Ascent, p.37
Ascent, page 37
part #2 of The Lit Series Series
Jason looked at his wrist, then at Sam with a mixture of shock and fear. “Let me go.”
The air grew thicker still. They were so close. Sam made sure not to look away, “Do it and we both go, and I don't think you want that… do you?”
“Let go of me” Jason hissed, his eyes dark.
“Stop it, Jason.” He wouldn't let his fortitude fail him. Jason had to know he was serious. If he held Jason at the moment of a taking, then all bets were off, and Jason knew this. “Stop,” Sam pleaded, tightening his grip. “You don't want me in there with you. Trust me, she will tear you apart.”
Sam could see Jason's mind thinking, considering. What a big decision for him to make. He was being directly challenged. He did not expect this but knew the stakes.
“Will you be missed, Jason?” Sam uttered viciously, “tell me. How… pointless…are you?”
Sam watched with relief as Jason took a large, full breath and blinked for the first time in what seemed like forever. His lip trembled. His eyes faltered. Sam felt the air, the shadows slowly lift as the scent of alcohol and cigarette smoke seeped into his nostrils once more. Jason had backed down.
Sam slowly released his grip and watched as the old man staggered behind them from the bar towards the exit. He watched him, ignoring Jason who scowled at him.
“You are not like us,” Jason muttered, trying to hide the quivering in his voice. “I don't like this. Mika wouldn't like this. How dare you…”
“I’m glad I’ve disappointed you.” Sam stood up from the table. “Tell your Pantheon to go fuck themselves.”
Jason was trembling. “Not smart Sam”
“Go screw yourself.” Sam turned and left. The walk to the bar door took an eternity and once outside, he breathed in the cold air and leaned on the wall. “Jesus” he muttered, calming himself down. They were insane. Glancing quickly at the door, he made a quick jog to his car. He had to go. This fact-finding venture was over. There was no way he could possibly entertain it further. Any benefit from knowing this person was not worth sacrificing anyone for. He would go, lay low. They didn't know where he was. He would disappear for a while. He would see Ellie and Josh in the morning. From there they would make their plan. Sam would tell them what happened. They would agree that the best plan of action was to avoid these people. They would also agree that leaving for a while was best. He had just made them some new enemies.
It has been a very mundane evening at the home of his future in-laws. He had been pampered by his future mother-in-law, Julia, who insisted on adjusting his sling every five minutes. She had been in nursing school when she met her future husband, and then quickly married. She married well. This was the joke that Jess herself often made, aware of her mother’s tedium. Niles always admired Lawrence’s profound patience with his melancholic, nervous wife. A patience that Jess didn’t share. This had been a long-standing tension.
He had been reading notes in Lawrence’s study. Patients had been rescheduled, and this change of routine just increased Niles’ anxieties further. He had never, in 15 years of practice, had to do this. Jessica had braved a return to their house with her brother and collected a few things. Niles couldn't stand the thought of walking in the door. Memories of his home were terrifying.
After a particularly formal dinner, Lawrence and Julia retired to the sitting room with another glass of sherry. He would read a book. She would gaze around the room, looking like a vacant doll. He had tried not to pay too much attention to the strange dynamic of the unfulfilled marriage until now. Perhaps it was his particularly vigilant mindset that caused him to notice. Or perhaps it was the degenerate Mika. Sighing, he shifted uncomfortably. How could he, who had sat opposite so many people just like Mika in his career, be so unsettled by this one man? Minutes earlier he had read an email sent by a previously unknown sender that he had received that afternoon. It simply read “My apologies for my behaviour Dr. Gardiner. Please feel free to contact me when you are ready.”
Niles took himself and his laptop to the ‘library.’ The ‘library’, for this highfalutin couple, was simply a room containing two bookshelves. Hardly a bibliotheca, but he felt Julia loved referring to the “Library.” “That will go beautifully in the Library,” or “We’re having some work done in the Library.” This fuelled her snobbery, and he was sure that her accent even changed when she said it. Lounging upon the large couch, Niles brought his feet up and continued reading Mika’s notes. Nothing to work with. The man had cleverly avoided giving any real information about himself. That was noteworthy. Every comment, every reveal had been designed to slowly introduce Will Mason into the conversation for his own means. He shivered as a sudden chill passed through him.
