20-38

TWENTY

‘You need to leave.’

I grabbed a hoodie from my closet and slipped it over my sleeveless T-shirt. Clark ignored my orders and slid my window open to sneak into my room.

‘Eve, you are mine. You’re supposed to be with no one but me.’ He sauntered toward me trying to trap me to a wall, but I saw what he was doing and harshly pushed on his chest with all the strength I could muster up.

‘I’m yours? I belong to no one. You don’t get to break into my home and act like you own the place or anything in this place!’

My voice began to rise as I backed him to the window with my finger pointed in his face.

What did he think I this was? A goldfish that he won at a fair?

Thunder crackled outside and it began to pour. This must be one of my strengths and weaknesses, my emotions control the region’s climate and atmosphere.

Clark grabbed my hips with one hand and my neck with the other. ‘Is it that guy? What did he tell you about me? Don’t believe anything that son a gun says.’ I could tell his anger was rising as his grip on my waist tightened and by his fast breaths.

How does he know Derrick? What could Derrick possibly know about Clark that was so bad? Well except for his ego?

‘Doesn’t matter. Just stay with me.’ He was leaning in for a kiss and I punched him in his jaw. I’d hit him so hard that it sent him stumbling backwards until his back was pressed against my windowsill.

Just as I was about to apologize, I heard low growling coming from him and when he turned toward me, my blood ran cold.

His multiple fangs were out making him look like a snake on steroids. His eyes were the colour of bright crystals and they began to glow with anger.

My knees began to shake as I began to retreat from him and my eyes grew to the size of saucers.

I almost screamed when my mom banged on my door once again.

‘Don’t make me come in there!’

Grabbing my sneakers, I quickly ran to the door but Clark pushed me up against it with my wrists behind my back.

‘Please don’t hurt me.’ I began to sob because of how close he was to me. Back there he looked like a monster and I didn’t want him anywhere near me.

He loosened his grip and turned me so he could examine my tear streaked face.

‘I could NEVER hurt you. I don’t even know what I would do if I did.’ He held my chin between his index finger and thumb with a sad and concerned look on his face. I bit the inside of my cheek as images of his horrid face flashed in my mind.

‘I need to go.’ I tried opening the door but he pushed it close again.

‘I can see that you don’t believe me and I don’t blame you,’ his voice was the softer sound that I fell in love with. ‘Meet me at Peter’s Café tomorrow after you get out of school.’

He kissed my fingers before he disappeared.

When he was out of sight, I broke down.

I had never been so scared in my life. He was someone whom I was beginning to trust and fall in love with. Tonight Clark showed his true colours.

I took a breath and wiped my face with the sleeve of my hoodie. Finally, I went outside to clean.

Even when I was throwing out trash, I couldn’t shake what Clark said.

‘What did he tell you about me? Don’t believe anything that son a Gun says.’

What did Clark do?

Mrs George had seven more weeks left on maternity leave and Mr Collins showed up everyday with a lesson to teach about the 1600s.

Don’t worry, we were still getting Trigonometry homework that Mrs George sent, but that was put on top of the history research Mr Collins gave us.

Lucy had her feet up as always as she texted away on her phone.

Bridget snuck to the back toward Lucy seeing that Mr Collins wasn’t going to start anytime soon because he was too focused on his notebook.

‘How about we go to that place that you like? Greenie’s on Jackson Street,’ Bridget bit her lip seductively and twirled her fake hair.

She always had to keep her blonde hair covered because humans can easily be enchanted by her appearance.

Mandurugo’s beauty is so strong and potent that mortals would willingly let beasts drink them dry.

‘As much as drinking vegan blood sounds, I actually have plans for tonight.’

Lucy smirked mischievously at me and looked back down at my phone.

I furrowed my brows in confusion as to why she glanced my way.

‘You’re going out with Queen of the Grass?’ Bridget crosses her arms in disbelief.

‘Something like that.’ Lucy blew a kiss her way as she stomped back to her seat with smoke coming out of her ears.

‘Since when am I gay and going out with you?’ U turned toward Lucy with a puzzled look on my face.

She finally sat down her phone and pulled her hair up into a ponytail exposing her silver piercing in her ears.

‘I just said that to get under her skin,’ she laughed evilly.

‘However, I am going on a date tonight and it’s with your sexy friend.’

‘Cassi didn’t tell me anything about going out with you, or that she was interested in girls.’ I rumbled on confused as to why my best friend wouldn’t tell me something like this. ‘And aren’t you dating Oz?’

‘Well, she doesn’t really know about the date yet. Haven’t told her. But, yes, I am still with Ozy. We’re just taking a tiny break at the moment.’

I wonder how he feels about this.

‘And news flash Eve, everyone has an interest in girls.’ She winked at me and leaned back in her seat when Mr Collins finally shut his composition book.

‘Out of curiosity, where are you planning on taking her?’

‘Oh, Clark must have not told you. It’s a double date at Peter’sland Café.’

TWENTY - ONE

I honestly did not want to see Clark after school. Every time I blinked I could see his vicious glowing eyes in my head.

What was that whole thing about him calling me his? He went from a boy my brother played toy cars with to acting like he was my father.

Maybe I was giving mixed signals? I got too comfortable with him and he made a move that he thought I was ready for.

Walking outside, I tried my best to not listen to my conscience and was welcomed with tiny drops of rain. The drizzle became a pour as I shuffled to my car. I picked the wrong day to take down my braids.

The parking lot was empty because school ended two hours ago. I hid out in the school library ignoring every call and text from Clark and Cassi.

I’m scared to see him.

I rushed into my car and my phone began buzzing again. Just as I was about to power it off all together, I noticed it was a new caller.

‘OZ?’

‘Hey, Evie.’

Hearing his voice made me release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. I couldn’t even speak.

‘Are you alright? I can tell if you’re lying because I’m looking at the heavy rain and dark clouds outside.’

His concerning tone relaxed me like it always did.

Would it be awkward if I told my brother that his best friend tried to claim me?’

‘Did Clark change? You know, when he …. Changed?’

The line was silent for a while and for a second I thought that he’d hung up.

‘Clark sacrificed his life, yes, but also his state of mind shifted.

His usual selfless banter and way of life became strange. It was like a switch would flip in his mind when something wasn’t going his way. He became impulsive and…’

He took a long pause as if considering what his next words were gonna be.

When he spoke again, it came out staticky through the phone.

‘Oz?’

I repeated myself until the line went dead. Glancing at my phone, I dialled his number to call him back.

Instinctively, I looked up at my rear view mirror and what I saw made me jump out of my skin.

In my backseat sat a figure dressed in black with a bright yellow mask with eerie intricate designs drawn on it. The mouth on the mask was wide and exposed razor sharp teeth surrounded but red paint which I could have sworn was wet and dripping. Wide eyes were coloured in black that sucked you in the longer you stared.

Before I could escape, it put a napkin over my mouth which caused my breath to slow and eyes to close.

The last thing I saw was Clark’s name popping up as he called my phone again.

I can’t believe this is the second time that I’ve been taken hostage. Am I that easy to capture?’

When my eyes opened they were met with darkness. I assumed there was something over my head and I experienced déjà vu when I couldn’t move my feet or hands.

I heard the riff of a chainsaw and my heart stopped.

The sound came so close that I could feel the air coming from the deadly weapon.

‘What do you want!’ I began to scream in panic and tried to move away from the sound of the saw since I couldn’t see it.

‘You better hold still, or Master is gonna have a head as a souvenir.’ The ghostly voice laughed darkly and someone else joined him.

Reluctantly following their orders, they cut something off my neck but the saw went deeper and sliced into my collarbone.

No sound came out of my mouth as I cried and heard the cracking of my bone.

The horrendous death machine was turned off and I continued to shake in my seat.

Who are these people? Is this some type of cult that kidnaps girls to watch them bleed?

I couldn’t put the feeling down, but I wanted someone there with me. I have been thinking about him ever since I woke up in this torture house.

My thoughts were interrupted when a monotonous and croaky voice was heard.

I felt it’s aura and the air around me and I couldn’t describe it in any other way than Demonic.

‘Did she attempt to run?’

‘No.’ The person who had the chainsaw said.

‘Then explain to me why I see half of her chest split in two?’

There was silence for a moment until I heard the screeching of my attacker. The wind in the room was blowing rapidly and his screams seemed to be getting farther as if he was falling.

They finally stopped and the air stood still as the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

The man who I guessed was the leader walked up to me and took off the veil that shielded my eyes.

The brightness of the room took me a second to adjust to but I finally saw his face.

It was covered like the others, but his mask showed contrast. It was still a cat mask, but it was dark pigmented purple that had little outlines drawn all around it.

What scared me the most was it’s dirty silver teeth.

The figure bent down in front of me and put his leather covered hand on top of mine.

‘I have to apologize for the stupidity of my servants. They can be a bit…Ruthless sometimes.’

I was too petrified to move that even when he went to wipe my blood from my chin I didn’t flinch.

‘Let me fix that for you.’ I moved back in fright as I saw him raise his hand.

‘I don’t want to hurt you, Eve.’

How the tell does he know my name?

The man moved his hand across my open wound and it stitched up in seconds. A tiny scar was all that was left.

He reached down and picked up my necklace that the men must’ve cut off. He examined it before holding it tightly in his hand.

‘You Don’t understand how long I’ve wanted to talk to you like this. Your necklace was spelled by your brother so you wouldn’t have access to who you are. It also kept you away from places of dark magic and dark beings. Like me…’

His cold glove went up to touch my burning face and I strangely welcomed it.

When I realized what I was doing, I focused on the dark eyes of his mask in hatred.

‘I’ve wanted to hold you for the longest, my love.’ He spoke in Creole as he held up my broken golden necklace in his hand.

‘Who are you?’ I snatched my face from his hand but the one on my didn’t move.

The man reached for his mask and slowly removed it from his face.

My eyes grew to the size of bowling balls when my mind registered this man’s face. It seemed like my heart was trying to jump out of my chest when those green eyes seemed to look into my soul.

‘Welcome Home, sweetheart.’ Mr Collins spoke in Creole.

TWENTY - TWO

He untied me from the chair assuming that I was no longer a threat. The only reason I wasn’t is because my drama teacher just told me that he was my biological father and I was too horrified to put up a fight. Also since I didn’t know what he was capable of.

Mr Collins went to grab my arms and I let him stand me up.

Lord, please don’t let this man kill me.

‘I want to show you something,’ He wrapped one of my arms around his.

At the snap of his fingers, we were sucked into this dark vortex that seemed to be pulling us backwards.

My curls whipped in my face and blocked my vision of the little creatures and particles that were in the whirlpool with us.

It had to be no more than ten seconds that we were in there because it came to a stop quickly. The darkness formed into a grassy meadow and the weather was so hot that my hair was sticking to my neck.

Squeals from pigs and clucking of chickens came from the wooden stables in front of us.

A one story white and grey boarded house sat next to it. Two boys emerged from the screen door chasing after each other. Giggles roared from their mouths as they climbed the blooming willow tree.

Seconds later, a third boy ran out the house which seemed to be the youngest.

‘Ready or not, here I come!’

His emerald eyes sparkled with excitement as he went scavenging for his brothers.

‘Where are we?’

Mr Collins pointed out with his hand.

‘Look around.’

‘Gotcha!’

Laughter came from the boys as they continued to play and run around the front yard covered in green grass.

‘Boys! Don’t get those costumes dirty before we make it to the church!’

A beautiful woman who shared the youngest boy’s eyes came from inside the house. Her loose black curls were pinned up on her head giving her some extra height to her already tall one.

As she walked she held her long mauve coloured dress in her hand. Her waistline was defined by the tightened material.

She glanced at the wilting flowers on her porch with a small frown on her lips.

After checking to make sure her sons weren’t looking, she whisked her finger in a circle and the lilies regained their unit and stature.

With a satisfied smile on her face, she continued toward the lawn where her boys were playing. She looked and walked right through us like we weren’t even there.

The woman began walking along the dusty road and the young boys paused what they were doing to catch up to her.

‘Darling! Wait for me!’ A man shot from the house still trying to pull his black waistcoat over his shoulders. His clock on his hip clicked as he ran toward the group.

I walked over to them while Mr Collins stood by as he watched the couple with an unwavering facial expression.

‘I thought you were staying in to tend the tobacco?’ The man pecked her lips interrupting her question.

‘Being with my children and wife is the most important thing in the world to me than watching a plant all day long.’

They shared another kiss which ended quick because a couple came from their yard hollering.

‘Your kids better stop playing in my trees if they know what’s good for ‘em.’

The man with a weird floppy hat threatened the family. The woman next to him, whom I assumed was his wife, wore a cotton blue two piece dress with a dirty white bonnet on her head.

‘Listen here, Sidney. You best not touch a hair on my boys’ heads or it’ll be the end of you.’ I didn’t realize how thick their accents were until now. The two men were chest to chest heaving angrily until the woman pulled them apart.

