Ghostly Realm - Not Even Death Could Separate Them (5 page)

Devon and Abigail spent a lot of time together the past few days secluded in her apartment. It was hard for them to be apart for very long. They made love and talked about their lives. They felt a familiarity with each other that came natural and they both felt they’d always been together. Neither of them could imagine a time they lived without the other. It was late afternoon and they were thinking about getting out and doing something.

“Dev, can you take me to the house where you grew up?” Abigail asked excitedly. She wanted to see where he lived as a boy.

“Sure, I’d like that.” Devon said with fondness. “It’s run down but it’s still beautiful to me.”

Abigail drove them the few miles outside of New Orleans where he use to live.

“See that dirt road up there to the right? Turn there.” Devon said as he pointed at the almost hidden road. Tall trees lined both sides of the secondary highway they drove down and Abigail slowed the car down and turned right on a narrow road.

“Are we close now?” She asked, growing more excited.

“We’re getting closer so don’t drive too fast, it’s easy to miss the road that leads up to the house.” Devon said as he watched for the opening.

Abigail drove a couple of miles and then Devon pointed to the left. “There, in between those two big trees.” He said.

Abigail slowed down and turned the car into the overgrown dirt road that was between the two big trees Devon pointed to. The road was bumpy so she drove slow. Tall trees lined both sides of the long narrow winding road and then finally they came to a clearing and Abigail stopped the car. In front of them was an old small cottage that was once white but was now covered in pretty Irish moss. The roof was covered in the soft moss and parts of the house itself. Wild roses grew in the front of the house, they were in full bloom.

“Oh Dev, it’s beautiful!” Abigail exclaimed as she shut her car off and opened the door and stepped out. Devon got out too and walked around to take Abigail’s hand and they walked up to the front of the house. The path was almost completely overgrown but they stepped through it easily as they came up to the front door. Devon reached out and turned the handle of the door and gave a mighty shove and the door creaked open.

They stepped inside and immediately Abigail gasped in awe. She glanced around the small living room, the furniture was old and rotted mostly. A large fireplace was on one wall directly in front of them, moss grew in the interior and it gave it an almost fairy home kind of feeling she thought. “I can tell it was once very homey and beautiful Dev.” Abigail said as she started to walk around. She felt like she stepped back in time. She saw a door to the left and stood in the doorway and glanced inside. Devon walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist and peered inside too. “This was my room.” He said.

Abigail walked in and Devon smiled as he released his hands from her waist. “There’s not much to see Abby.” He said with a smile.

She walked over to a bed that was still standing and sturdy. The mattress was long deteriorated by time. She visualized a young boy sleeping in the bed and tears formed in her eyes. She sniffled and dabbed at her tears and turned to look at Devon. “Wow, you use to sleep here when you were just a little boy.” She said wistfully.

Devon smiled and walked to her and took her in his embrace. “That was long, long ago. I remember laying here and I would listen to my mother humming in the next room as she did her sewing.” He said in a faraway tone. He snapped out of the memories that tried to choke him. “Want to walk down to the beach? It’s not far from here, just down a little path.” He asked her.

“Yes, I’d like that Dev.” She said and they walked outside.

Devon led Abigail down a small path towards the secluded beach down a ways from the cottage. They walked out onto the soft sand barefoot, hand in hand. The Mississippi River shimmered in the setting sun and the city lights across the water reflected on the far side of it’s surface. The narrow beach was hidden by most people because of its location and was very private. Dense woods spanned out along the beach for a few miles in both directions. The water appeared calm but it was in constant motion, the sound of water slapping against the rocks and sand was music to their ears.

Abigail glanced back at the little hidden path they just walked out of and smiled as she swung her and Devon’s hand back and forth as they leisurely walked. “Back in the day honey, your home was very pretty.” She said as they walked along the beach. “I’m glad you took me there and showed me where you use to live.”

Devon smiled and stopped, Abigail’s arm extended out behind her at his sudden pause. She turned around and he pulled her around and wrapped his arms around her. “It was my pleasure my dear.” He said as he picked her up and twirled her around.

Abigail laughed joyously as Devon swung her around in his powerful arms and she gripped them with her hands. His powerful muscles rippled underneath her touch and she grew breathless.

Devon stopped suddenly and lowered her down onto her feet. She laughed lightly and smiled warmly up at him as she released her hands from him reluctantly. Devon had grown very still and was looking out at the water and she followed his gaze to the water and then looked back at him. “Are you ok honey? Dev, what’s wrong?” She asked concerned. She had a dreadful feeling even though she had no idea what was happening.

Devon took his arm and pushed her behind him in a protective manner. “Be still!” He commanded harshly.

