The Smokiest Grave Page 2

  The Goddess needed to upgrade and get a cell phone.

  Two

  Cat had an unnerving feeling crawl up her spine as if spiders were gathered all over her skin. To top it all off, she couldn't move her arms and legs anymore, so she couldn’t brush herself off.

  Lub-dub, lub-dub filled her ears, and she could taste copper in her dry mouth.

  Her heartbeat was so fast and loud it couldn't be hers, could it? It sounded like it was close to explosion. She heard muffled male voices, but with the sound in her ears, she could not hear what was being said.

  The vision was taking over, numbing and paralyzing her. The voices spat at each other. The vibrations of sound from the other masculine voice poured over her body like warm water. It gave her goosebumps.

  Cat sniffed the chilly air. What if they were the two guys from the bar, and had come back? She inwardly cursed when her nose got nothing. The Goddess' pull blocked all her senses. She stuck out her tongue and tried to taste the air instead.

  She tasted Bruce, but the tangy sensation on her tongue seemed different somehow. She knew from the scent that it was him because his aftershave was lingering in the air. Although, now it tasted like aftershave and rotten fruit mixed. She got no information on the other guy, only a slight char taste like the top of a matchstick.

  The other male spoke again. She still couldn’t make out his words, but whatever he said, he made Bruce's voice squeaky.

  Bruce was pressed against Cat’s body, as he kept her upright, up until something made him step back. Awkwardly, Cat’s legs buckled under her weight, and she went straight to the floor as soon as he stepped away.

  Ouch, her knees took the full impact of her weight when she flopped to the ground. Crack, her head hit the hard cement next, making beautiful black roses bloom in her mind’s eye. The petals opened, and an intense pain shot through the side of her head.

  The slam against the hard ground made her body hurt twice as much. The pain was enough to pull her away from the vision’s depth, but as soon as the roses faded, the magic viciously snapped back into place.

  A cold sweat chilled her overheated body. She could only guess what was going on around her. Their movements sounded like a fight. Swords clashed and the stomping of two people was like music to her ears. At least, they were old school and not throwing amulets around.

  An amulet that activated as she lay on the ground paralyzed was not what she needed. As much as she tried to focus on the battle noises, the pull of the magic was too troublesome to ignore. Too distracting. The impudent magic was like a fly buzzing up her nose and ears. That kind of annoyance was difficult to ignore.

  The irritating spider feeling died away slowly, so did the danger too. She tried to relax as much as she could, but it was hard. She knew by experience that eerie feeling meant evil was close.

  In third grade, her teacher had the bright idea to take her and her class to a prison for a field trip. Cat remembered his old, weak voice saying, “If you don’t listen and behave, you could end up here.” Most of her classmates were terrified, so the teacher’s scare tactic worked. Unfortunately for him, all the horrible and murderous vibes at the prison were like poison ivy to Cat, and she ended up in the hospital. He lost his job, and her mother was furious.

  She remembered her mom’s small hands wrapped around her teacher’s thick neck. The memory made her laugh. She never again mistook the feeling of little legs that crawled inside her skin when she got near an evil person.

  The few times she touched Bruce, all she could sense was his dishonest nature. There was no evil there. Something about him had changed.

  The Goddess’s form shimmered into focus, but her curvy body changed at the last moment. She heard male groans right before the vision took over. Dammit.

  A handsome male face inserted itself into her path. She didn’t know who he was. But even so, she recognized his chiselled features and blue eyes. He was like a Viking God, except for his blue eyes, those were like an angel, beautiful, and kind.

  As the rest of him appeared, she forgot how to breathe. The man was striking. His silky black hair, sharp nose, and full lips were mesmerizing. He made every hot guy she had ever seen look like an ogre.

  “The future of my people depends on you. I need your help.” His long black hair danced around his broad shoulders as the wind blew.

  The wind, with a mind of its own, moved at a higher speed until a thick gust of air pushed him over. There were people behind him.