‘Come on, Sidney. They’re just boys! I can have them help you on your farm a bit?’ The young brothers began to protest but stopped when she gave them the side - eye. ‘They’ll be happy to.’

Sidney looked like he needed a bit more convincing than that but he accepted the piece offering.

‘They can clean the cow stables. Yer’ start tomorrow.’ He bared his many missing teeth to the kids which made them all shield their eyes; I even joined them.

Sidney walked back to his house but his wife remained. She stepped up to the mother and scrunched her face like she smelt something rotten.

‘Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing, missy. Your crops are always growing, animals never dying, hell. I’ve never seen a brown spot in your grass all these years.’ She gave her one more sceptical look before following behind her husband.

‘You won’t last too long, Grace!’ The crabby woman yelled which made the boys jump.

‘That’s Grace? Grace Sherwood?’ I said in disbelief as I my eyes went from Mr Collins to the couple.

All he did was shush me.

‘Easy, James. We have church today, remember?’ Grace gripped her husband’s elbow when she saw him try to charge toward their neighbour’s farm.

‘They do not get to treat my family any kind of way.’ James bit his lip in anger and turned toward his sons who were listening in on their conversation.

He bent down in front of them and grabbed the hands of the boys on the ends.

‘I don’t want to leave this place without saying this to you. If you boys learn anything from me it’s that you’re more than this world can handle. So you handle the world.’ He kissed all of their foreheads and held his wife’s face his hands.

‘Darling, you are my universe, my heart, and my love. I will get those sons of B….es. Even if it kills me.’

Grace shed a tear but that one drop held so many emotions.

Love. Hate. Terror. Regret.

We zoomed back through the dark vortex before I could read more into Grace and in a flash we were back in the hidden chamber.

I instantly felt dizzy and my knees locked causing me to go down. Mr Collins caught me before I hit the cement floor and picked me up.

‘It’s alright, honey.’

I was out. For the first time in forever, I didn’t see the dark figure that haunted my dreams whenever I would close my eyes.

TWENTY THREE

The scent of salt water and squawking of birds made me wake up.

I was in the softest bed that I have ever been in. The duvet was a warm yellow and reminded me of a sunflower. I couldn’t even freak out about being in a strange place because I felt like I was sleeping on a cloud.

Rustling came from a room which I assumed was a bathroom from the tiles. Out came a middle aged woman with short brown hair that came to her shoulders.

She rolled a cart full of cleaning supplies out behind her an walked to the door to exit.

Before she left I saw her drop something on her way out, but I made no moves until she was gone.

After hearing the click on the door, I flipped the duvet off and went to see the little box she dropped.

I picked it up to examine and saw a hooded figure on the front.

It’s the one from my nightmares.

Under the picture it had something written in Creole, Sherwood Fem.

Sherwood Farms? That must mean that I did see Grace Sherwood last night.

As impossible as that sounds to me, these past couple of weeks made me realize that the impossible is very much possible.

I opened the box and it held five cigarettes and a lighter. The sticks didn’t have the musky smell that Lucy’s had; however they smelt like lilies and honey.

It was so inviting that I needed a taste.

My parents would kill me if they found me smoking. I’d only smoked once in my life, and it was euphoric.

If someone hadn’t knocked on the door I would’ve taken one out.

I jumped back into the bed and hid the pack under my mattress.

‘Come in..’

Mr Collins appeared behind the door with a stack of clothes and white sandals.

I just realized that I was still in my school uniform.

Oh yeah, I did get kidnapped by my teacher yesterday.

‘Get Dressed. I want to show you around Eden.’ Instead of a shirt and tie he wore a silk white button - down and white jeans. Some of the buttons at the top of his shirt was undone and the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. His fingers seemed to have purple rings on each one; some were the size of rocks. His glasses were the only things missing.

I was still furious about him for abducting me and my mouth was glued shut.

He had a kind smile on his face as he sat the items in front of me. After shooting me a wink, he walked back out the room.

I lifted the clothes to find out that it was a purple dress. Both shoulders had knotted bows on them and the waist looked close - fitting.

Too overwhelmed to figure out how he knew my size, I shuffled my feet toward the bathroom to wash off - everything.

The dress reached my knees and was surprisingly comfortable.

Mr Collins and I were walking down red velvet carpeted stairs and at the bottom were a heard of people dressed in white and purple.

I’m guessing those are their favourite colours.

He stopped a couple of steps from the bottom and I stood beside him looking like a lost bird.

‘My people,’ his powerful voice made all the chatter go silent. ‘It is my pleasure to introduce my daughter and your Princess. Welcome home, Princess Evangeline.’

Princess? OZ and the others didn’t mention that.

The crowd of purple and white went wild after bowing their heads towards us.

Music filled my ears as we descended down the rest of the stairs.

Mr Collins went through to greet the men, women, and children who were in the sea of people.

All I could do was smile awkwardly as each person we went to threw dozens of golden chains and pearls around my neck.

Mr Collins shook hands and hugged kids while my head wouldn’t stop spinning.

In my mind I was still putting the pieces together of how he was my father.

Was I adopted? Did my mother have an affair? She must still be having one now. It would explain why she always goes out once a week and returns wearing her best dress. Does that mean he’s still seeing her.

Trumpets blared and drums were banged as he led me out of a door; and the salt water smell was stronger now.

We were on a boat. A BIG boat.

He walked us onto the wooden deck where the front of the ship was and picked up a metal bucket.

‘Why did you leave me?’ The question was buzzing on my tongue the minute he said he was my father.

Mr Collins’ smile faded and was replaced with a frown.

‘Your mother didn’t want anything to do with me. I’m sure you know this by now but she is also a beholder of powers. Like you and like me.’ He wiped the sweat from his forehead; the effect of this heat. But it was the middle of November?

‘Mind turning it down a bit?’ Realizing that I was the cause of this heat wave, I blew into the air and a cool breeze fought off the burning rays of the sun.

‘I’m still getting adjusted to being what I am.’

‘You still have a lot to learn, but it’s alright. For now I don’t have to ask how you’re feeling because I can feel it too.’ He chuckled and continued his explanation.

‘Sonya didn’t want to accept what we were an before I could even know that she was pregnant she disappeared.

However, when you were born, I felt your spirit. It was like a light was turned on in my heart and I finally realized what I had to live for. Sonya turned to God and didn’t tell you or your brother what you were capable of. I knew that I had to save you from her.’

I bit my shivering lip and tried to digest everything he just told me. My entire life, I have gone from the neglected love of a mother, to a resurrected brother, to a second father who I never knew about.

The hole in my heart grew anther inch as the lies from the past ate away at the organ that kept me alive.

I felt angry. Irritated. But most of all sad.

The drizzle began to fall from the sky and Mr Collins pulled me to his chest. My erratic heartbeat slowed and I was able to breath at a normal pace.

I felt more at home with a stranger than with the woman who gave me life.

‘I know this a lot to take in, but trust me, from here it can only get better.’ He still held me in his warm arms as I felt him kiss the top of my head. ‘I promise.’

Mr Collins pulled away from me and I almost broke down again until I saw him reach into the bucket he brought and put something slimy on my cheek,

Smacking if off in disgust, I saw the little creature land on its belly and slither away.

His laugher caused me to turn his way and do something that I didn’t remember doing.

I pushed him off the edge of the big boat.

The splash of him going into the water made the families inside come out to check what happened.

He had to be down there for almost a minute and the passengers were getting worried.

I was too.

‘Mr Collins!’ I called for him but received no answer.

I walked down the stairs of the deck to get closer to the water with fast steps.

‘Mr Collins!’ I called out again and it was so quiet that I couldn’t even hear the band anymore.

Looking into the water, I saw a figure came out madly and grabbed me. I screamed in surprise as I was emerged in the cold water.

With urgency, I popped out to see who the culprit was and of course it was him with a guilty look on his face.

“You want to play like that?’ I did something that I had been working on for a few days now. I lifted myself out of the ocean and set my foot on the surface in concentration.

Successfully, I was standing o water. Both Mr Collins and the people were looking at me in awe and amazement as they saw me defying what people can do.

With a distracted Mr Collins, I lifted him out of the water with air so high that I could see a speck of him. His scared yelps made a giggle as I took the air from under him and watched his screaming figure slap into the water.

I couldn’t stop laughing even when he came up coughing sea water out of his lungs; along with some tiny fish.

I haven’t laughed this hard since OZ and I were kids.

‘I thought Mother Nature was supposed to be nice!’ With one last final wipe from his eyes he looked at me with playful annoyance.

‘I am, just don’t test me.’ Without me paying attention, he grabbed my ankles and dragged me down back down into the water.

‘Thanks, Mr Collins for today,’ I was once again laying in my soft bed. My hair was twisted back and he gave me silk pajamas. Which were of course purple and white.

‘You probably aren’t ready to call me Dad yet, but just go with James for now.’ He gave me one last smile and exited the room.

I was so content and relaxed about how fun today was that I didn’t realize how strange it was that he said his name was James.

TWENTY - FOUR

I lost track of how many days I was on this boat since I didn’t have phone. My mind was completely elsewhere when I was hanging with the people onboard.

We’ve been playing cards and swimming in the water. Turns out Pixies don’t get tired easily. James mentioned how Pixies helped in nature and that’s all Grace Sherwood was about.

I would be lying if I said I missed home.

Well, this is home. At least that’s what James said.

Lifting up the edge of my mattress. I saw the little white box hidden under. I could already smell the calming scent of roses escaping from the compartment.

The pack only contained five magic wands which once made me experience bliss and excitement. I twirled one in between my fingers to examine it.

I felt more accepted here than I ever did at my own church. My biological father doesn’t make me feel ashamed about my lack of faith or anxiety like my mother does.

I miss Dad though. To this day I still don’t understand why he married my mother because they are polar opposites.

While she would drink, he would clean.

While she would yell; he would comfort me with a hand on my back.

Mom never knew he did, but he used to take me to a psychiatrist to help with my anxiety and dreams. He never knew about who was in the nightmares and never asked because he didn’t want to pry.

I don’t even think he knows about what me and Mom are. If he did then he would’ve know about his brother- in-law’s demonic background in sneaking in women’s dreams to seduce them. Rinny’s Dad says its all for a good cause though; the women have less stress in their day if they have a good dream.

Dad always would stop Mom form torturing OZ in dark rooms and he never knew why she did it. He would just assume that OZ didn’t do his homework or didn’t do the chores and Mom was being disciplinary.

OZ was there for me throughout half of my childhood, but I still see him as a stranger. Clark would cheer me up with sweet mangoes, but he confuses me.

He’ll lay in my lap and tell me secrets then go on to talk about another girl. Dealing with my messed up family line of witches is stressful enough.

The coolness of the lighter cooled my fingers. I swiftly flicked it and the beautiful orange and yellow flames bloomed out.

Placing the sweet venomous infused wrapped paper between my lips, I lifted the fire to the end of it to spark it to life.

The honey smoke filled my lungs and hugged them with its sickly vapour. Exhaling gave me a sense of peace and realization.

This has to be what I’ve been waiting for. For years I wasn’t able to figure out what was missing. A black hole formed when OZ left and I never found a band aid big enough to cover if from oozing out the scriptures Mom forced me to memorize.

Could it be? This poisonous but salubrious drug is what was been missing from my life?

All my life I’ve been shielded from this wonder by my parents and now I know why. This deadly two in a half piece of mojo is causing me to feel lively.

Every breath I puffed out released tension in my shoulders and stomach that I didn’t even know was there.

I laid back and took a couple of more.

My mind was finally quiet.

The voices that would usual scrutinize me about my choices in who to trust or who to love or what to believe had shut up.

I closed my eyes and imagined laying on a cloud and looking down at a verdant green forest with a Crystal lake that you could see your reflection on.

Fog danced from my nostrils as I studied the beautiful area in awe. As inhaled from the cigarette I laughed. I laughed to the point where I was holding my stomach and rolled off the cloud only to splash into the water.

I stopped right before the water and levitated above it, but continued to snort and giggle like I just heard the funniest joke ever.

I calmed down and replayed my high thoughts.

Mother Nature, healer of trees, is smoking weed.

I rolled, holding my blunt tightly, until I was on the soft grass adjacent to the lake.

‘Wow.’ I gasped as I admired the humongous trees with pretty leaves on them.

I went up to touch one only to be interrupted by a feminine voice.

‘Hey! You might not want to touch that.’ I turned to see a familiar face with the same green eyes as me and Mr Collins.

‘Grace Sherwood,’ I whispered her name in disbelief as I looked like an idiot with a cigarette hanging from the side of my mouth.

She walked up to me with her purple fitted dress trailing behind her.

She had to be just a few inches from my face when she plucked the stick out of my mouth.

‘You really shouldn’t kill your lungs, sweetie. We need that oxygen so you can blow on the plants for them to grow.’

Surprisingly she took a whiff of it. ‘I always need to have at least one.’

She crushed it in her hand only to dig a hole in the ground to bury it.

I followed behind her and squatted down to see what she was doing.

