Dancing With Monsters Read online

  Chapter Four

  April

  I was still pumped up on how fast I had run, and not to mention, how I had outran Ben. My body stilled tingled with excitement at my newly found abilities. I felt a whole new world had opened up, and I finally had a place that I was beginning to fit into. Ben was kind and patient with me, but I sensed something wasn't right at the same time it was. I couldn't put what I felt into words, and didn't know how to explain it to Ben, it would be too embarrassing. Instead, I pushed it away. I had had enough of pain and disappointments in my past. I wanted happiness and that happiness wasn't going to be clouded by anything.

  "Yolanda just contacted me, and we are to meet her on Friday." Ben smiled as he put his phone on the table.

  "Where at?" I asked.

  "Not sure, she'll let me know just before we leave."

  I looked around his house. "So, you're just leaving everything? What will happen to this house? You just can't leave without doing something to it."

  He laughed. "Oh April," Ben said getting up and walking over to me. "You are truly a caring soul." He curled his strong hands gently around mine. "That is why I chose you?" His phone began to vibrate on the table.

  Ben read the text to himself.

  "Who is it? Yolanda sending a message?"

  "No," he shoved the phone into his coat pocket. "Just a little monster business I need to attend to. Stay here and get some rest, because it will be a long trip to sanctuary." Ben arranged the collar of his jacket, smiled, and planted a quick kiss on my forehead. "Be back in an hour."

  "But where are you going and why can't I go with you?" I asked following him to the door.

  "Be back," Ben said with a click of the door.

  I went to the window and watched him leave like lightning through the forest.

  "Really, leaving me here," I turned away from the window and crossed my arms. "I don't think so." I had the ability to run as fast as Ben, if not faster.

  The cold air rushed past me as I darted through the forest. I followed Ben's footprints and?scent. It was an earthy smell, like the first few warm days of spring when everything was finally thawed and just sprouting buds, leaves and flowers. I had noticed the scent briefly, and thought it was something in Ben's house, not Ben. But it was him, and I could clearly follow it like a string tied from tree to tree.

  I ran all the way to the outskirts of Westfall, a larger town a few miles from Ben's home. It had a small strip mall, gas stations, several bars, and a high school. Looming in the thicket that lined the ditch, I gazed at that school that sat silent. Cars were parked in rows next to the brick building that had a circular drive in front of several glass doors. The American flag waved proudly in what looked like a rose garden surrounding it.

  If I went there, I'd be graduating and getting ready to go to college. I had come to Westfall a few times when we would get to go on the rare outing from Sunrise Acres. I memorized the buildings, names of businesses, and streets that we drove by. Later, I'd mentally go down those streets and go into the shops with my made-up friends before I went home to have dinner with my made-up parents. How l longed to have that life, but knew it would never be.

  I stepped out of the thicket and gazed at the school. I was so close to the life I had always wanted and knew I could never have it. Suddenly, the glass doors flew open and several people came out. Like a frightened rabbit, I scurried back into the bushes as to not be seen. I watched a group of girls get into a small red car with a dented fender that was parked straight out from my hiding spot.

  I laid down in the ditch among the tall, yellow grass to make sure I wouldn't get caught. They were going to Dairy Queen before they went to work I heard the last girl say before getting in with a slam of the door. I could be one of those girls. School?work?college?a future that I could decide, not the darkness that had followed me everywhere.

  I watched them all leave until quietness surrounded me again. That life was never meant for me. I was a monster, whatever that meant I wasn't sure yet. I'd never fit in here, and I knew it. Besides, Ben's scent was still strong and tugged on my senses like a leash.

  I pulled up my hood and followed the scent downtown. I walked past a caf?, furniture store, and a salon before the scent stopped. Buildings lined each side of the street; some had businesses in them while others sat vacant. A few cars were parked along the sidewalk and a few people went in and out of the caf? and into the salon that looked busy. Other than that, the town was quiet.

  I sniffed the air and looked around. The sky was a solid grey and the wind had a small bite to it. I wasn't sure where Ben had gone anyhow, and if I wasn't at his house when he got back he'd probably be mad at me. I gave up trying to find him, and started to head back towards the timber when I was pulled to the ground and quickly dragged into a narrow alley.

  "Delicious," said a scratchy male voice. "Just right," he said turning me over to face him.

  Skin hung in rotting strips on his face, and his eyes were clouded, like he had cataracts. He gave toothless grin and chuckled as yellowed, pointed teeth poked out from his bloodied gums.

  Repulsed and shocked, I wanted to scream, but couldn't as he started to pull at my clothing.

  "Must have you," he groaned.

  "No!" I managed to yell as I tried to push him away.

  He ripped off my jacket as he grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me back down to the hard ground. Lights flickered around me as my body went limp long enough for him to start to undo my pants. He was laughing and mumbling something to himself as he undid my belt and started to pull on my jean button when I knew I had to do something or be raped by this corpse.

