Almost Demon (The Sigil Cycle) (14 page)

When I turned to leave, Allison was blocking my way out of the aisle.

“Thought I forgot about you?” she asked.

“No, I thought maybe you’d have something better to do with your time.” I shoved the dirty clothes into my gym bag and zipped it up.

I hope it doesn’t start stinking.

“You’re right. I am busy. Somehow I managed to carve out some time for you.”

A shadow moved to the forefront, hovering just beyond her body. Allison mimicked every movement it made. First, taking two steps forward. Then curving her arms to the side of her body. Next, the skin and muscle on her hands fell away, revealing bone that elongated and sharpened into two scythe-like blades. 

I stepped away, the backs of my knees bumping into the low bench, and toppled down to the ceramic tiled floor.

“That should be mine.” She drew one blade towards me and I crab walked until my back slammed into the row of lockers. The sight of Allison’s hideous form poised above me brought bile up my throat.

She slipped one sharp hand beneath the cuff and yanked. When the buttons gave, I felt the air on the bare skin of my wrist and watched as blood pooled on the surface of the shallow slit inflicted by Allison.

One hand reformed and snatched the leather cuff off the point of the blade. 

“I’m the one that gave this to him. I’m the one who should have it,” she said, shoving it into her pocket. “And what’s this?” She grabbed my hand and examined the markings that were now visible.

“Leave me alone, Allison,” I said, struggling to get out of her grip.

“You’re a freak now, aren’t you?” She let out a cackle. “Wait until everyone finds out about this, you satanic whore.”

Finally, distracted by her own glee, Allison released me and I ran straight for the door. Outside, crowds of students were waiting for the change of periods. With my head down, I walked past the row of administrative offices and the security desk.

“Gemma?” Principal Kelly stepped out into the hallway.

“Yes?”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Out,” I replied.

She looked down at my arm; the blood had coagulated and caked around my wrist.

“Is everything alright?”

“I’m fine. My lunch spilled all over me, I’m having a really bad day and I’m not feeling too well.”

“Let’s have the nurse look at that.”

“It’s okay. My father’s a doctor. I just really want to go home,” I pleaded.

“I’m going to let you leave now, Gemma, even though it’s against school policy. But I expect a meeting with you tomorrow.”

“I promise,” I said, and ran as fast as my feet could take me.

Outside, I found Ian sitting on the stairs, like he had been the day before, engrossed in a video game. I sat next to him and leaned my head against his arm.

“Hey,” he said. “What’s going on?”

I placed my arm on his knee. “Allison has gone bat shit crazy. I can’t go back in there. Everyone will see my marks. I’m too tired of my dad to go back home. You know, regular teen drama.”

“Come on. Let’s go,” he said, pulling me up. He took off his jacket and placed it over my shoulders. 

“Can we go dancing?” I asked, looking up at his clear eyes and seeing the smile that grew at my request.

“Sure.”

When we got to the tree, Ian sat cross-legged at the base of the trunk and I did the same.

“Let me show you how this works. This tree is special. It has the power to identify you whenever you come to access the Drifts. You gift it with a drop of your blood and it will know you for the rest of your life. Here, let me help.” He drew my injured wrist towards him and pinched the wound. A fresh drop of blood beaded to the top.

“Ouch,” I said.

“Relax. That’s it. Now let it fall on the soil. It’ll find its way to the roots.”

I did as Ian said and the tree responded with a deep groan.

“Is that it?” I asked.

“Yup. Now for the real lesson.” He placed my hand on the indentation I had seen him use before. 

“I thought this was soil. It feels like stone.” I marveled at the texture of the rock that had a botanical appearance.

“It is stone. A special stone that was quarried in a mine on the other side. That’s how it works. This stone is a piece of the Drifts. It acts as a touchstone. Lets the tree know where you want to go.”

“That’s amazing.”

“Now all you do is envision your destination and the tree sends the right door. The touchstone tells it that we’re going to use the Drifts.”

“What are the Drifts?”

“Think of it like Grand Central Station. A hub where all the tunnels converge.”

“So I just think about yesterday?”

“Yup?”

“Ok, here we go.” With my hand in place, I concentrated on the dancing, the mob of people moving in unison, the lights and the people watching from above. 

The door with the golden goat leg appeared. 

“One more thing before we go in,” he continued. “Keep your thoughts on where you want to go at all times. This way the right drift picks you up. If your concentration wavers, I can’t guarantee where we’ll end up.”

I stood up and took his hand. He raised one eyebrow, which gave him a mischievous aura, and we set off together into the darkness.

The trips through the Drifts were getting easier. Ian showed me his reference points when counting his steps on the frozen lake. Instead of free falling through the portal, we descended smoothly until our feet touched ground.

“Good work,” he mouthed, cupping my cheek in his hand and placing a languorous kiss on my lips as the music engulfed us.

Either the DJ was better than before or I was in greater need of the release. I submitted to Ian and let him lead me to the precipice of ecstasy as our bodies moved to the tribal drum and bass. The energy that surrounded us was palpable and I could feel it soak into me. I watched as the slit on my wrist mended itself before my very eyes. Euphoria filled every cell in my body until I felt like I was going to burst. 

“I could stay here forever,” I told Ian, after we had made our way upstairs to an empty table. 

“That could be arranged,” he said.

Embarrassed, I turned my attention to the people below. At least, most of them were people. This time I noticed that not everyone here was human. 

“Who are they?” I asked.

“Some of them are from Earth. Others are from a different place.” 

“And how does all this work?” I showed him the uniform skin of my once-injured arm.