Abigail’s heart hammered in her chest with fear. Devon had never spoken to her like that before and she was scared. She peeked her head around him and looked again towards the dark water as Devon spread his legs wider in the sand and secured his balance. She gripped the back of his shirt tightly afraid to let go.

Devon and Abigail’s gaze was riveted several feet out into the water where a dark mass appeared just under the surface. The water unnaturally churned and twirled around as something was moving underneath the water.

Devon sensed something evil and he quickly turned around and gripped Abigail by her arms forcefully. “Run back up the path, NOW! I’ll follow as soon as I can!” He gave her a little shove and she stumbled back and put her hand to her mouth in fear.

“Dev...” She said fearfully.

“Go!” He yelled and Abigail turned and ran towards the path they had just walked down from. She stopped up the path a little ways and hid behind a large tree and peered around it to watch the scene below, frozen in fear. Her trembling hand covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming as she watched with wide frightened eyes. She was afraid for Devon’s life and didn’t know what was happening.

Devon watched as the water churned more ferociously. He caught the scent of death and decay and he knew whatever was rising up out of the water was not of this world. He took a few steps back and braced himself. Out of the water slowly rose a most hideous foul creature. It’s head and powerful shoulders emerged first with a thunderous roar so loud that it shook Devon to his core. On it’s head was long tangled and twisted red hair that hung down in front and to the sides of the creature. It’s face was twisted and demonic, it’s leather-like skin covered its skeletal facial bones. It’s cheekbones were exposed as if the skin rotted off, exposing the bone beneath. It’s beard and mustache hung as long as it’s hair and was the same red. It’s distorted mouth hung wide open, it’s long jagged razor sharp teeth flashed as the dirty Mississippi water poured from it’s mouth as it arose as if in slow motion. Massive muscular yet skeletal arms spread wide open as it rose completely out of the water. It wore a semblance of pirate clothing, dark brown tattered leather pants and black boots that came up to it’s bony muscular legs, spikes extended from each side of its boots. It hoovered on the churning water and it’s solid black sunken in eyes glared down right into Devon’s blue ones.

“I have found you at last, you bastard!” The demon roared loudly, it’s fetid breath blew in Devon’s direction.

“What do you want with me?” Devon yelled back.

“Your soul!” The demon rose up even higher. He pulled a long whip out, it’s length was made of black living smoke. He raised it high above it’s head and snapped it down onto Devon, wrapping him in it’s evil coiled grasp.

Devon’s body tensed and began to glow a bright violet aura and the whip released it’s grip on him. The demon roared as it raised the whip again, cracking it in the air several times and then forcefully aimed it again at Devon’s body. The black smoke thong tightened on Devon’s body more tightly. Devon fought it harder, his body twisted as he struggled against it and again he forced the thong to release him.

The demon started to pull the whip back to himself again but Devon grabbed ahold of the tangible black smoke and wrapped his fist around it several times and jerked it with a mighty pull. The demon was caught off guard and the handle of the whip was pulled from his long bony hand.

“You’ll not take my soul today you vile creature!” Devon shouted as he stepped on the tail of the whips black smoke to keep it from trying to wrap around him again.

The demon rose up higher and thundered down in a mighty voice. “Don’t you recognize your own brother? This isn’t over yet, Devon!” Devon watched in dawning horror as the demon sank back down into the water and disappeared. The whip that he was gripping dissipated and evaporated into the gentle breeze as if it never existed.

Devon walked to the waters edge and looked to the spot the demon, who was once his half brother Eric, disappeared. The water was calm and he couldn’t see anything under the surface.

He ran down the beach towards the path where Abigail went and he saw her step out from behind the tree with a dazed and shocked expression on her face. He didn’t have time to explain as he grabbed her hand and pulled her along with him as he ran up the path to her car.

“Get in, let’s go!” Devon shouted as he helped her into the driver’s seat and shut her door then walked around the car and got into the passenger side and shut the door. Abigail fumbled fearfully for her car keys and then started to cry. “What the fuck was that?” She cried in panic as she finally pulled the car keys from her pocket and inserted the keys with shaking fingers into the ignition. She started the car and glanced at Devon. He was looking towards the path they just came from with a shocked expression on his face. “Devon!” She shouted. “What was that back there?” She asked in a panic filled voice.

His attention on the path was interrupted with his name being shouted and he looked at Abigail. He saw how scared she was and tried to be calm but it was hard. He had to protect her and he knew they were’nt out of danger yet. He would calm her down later, right now they had to go! “Just go Abby! It could come back, we have to leave NOW!!” He said firmly.

Abigail backed the car up and turned around and drove down the dirt road that led to the secondary highway and peeled out as she turned left out onto the road. Neither of them spoke the whole way to her apartment. Abigail had a million questions she needed Devon to answer for her. She’d never been so frightened in her life. When she saw the hideous creature wrap his whip around Devon she thought surely he would die somehow or be taken away from her.

