The Quarter Moon (Afterlife saga) (35 page)

“What is this place?” I whispered to Sigurd but when I looked sideways to him all I got was a warning shake of his head. I decided not to push it and opted for silence. I waited until Jared and his entourage preceded us up the stairs. I then received an encouraging nudge from behind telling me to take the steps to up and beyond, so I did as I was silently told. Even the bloody steps had seen better days, with its once rich red carpet runner worn down to the wood on each lip of the edge.

I followed the voices up as I had dawdled long enough to have lost sight of them. I was at the top of the staircase when I screamed out as a hand shot from around the corner and latched onto me.

“Me thinks someone could benefit from a vodka chased chill pill
.” Marcus said from behind Smidge, who had scared the crap out of me in an attempt at showing me the way.

“I’m fine
.” I said in a shaking voice, which made him laugh. Of course, thanks to Smidge’s quick actions, I soon had to stifle my own laugh as she elbowed Marcus in the gut.

“Will you two cut it out and get them in here!” Jared bellowed from some other room
, but it was loud enough to rattle the glass in some of the pictures that were lucky enough to still have it. I wondered how you even did that and doubted my human lungs had the power to produce the same depth to vibrate a whole room. Still, it was one Hell of a way to get someone’s attention, that was for sure.

“Bitch” Marcus sneered.

“Dickhead.” Smidge counteracted with a smile on her face.

“After you
, big butt.” It was my turn to scowl up at Marcus for that comment, but Smidge just laughed louder this time, saying,

“I know you love it
, dumbass!”

I was surprised when she pulled me past and I heard his response,

“I’d fucking worship it, if you’d let me.”
He said under his breath.

Smidge pulled me down the hall and round a corner at the end where we came up to a pair of double doors that were open. Then we stepped inside and weird left the building, b
eing swiftly replaced by oh my God!

The room was an open plan study/sitting area that
was so richly furnished, I had to blink a few times just to take it all in. I looked to my left as I walked in and saw a large square sunk into the floor with three steps down. The area was big enough to sit at least twenty people comfortably, if the massive plum and gold coloured cushions were to go by. In the centre of this was a coffee table of the likes I had never seen. It was once the base of an enormous tree that had been sliced so close to the ground, it flared out before its roots had disappeared under the earth. It was a highly polished piece of wood that gleamed under the hanging gold lantern that was the size of a birdcage.

Further on from that
, I could just see a black felted snooker table with coloured crystal balls scattered from a game left unfinished. The whole room was dark wood panelling up to waist height with thick cream wallpaper that had an elegant light gold swirl, most of which was covered by expensive looking oil paintings.

However
, the whole room was dominated by a massive black lacquered desk that could have doubled up as a bed. It looked to have been made from one single piece of wood that had an elaborate war carving all along the front panel and this too gleamed under the many spotlights that were a part of the fancy moulded ceiling.

“Sit
!” The order rang through the open space like a damning bell screaming high treason. I didn’t know why it was, but the way Jared treated me now that Sigurd was back was far different than the comforting, playful guy at my back when watching the ring.

“Well, you wanted this meeting and your friend went to great lengths to get it for you, as you saw… I think it is time for confessions
, Keira.” It was the second time he had called me Keira and the shivers it shot through me didn’t lessen. I looked back at Sigurd and he nodded, making Jared growl.

“I am allowing him in on this meeting to appease your tension, do not push it
, pet.” I took his warning as possessive, because every word was dripping in it.

“Alright, you want the reason I needed to speak to you, here goes…I need to get into
Hell.” At this, all conversation stopped. Marcus had been talking to, who I assumed was another member of Jared’s council and Smidge had been speaking to someone on the phone. Now, all eyes were on me and the phone was no longer by Smidge’s ear. I guess I just dropped a show stopper with that one!

“Come again
, little dove?” Jared asked as though I had been speaking Klingon.

“I want you to show me a way into
Hell.” I stated, this time slower and hopefully less thick on the Northern twang. He had been leaning forward to hear my answer and now he got the repeated, longer version he let out a sigh and deflated back.

“I see
.”

“You do?” I asked hopefully.

“I do, it is clear to me now that you are unfortunately deranged and in need of the medical profession.… Snake Eye, what were you thinking, taking on such a damaged bird?” At this I shot out of my chair facing his and took an offended step back.

“I am not deranged!” Jared simply snorted a huff and I felt Sigurd walk up behind me and place a calming hand on my shoulder.

“The girl speaks the truth and as hard as it is to be believed, she is right of mind.” This must have been the wrong thing to say as Jared let his meaty fist come crashing down on his desk, one thankfully enough to be solidly made to withstand a beating.

“Enough! Marcus, show out our guests, they have suddenly out stayed their welcome!” He snapped looking
, for the first time, disgusted with me.