She scooped water in her hands and sprinkled it onto the covered hole.

I watched closely as she whisked her hand over it to see a pretty pink flower sprouting from the crushed cigarette. Four green leaves were out at the base of the plant like wings.

‘Our family was famous for selling the best tobacco. I see your father kept the business going and almost got the taste right. It’s all in the spirit.’

Grace wiped her hands on her skirt and rose up as I did the same.

‘How are you here? Am I that High?’ I held my face in my hands in embarrassment and giggled when my cold fingers touched my cheeks.

‘Oh, child. You’re a lightweight just like your Grandfather. I always would have to tell him to never smoke your own product.’ She shook her head and walked us to a similar house to the one James grew up in.

‘I made a replica to my old house. It brings back memories.’ She smiles to herself as she invited me in.

The floor was covered in old maple wood and the walls were dressed in navy blue paint and pictures of her three sons and husband.

‘Cup of tea?’ She peeked her head from what I assumed was the kitchen.

‘Sure, thank you.’ I nodded and she disappeared again and I looked at every frame on the tables and walls.

James’ eldest brother was taller than the oldest and James remained a head shorter than the other two.

Grace’s smile was shown in every single picture with her family and I noticed no frown lines until I saw a few pictures without her husband.

Her teeth began to show less and her eyes seemed to get sadder every picture I passed.

Grace emerged from the room with a tray of biscuit crisps, a tea kettle, and two cups and sat them on the dining room table.

‘Not to be rude, but aren’t you supposed to be dead?’

Grace smirked knowingly as she poured the steaming light brown liquid into the cups.

‘When my neighbours sued me for supposedly toying with their crops and animals, which I absolutely did, I wanted to create a world full of peace and happiness and beauty for us to go when we dies so we would all be together again. I finished right when my husband passed and the boys add any honey or sugar to her cup and that’s when I noticed she didn’t bring any out.

I took a sip from my toasty cup and my taste buds welcomed the sweet peppermint flavoured liquid.

‘How could they leave you? Clearly you were a wanted target to the town.’

‘It was better for them to get out of here to live their lives. I wanted them to experience what life could’ve without people watching your every move to see if you would turn them into frogs.’ She pulled out a photo album from the desk behind her.

‘When I died, I automatically came here because it was done and I was my thirty year old self again.’ She showed me a picture of her at her wedding in a gorgeous puffy white gown.

‘Did you ever find out where your two other sons are. John and Richard?’ I curiously asked as her smile faltered a bit and an uneasy look crossed her face.

‘They both died over three hundred years ago.’ She closed the book and dismissively put it away.

‘That doesn’t make sense. Why aren’t they here?’ I asked not letting it down.

I jumped when she slammed the drawer close. She inhaled and made her way back to the table when she calmed down.

‘I don’t know how they died or where. They only reason why they aren’t here is because they have unfinished business.’

It makes sense. You have to get everything off your plate in order to be in a peaceful place. But they haven’t found peace in all these years?

‘Do you know how they passed on?’

‘No, but a mother always has her superstitions. Our family’s magic passes on every other generation and when I found out that James had it surprised me a lot. However, my other boys didn’t have it.’

Grace drank the last of her tea and her eyes were clouded with darkness.

‘I may not know how John or Richard died, but I know for sure that they murdered James.’

TWENTY - FIVE

I woke up with a blithering headache and a burnt out cigarette next to my head.

How long have I stayed up?

The sun wasn’t shining through my window so I assumed it still had to be early in the morning.

Sitting up groggily with the distinct taste of grilled honey on my tongue made a sharp pain shoot through my arm.

Golden writing was printed on my triceps and it felt like it was on fire. My face scrunched up in pain when I saw that the writing was moving on its own as it was written across my skin.

As the words connected I could piece together what it said.

‘Did ‘IT’ take you?’

Could this be OZ? Rinny? I couldn’t have been gone for that long.

‘Light your skin up and write with your finger.’

The message disappeared in seconds and another came almost making me scream from my skin boiling.

Light my skin up?

My eyes landed on the tiny lighter I used last night. I wrapped my hand around its base and held it to my forearm.

Whoever this is must be wondering if I was still alive or not; and if I have to burn my skin in order to communicate with them so be it.

It can’t hurt that much, right?

After taking the longest deep breath, I flicked the lighter and held it to my unscarred skin.

Immediately I cried out in agony as my already dark skin was getting darker and began to melt like an icicle on a hot day.

When I saw that it was heated up enough I put down the flame and began to write on the liquefied flesh.

‘No, who is this?’

Not long after did I get a ‘Text’ back.

‘Cassi. The Order and your dad have been worried about you.’

The more words she words she wrote the more excruciating it was.

I noticed she didn’t say anything about Mom being upset about me being gone; however, I didn’t let it bother me so much.

‘I’m fine.’

I kept my reply short because I didn’t want to light my skin on fire again. I have no clue how it healed so fast.

This must be one of Cassi’s powers. Since she can do onto others what she has done to herself ‘Body Text messages’ are definitely not impossible.

The moment I thought she was done and I could stop torturing my poor skin another long line of words burned across my arm.

‘Wherever you are, you need to get here. Now. Since you left two weeks ago, the Order’s power has been weakening.’

Two weeks ago? It had to be only three days that I’ve been here. It has to be.

But that doesn’t explain why the Order’s power was weakening. I know there’s a source that keeps their magic pure and them alive because Clark mentioned that someone was going after it. The dark figure that was in my dreams releasing ghost dogs or stabbing me or asking me to join him.

‘Join us, Darling. We can rule together,’ I remembered it creepily saying specifically.

OZ didn’t have a clue who this being or spirit could be. He was blindly training everyone got what was to come because he didn’t want their legs cut off from under them.

The least that I could do is help them find out who I keep getting visited by in my nightmares.

All this thinking make me want to light another one of those relaxing honey sticks, but I lit my damaged skin instead.

‘I’ll find out who’s doing this.’

Of course Cassi has to write one more thing that made me want to rip my skin off.

‘Be careful. Get back here soon.’

The easiest thing to do is to make a list of any possible people who might have a motive against the Order.

Mom….

Her name was the only one that I could get to before my door creaked open and in popped James.

‘Good Morning, Eve. You want to go for a walk this morning?’

I hid my cigarette under my hand so he wouldn’t find out that I was smoking all night.

Who am I kidding? He can most likely smell it.

‘Sounds good. I’ll be out in a minute.’ He gave me one of his warm smiles, but it didn’t meet his eyes. His green eyes were a bit darker than they were before and he seemed to almost glow.

Once I heard the door close, I hopped up to take a shower to wash off my adventure with Grace Sherwood and the sweet smell of her family’s amazing. Tobacco.

‘In Class, you told us that the Sherwood brothers murdered their youngest. Did you escape before it happened?’

I was holding James and I above the water as we walked across the surface like it was the sidewalk.

‘No, they killed me.’

His voice went quiet for a minute before turning toward me with a stoic facial expression.

‘I felt every single flame bite at my skin. Do you know how it feels to scream and nothing comes out? My brothers stood there, unmoving, unemotional, and watched me turn into a pile of ashes.’

‘When the fire died down to smoke, they took my body down. At that time it had just became illegal to burn people if you weren’t the court in Peterland.

They threw my bones, or what was left of them, into the nearest river and never turned back.’

He bent down to scoop some water into his hand and angrily slammed his fist against it.

James came up laughing like a sadist as a dark expression crossed his features.

‘They thought they could kill me. In my human and non sinful skin, I wasn’t able to take their lungs from their stomachs and watch them as they cried for one more puff of air like drug addicts.’

He placed his hands on either of my tense shoulders and his eyes were filled with hatred, but also he looked satisfied.

‘I had to be reborn to live up to my full potential. I was the only one of my mother’s children to possess the power she was blessed with. My resurrection was much of a surprise to me as it was to my brothers’ fearful eyes as I took their last breath.’

My mouth felt like it was wired shut and my feet were glued to the water’s surface. I tried my best to not give off any expressions as he explained everything, but I just couldn’t believe it.

Grace Sherwood gave birth to these vengeful men who would rather show their dominance and power than be family.

‘I promised them on their death bed that I will have a tribe that will punish people who shame us and our gifts. And I never break my promises.’

His grabbed my hands and looked me in my eyes with the most serious expression that I’ve ever seen painted on his face.

‘Join me, Darling. We can rule together.’

Where have I heard that from?

TWENTY - SIX

I didn’t question him on how time moves so slow here or that I was planning on snooping around his office.

My feet led me here after his confession and made me wonder what else he was hiding.

A nickel of my heart hoped that he wasn’t the monster always lurking in her head. For once in my life I didn’t have to worry about what others perceived me as or when my next anxiety attack was going to show up a my door.

James made me feel safe and I can tell that he genuinely cares about the people around here.

Moving around folders and frantically throwing open drawers made me feel uneasy of what I might find. With every locked cabinet I came pass, and there were a lot in there, the more uneasy I felt which made me want to stop looking.

This might sound crazy, even for me, but I’d rather live in oblivion than discover that he has a dark secret like everyone else in my life.

The moment I was about to give up, I accidentally knocked over something.

I bent down to examine it to find out that it’s the dark black composition book James carried around everywhere at school. Come to think of it, he only wrote in it while we were at St. Anne’s

Opening it slowly made my nerves go haywire on what could be in these compiled sheets of paper.

I must’ve been paranoid because it felt like the book was vibrating in my hands like an electric toothbrush.

The first page was covered in multiple symbols and scribbles of Creole were written around the entire paper. They were all numbered.

1. If an owl lays an egg, destruction and death is commencing.

2. If you make a face in any reflective surface when lightening strikes, your face

Will remain that way for eternity.

3. If your ears are itching, someone is planning to smite thee.

For almost five pages, front and back, they were filled with these quotes and different superstitions that you only see in scary stories.

The numbers went up to thirty different fallacies and the book continued on, but there were spells written that I could barely decipher.

‘Limye syel la, lannwit nwa.’

Light sky, Dark night?

I noticed that at the very last couple of pages there were long passages written and it looked like it belonged in a diary.

At the very bottom of each was a name with the initials of Grace Sherwood.

This has to be Grace’s old ‘Cookbook’ which she told me about in my high haze.

I looked over the long sentences and realized that it was hers.

March 1706

The crops are flourishing beautifully and sales are going almost perfect. Diction #88 showed no sign of bad consequence except good. I finally feel in control of my mind, body and spirit.

If I just keep my thoughts on the good, I can remain in dominance of my power. They boys are growing into beautiful young men and are developing your features as the days go by. My universe, my heart, my Love, I miss you.

G.S

She wrote down every little detail of her magic so she could remember what spell was good and which spell wasn’t. Especially when she was sued for ‘Hexing’ her neighbours’ cattle she didn’t want to do anything that would cost her the trial. However, it did cost her family.

April 1706

You would think it’s impossible to get in so much trouble in only one month. Well, I’m your proof. I screwed up. I didn’t mean to cause this much harm. Diction #88 was going so well that I wanted to lend the rest of the community a hand; which became Diction #92. This experiment of Diction #92 seemed almost brilliant and would heal the land that we worked so hard on.

While testing it out, the more energy I was lifting out of the earth the more…alive I felt. I have never experienced anything close to that feeling, Cheri. Yet, I was so consumed in my greed that I wasn’t in control anymore.

Before I knew it, I took the life of a child before it was born. The court tested me and put me through trial to prove that I did do it, but they found no evidence.

The boys aren’t safe now that everyone believes that I murdered that child. I have to send them some place safe where the Order can veil them from the evil in me and the rumours in this town.

I can’t explain the guilt I feel for taking that child’s life, but if I said absorbing its soul wasn’t the most exhilarating consumption I wouldn’t be telling you the truth.

In the world that I made after death, it will be a place where we can live in peace without the temptations of our flesh. I just wished that you were there.

My universe, my heart, my love; I Miss you.

G.S

I thought she was only put on trial for hexing a neighbours’ cattle and crops; not for killing a baby.

Every prompt she wrote was like she was writing to her husband. What happen to him?

If she sent her sons to Peterland, Louisville so they could be protected by the Order then James being the dark figure in my head, possibly couldn’t be true.

Although, why did he mention something about ruling together?

The door jiggled and I went into panic mode. I stuffed the book at the top of my dress and jumped out the window of his office only to slap on the surface of the ocean.

I was definitely going to have a couple of bruises.

I stayed on my belly to stay hidden as I crawled around the boat to get to my bedroom window.

When I finally made it, I climbed through and closed it with an exhausted huff.

My bed was made and a new set of purple clothes were sitting on the counter with some white sneakers. The maid must’ve passed through that I saw on my first day.

She must’ve realized that she dropped her first pack of cigarettes which she never got back because there was a full new pack of Sherwood Farms on top the clothes. It came with anew lighter also.

I just needed to wash these past months of surprises off because if another lie comes uncovered I’m convinced I might lose whatever’s left in my mind.