“Good vibes. The energy here heals you. Heals your mind. Your body. That’s why it feels so good down there. Come on. I want you to meet someone.”

He took me around the catwalk and past the other tables of onlookers, some of whom had slitted eyes and a reptilian quality to their skin. One of the women wore a blood red velvet gown, a python around her neck. At her feet knelt a man on a leash. 

We walked behind a bar to a door, framed with ornately cut wood, and guarded by a large shirtless giant covered in tattoos. They were sigils, like mine, but his undulated over his skin with power, even reaching his lips and eyelids. 

My attention was caught by the sculpted figures behind him that acted out a grotesque scene of demons whipped into a state of agony by serene-faced angels.

“Ian.” Mr. Muscle’s voice was softer than I had expected. “Sister,” he said, nodding in my direction.

“Sorry?” I asked.

“You are a practitioner. As I am. Or have I been mistaken?”

“Um. Yeah. I guess.” I gave him a half smile.

“We are few and far between. Remember that. If you’re ever in need of help.” He bared his teeth, most of which were gold, and I couldn’t help cringing. 

“Let’s get going,” Ian said. He grabbed my hand and led me straight inside.

 Plush black shag carpeting overpowered the entire area. The walls were lined with built-ins displaying various artifacts individually illuminated by the track lighting above. Behind a massive black onyx desk sat a middle-aged man with a bald head and good skin. He wore a black suit, a black collarless shirt and had a long silver chain around his neck bearing a large iron cross embedded with turquoise. 

“Ian. What have you brought for me this time?” He steepled his finger before him and smiled.

“This is Gemma. The one I was telling you about.”

“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Gemma. I’m Sam. Please have a seat.” Ian and I each sat in one of the cowhide upholstered chairs. “Are you enjoying your time here?” Sam asked.

“Yeah. It’s amazing.”

“I hear you have some experience in the arcane arts.”

“Um. Just a little. I’m not an expert or anything.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Gemma, darling. Someone with your talents, who can successfully summon anything, is truly rare. It takes the right kind of person with the right combination of talents to do what you’re doing.”

“Thanks,” I said.
I think
.

“Show me your arm.”

I hesitated.

“It’s okay. He’s cool. He owns this place,” Ian said, with a smile of encouragement. 

“This is beautiful work,” Sam said.

“It is?”

“Yes. The manifestation of these marks is completely dependent on the skill of the practitioner. The better you are at creating sigils, the more intricate your tattoos will be.”

I looked down at the marks and felt like I was seeing them for the very first time. Ambriel’s had been a few lines and circles when I had made the sigil but on my arm it was surrounded by a series of creeping vines with tear-shaped leaves and flourishes. Ashtaroth’s pentagram was now engulfed in flames that almost looked real.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re very special, Gemma. You can harness the powers of these beings through the marks on your body. You don’t need to cast circles and waste time with pen and paper. Their power is now yours.”

“But I thought you can’t draw power without summoning the being attached?”

“Can’t or shouldn’t? And I have a feeling that someone as powerful as you are doesn’t need to bother with ritual. It’s merely a formality at this point. Both beings have already conversed with you. They are the ones who left you their marks. You are free to use the power as you see fit.” 

Sam stood up from behind his throne of an office chair and walked along the walls of artifacts. He stopped in front of a small display case containing a beautiful bust of a woman, her hair wrapped in curls, crowning her head. He unclasped the pendant she wore, walked over to me and placed it around my neck.

“This is a talisman. Legend tells us it can magnify certain powers. My gift to you.”

I looked down at the necklace. The delicate chain was an antique shade of gold and the stone was a roughly hewn rose- colored gem. 

“I can’t accept this. It’s too much.” I tried to hand back the ancient piece of jewelry.

“Relax, little one. This is me betting on the right horse.”

“Sorry?”

Sam handed the necklace to Ian, who stood behind me and fastened it around my neck. Warmth coursed through my veins as the stone settled in the dip of my collarbone.

“Things are getting a bit out of control topside, wouldn’t you say? I have a feeling you’ll be the one to set things right. This trinket is my investment in you.”

He leaned against the desk, exuding a confidence that was contagious.

“I guess I should say thank you,” I answered, happy to oblige him if it meant I was going to have an advantage against the Dybbuk.

“It’s my pleasure. And if you are ever in need of assistance, my door is always open.”

“So what is it exactly you want me to do?” I asked, fidgeting in my seat, awkward at the realization that I was wheeling and dealing with an obviously loaded businessman in my gym clothes.

“Just keep doing what you do. And if I find something else that might be of any help to you, I’ll let you know. Unfortunately, I can’t leave this place so you’ll have to make the trip down again.”

“That’s no biggie. I can’t find music like this for at least a hundred miles from where I live.”

“Good. Then it’s a deal.”

“Yeah.”

We shook on it and I was thankful to see that I was walking away from this deal without any new bodywork.

I guess he’s no demon. Or angel.

“You two go have some more fun.”

Thrilled to get back to the dance floor, we said our goodbyes to Sam, I was happy to have met him. He was more than forthcoming about his intentions and it gave me a bit of peace to know I had some potential help if I needed it. But for some reason, as I spread my arms in the air reaching for the music around me, I couldn’t stop worrying about what Thom would have to say about all of this.

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTEEN

It felt like we had been hours down in the Drifts but when my house came into view, it was still light out. I checked my watch. It was only five o clock. Too late to make it back to meet with Thom. 

“I guess I’ll leave you here,” Ian said, walking me to the door.

“Do you think Sam’s right?” I asked. “About me being able to end all this craziness?”