldn’t want to take my anger out on you.”

   He was getting out the car. “How did you know where I live?”

   I took off in the car, letting him disappear into the night.

MireanJ Productions Presents a Supernatural Thriller BlogOpera

Stay tuned "Tree Hills Peak" is updated every week.
Tip: When you see "______" the perspective of the story has switched to another character ;)

Visit www.mireanj.tumblr.com for more writings from the author.

Tumblr