After popping one of the honey - flowered sticks in my mouth and lighting it, I trudged to the bathroom while throwing off whatever clothes I had on.

I flipped the shower on and took a few more takes at my cigarette before throwing it in the toilet and flushing it.

The hallucinations were my favourite thing about smoking this amazing vapour. They made me feel like I was walking on air, but most importantly I didn’t have to think. I finally wasn’t in control.

As I stepped under the relaxing and warm sprays of the shower, the fog blocked my vision and my eyes closed from the tension leaving my eyes and brain.

I felt a tug at my hair which made me want to turn around to see who it was. A hand was gently held to my neck to keep me from moving another inch.

The delicious smell of mangoes and nicotine encompassed around me like a blanket I never wanted to leave. My nerves were calmed but my senses were heightened when he lifted my curls from my neck to twists into a bun.

He grabbed my hips and turned me so I was facing him. He place his forehead against mine and I drowned in his silver eyes.

‘Am I seeing things because of the weed?’

I whimpered as his fingertips danced along my stomach.

‘I’m here because you want me to be here.’ Derrick’s deep raspy voice sent chills down my spine as beads of water slid down his delectable lips.

He continued to twirl a loose curl around his finger as he gazed into my blissful eyes.

‘Ou se konsa ekskiz; li nan syel la.’

‘You’re so exquisite; it’s heavinly.’

My breath hitched when he placed a soft kiss on the soft spot on my neck.

‘Don’t be greedy, Derrick. Let me taste my angel too.’

Clark’s gorgeous eyes were outlined with the black eyeliner he always used before shows. He looked like a god who didn’t belong on this planet.

‘What are you doing here?’

Derrick moves to the side as Clark’s hand found my throat and he pinned me to the cold tile of the bathroom so I could meet his face.

‘You were thinking of both of us.’

My shoulder began to hurt like someone had punched it and I heard knocking.

‘Eve! Master has a gift for you!’ I woke up on the wooden floor of my bedroom with a cigarette in between my fingers.

‘I’ll be out soon.’ I groaned and rolled onto my back.

I lifted the cigarette above my head and furrowed my brows.

Damn these things are strong.

TWENTY - SEVEN

‘I don’t know how I feel about surprises.’

James had his hands over my eyes as I tried to peek through them.

‘I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one.’ He led me down what felt like stairs and a clean waxy smell flew through my nose.

My bare feet met cool a floor as we reached the bottom of the steps.

‘I figured you missed doing this.’ His hands fell from my anxious eyes and what I saw made a smile take over my face.

We were in a room with the walls as mirrors. In the center of the space was a gorgeous black grand piano. The shininess made me not want to touch its reflective surface.

The keys sparkled in elegance as I moved closer to it with wanting fingers.

‘Shit.’ Realizing that I just cursed in front of him made me give him an apologetic look. Even after all of this I still see him as my drama teacher who was obsessed with history.

I couldn’t find any other words to say other than the swear, but he just laughed when I freaked from saying it.

‘It’s amazing,’ I sat on the piano bench and surprisingly it didn’t squeak.

‘I haven’t seen you play since your project for class. You loved whenever I gave a music assignment.’

I didn’t notice that he sat next to me since I was too busy admiring the glamorous instrument. My index finger went to press one of the keys and no sound came from it.

I tried hitting a different one, but it was the same.

James smirked at my confused expression.

‘This is not your normal kind of string instrument. In order for us to hear the beautiful songs of this piano, we have to make the most sacred sacrifice.’

‘Sacred sacrifice?’ I glanced at him sceptically.

He waved his hand in the air and a tied up man dressed in his pajamas appeared on the floor. His cries made me want to get up an help him escape this place.

‘Who is he?’

‘That shouldn’t be the question. This man has made up his version of the Bible and his version of God. He’s mostly likely convinced his entire congregation that he is God. You should be asking? ‘Why is he still alive?’

James rose up and prowled toward the man like a Hungry Lion seeking out its prey.

My hands began to shake in either fear or perhaps anticipation when a knife popped up in his hand and he forcefully propped the man against one of the wall mirrors.

‘Sinners experience the most pleasure when it comes to living. Their blood makes the perfect fuel for the mesmerizing music that erupts from that piano.’

Screams and cries erupted from the pastor as James nonchalantly sliced off his ear.

I flinched when I saw the blood because it reminded me of when Cassi had her throat cut in half.

Strangely, the blood travelled toward the mirror and it was absorbed into the reflective wall like a vacuum,

‘The mirrors only give the supernatural being who gave the sacrifice the blessing of playing. These mirrors have eyes too.’ He joked and sat at the piano to play a familiar tune that he would play before class started.

River Flows in You by Yirma sang from the piano like he said it would.

He was right, this was mesmerizing. Every key he hit tempted me to inch closer to the earless weeping man on the floor.

Do it, You know you want to.

I paused on account of my conscience and stood in front of the grand instrument to watch him play.

Something cool and steel touched my palm, and when I looked down I noticed a pocket knife was in my hand.

You love music more than anything in this world. This simple price is just that, Simple….

I gave a longing stare toward the man who had pleading tear filled eyes.

What about his family? What if he has a child on the way? I don’t know if I can take a child’s father away like mine was.

You found his again. He’s a few feet away from you surprising you how a father should. Gifting you with something that you love. The least you can do is show him you appreciate it.

I don’t know if I can do it.

‘I can hear your thoughts over the chords. What’s wrong?’ James got up to hold my trembling hands that held the pocket knife.

He blew out a breath and tightened my hand around the weapon.

‘People like him do the most unspeakable things known to man and woman. The best we can do is give their grimy lives purpose. Their death blesses the ears of whom ever lays hands on that instrument. Don’t think of it as death because it’s better than that.’

He walked me over to the squirming pastor who was now screaming at the top of his lungs.

‘It’s their baptism and reincarnation.’

See, you’re not sinning.

‘I’m not sinning?’ It came out more like a question than a declaration.

‘No, Honey. You’re simply helping these poor, filthy bastards.’

I strolled over to the man and held his head up by his hair in front of the mirror. His neck was fully exposed as I put the knife against it.

All thoughts of what my parents believed or what I believed vanished in these five seconds.

‘And thou shall see God.’

Before I could talk myself out of it I cut him from ear to ear. Red splattered over the clean mirror, but in seconds it disappeared.

The next breath I took was exhilarating and my heart began to pump in excitement. However, I couldn’t move.

Blood cover my feet and fingers and something was coming up.

Dropping the dead man, I ran to a corner and hurled my guts out.

James’ hand was quickly on my back in comfort. ‘Play what you feel.’

He handed me a tissue to wipe my face and I walked over to the beautiful tool.

Taking a minute to catch my breath, I decided on what I wanted to play.

Comptine D’un Autre Ete Yann Tiersen.

It was the first piece Dad taught me how to play when he realized I liked music. I had to be at least nine at the time, but he continued to show me how to hit every twisted note.

As I finished, I felt like I had just taken a hot and relaxing shower. My breath was strong and adrenaline pumped though my veins. My fingers urged me to play another.

James’ applause filled the silence and he strolled over to me with two items in his hands.

‘Magnificent.’ He sat a box of Sherwood Fem cigarettes and a lighter on the hood of the piano.

I was ready to explain myself, but he stopped me.

‘This is another gift from me. I know you’ve been smoking these and visiting Grace. I told her that you would play her something.’

He kissed my forehead and proceeded out of the room. ‘Every sacrifice lets you play three songs.’

‘Thanks, Dad.’ I called out to him before he left.

‘Anytime, honey.’

When I went to search for the dead man’s body I couldn’t find any trace of him.

Ignoring my thoughts of just murdering someone, I lit one of the magical cigarettes up with the song I was going to play for Grace.

TWENTY - EIGHT

Grace made tea as I began to play SOS by Avicii. I chose that song because it wasn’t too slow and also she didn’t have a clue who Avicii was.

The piano was seated facing the Crystal waters of the dream world. As the wind blew I could feel mists of water cool my warm cheeks.

My cigarette was hanging from my lips as Grace came back with a tray of cookies, our tea, and what appeared to be some type of pie.

As the song came to an end, I felt the stick lift from my mouth and I couldn’t taste its sweetness anymore.

‘I might have to come up with something else to get you here.’ She inhaled the smoke of the cigarette and proceeded to crush it in her hand like last time. She dug a hole next to the one she did before, buried and watered it, and she blew over it to cause another pink flower to sprout up.

‘Why do they always come up pink?’ I got up to grab our teas from the tray.

‘Why not?’ She questioned back with a small smile on her face as she stood up to admire the plant.

‘Pink represents peace and harmony. Also sweet, spice, and everything nice…..’

I handed her a cup and we both sat on the stool of the piano.

‘I made this world for only blood carrying creatures to enter. I’m curious. How’d you manage to get this piano in my alternative world?’

She swivelled her cup as she asked me with pinched brows.

The Pastor’s horrified face and dripping neck crossed my mind.

‘James spelled it so whenever I smoked and was by the piano I would be able to bring this here.’

I didn’t lie.

‘As long as you didn’t have to kill someone.’ She laughed sarcastically and I ignorantly joined her.

Yeah. You’re going to hell.

‘We were always a peaceful people, my family. Never bothered a fly. Those people got to my husband. He was my world, and when he died I didn’t know if I could survive without him pecking my nose at night.’

‘What happen to him?’ I knew it had to be a sensitive subject, but I wanted to know. James didn’t talk about him or his death in class. ‘Sorry if I’m being intrusive.’

‘Not at all, sweetie,’ She sniffed and played with her dress in stress. ‘Our neighbour, Sidney, got under his skin even though it was the first time.

James was alright when people talked about him, but when it came to me and the boys he just lost it. One night, I felt his lips touch my nose one last time before he snuck away to the neighbours’ home. Next thing I knew, a gun shot rang through the quiet of the darkness and it felt like my soul died that night. He was shot dead and the police did nothing because I was a convicted felon. They didn’t care. The boys lost a father, and I lost my world.’

I sat uncomfortably because I didn’t know how to comfort her. The best I did was saying nothing.

‘Do you miss your family? The ones you grew up with?’ She broke the silence and sipped her tea.

I was a bit overwhelmed by her question because I hadn’t even thought about my family since I first began smoking.

Thinking about them was one of the main reasons why I did it.

Lighting that cigarette made me feel safe and my head was quiet.

However, in those five seconds my answer was completely different than what I was going for.

‘Yeah. My Dad would teach me a new song to play every second Sunday of the month. They were never songs; they were always poems that we would play to while we read them.’ I smiled at the past memory and it slowly faded when I realized something.

‘I miss my Mom too.’ It came out so fast that it took me a second to realize that I even said it.

I couldn’t come up with a logical reason for saying it and racked my brain to figure out why I had said that.

Grace took the silence and decided to change the subject while offering me pie.

‘You’ve been on the boat for a while now?

See any dashing fellas?’

She sounded like a mom trying to get gossip out of their teenager which I found comforting seeing as my mom didn’t do that.

I grinned and took a bite of the pie realizing that it was made of strawberries. My eyes rolled back as I hummed in content front the delicious pastry.

‘I’m sorry, what was the question?’ I asked embarrassingly.

Grace chuckled and picked up a cookie.

‘James, your Dad, loved my strawberry pie too, sweetie. I was asking if you’ve seen anyone special.’

Sitting down the tasty pastry, I turned toward the keys of the piano and played around with them in thought.

‘There is a guy.’ I said nervously.

‘Yes?’ Grace stared at me awaiting my answer.

‘And there is another guy.’

‘Wait, really?’ She excitingly turned toward me with a huge grin on her face. ‘Have I seen them in your dreams?’

I looked at her confused as to what she was talking about.

‘What do you mean?’

She sat down her tea and recollected her words. ‘I can see what happens out there in the living’s dreams.

Since I am in another dimension, it’s easier to hop into another that Sandman is controlling.’

Does that mean she knows about the dark shadow that has haunted me since I was little? Maybe she can help me figure out who it is.

‘Oh, alright. I’m not going to say that you’ve seen them in my dreams, but I am going to say that they are the men of some females’ dreams.’

‘Go on, tell me about them.’ She took another cookie and watched me intently.

‘Well, one of them is Clark. He’s a hybrid; half V--pire, half wolf. Not bad to look at. Showered in tattoos. He can be sweet at times, but he has a temper.’

Grace nodded her head in understanding and encouraged me to continue.

The other one is Derrick. Most intense and sexy grey eyes that I’ve ever seen. I thought he was a creep at first, but turns out he’s easy to talk to. The one time we did talk I realized how similar we were. That’s with Clark also. I feel like we all share the same pain of feeling alone.’

I fiddled with the keys more until Grace picked up my hands to grip them tightly.

‘You know when one is the one when you feel like your universe will crumble if you never get to kiss them on the nose again.’

TWENTY - NINE

‘You’re letting me go?’

James sat in front of me with a sad expression, but he kept a smile.

‘These past weeks with you have been the best of my immortal life. Letting you stay any longer would be selfish and it doesn’t benefit you. I want nothing more than for you to live your life to the fullest and to have a better future than I did.’

