Natural Selection (24 page)

“
God, I can’t believe we’re
stuck with you,” Xander bellowed. I cast my eyes down, reminding
myself it was an act. Xander squeezed my hand again, reassuring
me.

“
I bet if we go now, the
witch will be satisfied with killing just her,” Sariah said in an
indifferent voice.

“
It’s not like Mom’s around
to saddle us with her pathetic whining anymore.”

I winced, wishing there was a switch I
could flip to not feel the sting of their words.

Nate popped to his feet, his fist
slamming against the table. “That’s out of line and you know it,
Xander. Your mom would be appalled if she heard you talking to your
sister this way.”

Xander looked at me and his eyes made
me shiver, so cold and unfeeling. “She’s not really my sister, are
you Amelia?”

I fidgeted with my napkin, and refused
to meet his eyes again mumbling something inaudibly. Xander scoffed
and stood. He tossed a wad of bills on the table. “You shouldn’t
have to pay for your last meal. But I’m not going to die for you.”
He turned and walked away.

I felt tears in my eyes as I looked at
Sariah, pleading her silently. She snorted and rolled her eyes,
grabbing her purse and standing. “If by some miracle you survive
this, don’t bother looking for us.” With that she strutted
away.

Mouth agape I stared after them a long
moment. I didn’t need acting skills to let the fear show in my eyes
or the insecurities. Even though I knew the discussion was staged,
I wondered how much was based on real sentiment.

We drove across town in silence. The
cemetery was full of long winding roads, and we wandered about
somewhat lost. After many wrong turns, we found the spot where we
had come out of the woods earlier in the day. As the sun set and
the light faded, we made a show of picking a spot in the cemetery.
With the last remaining light, we tried to subtly enter the woods
and climb to the top of the hill. The high ground should give us a
head start, and the woods were a gaia’s playground. We stood
staring into the cemetery in the darkness, our nerves on
edge.

The unnatural disturbance in the
forest was subtle, so Monica was almost on us before I realized
she’d seen through our plan. I grabbed Nate and pulled him deeper
into the trees, hoping she wouldn’t notice us—but the leaves on the
ground were far from silent. Reaching out with my abilities, I
urged a bunny across her path. It wasn’t like speaking to him, more
like I created the urge to move. In the same manner, I had a
squirrel drop an empty nutshell he was gnawing on in hopes of a
left over scrap. I don’t know if it was these tactics or just good
luck, but I was able to circle us around to the tangle of branches
I noticed earlier. Once we were under cover, we peered into the
darkness trying to catch a glimpse of her. The wind picked up,
becoming fast enough to pick up debris off the forest floor. I
caught a glimpse of Monica a little downhill from us, but it didn’t
seem like she knew we were there. Lightning stabbed down where she
had been, but she had already moved on.

I tried to think fast, but I had no
idea what we were going to do. Somehow we had to keep her away long
enough for us to retreat to the greenhouse. If we just made a run
for it, Monica would catch us before we got there. Trying to come
up with a way to distract her, I racked my brain but kept coming up
empty.

I felt the ground tremble as Nate
called on the rocks to aid us. The ground in front of the psycho
witch fell away, but she didn’t even seem to notice. That was when
I noticed her feet hovering above the ground, her toes just shy of
skimming the floor cover. Fear shot through me, and I held a hand
to my mouth struggling to stay silent.

Nate continued to fling things about
with the wind, and occasionally rocky explosion that seemed to melt
around Monica. Slowly she circled our hiding spot, and I knew she
was toying with us. I was thinking of crawling free and getting
things over with when she stopped in front of the tangle of
branches. With a gesture of her hand, she sent trees and sticks
flying, leaving Nate and I crouched on the muddy ground. Lightning
danced around her, somehow constantly missing her. She laughed at
us, floating menacingly closer as we backed away. Nate placed his
hand on my shoulder and I fed him energy knowing he couldn’t keep
this up much longer.

