The Quarter Moon (Afterlife saga) (8 page)

“You got some balls, I will give ya that!” He shouted through the door and I heard the heavy locks slide back before the door swung open to reveal a four hundred pound Samoan. He filled the entire door space and that was without his head! He wasn’t short off seven feet and it actually hurt my neck to look up at him. From the looks of his gut alone, it looked like it could play house to someone my size with ease. I think if he hadn’t been so damn intimidating then the massive gulp I did would have been a comedy moment.

“It’s you
!” He said with the clear look of being stunned, changing his honey coloured eyes to a glowing amber. He looked pretty much the same as last time, long shorts resting under his impressive sized gut, a massive black vest I didn’t think they made in his size and Jesus sandals.

“Umm… yeah
.” Wasn’t the smartest thing to say, but I was lost for words and even more so when I saw him lower to his knees in front of me. I stepped back, giving him more space and looked around in case someone important had just entered.

“Electus
Unus.” He murmured as his knees cracked when putting all that weight on them.

“What are you…?”

“My name is Ira and I serve the balance, my Heaven’s Light.” ‘Ooookay’ was my only thought.

“But you
told me to piss off?” I don’t know why this was the first thing I asked, let alone said it at all.

“And my most sincere apologises
, Light Bringer.” He said still looking at my feet, making me more uncomfortable by the second.

“Umm, please…you don’t have to kneel or anything…but
can I ask, what do you mean by Light Bringer?” I asked as he heaved himself off the ground with one beefy hand.

“You are the 7th light, the Chosen O
ne by the Gods.” He said this as if I should have known this already. I felt like telling him that I must have skipped that class!

“I don’t really know what you’re on about with the whole ‘light bringer’ bit, but I do know that I must get into this club, so can I pass?” I said shifting round to get closer to the door. As soon as he frowned I knew I had pushed m
y luck and was waiting for the big ‘Hell no’ and given his size, I didn’t think there was anyone better at delivering it.

“You wish to pass?” He asked wide eyed and suddenly shifting his large bare feet. I mean what did he think…that I had popped in for a visit to introduce myself? The sound of his sandals on the hardwood floor was the only noise as he studied me.

“If you mean if I want to go in there again, then the answer is yes,” I said firmly. His big hand smoothed back his plaited Mohawk and I could have sworn I saw the tattoos on his face move round like the cogs in his mind.

“If you would take the advice of a mere servant I would suggest before you do, you cover yourself. Here
, give me your umbrella and I will give it back to you for when you leave.” He held out his hand and I did as I was told because I hadn’t had any other instructions to do otherwise. So, doing as he suggested, I put my jacket on and when he nodded to the hood, I covered my face. I just hoped what I was doing was right because there was no going back now.

“Come, I will walk you in, I gather you are here to see Leivic
.” He said motioning the way with his big outstretched arm. The loose skin I would have called a bingo wing looked more like the wing on a small aircraft! It swayed as he moved like a waving flag of skin and I gave him a crooked smile as I passed.

The club was a lot different than
when I had last been here and it wasn’t only due to the serious lack of people. For one, I could now see more than just my feet, even if my hood was covering a lot of my face. I easily followed my new big Samoan friend, Ira by his shuffling alone. The place reminded me of somewhere someone would pound metal for a living. It was a steel worker’s wet dream. The place had open iron girders covering the ceilings and the walls were metal plates riveted to concrete pillars to create different spaces. Glass bricks were also used as room separators and the same theme made up the bar area in one corner.

As I followed on, I soon realised that the hard core clubbers
didn’t require a more comfortable space, as that had been saved for the VIP section we were now headed to. A crimson wall of material was the barrier between the two vast differences in interior decorating. It shimmered with its own magic and the grittier other side could be seen, as though looking through rippling water.

Now this I remembered
, as it was like stepping into a portal to a different land. The walls were covered in booths of rich, deep reds, pinks, sunset oranges and yellows. But, unlike before, this time there was only one booth not empty.

Leivic was sat in the middle of the centre booth, on a raised platform covered in large flat pillows with smaller one
s scattered between the other female bodies that accompanied him. He was smoking a large pipe the length of his arm. As soon as he saw us coming he sat up and the lounging half-naked beauties startled. It looked like chicks digged scars on big handsome warriors, I thought with a hidden smile. His silver blue eyes grew wide with both shock…and was that… fear?