  "No!" I yelled through clenched teeth as I hit him in the jaw.

  With a snap, his lower jaw flew off and hit the crumbling brick wall. He looked at it then at me as bone protruded from his loose flesh. His eyes squinted and turned blood red.

  I raised my hand to hit him again, but his reflexes were quicker than mine. His bony fingers curled around my wrist cutting at my skin. I had to get him off of me and screamed out several times hoping someone from the busy salon or caf? would hear me. But no one came.

  The only thing free was my legs, and with my right knee, I slammed it into his crotch. He yelled and rolled off of me as he moaned. I got up stepping away from him and turned to run when I ran into Ben.

  Ben looked at me and then at the man.

  "You can't leave him like this," he said, gazing down at him. "This is the longest I've seen a human live after consuming serum." Ben turned me around towards the man that laid curled in a fetal position and whimpered. "He's in misery-put him out of it."

  "What?" I asked. "I-I can't. You're the expert in that area." I gazed down at the man who didn't appear threatening anymore, but cried like an injured animal.

  For a moment, I saw a flicker of a human being through his grotesque appearance. He was a man and he was suffering. Something had to be done.

  Ben bent down beside him and pulled me next to him.

  "It's time you learned," Ben said, as his eyes turned solid black.

  I gasped and tried to pull away, but Ben only shoved me closer.

  "Feel his life force, or what's left of it, that surrounds him." Ben pressed his body next to mine and whispered in my ear.

  "I don't feel anything," I replied.

  He pushed me slower to the rotting man. "Concentrate, and let your hexmark guide you."

  I thought of my mark and how it looked on my pale skin. It had given me the strength to fight off the demon that tried to attack me at Ben's house. But I didn't feel the need to protect myself anymore, the dying man was no longer a threat, but begging me to put end to his agony.

  I looked into his eyes, and a flash of a former life filled with dreams, hopes and a future, I could see clearly. The man was that, a man. His death would be slow if I didn't do something.

  I lowered myself clos
er to him, his eyes, now blue, was the only thing left untouched by the serum's poison. The blood color was all but gone, and he clung to the last thread of his human existence. I felt it radiate from him as if the sun was warming my skin. With a skeletonized hand, he grabbed my arm. I didn't flinch with disgust of his condition. He was a human being and he needed my help.

  "You have it, now take it," Ben said behind me.

  Everything faded around me. Yellow light engulfed me and the half rotten man. But I looked past that, and all I saw was his magnificent eyes. Like two tunnels of blue, I burrowed my gaze into them. I was light and heavy with exhaustion at the same time as I pulled myself further into them until everything exploded around me in a burst of gold and blue flecks.

  I jumped back and covered my face with my hands as I screamed.

  "April, you did it," Ben said, holding onto me. "You're alright."

  He took my hands away from my face as I gasped for air.

  "There?there was an explosion?I'm hurt," I said, examining my hands and feeling my face as Ben chuckled at me.

  "No, there really wasn't an explosion, it just appears that way." He smiled at me. "You relieved him of a bad choice he was paying dearly for, and," he pulled me to my feet as I noticed the bits of thin tissue blowing around my feet. "You now have energy-his energy from his life force in you."

  I glanced at the tissue remains of the man that looked like discarded Kleenexes.

  I should have felt disgusted or even sick at the thought of what just happened, but I didn't. The man wasn't in pain anymore. I ended his misery that was prolonging a certain death. My body felt strong, and I wasn't a victim to any human, monster, or demon anymore.

  "But April," he looked at me with his brown eyes. "You shouldn't have left the house."

  "I didn't want to stay there and wait for you." I crossed my arms.

  Ben looked at me and then reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of sunglasses. "Well if you want to get back home without an angry mob coming to our house later with pitchforks and torches, put these on." He handed them to me.

  "Why," I took them and handed them back to him. "I don't need them."

  Ben pulled out a small mirrored compact and flashed it in front of my face. I gasped and looked at Ben with horror.

  "What the Hell!" I gingerly touched my face. My eyes were just as black as Ben's were.

  "They'll turn back to normal in a couple of hours. It's your first Taking, and your eyes will be fine."

  "Are you sure?" I asked taking the mirror. "What if they don't?"

  "April," he took the mirror gently from my hand and put the sunglasses on me. "Trust me, I've had to unfortunately do several Takings and after a few, the effects will barely last for no more than a couple of minutes."

  "It will be hard to run through the woods with these on. Can I take them off when we reach the edge of town?"

  "We're not going to go home," Ben said, grabbing my hand.

  "Where are we going?" I asked as he pulled me out of the alley. "Did something happen?" I whispered.

  "No," Ben said, as we crossed the street and up to a black limo.

  "Is this yours?" I asked as Ben opened the door for me with a grin.

