The Grasp of Nighttide (20 page)

“What are you doing?” Steph heard the demon ask. “On the orders of the queen.” 

“I am Diane. Rank one among Defenders. I need you to stop this until I have a word with the queen.” 

Diane?
Steph thought. Could it be? Her Grandmother? 

“We have orders and unless the queen tells us to, we can’t let the girl go.” 

“Your orders will change. Wait till I talk to her.” 

Stephanie felt the demon walk away.

“Stephanie,” she heard Diane say. “I have left my phone in the car. I’ll have to go down to make the call.” 

Slowly, Steph stood up, straining to hear Diane’s words.

“The demon is around the corridor. He will come at you once I leave. They will not stop until they get their orders. Don’t use this door to escape. I trust you can stay safe until I handle this situation. And are you ready to ask the queen for forgiveness?” 

“No,” Steph shouted.

“I’ll do that for you,” she sounded exasperated. “Go to the bar where there will be people. Whatever may happen, stay there until morning; the demons won’t be lurking around in the day. And now you have one minute to leave that room.” 

Steph glanced around for any secret escape or trap doors. She knew very well that Diane meant the window but she had to make sure there was no other ‘humane’ escape from there.  

In less than a minute she felt the demons getting closer again- three of them. With no option left she lowered her legs from the window-sill, located on the fifteenth floor. It had been years since she ‘wall-walked’ but she wasn’t uncertain. She could do it- she knew- just like how she won the lottery. That was the nature of Grasp. 

“Here goes nothing,” Steph aligned the soles of her boots against the wall and looked around for people. But there was only one clumsy watchman who was entertaining a group of foreigners. With a push she stood firmly on the vertical wall and smiled. Piece of cake. 

Sure the demons were still on her trail, knowing she had escaped the room- Stephanie had to move fast. Instead of going lower and risking being seen- she entered the open window three floors below. The sound from the passageway outside gave her hope. There were a lot of human voices coming from outside. Steph had read a sign in the lobby saying a famous author- Ritchie Maxer was in for a book signing event. She had to get into that crowd. 

Quick on her feet, she was almost there. But before she realized what was coming a demon had its arms wrapped around her, holding her tight from behind. Inches away from the door- she was struggling. She tried to open the door with her mind but it seemed like the demon was blocking that. 

“You wouldn’t have thought escaping was so easy. Did you?”

Steph tried to struggle, but the hands drew her in tighter making it hard for her voice to escape. It was over. 

 Can’t believe you get caught. 
Came to her mind. 

I can’t be caught. 
Steph thought. 
A Summoner. Yes that’s it. I am a Summoner.

John told her she was a Summoner like him- a Grasp member that could suppress and summon demons. Though she hadn’t officially joined the Grasp it didn’t take those qualities away from her. Of course she was nothing in comparison to other Summoners who had experience- but wished she had enough in her to pull a few strings.

She had used the power one time before. Once in their new home- after John’s death- there was a presence. Nothing human or Grasp. It was a demon of the ordinary sorts, those which one saw on TV. Rosalie was creeped out, and they couldn’t afford losing the home, but it explained why the place had come cheap. Rosalie wanted to ask help from the church but was scared to because of how the procedure would affect Steph. Steph’s intuition told her what to do, and in a matter of seconds Steph crushed that demon- which was nowhere strong as the demons of Grasp. 

Lucky for her trying didn’t need any charms or spells. She closed her eyes and focused on the demon behind her- it was too strong. Outside the limits of even the strongest of Summoners in the Grasp, Steph thought, but she didn’t need to suppress it- just enough to let her go for a moment. 

Steph concentrated really hard, trying to suppress the demon’s power. At first, nothing happened but as she continued she could crack a little bit into it, making the demon flinch at the unexpected attempt. The demon hadn’t surely expected a Grasp with no training would make that attempt. With the grip loosened around her, Stephanie desperately yanked open the door with her mind as she fell forward.

