Crimson Midnight (A New Adult Dark Urban Fantasy Series) (The Crimson Series Book 1) (30 page)

39.

WAVES OF BLOOD AND SILK

A zombie sat at the kitchen table.
He was small, only a boy. His hair was messy, his skin pale, black rings under
his eyes. There were blood trails running from his mouth and big, ugly wounds
on his arms and legs. Ripped, dusty rags clothed him and in his hands he held a
Nintendo DS.

“Erin!” A voice boomed from
upstairs.

“What?” Erin called back.

“Are you dressed yet?”

“Yes, mum. I already told you five
minutes ago.”

“Don’t be cheeky!”

Erin shook his head. His mum had
spent all day perfecting his zombie makeup. He looked good, a perfectly
authentic member of the living dead. Flo had done an excellent job. All Erin had to do was get his outfit on, which he’d done quickly. He was excited about the
Halloween party they would eventually be going to once his mum stopped
panicking and messing about with her hair.

Loud footsteps signalled Flo’s
descent.

She entered the kitchen. “Oh you’re
ready.”

“Told you,” Erin said with smug
pride.

“Mum,” Roman said as he came into
the kitchen dressed in a werewolf costume. He stopped to take in his mum’s
outfit. Then let out a low wolf whistle.

Erin giggled.

“Shut up.” Flo blushed failing to
hide her smile of pleasure. “Couldn’t you have put a bit more imagination into
your costume?”

Roman shrugged. “It’s called irony,
mum.”

Rose entered the kitchen dressed in
1980’s clothing, her blonde hair styled to look like Krystle Carrington from
‘Dynasty’. “Wow! Looking good Flo.” She gave a wolf whistle to rival Roman’s.

Flo blushed again, glancing down at
her outfit. The black sparkly dress revealed a world of cleavage, moulding to
her generous curves like a second skin. A sparkly pointed hat completed the
ensemble. She was a very glamorous witch.

“You’ve got an amazing body,” Rose
said.

“Oh, get out.” Flo blushed again.
She studied Rose. “How come you’re being Krystle and not Alexis?”

Rose had been watching Flo’s
Dynasty DVD box sets for some escapism. They had inspired her costume for the
Halloween party. “I like Krystle. I feel bad for her. Blake is horrible to her
and Alexis is always on her back about something. She’s the underdog. This is
my tribute to her. Plus she knows how to throw a mean punch in a lily pond. I
respect that.”

A horn beeped outside.

Flo Yelped. “Oh my gawd! It’s Mr
McIntire! I’m not ready yet. I’ve gotta take them boxes over there to the
party.” She pointed to two boxes in the corner of the kitchen. ‘They’ve got all
the buffet stuff in them. He’s here to give me a lift. I can’t…not yet…” Flo
was flustered and rapidly dissolving into a state of meltdown.

“It’s okay,” Rose said. “We’ll take
the boxes with Mr McIntire.” She glanced at Roman and he nodded in agreement.

“You sure?” Flo reached for her
handbag that sat on the kitchen table. She pulled out a packet of cigarettes.

“Yep,” Roman said. “We can grill Mr
McIntire a bit too.”

“Don’t you bleedin’ dare!” 

“We won’t.” Rose promised. “Much,”
she added wickedly.

Flo scowled at her.

Rose laughed.

“I’ll go out and tell him we’re
helping,” Roman said. “And that Cinderella isn’t quite ready for the ball yet.”

Raven and Thistle were still
missing, a fact that was in the back of everyone’s mind, the only person
oblivious was Erin. However, a semblance of normality had to be employed.
Despite the frustration, confusion and anger at their disappearances, the
council had ordered that business continue as usual. They themselves were
drawing blanks with their enquiries and so far had been unable to trace the
summoner responsible for the demon attacks. Richard assured the pack that it
was only a matter of time before the protagonist was found, but even his veneer
of confidence was beginning to crack. In the meantime, Roman, Rose and Flo
slapped on their happy faces, hiding their turmoil and increasing despair. And
thus far, Faye, Erin and the other humans close to them were none the wiser.

The Halloween party at the
community centre was a welcome distraction. Rose, Roman, Flo and Erin were all
going together. The other pack members had been invited but had declined. Faye
was out with Harold, and Kris and Damon had other plans. The werewolves had
their own distractions to keep them busy.

Rose and Roman had left with Mr
McIntire after loading the boxes into his boot. Five minutes later and Mr
McIntire had called Flo from the community centre, offering to come back and
pick her up.