  "Oh, sorry, wasn't fast enough, Mr. Marsh," said a thin man no taller than me dressed in a black suit and tie.

  I looked back at Ben. "Mr. Marsh?"

  Ben nodded. "My last name."

  I didn't know Ben's last name and didn't even think to ask.

  "As you requested, there's a chilled bottle of champagne and sorry, I couldn't get strawberries so I got chocolates from Shangri-La-strawberries aren't in season and well, nothing compares to produce grown there."

  "Thanks, Sam," Ben said as he motioned for me to get in. "Well, are you going to get in or let a few more of the townsfolk gather for the spectacle?"

  I looked at several pressed faces that looked out from the salon window. They didn't hide their gawking at us as I could see them as they talked among themselves.

  "I could take off my glasses and smile-that would give them really something to talk about." I said with a raise of my eyebrows.

  "Ben shook his head. "Just get in."

 

  Seth

  "Demons have penetrated the Shadowlands, are you sure it wasn't someone's hallucination?" Ayil asked Ezra. "The Shadowlands are secured by the angels."

  Ezra huddled next to me like a frightened cat. "The angels have all but abandoned the Shadowlands. Their portals are in danger and they abandoned the gates. A few of us passed, but some lingered?" Ezra nestled her head into the crook of my arm and wrapped her arms around me tightly.

  She stayed and risked being caught by demons for me. Ezra didn't escape the Shadowlands because she wanted to be together. I took a deep breath and held her back stroking her hair.

  "The demons will easily take the power of the orb and make the Shadowlands their own." Ayil paced the floor rubbing her chin.

  "That's not all," said Ezra. "There were more than just demons there. They had an army of new demons that I've never seen before. They looked like a cross between demon and monster."

  Ayil's eyes shifted to me. "Demons must have been successful at transforming humans to hybrid monsters-this isn't good, not good at all. Walk with me."

  Ayil abruptly went out of the room and into her study. Malachi, Nessa and I exchanged glances as a light from the study flicked on.

  "I said walk with me, and that means come here please," Ayil said with a raised voice.

  We went into the cluttered room with books piled high and loose papers strewn throughout the room. It looked like a windstorm had gone through it, but Ayil seemed to know what she was looking for.

  "Tuscany was considered a sleeper town now, but at one time it was a major trafficking route for demons to transport their drugs. And all was wonderfully quiet in what I thought was retirement for me, then, a monster, genius really, came to town with an amazing discovery," Ayil said as she rummaged through a basket she sat on top of her paper laden table. "He had created a serum that we believe was contracted for him to make by demons. Since demons are of a delicate state to travel to other realms, often use humans, monsters, and even fairies to do their leg work for them. But this guy, this monster went to them, and I haven't been able to locate him. He lives in the area, but travels and moves very quickly." She then pulled something from her basket, and held it over her head. "Ah ha," she said. "This will be our secret weapon."

  Ayil had in her hand an amber colored stone.

  "A broach?" Malachi gazed at the antique looking piece of jewelry. "A gaudy piece of jewelry is going to save everyone from demons?"

  "This, my young monster, is no ordinary broach. In fact, it wasn't even supposed to be a piece of jewelry-I had it made into one. This amber colored stone is light from Iethia long before demons poisoned it." Her brown eyes focused on me as her silver hair glistened with gold from the light emitted by the stone in her palm.

  Ayil extended her hand towards me and smiled. "And you will be the one to save us, archangel."

  "Archangel?" Nessa blurted out pointing at me with her thumb. "Seth isn't an archangel. He couldn't even use a dragon blade correctly until I showed him."

  Ayil shifted her eyes towards her. "Nessa, some things are in us that we don't know we have. Seth brought Ezra back from the Shadowlands, a feat no monster no matter how strong they are could do."

  Ayil turned her attention back to me. "Take this." Her voice commanded.

  I took the intricately cut stone that flickered with light. "What do I do with it?" I asked looking at her.

  She smiled and then shrugged her shoulders. "Your Uncle Hes gave it to me and said one day you'd come and said to give it to you. As far as instructions, he gave none. I disguised the importance of the stone as a piece of jewelry." She then cupped her hand over mine that held the stone. The light emitting from it d
immed. "It's yours and as a monster with an archangel heritage, the limits of your power are infinite."

  "You mean Seth can rule any dimension he wants?" Malachi asked standing next to Nessa.

  "His powers are infinite; I didn't say what powers were infinite, and dimensions are another story-they require more than just having the power to kick ass." Ayil stepped in front of me. "There are things that one must discover on their own, rather than have someone tell them everything. Power must be understood on one's own terms, not by following in another's footsteps."

  I looked at the stone then at Ayil. She was telling me something that I didn't understand and before I could ask any questions, she turned off the light and motioned for us to leave the room.