She quickly gathered herself before she could fall to the floor, but it looked like she had made a scene already. The tomb demon was no longer there. All the people gathered outside were facing her by now.

There was a young, slender man who pulled off a nerd look with glasses. He had a bouquet in his hand, and considering the other people facing Stephanie- she realized he was Ritchie Maxer. 

“Sorry. The door was stuck and I’ve been trying hard to open it,” Steph said.

 
Shit. Who tries to pull open doors with the card system
? Steph thought.
Wish this was an ordinary hotel.

None were interested in her any longer and let the excuse fly over their heads, and Ritchie Maxer looked at her necklace a minute longer before shifting his attention back to his young fans.

The fan crowd was soon moving downstairs with Ritchie, and Stephanie blended in with them. After each twenty odd steps Ritchie didn’t forget to mention that taking the stairs is good for health. Along the way, the people discussed and asked questions about his book series. Stephanie gathered the book names- hang up, hanged all over again, hanged until another life (which was his new release).But her focus was on the demons, that were almost on every floor, staring at her with eyes that could be easily mistaken for humans’.

While the crowd moved towards the entrance, Steph took a quick deviation making it to the bar. The man who had flirted with her in the lobby before was there, nursing a drink.

“I thought you’d never show up,” he said. He eyed the sparkling necklace, wondering if it was a gift from a lover. Steph joined him at the bar. “And I thought you would have given up by now.” She responded, taking a sip of his whiskey. 

“On a beautiful woman like you? It would take more than hours and a cold shoulder for that to happen.” He told her. “Besides, you look like you can afford to buy me a drink to replace that one.” 

Steph simply smiled and gulped down the last of his drink to calm herself. She settled in, happily teasing and being teased by this handsome stranger, trying to forget her narrow escape and what lay before her tonight. She hoped the queen would give orders to let her go soon, because half of the demons were now in the bar, ready to steal her 
by hook or by crook
.

“I need to talk to you, your majesty.” Diane spoke from the phone at the reception, ignoring the creeped out look shot by the stout clerk. The tomb demons were twenty in total and she wished Steph could be let free. “Your majesty, I….”

The clerk burst into laughter. Diane had left her purse in the car, and searched on her for anything to offer to the man to let her be. The queen wouldn’t tolerate if she was engaged in talks with him while on the phone with her. That was totally inacceptable behavior and would anger the queen. A platinum wedding band came out of her pocket- one she had got during her wedding with Mr. Paul. She placed it in front of him and signaled him to give her space. He analyzed it for a moment before nodding and moving to the furthest side of the long desk- to give her privacy.

“I was saying... Your majesty…” Diane started again.

“So, now you disobey my commands?” An unpleasant voice came from the other side.

“No, your majesty. It’s just..”

“What is it?” she roared. “I would like to know.”

“I thought...” Diane’s feet were shaky. She hadn’t prepared of what to say and the queen’s anger was terrorizing. “Stephanie is one of the important members of the Grasp.”

“I thought she could be. Being a Summoner. But she has disgraced us.”

“I need a chance, a chance to talk to her.” Diane twirled the phone cord in her fingers. The clerk glanced at her direction once more, and when he caught her eyes, he looked away again. She hesitated before continuing. “I apologize to you on her behalf. Please forgive her.”

“Are you bringing your family before Grasp?” The queen scoffed. “I think you know better than that.”

“I’m thinking for the Grasp,” Diane saw Stephanie stride into the bar and heaved a sigh of relief.

“Your granddaughter is posing problems… And did you abandon the girl, the subject for this? I counted on you with her!”

Diane always kept Rave in her sight, or Alice, as she was called at present. A fellow Grasp member had picked up on the queen’s intention on capturing Stephanie and informed her. Diane was panicked but at the same time also not so careless to leave Alice unattended.

“Andy is taking over tonight. He has promised to keep things in control until morning.”

