My Demonic Ghost #3: Hunters and Creators (17 page)

“Yeah, I’m okay considering.”

“And the Creator?”

“Umm… I think he’s alright too.”

“Good. Well, come through and I’ll introduce you to some of the locals.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight:

He took me through the aisles without Chaos and Gargoyle, who were both embroiled in their own little conversation near the back. Jordan introduced me to the other Reapers; some were friendly enough, though dismissive. I met a few other Banished as well. A young girl, probably no older than eleven, sat on her own by the back table. She had long black hair and eyes that were a shocking shade of violet. She looked over at me once, before splintering into ash and disappearing. Another Banished stepped up from behind, another lone woman who stroked her rounded stomach out of habit.

“Rachael?” She called to me and I spun on my heel. Her eyes were fiery red, a complete clash from her warm smile and bloated cheeks. “It’s so good to see you again. My you’ve grown into quite the beautiful young lady.”

“I’m sorry, have we met… wait, this probably has something to do with my memory loss doesn’t it?” I exhaled.

The woman only smiled brighter, giving me a brisk nod, “It’s okay dear, my name is Nails. We met when you and Evan were a pair. Quite inseparable, too, might I add.” She motioned with her head over towards a wall where a cork board hung with newspapers and pictures pinned to it. There were pictures of hundreds of different faces; of different people in different profiles, with a small tag next to each name like a signature. I ran my hand along the papers, there was just something uncomfortable about the whole set up.

“Who are these people?”

“They are past Hosts; we call this the Memorial board.” Nails sidled closer as she indicated a picture of a young woman, the name Melanie scribbled next to her with Nails’s signature. There were some faces that tickled with familiarity. I ran my finger across before I pulled back on a male’s face pinned to the heart of the board, with a female attached to him. “That’s Eric with Betrayal. They died together five years ago when the Hunters ambushed us.”

“I recognise him… and this guy too.” I pointed over at a good looking male that had dark long bangs and a shadow of a beard growing along his jawline. His eyes were a gentle brown with thick eyebrows only intensifying his stare. My heart fluttered for a moment.

“Oh yes, that was Dean. He belonged to Sabotage the young Banished. He died not two years ago from heart failure. And over here,” She motioned to the right of the board a column of hosts. “These were Lock’s. Before the Blue Spirit gave us internal power, we had to live off and kill hosts. It is only recently that we can survive on our own, giving us the ability to move freely.”

“All these people were killed by Lock?” I ran my hand along the faces and swallowed uneasily. There was even a picture of a man that looked so much like my father that I felt sick.

“Most Hosts died after we had been with them; by then the damage was already done, so time just took over. We’re not proud of our history, so we put up this board as a way to pay our respects. Before the two of you got together, a dead Host was just a passing thought.”

“If Lock had been with me then why isn’t my face on this board?”

“Because he didn’t let you die.” Nails gently smiled.

“Can you tell me about it? About Lock and I?”

“Of course.” She floated around to my other side, motherly placing her hands on my arms to ease onto a seat. Of course, it was just a gesture; she really couldn’t put her hands on me. “What is it that you want to know?”

“Everything I guess. I don’t have any memory of meeting Evan, or saving him from damnation, or anything to do with spirits.”

“It was quite the tale. You see, not too long ago, Banished were cursed to be destroyed in the seven realms of Temptation. We couldn’t survive out on the surface on our own, and we sure couldn’t remain in the spirit world for fear Goons and Hunters would sniff us out. So, we did the only thing we could, which was to attach to living souls. Our only salvation was the idea that there was a world out there where Miira could not hurt us. That there was a place called the Third Realm where no God or Royal had any power. Beforehand we thought we were searching for a type of key or instrument known as the Staff to get us there…turns out it was actually a gentle Blue Spirit kept caged in the Heavens. We had to find the spirit so we could break away from the curse of banishment. When you and Evan got together, it was the beginning of our freedom. You managed to fuel Evan’s courage with both gentle love and unquestionable bravery. You saved more than just Evan’s life, you saved all of ours.”

“If I saved you then why are you still here? Why are you still cursed?”

Nails glanced down at her feet for just a moment, processing her answer, “Because we chose to remain.  Getting the blue spirit was our first step, keeping her from Miira and heaven’s angels is a completely different task. The Blue Spirit can take us into the Third Realm, but it was Miira who tainted us. As long as she rules, we’ll always be tainted.” I nodded my head as Nails scooted over. “You look cold, can I grab you a blanket?”

“Why are you so nice?” I asked without really thinking. It had sounded rude and I quickly added, “Sorry, I don’t mean that all Banished are meant to be mean or anything. But, Evan is always so snappy and now Gargoyle is having problems controlling his temper, it just seems to be a pattern… So, why are you so nice?”