He pulled a purple velvet box from his pants pocket and stared down at it.

‘Why Can’t I live my life here with you?’

I wasn’t thinking about anyone back home because I’d unconsciously made this place my home.

My anxiety hasn’t spiked and instead it was taken over by happiness and laughter.

‘Darling, as much as I’d love for you to stay to lead our people, at the end of the day we both know that is not for the best. Especially since you’re graduating in two short years.’

He handed me the little box and opted me to open it. Lifting the top, the inside revealed a rustic gold rimmed ring. Its shiny chain was inviting me to slip it around my throat to wear.

James did the task of taking it out and fastening it around my neck. Right as it touched my chest the light weight piece felt heavy like I was carrying a couch chair.

‘I felt guilty for destroying your other one. Hopefully this will make up for it. It belonged to my father. This is a ring from a very rare powerful individual who loved running into trees.’

I laughed along with him as I played with the jewellery.

‘This is beautiful.’

I hugged him in thanks and even pulled back I couldn’t help but still feel a bit sad that he was telling me to leave.

He must’ve caught the sad expression on my face and tried to lighten the moment.

‘I heard from a little kitty that your boy Clark is performing tonight. Thought you might want to be there.’

My eye twitched at the mention of his name and an uncomfortable chill went down my spine.

Clark’s keen canines and dark eyes flashed through my brain. Just when I was beginning to think I’d gotten over my anxiety and uneasy feelings.

James’ hand covered mine and his eyes hardened then went back to concerning.

‘Whatever he has done to you I hope he realizes that bones break easily around me,’ he spoke with a smile. ‘If not for him, then go for Cassi. I can tell that you love that girl.’

I glanced at him exasperatedly, but on the inside I knew he was right. Cassi and I haven’t talked since she sent me those body text messages about the Order losing their power. I still have no clue of how or why that is happening to them. Like the tangible Presence of the Holy Spirit.

‘I have to stay here to protect our people. Same reason why you need to go back home to protect yours.

I furrowed my brows in confusion as to how he knew that the Order was in trouble.

James must’ve read my face because her had an answer.

‘Once upon a time a while ago my people and your people were under the same umbrella. You remember how I said the pixies were helpers to individuals like you and Grace? Well they used to be like that to all people of the Order. The saying was, ‘Nou mouri sou te a, nou vin sou te a,’ Meaning, ‘We die on earth, we become your earth.’

I bit my nail in concentration trying to put together the pieces.

‘There was a big war between the pixies and the other creatures, and it ended with their separation. The creatures were trying to go against their nature and mix potions to become immortal to live forever. If you do that you can’t return to the earth and that is what we all are made to do except for the pixies.

They can’t die because they are not good enough for heaven or not bad enough for hell. Since they realized they would be stuck on earth forever they decided to make sure other’s who died were plentiful to the place that would be their home for eternity.’

‘That’s helpful.’ I spoke up still trying to process this new information.

‘I agreed to come here to Eden with the pixies because they were more of my family than the entire Order. They were there for me in my childhood, and even helped my Mom build her peaceful little world. My Dad, your grandfather, always taught me family first.’

I sat up and came to a realization of something.

‘So by immortals you mean V----pires, manduragos, or even Zees.

‘Yes.’

‘Aren’t you and I immortal?’

‘Yes, but we’re their leaders. Grace was once their Queen and Supreme and then she left the earth. It was then passed down to you and I to make sure the pixies are safe. We provide for the earth, the other immortals just infect it.’

This must be why Lucy and James didn’t meet on good terms.

‘Can I ask you one more favour before you ship me off?’ I asked as he was about to get up.

He gave me a soft smile before sitting back down on the bed…

‘Yes, Darling.’

‘How do you go back in time?’

He laughed boisterously and held my hand.

‘I’m definitely going to miss you.’

He kissed my forehead before shipping me off.

‘Happy birthday, Darling.’

I woke up in my actual bed and saw TV show posters all on my walls.

‘Eve! This kitchen isn’t going to clean itself!’

Yep, I’m back.

James told me before I left that he casted a spell that made everyone not notice that I was gone. I guess it worked.

A knock sounded at my door and Dad’s head popped in.

I got up quickly and ran to him to engulf him in a tight hug.

‘Woah, honey. I didn’t realize Cheetos could make you this happy.’ I pulled back and noticed he was holding a bowl of the cheese covered puffs. I couldn’t help but go in for another hug.

Although he was still confused he returned it.

‘I missed you.’ I whispered low so he couldn’t hear it.

‘Thanks, Dad.’ I grabbed the bowl from his hands and sat it on my bed.

‘No problem, sweetie.’ He walked out and I was behind him prepared to clean the kitchen and see Mom which wasn’t very exciting.

The doorbell rang so I ran down the stairs to open it. Cassi was standing there with a duffle bag and her ear buds slung over her neck.

‘You ready for this concert to ---’

I picked Cassi up and spun her around in happiness. I even kissed her on the cheek because I was so excited to see her.

‘As much as I love the Welcome, did you get bitten by poisonous spider?’ She asked sceptically as she proceeded to come in and walked up the stairs.

‘Nope.’ I told her that’d I would be upstairs in a minute since I had to clean the kitchen.

I heard the clanging of plates and utensils and followed the sound. Mom was placing a bowl in the cabinet and she turned off the sink.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little happy to see her.

‘MOM’

She turned around and what I saw made me want a cigarette.

Her curly hair was in a low bun and she dried her hands on the cardigan she was wearing. Her fingers skimmed past the medium sized bump in her mid section.

‘Eve, you’re too late. I already finished up. Should’ve came earlier.’ She smoothed down her tank top over her bump and walked past me with a wink.

She reeked of vinegar and her scent was clouded with someone else’s that was very familiar.

I looked though the drawers and when I found what I was looking for I stuffed it in my pocket. After turning the lights off, I ran upstairs to rejoin Cassi.

I walked in to see her texting and laying on her stomach like a typical teenage girl.

She gasped at something on her phone and I swear I saw her blush.

‘Texting your man?’ I wiggled my brows and sat next to her.

She clicked off her phone and sat crisscrossed in front of me.

‘Actually, I’m texting my woman.’

‘Wait what?’

Her phone dinged again and when she opened it her eyes grew wide.

‘Damn.’ She spoke lowly and proceeded to reply to the person with fast thumbs.

Cassi saw me looking at her in confusion and turned off her phone again.

‘Don’t worry. It’s just Lucy.’

I have only been gone for three weeks and this has happened?!’

‘When did this even happen?’

‘The day we went to Peter’s Café and you blew off Clark. Lucy came prepared with her pick up lines. Don’t you remember?’

‘Cassi, I have a long story to tell you.’

THIRTY

We were almost ready to go when I finished telling her everything that happened. Everything about who my real dad was to the houseboat.

I just didn’t mention how I murdered someone.

‘Body message? I definitely would’ve remembered lighting my skin on fire.’ Cassi tossed her short blonde waves into a ponytail and looked unconvinced.

Her phone rand and she was swift to pick it up.

‘Hello?’

I fluffed my curls and threw on my leather jacket.

‘Yes, she’s coming.’

Cassi hushed me before I could ask any questions.

‘Alright, see you there.’

She slid her phone into her back pocket and continued to put mascara on.

‘So you’re not gonna tell me who was on the phone?’ I turned her chair around to face me and crossed my arms in annoyance.

‘How about you tell me how big your room was on the glorious houseboat?’

I huffed as I realized I wasn’t going to get anything out of her.

Mom Can’t be pregnant. She drinks wine almost everyday and she looks close to popping.

She smelled different too. When she passed me in the kitchen her scent was oddly familiar and so intense that I felt light-headed.

It’s not like I can ask questions since I am supposed to already know these things. I would’ve noticed if my alcoholic of a mother was pregnant. Something isn’t adding up.

‘Surprise!’

Cassi uncovered my eyes and before me stood the entire Order and party decorations covered every wall in the space.

A furry animal jumped into my arms before I was done looking around.

‘I hope you like your cake.’ Chino’s childlike voice chipped.

‘I’m sure I will. It’s good seeing you, Chino.’ I kissed his little head and sat him down.

“Happy Birthday, Evie.’ OZ walked up to tightly engulf me in a hug.

‘What happened to your necklace?’ He furrowed his brows and had a look of panic in his eyes.

I touched my neck and the old necklace was replaced with the new one James gave me. I’d almost forgotten that his hitch-man almost cut off my head for my necklace. I wonder why.

‘I must’ve left it at home.’

‘I’m so glad you’re okay.’ He whispered.

I was about to question what he said but I was wrapped in someone else’s arms.

‘Happy Birthday, honey.’

I was surprised to see Dad here. OZ said he did know about our powers since we were born, but he must’ve found out that Oz was alive when I was gone.

‘Thanks, Dad.’ I looked around to see everyone in party hats. I haven’t had a party since Oz was presumed dead and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

Amelia stood by the punch table with a mischievous smile on her face. She bared her teeth at me and growled.

I guess she finally found out that she was a V---pire and a Wolf person.

Lucy was next to her but she walked over to Cassi and spun her around. Cassi’s giggles were uncontrollable when Lucy kept pecking her lips.

I’ve really missed a whole bunch.

‘Let’s get ready for the cake!’ Oz grabbed my hand and dragged me over to a long table. Behind it was a birthday banner covered in every colour.

He sat me in the chair in front of it with a squeeze on my shoulder.

OZ rose his hands and a green frosted cake floated in with eighteen candles stuffed into it.

It was placed on the table and the candles were sparked to life.

‘Make a wish, your highness.’ Oz nudged my shoulder around at the people in the room.

Dad had his camera over one eye snapping flash shouting pictures.

Lucy’s arms were wrapped around Cassi’s waist while they both smiled widely at me.

Chino on Rinny’s shoulder purring so loud that he shook.

It’s hard to believe that these people were here for me. Clark was still out of sight.

Even after not having to experience worry while in Eden, I couldn’t; ignore the obvious. I still felt the slightest unease when my thoughts are unguarded.

Usually when I let my mind slip away like that the dark shadow appears. If that thing is the reason for the Order’s loss of magic then it has to go.

One night in Eden, it let its name slip. Sheba….

At first I thought it was Mom and then in Eden I suspected James.

Mom has always been acting suspicious and now that I have powers my instinct tells me that she’s been lying about not having magic.

I thought it was James when he kidnapped me. I figured since Sheba was after me that it would do something like that.

I am not sure if James has something against the Order like the Pixies do. If he doesn’t like the creatures here then that would explain why he could be Sheba.

My head kept filling up with theories and almost made me forget that dozens of people were staring at me to blow out my candles.

Right now, I could only wish for one thing: ANSWERS…

Once I blew out the flame the lights cut off. On instinct I tried to grab for someone next to me but my hand found nothing. Screams and hollers were heard through the darkness as I tried to find my phone which wasn’t in my pocket.

I fished out the lighter I found in the kitchen instead. At first I was going to use it for my cigarette.

As I held the flame up, I could see shadows of the people but they weren’t moving. I turned next to me and Oz was still there but his mouth was open as if he was frozen in time.

I attempted to put my hand on him again but it went right through his body.

I heard hissing and huffing as I constantly turned around to figure out what was going on.

The air seemed to grow thicker and more humid that I could barely breathe. A loud click was heard and all the lights were turned back on.

Everybody came back to life and began chatting with each other as if nothing happened. Oz patted my back and began to serve cake to the guests.

What was that?

I walked to what I hoped was the girls bathroom but my luck has been terrible.

‘You were with him weren’t you?’

Clark stood against the blue tiled wall with a flask in his hand. He wore black leather pants and a white tank top that exposed his beautifully inked arms. He must’ve already performed at his show because his eyes were outlined with black eyeliner.

‘Excuse me?’

He scrunched his face in irritation and kicked himself off the wall.

‘Derrick. Did you two run away together? Is that’s why you both have been missing in action?’

Every word he said he took a step closer to me until he had me sitting on the sink. He sat his flask beside us.

The spell James used must’ve not worked too well because Clark definitely knew I was gone.

‘That’s none of your business.’ I shook in nervousness and terror because of how close he was. I’m still traumatized from the last time we were like this. His blood red eyes were still in the back of my head.

He sucked in a breath and parted my knees so he could stand in the middle of them.

‘Next time you’re with him, think of this moment. Me in between your thighs,’ one of his hands went to grip my waist.

‘Tasting you,’ he tilted my head as he left hot kisses on my neck and collarbone. Oh, I tried my best not to give in to him buy my heavy breathing didn’t help the situation.

‘And you loving every second of it.’ He studied my eyes for a moment and then his warm presence moved away.

He grabbed his flask and walked to the exit of the bathroom while I was left on the cold sink.

‘Happy Birthday, my angel.’ He slipped out and I took a few minutes to catch my breath from what just happened.

Hopping down from the sink, I splashed some cold water on my face to cool myself down.