“Huh he even does that? All the way from France he is focusing on
your assignment.
” The queen was irritated. “I still can’t let Stephanie go.”

“Please.”

“If you make it to Mortegrath now, we can discuss.”

“Okay, please don’t let the tomb demons take her.”

“Get it here,” Diane could be sure the queen had a smirk on her face. “Then I’ll think about it. And I mean leave now. No wasting time on talking to your
beloved
granddaughter.”

“Yes, your majesty,” Diane said promptly. “The Grasp will prevail.”

If I go tell Stephanie the queen will be informed. That can’t happen.
Diane thought looking at three tomb demons sitting in the lobby like casual humans, including the one she had spoken to.  Also ten she counted went into the bar. The others too were around she sensed. With a heavy heart she turned to go.
Please be safe there until I meet the queen. I will convince her to let you go… somehow.

Alice felt tired when she woke up and she wasn’t in her bed. It was no surprise she wasn’t in her room, but she wasn’t outside either. She was lying on a circular staircase. She couldn’t see the floor in the dark but there was definitely a light coming from above. She peered through a slit in the wall to confirm the place. There was a familiar patch of ground outside. It was the tower. But someone had beaten her there or else why would there be a light. Alice raced up. Light flooded through a bright pink door. 

“Anyone there?” Alice called out, letting herself in. 

There was no one in the cheerful hexagonal room. Alice looked around for the switch when her eyes fell on the wind chime. She had been waiting for a long time to get rid of that sound. The window was shut, and there was no place for air to enter the room, but Alice thought it would be better to just put it away. 

When Alice tried to lift it off the hook, it weighed more than sixty pounds. 

“Why don’t you jump?” A cry startled Alice. 

“Jump. Why don’t you jump?” It repeated.

Alice saw a little girl off to her side. She was about seven or eight years old and was wearing a long flannel nightie. Her light- brown hair was disheveled. She was upset and scared. 

“Why sweetie?” Alice asked, bending down. 

The face grew paler with each second and when Alice tried to touch her, she walked through Alice’s body and through the thick glass and stood outside the window. 

Suddenly, the light went out, causing Alice to turn around. The whole room had turned dusty with cob webs, just as you would imagine a room closed for years would look. 

Alice looked at the girl again. She cast a sorrowful glance back at Alice. 

“Stay right there,” Alice stammered as she slowly opened the window. 

The girl jumped. 

The wind chime jingled violently just like all those other days. Alice helplessly looked at the girl fell into the darkness. 

“No!” Alice reached out with one hand and clasped the other over her mouth. “No!” 

The wind chime seemed to go on forever. 

***** 

When Alice woke up, she lay on the couch. 
The tower
, she thought. She didn’t remember coming back here. She walked to the tower door, sure that it would be open but it was locked, key still in place. Alice grabbed the key and went outside. 

“Here you go,” Alice made a small pit under the tree and placed the key in. “You belong here.” 

“What are you doing?” Anna came beside her. 

“Nothing,” Alice stood up, brushing the dirt off her hands. “Hi. How are you? I’m sorry about what happened to Jenny.” 

The breakup and Jenny’s death duo had knocked Anna off her feet. She still held on to her fashion sense in dignity- a hot pink knitted top paired with the same colored high boots with an edge of black. It was a remarkable outfit. But yet she looked horrible. Her eyes were puffy and even the makeup wasn’t enough to conceal the dark circles completely. Her nose was pink and her face had grown thinner in a day. Alice felt guilty for being half responsible for her condition. The death of Jenny might’ve not been under her control, but Derek… Well, Alice could’ve prevented that.

“I’m fine.” Her voice came steady. “I just wanted to tell you something… about Derek.” 

“Okay.” 

“Derek loves you.” Anna said flatly. 

“Anna...” Alice started to protest. 

“I loved him so much...” She blinked back her tears and went on. “But it doesn’t matter now.” 