Looking out of the window, he gazed into the darkness of the backyard, watching the rain pelt down. He suddenly felt uncomfortable. A scene that had, at one time, provided him some comfort now scared him. What was in the dark? His rational mind fought against his fearful flights of fancy. He forgave himself. Of course, he would feel this way. He found himself seeing shapes in the black window, large foreboding shapes. The image of that man in the dark was suddenly, and inexplicably, staring at him through a pane of glass. It grew so clear in his mind, like a movie. He was sure that if he closed his eyes, he would relive the ordeal again. Feeling foolish, he quickly turned and placed his legs on the floor. The laptop fell clumsily to one side. Sighing heavily, he checked his watch. 9PM. Time for medication and sleep. Thank God for pharmaceuticals.
Walking down the hall to the stairwell, Niles walked straight into Jess’ arms, burying his head in her shoulder.
“Are you OK?” she asked soothingly.
Niles nodded, “I’m fine, just tired.”
Jess stroked his hair, his splinted arm pushing against her “Don't hurt yourself.” She adjusted his strap as he smiled with childlike embarrassment.
“Mum and Dad are playing cards… would you like to join them?” she smiled facetiously. “You know mother would love that. Perhaps in the Library.”
Niles scoffed, what a perfect imitation. “No, no that sounds charming but no… I think I may go to bed.”
Jess nodded. “OK. I’ll be up soon anyway.”
Leaving Jess downstairs, Niles turned on the light to the bathroom and squinted as it struck the stark white tiles. Hazily he approached the sink and he looked at himself in the mirror. God, he looked like rubbish. His face bruised, his eyes black. He had never looked this way before. He awkwardly began preparing his toothbrush with one hand. Do this, take the medication and then sleep. He was a good mental health patient. His anxiety was peaking but he was managing to keep it at a low sweat. He would sleep soon and not wake till morning. He had had no idea how effective these meds actually were that he had been prescribing to others. Him enjoying the feeling was almost like research.
He felt that he would be able to relax more if they were not staying with his in-laws. He knew Jess certainly would. Tomorrow he would give serious consideration about their return home - for both their sake. The inane talk from Julia, the equally as boring talk from Lawrence and now the soft sound of bugle music seeping through the closed door were becoming unbearably tedious.
Downing a few little pills, he looked at his face once more in the mirror. He wouldn't scar too much, he had been told. He had the emollient ointment to pop on the superficial wounds. He was unsure how much good it would do, and it just felt terrible. His eyes turned to a reflection to his left, his breath froze in his lungs. A figure of a man kneeling on one knee, facing the wall next to the bathtub. He could see the top of his head as his face was laying on its arm. The air stilled. The room grew dark as an inexplicable and haunting military march grew louder.
Niles couldn’t move. The pill bottle dropped out of his hands, hitting the floor. How could this happen? How could this person be here? Was it a hallucination? A psychotic break? The camouflage clad man rose as Niles slowly turned to look into the familiar face of his previous assailant. Towering over him, the Soldier lunged forward, grasping and throwing him against the wall. It slammed its hand over Niles’ mouth, the other behind his head. Any screams were redundant as the Soldier swung him around, holding him above the white tub. Niles struck out, but as before they were useless, pitiful strikes. The Soldier lowered him into the tub. Niles fought, arms outstretched, hands sliding down the tiled wall
His head hit the back of the tub. The taste of blood filled his mouth as teeth were pushed into gums. His scream was stuck behind the restrained jaw. The Soldier pushed Niles’ head to the bottom of the bathtub with a thump. Reaching next to him, he grasped a towel that had fallen upon the floor. Lifting it to his mottled face, he momentarily regarded the towel with white eyes before lowering it onto Niles’ face. The sweet smell of blood and fabric softener filled Niles’ nostrils as the fabric was held firmly on his face.