Suddenly a nearby tree fell startling
Monica into ducking, and we took full advantage. We tore up the
hill trying to get away, but I knew she was hot on our trail. There
was no way we were going to make it to the greenhouse. My slacks
caught on a bur vine, one of many I could feel in the area.
Glancing down, I grinned. I knew exactly what to do to give us the
time we needed to escape.

I SPUN AROUND watching as the witch
flew towards us. Wind whipped through her dark hair and her loose
black clothing. Her eyes were pure white like Peter’s had been.
With her pasty skin and eyes smudged with black, she looked like a
bad effect from a cheesy horror movie. Only it was a little too
real for comfort. I backed away, feeling Nate stumble as I pressed
into him. He flung lightning at her, but it wasn’t even slowing her
down. I knew our only hope was to make it to the top of the
hill.

I sent the vines that snagged me
flying at her as I continued to back away. One by one they wrapped
around her, pinning her arms at her side. It wouldn’t be long until
she freed herself, but it would be long enough to give us a
much-needed head start. Grabbing Nate’s hand, I turned and ran the
rest of the way up the hill and across the road to the greenhouse.
He shambled along, exhaustion plain in his lurching step. I flung
myself against the building, tugging at the doors before the flaw
in our plans became painfully obvious. The doors were secured with
a solid chain and the heavy kind of lock they claimed cannot be
picked. I tugged on it, hoping for some miracle, but no weak links
gave and the lock didn’t mysteriously come open in my hand. Nate
grabbed the chain, and I felt that peculiar tugging sensation deep
inside as he drew power from me. I watched in silent awe as the
chain rusted through and gave way like it was time elapsed
photography. I wondered if I would ever become accustomed to
watching others do things that my mind still insisted were
impossible.

Not looking over my shoulder to see
how much time we had, I tore the doors open and ran inside. I
shoved a broom through the handles of the door to prevent them from
opening before running through the small gift shop into the garden
beyond. Nate was leaning heavily on me nearly spent. My mother’s
words about burying myself in the ground for strength echoed
through my mind. I needed to get him into the ground. He was of no
use to me if he was drained.

I had no time for the awe I had felt
earlier as we ran down the ramp. I grew the bamboo plants until
their branches twined together, blocking the door. We ran around
the island to a hidden corner, and I helped Nate climb into one of
the flowerbeds. He threw off his shirt and used the last of his
power to clear a small hole for him to lie in. Praying the soil had
enough energy to recharge him, I scooped it back over his legs. I
held his hand and placed my other hand on his cheek for a prolonged
moment. His beautiful eyes full of emotion. I kissed his forehead,
buried the rest of him and stepped back. I grew the foliage around
him until I could only see his resting place when I
squinted.

Nodding in satisfaction, I ran around
the island to the opposite end of the cement path through the
garden. Standing opposite the entrance ramp, I heard the outer
doors bang against the wall. An unnatural wind blew through the
greenhouse as Mrs. Matthews entered the gift shop and drifted
closer. Fire bloomed in the bushes. Despite my every effort to
reinforce them, the plants were eventually consumed and the path
unbarred. I sent vines and hanging plants towards her, but with a
slash of her hand they fell away in pieces before they even got
close.

I was screwed and I knew it. My gifts
lay in life and nurturing. Nothing short of death, mine or hers,
was going to stop her. I’d never felt so useless in my life! I fell
to my knees defeated and waited for the inevitable. An evil smile
spread across her face as she realized her victory was assured, and
I felt like weeping. Was this the same woman who had always put
nasty medicines in snow cone syrup? Who tucked me in when I spent
the night with Evelyn? I couldn’t wrap my mind around the two
conflicting images.