  Cat laughed at the sizeable blue-eyed man being thrown to the floor. Whoever said the Goddess didn't have a sense of humour had never met her.

  Four people stood completely immobile in a cave, heads tilted, and stared at nothing. They looked like mannequins. In unison, they snapped their heads in Cat’s direction and said, “We will perish without you. Please choose us, Cathleen.” One of them stepped forward; a guy, who looked like a younger version of the sexy man.

  “My life is in peril. My brother will not be able to save me, but with your assistance, he might have a chance. Please!” Cat’s heart broke at the look in his blue eyes. They were terrified and pleaded for her help.

  Damn Goddess, couldn’t you have just talked to me? You are killing me with the reenactments. Cat knew this wasn’t them talking. This was her way to reveal their faces and make her feel obligated to help them.

  He opened his mouth to say something else, but it was hard to focus on him with two of his friends flinging their bodies at each other. Their long arms tried to choke one another while he spoke. As soon as he finished, their bodies faded into a cloud of smoke.

  The woman of the hour appeared wearing a white gown. The gown was long, the hem reached her small feet. The dress was a perfect contrast to her long, midnight-black hair that gently floated off her shoulders. Her yellow cat eyes and light brown skin were a perfect contrast. She was, by far, the most beautiful woman Cat had ever seen. She brushed away smoke, the only thing that remained of the people that had been speaking to Cat.

  Those beautiful eyes, familiar to Cat since childhood, had even been in her dreams. The Goddess was finally showing herself, “Hello my lovely Cat. It is time to choose. When you wake up, two things can happen. One, you run away and go back to your normal life, be successful and have many children.” Her sweet voice paused for a second and she tilted her head to the side. Cat love to watch her hands gracefully glide around as she spoke. It reminded her that there was still grace and beauty in the world.

  “Or?” Cat rolled her eyes as she stepped toward the Goddess. She felt like a little mouse next to her.

  The Goddess’s eyebrows went up in surprise. Cat was always compliant. She never gave her sass. “You can pursue the man who saved you tonight.” Her hand drifted toward the smoke and indicated that she meant the blue-eyed man.

  “That is why I had to speak to you right away.” Her eyes filled with sorrow. She never said it, but that was her way to epress her remorse. “Oh, my sweet Cathleen, it appears that the wretched monster that ruined your life has struck again.”

  Cat’s heart dropped at the Goddess’s words. What the hell does that mean? “I would like him to try it again. He wouldn’t be the one-” The Goddess’s put up her hand to stop Cat.

  “I don’t have much time. You’ll see what I mean when you wake up. I need you to listen if you choose the second choice. This way will lead to many battles and tough times, but if you choose this path, you will save many lives. But know this, nothing in the second choice is set in stone. Lives could be lost, even yours.”

  “The choice is yours, my lovely child, I cannot force you to do this,” the Goddess said. “It's too ugly for that. I'll be here if you need me, just look at the smoke.” She put her hands together and said, “Bless it be.”

  “Wait,” Cat shouted, as she made for the disappearing smoke. “You can't just throw a bomb on me like that and then leave!” She threw her hands up. “I have so many questions. You can't leave me here, dammit. Does this communicati
on thing go both ways?”

  There was nothing left. Her heart ached at the empty shadow. “Fine.” Cat dropped her arm and let them swing at her sides.

  Cat’s hands twitched to the beat of her heart. Her body was awake from its coma state. Cat inhaled a few deep breaths and expanded her lungs to the max.

  There was nothing she could do to stop the black smoke from taking her back to reality. It didn't matter that she wasn't ready to decide. It didn't matter that she didn't want to give up her normal life.

  She bit the inside of her cheek and wanted to be selfish. All she had to do was say no. Her way would be easier, and she could still help people. But you could never live with yourself if you let the people the Goddess showed you die. A deep voice inside her demanded.

  She stomped her foot and hated it because she knew that she was going to accept the Goddess’s offer. Cat shrugged, defeated, the Goddess did say she would save lives if she helped the man.