“No wait! You can’t! We need your help!” I shouted out quickly as Marcus was cutting the distance between us.

“Come on Keira, I told you it couldn’t be done.” Sigurd said as he started to try to lead me away.

“It can be done! If it can’t, then
why did the Oracle send me here? Why did she send me to him?” I said looking up at my friend but pointing at Jared. Marcus came to us and was just about to take my other arm to aid in leading me away, when Jared’s hand flew up in a halting motion.

“Wait
!” All three of us turned to Jared’s stony face.

“The Oracle sent you?”

“Yes, she did.” I said, firmly crossing my now released arms across my chest.

“You swear by this?” Jeez what did this guy want, a
pinky promise?

“Yes…” I leaned forward and finished with a definite,

“…I do.” Jared relaxed back in his huge wing-backed chair and steepled his fingers.

“Alright Keira, I will play…for now. Sit back down and explain things to me
.” I did as I was told, mentally thanking my lucky stars to have this second chance.

“Ok
, so you know who I am…right?”

“I do
.” I nodded and swallowed, ready for the hard part.

“And if you know who I am, then you know what I was to Dom… Dominic Draven?”
God, even saying his name out loud was hard. A muscle in his jaw twitched but he only nodded back, obviously not saying what he really wanted to say.

“So you know where he is?” Now this question got me a frown.

“I do not.” Now this shocked me. I would have thought every big player would have heard where Draven was.

“Keira
.” I heard Sigurd warn me from behind but it was already too late, the words were forming and bursting free before I could stop them and think about that warning.

“He’s in
Hell!” At this, Jared shot a hard look over my shoulder at Sigurd and I turned just in time to catch a brief head shake back. Now what was all that about?

“And the Oracle told you this?” I nodded and said,

“She told me that I would only find Draven once I had been to Hell, so I know he is there.” Jared’s eyebrows slashed together over his eyes in a deep frown. It was as if he didn’t believe what I was saying and this was confirmed when he asked,

“But you don’t
know
that he is there?”

“I do
.”

“But how…?” I interrupted him and spoke about something I hadn’t yet told anyone, not even the Oracle.

“I know he is, because I saw him getting dragged back there, with my own eyes.” At this I heard the inhaled breath of shock from a few people, including Sigurd at my back.

“Explain
!” Jared commanded.

“He came to me in my room
, not long after I found out he had died… he said…he said I needed to watch, to see him being taken back, so that I understood. I think he meant to give me a clue, to let me know where he was, as it wasn’t light I saw taking him, but…black hands dragging him back, burning him…then I saw…” I choked back a sob as I brought one of the most painful memories back to life.

“What Keira…what did you see?” Jared asked, softly this time and I looked up at molten silver through a watery haze of unshed tears. I looked down and let them slid free, hitting the desk I didn’t even realise I was holding onto
, in dainty droplets. When I heard him prompt me by saying my name on a whisper, my head rose slowly and I said the words that pained me,

“Fire...” T
hen I fell forward and Jared lunged over the desk to catch as I whispered on my last breath, before darkness overtook me…

“My Draven in the Flames.”  

Chapter 32

Black Sand

I woke up and blinked away my blurry vision, only to focus on a pair of light green eyes. I frowned and blinked harder. It couldn’t be… it just couldn’t…could it? I kept my eyes open for longer this time and took in the rest of him; smooth shaved head, at least a few weeks’ worth of stubble on a strong jaw, flat nose and a full pair of lips that were pulled together, looking worried.

“Did I break down again?” I asked in a groggy voice and was met with the soft rumbling of a laugh.

“No Red, you didn’t break down again but shit sugar, you had me worried for a minute. How’s your head darlin’?” I tried to sit up and felt hands come to my aid.

“Eddie?” I asked and felt a
palm cup my cheek as I came upright.

“Yeah babe, that’s me, your ET…hey, you ok…
? I mean, it was only a little bang on the table when you tripped but honey, you are looking a bit pale…how’re you feeling?” I squeezed my eyes closed and tried to shake some sense into my head.

“
Wh…what’s happening?”

“Well
, Libs and the gang will be here in about ten minutes to help set up in the back and I lit the grill like you told me, but next time I think you should wait until people are around before attempting decorating on your own, babe.” Eddie the mechanic said with light humour, whilst feeling for a bump in my hairline.

“I’m confused
.” I confessed making him laugh.

“That’s what birthdays do to ya
, babe.”

“Birthday?” I asked as I started to take in my surroundings.

