Among You (29 page)

Babbette turned to me, her face drowning in seriousness. “You do not unleash a show of force – especially your power. My father has given me explicit instructions to forbid you from tapping into that energy, not until he is sure we ‘Kind are ready.” She paused…again. “I honestly do not foresee that happening any time soon.”

Sally handed the pictures back to me and turned to Babbette and Timely. “Is
that
why you came here? To warn Scott to not use the only true defense he may have against those thugs? Don’t you think that tips the scales in their favor?”

“
We do not believe either Comnical or Valiskil have manifested their powers,” Timely interjected.

“
You don’t
think.
That means you don’t know for sure. So Scott is supposed to just leave himself vulnerable on faith? What happens if those two show up, hands a glowin’, prepared and willing to take Scott down? What then? Is he supposed to just pull out his phone and call the cavalry? Who’s to say that said
cavalry will even arrive before the thug machine puts a hit on my boyfriend? I’m sorry…I’m not okay with that.”

“
We understand your concerns,” Babbette started.

“
No, I don’t think you do.” Sally interrupted. “We’re talking about the death of the man I love.”

I raised my hand to put a halt to the conversation.

“
Babbette, you can assure your father I will not use the forbidden on Comincal or Valiskil – unless they give me no other choice.”

Sally started to complain. I silenced her with a finger to her lips.

“
But…” I continued. “I want your father’s assurance they are doing everything they can to find these two and keep them from reaching me.”

“
On behalf of my father, I give you my word.”

“
And know that, if given no other alternative, I’ll use the forbidden. To save Sally and my parents, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Babbette nodded her approval. That was good enough for me. I looked to Sally who likewise nodded.

“
Is there anything else?” I asked the ladies before me.

Tears leaped from Babbette’s golden eyes.

“
I just can’t believe my father capable of such action. He’s such a gentle man, with only the best of intentions.”

It was Sally that stepped up to this plate. She wrapped her loving arms around Babbette and pulled her into an embrace.

“
Your father was only doing what he had to do to protect you, Timely, and the ‘Kind. He is a good man and a great father. This was a unique situation that called for decisive action. He did the right thing.”

Babbette spoke through body-wracking sobs. “Are you certain?”

“
Yes…I am.” Sally’s sweet and soothing voice helped talk Babbette down from her ledge. She finally stopped sobbing and could speak clearly.

“
Thank you, both of you. I cannot express how precious your friendship is to me. I hope you understand, we ‘Kind are a peaceful and loving race. What has happened is so far outside of the norm for our society…we have no idea how to react.”

Sally reached out and placed her palm on Babbette’s cheek. “And you’re doing a wonderful job. This will pass. Your father will have everything under control before you know it. Why don’t you go home, get some sleep, and meet us here again in the morning for your second day of public school.”

The mere mention of school lit the girls’ faces up with hope. I looked to Sally who winked. I mouthed ‘I love you’; she returned the favor.

We walked Babbette and Timely to the Aston Martin.

“
Make sure to not squeal the tires as you leave. Drive quiet…at least until you get two point one miles away from here.” I winked at Babbette. The heavy doors of the car closed and the powerful engine came to life. Babbette eased the gas and slowly rolled the car out of the driveway. As the car faded into the blackness, Sally put her arm around me.

“
Do you think they’ll be okay?” she asked.

“
Honestly? I have no idea. But I plan on doing everything in my power to make sure they are.”

I held up my hands and allowed the orange glow of the forbidden to surround the space above my palms. The glowing, writhing ball of energy sparked and licked at the air. Sally stepped in front of me and placed her hands, palm down, above the forbidden. A jolt of feedback rushed through my system. The energy raced through me and exploded back from my hands to rush into Sally. Sally’s head tilted back as a soft moan escaped her lips.

When Sally pulled her hands away, her eyes briefly held an orange glow. As her eyes returned to their normal, ocean-gorgeous blue, she smiled and spoke in a voice I’d never heard.

“
Did we just…”

She didn’t finish. There was no need.

“
I think we did.”

My body continued to tingle as the remainder of the energy dissipated.

In my driveway, as the darkness of night reached its zenith, we kissed. As our lips touched, it seemed a connection far deeper than love and friendship was made whole. Some inexplicable and unspoken bond was formed between us that transcended the human creature.

When I pulled away and dove deep into the blue of Sally’s eyes, a truth dawned on me that re-defined everything in an instant. I spoke my words softly.

“
You are the keeper of my heart, my soul…my mask.”

I willed the mask off and handed it to Sally. She leaned forward and again kissed me.

Everything beyond us faded away. For that moment, the world of ‘us’ was the only thing in existence.

twenty-seven | Halloween

Halloween. The holiday of holidays and this year I was to be the belle of a very important ball.

The Gaultier House.

I was informed, via official correspondence that Gorman Gaultier himself requested I join the ‘Kind in celebration of the one day afforded them to hang their masks on a peg in a basement room and walk about Tyler’s End, proud of who and what they were. Some called it
The Unfettering
.

Turns out, I wasn’t just joining in on the celebration. I was to become part of the Gaultier House. Babbette even convinced Gorman to place me in the Hanging Room. Not even Babbette understood the deep-seated meaning behind that particular part of the house. The images of the ‘Kind floating in the middle of the room, switching from human to monster and back again was forever etched in my mind. Seeing Babbette’s true face for the first time (and not fully understanding what I beheld). She might never know how profound that effect could be on the human spirit.

