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Still unsure if this story is right for you? Here's a view of one of my favorite chapters. Enjoy!
THE PULL WAS SUBTLE AT first, like a shift
in the wind pushing Nina toward an invisible opening. So much time had passed
since the last time she’d sensed the switch turning ‘On’ to something greater
than her existence—long enough to forget such things were possible. Still, the crisp
coolness of the barrier or the sound of the chimes wasn’t surprising when she
passed through to the other side.
****
THE
TWILIGHT USED TO BE a source of
comfort. She had played here often as a child, only now she stepped along the
familiar trail with heartache twisting the pit of her stomach. Since her last
visit, the vibrant path had all but crumbled into ruin. The once luscious
gardens and beautiful forest were reduced to a barren landscape. Dragging bare
feet, she slowed progress up the mountain as much as a sense of urgency
allowed, grieving paradise as she travelled.
Time moved differently here—it was almost
stagnant. She wondered if this world was a reflection of her inner self; if the
loss she had experienced was mirrored by the rot and decay evident in every
direction. All she had ever hoped for was gone, just as the water gurgling
along riverbanks and the mighty oaks stretching to the sky were gone. Even the
warmth of the sun refused to penetrate through the grey hue of crushed dreams. She
would never find peace here again. Hadn’t her mother warned as much?
“The Twilight is his home. If you
go there, Sinauf will come for you.”
And she was right. He had come, but not for
her…
Is it
possible to go back? Nina
questioned. She’d been to the past before, but had never tried to interfere,
but could she? The wind picked up in a low howl of protest as her hair whipped
against her cheeks, but she ignored the warning, wondering if turning around
would save her parents. Encouraged, she looked over her shoulder, but the trail
had erased into blackness. The putrid odor of stagnant water wrinkled her nose
as shrilled cries pierced her soul with terror. Death lived there—only death. Too
afraid of what dwelled in the past, she Walked off the cliff, stepping
from the edge as darkness enveloped the place where she stood. Never falling,
her feet made contact with a lovely manicured lawn.
“I had a
feeling you’d be wanting to see me,” Jenny Webber drawled out. The southern
accent dripped off her tongue like liquid honey, so naturally any stranger
would have believed she was born a Georgia peach, but Nina could see her
long-lost friend behind the pretenses.
“Well,
what’re you waiting for? C’mon in! I can’t tell you how delighted I am that you
accepted my invitation.” Dissolving into vapors that would have put Scarlet
O’Hara to shame, she widened the door and Nina bounded through, excited at the
prospect of catching up. Then she remembered she was Walking. Jenny’s invitation wasn’t meant for Nina, but for the dark
figure standing on the porch.
His face
was lost in shadow. The only feature clearly visible was the fire-blue of his
eyes. He must have flashed the redhead a smile, because Jenny melted like
butter in a hot frying pan. The air all but sizzled as he fixed his burning
gaze with unguarded interest at the green silk robe tied about her waist. The
blatant display surely raised an eyebrow as he stepped out of the still, black
night and into the bright, plantation home.
“I must
admit, the circumstances that brought us together the other night were very
entertaining. But when you called to say you would be willing to share even
more about your friend’s unique abilities, and perhaps tell me where to find
her…well, that titillating bit of information was completely irresistible. Of
course, you already know all the best ways to tempt me. Don’t you, kitten?” he
whispered, insinuation lacing his voice as he spoke in her ear.
The hair
on the back of Jenny’s neck stood at attention. He didn’t touch her, but Jenny shivered
with anticipation. Or perhaps it was something else that caused her to tremble
as he slinked past and entered the lavishly furnished living room.
The
mansion had been built on the ashes of Atlanta in 1887, a testimony to the
South’s tenacity even in the midst of defeat. The original owner, Colonel
Thomas Wheeler, had wanted to hear the sound of rustling silks as his four
daughters danced at parties, and to see them brought up in elegance and luxury.
Perhaps, he had hoped to drown out the sounds and sights of dying soldiers on
battlefields. Perhaps, he had wanted to regain some of the grandeur they had
all fought for. In this estate, at least, he had succeeded. More than a century
later, giggling debutantes in formal attire still descended the polished wooden
staircases, while perfect gentlemen waited at the bottom of the twin spiraled
banisters to lend an arm in escort.