As I was about to join the party again, a screech was heard.

Quickly, I ran out to see a dark shadow looming above the crowd.

‘Sheba,’ I couldn’t believe my eyes. I’ve never seen it outside of my dreams.

‘What do you want?’ I yelled as I ran to where it was.

It came down to where I was with it’s cape of Darkness floating around it.

‘A fossil reef,

A necklace made of teeth,

A glimmer in the deep,

A Skull that lizards have cleaned of meat,’ it darkly spoke.

Where have I heard that from?

‘You are not wanted here. Leave!’ I rubbed my hands together and the shadow squealed as I shone light on it.

It roared like a wildcat and began flying over everyone. People were ducking down in fear as it was getting closer.

‘The unclean must go!’ It bellowed.

In swift motions, Sheba went through Oz, Lucy, Bridget, Amelia and Clark.

They all dropped and instantly became pale like they were dead.

Sheba let out one more roar before flying though the ceiling.

I ran over to Oz and I couldn’t hear his heart beating. I could hear Cassi’s cries as she tried to revive Lucy with CPR. Clark was on his back with a blue ribbon box in one hand and a bag of mangoes in the other.

THIRTY - ONE

‘What was that? Who could’ve done this?’ Cassi’s loud voice quivered in anger. Her pale face was now hot red and wet with tears as she stroked Lucy’s blue locks.

I wish I could answer her but I was just as in the dark as she was. However, the lighter in my pocket said otherwise.

‘I don’t know, but I’m damn sure gonna find out.’

Maybe Grace could help me tear the mask from Sheba. She is the most powerful witch in her time.

I pulled a cigarette from my pocket and a hand was put on my shoulder.

‘Not here,’ Dad made me look up and I realized that all of the Order’s eyes were on me.

They shouldn’t have to worry about what happens next. They already saw their leaders fall and I wanted to spare them more heartbreak.

That’s the least I could do for them for now.

I jogged over to the table where my cake was and holstered myself onto it.

Everyone was now quiet from being shaken up.

‘I know everyone must be scared right now. I might be the worst person to give out advice or comfort, but I’m all you’ve got.’

Then an idea came to me. The entire Hawthorn’s land has to be soaked in magical properties. It was a long shot, but I had to try everything to keep them from Sheba.

‘I want you all to go to Hawthorn and hide in the branches of the Weeping Willow tree by the lake. You’ll be safe.’

Rinny decided to take the lead and started off with peeling Cassi off from Lucy’s body. She led everyone out of the space up a staircase.

‘I’ll be back. We’re under Hawthorne so I will make sure they all get to the tree safely.’ I nodded my head at Rinny as she left with the last of them.

Dad was kneeled next to Oz with the same broken look he had on the day of his funeral. His lower lip began to shake as he took Oz’s hand into his.

‘My boy, we were just reunited,’ he sniffed away his tear after kissing Oz’s hand.

I didn’t know how to comfort him. The only thing I knew would make him happy is if I brung Oz back.

Gingerly grabbing his arm, I rose him to his knees and walked him to the door everyone went through.

‘We won’t lose him again, I promise.’ I was never one to be sentimental because it made me think too much. And when I thought too much I began over thinking. And when I over thought I lost my mind.

With that I gave Dad a gentle push out of the room as he gave Oz one last tear filled glance.

I was now alone accompanied by five lifeless bodies. I started by using my powers to give them all a breath of air to keep their bodies from decomposing. Their hearts should be able to remain beating for forty hours.

That should give me enough time to pay Grace a visit to save them.

The moment the cigarette touched my mouth I heard a commotion coming from upstairs. I sounded like yelling.

Tucking my cigarette and lighter back into my pocket, I silently hopped up the stairs and stopped right behind the ajar door. It was cracked far enough to let me see what was causing so much noise.

‘It’s her birthday, Rinny. At least let me wish her,’ Derrick was being guarded by Rinny who blocked him every way he turned.

He must’ve gotten his braids redone because they looked different from when I did them. In his hand was a large rectangle that was covered in green wrapping paper all brought together in a shiny red bow.

‘Eve is unavailable I’ll tell her you stopped by,’ Rinny began pushing him farther away that I could almost not see them.

‘Is that why everyone is outside?’ Derrick asked suspiciously. ‘And why did I see them climbing up a tree? I am not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.’

These past weeks for me have been a blur, but for Derrick it was filled with fake memories. I assumed that he would’ve found out about that time, but I guess we didn’t get to that.

‘Derrick, back down. Don’t make me do something that we’ll both regret later on,’ Rinny’s voice became soft like it always did before she captured her next victim.

From where I was standing I could sense the hunger from her as she was leaning in closer to Derrick’s lips. I learned that since she was a Temptress that she could give kisses that put people into a deep sleep.

I interrupted before she could lean in any further.

‘Enough!’ My jealousy took the best of me and Rinny ended up against a wall with leafy vines tugging at her body.

Where did that come from?’

‘Eve, what the hell?’ Rinny began writhing against the vines trying to get out but it didn’t budge.

‘The more you struggle, the tighter they get,’ I heard the long weeds strain themselves around Rinny before releasing her.

I turned to Derrick who’s eyes were mainly on me. He Didn’t look terrified like I thought he would. He looked intrigued.

‘How did you find out about the party?’ I asked blocking out the sounds and curses from Rinny as she continuously coughed.

‘Would it be weird if I said that I was outside of your house and followed Cassi’s car here?’

Very…

‘Not the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard,’ I nervously ringed my hands preparing myself for anything else he might say. Truly, I did want to tell Derrick about my power, but now didn’t seem like the most ideal time.

I needed to save my people and they came first.

‘I brought you this,’ after a contemplative silence he began to unwrap the rectangle in his hand which turned out to be a frame. The picture in it was indescribable.

The pencil strokes danced around the image like strings of wind as it created a piece of art. It was me biting the end of a pencil. An opened book was in front of my face that read :-

Anomalous Thoughts.

‘This is incredible. You drew this for me?’ I admired the piece while running my fingers over the edges.

‘I wanted you to have something special that reminded you of one of your happy places. You told me that when you over think that you’re at your worst. I think otherwise.’

‘You’re heavenly when your thoughts are running wild,’ he passed me the portrait which I gripped to my chest in pleasure.

Nobody had ever reassured me about anything since I found out about my magic. They just straight up said to save the Order from ultimate destruction with no encouragement or any good lucks.

After hearing Derrick tell me that I don’t feel as scared to face Sheba or any other dark force that would follow it.

‘You really think so?’ I stepped closer to him. My fingers began to tingle as he tugged on them to pull me against his body. He swiftly rose my chin to look into his dark grey eyes.

‘Darling, I know so.’ He bent down to put his lips against mine that made my entire body vibrate.

This was better than a cigarette because I could feel something. The drug temporarily pause led my heart and mind so I would just wonder blindly. But as Derrick’s fingers gripped the back of my neck to pull me closer to him I could feel everything. And I was welcoming it.

I unconsciously pulled away from his worth with a bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach.

What if defeating Sheba had a price? It makes sense if it was life for a life. If it took my life to save our five fallen leaders. Is that that a risk I am able to take?

‘Hey, what’s troubling you?’ Derrick wiped a tear from my face that I didn’t know I had released. My eyes become so blurry to the point where I couldn’t even see his face anymore.

‘I want you to looked after my father. Make sure my mother’s unborn child experiences all the love the world can offer,’ I sniffed and calmed my breathing.

‘Eve…’

‘Tell Cassi that I love her with all my heart and that she is destined for greatness…’

‘Eve, stop! Why does it sound like you are saying goodbye?’

Derrick frustrated yelled over me as my tears slowed and my lip began to quiver less.

‘Because I am.’

I couldn’t look him in his heartbroken eyes one last time so I turned and walked toward the door that I came up from. Rinny must have been downstairs already because the door was all the way open.

I heard Derrick call my name one last time before I closed the door behind me. My face was burning from trying to hold in my emotions to not give myself any reasons to turn around to him.

Banging on the door arose which made me jump.

‘Eve! Please tell me what’s going on!’

I tangled the lock of the door with the vines from when I tied up Rinny.

The banging continued but soon ceased as I made my way down the steps to see Rinny placing the bodies side by side.

‘You ready?’ She asked as she placed Lucy next to Oz.

‘Let’s just end this.’

Sitting Derrick’s gift against a wall, I brought the cigarette to my mouth and the delicious poison filled my lungs.

THIRTY - TWO

I passed the drug over to Rinny so she could see Grace with me. Her fingers shook as they gripped the burning paper.

‘Isn’t this bad for my lungs?’ She asked before the cigarette touched her lips.

I huffed. ‘Ultimately yes, but only for humans.’

Grace redesigned them so they wouldn’t be as harmful to me. She wasn’t very fond of me smoking anyway. Since I was seeing her any chance I got and I liked to also forget my own thoughts for a while she gave me the revised product before I left Eden.

‘Think about a place with the greenest grass and tallest trees. Wrap your mind around pink flowers,’ I closed my eyes and so did Rinny as we thought about Grace’s home.

Moments later I felt the warm but cool breeze the place gave. As I opened my eyes I was able to see the sun shining brightly and the water sparkling beautifully.

‘What is this place?’ Rinny gazed at the scenery in admiration as her mouth hung slightly open.

‘My Grandmother’s home,’ I began to walk up to James’ childhood house with unexpectedly tense shoulders. Something was off.

Rinny trailed behind me as I opened the screen door and called out for Grace.

A fury black cat rubbed its head against my leg and purred intently. A long curvy purple streak ran from its left eye to the middle of its back.

I think I would’ve remembered Grace having a pet.

I glanced at Rinny who went to pick up the cat, and in response it nipped at her finger.

‘Snippy little thing, aren’t you?’ Rinny stared pointedly at the little beast as blood was dripping from her hand.

The cat stayed close to me as I looked around for Grace. Rumbling from the kitchen made me assume that she was in there.

Grace gracefully strolled out of the kitchen with three plates of strawberry pies, three cups, and a tea kettle.

‘Eve, my darling, I’m glad you’re here,’ she sat down the platter and embraced me.

‘And who might this be?’ Grace eyed Rinny with pinched lips.

‘My cousin, Ladyrinth,; they reached out to shake each other’s hands awkwardly.

I didn’t think about their moment to much because there was more pressing issues.

‘We need your help. Sheba showed up in the real world and took the souls of my friends. We need to stop it.’

‘Slow down. Have a seat and some tea,’ Grace interrupted my blabbering and led us to the kitchen table where we sat.

‘What do we do?’ I pressed on as Grace passed me and Rinny a cup of steaming Tea. The mysterious black cat hopped in my lap and began pawing my stomach.

‘I’ve know Sheba since I was a little girl. My parents practiced witchcraft, but they weren’t witches. Sheba tipped someone off and had them burned for heresy.’

As I brought the cup to my lips the strong herbal scent almost burned my nose.

‘New tea left?’

‘Yes. My husband and I would try growing different ones.’

I raised a brow and decided to put it down. My instincts were on high alert as the cat on my lap continued to meow and purr.

Rinny went on to drink her tea out of respect and even ate some of the strawberry pie.

‘Sheba was a person?’ I asked.

‘I wouldn’t describe Sheba as a person. It wouldn’t fit the category,’ Grace eyed the cat with shakiness and decided to lift it off my lap. ‘Sheba was a Demon that I summoned.’

She tossed the cat out the window like a ball and quickly closed it.

Rinny and I shared the same confused look. We thought about the same thing, but it wasn’t why she had thrown the animal outside.

Grace sat back at the table and answered the unasked question.

‘Children my age were told by their parents to stay away from me in fear of my parents. It wasn’t that they were frightened by them, but it was what the rulers of the time did to believers and followers of Witchcraft,’ She twisted her wedding ring on her finger. ‘Or the Devil.’

‘The Devil?’ Rinny sat down her cup and started to eat my strawberry pie.

‘I see you’re familiar with him. I could smell him all over you even before you came into the door.’

Rinny began choking on her tea to the point where I had to pat her back. Blood splattered onto her hand when she used it to cover her mouth. I quickly rose to my feet and look over to Grace for assistance but she stared at Rinny with a mischievous smirk on her face.

I looked down at the tea and then the crushed pink flowers Grace grew floating in Rinny’s drink.

‘What did you Do!’

Rinny’s harsh coughs died down and she fell onto the floor.

‘Don’t worry, dear. It’ll all be over soon,’ Grace snapped her fingers and we landed in a room surrounded by mirrors. The same room I committed my first murder in. We’re back in Eden.

The shiny black piano was still the most beautiful structure that I had ever seen. It was just as alluring as the first time I saw it.

‘You know, I didn’t raise James to be such a liar. Hell, Nor did I raise him at all,’ Grace strung Rinny up by her arms with rope. Blood dropped down the side of her lips. ‘At least not alone.’

‘It was you this whole time? The thing that has been torturing me since my childhood. You’ve been working with Sheba…’

Grace cut me off as three large shadows surrounded her. She walked up to me with her dress tucked in her hand.

