Secret Lives

Sam wrinkled her nose at the musty smell that seemed to permeate the small room; the books reeked of decay; time, mice and rats had made their homes here and left their scent over everything. Sam coughed as she pulled the old book down from the shelf. Dust danced in the slither of light that had managed to penetrate the small room from the basement window. She coughed again, wiping the fine layer off the cover. Her preternatural vision had no problems discerning the crude writing, ‘The Demon’s Handbook.’ She looked at the book in her slim hands and smiled, though she was feeling a little guilty accepting it for doing her duty.

“Sam, you down there?” A voice, deep and masculine called down to her. Kevin, her partner in this shop was a friend, of sorts, though he knew nothing of her true nature.

“I’ll be up in a moment,” she called back, secreting the book away into her inside pocket and sealing the room up again.

“What were you doing down there? It’s not safe.” Kevin’s brow furrowed as he spoke.

“It’s not likely to collapse any time soon. The engineer said it was a little weakened is all, I’ll have someone in to take care of it while you’re away.” Sam said, her eyes twinkling, it wasn’t entirely a lie, she would render it safe. “What time’s your train?”

“Trying to get rid of me?”

“Yes. I’ve a few rituals to get through and I don’t need to be worrying about you.”

“Very funny, you know I don’t put much stock in what the locals say.” His tone was light, though there was an undertone of anger in it. “They’re just not used to strangers.”

“So I’ve noticed.” Sam pointed out. “I’ll be fine; one advantage of their attitude is that they’d not dare try anything. Your family need you more than I do. Go be with them.”

Sam locked the door soon after Kevin had left. There would be no point in keeping the old antique shop open without him there; the locals would never trust her. Her lips curved into a smile, perhaps they were right not to; though not for the reasons they thought.

She pulled the small book from her inside pocket and looked at it again, how long had she sought this; a century? Two? She couldn’t even recall a time when it hadn’t consumed her. It was her father’s journal, a father she’d never known, nor did she particularly wish to, the book contained more important information than that though.

#######

The pale winter’s sun, already in decline, shone through the small gaps in the drapes. It was enough for her to read by she decided, gently opening the ancient book.

“It won’t help you.”

Sam jumped a little at the intrusion. A swift glance at the door confirmed that it was indeed locked.  “Show yourself, I don’t have time for this,” She said. She had seen to it that Kevin’s wife would be taken into hospital for a day or two at the most; she couldn’t waste time with spirits, even those that had allied themselves to her.

“There was a time you’d have just killed them all and been done with it.” The voice said. “What happened to you? Why play these games?”

“I don’t need to be starting a war just yet and don’t be fooled by his appearance; Kevin is no more human than you or I, Dan. What’s more he’s well connected.” Sam replied. “Did you bring it?”

“This is madness, Sam, you cannot do this, it’s too risky.” Dan said materializing before her.

“I have to try. I can’t just sit back.”

“I can’t go with you.” Dan said dropping a key onto the desk beside the book.

“I know. Just make sure he doesn’t come back early.” She said, placing the book back in her pocket she reached out a hand to the iron key. How innocuous it looked, like a dozen others that lay around the store, she thought as her fingers gently enclosed around it.

#######

Sam blinked, it did no good; she was blind here. She eased her breathing, concentrating with her other senses. Water trickled nearby, she moved toward the sound. Her footsteps made a slight crunching sound and the ground gave a little under her weight. It reminded her of the gravel in the driveway of her Human home, it smelt different though, bitter and coppery. Bone then, she concluded. She continued forward in the dark. It wasn't what she'd expected. Perhaps she was already too late, Kevin had been planning this for a long time, maybe he had already succededed. The blackness was getting to her, the guardian had to be around here somewhere. If she could destroy it then the balance would be restored, not for long perhaps, but long enough.

“Who are you?” A voice, thin and desperate asked. “Kill me, kill me now before it returns, you have to.”

“They call me Sam, you?” She noticed that her own voice echoed around her more than his had, she was pleased that the surprise hadn't shown though. She smiled, he wasn't fooling her.

“Nothing anymore. I had a name once, I forget it now. Are you real?”

“I guess so, where are we?”

“You don’t know?” He asked.

“I’d not be asking if I did." Sam said, "I’m supposed to be in Seybold.”

“This is Seybold.”

Sam cursed. Seybold was supposed to be light itself, not this darkness, she thought, had she already failed?

“You came to stop it? Why?”

“It’s my duty. If I don’t reverse this soon the balance will be thrown off completely. I was hoping I wasn’t too late…”

“You are not. Light still exists here; somewhere.”

“Then why have you not done something about it?” Sam demanded, getting irritated at his evasiveness.

“I’m the guardian, Sam. I protect the dark, as you protect the balance.”

“Then why tell me it’s not too late?”

“I feed on hope; I needed to build my strength up to kill you.”

“A good plan.” Sam conceded, “I prefer mine better, of course, but still not bad for an old one.”

“Yours?” The guardian asked doubt creeping into his voice. Something about her demeanor worried him.

“I come here and divert your attention, while my companions take control of one of darkness’ planes of existence to restore the balance.” Sam said edging forward as she spoke; holding the key like a dagger, which in some ways it was, she stabbed toward the sound of his voice. Flames erupted in the dark, blinding her even more than the blackness had as it found its mark. “On the other hand I could just kill you and save everyone the time and effort.” She added to no-one in particular as the light continued to expand. She dropped the key, allowing her to return to her chosen plane.

#######

Dan stood over her as she opened her eyes. She blinked several times to adjust her eyes to the pale moonlight that now shone through the drapes in the old antique store.

“How long?” Sam asked Dan as she sat up.

“You cut it a little fine. Two days.” Dan said, “Did it work?”

“I’m here aren’t I.”

“Good, I still think you should kill Kevin. He will try again.” Dan said.

“I told you, he’s too connected. There’ll come a time to deal with him, just not yet. It’ll throw off the balance too much.” Sam said. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to finally read my father’s journal, after all it’s not much of a reward if I can’t is it?” Sam said, angry that it had been under her nose all this time.

“It’ll not help you. You are what you are; a guardian.” Dan said.

“It’s all I have left of him now. I had hoped…” She stopped, “he never cared for her did he?”

“He produced you didn’t he.” Dan said diplomatically. "His motives aren't important, you are."

“You’re a terrible liar, old friend; at least this should help me learn more of their plans, I'll do what I can with it. You’d best get going, I hear Kevin coming back.”

“Watch yourself with him, he’s not bound by the same laws as you, he’ll kill you without a thought if he even suspects you.”

“I know.” Sam said.

“Know what?” Kevin asked as he entered the store from the back.

“I know I should stop talking to myself.” Sam said, smiling. “How are they?”

“It was nothing. A bug or something the doctors say. Still it was nice to finally spend time with my children.” Kevin said. Maybe next time it’d be more permanent, he thought, even as he smiled at this foolish human woman, who had no idea what he was. He tried to hide the irritation he felt; something had gone wrong in Seybold, he had felt his power diminish as the foothold he had gained in that world had ended. It wouldn't stop him though, he had worked too long and hard for his position of power and he wasn't done yet.

Sam returned his smile, the look of relief genuine, even if it wasn't for the reason he would be thinking. She could read his thoughts now, an ability she'd not had before, though she knew that her powers would continue to grow as she did. The darkness in them was almost too much for her to handle but she learnt enough to know that he did not suspect her of anything, she severed the link and renewed her smile. "The engineer has given the all clear, by the way." She said, "Fancy a coffee?" Happy to have things return to normal for now; the balance of the worlds was safe for a little while.

"Sure, why not," Kevin said, as he began plotting his next move.