“Leave us!” He snapped making me jump and after a few pouts
, five females left quietly. I found my eyes following them, everyone strutting their beauty like peacocks being dismissed unhappily. He placed his pipe down on a small table and stood up to greet me, but his smile didn’t meet his eyes. This instantly made me wary.

“Keira, what an unexpected but lovely surprise
!” He said in that easy going manner I now knew was being put on for my sake. I folded my hood back and smoothed my loose hair back from my face.

“Well
, that isn’t completely true now is it?” I said deciding to put a stop to the bullshit before it clouded my reasons for being here. For only a moment he looked taken back but with a quick flick of his wrist, he dismissed Ira and held out his hand for me.

“Keira, please join me
.” I took his large hand and let him lead me to the same booth. I had to walk up a few steps to get there and once in the only thing I could do with my legs was to sit as if I was about to start meditating. When I saw him sit the same way I did a mental shoulder shrug and waited for him to say the first thing. After all, I didn’t really have a plan here and was just going with the rocky flow.

Leivic picked back up his pipe and from here I could see the tiny and intercut carvings along the thin, twig like pipe that got thicker towards the end. A little copper cup sat
at the end and I gathered this was where the tobacco was put for smoking. He puffed on the flattened end and he gave me a sideways glance as if still trying to comprehend that I was actually here and more importantly, how he was going to deal with that very fact. He then sucked in a lung full and like before, he let out a smoking Dragon he knew I liked watching from last time. For a second he seemed pleased with my wide eyed reaction. Then his voice cut through the smoky creature and with its end came the end of the silence as well.

“Why are you here
, Keira?” His voice brought me back to that very day when I learnt words could nearly kill you.
“Draven is dead!”
Those words would not only haunt me to the end of time here, but in the next life as well. I closed my eyes momentarily as I tried to breathe through the pain. For a few seconds the memory hit me so hard I had to fight the run reflex my brain was screaming at me. It just wanted me to get as far away from that voice as I could, just to spare me the agony demons that would come collecting soon after.

But I stayed.

“What happened to him, Leivic?” I asked the one question I had been regretting not asking him that day. It was the same question that had troubled my every thought and the amount of times was long ago lost in the masses. I heard his reaction through the pipe he was sucking and I knew my question was like a sucker punch to the gut.

“Keira…I…can’t
.” He said with trouble and that was when I finally looked at him. His usually pale scar was now an angry red through his flustered skin and at that moment, I couldn’t help what happened next. I reached out to him and placed my hand on his scarred face. He flinched but didn’t move away.

The feeling I got was an overwhelming comfort. My hand grew warm
and my body tingled. It was as though my cells were crying out for the supernatural side that I had been denied and now they finally had contact, it was like they were singing.

“Please
, my friend.” I said and he closed his eyes. I thought I had lost my only chance and was about to move my hand away, when his covered mine and held it to his cheek.

“It’s been a long time since I felt a touch like this
.” He whispered as if to himself and me hearing him was like an afterthought. I smoothed my thumb along the part of his scar that cut across his nose and I heard a rumble as if his inner bear was enjoying being petted.

“You are such a good, clean soul
, Keira and do not deserve the pain my friend inflicted on you.” He turned his face to fit more firmly in my palm that neither he, nor I wanted to move at that point.

“Then help me understand
, Leivic. Help me heal. I need to know what happened to him or I will never move on.” I said knowing this                                                               wasn’t entirely true. See, something in him told me not to disclose the real reason I was here, as soon as I saw Leivic’s reactions to me. He obviously had no clue and if he didn’t, then that was because the Oracle didn’t want him to. And at this point, I was terrified of anything that could jeopardise my plans.

“I am so sorry Keira, I wish I could…I really do, but it is utterly forbidden. I should not be talking to you as it is
, but to explain details to you would surely get me a one way ticket to a place I vowed never to visit again.” He said shaking his head free of the memory.

“What! But why? Surely it is not as severe as that, is it?” I asked in utter disbelief.