“Jeez, you really did a number to that pretty noggin I love so much. Yeah babe, your birthday…remember, bbq, streamers, Hell I know you already peeked at your cake I ordered for you…just like every damn year…like you spend every bloody day in December trying to find your presents…if it wasn’t so damned adorable then I would try and rein you in, but with Libby coming, what’s the point.” He said after moving away and whilst trying to pin up a banner I had obviously been doing before I fell.

Ok, so now I had fallen into some warped parallel dimension, where I lived here with Eddie the mechanic. I looked around and saw I was sat
on a worn and obviously second-hand couch that was no doubt kept because it was one of the comfiest seats ever. The room was bright and decorated with dozens of my art work, some I recognised and others yet to be painted by my hand. Pictures of family and friends covered the shelves amongst books, but the most featured in the frames were of me and Eddie. Ones by a lake laughing at the camera, another with a cabin in the background and Eddie situated behind my back, arms wrapped lovingly around me and then there was the biggest one. This one was on a large canvas hung over the fireplace and my mouth literally dropped open at the sight of us both stood under a flowered altar on our wedding day, in black and white.

Then I did a slow look down and caught sight of two things at once. One was a pla
in gold band and the other was a small but elegant diamond engagement ring situated next to it. One thought penetrated…

Holy shit!

My mind started going a million spins a minute, trying to piece together what this all meant? I must be dreaming, but God, it felt so real! I knew one thing for sure and that was I hoped insanity was grounds for divorce. I didn’t know why, but looking at Eddie as he started pinning balloons up either side of the banner he’d just hung for my birthday, I felt guilty even thinking the word divorce, and I didn’t even know the guy!  

“Edison Tucker
.” I said his full name in a kind of trance, trying it out, as if saying it would break the spell.

“Oh shit, here we go
.” He turned round giving me a sheepish look and then said,

“But of course
, I know by now that this is the best part about Christmas… even though I will remind you, I had to store your presents last year at the garage with my damn tools and even then you found them! Seriously, what is it with you, do the Williams sisters have inbuilt present radar?” He was laughing after his placating start to explaining and I gathered quickly that by me saying his full name was code for he was in trouble. I also noticed he knew my real last name. Well, I mean, this wasn’t surprising considering I did marry the guy. Wait, what was I saying?!

I didn’t marry him!

“You sure you’re ok babe, only you’re real quiet?” I brought my attention back to Eddie and saw he was now kneeling next to me and running his fingers though my hair, which I will mention was back to being long and blonde again.

“I’m not usually?” I asked stupidly
, to which he burst out laughing again.

“Uh…that would be a no
, babe.”

“Ah
.” Was all I could think to say.

“That being the reason I am always asking you, do all English girls look as cute as you do when they never shut up
?” I frowned and smacked him on the arm saying,

“Hey!”

“And there’s my girl, welcome back honey.” He gave me a beaming smile and kissed me on the cheek before standing.

“Oh well, peace time over, we are now officially being invaded. Here comes Libby and crew…get the door babe, I’m hiding on the deck until Ella finds me…think I am gonna be a wolf this time
.” He said to himself as he walked out through a set of patio doors. Meanwhile, I stood dumbstruck in the capital city of twilight zone, only coming out of my numb state by the pounding on the door.

“Come on Kaz, I
’ve got my hot potato salad balancing on my arm!” My sister’s voice shouted through the door.

“Oh shit, tell me she didn’t cook?!” Eddie said from around the side of the patio. I found myself speaking before I realised this crazy new universe I lived in had sucked me in.

“God, I hope not.” I heard Eddie laughing again as I opened the door to a heavily pregnant Libby in a maternity summer dress. Then, whizzing past her legs in a red blur of curls, a five year old I assumed was Ella flew through the house shouting,

“Ready or not, I will find you
, bear!” Making Libby shout,

“Ella!” And she skidded to a halt, turned and said,

“Oh yeah, Happy Birthday Aunty Kazzy cakes.” I turned a stunned head to Libby and blurted,

“That’s your little girl?” She sighed and said,

“I know what you mean, so much of Frank’s side in her…the other day she asked me for her next birthday party if she could have a baseball theme, I nearly wept!” I snorted a laugh out.

“Can I go find Uncle Eddie now?”

“Go, be wild, run with nature and all that jazz… just be sure you come back a little girl who still likes hugging her momma!” Libby said in a funny accent and laughing, making Ella giggle. She smacked a kiss on her hand and threw it our way. Libby and I both caught it, as we used to do the same thing when we are kids. It came to me on sheer instinct and I wondered why I hadn’t yet broken down into a fit of hysteria.

“Oh
, by the way, he’s not a bear anymore, he’s a wolf.” I told Ella before she went off running in search of my twilight zone husband.