  And if she was honest with herself, according to the Goddess, she owed a debt to the beautiful-eyed Viking man. She wasn’t sure what for, yet, but the Goddess never lied. She claimed he saved her life, so now she needed to find out how.

  Cat put her hands on her hips, okay dammit, I’ll do it. But you owe me. Maybe let me win the technology lottery and we will call it even.

  Before she could smile, a sharp pain twisted her upper arm skin, “Ow,” Cat jerked her arm back and wrapped her hand around the sore area. “Did you just pinch me?” She looked at her hand to make sure she wasn’t bleeding. She wasn’t. “Well, that was rude.”

  Cat made up her mind even though she wasn’t pleased with it. Good thing, because she fell through the rabbit hole into the darkness. Its cloudy texture kept pushing her down until Cat crashed back into her body.

  Three

  Bruce exited the bathroom and saw Cat lying on the floor. He couldn’t see well in the dim candlelight. Maybe I should have taken her to a fancy restaurant. Only the expensive places had extravagances like light bulbs.

  He walked closer and noticed Cat in an awkward position, like a bird on its back. She maneuvered around, trying to get up, but failed. His eyes grew wide when he saw two men walking to her. Both were in army jackets and dark boots. They stood there and hovered over her. When they got closer to her, he put his feet in gear. His footsteps were fast and loud.

  Bruce was not well acquainted with Cat and her friends, but it was clear she did not want those men to bother her. The gentleman inside him screamed for justice.

  With minimal effort, he shooed the men off.

  He scooped Cat into his arms like a brave knight who was there to rescue his damsel in distress. Hope built up inside of him that he’d be the hero of the night and finally get the girl.

  Well, that dream did not come to pass and went crashing to Hades when reality set in. Bruce looked far from being a knight in radiant armor. He looked more like a clumsy sidekick in training. He had a tough time as he tried to lift her, and when he did, he had to use his knee to support her. The woman was not light. He loved the extra curves on her body, but his muscles shook with the stress of trying to carry her.

  What the hell is going on? Why was she on the floor? Did she take tons of shots when I was in the bathroom, or what?

  His heart sped up at the look in her green eyes as if her eyesight was gone. Her eyes looked around but did not see anything. He didn’t want anyone else to see her like this, so he pulled her to his body. Or at least he tried. Cat pulled away and threw up all over the floor and on his new shoes. No, not my shoes. Cat curled in his arms and the thought of his ruined shoes was gone.

  He was surprised when the grief for his shoes left so quickly. Something about her made him forget everything else. In fact, everything else in his life was a fuzzy mess.

  As he sped through the bar, hitting her head on the tables by accident, he walked by a few random people who asked if they could help. Bruce would have loved some help, but he denied them. He didn’t know what was wrong with Cat and why she was like that, but it didn’t look like something natural was going on.

  If luck were on his side, some fresh air would help.

  Halfway through the bar, all hope of that being the issue shattered. Her eyes shined with an Unnatural light and yellow sparks flew out from her in all directions.

  He slumped over and pulled Cat closer to cover her weirdness from everyone in the bar. This time, his attempts to shield her worked and no one asked any more questions.

  They would want her dead the moment she was found out, unconscious or not. The Men's Bar is strictly Naturals only bar. The pitchforks would come out like in the Salem witch trials.

  The cold night air bit at his wet lips. Where is her jacket, and where the hell is mine?

  “It is way too cold out here for this, Cat.” He looked down at the soft mix of her gold and pale complexion and changed his mind. Okay, for you I’ll freeze my balls off. There was no one around, just the creepy darkness tucked into every corner.

  He leaned Cat against the wall to free one of his hands while he grabbed a lighter out of his pocket. There had to be a light trail alongside the building. Places without electricity kept a line of triggered candles on a shelf.

  He managed to hold her and flick the flame at the candle. Once one was lit, they all flickered to life. He wasn’t a fan of Unnaturals, but he loved their magic.