“What, you doubt a King’s order to be heard and to be obeyed? I can most certainly say it is as severe as that! Anyone who breaks his orders is only going to end up in one place Keira, his words and his rules.” He said in all seriousness.

“But how...? H
e’s… he’s dead Leivic, how can he rule still?” At this his head hung down and he shook it in a quiet little motion that looked so sad.

“Please Keira, I will beg of you if that is what you require
, but please…don’t put me in this situation. That day my vow was paid, don’t make it in vain.” I felt a single tear of frustration fall before I nodded.

“Alright, I will give up on knowing…for now. But trust me in this Leivic, I will one day know what happened and make no mistake when I say I will never stop trying
, that is the truth! NEVER!” I got up at that, scooting to the edge as I knew there was nothing more I would get from this single minded meeting. He’d had his orders and I had my own quest to follow.

I was just leaving when I thought of one last thing, one I will always regret asking.

“At least answer me this, for I think it is owed to me.” I turned to find him slumped over, resting his face on his open palms, his knees holding his elbows. He looked so young and lost. I almost gave him a break and left… Almost.

He lifted hurt eyes to mine and just nodded.

“Is Draven in Hell?” I waited and when I saw his head lower and his eyes slam shut, I didn’t really need to hear his answer but I got it anyway,

“I have no doubt…that yes…

“He is
living in Hell, Keira.” 

Chapter 8

Ring ‘a’ Round the Warehouses

I walked away from Leivic feeling as if the walls of my world had been torn down. I now knew without the shadow of a doubt that Draven now lived out his time
, not watching me from above like he suggested, but from down below. The thought nearly brought me to my knees. I hiccupped a cry back and hurried out of the club, just so that I could breathe. It was as if the whole room was clouded in a dark looming presence that was making my skin itch. By the time I made it back to Ira, my scars were burning and I was nearly desperate to rip off my gloves.

Ira didn’t look surprised to see me and when I saw him put a finger to his temple and say,

“She is here.” I knew he was communicating with Leivic. I think he must have been making sure I was leaving, as it seemed to me that he couldn’t see the back of me quick enough. In my mind I wanted to say something like, ‘don’t worry tough guy, I am leaving’ but in the end, the sight of the giant of a man kneeling once again stopped me. Being rude wasn’t going to get me anywhere and if anything, it would have just made me feel even shitter all the way home.

“Electus
,” he said in respect, lowering his head.

“By the way, it
’s Keira…
just Keira.”
I whispered the last part after I took my umbrella from him and walked through the door. Once it slammed shut behind me I didn’t even flinch, I just felt numb. It was only when I felt little rivulets of rain running down my forehead that I released I was just frozen in the pouring rain. At this point I lost it completely and burst out into a humourless laugh that didn’t sound as if it belonged to me.

“An umbrella for the rain, great…just great!” I shouted lifting it up.

“Like I give a shit if I get wet at a time like this! Good one on predicting the weather!” I shouted looking up as if the Oracle could hear me, from where I didn’t know. I bitterly pressed the bottom releasing the black material in a whoosh. I lifted it over my head in one motion and just saw a sheet of paper fluttering down. I caught it just in time before the puddles ruined it for me.

I ran for my truck to get out of the rain and once inside I opened the letter with shaky hands. Little droplets ran down from my wet
hair and dropped on to the paper making some of the ink run. I read it quickly and tried to make sense of it.

Dear Tricks,

I know
if you are reading this right now, then no doubt your mind is a whirlwind of questions, it is always the way of you Chosen Ones but the key is trust and with this next clue, you will need it. For it is time to introduce Little Red to Big Ugly.

On the back of this note I have included some rather useful information for you about Big Ugly which you WILL NEED TO READ. After all, my game can’t work if there are no pieces left on the board to play with…if you catch my drift. And with the K
ing gone there is now only the Queen, so take the hint and don’t get eaten! Try really hard about that last part as even the fates can’t prevent stupidity.

Giv
en that, you should be fine if you follow my instructions.

Number 1: Place – There is a warehouse three buildings down from the one you are sat opposite right now. Go there, for my next clue waits for you inside. Beware, he takes being grouchy to a whole new level!

Number 2: Tools: Your umbrella is not just for keeping you dry. It is a shield and a hook…use them both.