‘HONEY, I AM SHEBA.’

THIRTY - THREE

‘Sweetie, stop all that yelling. I’m going to need those pretty lungs of yours,’ Grace said while cutting Rinny’s shirt in half which left her standing in a black tank top.

Rinny’s lips quivered as tears and mascara streamed down her face.

I rose from my frozen state and went over to Grace trying to stop her.

‘What are you talking about? What has James lied about?’

Grace sat her scissors on the piano and proceeded to sit on the bench.

‘I know you’ve been killing people to play on this piano,’ She smirked my way and at the same time I looked at my strung up cousin who’s eyes grew in shock. ‘Not only can you sacrifice lives to play beautiful music, but you can sacrifice a life to receive a life.’

Rinny began to scream again when Grace revealed her plan.

‘Hush, girl,’ Grace whipped her hand toward Rinny and her lips were closed shut.

‘I miss my James. I messed up with my boys, but I start where we left off with my husband. I’m bringing him back.’ Grace’s back was toward me and I saw her press the soundless keys on the piano.

‘I won’t let you hurt her,’ I snarled with clenched fists.

‘Well Honey, I don’t have you tied up. You can let her go. You can even kill me if you wanted to. You are the most powerful being on earth, aren’t you? Why haven’t you done anything?’

She’s right. This isn’t the first time that I’ve been kidnapped, but it’s the first time that I wasn’t strapped down to a chair. Why haven’t I done anything?

You’re weak.

I was weak. I didn’t need to hear Sheba tell be that because I’d already given myself that title. I know that I have issues of my own that were bigger than anything I could imagine.

I thought drinking and even smoking would help me ease this manifestation, but it just kept the problem tucked away in a corner.

The black cat with a purple stripe cane sauntering in which I assumed was to taunt me.

Now that I look back, I notice that I’d never faced my issues head on. I always found a way around it.

I completely forgot about Oz by filling my ears with scriptures.

‘The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger, I trust in Him with all my Heart.’

‘In Him we have Redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.’

‘The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.’

I drown out Mom’s disappointment by drinking and doing drugs. I even ended up getting myself kidnapped when I was trying to avoid Clark.

Nobody had really been there for me as support; not even Dad who I grew up around. I didn’t know much about being brave or facing my fears, but I knew at this moment with my cousin’s life on a thread that I had to grow some balls.

The sun is setting

In the sky

Let’s light the Moon

And bring it High-

As I lie down,

I breathe in times of three.

And, feel the Love

Come back to me

After calming my nerves, I took confident steps toward a knocked out Rinny and unhooked her wrists from the blue and white rope.

Grace rose up angrily and waved her hand at Rinny and I causing us to fly back to the wall.

‘Seems like you’ve gained some backbone, Darling.’

Rinny was hanging by her hands from the ceiling once again like I never touched her.

You’re weak.

‘Get the hell out of my head!’ I screamed at Grace knowing she had her inner demon taunt me.

‘It’s not my fault. You’re letting Sheba into your head, Darling.’ Grace strolled over to Rinny again, but a karambit popped into her hands.

It reminded me of the one Lucy used to cut into Cassi’s neck on the first night we met.

‘Let me not waste any more time. The sacrifice begins now.’

Rinny began to wiggle and whine when Grace started to say a spell in Hatian. Grace lifted the curved knife into the air ready to slice through Rinny’s neck.

‘All those years I’ve been trying to find the right spell. I tried with those myths and tall tales, but that was bullshit. I didn’t realize the real power was resting in the underworld.’

‘I thought you believed in God and blamed sinners for killing the earth,’ I backed into one of the mirrors in horror when I saw Grace’s face turned into a dark demonic one.

‘Oh Honey, sinners killed my husband. Your father, James was the one who believed in all that ‘sinners shall pay’ mumbo jumbo. Let’s remember that Lucifer also was a Christian and in the end he was a fallen angel. James was too young to realize that his mother was the sister of Beelzebub.’

THIRTY - FOUR

Grace (16 years Old)

‘But Father, I just want to go out with them! We’re just going down to the lake!’ I expressed to him as he mixed liquids together to make potions that didn’t even work.

‘For the last time, Grace you are not leaving this house. Those wenches would rather see you drown in that lake.’

‘You are not to leave this house, girl,’ My mother came into the space with a pig’s head in her hands.

I bit my lip so hard that I thought it was bleeding. With one last hateful stare at my parents, I ran to my room and dragged the black book from under the covers of my cot.

My parents thought they were magicians, but I didn’t believe in any of it. Everyone looked at us like we were freaks and ran at the sight of us.

I opened the book and began journaling my thoughts. Unconsciously I had written down symbols that I knew not what they had meant.

‘Limye syel la, lannwit nwa.’

Light sky, Dark night?’

I heard the laughing of kids outside my window and saw them racing to the lake. I could feel my blood boil as I saw the smiles on their faces and the look in their eyes.

With one look toward one of the boys kneecaps he went tumbling down. A loud scream was heard from him and his friends gathered around him in concern. The boy’s leg was turned the wrong way and he screamed bloody murder.

I backed away from the window as far as I could and tried to control my breathing.

Did I do that? I couldn’t have, there’s not such a thing as magic.

‘Oh yes there is.’ A Dark shadow without a face crept out of my black notebook.

‘Who are you?’

‘Cal me Sheba. I’m here to cast out all those who take people like us as a joke,; it held out its hand and even through the darkness I could see a smile on this figure’s face.

‘Join us, Darling. We can rule together.’

‘I don’t even know what I am. Did I do that to that boy out there?’ I asked shakily feeling sorry for the innocent boy.

‘Do not feel regret for what you did! Rejoice in the growing of your power. You are the next Queen of this earth!’ Sheba still held out his hand and I still questioned taking it.

‘What do you want from me?’ I asked.

‘All I ask is for your allegiance for what I plan on doing in the future. I will not say what that is until the time comes.’

The shadow made we want to take its offer, but it was an open ended price.

‘And if I accept your deal, what will I get in return?’ I asked now standing up.

‘Those dreadful parents of yours can disappear and you can finally experience happiness.’

Could I really give up my parents to this stranger?’

‘Come out here! We need your blood for this potion we’re cooking up!’ Father’s scratchy voice made a chill go down my spine.

With one last look at the door of my bedroom, I took the shadow’s hand and pledged my allegiance to Sheba.

Moments later, I could hear people coming into the house and yelling.

‘Those are the people who broke my son’s leg!’

I was unable to move until Sheba flew herself into my body. Any memory of the shadow or my magic disappeared and I was left standing confused in my room.

RUN….

I quickly grabbed my black notebook and hopped out my window. I ran away from the retched place that I called home for years without looking back.

I didn’t know why I was running or how long I had been running for, but the sun was on its way down and I reached an open area full of grass and animals.

The cause of me not paying attention to where I was going caused me to run into someone.

‘Watch where you’re going!’ The husky male voice spoke.

‘My apologies, dear sir,’ I started to get up and he decided to help me.

His shiny brown eyes and dark hair made me gaze upon his beautiful features with admiration. He looked like he was in his twenties.

‘No, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been standing in the middle of a field staring at the sky,’ his country accent made him even more dashing.

I looked to the ground and saw a necklace with a ring on it. I went down to pick it up and handed it to him.

‘You must’ve dropped this,’ I put it into his held out hand and stared into his captivating eyes.

‘Yes… You would think a saber - toothed cat was wiser,’ he placed it around his neck and gave me a warm smile. I smirked at his comment and couldn’t stop gawking at him.

‘What might your name be, Darling?’

‘Grace,’ I put my hand in his and he placed a kiss on it.

‘Well, Hello Grace. I’m James.’

‘Pleased to meet you, James,’ I smiled at him.

I shivered as the sun went completely down and it was now night time.

‘Well I best be on my way,’ I gave him one last look before I turned around. I had no idea where I was and no idea where I was going to stay for the night.

‘Where are you headed?’ He asked.

‘I honestly have no idea,’ I looked down to the ground.

‘You’ll find out soon, Gracie.

Who is that?

‘Hey, you can shack up here for as long as you need? If you’re alright with that?’ He asked kindly.

‘That would be wonderful. Thank you.’ I walked with him to the barn house and noticed an actual house next to it. A one storey white and grey boarded house stood in front of us that I automatically felt comfortable with.

‘I know it’s not much, but it’s where I’ve been lying since my parents passed.’

He looked nervous as to what I thought about his home.

‘It’s perfect, thanks again.’ I smiled at him. Before we went into the house I had to ask him something.

‘James?’

‘Yes?’

‘Where are we currently?’

‘Pious Village, if I’m correct.’

18 years later….

‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me.’ The grass was burning and began to turn to ash.

I had my head tucked into James’ red shirt as I uncontrollably shook with tears streaming down my face.

‘Baby, just breathe. I’ve got you Darling,’ he stroked my hair gently as I continued to sob because of the blithering headache I had.

‘Just breathe,’ he repeated and I listened. The fire died down and the pain in my head went away.’

‘What am I?’ I look desperately at my husband for an answer.

‘I don’t know yet, but whatever you are I could care less.

Darling, you are my universe, my heart, and my love.’ James kissed my forehead and I felt warm. I felt safe. I felt happy.

‘Maybe God can help you,’ he teased and I looked at him seriously.

‘You’re probably right.’

THIRTY - FIVE

Eve….

It all makes sense. James wasn’t the bad guy, he just wanted to find out what his mother was planning since the death of his father. He carried around the black notebook with him almost all the time and I assumed the worst.

Mom had nothing to do with it which was surprising. She raised so many red flags from the coming home late to smelling heavily of vinegar, but she was a victim just like James had been.

However, she did try to kill Oz and that’s unforgivable. I can’t even comprehend why she would even want to do that to her own son.

‘I’ve waited so long to see my James. Father of sin, I am ready to sink into the Darkness,’ her eyes rolled back inhumanly and sharply brought down the knife.

Before the knife met Rinny’s neck and I could tackle her to the ground, a loud pop was heard and Grace began bleeding.

Looking at the staircase, I saw Derrick with a gun in his hand pointed at Grace.

‘For heavens sake not you again,’ Grace growled as she held onto her wounded arm.

‘Surprise,’ Derrick’s eyes met mine for just a moment and then shifted back over to Grace.

She was cowered on the floor snarling Derrick’s way.

‘Derrick what are you doing here?’

‘There’s not enough time for me to explain. Just know that I’m a witch - Hunter who wants to help.’ He steadily held his gun Grace’s way. ‘The Witch of Hankey is Down.’

‘You never told me how you knew Clark.’ I didn’t know why I had asked that at this moment, but I clearly knew nothing about the man who I let into my house.

‘Don’t worry about it-’ I cut him off.

‘Derrick, tell me right damn well now!’ I gave him the deadliest stare as tears began to form in my eyes. He exhaled and said this all in one breath.

‘I walked in on him and your mother having sex???’

What the actual F----ck?

Mom is having Clark’s baby? Did this happen while I was in Eden with James?

I don’t understand how he could act like he had interest in me when he was sleeping around with my mother. The Bastard…

Mom too. I wouldn’t expect less of her.

‘Eve, get Rinny out of here,’ Derrick interrupted my thoughts as he dug into his pocket for something and tossed it over to me. It was a cigarette, a lighter, and Grace’s Black notebook.

‘When you cross back over, burn that thing. You know how to bring your friends back, you just have to trust yourself,’ his grey eyes flashed sincerity. ‘I believe in you..’

Grace began to rise and was about to blast him when I blocked her with my magic. She flew back into one of the mirrors causing it to shatter into a million pieces.

Once again I cut Rinny down who was now wide awake and handed her over to Derrick.

‘I have to do this alone. However you got in, take Rinny and yourself as far away from this place. Keep the Order safe.’ I gave him the instructions to which he quickly shook his head to.

Before he could protest I snapped my fingers and they were gone. All that was left was Derrick’s gun.

‘Oh Honey, you don’t know what you just did.’ Grace rose me from the ground and the air was leaving my lungs. I held onto my neck trying to release myself.’

‘You took away my sacrifice. You give me no choice but to kill you.’ Grace pranced over to the piano and slid her hand down the soundless keys. With elegance she picked her curved knife back up and was able to slice my knees.

‘I thought your husband believed in family coming first,’ I chocked out as I gripped the gold ring necklace James got me. I could feel the power vibrating from it.

‘Well, yes he did. Maybe when he comes back he can teach me more about that, but you’ve got to go first.’

She swirled her hand around and a portal opened in the mirrors. The reflective surface began to dance and wiggle like jelly.

‘Your mother was the perfect person to hop into,’ Grace stated. ‘I’ve been in your life longer than you think. Your brother was onto me, why do you think he spelled your necklace so you would never experience your magic.’

She began to walk around me as her hold on my neck became tighter.

‘The torture of your brother was Sheba’s idea. He was getting in the way of our plans and it was easier to abuse him when while being your mother,’ she spoke again. ‘And as for her sleeping with Clark, that was Sheba too. He reminded us of our dead husband James.’