  Now he could see, and the shadows didn’t bother him as much, but he was aware of the air’s icy bite on his exposed arms. He wanted to go back to the bar if only to get his jacket, but Cat couldn't stand up by herself. She looked like a wet noodle in his arms.

  She would get frostbite on the ground if he put her down.

  It wasn't snowing yet, but a white, crystal ice coated the ground. Bruce groaned, he left his phone on the table.

  “Do you have a phone, doll?” Bruce leaned her against the wall and made her stand with difficulty. After some seconds of doubt, he looked through the pockets of her jeans for a phone, his hands shook from the cold weather. Nothing there, only one other place it would be, her bra.

  Women put them in there, don't they? His great-grandfather told him stories about ladies doing that before the war. Of course, the phones were bigger and more advanced than, but women could still do it. Right?

  His hands fumbled with her lumps. They were so soft and squishy.

  Guilt welled up inside of him as he searched. They fit perfectly under his fingers. Calm down; this is wrong. It'd be a lot more enjoyable if she craved for my touch. He let go, but that didn’t stop the thoughts and images that developed in his head of all the things he could do with those fun bags.

  As his eyes lingered on her soft mounds, a dark green cloud of smoke drifted from Cat's body. The smoke was thick and wildly intelligent. Before he could even blink, the cloud reached out to him.

  “What the hell?” He flinched at the force of the fog against his skin.

  He was so shocked that his body was scared stiff. No, no, no, the green cloud sank into his sweaty skin. Its thick green depth slithered itself into his pores like worms eating their way through dirt.

  The smell of rotten flesh in the depths of the cloud stole Bruce’s breath and made him want to move away.

  It was too late. He tried to pull away, as he wanted to breathe.

  His flight or fight took over and made his muscles flex. The green smoke cemented itself to Bruce’s limbs sinking into his ears, mouth, nose, and eyes.

  It was devouring him inside out.

  “Noooo!” He could feel teeth consuming his soul. The intense pain was too much for him to stand. He pushed away from the pain and wandered deeper inside himself. The feeling felt so far away now.

  Maybe too far for him to come back.

  An evil roar ripped from his mouth. Bruce tried to fight it, but the all-consuming darkness that was making his soul disappear was too powerful. The sinister shadow played dirty and attacked all his organs until Bruce was only a memory in his own flesh. />
  “Ha! It feels good to be back,” he inspected his hands, “I thought you would never get laid again. You insignificant little prude.” It was Bruce’s body, but Bruce was gone. In his body stood a demon. He stopped to check Cat out. He loved plump women.

  “Oh, I'm going to have fun with you, prude.” He pressed his stolen body tighter against her. She wasn’t asleep, but her eyes were closed. He lifted his finger to poke one of her eyes but his reflection on a self-help poster on the wall stopped him.

  The long, white poster paper had one of those fake mirrors in the middle. Next to it in black ink read:

  Do you feel like an Unnatural now? Well, there’s a cure for that.

  He leaned in closer to his reflection, as he laughed. “You’ve looked better.” He was too large for this human body, so the skin was stretched and anomalous. He wouldn’t be able to use this disguise for long.

  The worst thing was that his eye sockets were long and pulled tight as if he wore a costume. And that was the case.

  He moved her chin around and noticed that she was awake, but her body was asleep. “The curse your ex-lover put on you should have made you completely unconscious.” He shrugged. “Oh well, I'll work with it. The important part is…” He moved his body around, showing off, and wiggled his fingers, “I got your new boy toy's body. You don’t know my name, so you can’t send me back.” He wiggled his hips against hers, but there was no reaction.

  The invasion curse, he was trapped in was like being in a box inside of this woman. If he hadn’t used binding black magic to do the curse, he would have vacated her body sooner. So, he wasn’t sure if this happened to her a lot…

  Maybe that’s why it took her so long to have someone touch her sexually? Could she be in a coma?

  He leaned in to whisper, “I’ll give you a hint, Lusion.” Lusion flung his head back and laughed. The sound was a sadistic shout of victory.