  "I suggest we all get some rest as our hunt for this serum-making monster will start tomorrow as well as the never ending battle with demons."

  "Wait," Nessa said, turning towards Ayil. "Shouldn't we start now? I mean the Shadowlands are being taken over by demons and you want to go to sleep like nothing is happening. What if Iethia is attacked? What?" Ayil waved her hand over Nessa's face.

  Malachi caught Nessa before she slumped to the floor.

  "She's right about some things, but she hasn't been in very many battles." Ayil glanced at all of us. "Anyone else want to discuss as to what we should do now besides go to bed and get a few hours rest?" No one said anything. "Good, be up by sunrise."

  "I can't believe I'm here with you," Ezra whispered as she laced her fingers through mine.

  The moonlight poured in through the window as the breeze made the tree limbs sway making shadows dance across the floor. Ezra laid next to me, her body was warm, her skin was soft, and she was as I remembered holding her.

  "And I plan on keeping it that way." I gently kissed her on top of her head smelling her sweet scent.

  "But what if it comes back?" Ezra sat up, and gazed at me with worried eyes. "What if my cancer comes back?"

  I sat up and curled my arms around her. "It won't. Didn't you listen to Ayil?" She nodded. "I'm a monster with the abilities of an archangel." I could hardly believe those words were coming out of my mouth. "If I can bring you here from the Shadowlands, then I think I can stop anything that might hurt you-including cancer."

  Ezra took in a deep breath and burrowed her head into my shoulder. "Just hold me, Seth and be like how we were with no disease, no serum, and no demons. I want it to be just you and me watching the sun come up over Black Sea in Iethia-our home."

  I closed my eyes and thought of home. I had a simple life compared to now. Uncle Hes always said I was special, and I wondered if he knew of my archangel abilities. But I didn't want to think of that right now. I wanted to go back to a time when it was going to the beach with Ezra and going out with Malachi who deemed to annoy every girl he met when he was trying to impress them.

  Suddenly, a bright light flicked on and I opened my eyes to see Ayil standing in the doorway.

  "No rest for the wicked, come on, there's been a disturbance in Brumbriar. It's about an hour away. Time to put your abilities to work," Ayil said leaving as she left the door open.

  "Seth," Ezra said with worry.

  "It will be alright. I promise," I said, putting a black wool coat over her shoulders and kissing her on the forehead.

  I wish I knew how to use my abilities to transport us back to Iethia and to another time before demons ruined our world.

  April

  "Alright," I said, as I watched the scenery go by through the tinted window. "You have got to tell me where we are going."

  Ben smiled. "No, I don't, because it is a surprise and you should've stayed home like I said. Now, as your punishment, you'll just have to wait."

  "Seriously, you're punishing me by feeding me chocolate and allowing an under-aged person to consume alcohol? I think I can handle it," I said, taking a sip of the sweet champagne. I've had a couple of glasses and found getting buzzed felt pretty good. "You know Sunrise Acres should give out booze for sedatives-not to mention to make the place a little bit better to live at." I giggled as Ben took the glass from me.

  "I think you've had enough spirits for now." He then handed me large white box with a silver bow on it. "Here," he said.

  I took and looked at it. "What is it?"

  "Really, haven't you ever been given a gift before?" He smiled.

  "Yes, but?"

  "Just open it April and see what's inside."

  Like a kid at Christmas, I tore the tape from the sides and flipped open the lid. Inside, glittering back at me was a silver beaded dress. I lifted it up and it sparkled like diamonds.

  "Ben, it's?" I've never had or been given anything so beautiful before.

  "Don't like it?" He asked.

  I looked at him with wide eyes. "Don't like it? I love it!" I gently put it back in the box and wrapped my arms tightly arm him and began to cry.

  "What's the matter?" He asked pushing me away as he held onto my hands.

  "No one has ever given me anything so beautiful before."

  Ben laughed and then hugged me. "Oh my April Snow, you surprise me all the time."

  It was noon when we arrived in the city of Brumbriar. I still didn't know what Ben had planned for us and no matter how much I questioned, he still didn't tell me. So far, everything has been nothing but a wonderful dream I was caught up in and didn't want to wake up.

  We went down several streets lined with magnificent houses surrounded by manicured lawns and tall oak trees that edged the street. Rich people must live here I thought as I watched each house go by.

  "I can't believe people actually live in those humungous houses," I said, turning to Ben.

  "Some of them are very old, and have been made into apartments, but some are still owned by the original families. And here is the one we'll be staying in."

  The limo came to a gentle stop as my door opened and Sam smiled at me.

  "We are here Miss," he said, stepping aside as I got out holding onto the box my dress came in.

  "Oh, no, let me get that for you." Sam took the box from me that was nearly half his size and managed to shut the car door as well.

  I looked up at the house that was in shambles and looked to have been abandoned many years ago.