Jenny's
dark visitor was a sharp contrast to the gentlemen who had formerly graced this
house, as well as to the hickory hardwood floors and beige-toned walls. Light,
neutral colors spoke of warmth and safety, while he was the embodiment of cool danger. His jet-black hair jutted
past the length of his ivory jaw, blending seamlessly with his black trench
coat, as if his hair was an extension of the leather. Even his designer jeans
and Doc Martin shoes were varied shades of ebony, projecting the appearance of
a dark, romantic figure, like Heathcliff in Wuthering
Heights. The only hint of color was a rich, burgundy, button-down shirt
made of the finest silk that peeked out from under his jacket. But it was more
than just his appearance that set him apart. He held a dark appeal, and Nina
suspected that he wasn’t even really a man.
If he was, he certainly wasn’t a gentleman.
His
legs, long and elegant, stretched out with commanding confidence as he walked
across the front room and eased himself into one of the white suede sofas
grouped together in the center of the space. Tapping his graceful fingers on an
oak end table, he gave Jenny a slither-hither look that had all of her circuit
boards overloading.
Nina
could feel Jenny’s emotions as if they were hers. Undiluted sexual desire
punched through her system as Jenny admired his striking, self-assured posture.
She burned for him. So many sensations assailed Nina at once it was as if his
presence filled the very air around her. Intoxicating was the only word to
describe his effect. Intoxicating and addicting, like heroin. She knew that
Jenny wanted him, and that she would sell out her old best friend for just one
taste.
Jenny
came through so clearly to Nina, while the other figure remained shrouded in
obscurity. She tried to touch his mind, but his thoughts evaporated into smoke.
“Well,
here I am, caught within your capable clutches. Are we going to play out your
little game, or did you plan to simply gawk at me for the rest of the evening?”
he asked. Nina could feel the taunting amusement curve the corners of his mouth
rather than seeing it.
There
was no Heathcliff now. The shroud around him shifted ever so slightly and his
words carried more authority, like that of a dark prince staring down upon his
lowly subject. “It hardly makes any difference to me, but you might feel
uncomfortable when your father comes home. I don’t think he’d appreciate you
dribbling all over the upholstery.”
Jenny
cringed as his snarky observations hit their mark. Her father did tend to treat
her like a pampered Pomeranian who couldn’t be trusted past the front door. Thoroughly
chastised, she lifted her chin, annoyance flickering now in her dangerous eyes.
Nina knew that look. Jenny had decided it was time for a shift in power. Floating
across the room with the grace of a ballerina, she positioned herself directly
in his line of sight. Her luscious, full lips parted in an appealing manner,
practiced to perfection, as the tip of her tongue darted out to moisten them.
“There’s
no need to worry your silly little head over that stuffed shirt. He's run off
to D.C. for the weekend and left helpless little me here all alone. I don’t
know what I'll do with so much temptation all around me… Any suggestions?” Her
wanton gaze lingered momentarily on his bemused expression as she opened her
robe coyly and let it slide to the floor.
Jenny
averted her eyes as her skin flushed a bright strawberry on appealing cream. The
light played off the red in her hair, complimenting her ivory skin and striking
green eyes like a forest fire across a snow-covered wood. The air flooded with
a heady mixture of berries and gardenias from the lotion slathered on her skin.
Any man would have been reduced to incoherent babble at the sight of her…any man.
Jenny
was playing a perilous game and Nina wanted to cry out a warning. No! You can’t win this time. He doesn’t
follow the rules! But any alarm would have fallen upon deaf ears. It was
only a movie to Nina, and the outcome wouldn’t change with a protest.
“Certainly, I could think of a few,” he
said, traveling his eyes along the skimpy nightgown Jenny had barely managed to
squeeze into. Green lace and satin hugged tight in all the right places. The
dark aura around his body expanded out, wrapping around Jenny as his eyes
touched the curves of her body. Moaning, Jenny’s breath came in ragged bursts
as the heat of his gaze roughly raked along her skin, as if his hands were
stroking everywhere his eyes touched.