“Cool! I love wolves, the
y’re my favourite!” She shouted excitedly and was soon out of sight. About five seconds later I heard a big over exaggerated roar, a fit of girly giggles and knew she had found her wolf. Then something weird happened…well even weirder than this at any rate. Deep in the back of my mind I heard a real roar, only this one was so far from fake, it wasn’t anything but terrifying and not in the least bit playful. My startled gaze shot to Libby, but she was in the kitchen grabbing some fizzy drink from the fridge and didn’t look at all freaked out like me. Well, I mean why not, after all it was obvious she wasn’t the one living in a different world and hearing monster’s cries of anger in her head.

Nope just me!

“Hey, there’s the birthday girl! Mrs Tucker herself, where do you want the beers and half the grocery store Libby bought…? ‘Cause she is pregnant and does in fact need to eat everything in sight and going with her to the store is my new living nightmare.” Frank said unloading some bags to his other hand after passing me the beers.

“I heard that!” Libby shouted and Frank winked and whispered on a smirk,

“Sure you did…sorry dear!” He walked into the kitchen and I was just wondering whether I should give Frank the real low down on living your nightmares, when I noticed something. I was just about to close the door, as this other reality was anchoring me to the scary mundane, when I saw a person standing on the other side of the street. I opened the door further and took an extra few steps out of the door to get a better look.

Could it be? No, this…he…could it? I dropped the beers and my unconscious steps led me all the way to the bottom of the driveway. From here
, I didn’t have to question it anymore, as I knew where my other life had taken me and the man standing there staring at me was proof of my real destiny.

“Draven?” I said his name and felt a gust of wind blow around my body in answer. I didn’t even realise it until now that I too was wearing a summer dress
, until instinct told me to hold down the skirt. But to be brutally honest, I couldn’t give two worlds about pulling a Marilyn Monroe right at this minute because there, in the light of day, was my only living dream...

My only life’s choice.

My only life’s destiny.

My only.

“Is it really you?” I whispered and I just knew at that moment the wind took with it my question and travelled to the other side.

“Keira
.”

“Keira!” My name
came from two very different men, two totally different lives and was heard by two loving but very different Keiras. Which one did I want to be? Which life did I want to live? Which man did I love more? The easiest answer lit up my soul so bright it could have shadowed the sun’s rays!

I turned to Eddie and with a single tear rolling down my cheek
, I bit my lip to keep in the sob and mouthed the words,

“I’m sorry ET
.” 

I let more tears go when I saw the pain twist bitterly in his face and turned away from what represented that life
, to look towards the one I wanted like my next breath. 

Then I ran for it.

I crossed the road and made it to the other side, the side of supernatural beings and prophecies. The side of Heaven and Hell at war, of flirty Vampire Kings that hold little Northern blondes to ransom, of Angels that kiss me goodbye like I’m an elixir of life and with funny Imps and beautiful Demons named Sophia, that call me sister. Sides of the Viking protectors, Biker shadow Knights and cute little chocolate skinned Oracles that wear tutus. But even all this lay in the background to the man in front of me now…

The only side there was for me.

The Draven side.

And so I ran and didn’t stop until I threw myself into the arms of the only man in the world.

“Draven.” I let out on a breathy whisper as his arms circled me. He held me close and pulled me up until my feet were off the ground so he could bury his face in my neck.

“Home
.” He said into my hair and I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I burst into happy tears so strong he had to hold my trembling body. I heard him keep saying the same word over and over on my skin,

“Home… Home… Home
.”

“Yes
.” I whispered back and then moved my head back because I wanted to look at…no, I needed to look at him!

“You d
idn’t wait for me…why Keira…why?” He said and the last word came out so anguished, it felt like being struck.

“I’m here Draven, I waited…I swear!” I looked into his eyes and when they looked over my head
, I saw he was referring to the life on the other side. His dark eyes erupted into purple flames and then he turned his furious gaze down on me.

“Draven…I…”

“You carried on…I died and you carried on…you don’t belong in my world and because of that I can’t keep you.” Hearing this now turned that simple strike into a killing blow!

“Draven, NO! Don’t say these things! You have to know, I waited…Oh
God I waited so long, I never gave up…I will never give up, do you hear me?!” I grabbed his face with both my hands and made him look at me.

“You don’t believe me?!” I asked on a caught breath that didn’t want to come out. Tears were now streaming down my face and felt like they would never stop.

“Draven, please!”

“No Keira, I understand now…I understand why this had to happen but I needed to see it for myself first
, before I could let you go.” I cried out as my pain doubled. My sobs were only allowing me a few words to come through.

“No…N…No! Don’t…don’t
sa…say that!”

“It is the truth and
what must be done, I’m sorry my Keira…my love, there is no other way, I see that now.” He said sadly as though breaking and I knew he meant his words as seriously as he saw his duty to his people and I knew this because he let me go. He released me from his hold and it looked as painful as it felt.