“I’m going to leave him. Then he’ll come back to you.” Alice couldn’t stop herself from saying those words. 

“You are lying to yourself.” Anna was crying. “You love him too.” 

“I have a boyfriend,” Alice reminded her. 

Anna gave her a sad smile as she had the other day.

Derek arrived and Anna quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve, “Take care Alice, and look after him too. He’s a great guy.” 

“Hey,” Derek said to Anna, but she left before he could say anything else. Alice wanted to stop her and offer her a ride but thought it might be hard on the girl. Despite all the feelings Alice harbored, she would let Derek go back to Anna.

“What’s wrong with her?” He asked Alice with confusion and concern. 

“You broke her heart!” Alice reminded him in anger. “Nothing’s wrong with her. All is wrong with you.” 

“What?” he said. “No. That can’t be it.” 

“Are you crazy?” Alice asked in disbelief. Anna loved Derek and him? Well, here he was thinking that Anna had to take the breakup very casually as he had. “Why don’t you talk to her yourself?”

Derek nodded and ran after her. He appeared to have caught her near the bend, but that was when the trees blocked further view. Alice grabbed her bag, locked up and waited with Cloud until Derek appeared again. 

“What did she say?” Alice asked curiously. 

“She’ll be alright,” he avoided her gaze. “Let’s go.”

A thought struck Alice as she got into Cloud. She looked up towards the tower window. It was 
open
.

Alice was still thinking over things, snapping her fingers. Though her gaze was fixed outside the car’s window her mind was too crowded to know where they were headed, or else Alice would’ve recognized the place even before Derek parked Cloud at the side of the road.

“Why are we stopping?” Alice asked, blinking at the familiar store called ‘Widespread book house.’

Why had Derek stopped there?

“Uh, I’d nearly forgot,” Derek scratched his temple as he reached for two identical silver bags on the backseat. “Here,” he said, handing Alice one of them.

“What’s this?”

“Take a look. I think you will like it.”

At least this is not a ring,
Alice said pulling out the content.
A book?

It was a book alright. But not just any book, it was Ritchie Maxer’s ‘Hanged until another life.’ And looking at the first page, she saw it was signed by Ritchie Maxer himself!

“Wow, where’d you get this?”

“At a book signing event yesterday,” he said. “Wait here, I’ll be right back. Have got one for Franny.”

Alice waited for five minutes in Cloud, skimming through the first pages of the novel. She had been so engaged with the previous book in the series that she couldn’t put it down. She’d been waiting for this book, in fact Franny and Alice had been discussing about it at the store last time.

When Alice heard the sound of the bell, she thought it was Derek who came out of the store. But instead Rashi came forward, grinning at her.

“So,” she said. “Alice in Cloud? I see.”

“Hey, hi.” Alice got out of Cloud and proceeded with normal conversation. “How’s everything?”

“You must tell me.” She wagged her brows. “What’s going on with Derek?”

“Um, nothing.”

“Rubbish! I got the lead yesterday. Bell mentioned to some people that it was over between Anna and Derek.”

Alice stared at her, not knowing what to say. Many in town would’ve heard about that from Rashi.

“I’m not mad that you didn’t tell me, you know,” she hugged Alice. “I’m so happy for you. This is so cool.”

“
Right,”
Alice pretended to go along.

“By the way, Lizzy is jealous that you got a boyfriend before her, a charming one at that. She’s been guy-hunting since a year now, but no luck,” she laughed.

“Hey Rashi. What’s up?” Derek came out.

“I was asking Alice here, about what you told Franny.” She gave Derek a playful punch and they both continued their conversation for a bit longer in Hindi.

“Anyway have fun on your trip,” she winked before retreating into the store again.

“What did you tell Franny?” Alice demanded.

“That I love you and..”

“And?”

“You love me back.”

“What?” Alice gaped. “You said what?”

“I didn’t lie now. Did I?” he stated. “We need to leave now. If we plan to get there today.”

.