But Nina could see what was really
happening. Fingers protruded out of the dark cloud directed by his vision,
searing and violating Jenny without a single physical encounter. The invisible
foreplay intensified until her legs finally melted out like warm vanilla ice
cream, reducing her to a puddle on the floor at his feet.
As he
stared down at Jenny, Nina could feel contempt pulsating under his cloak, but
she wasn’t prepared for the viciousness of his true nature. All she could do
was look on in horror as he introduced his favorite kind of sex. With
incredible ease, the shadow penetrated into Jenny’s thoughts, desecrating her
most private and vulnerable sanctuaries. Ruthless, he ripped away her defenses,
not even bothering to hide the rape he was committing on her mind. He found it
entertaining to watch the terrified confusion play along the tremble of her
lips as she tried to understand his intrusion.
Pushing
harder, he pierced the door into her deepest recesses. In his excitement, the
shield around his thoughts faltered, giving Nina a tiny look into his mind. The
information he was seeking in Jenny was there, but he growled in frustration
when he finally found it. The story she had told him was a lie! There hadn’t
been any contact with the girl for years. A name written on the back of a
tattered photograph was the only remaining tie. Anger surged through his system
as the shadow leapt back, returning into a shroud around his shoulders.
“However,
the false circumstances under which you have lured me here require a declining
of your unappealing offer.” He leaned in close enough for his rage to creep
along her neck, and Nina sensed his satisfaction as Jenny shivered from the
sting of his words.
Reaching
over her, he opened the end table drawer and removed a photo, faded with age.
In the picture stood two girls smiling on a sunny beach, no older than twelve
when the moment was captured. One was all fire, clearly a younger version of
Jenny, and the other, causing him to catch his breath in excitement, was Nina. The
bottom of Nina's stomach fell out as he read the handwriting on the back of the
photo: Jenny Webber and Nina Douglas,
Huntington Beach, CA.
“I don’t
understand why you’re so worked up over Nina. So she said a special gift ran in
her family. Big deal! My father thought she was a liar,” Jenny protested,
dropping her fake accent. Her full, generous lips pouted as she pushed her curls
away from her face. Swampy eyes swam with confusion as she looked at him. He stared
back at Jenny with a detached coldness, her raw, violated emotions causing her
to look away. Pulling her robe off the floor, Jenny fastened it around her
waist again, attempting to regain a shred of dignity.
“I found
the picture, and that’s why I called,” Jenny claimed, meeting his stare again
in beautiful defiance. Standing to full height, her gaze carried a haughty
quality you could only find in a preacher’s daughter wearing lingerie.
“I think
your reason for summoning me is evident,” he scoffed. Discomfort crawled under
Jenny’s skin, adding to his pleasure. “You wanted to use me, just like you have
used everyone who has had the misfortune of crossing your path. When we first
met, I found your lack of scruples endearing, but now I find it a little over
the top and borderline pathetic. Something really must be done to rectify your
character flaws.
A
dangerous look flashed in his eyes as the shadow encompassed Jenny again,
showing Nina a fleeting glimpse of his beautiful face. Fear licked through her senses
as the reality of her friend’s situation clarified, sputtering her heart to a
stop before starting up again at double speed. Jenny was trying to turn away
from his malevolent stare, but the monster held her frozen to his gaze. Nina
cried for Jenny to run, but her
body remained fixed. A scream ensued from somewhere deep inside her, but it
only passed as a tiny whimper.
“Nina.” He savored the name as it rolled
off his tongue, looking at Jenny with ferocious derision. “I wouldn’t expect
someone as ordinary as you to understand why she is exceptional. Even in this
worn and faded image I can see her radiance glowing. She is an angel.” The last word was spoken in
complete rapture, and Nina found herself mesmerized by the beauty of her name
spoken in his melodic voice.
“This
photograph was taken on Huntington Beach six years ago?” He didn’t expect a
reply as he paced the room, caressing the tattered paper like it was a
priceless treasure. “I had hoped for a more viable connection, but at least
it's a start. Nearly three years have passed since I have felt even the
slightest flicker of her.”
As he
walked past the open drawer of the end table, Jenny caught a glimpse of her
father’s gun, lying under the papers just a few inches away. If she could just
reach it... Her hands shook with effort the as tears streamed down her cheeks,
lining them with black mascara.
