Caged in Darkness (22 page)

“I am not behaving like a toddler and I have
good reason for acting like a nut job.” Izzy's voiced sounded
calm.

“Whatever your reason is, it can’t compare
with this.” I pulled the top of my shirt down to expose my chest.
Izzy gasped at the hand print. “That’s why I needed rest. Okay? The
demon did this and I was exhausted. I’m sorry, but I can’t be
expected to drop everything just because you call. You’re my best
friend, but I needed to take care of myself.”

Izzy opened her mouth to speak, but Ash came
into the room and stopped dead in his tracks. “What the…?” He
looked at Izzy in shock.

“What is it? Ash? Hello, earth to planet
Ash?” I waved my hand in his face, but he remained frozen.

Izzy cleared her throat. “I can tell you
what’s wrong with him.” She smiled. I crossed my arms, waiting to
hear how she had suddenly tapped into the psychic network. “He saw
ghost.”

“A ghost?” I laughed, hysterically. A small
snort escaped to punctuate exactly what I thought of Izzy's
statement “That is your explanation?”

“Um, yeah. I’m the ghost, moron.” My
laughter came up short and I looked more closely. Izzy form
transformed into a mirage of transparency, as she stepped into a
patch of sunlight. “Cool, huh? I can look real
or
I can look
like a ghost.” She giggled.

I knew she was serious because of her
drastic mood change. She didn’t look quite like Kit, but she was
still a ghost. Kit materialized to examine Izzy. Izzy's unnatural
acceptance of Kit caused confusion on my part. Through my body with
Kit, I was able to piece together enough to know that he was able
to communicate with Izzy. Evidently, communication barriers didn't
exist in the spirit realm.

“How?” My voice was soft and came to a dead
end with my confusion.

Ash walked over to sit on the bed with his
head in his hands. Izzy stopped petting Kit and became serious. “It
was the demon. That’s why I called you. He came after me. I called,
while running away from him. I needed your help.” She shrugged.

“Oh my God!” Izzy's flippant acceptance
surprised me because it was the polar opposite to my own.

“He said, he warned you that your insult
would cost you something, and I was the price.” Izzy took in my
tears and willed her body to solidify. “Savannah, it’s okay. It
didn’t hurt. It was quick. One moment I was alive and in a blink, I
was a ghost.” She gave me a hug and I clung to her.

“What is this about a Demon?” Ash spoke from
the bed.

I had forgotten that Ash was in the room
with us and realized that he didn't know anything about the demon.
Izzy and I took turns filling him in on all the details, until
Willow showed up and took over. Apparently, Izzy visited Willow
before me because she wasn’t remotely surprised to find two spirits
in my bedroom.

13: Tracking Prey

ASH

We attended Izzy's funeral three days after
Izzy’s transition into a ghost. She smoothed her form into a
translucent replica, but allowed Savannah, Willow, and me to see
her. We didn’t tell Maye about Izzy's ghost, but I had a feeling
Josephine knew. She gazed at the spot Izzy stood in, as if looking
past the material world, and into the spirit realm.

Izzy’s Dad, asked Savannah and Willow to sit
with the family and to speak at the service. I sat with them for
moral support, but I felt like a stranger. It was my first time in
a church and Izzy wasn’t completely dead to me. Hearing everyone
cry over their loss made me feel like an insensitive spectator,
because I wasn't joining them in their moist ridden grief. Izzy was
as real to me as she had been a week ago.

“This is awesome! Oh my God, did you see?
Triton is actually crying! Who knew he was even aware of my
existence?" Izzy's laughter echoed off the painted glass, but only
the three of us were aware of her. She was excited to see who
really cared about her and who was attracted to the drama her
funeral presented. “Get it, invisible? I’m a ghost…”

“Shhh… Stop it. This isn’t funny.” Willow
whispered from the corner of her mouth, while Savannah glanced to
see if anyone heard.

“What? I’m dead. If I have to die, I might
as well enjoy it. Besides, most of these people didn’t even care
about me. They are only here for the pity party.”

Izzy walked to her casket to see her body
and let out a owlish shriek. "Ugh! Why would they put me in a pink
floral dress? Shouldn't the last dress my body will ever wear,
reflect me?" She looked at us in disgust, shook it off, and danced
back to our bench.