Nails stroked her stomach once more, “Because I have one last memory reminding me of something that makes me happy. And no curse can take that feeling from me.”

I noticed her swollen stomach, “You were pregnant?”

“My husband had gotten into another one of his rages, he doesn’t usually strike me, not since I had fallen pregnant but something must’ve really gotten him fired up. When he came at me I shoved him away, scared he was going to hurt the baby, but I pushed him a little too hard. He fell down the staircase head first, breaking his neck-which ultimately killed him. In my devastation, I tried to catch him but I fell too and landed myself in a coma. I was in hospital for a while, nearly five months on life support. My brain was gone, but my body was still working, just enough to keep my baby alive. My spirit refused to leave until I knew he was safely delivered. I didn’t die from the fall, not straight away. I hanged on just long enough to hear my baby boy’s first cry; then I could let go. It was so beautiful, even with the Banishment curse reminding me of all the awful things I had lived through. Of all the times I had cried and been angry at my husband, I still got to keep the memory of my baby.”

My heart melted and my shoulders drooped, “That’s beautiful Nails. Do you still see your son?”

“Oh, sometimes. I like to pick my hosts close to where he is; it lets me watch his progress.  He’s turning ten this year. I fear I wouldn’t be able to watch over him anymore if I went to the Third Realm.”

“So you plan to always remain here?”

“Until I know for sure he’ll be okay, I’ll remain. I’ll risk the Hunters every day for him.”

“What is she doing here?” A sharp voice cut across the solemn silence, capturing the attention of all the Banished and Reapers at once. I whipped my head around at the touch of a glare. Lock stood with fists clenched. There was a moment of hesitation as Jordon glanced between Lock and I; noting how Lock’s face curled into a displeased scowl. He went up to his brother and said something under a hushed breath. Lock merely clenched his teeth at whatever Jordon said before he turned and left abruptly.

“Oh…” Nails whispered, “That was strange.” She looked back at me, her eyebrows drawn. “I had thought he would’ve been delighted to see you.”

I sighed uneasily, “I said some really nasty things to him that I shouldn’t have. I should go apologise.”

Nails nodded, “Young love, always so much drama. He’s probably in his room, just go down the corridor and take a sharp left. His room is at the end.”

“Thank you Nails.” I smiled and stood up to leave.

Chapter Twenty-Nine:

I got to the corridor and followed the gloomy hallway down, taking a sharp left when the entrance opened and continued down towards the end of the hall. It was designed in a manner that felt restrictive; all the rooms and walls were identical, with dull stone grey walls and meek coloured doors. I wouldn’t call it a cave, it was closer to an old basement littered with spiders and dust. Upon my approach, I saw his door slightly ajar. It was eerily quiet; I couldn’t hear anything apart from a leaking pipe that dripped constantly. I got to the door and smelled the hint of charcoal and lemongrass that lingered on his clothes.  I lifted my hand to knock and the door slammed shut. I jerked my hand away. As I went to knock again, a strong gust of wind shoved me back against the wall.

“Lock? Listen, I’m sorry, okay? I just want to talk” I said through the whistling of the wind. Unnaturally fast, the air suddenly got colder. It got to the point my toes felt numb inside my shoes and my fingers ached. Within moments, my entire body trembled as if I was caught in a blizzard. “Okay! Okay, okay I get it. I’m going.”

Unable to stand another moment, I turned on my heel and fled. Once I was far enough away from his door, the wind subsided and the gentle warmth finally came back. I gave him one last fleeting look before I returned to the others.

***  

For a while he wouldn’t look at me. During my first night, Lock didn’t leave his room, and when he did he ignored me as though I was trash to walk over. This went on for days. The Banished were still weary of me, but it was Gargoyle who took the hardest hit. Thankfully his transmission from Banished to Hunter had slowed almost to a halt. Damage’s disappearance, Miira’s betrayal, and turning into a Banished, took a heavy toll on him. Not even Chaos seemed to be able to spring some life into Gargoyle’s face. The Reapers and other Banished weren’t making it easy on him either. It was my fifth day hiding out with the Reapers and I was walking back towards Gargoyle’s room when Evan’s voice startled me from behind. He sat in a nook built into the wall, a type of built-in shelf that was big enough to support a grown boy. He slouched among the inset curve, one leg dangling out while the other was drawn to his chest. I wouldn’t have noticed him if he hadn’t of said something.

“Why are you still even here?” He had asked in a distasteful snarl.

I crossed my arms firmly, “You’re talking to me now?”

“You’re the one who wanted me gone, remember?” He jabbed back.

I huffed, “I’ve been trying to tell you that I’m sorry for saying all of that. But you don’t seem to be interested in listening to me.”