“Do
you want the gun?” he asked, barely glancing away from the photo as a strangled
sob escaped her lips. “Are you sure? By all means, take it then,” he said,
nodding his head, like an overindulgent parent allowing their child a cookie,
as Jenny’s hand reached for the gun of its own accord.
“Please,
don’t do this!” Jenny managed to choke out in a strained voice she didn’t
recognize. Helplessly, Nina watched as the shadow forced Jenny’s hand to grasp
the handle and slowly inch the weapon towards her temple. Blue eyes filled with
hell’s fire stared at Jenny, feeding off of her fear like a delicious dessert
while she fought the invisible force to keep her finger away from the trigger. “Please,
please, oh God, please, no!”
“Now,
there’s no sense bringing Him into this. He won’t help you. In fact, I’m not
entirely certain that He exists anymore, and even if He does, why would He want
to save you?” he asked with dispassionate interest. “You are no faithful
servant or beacon of virtue. No, I think your salvation would be a waste of His
time. There are much more admirable candidates, of that I assure you,” he said,
his focus temporarily drawn to the photo again.
“I’m
looking into your soul right now and there is nothing worth redeeming,” he went
on. “You are a spoiled rotten, overindulged bit of plastic who has to buy her
friends and drape them like jewelry. If your daddy wasn’t Reverend Webber—‘the
face of family values’—I doubt anyone would even give you the time of day.
“You’re
vain, and as shallow as a mud puddle. On top of all that, you’re insecure,
needy, and quite frankly, useless in every way. I don’t understand how anyone
can tolerate you for more than a few hours, even with your ample assets.” His
words held a challenging quality, like he was begging her to contradict even
one of his cruel statements. His razor tongue had hit the mark. All that he
said was true and Jenny knew it, but Nina knew Jenny had plenty of good in her,
too. Nina remembered the girl who had befriended her when nobody else would. If
only Jenny could see herself in such a light. Given the chance, she could
become that girl again.
“So,
why don’t we just get this over with?” Amusement danced within his eyes as the shadow
descended, violating Jenny’s mind again, forcing her to see every shameful
transgression she had ever committed. The terror in her mind sharpened as though he
were drawing it out, like infection from a festering wound. For the briefest
moment, Nina connected with his thoughts and she understood his motivations.
There
was enough hurt living in Jenny to feed him for days, but it would never fill
his insatiable need for more suffering—and for vengeance. Most of his victims
begged for death long before he was finished, but tonight he lacked the patience
or the desire to toy with his prey. With a sickening raise of an eyebrow, a
loud boom vibrated the windows and Jenny’s blood splattered over the white
furniture.
Along
with her body crumpling to the floor, Nina witnessed Jenny’s essence collapsing
in on itself, until everything she had once been became concentrated into a
dense ball tied to a thread of light. The silver cord shined in the darkness of
death—the only tether to a failing body. Pulled taut, the string vibrated and
finally snapped, and Jenny’s previous existence fell away as she ascended away
from her earthly vessel.
Despite
the horror of all that just transpired, Nina felt slightly exhilarated by the
beautiful journey Jenny’s soul was making. Nina even felt a momentary stab of
envy—to be free, to have nothing holding her. A golden light appeared in the
darkness and a primal need pleaded for Jenny to soar into the brilliant spiral.
“You
don’t really think that is what you are destined for, do you Jenny?” The shadow
pulled her away from the light and her essence changed into a mockery of her
physical form.
“No!”
Nina screamed, grief overcoming sense. Jenny turned her head as if she could
sense Nina standing there, but the darkness was pulling her spirit down into
the depths of a prison governed by her killer. Nina no longer envied Jenny; her
fate was far worse than death.
Still
caressing the photo, the monster strolled to the entrance, quietly humming a
melodic tune. Reaching for the door, he hesitated, as if he too could feel
Nina’s presence. She held her breath, afraid to give him any indication as the shadow
paused for a moment before joining its master. A sigh of relief rushed from her
lungs as the handle turned, but his final words left her chilling and burning
simultaneously.
“Nina,
my angel, I’m coming for you.”