The priest ran through the traditional
funeral speech, while Izzy serenaded us with own version. Hers
consisted of finding poking and mocking everything the priest said.
It was quickly obvious that she wasn’t a fan. The whole time her
family had belonged to this church the priest had made her feel
like the spawn of the devil. She thought it was because she dressed
like a Goth, and she wasn't a fan of judgmental people.

The priest didn't miss a beat, as he talked
out of his ass. “Izzy was a kind and generous girl, who touched the
heart and soul of everyone she knew. She will be missed.”

Playing a game of mockery with the unknowing
priest, Izzy spoke in a exasperated tone. “More like, Izzy was a
nice girl that everyone avoided. She had a few people who cared,
but the majority will forget her once this drama has passed. Her
wardrobe will be missed, but will comfort many trash bins and
Goodwill.” She made a disgusted sound about her wardrobe. “I can’t
believe my Dad threw out all of most of my clothes and gave the
rest to Goodwill! I spent years putting together the perfect
wardrobe. Now, it might as well rot, because it certainly won’t be
appreciated.” She pouted and went silent.

After the service, close family and friends
were invited to brunch. Willow and Savannah sat across the table
from me, fidgeting with the bread on their plates, while Izzy
eavesdropped on nearby conversations.

“I wish this would be over already.”
Savannah sounded miserable, but I was less worried about her, than
I was about Willow. Willow's sallow skin and dark puffy circles
around her eyes made her look like the living dead. It was not a
good sign, but I knew it was common when someone died. Even if that
loved one turned into an annoying ghost, who developed a knack for
stalking.

The next day, Savannah showed up at Griffins
and demanded to see me. Griffin barred her from entering, but
Savannah wasn’t having it. She threw the force of her power against
him and watched as he flew backwards into a wall.

“What the hell!” Griffin tried to stand but
dizziness caused him to fall back to the floor. His ear was
bleeding, but he didn't seem to notice, as he glared at Savannah in
hatred.

“S, what the heck are you doing?” I pulled
her away from Griffin.

“Willow is missing. She never made it home
after the funeral and I’m worried. Izzy can’t even find her.”

“S, she probably just needed some time to
herself. I’m sure she’s fine.” Savannah's eyes darted to Griffin
before dropping her head into her hands. She was shaking in
panic.

“She’s probably hiding from you. Do you
normally barge into people's houses and throw them into the wall?
Is this a psychotic tendency I should look forward to in the
future?” Griffin stood and glared at Savannah. He shot an accusing
stare at me.

Savannah looked up from her hands and
shouted. “Shut up!” Griffin went silent and stared in awe. Savannah
turned back to face me and spoke radidly. “No, see the coven
gathered and with the murders and people going crazy…Then Josephine
said she saw the sigil of death and there was blood. Oh God, there
was blood!” She covered her mouth and fell against me. “I can’t
lose anyone else. I can’t take it.”

Griffin wobbled forward to put his hand on
Savannahs back. It was the first time he showed her compassion. He
cleared his throat. “Where was the blood?”

“Um, they found it on the porch. There
wasn’t a lot, but enough that we know she had an injury. The bench
was turned over like something knocked into it.”

Griffin nodded and looked me in the eye.
“That means there was probably some kind of fight. That’s good
though. There’s no body, which means she ran for it. The only place
for her to run without anyone finding her is the forest.”

“You think she’s hiding in the forest?”
Savannah’s voice held a ray of hope. I took up Griffin’s cue.

“Yeah, she probably got lost running away.
We should organize a search party and comb the forest.”

Savannah's posture changed from distraught
to optimistic. She straightened, wiped the tears from her cheeks
and kissed me. She then threw her arms around Griffin's neck and
squeezed. He patted her back awkwardly and grimaced at the pain
from his head injury. Griffin may be a jerk around Savannah, but he
was really a good guy. Only someone who is noble would forgive
someone this quickly after being blasted into the wall.

The community gathered at the coven’s
circle, while the local police shouted instructions on how to
perform a search party. We would begin at Willow’s house and spread
out in a circle, while shouting her name. They told us to go in
pairs and remain in sight of at least one other group, at all
times.