“You don’t need to worry about us,”
Flo had said to him. “But thanks for offering. We won’t be long.” The community
centre was only short walk away, and without boxes to carry she’d make it in
less than ten minutes.

Flo stood before the mirror in her
hallway fluffing her hair, trying her best to get it to look just right. She
was in the frame of mind you get in when trying to impress someone, where no
matter what you do to your hair, in your eyes, it looks crap. It didn’t look
crap, but there was no telling Flo that.

“Bloody hell.” Flo sighed, still
fiddling with a tonged curl.

“Hurry up, mum!” Erin called from
the kitchen.

“Watch your lip, you!”

“I wanna go to the party!”

“So do-” She stopped and stared at
the mirror. “What the hell’s that?” she muttered under her breath.

There was something wrong with the
mirror. Her reflection seemed to be blurred, like a bad photograph or awful
television reception. Flo squinted, looking harder, and saw something else– a
blur of red behind her own distorted reflection. It was moving, spreading like
a stain, like blood.  It grew larger, spilling over her image. It was across
her stomach now, moving, writhing. She gasped, instinctively looking down at
her stomach expecting to see the matching stain in reality but found only the
shiny black material of her dress. Her eyes flicked back to the mirror and she
stood mesmerised as the stain moved, shifting upwards over her torso and toward
her head.  She wanted to step back, to move away but found her feet rooted to
the spot, her eyes wide in her face. And now the red was accompanied by silver–
glittering, beautiful silver.   Ensnared, she watched as a shape took form, a
figure wrapped in shimmering silver tipped with blood.  Just as her brain
assimilated what she was seeing, just as she realised that it was no longer her
image staring back at her, there was a flash of blinding light.

Flo screamed and staggered
backwards into the wall behind her. The light was gone but she found she
couldn’t move. Dark blotches danced before her eyes– an after effect of the
dazzling light. She blinked to clear her vision, her breath coming in gasps as
she fixed her eyes on the mirror.

The mirror’s surface was rippling
as the figure in the mirror moved closer. Then a hand broke the surface,
pushing its way out like slicing through water. This was followed by an arm,
another arm and then the full body. A woman stepped through the mirror and
stood in the hallway surrounded by light.

Flo tried to speak but no sound
emerged.  For the first time in her life she was speechless.  As her mind
caught up with what her senses were telling her, she realised that what she was
witnessing lay in the realms of magic. She blinked against the intruder’s
glow. 

“Faye?”  No…no…it couldn’t be. The
woman smiled and cocked her head. “Faye!”

Faye’s skin shone with an inner
luminosity– a radiant silver sheen, like moonlight.  Her red hair was also now
a deeper almost unnatural shade of crimson, as if she had bathed it in rich,
dark blood. It fell in glistening waves down her shoulders, enforcing the
illusion. Despite the physical changes, Flo recognised this vision of beauty as
Faye.  It was in the stance of her body, the tilt of her head and the quirk of
her smile.  Clad in a stunning silver gown, breathtakingly beautiful, she oozed
power and something else– something that sent shivers of unease up Flo’s spine
and begged her to turn and run.  

“What…what happened to you?” Flo
breathed.

Faye’s glittering emerald eyes
sparked with something, which sent a stab of fear through Flo’s heart.  This
wasn’t the Faye she knew– there was no warmth in those eyes. It was as if
something alien had stepped into her skin, stripping away the humanity that had
lived there, before filling the void with ice.

“Who are you?” Flo shook her head.

Faye smiled. “Oh come on, Flo. You
know me, it’s little ol’ me. Faye.”

“You’re not Faye.” Flo pressed
against the wall.

Faye sighed, taking a step toward
Flo, pouting her full red lips. “Sorry to disappoint, luv.” She imitated Flo’s
broad accent.

Flo’s eyes moved from the mirror
back to Faye. “What…how?”

Faye rolled her eyes. “How rude of
me, entering through your mirror without knocking.” She pulled her mouth down
at the corners, making a sad face. “Forgive me for scaring you.”  When Flo
didn’t respond she continued. “It’s just I’m sort of on a deadline here, you know?
Evil plan waits for no one and all that, you understand don’t you?”

The way she moved, the melodious
quality to her voice, it was beginning to make sense. “You’re one of them
aintcha? You’re fey.”