  "Come; let's not linger too long in the street." Ben slipped his hand around my waist as we followed Sam up to the rickety looking house.

  "We're staying here?" I asked. "Is it even safe?"

  Ben smiled at me as we stood at the end of the stone path that led up to I'm sure a once grand porch.

  "You're not seeing it as a monster-you're seeing it as a human." He looked down at me with his emerald eyes. "Look at it again, but this time, really look at it."

  I shook my head wondering how a second look would change anything. I gazed from top to bottom and nothing changed. Broken windows, peeling paint, splintered spindles on the railing of the sunken in porch led to a beautiful stained glass window, untouched by time and neglect, glowed brilliantly from a light that suddenly flicked on. I gasped at the transformation of the house that blossomed before me. The old house was washed away, and its once former glory stood before me.

  I looked at Ben with surprise. "How?"

  "It's a glamour made by our host. Not all are welcomed here, but we are. Let's get in before our glamour wears off."

  "Glamour?you mean like a spell?" I asked looking over my shoulder at the other houses with cars parked outside in the driveways. A pickup truck drove by. "You mean whoever just went by couldn't see us?"

  "No, they can't, but not for long." Ben tugged gently on my arm.

  It felt weird knowing I was invisible, like a ghost, walking up to a house that was really in shambles, but in some magical way, beautiful.

  Sam carried my box in along with a large leather suitcase and sat it down.

  "Will that be all Mr. Marsh?"

  "Yes, thank you Sam for your services." Be
n handed him a large gold coin about the size of a half dollar.

  Sam nodded and flipped the coin in the air before putting it in his pocket.

  "Anytime sir," he said, with a bow as the door shut behind him.

  The foyer was magnificent with marbled floors, glistening chandelier, high ceiling that was made of stamped copper panels, and richly stained wood that was polished so much it too even glistened in the soft light.

  "So if this house is really falling down, how are we seeing this?" I asked gazing at everything as Ben looked at his phone.

  "I thought she'd be here," he said, preoccupied with his phone. "She should have been here or at least messaged me."

  "It's simple Mr. Marsh's companion," said a female voice from the darkness beyond the foyer.

  Light footsteps clicked on the floor as a woman with striking red hair cut into a bob and blue eyes, emerged from the shadows.

  "I do apologize for my absence to greet you right away, but I was stuck in traffic downtown-accident."

  She turned on some more lights and sat down a cloth bag that had groceries in it.

  "It's off season so I didn't have the usual stuff I keep in the kitchen and without any extra help?"

  "No need to explain. I know you opened just for me and I appreciate you doing so."

  "No problem, we are happy to serve frequent customers." She smiled as her blue eyes glistened and slick hair made tiny points at the ends that brushed against her rosy cheeks. "Oh, and to answer your question," she looked at me. "This house is always under a glamour. Think of it like a picture taken of it a long time ago, and then take that picture and layer it over the present time. It is the same place, but two different points of time are occupying the same space. Monsters, angels and even demons can enter the time glamour that has transformed this house. This one I created several years ago, and it serves the enchanted community exclusively. That is the simplest way I can explain it, but it's much more complicated than that. Did that kind of answer your question?"

  I looked at Ben. "Yeah, I think so. It's amazing?I've never thought anything like this could exist." I gazed around the room still trying to fathom two points in time occupied the same space, but only we can see it.

  "I'm glad you like it. It's nice to be appreciated for the glamours I create. Sometimes I think it more of an art than just an ability one has." She stepped closer to me and gazed at me with her sapphire eyes. "We are doing things backwards. My name is Eveie, and I'm the hostess and owner of The Ivy Inn." She smiled.

  "I'm April."

  Eveie nodded with a smile of her pink lips. "Let me take your belongings, and I'll show you to your room."

  Eveie was tall and thin, and also very quick to go up the stairs. She took us to a room encased in cherry wood paneling, marbled fireplace and a large puffy bed with a lace bedspread adorned with a matching canopy. The room was beautiful, but I felt nervous about sharing a bed with Ben.

  "Do you like your room, April?" She asked.

  I turned around and felt my cheeks flush. "Yes, it's absolutely gorgeous."

  "And I have your usual room ready for you, Mr. Marsh."

  Good. Ben has his own room-no pressure.

  "I'll have a light lunch ready in about an hour." Evie stood at the doorway with a warm smile.

  "No need," Ben said. "We'll be going on a picnic."

  "Alright, dinner will be at seven. Don't be late," she said with a click of the door.

  "Picnic-it's like forty degrees out."

  Ben smiled as he laid down on the bed. "Not where we are going."

  "Where are we going? The Bahamas? Do you have a plane waiting to whisk us away?"

  He sat up. "No, a portal that will take us to another dimension where the weather is much nicer for picnics." Ben got up and grabbed me by the hand tightly. My skin tingled under his touch. "Come on let's go."