Devon’s mind raced with a million thoughts.
My brother is a demon and wants my soul? Why? Why God, why?
He thought to himself.

They arrived at her apartment building and she parked her car underground in her assigned spot and turned off the ignition. She tried hard to collect her thoughts. They both got out of the car and took the elevator silently up to her apartment and went inside.

As soon as they were inside and Devon locked the door, Abigail couldn’t remain silent any longer. “Dev...” She began as tears flowed down her cheeks. “That creature wanted to kill you! How could he kill you though, you’re a ghost!” She put her hands over her face and cried hysterically as the horrific scene played over and over in her mind. “He said he wanted your soul! That he was your brother?” She couldn’t control her hysterics and began to hiccup as she cried.

Devon walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her and she clung to him and cried harder. He was just as concerned and scared.
What if he finds me with Abby? I’m not sure I could protect her.
He thought as he held her. “Abby, my love,” He said, trying to make his voice sound soothing but it came out scared. “I think it’s best that I leave.”

Abigail clung to him tighter. “No Dev, don’t leave me!” She cried out. “I couldn’t bear it.”

“I don’t want to, believe me. But if he finds me and I’m with you...” Devon’s voice broke off emotionally. “I don’t know if I could protect you from him and I couldn’t bear it if you were hurt...or worse.” He said as he held her closer to him. Her body trembled and he knew how afraid she was. He never felt so afraid for another person his whole life until now.

Abigail lifted her tear stained face up and gazed into Devon’s tearful eyes. She ran her hand through his hair and gripped it tightly in a fist as she raised her mouth up to his and devoured his mouth in a heart wrenching kiss. Devon groaned as he let her claim him lovingly. She spoke hotly into his mouth as they kissed feverishly. “Please don’t leave. I would die without you.”

Devon cried silently, his body shook and trembled at the emotions she brought out in him as he claimed all the love she gave in that kiss. His lips moved from hers to kiss along her cheek to her ear and he whispered. “God help me Abby, I can’t leave you.” His hand pressed her head to his shoulder and she cried in relief as they held each other closer.

He slowly released her when her trembling and crying quieted down. He backed away from her but held onto her arms. He looked down into her eyes as he gently squeezed her upper arms. “We have to think clearly what to do next.” Devon said seriously. He reached up and placed his hand on her cheek and she tilted her face to rest it in it as she lifted her hand and placed it over his. “I love you and I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” Devon declared. He wasn’t sure he could protect her but he prayed he would do whatever was necessary to make it so.

Abigail took his hand and turned her face to press her lips against it and kissed it. She looked up into his eyes again. “We’ll face this together love.” She felt relief and love so strong that it gave her a lump in her throat.

Devon led Abigail to the couch and they sat down and he held her hand in his. “God gave me the strength to defend myself the way I did tonight.” He began. “I’ve never encountered anything like that before and I had no idea what would happen.” He said with emotion.

Abigail gave his hand a squeeze. “Do you think he will come back?” She asked worriedly.

“Yes. He’s here to take my soul down to Hell with him.” Devon said knowing as he said it, that it was the truth.

“What are we going to do?” Abigail asked.

“Well dear, I think it’s pointless to run or to hide. He would find me regardless.” Devon said. But he
did
think of something he could do, he just wasn’t sure how she would react. “I will go back to the cottage and if you insist on going, you must stay there where you would be safe. I plan on going back down to the beach and I’m sure he will come.”

Abigail was quick to respond. “What? You want to go back and let him attack you again?” She asked in shock.

“He will find me anyway Abby and I’m no coward.” Devon said. “I think it’s best this way.”

Abigail knew there was no talking him out of it. “I’m just so scared Dev.” She said in a tearful voice. She tried to be strong but the thought of losing him was overwhelming to her.

Devon put his arm around her and pulled her close to him. “If he could have taken me down to Hell with him, he would have. I’m not sure why I feel so confident but I just feel that he won’t succeed in his evil plan against me.”

Abigail had to be satisfied with what Devon told her. She knew Devon had a great deal of power, she saw for herself when she watched him triumph against the hideous demon that was once his brother. She didn’t trust herself to speak so she nodded her head.

Devon gave her a smile as she looked up at him. “Besides, why would God bring us together only to let that
thing
come between our love?” He asked.

“You’re right love.” Abigail said as she offered a small smile back.

“Tomorrow we’ll go to the cottage again. I don’t want you to worry too much, I’ve always been able to take care of myself. I won’t lie and say I’m not afraid but I have a feeling that all this is happening for a reason.” Devon said, trying to assure her.