“Finally! Thank you!” Faye threw up
her hands in mock relief.  “Saves me having to explain, not that I was going to
anyway.  But it’s great to shake off the mundane glamour and be the real me
again.” Her manner was suddenly conversational. “You know the feeling, you must
get it when you whip off your bra at the end of the day and release those bad
boys.” She shot Flo’s cleavage an appraising look. 

“What do you want?” Flo didn’t know
much about the fey in general.  They kept to themselves but she knew enough to
know that they could be dangerous. From the vibe she was getting off Faye, she
knew she would need to tread carefully.

“Hmm, a woman who likes to get
straight to business, I like that.” Faye swayed slightly on the spot, fingering
the shimmering material of her dress.  She stopped almost as abruptly as she
had begun and fixed her hard eyes on Flo. “I’m here for your son,”

Flo’s heart skipped a beat then
resumed its beating. Thank God Roman was out. “What?” she asked simply to buy
herself some time, to think.

“Your son.” Faye enunciated
carefully as if talking to a moron.

“Roman’s not here.”

Faye looked down the hallway in the
direction of the kitchen, her lips curving in a cruel smile. “Not that stray
mutt.” She grinned, her face a mask of glee. “Your real son.”

Confusion, comprehension and panic
flared in Flo’s eyes in quick succession. “Get out.” She snarled, pulling
herself up and to her full height, a lioness prepared to protect her cub at all
cost.

“Not without the prize.”

“GET THE FUCK OUT!” Flo lunged
forward, adrenaline surging.

“Mum?” Erin called out.

Faye threw out her right hand and
something hit Flo in the chest, sending her hurtling back into the wall with a
loud crack. She cried out in pain as she made impact. She couldn’t move, she
was stuck to the wall. She looked down to see a splatter of what looked like
silver silk stuck across her chest, holding her in place. “What is this?” Flo
struggled but the stuff wouldn’t budge. Panic flared in her chest. “WHAT THE
FUCK IS THIS!”

“Mum?” Erin walked into the
hallway. He gasped as he saw his mum and Faye. He dropped his DS, his eyes wide
with shock. “Mum?” His voice quivered with fear and uncertainty.

Faye smiled sweetly at him. “Hello,
Erin.”

“RUN, ERIN!” Flo screamed.

“I don’t think so.” Faye moved
quickly, grabbing Erin painfully by the arm.

He screamed in pain.

“NO! GET OFF MY SON!” Flo struggled
harder, her heart filled with rage. But her struggles were futile, the material
that held her too strong. She did the only other thing she could think of.
“HELP! HELP! SOMEONE! HELP!”

Faye laughed, still holding Erin by his arm. He pulled against her, trying to get free, wincing as her nails dug into
his skin. “Oh, did I forget to mention that little silver flash earlier made
sure that your neighbours are oblivious to all this commotion.” Faye looked
smug. “I love fey magic.”

“HELP!”

Faye frowned. “What are you, deaf?
There’s no use in shouting. No one can hear you.”

“HELP! PLEASE! SOMEONE!”

Faye rolled her eyes.

“HELP!”

“For fuck’s sake,” Faye huffed.
“You’re doing my head in!” She threw out her free hand and silver silk hit Flo
in the mouth, gagging her. “There, much better, don’t you think?” She addressed
a distressed Erin. “I don’t know about you but I was beginning to have trouble
concentrating”

“BOG OFF!” Erin lunged, sinking his
teeth into her hand.

“You little shit!” She slapped him
hard across the face, knocking his head back and bringing tears to his eyes. Erin blinked, glaring at her with loathing– he refused to cry.

Flo let out a muffled roar, her
useless struggle to protect her son visible in her blazing eyes.

Erin stood bravely, his face red
and raw from the hard slap. “I hate you!” he cried and delivered a hard kick to
Faye’s shin.

Faye slapped him again. “Behave!”

Erin’s nose started to bleed.

“Oh, look, the blood goes with your
costume.” Faye giggled. “Say thank you, Faye.”

Erin glared at her, teeth gritted
against the pain.

Faye sighed. “Kid’s today, eh? No
manners. Now, let’s get this over with.” She spun him around aggressively to
face the mirror. “You’re going for a little ride,” she said in a baby-talk
voice. “Someone is waiting for you on the other side. Ready?”

Erin glanced at his mum, immobile
and unable to help him and the dam holding back his tears broke. “MUM!”  His
cry was cut short as Faye scooped him up at the waist and threw him into the
mirror.