Number 3: Entrance: The ladder is your friend. It is good for escaping when escaping isn’t needed and for breaking and entering when breaking isn’t needed.

Number 4: Red is the colour blood, blood comes from flesh, flesh in
a pound becomes a payment…NEVER pay Tricks.

One last thing

Remember, the shadows may be where people lie
, but a liar is easily hidden in the shadows.

P.t.o

I turned over the page and read the last short paragraph,

‘
Pishachas Demons enjoy the feast of flesh and prefer the solitude of dark places, only coming out to feed. Their eye sight is near blind with the exception to red, this being blood, the colour to feed on, it is what gives them strength to see when needed. 

They are known to possess human beings and alter their thoughts, before su
cking the madness they inflict dry and taking with them what is left of your conscious soul. Pay this demon with your flesh and they will leave the fruits of your mind intact’

So shields up my dear and trust in your ability as I do.

The King needs you!

P :o)

Reading this made me nearly throw the damn letter from the window and hightail it out of there but like a magic word, the Oracle’s last sentence had me hook line and sinker. I knew this wasn’t ever going to be as easy as just walking up to Leivic, getting some answers, along with a happy note and some plane tickets to where I would find the Oracle. Nope, not me!

The letter was a mind twister if ever there was one and left me with more questions than answers. I wasn’t certain that by the end of this little ‘game’ of hers that when finally meeting her, I wouldn’t be tempted to shake her by the neck instead of the hand!

I drove closer to the warehouse she’d written about, just in case I needed a quick getaway. Christ, I was starting to feel like Jackie Brown being dragged into all this. What was next…a gun for my birthday? Well, after reading that description it was looking like a better idea by the minute!

As Little Red
I got out of Big Blue, umbrella in hand and walked over to the metal door. I tried the handle but had a feeling it wouldn’t have been that easy, when I found it locked. I debated whether or not to knock for a moment but I decided to trust my gut and hold back. I lowered my fisted hand back from the door and decided to look around. Thinking this, now I was really feeling the part. Forget about just the gun, now I was thinking about adding a long beige trench coat.

“Female version of Columbo, that’s me! Just short of a good head rub, one cigar and I have cracked it
.” I muttered as I rounded the corner. I don’t know what I was looking for but I thought back to the letter and knew I was most likely supposed to find a ladder.

“Bingo!” I shouted when I saw the alley way. There was a metal fire escape on the side and although I had never used one, I remembered one in almost all American movies that had alley ways in them. I walked closer and looked up at the series of ladders and metal balconies they were attached to.

“I hate heights.” I muttered looking round for something to stand on. The first ladder up needed to be pulled down and it was only when I couldn’t find anything that my mind went back to the clues the Oracle had left me.

“
Haha!” I said in triumph as my mind clicked in gear. I lifted the end of the umbrella and hooked the last spindle on the ladder to then pull it down with a groan. It was stiff but once it moved the first bit it started to play ball. It came down with a rush and I fell backwards landing with a thump on my behind.

“Smooth Columbo…real smooth
!” I picked myself up and patted my coat free from wet dirt. I bent back down to pick up my umbrella and started to climb to the next level. I tried not to look down but of course I did, without anyone saying the standard movie line ‘Don’t look down’. I seriously needed to get a grip…preferably one that wouldn’t let go at the wrong moment. I also need to stop watching movies!

When I made it to the top I saw a window that was half open and all I needed to do was push it all the way up and I was in. I unfolded myself and soon found I was in a messy looking office. The desk that was near the window was piled high full of paperwork that had long ago become beyond organised. I moved the worn c
hair out of my path and made my way to the only door. Once out of the office, which smelled like someone had a mouldy cheese fetish, I took in a deep breath and looked around the massive open space.

It was a fairly large warehouse with a metal balcony all the way around the top that only seemed to lead to a few doors and I gathered
these to be more offices. Looking down, I could see pallets of boxes piled high and all wrapped together with clear plastic. There was also a forklift and a few hand held devices for moving heavy items. But that was it, not a soul was in the building…or at least not one I could see.

I had to walk around the edge to get to the staircase at the other end and the sound of my booted feet on metal grating was the only noise to be heard… and it wasn’t a comforting sound.

