Their green skin was marked with pocks and lesions, and their pointed features were twisted into hideous grins that peeled their lips back over sharp, yellowed teeth. The brightly colored sashes tied about their heads were sweat stained, and the weapons they carried were crusted with dried blood and bits of torn flesh.
Gnelf
Master, a much more hideous and bestial
Gnelf
Master than the one immortalized in the storybooks and cartoons, led the band, a huge pitchfork grasped in his thick green fists.
Their feet crunched on the gravel path as they followed it into the city. They skulked along beside the roadways, avoiding headlights and dodging away from detection until they were at the edge of the neighborhood they sought.
There they darted across lawns, over fences, and through backyards until they reached Heaven's window. She had known they were coming, and she sat at the head of her bed, pillows bunched around her and the covers pulled up to her chin as if for protection.
She could not move when the window opened and they struggled in, exerting themselves to squeeze their stout bodies through the opening.
When they were assembled on the carpet at the foot of her bed,
Gnelf
Master began to laugh. As he did, his breath seeped out in wisps of smoke, and something harsh and brutal rattled in his chest.
"Tryin' to sleep?" he asked. His voice came from deep in his throat and his speech had a thick, slow pattern. "There is no sleep for little bitches."
Heaven bit her lower lip, chin trembling, tears in her eyes as Master pointed his pitchfork and wiggled it, the tines pricking the sheet in front of her.
"Your mama took you to see the holy man. Did he do any good? Did he keep us away?"
The other creatures grunted and laughed, urging him to continue the harassment. They were like little, deformed apes, their eyes dull and their faces almost seeming limp except when they growled and grinned.
"Sometimes we eat little girls," Master said. His squinting eyes seemed to gleam as he spoke the words, and the grin broadened on his lips. Then he clicked his teeth as if taking two quick bites.
Heaven pulled the covers closer about her, bringing forth a laugh from the leader. He tilted his head back, and the noise roared up from his mouth.
"No one can hear us," he said. "We're in your dream. Only you know we're here. Poor little thing," he added with mock sympathy.
Heaven whimpered, but it was the only sound she could manage, a frightened little moan.
"Oh, you can't scream either," the Master said. "You're too scared. Try it."
Heaven's voice seemed tangled in her throat. It was true. She could not call out for help, and that made the shudders running through her intensify. She almost wet herself, and sweat covered her.
He screamed instead, a loud imitation of her voice that turned to a laugh. “Doesn’t help does it?”
Moving around the edge of the bed, Master tilted his head to one side, his wrinkled face taking on a false look of concern. "Poor little one." He extended his hand, one finger outstretched, to caress her cheek.
"Not your fault you are born of a whore, but your blood is tainted. Your mother is a slut."
"Mommy isn't bad."
“If only you knew." He caressed her cheek and then suddenly grabbed a handful of her hair, jerking her head sideways.
"Maybe we should cut her into little pieces, eh, boys?" He looked over his shoulder at minions who grunted and guffawed in approval.
His yellow-green eyes turned back to Heaven. They were filled with anger and hatred. “That bitch would scream then, seeing pieces of her little one strewn all across the living room rug."
"No," Heaven pleaded.
"Or if we eat her, it'd just be the bones. Right boys?"
Again a round of approving grunts, and the
Gnelfs
hoisted their weapons over their heads, waving them about in near-frenzied excitement.
"Don't hurt me or Mommy," Heaven begged. "We've never done anything to you. I used to like you."
"Oh, she used to like us." The Master let go of her hair and cupped her chin, gently for a second, but then his grip tightened. "You should be scared. This is nowhere near over, and your mother's friends ain't gonna be able to help. No one will help you. Not until we've finished with you."
He let go with a rough twist of his hand, then stepped back from the bed to join the others. "We'll be back," he said. "Soon. But you won't know when. Neither will your mommy. But don't tell her. Not unless you want us to cut her into little pieces instead."
They all began to laugh again before they formed a single file and began to squirm out the window. It might have been comical if they hadn’t been so brutal and horrible.
Master paused before his exit, his face splitting into another broad grin. "Take care," he said. Then he was gone.
Heaven awoke, tangled in her covers, her pillows bunched around her. She sat up quickly, eyes bulging, but her room was empty, and the window was closed.
She lay there, shivering from the cold sweat that covered her. Wrapping herself in the sheet didn't seem to help. The fear was too intense. She thought for a few moments she couldn't breathe until the grip of fear relaxed enough to let her lungs function again.
She didn't try to scream. That would only disturb Mommy again, and she didn't want her to worry. She also didn't want the
Gnelfs
to hurt Mommy the way they had said they would.
She didn't know what she could do, but for now she would have to keep things a secret. She would have no more outbursts like the one at Miss
K'ina's
. She had overcome that at Mr. Tanner's. Those tapes had not been expected. This time she knew what she had to do. She would hide things. For Mommy's sake she would have to.
Chapter 6
Rain poured in New Orleans as the sleek silver Greyhound pulled from the station, but the downpour could not ground a bus as it could planes. The storm seemed to be following Danube, washing spring down the gutter.
As the bus began its journey north, he watched the clouds on the horizon. It could be a natural phenomenon, but he found himself wondering if his presence had been detected by other forces, those of the supernatural kind.
Nothing was to be ruled out. Not in war, and he had been a warrior for a long time. Unwilling though he might be, he had learned to do what was necessary.
As he let his head fall on the headrest, he found himself wondering again what he would find in
Aimsley
. He had heard mention of the area before. Bad things happened there, things that men could not explain in simple, tangible terms.
He tried to think back to when the world had seemed simple, but his thoughts could not grasp that time now. Too much had transpired, too many pains, too many agonies.