I was to be part of it.

Me. Scott Maskey.

I was to not only get a glance behind the curtain, I would help make the magic.

“
Are you ready for this,” asked Babbette. The grin on her face was infectious.

The screams and sounds of horror echoed from every direction.

I laughed. I couldn’t control it. My heart swelled to nearly bursting with joy and pride.

“
Are you kidding me? I have been waiting for this moment my entire life.”

“
Remember, the spirits of my mother and brother do most of the work. All you have to do is relax and control your arms and legs. Let them lift you and hold you aloft.”

It was the ghosts of Babbette’s slain family that filled the Gaultier House with haunt. After their brutal murder, they remained trapped within the walls and halls of the house. Knowing this made it all so perfect. There were no wires, traps, or tricks to be had. This was all very real. Monsters, ghosts, magic – part of my world now.

Babbette had a monitor tucked within her ear so she could get the go signal from the house manager. Once the signal was given, the spirits of Suzanna and Stefan Gaultier would take over and make momentary believers out of a small group of humans.

My heart raced. Babbette gave us all the signal to make sure our masks were on and then, just as the door to the Hanging Room opened, Babbette raised her hand and I felt the spirits take hold of my body. I rose from the floor.

My first inclination was to shoot my hands out to either side, in order to steady myself. I quickly realized it was best to relax and trust the mother-son spirit team to not let me fall.

Fifteen of us rose together and formed a circle around the group of humans who looked on in shock and awe. The sounds of surrounding terror added an extra layer of horror to the effect. Within the core of my brain, memory sparked and flew me back to the moment I first witnessed what I was now part of. I looked into the eyes of the young woman before me and remembered the feeling of frightened elation, the wonder of ‘How do they do it?’ as it coursed through my system.

Only now…I knew the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of the Gaultier House.

Babbette communicated to each of us simultaneously through some unspoken link. Words were not exchanged – just the knowing of what to do. The first instruction was to
mask shift
. This was a bit of trickery I learned that allowed ‘Kind to remove and replace the mask so quickly, the human eye couldn’t perceive the action. We ‘Kind, on the other hand, clearly saw the movement: Hand to mask, mask from flesh, mask to flesh, hand removed. It was a spectral dance almost too beautiful to behold by human or ‘Kind eye.

As the masks danced about, the humans screamed and ogled; some even dared look away – the beauty of the spectacle too much to take in.

Finally, the Hanging Girl floated into the picture. Watching from this new perspective was brilliant. Even knowing the ‘how’ didn’t detract from the beauty of the scene. This was theater like no other. The second the Hanging Girl hit the bottom of the rope that wasn’t there, one of the humans fainted. Someone scooped her up and roused her back into the world of the living – and the dead. After a moment, a few laughs were shared.

With the Hanging Girl tragedy over, the group of humans was guided out of our room. The spirits lowered us back to the floor. A burst of laughter made a surprise exit from my mouth. Babbette and Timely both smiled my way and giggled.

A door behind me opened and, out of nowhere, a familiar pair of arms wrapped around my waist.

“
You were brilliant,” Sally whispered into my ear. I turned around and kissed her with every ounce of passion I could call upon.

“
Was that not the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen?” I asked.

Sally nodded and bit her lip. “I have to confess, I was only watching you.”

Babbette and Timely stepped in close. The three girls stood around me and nearly crushed me with the power of their affection.

“
Oh crap,” Sally nearly shouted. “I have to cue the Hallowed Widow.”

Sally was one of the assistant house managers. She took the job knowing she’d be the only human around, but also understood it was the only way she’d get to spend any amount of time with me during Halloween. Gorman even commissioned an honorary ‘Kind mask made so she could walk the streets of Tyler’s End without looking like an outcast.

She loved her mask as much as she loved mine.

Masks.

We all wear them.

For some they are a means to a hidden end; those that refuse to go about their day with their truth displayed for the world to see. For others, the mask is a form of exploration, of finding a deeper meaning and joy from life.

Everyone has something to hide – fear, doubt, truth, shame, a dirty secret, an ugly past. It’s only when you hide yourself away that the mask becomes a lie. Who you are, what you are is something to be celebrated, not obfuscated.

I wear my mask, three hundred and sixty four days a year, so that I may walk among you.

Epilogue

The old country.

Tucked away in the bowels of the oldest Kind cemetery lived a golden-eyed beast of a crone. The whispered rumors insisted the witch was as old as the land itself. No one knew for sure. No one dared draw close enough to ask.

The old tales of the one ‘Kind who refused to leave the motherland reached all the way to Tyler’s End. Over the years, the rumors died away and the witch was forgotten.

Until there came a need.

“
There is a price for what you ask,” the witch hissed.

“
I have all the money you could ever want,” Valiskil said with too much pride.

The old woman spat. “I have no need for your money. What I want will cost you more than coin.” She carefully reached her trembling hands into an ancient, wooden box and retrieved a tintype photo.

“
Gorman and Babbette Gaultier?” Valiskil asked.

“
The daughter. You bring her to me and I will return Skorsdan to the realm of the living.”

A dreadful silence wafted through the room. Valiskil’s eyes shaded to black.