I did a quick check of the other rooms, the one with ‘Manager’ on the door was locked and the others empty, so I continued down the staircase. The main part of the warehouse was a bit like a shiny maze of clear plastic towers and a chill crept up my spine when I realised just how many shadows in this place could be filled with these ‘Pishachas Demons’.

“This is insane
.” I whispered out loud as I made my way around them and gingerly checked every dark corner. Although, I needn’t have bothered. As I soon heard a cackling laugh that sounded like a combination of wood burning and a child’s high pitched giggle, I knew I had been found.

“I love the smell of chilled flesh in the morning…like coffee to you humans
.” A strained voice said from further away. I wrinkled my nose at the thought of getting anywhere near someone who I smelled like breakfast to, but at this point, did I really have a choice?

I zigzagged through the piles
of boxes until it opened up into what looked to be a loading dock. I could see the big rolling doors and some sort of conveyor belt. But it was the two red glowing orbs in the dark that had me stopping fast enough to tip back on to my heels.

“Lo
se the jacket, Tricks!” He snapped and I was sure I could hear the clicking and grinding of teeth at the order. I couldn’t yet see him as he remained hidden in his favourite place, using the shadows to his advantage. I did as I was told, knowing now the reasons behind my dress…I just hoped it wasn’t like dressing the Salmon before the buffet opened!

As I pealed the jacket back I heard a sharp intake of breath and I purposely hid my umbrella behind my back as I moved my coat. I tucked the handle into my belt at the back, so it hung out of sight.  I had a feeling it was going to come in handy pretty soon.

“Throw it away, up on that crate,” he ground out, all the while still gnawing those teeth. What was he doing back there, filing them into sharper points?! Did I look that chewy?

I did as he said with a frown
, as I really liked that jacket and doubted I would be given the time, when running for my life, to have the chance to grab it.

“Ah, now that is better, come closer
,” he said and now, instead of the grinding teeth, there was more of a slurping sound, like he was sucking back up the saliva that was dripping down his chin, if he even had a chin.

“Umm…I think not, no in fact, I think I am good right here
.” I said in my firmest tone. He started laughing again and the sound made bile want to rise up. There was something so disgusting in the sounds he made that even without seeing him, I was repulsed.

“Silly, silly, silly…if you don’t come closer, then how are you to retrieve this
?” He said and I saw a shadowed arm come out from the darkness holding an envelope. I fisted my hands at the sight, wishing I knew how I was going to get that letter with every pound on my body still intact. I mean, most girls liked the idea of losing a few pounds but the Hannibal Lecter diet wasn’t one I wanted to try any time soon!

“Let’s cut the spooky shadows crap and cryptic messages that are really just giving me a damn headache now…what do you want for that letter?” I said losing my patience and letting my frustration take control of the situation.

“They say that you are f…”

“Feisty, yes I know
.” I interrupted dryly.

“Fresh
.” He corrected back and I shivered.

“The price is a penny for your thoughts or
a pound for your flesh…which do you value more?” Nice saying I thought but doubted it would make it as a bumper sticker!

“My thoughts are the payment I cho
ose, but first the letter.” I said knowing with the shield I had in place, if Lucius couldn’t have cracked them then this lower Demon would have no chance, so let him try as I walked away. Well this was the plan, I thought with hope. 

“I accept, although I must say what a shame it is that I wouldn’t be tasting the marrow from your bones…that colour suits your skin
.” It was one thing being told ‘nice dress’, but saying that how pretty I would look bleeding to death was quite another and even in the supernatural world I wasn’t about to take that as a complement!

“Jeez, thanks. Now can we get this over with” I snapped and as soon as I said this I heard the envelope skidding along the floor. It stopped right at my foot. I picked it up quickly and stuffed it into the
top of my boot until it was flush against my leg. As soon as I straightened I felt it. It was like someone was pulling at the edges of my brain with one of those tiny metal hooks the dentist uses to scrape plaque from your teeth. It nicked and scratched away at the seams but it couldn’t get in. Then it tried something bigger and replaced the hook with claws. It was painful in a strange way but after a few minutes of concentration, the pain receded and soon its clawing gradually seeped away until it was nothing but a murmuring around the edges.