  "Alright," I said, agreeably.

  Other dimensions don't exist, but I didn't think real monsters, angels and the demons that followed me did either. I felt an overwhelming trust with Ben. I was like an abandoned pet that he'd found in the forest, took me in, and cared for me. No one has ever done that before, and I'd let Ben take me to the edge of the world if he wanted to.

  Among the hidden grandeur of the inn, was a portal that went to several places Ben said. He told Eveie we were taking it like we were going to borrow the bikes outside and tour the town, not go to another world to have a picnic.

  In an interior room in the house that had no windows, was were Eveie kept the portal. I wasn't sure what to expect, and was surprised that it was a small platform made of what looked like solid glass.

  "It isn't going to break," Ben chuckled as he reached for my hand.

  "So how exactly does this work?"

  I stepped up as Ben wrapped his arm around my waist. "Hang on and find out," he said as he pulled out what looked like a cell phone.

  It lit up as he ran his thumb over it. The air around us began to hum and I felt the platform vibrate under my feet. Ben held me tighter and smiled.

  "You're going to love where we are going." He whispered as my heart raced and I held onto Ben.

  The humming grew stronger as lights flashed like lightning through the milky haze. As quickly as the white and illuminated fog curled around us, it was cleared away by a sudden breeze.

  Blue skies, rolling green hills dotted with lush trees, and the sweet scent of flowers surrounded us. A warm wind gently blew as colorful birds flew overhead. Sunbeams pierced through the puffy clouds to the emerald landscape below.

  "Are you going to get down or just stay on the platform?" Ben asked with a smile.

  "It's beautiful," I said as he helped me get down.

  The grass was thick, like plush carpeting and cushioned each step. It was as if I had walked into a painting with vivid colors, and perfectly spaced trees that were all the same height.

  "Where are we?"

  "This is one of the gardens of Avalon. We are bordering Sidhe Hills in the world of the Faes. They have several gardens that many visit from all over. The Fae created this world by magic and it's been here for a long time."

  "Fae-you mean like fairies?"

  Ben wrapped his arm around me. "Not the butterfly-winged, delicate, flower-hopping fairies you're thinking of. They are just as tall as us and have no sparkling wings. They are actually producers high-grade weaponry used in many different realms." We stopped beside a tree on top of a small knoll. "And this, April, is the city of Avalon."

  In the distance was a cityscape of glistening buildings. They looked like diamonds in a necklace that sat in a blue, velvet lined jewelry box. It sparkled, shimmered, and shined so much, it didn't look real. But it was real, and I was here in another world with a man, or monster that saved me from who knows what.

  "April." Ben's voice questioned.

  I turned around and looked at him. He took his thumb and smeared a tear away. His soft, brown eyes seemed to draw me closer and nearly matched the grass and trees surrounding us.

  "This can't be happening to me. I escaped from an institution for runaway and crazy kids?and," I shook my head. "I'm here-with you, and everything in my past makes insanely sense now."

  Ben took a deep breath and wrapped his arm around me as we looked at the glistening city. "What's insane and sane depends on what realm you are in, and you, April Snow, were in the wrong realm." He turned me to face him. "But you're here with me. I saved you and brought you where you need to be."

  Ben did save me, and I owed him a lot, otherwise, where would I be? I felt a veil, dark and suffocating, had covered me too long. I always thought it was me who was wrong, flawed, and cursed by the darkness that made me different and forced my mother to give me away. Like a curtain opening before an audience, my life was filled with light and hope. I had been given a chance.

  Ben's eyes gazed into mine as if he was reading my thoughts. I brushed my fing
ertips across his cheek and he closed his eyes as if savoring my touch. I closed my eyes and gently kissed him.

  He ran his hands over my shoulders and down my back. I felt a connection with Ben that rooted its way deep into me. I've never been with a boy, much less a man before. Something was different, because I was different, and Ben was different. Human rules didn't apply to us-we were monsters.

  Like a delicate summer breeze, Ben pushed me away and smiled. "Shall we," he said, pointing to the blanket and basket that waited for us under the tree.

  "So do the Fae just leave a picnic basket under every tree here?" I asked sitting down.

  Ben opened the basket and pulled out a bottle of wine. "No, I ordered it and told them when to deliver it."

  He poured the wine and gave me a glass. "How many different realms do you travel to? To me, it's like you're some celebrity who has connections everywhere that open their Bed and Breakfast for you at a moment's notice and arrange a picnic at your whim."

  Ben raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat. "Well, to answer your first question, I mainly travel to three: earth, Iethia, and here in Avalon. I can go to about any realm, but you have to be cautious as to where you travel-just like anywhere. And as far as the hospitalities I enjoy," he smirked. "I have several connections that I've acquired throughout my travels and as far as being a celebrity, that depends on how you define it." Ben pulled out a plate that had cheese and grapes on it. "Ah, perfect. You must try this, it's the best Avalon has to offer."