“Stop… Stop… Stop...” Niles screamed silently, unable to push a sound past the thick cotton encasing his face, filling his mouth and crushing his nose. With horror Niles heard the familiar sound of gushing water… he was going to drown. This man was going to drown him in the bathtub. Cold water ran down his face causing him to gasp. His chest heaved as water filled his covered nose and eyes. Choking, his arms thrashed frantically. His legs kicked over the edge of the tub. He couldn’t move this man.
Niles couldn't tell if he was breathing in or out. His chest spasmed and his throat burnt. The water would then momentarily cease, allowing him to grasp a desperate breath before it started again. He was drowning.
Crystal saw the darkness of the streets, the passing beams of car lights and unaware people as her Shadow moved through the city. The scent was dying, and she was beginning to weaken. The kaleidoscope of lights and scenes became numbing, hypnotic. Natural. Tonight, it was lost, but she would try again. The Shadow was summoned to return.
Noah turned his head just in time for vomit to project onto the floor beside him. Waterboarding… fuck. He couldn't breathe, yet his lungs were clear. His chest spasmed painfully, his throat burnt and rasped. The adrenaline that coursed through him almost completely unnoticed. He had felt this before, it would pass. Not for his target, however. This was more than a vicarious nightmare for him. He would be messed up for quite some time. The medication and alcohol caressed his consciousness once more. His last thoughts as the Soldier ended, as his eyes fluttered to shut, were of Mika. Fucker. Happy now, you evil piece of shit?
Kept at the edge of unconsciousness, Niles took two large breaths, allowing the water to enter his lungs and then flow out from his throat. The water had stopped. His ears pulsated with the sound of his heart. Every rasping breath crackled and popped. He went to move and was able to arch his back. The man was not there anymore. This thought caused him to notice the condition of his body. Beaten, bloodied and near exhaustion. His head was still covered with a wet wadded towel. He turned slowly to the side causing him to cough hard as a mixture of water and vomit ran down his cheek. He lifted a weak, trembling hand to his face that fell uselessly onto the soaked fabric.
Someone grabbed him again; he screamed frantically, crying out for them to stop. The towel was whipped from his face, and he looked at Jess who stared down at him. Terrified, confused as she kept telling him to sit up.
The sight of her was incomprehensible. No joy, no relief. The adrenaline that coursed through him had driven him to near insanity. Jess called to her parents. She stroked his face, trying to get him to respond. He couldn't speak. He simply couldn't put words together in his mind.
Chapter 29
PLEASE. PLEASE TALK TO ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. I’M SORRY, BUT I KNOW THAT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. PLEASE. MY LOVE FOR YOU IS REAL. ITS THE ONLY THING THATS REAL.
Noah had not seen nor heard from Chelamah since she walked out that morning a week ago. Her time was fading, as was Luka’s. It was, of course, a horrible possibility that, even now, she no longer existed as he once knew her. That she had taken the final slip into the abyss. Perhaps his denial of this possibility was mere lovesick optimism. No, she hadn't gone. No, she would never let that happen without him. Wishful thinking? He had killed the mother, and then bedded her daughter not less than two weeks later. He had justified it to himself in so many ways. It wasn't actually me. I did it to save multiple others. I was betrayed into thinking there was no other way. Regardless of any of these, there was no reason that could possibly excuse the part he had played.
Sitting outside, in the freezing morning cold with nothing but a pair of linen trousers on, provided some relief to his sore body. With so much to think about, sleep did not happen the night before. He dragged hard on a cigarette. A habit that Chelamah detested. Leaning back, he blew lazy smoke rings into the frosty air.