“Sorry? Sorry for stabbing me in the heart both metaphorically and literally?” He twisted around so both legs dangled over the ledge. “I don’t want your pity, Rachael.”

“It’s not pity! Why do you keep just pushing me away when I am trying to make things better?”

Evan scoffed, rolling his eyes, “What could you possibly say that could make this better? Aren’t I just some monster to you?”

“I’m really sorry if I hurt your feelings, I shouldn’t have said those things. I was just scared and confused. Can we please just go somewhere and talk? ”

He looked at me with an expression I couldn’t understand. It was almost like he still writhed in pain beneath his smirk. “You didn’t answer my question…” I looked back at him a little dumbfounded. “What are you still doing here?” He asked again with a hint of malice.

“I need protection from the Hunters.”

He laughed, “You want US to help you now?”

“Listen, I didn’t ask for any of this!”

“Whatever.” He pushed off the wall as I leapt at him, jabbing my finger in his face.

“No! I’m not done talking to you, don’t you dare run, you coward.” I seemed to have struck a nerve because Evan flickered back into place, his face scrunched like he had been openly challenged.

“What did you just call me?” He snorted as I took another step forward.

“All you’ve done is made things more difficult for me, you did it when I was fifteen and you’re still doing it now. I want to know why? There must be a reason why! Everyone keeps telling me how good we were together, about how much you loved me and how I loved you in return. If it was really that God damned perfect, then why do you insist on pushing me away?”

“It’s not that,” He pushed off the ledge and walked up to me, “I would wait a thousand years for you, I would go through the seven realms of hell again for you if there was any shred of you left inside that head of yours. But there isn’t anything there, there’s nothing left of the old you that loved me. You’re not my Rachael anymore and now you just torment me with your presence. How can you go to him,” He jutted his hand down the hall towards Gargoyle’s room, “when I am here? Do you understand why I am mad? Do you finally understand why I cannot be here with you?”

“Evan…” I exhaled and Lock suddenly sucked his breath in. His face tightened and his hand fell back to his side.

“What did you call me?”

“I called you Evan…”

He evaporated spontaneously into ash before vanishing through the walls. I spun on my heel unsure how to chase him, or if I even wanted to. What he said was right. I was no longer that old Rachael, I don’t even know if that old Rachael even existed anymore. He was looking for a person that just wasn’t there. Yet if I truly believed that, then why did I feel like I’d just punched a hole in my own heart? The more I stayed with him the more he seemed able to dig his fingers into my mind and pull at strings that I didn’t know existed. Instead of going to Gargoyle, I ended up slumped against the wall, my nerves had grown into knots inside my stomach and I felt physically sick.

“What am I doing here?”

“Rachael?” Gargoyle poked his head out around the corner before walking towards me. I turned my head away, embarrassed that I was this upset. “I heard a commotion, is everything okay?” He sat down so our shoulders brushed together.

“It’s just… Lock.”

“He’s giving you a hard time?”

“I don’t know… I don’t even know why I’m this upset. He just gets to me, I suppose. I shouldn’t have these feelings, but I do. It’s like there’s some sort of trigger inside my head that switches every time he’s near me. I’m just so confused. He keeps talking about the old me…”

Gargoyle sighed gently, busying his hands by picking up gains from the ground. “You know, you and I used to be on opposite sides. You sympathised with them and we mocked you for it. We called you ‘The Banished Fool’, because no one in their right mind would lend a helping hand to such a miserable bunch of spirits. They were the lowest of the low and no one cared for them. Until you came along… you fell in love with Evan despite everyone saying how strange it was, how wrong you were to care for a demonic spirit. Even I laughed at you…” He stopped his fidgeting; and peered over his shoulder at me like he was ashamed of his past thoughts. “But in the end you two won. That type of determination and bond won’t just go away. You’ll always feel for him, either its fear or love, or whatever. He’ll always be there in your heart, hiding in the deepest part of your subconscious. That type of bond doesn’t just get washed away, it leaves scars. You will remember him in time, and it’ll bring back all the happiness that was originally there. I’m just fearful it’ll bring back the hatred you had for me too…”

“I could never hate you.” I protested, as Gargoyle clenched his teeth and lowered his head.

“Yes you will… because I tried to kill you.”

I stopped smiling. “Wha…What?”

“I held your head under water after hypnotising you away from your school social. You couldn’t have been older than 16. You begged me to let you go, but I didn’t. I was going to kill you just to see if I could get Lock to come out of hiding. I was going to use you as bait; and if you died and Lock didn’t appear it wouldn’t have mattered. You were disposable to me; but to Lock, you were everything. You were worth sacrificing. He charged out after you, knowing full well I could take him down too. He cared for you so much. I’m so sorry Rachael-” I got up and left without saying a word. He didn’t call out to me either.