I felt my eyes slowly begin to shut as the pressure around my neck tightened.

Unexpectedly, I was dropped to the ground as a screech from Grace was heard.

‘Your stupid brothers. If they wanted someone dead, they should’ve made sure they actually took their last breath.’ She snarled at the black cat with the purple stripe.

James had a mask that looked just like this little animal.

With one hand on my necklace, I transformed the cat back into James. James was wearing the same thing that he wore when he shipped me off from Eden.

‘Stop this now, Mother,’ He stepped in front of me to shield me from her.

‘Move child, this is adult business,’ Grace pulled James forward and he fell onto the floor. He mistakenly fell onto the curved knife.

There was a lump in my throat as I ran to him and saw the blade stuck in his stomach. His shiny emerald eyes were now becoming dull as he pulled my forehead down to his. Before his last breath he whispered something that I almost didn’t hear.

‘Destroy the necklace.’

Now I have to add that to the list.

1. Destroy the black notebook

2. Destroy the necklace

‘I just need one more thing,’ Grace glanced down at my necklace and I quickly tore it off. Her eyes widened as I ignited a fire in my hand and held the ring over it.

‘You need something of his to bring him back, right? Seems like I’m standing between you and your happily ever after, huh Grace?’ I Flared my nostrils and scrunched my mouth in anger.

‘All these years, I thought I was the problem. I thought I was the reason why my parents looked at me like I was crazy. I thought I was the reason why I had panic attacks. I thought I was the reason I couldn’t be happy,’ My voice rose and the fire in my hand got hotter.

‘It was you. You did this to your family. You tore them apart. You tore him apart,’ I pointed at James with my head. ‘And you expect to get what you want?’ I laughed dryly as I lowered the necklace to the fire.

‘Life doesn’t work like that, darling.’ I dropped the necklace into my hand and it broke down to ash. Grace screamed in agony and anger as she saw the one thing that was able to bring her husband back melt down to nothing.

‘Watch your back.’ With one last shriek Grace disappeared.

Before blowing the fire out of my hand I brought the cigarette up to it and inhaled the glorious smoke,

After killing the fire, I kneeled down to James and kissed his forehead and shed a tear I didn’t know was there. I was proud to call this man my Dad.

‘I make everything right. The pixies don’t have to live in isolation anymore because Grace is defeated. They can make their own choices and live with the Order. That can be their new how. I promise you they’ll be safe.’ I shut his eyelids and chocked out a cry as I realized he was actually gone.

Taking a deep breath. I rose to my feet with the notebook tucked in my back pocket and the cigarette tucked in my fingers.

2. Destroy the necklace

CHECK…

1. Destroy the book

Destroying the book will release the spirit of Sheba from Grace and the souls of my friends will come back.

‘TIME TO GO HOME….’

‘What’s the rush, darling. You’re right where you’re supposed to be,’ I turned to see Grace and I wasn’t quick enough to block the bullet that went through my chest.

I was too shocked to even apply pressure to the wound. I’d never been shot before.

‘By the way, I wasn’t defeated, I was just resting…’

THIRTY - SIX

I remember playing in my backyard with Parker when we were carefree kids. Summer time was our moment to throw away our school books and arm ourselves with water pistols.

The grill would be going with the smell of charred burgers, hot dogs, and Mom’s famous veggie kabobs. Parker and I would recklessly shoot each other with the shivering, cool water which was a gift from my family’s water hose. As neighbours pass, they would get in the way of our combat and feel the contact of our liquid bullets. They would often act surprised if they were hit when in reality they actually wanted to feel the frosty fluid on their burning skin.

Those people, no, those hypocrites would do it on purpose.

Those hypocrites would purposely steal our gold bullets. All they want to do is be fake and laugh in your face.

I on the other hand, walked in on an unwanted war. I walked into an unwanted bullet.

However, the sadistic part about it is that if it were possible for me to go back in time, I would eagerly.

Without a doubt.

Make the same mistake.

Repeatedly.

For Them…

You Don’t realize how much blood a person has until you’re laying in your own puddle. When the neighbours were shot, the only thing that came out of them was a sigh of relief. Yet, I had a sigh of agony. Discomfort, Suffering….

The sun is setting.

In the sky

Let’s light the moon

And bring it High-

As I lie down,

I breathe in times of three..

And, feel the Love

Come back to me..

Oh how I wish this silver bullet were a squirt of chilling water from Parker’s water gun.

The aching my ankle used to get when I scraped it on the sidewalk when I was younger is nothing compared to the throbbing in my stomach which was punched by ammunition. Real ammunition.

Murdering ammunition……

If I had never kept opening my bedroom ‘window for him….’

Or letting my Dad kidnap me for the second time.

Or letting my brother back into my life.

Or braiding his hair.

Or smoked.

Or even accepting my powers.

No!

I’m crying over these people getting hurt and could care less about my life slowly slipping away. And a piece of silver was all it took.

Maybe this was meant to be. I’ve lived, and I mean truly lived. I’ve experienced: friendship, a brother, a first kiss, a heart break, a family, and Love.

And now death.

Isn’t this supposed to be how life goes? I couldn’t save them. I let them down when they put my life in their hands. I should just give up now before I fail at dying too.

‘Sweetie, don’t look so glum,’ Grace held her purple dress in her hand as he bent down beside me. ‘You said the place gave you peace, yes? Well, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the arrangement I’ve made for you and your father.’

My coughs became more violent as my blood left my body. Then I couldn’t feel my toes. Nor my legs. And then I couldn’t feel anything.

Is this the feeling that I’ve been longing for? I’m not sure I like it as much as I thought I would. Even though I couldn’t feel anything, I still felt cold. I felt alone….

With Grace taunting me from the side, all I could do was listen since I couldn’t even speak with the blood filling my lungs.

‘The plan is for you to live your immortal life here. Forever,’ she said enthusiastically.

I tried to protest, but I failed.

‘Cat got your tongue?’ Her pretty white smile made me want to punch the hell out of her. No pun intended.

She was about to get up, but stayed in the position she was.

Grace’s hand swept my braids out of my face and she gently held my chin.

‘No one should ever feel alone. And it’s your fault that I will be alone for a while, but just know I will see my husband again,’ her grip on my chin tightened. Good thing I couldn’t feel anything.

‘Darling, to show you how much I don’t want you to be by your lonesome I’ve got a special gift for you,’ her smile got even wider. ‘And I know how you like gifts.’

Grace swiftly pulled her hand from behind her back and blew a sparkly powder into my face. I thought that she was too late to bring me to the place she spoke of because I was losing consciousness, but I was not able to feel again.

We were still in the same room. I sat on the bench in front of the piano and the glass of the windows were fixed.

I was about to bolt until I noticed that the black notebook and my cigarette was gone. The buzzing in my fingers were gone too.

‘You have no magic here,’ Grace was leaning over the shiny black piano. ‘Where would the FUN be in that? If you could get out I wouldn’t be able to see you suffer?’

‘I’m sure your husband wouldn’t approve of what you’re doing.’ I turned to her.

‘Don’t tell me about my husband! You know nothing about him!’ She busted out, but quickly regained her composure. ‘Ah, let me not forget the fun part about this little world.’

She snapped her fingers and James appeared leaning on the piano.

‘James?’ I rose from the piano and walked over to touch him, but my hand went right through his arm.

‘Oh, did I forget to mention that he’s just a figment of your imagination. You see, I allowed your thoughts to bring forth the person you were thinking about the most.’ Grace played by continuously putting her hand through him.

‘I will not apologize for ruining your opportunity to bring back your husband.

The Order needs me and you were trying to kill me. If I died-’

‘Yes, if you died the Order would lose every single drop of magic that they ever had blah blah blah blah. But guess what? You’re dead, sweetie,’ she said gently in a dark tone.

If I could just get out of this place and destroy her, the Order will be safe.

‘When creatures like us die, those powers go to their last living ancestor who has magic,’ she smirked like she had her plan written out already.

‘I will find a way to resurrect myself, and I will claim your powers.’

Wait, she said the last living ancestor with magic. That would be Mom. Grace must not know that she had powers. Then I came to the realization of something.

Mom You Smart Bitch….

The only one who knew about her powers were me and James. She didn’t accept them and she ran away. Mom didn’t tell me nor Parker about our Powers because she was trying to protect us. Sheba must’ve did a real number on her.

I decided to keep this information to myself since it seemed to be the only leverage I had.

‘You don’t know what you’ve just done,’ I laughed as I pressed down on one of the keys.

‘Oh Darling, I know exactly what I’ve done. Seems like James will be suffering with you forever,’ She said nonchalantly.

‘Oh. Let me not forget the biggest surprise of them all,’ she clapped her hands and unveiled the five lifeless bodies of my friends.

My lip shook when I saw Clark’s arm halfway on the bench and the rest of his body was sprawled on the floor. In his hand was a bag of mangoes.

I have no idea if I should be mad at him. He wasn’t possessed by Sheba. He gave full consent to sleeping with my Mom. I couldn’t help, but look at him and nit shed a tear.

As for the other bodies of my friends, I failed them. I didn’t realized my face was wet with tears until I felt them drip down my neck. I can’t live like this FOREVER LOVE…

‘Isn’t this wonderful. The people you failed are all in one room. Use the piano, I know you’ll love it. I hope you’re happy now,’ she winked and disappeared.

James moved from his spot and kissed me on the forehead. He seemed real but he was almost robotic. I could feel him but I couldn’t touch him….

James went up the stairs and I had no idea where he went too.

I started playing with the empty keys again until I felt a tap on my shoulder.

‘You failed us,’ Parker stood with a knife about to cut me but I turned it around on him and it went down in his chest.

‘No!’ I fell to my knees next to him and tried to wake him up but his eyes showed no sign of life.

I scrambled up and stumbled onto the keys which made noise now.

Instinctively, I decided to play a song and I felt another kiss on the forehead. James had appeared downstairs again and then disappeared upstairs again.

Once I finished the song, I felt another tap on my shoulder and this time it was Amelia. I killed her too..

The next time it was Lucy. I killed her.

Then it was Bridget.

Lastly, it was Clark. After killing him. I ate the mangoes out of his hand while playing.

Each time James kissed my head, and each time I played SOS by Avicii.

Makes sense since that’s the only song I played for her.

Then the cycle started over again and again and again.

I’ve finally made it to Hell…..

THIRTY - EIGHT

SONYA….

I weaved through traffic to get to Hawthorne as fast as I could. Sheba was up to something. I could feel it in my veins.

‘Those poor people. I hope we didn’t come too late,’ I turned to Ms Rita who was flipping through her thick book of spells.

‘I assure you, we are right on time,’ she held onto the handle above the window because of my frantic driving.

The baby in my womb started to kick.

‘It’s okay, little one. We’re about to rescue your big sister,’ I pulled up to Hawthorne and saw that there were no people anywhere.

I hopped out the car and walked past the Weeping Willow tree by the lake. There were whispers coming from the tree.

‘Do not be afraid. I am here to help!’ I yelled up the tree and a baby tiger fell down into my arms with wide eyes.

‘Who are you?’ The animal’s tiny voice asked.

‘Sonya?’ Will climbed down from the tree as he gave me a confused look. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Grams?’ Camilla came next and went up to Ms Rita first.

‘What is she doing here?’

‘Sonya will explain everything,’ Ms Rita pulled her grandchild into a hug.

Everyone began climbing down the front of the tree and Camilla walked past me with a dirty look.

‘Listen everyone, I am here to not only save you, but to rescue my daughter. Eve is in danger and we are the only ones that can help her.’ I looked toward Camilla who had her head down.

‘I have been possessed by that dark shadow that most of you have seen. It’s been inside of me since I met the father of Eve,’ I glanced at Will who’s brows furrowed in confusion.

‘There is no time to tell all that I know. However, I have a plan to save Eve who is your soon to be Superior,’ I became light-headed and began leaning over until a hand held me up. It was Camille.

‘What’s wrong?’ She asked concerned.

‘Eve has just died, and I now have her powers. Its time for us to get to work.’

Editors foot note -

‘The Devil likes to keep us trapped in the Soul and Body by whispering lies and using our physical senses.

The Holy Spirit will guide us by speaking to our Spirit; that is where we commune with God. He will encourage us to keep on trying even if we succumb to Temptation. Start again, Immediately! God is not standing there with a stick, ready to Hit you over the Head if you slip up. He is standing there to catch you when you stumble and prop you back up. He loves you! He is proud of your efforts just like you are proud of your own children when they try a new discipline in life. God calls us to Holiness; Satan distracts us with the allure of happiness. God wants us to have the Eternal; Satan distracts us with the external. God invites us to follow Him in self-denial; Satan pulls us toward self - gratification.’

The Lord is my Light and my salvation - whom shall I Fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my Life - of Whom shall I be afraid?

Ps 27:1

‘Limye syel la, lannwit nwa.’

Light sky, Dark night?

THE END…