  I took the slice of marbled cheese that Ben handed me. Its tangy flavor and the sweetness of the grapes were a perfect match that I had never tasted before.

  "That's really good," I said as Ben poured me some more wine.

  I took a sip knowing my head was already starting to spin and I wasn't sure if I could get up without tumbling over.

  "I'm glad you like it, because you deserve it, and so much more." He gazed at me for a moment with a distant look in his eyes. "But I didn't bring you here to just let you visit another realm and sample the best wine and cheese it has to offer." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, blue velvet box.

  I held my breath, because was he??

  "April Snow, we hardly know each other, but I know you are right for me, and I've searched many places throughout my travels to find a companion." He held the box in front of me, and with grinning eyes he opened it. "I want you to be my mate for as long as we live."

  Staring back at me was a square stone that flickered with shades of blue and white.

  "What?you mean like marry?" I lifted my eyes from the ring as my mouth felt like cotton balls had been shoved in it.

  Ben chuckled. "Yes, April Snow, will you marry me?" He took the ring out as it sparkled violently, almost like it was on fire with blue flames. "Be my wife, my companion, and as monsters call it, my mate for all of our time." His voice was sincere as he held the ring for me to take.

  I gazed at it. Marriage-that's something you do when you're older, not seventeen. But I wasn't a normal girl, I was a monster, and I belonged to a different culture, a different race, and there was no place for me in this world anymore. Ben, I saw it clearly in his eyes, he cared for me and longed for someone to care for him.

  I held out my left hand and smiled. "Yes, Benjamin Marsh, I will be your mate."

  Seth

  "What sort of disturbance have you been alerted to?" I asked Ayil as we sped down the road.

  "One concerning our serum chef," Ayil said with her eyes steadily on the road. "The head of this district was alerted to demon activity in Brumbriar at the address," she picked up her phone and quickly scrolled through her messages. "345 White Street." She shoved her phone back into her pocket.

  "Demons," Ezra said, sitting between Ayil and me. "They can be powerful." Even through the darkness, Ezra's eyes were filled with worry. I squeezed her hand.

  "How powerful are the demons causing the disturbance? And more importantly, will we have anyone helping us?" Malachi asked leaning forward.

  "No, no one will be assisting us as I said," Ayil glanced back at him. "This is a sleeper area district. Disturbances aren't supposed to happen, but they are." She set her eyes back on the road. "As far as the strength of the demons, all I can do is guess, and if they are in Brumbriar and have set off the alarms, I'm going to guess very strong."

  "That could mean there is more than one," Nessa said, leaning forward beside Malachi.

  "Or just one big, ugly demon rather than a whole party of them," Malachi said. "Then we don't have to chase them around like spoiled children." His tone was passive, and I knew out of all of us, Malachi had encounters with demons once before and feared them the most.

  "We took no weapons, so how are we to fight them?" Malachi asked.

  "There are no weapons we can use on them from any realm. That is why the angels cursed them so they would have to stay in the shadows or die. But a few managed from time to time escape, gain strength, and are now a nuisance." Ayil's lip curled into a grin.

  "Yeah, but how are we going to kill it, or are we just going to go and play with it?" Malachi said with a chuckle from Ayil.

  She didn't answer Malachi, but instead, continued to chuckle and mumble to herself as if he had told her a joke. I glanced back at him. His nothing-bothers-me attitude was slowly dissolving.

  "With this," I said, holding up the glistening orange-yellow stone. "The light from Iethia." I tried to sound confident even though I had no idea how to use the stone.

  Malachi shifted his eyes to me. "What are you going to do, throw it at them?" His sarcastic tone covered the fear I could see clearly.

  "Not throw it, use it against the demon." Ayil said as we passed a sign welcoming us to Brumbriar.

  I looked at the tiny stone that was no larger than the size of my palm. "I've no experience with this, Ayil," I said as we turned down a house lined street. "Please tell me you can instruct me to some degree on this."

  Ayil glanced blankly over at me as we stopped in front of a large house. "It's a part of you, and when the time comes, you'll know what to do. I may not know the stone's secrets, but I know enough about it that it is yours and it will guide you when needed."

  "You mean we have to depend on Seth's intuition?" Nessa asked as Ayil got out of the car.

  "Come on, we can't let the demon win."

  The cold and pungent smell of smoke filled the air. Everything was still in this little, oblivious town. Humans, most of them, had no idea of the danger that sat quietly in the darkness and would overtake them if we didn't stop it.

  "The house is under a glamour," Nessa said, looking up at the two story house. "The Ivy Inn-it's a bed and breakfast?"

  "Good perception, now let's go and say hello to the little demon," Ayil said as she crept up the stairs.