I grabbed Savannah’s shoulders, forcing her
to look at me. “You told me you could take Kit’s shape. Do you
think you can do that now?”

Her eyes darted back and forth, but she
nodded. “Why?”

“Animals are predators; they track their
prey. If you change into Kit, you can smell something of Willow’s
and track her scent.”

“You want me to go get something of hers?”
Griffin’s spoke gently.

Savannah nodded. “Yeah. Uh, grab the teddy
bear on her bed. She sleeps with it every night and won’t wash it,
because it’s old. She doesn’t want it to lose its stitching.”

Griffin raced over to Willow’s house,
darting between people who were pairing up for the search. I
silently held Savannah until Griffin brought the teddy bear
back.

“Got it. Now, where do we do this shifter
thing without creeping out the regular people?”

I led them towards the shed behind Maye’s
house. It was for Maye’s gardening tools and the size of a small
bedroom. Once the door was closed, I turned to Savannah.

“Okay, now we have privacy. Work your
magic.”

Minutes ticked by during which, the most
interesting thing that happened was a fly landing on my hand. “Come
on, S. Hurry up.”

“I’m trying! This is the first time. They
didn’t exactly give me an instruction manual.”

My arms lifted in defeat and gestured for
Griffin to take over. “I don’t know much about shifting, but I
would imagine you have to concentrate on your bond.” Savannah
looked at him in wonder. He shrugged. “Ash filled me in on your
ability.” She threw a contemptuous look my way, but focused again
on Griffin. “Concentrate on your bond and immerse yourself in Kit’s
memories. Use his experiences to guide you through his senses.
Basically, think like a panther. They’re strong, fast, and great
hunters. They are black and easily blend in with the night. Use all
of that. Theoretically, if you immerse yourself, your body should
follow the path that your mind creates.”

I briefly wondered where Griffin had learned
about shifting. It wasn't something that the coven taught us.

“Okay, I’ll try. Just turn around and don’t
watch me.” Neither of us turned. “I’m going to undress! I would
imagine that this will rip my clothes and you boys are going to
carry them, so I can change back into them when we find Willow.
Turn around!”

We may have turned, but I still got a side
show. There was a mirror propped against the wall of the shed,
which allowed a perfect view. I wasn't trying my skills at being a
peeping tom, I just wanted to watch her shift. My curiosity got the
best of me, but I was still a man, who liked what he saw.

For a long while, nothing happened and then
came the seizure. Black threads multiplied and spread across her
skin in a maze. The threads transformed into fur, as they burst
through her flesh. Her eyes widened and grew. The bones in her back
broke and set in new ways. Her face resembled a kaleidoscope, as it
shifted into its new setting. The whole process looked painful, but
in way it was also beautiful.

With each crack of her bones, I could feel
Griffin cringe beside me. Savannah didn’t make sounds of distress,
but when the process was finished she growled. I turned around to
take in Savannah in her feline form. As a ghost, Kit had blue eyes,
but Savannah as a panther had bright yellow eyes. She was 8 feet
long with sleek black fur.

Her roar rattled the shed. She shook her
head and approached Griffin to sniff the bear in his hand. Nervous,
he backed away. “Man, this is weird. Savannah, you know all those
times I was an ass, I was just kidding.” He laughed and looked me
in the eye. “She could tear my throat out.” He loosened the
neckline of his shirt and opened the shed door. Everyone else had
already entered the forest.

“S, if you can understand me lick my right
hand.” I held my hands near her, fighting my instincts to run from
her predatory form. She flicked out her tongue, catching the barest
hint of my skin. “Okay, you track her and we will follow. Just,
make sure we're able to keep up, okay?” She snorted and raced off
with us following.

I couldn’t believe how fast she was. She
tore through the forest, easily maneuvering around each obstacle.
Unfortunately, she had to pause repeatedly for us to catch up.
Often we would watch from a distance, while she climbed trees to
lie on a branch.

Griffin and I were exhausted from running
through the woods, when Savannah halted. She started circling,
which reminded me of a cat chasing its tail. However, the anxiety
coming off her in waves was vastly different than the playful
attitude of a kitten.