He had traveled too many miles and seen too many nightmares. He knew what lay beyond reality and, worse still, what humans could do to each other. He had witnessed it all, and he had no escape.
The bus made its way onto the interstate, then onto the endless stretch of the bridge. He looked out across the water. The rain continued to slash down from the heavens, and the sky turned to a drab gray. For a while he fought the drowsiness that tried to overtake him. He did not want the dreams that would come with rest, yet he realized he would have to sleep soon. He could not face what was ahead in a state of exhaustion. Weak, he could be dragged into a fate worse than his present one.
~*~
After picking up Heaven at school, Gabrielle made a stop by Benson's Super Foods, putting forth an extra effort for her dinner with Tanner. He would hear that it was just something she'd thrown together, a simple meal. Letting him know she'd slaved would be akin to tipping her hand, letting him know she was interested. That was against the rules. If he thought he was doing the chasing he would continue the pursuit. If the situation reversed, he might run away.
She selected a shopping cart and shoved it along the broad tiled aisles, her daughter strolling casually behind, in no real hurry. Heaven had no concept of being in a rush. She was busy scanning the shelves for things she might beseech her mother to purchase.
Keeping her in peripheral sight, Gab made the best time she could, selecting fresh-looking vegetables and seasonings she usually passed over for the store brands. Then she hovered over the meat display, gazing across the lines of roasts, small reddish brown lumps sealed in cellophane and stacked in neat rows. Dave had always claimed there was an art to making the selection.
She always aimed for picking one that was not spoiled. She knew the older cuts were kept on top, so she shoved a few aside. Lifting a package, she winced at the cost per pound. Tanner had better be worth it. She'd probably have to water Heaven's milk to afford this.
Bad joke. She knew she would never skimp on anything for her daughter. She felt guilty over even joking about that.
As she got back behind the cart and seized the handle, she realized Heaven had wandered off. Time was a major factor if she was going to pull this dinner off, and her daughter was doing a disappearing act. She gritted her teeth as she shoved the cart forward along the rear aisle. With luck, she'd locate Heaven at the toy rack.
The hunch paid off. She rounded the end of the aisle where the cheap novelty items were displayed beside the hardware rack. Sure enough, Heaven was standing there peering up at the display.
“We need to get a move on,
Hev
," Gab said as she wheeled the cart forward.
Heaven didn't move. At first Gab thought her child was being stubborn, but as she drew closer she realized Heaven was mesmerized by something on the rack.
Stepping from behind the cart, she walked to her daughter's side. Heaven didn't respond. She just kept on staring intently. Gab traced her daughter's line of vision to the plastic bag of toy
Gnelfs
dangling from one of the metal hooks.
There were about a half-dozen figures including
Gnelf
Master and his buddies. Holding hoes and spades, they were molded into gardening poses, and the painted card that sealed the bag shut showed them working in a garden full of brightly colored vegetables.
"Heaven, let's go. These won't hurt you."
Heaven continued to stare, her eyes wide. Reaching down, Gab took her shoulder and shook her lightly.
"Heaven." She looked around to make sure no one was looking on. "Honey, come on. They're just toys. The
Gnelfs
won't hurt you."
Heaven drew a tense breath, and a shudder seemed to course through her small body. There was no indication that she'd heard Gab speak to her. She seemed mesmerized.
Gab cast a quick glance around to make sure no one would see and misunderstand. The aisle was clear, so she shook Heaven again, trying to get through to her. She could feel the vibrations of fear. Heaven did not seem to want to budge, cemented in her tracks, as if the tiny plastic figures held some control over her.
Gabrielle snatched the bag down and tucked it behind some other items, out of Heaven's sight. That seemed to break the trance. Heaven blinked and came back into the real world, shivering, perspiration breaking out on her brow. She recognized Gabrielle and hugged her.
"Mommy."
"What is it, honey?" Gab grabbed her and held her close. "Are you all right?"
"Fine, Mommy."
Gab released her and gripped her shoulders. "Are you sure?"
She seemed a little disoriented and the shivers continued, but she nodded. "I think I'm okay. I guess I was just daydreaming or something."
"You were lost to the world, Heaven. What happened? You were staring at the
Gnelfs
."
"Toys?”
Gab nodded. "Did they scare you?"
Heaven's eyes widened again, and for a moment she seemed about to reveal something. Then she shook her head. "I don't think so."
A small, elderly woman rounded the end of the row, and started to push her cart toward them. Moving Heaven out of the way, Gab let the woman pass. Then she carefully headed her own cart up the aisle, Heaven at her side.
The checkout seemed endless, but finally they cleared the register and made their way to the car.
Strapped into place, Heaven seemed to quietly slip back to normal. Gab kept looking over at her, but she could spot no other sign of a problem. She'd never heard of a child experiencing anything quite like what she'd just seen. Her daughter had been in an almost catatonic state.
"Heaven?"
"Yes."
"Would you like me to ask Mr. Tanner not to come tonight? Is that why you were upset? I could call him and tell him you're not feeling well."
"No, Mommy. I like Mr. Tanner. You can have him over."
"Honey, you're sure Mr. Tanner doesn't frighten you or upset you?"
"No, Mommy. He's fine." She settled down in her seat and folded her arms. Her chin tucked in against her chest, but she wasn't pouting. She seemed to be contemplating something. If five-year-olds contemplated.
A call to Katrina was in order, no question about it. Gabrielle pressed the gas pedal a little harder, eager to get home. On arrival, she hauled the groceries in quickly and, leaving the bags on the kitchen table, snatched the wall phone from its hook.