  Nessa was behind her and I held Ezra close to me.

  "Seth," Malachi whispered behind me, and grabbed me by the shoulder. "What if it isn't a little demon?"

  Malachi with his dark hair and strong stature, truly looked like a warrior-and now, like a frightened warrior.

  "Little or big, a demon is a demon. We have Ayil, who seems kind of eager to get to it, and," I pulled out the stone that glowed with an amber light in my palm. "We have this. It feels powerful to me," I said more to myself. "Don't worry, Malachi, I don't know how to explain it, but this little gem is very powerful and with Ayil guiding us, we'll be fine."

  Malachi looked up at the house and let out a sigh. "Let's go before it comes out here."

  To humans, this house was abandoned, but to anyone in the enchanted community, it was a beautiful bed and breakfast guarded by spells and a glamor. It was richly decorated with items from many different realms: Spherical orillions glowed with soft light overhead, paintings of the beaches from Atlantis with its blue waters and pink sands hung on the walls, and in a sitting room off to the side sat an opened bottle of wine from Shangri-L
a with two glasses beside it.

  I picked up the full bottle and looked down at the two clean glasses. Someone was here celebrating-could it have been demons? The alarms had been set off and the house was dark and empty. The demon could be gone or was hiding in the shadows waiting for us.

  Ayil led the way as we followed behind. The only sound was the ticking of the clock and the only light was from the dim orillions overhead. Then suddenly Malachi, who was ahead of me stopped.

  "Blood, lots of it," he whispered covering his mouth. "Monster blood mixed with demon?there was a fight." He pointed to the table that had been knocked over and the wallpaper that looked like claws had ripped through it.

  Ezra ran her fingers over the claw marks and looked up at me. "Demon, strong too, I can feel its lingering energy."

  "Lingering, meaning as in gone I hope," Malachi said shifting his eyes to me.

  "In here," Ayil announced as a light flicked on through an open doorway.

  We went inside the kitchen, or what was left of it. Nessa and Ayil stood over a body of a man lying face down. He was dressed in a long, black wool coat and splintered bits of wood along with other kitchen rubble surrounded him.

  "What was he doing? Cooking up a batch a serum when it exploded?" Malachi examined what was left of the oven.

  "The demon has been gone for some time-I can sense it," Ezra said stepping beside Ayil and gently touching her on the arm.

  Ezra looked at her with her dark, brown eyes. "Are you sure?" Ezra nodded. "I guess your Shadowland senses are to be trusted. Come on; let's see who this gent was."

  Malachi and I flipped the man over. His skin was bruised with a large gash across his cheek and a deep one across his chest. Black blood pooled on the floor.

  "He's a monster, but I can smell demon blood too." Malachi stepped away wrinkling his nose from the smell only he could sense.

  "Wait," Ayil shoved the light she held in her hand closer to the man revealing another person underneath.

  "Is it the demon?" Nessa asked standing beside her.

  "No," Ayil replied removing some of the debris.

  Malachi and I stepped closer to see it was a young girl dressed in a silver dress.

  "It's a girl," Ayil's eyes shifted to the man. "They look like they were on a date or something of the sort by the way they are dressed, not making serum," she said flipping the man's coat open and examining the pockets. "Nothing on him," she announced as she stood up.

  "Do you think he's the one we are looking for?" Nessa asked.

  "It's hard to say, could be, but we never had any description of him. And with no evidence here other than a demon attack, I can only guess. I think there was some connection, because why would a demon come to a bed and breakfast and demolish it for no reason?" She asked rhetorically.

  "Disliked the service," Malachi said, with a shrug of his shoulders.

  "They don't risk their wellbeing to just crash a party." Ayil glanced at all of us dismissing Malachi's reply.

  "Yeah, but this one did," I said, gazing down at the girl. "They must've had some connection to the serum."

  "That's what I think too. They could have been striking a deal, or drumming up potential customers, and obviously whatever happened here, didn't go well." Ayil glanced down at the dead couple.

  Suddenly, the girl lifted her bloodied hand smeared with red-black blood. Her eyes opened trying to focus on her surroundings. "Ben," she said in a whispered, raspy voice.

  "She's still alive," Ezra said, stepping towards her.

  Ayil knelt beside her and pushed away more debris. The girl gazed at Ayil. "I'm not going to hurt you." Ayil's voice was soft. "Malachi, Seth, help me with her."

  Malachi and I lifted the girl up by the shoulders, gently cradling her arms around our necks. Her head flopped to my shoulder.

  "She has a hexmark-possibly a royal one." Malachi held her arm with his free hand and turned the girl's arm to reveal a mark. She was one of us, a monster, and a rare one to have such a mark.

  Ayil looked at it and turned off her light. She glanced at us with her dark eyes and silver-grey hair that seemed to catch what remaining light there was. "Let's get out of here just in case there might be a round two."