A wall of flames shot across the
walkway in front of me, and I threw my arm up to shield my face. A
stony hand gripped my wrist, and I was dragged to my feet by
nothing. I tried not to let my fear show. I was tugged around the
corner and into the plants until my back was pressed against the
wall of the greenhouse. What looked like the wavering heat in the
air was shaped like a man—Xander had come to my rescue. He put a
finger to his lips and pressed down on my shoulder until I knelt. A
slight movement to my right made me turn my head and I saw—well,
me.

My doppelganger came over and tugged
my shirt over my head tossing a different one at me. She gave me a
crooked smile before putting mine on and disappearing into the
plants once more. The ghostly figure in front turned back towards
me, and I was just able to make out Xander’s glowing blue eyes
before he disappeared entirely.

My twin, who had to be Sariah, ran
down the path and hid fairly obviously behind a bench. Monica came
around the corner and that self-assured grin reappeared. Sariah was
pulled out of her hiding spot, so she cowered in the center of the
sidewalk as Monica got closer. Mrs. Mathews pulled a long wooden
stake from her sleeve as she approached, but movement behind Sariah
caught everyone off guard. Nate charged up the aisle and put
himself between “me” and the witch. He reached back and grabbed
Sariah’s hand, and I could see the shock register on his face as he
realized what was happening.

Suddenly everything happened at once.
I screamed and ran forward, trying to warn him. Sariah grabbed for
his shoulder but wasn’t able to get there before Monica drove the
wooden stake straight through Nathanial’s heart. A fist to the chin
with all my sister’s demonic strength sent the witch flying across
the greenhouse, crumpling in a heap near the back entrance. I ran
as fast as I could and caught Nate just as he slumped to the
ground. Tears blinded me as I saw the blood slowly spreading on his
bare skin. I ran my hand through his shaggy hair. There was a
sensation of tearing in my chest, and I didn’t know how much was
physical or how much was emotional. Sariah, in her own face now,
tried to pull me away from him, but I looked at her and knew the
fear had to be clear on my face.

“
If he dies, I’m as good as
dead. We’re bonded.” My voice was little more than a whisper, but
she heard me. She searched my face for a long time, unsure what to
do. Then she turned back to where the witch was getting unsteadily
to her feet. I watched my sister stand up, roll her shoulders, and
kink her head to the left and right.

“
Is that all you got
bitch?” she said as she walked menacingly forward. “Hope you got
more stakes or else you’re in for a world of hurt.”

Monica gave her a cocky smirk before
producing another stake. Sariah's step didn't even hitch. She and
the witch walked towards each other. They feinted, but the witch
wouldn’t let the succubus lay a hand on her, knowing she would be
helpless against the demon’s strength. Sariah tried to punch her in
the nose, but the older woman dodged. Sariah grazed her ear before
staggering slightly. Taking advantage while the blond was off
balance, Monica thrust the second stake through Sariah’s heart. I
gasped as my body went cold in shock, but Sariah simply looked down
at the stake then back up at the witch. The sickening grin slid off
the psycho witch’s face as my sister raised an eyebrow.

“
Really? Don’t you know
your lore? I’m a demon, bitch!” With that Sariah’s fist connected
solidly with the smug face and the witch crumpled. Monica attempted
to stand up, fire flaring in her eyes. Not figuratively, real fire
shot out of her eyes. I watched in horror as she was consumed by
fire from the inside out as Xander materialized walking away from
her. She screamed in agony and flames shot out of her mouth. I
almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

Nate moved in my arms, and I turned my
attention to him. His face was pale and clammy, and his eyes seemed
dim. He opened his mouth to speak, and I smoothed his hair back
from his face, shushing him. “Save your strength.” I said, tears
spilling down my cheeks. I felt Xander’s arm go around my shoulders
as Sariah knelt beside me and placed her hand on my knee. I
couldn’t stand the sight of the damn stake anymore. Despite
everything you learn in school, I pulled it out and threw it as
hard as I could. I placed my hand over the wound as blood gushed
out and fed him strength. “Call 9-1-1. We have to try.” I
sobbed.