Maybe with Luka’s revelation there was actually some hope. Noah had no doubt that he would be able to manipulate Luka, perhaps not as efficiently as Jason, but good enough. The Soldier came from its own realm. Humans didn’t go to this world. Luka, being a Devotee, had travelled there whilst Noah was strapped to a chair… feeling the brutal death of his beloved's mother. Whilst there, Luka’s shadow had stashed the goods. The only way to get them back was through Luka, through the Soldier. The third attack on Niles and he would let Luka have what he wanted. They needed the secrets it held.
In that Grimoire was thought to be the accumulation of knowledge and interventions that could control and protect; provide hope of an escape and freedom. Not only for an Ace but for the more vulnerable Underlings and Devotees.
It occurred to him that the manifestations of the Oculi were a blessing for their lesser kind. The big boys, the Aces, were getting picked off by something out of all of their hands. Whilst they were busy dealing with this possible rising threat, he could make his move. If Luka didn't tell them, they would never know. They could have time to collect the Grimoires, study them, learn what they contained and then use them as a weapon against the notorious elite of the damned. Played right, the Aces wouldn't see it coming.
The morning traffic was starting to build in the distance. This was Noah’s least favourite time of his day. Normal people rousing and invading his own little dark bubble. He liked the night, or more so, felt like he belonged there. Like an outcast in the shadows, like the monster he was. It felt right to be in darkness. In this dreary place, the presence of even this dim light made him feel sick and exposed.
Did he trust Luka not to take the Grimoires and run? No, of course not, but one thing Noah found interesting about Luka was the insight he had into how thick he actually was. Maybe a lifetime of being told he was stupid had finally sunk in. Even if he was smart enough to pull this off, his belief in himself was so conveniently low that he would seek out another to validate every one of his actions. There was also the very real threat that Noah could reach Luka anywhere at any time. Right now, without an Ascendant having his back, he was extremely vulnerable, and he knew it. After all, without Jason he was pathetic. The cockiness had evaporated, destroying that asshole confidence. He couldn't be in a better position to be taken advantage of.
Crystal walked slowly, cautiously down the marble steps into the sitting room of the Pantheon. This time she would find the Firewolf. She had no choice. Her mind was dark, her body numb. Multiple attempts over the course of the week had produced little results. She only had so much strength left, but there was no choice but to try again. The Firewolf was here somewhere. She had seen it. She had seen its Conduit and now, stroking the cover of the ancient Grimoire she held in her manicured hands, she hoped this attempt would be successful. Perhaps it would provide her with insight, provocation. It never had before, but now she was desperate. She had to find what she sought, and quickly, for it was guaranteed she wouldn't be the only one looking. Mika would also soon return and there was no time to waste.
Staring out of the window, her body began to hurt at the mere intention of stepping again. She chanted in her mind as the morning dawn seeped over the cityscape; with a cry of pain, she allowed herself to devolve.
Waking up and rolling over, Sam kicked his bed clothes off as he contemplated getting up. The past week he had kept to himself. He had only shared messages with Ellie, as they too were preparing to step out of the spotlight and disappear.
The old man in the bar played in his mind. Jason had been completely willing to regard that person as nothing, a plaything not worthy of any consideration as human. It made him sick and scared, how someone so revolting as this had gotten so close to him.
Rolling over, he checked the time. He had to go and see what was happening with the troublesome duo. Looking at his phone, a feeling of relief washed over him. No messages. No 50 missed calls for help. The psychopath Jason, blocked and gone for now. All was well for the moment, and he had time. Time for coffee, time for a secret cigarette on the balcony where no-one would see him. Maybe a normal start to a normal day. It had been so long.
The Child was dancing in the hallway. Switching on the coffee machine, Sam made his way sluggishly to the couch and let himself fall into it. What a night that had been. It could have all gone so wrong. Had he been prepared to do what he had threatened to do? Scarily enough, yes, he had been. This had not been a pious act or self-aggrandisement. The fact was that if a completely innocent old man was Lit, he would not have stood a chance. However he, Sam, would. Testing the “Ellie and Josh” premise seemed the only option he would've had.
His eyes blurry, Sam scanned the room, listening to the sounds of vicious slaps waft airily down the hallway.
