The
first time hadn’t been a scam, it was out of desperation. Emma had been sat at
her new husband’s hospital bed, watching the machines breath for him, when the
demonology thesis she’d done at university flashed into her mind. The doctors
had already said nothing more could be done, so what was the harm in trying?
She summoned the demon Teramoth in
the hospital bathroom, hoping the cracked tiles and broken sink wouldn’t be
traced back to her. Teramoth was a half-bird, half-reptile demon whose beak
made her words difficult to understand.
‘Please save my husband. He was on
his bike and a car…please make him well again.’
‘An exxxchange is needed.’
‘I’ll give you anything! My soul, my
life.’
‘No!’ The demon snapped her beak,
pointing at the human’s stomach. ‘Your fffirssst boooorn will be mine.’
Emma paled, raising a hand to her
stomach, but nodded a moment later.
Jamie
made a miraculous recovery, and life went on. Emma had explained what happened,
but she could tell by his complacent smile he didn’t believe her.
‘But Jamie, I could only save you
from those injuries. What if something happens again? We need to be
safe. I…I can’t go through something like that again.’
Jamie didn’t believe her, but he
could see his wife’s distress was real. He agreed to be there when she summoned
another demon. She chose one with a different background and culture from
Teramoth, a humanoid demon with a wolf’s head called Ostreth.
‘I desire protection from accidents,
attacks and natural disasters for me, my husband and immediate family. I will
give you whatever you desire.’
Ostreth took a full minute to
decide, eyeing them both with his piercing yellow eyes. ‘I desire your
firstborn child.’
Jamie had been stunned into silence
since Ostreth had appeared. Emma swore her agreement before he could recover.
‘So,
our future child is now promised to two demons?’ Jamie sighed, head in
hands, ‘This child is going to hate us.’
‘Jamie, I checked, I’m not pregnant
yet. So, if we never have a child they can’t take them away.’
Jamie nodded, who had never been
keen on children anyway. ‘This could be a very profitable business you’ve
found, my dear.’
From
Darnaloth, a sphinx-looking female demon, they were granted immunity from
diseases and to always be in good health. This, however, was also their
downfall. Immunity to diseases also meant Emma’s contraceptive implant no
longer stood up against her ‘good health’. A child would be born…and it would
have two human and three demon parents.
‘Well, another one wouldn’t really
hurt,’ Jamie reasoned.
Siglath was a reptilian sea-dwelling
male demon who had to be summoned in the bathtub. From him they received great
luck, to succeed with anything they tried in. They won the lottery jackpot the
same day.
By this point Emma was six months
pregnant and starting to feel anxious. ‘What if the demons just rip it apart
and take a piece each? We can’t let that happen.’
It was Jamie who thought of
approaching a minor God. He sought out Famos, God of knowledge at his neglected
shrine on an uninhabited hill, offering him a new beautiful shrine on their
land, next to their mansion, if he bestowed his knowledge on them.
‘It’s not that simple, mortal. If I
bestowed my knowledge on you your brain would melt. I can, however, verbally
answer any questions you may have. I will also require your firstborn child to
even out the terms.’
‘Ah, well, you see-’
‘I’m already aware of the four prior
claims to your daughter’s upbringing. Demons don’t usually cooperate well and
will rip her apart when they realise the truth, but even they prefer not to
anger a God. With my claim also in the mix they will be more…receptive to
sharing. Now, about my shrine…’
Famos was moved into his new shrine
a week later, content to answer any questions the couple wanted. At first Emma
focused on her daughter, asking what she’d be like, her name, her future…
‘Her name is Ella, and she’ll be one
of the most loved and brilliant beings on this earth. She will connect demons,
witches, fairies and Gods in ways no one else can.’
‘Wait, did you say fairies?’
‘Let’s sort out the demon problem
first, dear.’
Ella was born at home with Famos
acting as mid-wife. When all four demons materialised for their prize he
quelled their rage and negotiated their rights to Ella. While she was a baby
they were content, happy to share in babysitting duties and make her laugh. She
was no longer just a prize, but a daughter, and they would cooperate with her
human parents to be with her.
Until the fairies were tricked too.
Ella
was three years old when it happened. Since Famos had first mentioned fairies
Emma had been obsessed with besting one. The mythical mischief makers who would
always outsmart any human who tried making a deal with them. Emma would be the
first to outsmart them.
‘Mummy, what are we doing?’ Ella
asked as she and her mother sat in a camouflaged hideout in their field-sized
back garden.
‘Conquering the world.’ Emma
grinned, making Ella uneasy. ‘I’ve learnt the hard way if you want something in
life you need to be smarter and more dedicated than anyone else. Remember that,
Ella. Happy endings don’t happen unless you create them for yourself.’
They waited under the full moon,
Ella falling in and out of sleep, wishing she was with Darnaloth for a gentle
trot before bed.
‘There!’ Emma hissed in delight,
shaking her daughter awake.
Two small creatures were hovering
unsteadily above the little alcove Emma had designed. Inside an alluring
sweet-smelling alcoholic drink was waiting. The fairies were twittering happily
as they entered and Emma laughed as a trapdoor came down, sealing them inside.
‘Mummy, what are you doing?’ Ella
cried, horrified.
‘What no one else can.’
They
were transported into the mansion in a room full of runes few had ever seen.
The fairies cried out at seeing them, ceasing their desperate darting around
the room and settling in the centre, glaring up at Emma.
‘What do you want?’ The male one
demanded in a tiny voice.
‘Want?’ Emma asked with mock hurt,
‘No, you have it all wrong. I am giving you the opportunity to be part of
changing the world, all our worlds.’
Neither fairy looked impressed. Emma
clicked her tongue and shoved Ella forward.
‘This is my daughter. She is the
child of two humans, four demons and Famos, God of knowledge. She will one day unite
all our races. Don’t you want the chance to be part of her immediate family?’
The male showed no interest, but the
female tilted her head and stood up, staring at Ella. She whispered a word Emma
didn’t understand. The male looked at her in irritation.
‘What is your price?’ He eventually
asked, voice heavy with resignation.
‘Eternal life and youth for me, my
husband and immediate family.’
‘Impossible,’ the male said, ‘That
type of magic is too complex to cast on multiple people. Winnie and I can do
one person each.’
‘My husband and me then.’ Emma said
immediately.
‘You will release us from these
runes.’
‘No, I need you to stay nearby and
safe. You’ll be treated well, but as long as our contract holds you will remain
bound.’
Winnie Quickbee was kept in the same
room and took a year to finalise her magical contract with Emma. The male,
Laurel Rainflight, was transferred to another room on the opposite side of the mansion.
His magical contract with Jamie was finalised in six months.
‘Remember, our contract is eternal
life and youth in exchange for your firstborn child, Ella. If anything happens
to us or her, the contract is null and void.’
It took a few hours after the
contract was sealed for Emma to realise her mistake. Ella didn’t have eternal
life or youth, so when she died naturally of old age their immortality would
end.
‘Damnit!’ She screamed, ‘I won’t let
them win. I’ll still figure out a way to outsmart them.’
Enter one aggravated witch.
Ella
was six years old when Evanore Sephiran knocked on the front door one evening.
She slipped past the butler and headed to Emma’s and Jamie’s room. The couple
had been forced into abstinence for the four years it took to find and trick
the fairies, but now due to her ‘good health’ Emma was heavily pregnant with
their third child. Their son, Samuel, had a full-time nanny to care for his
needs.
‘So, these are the two humans who
fooled so many.’ Evanore said as she walked in. the couple were startled, but
not scared. Why would they be with immortality, immunity to harm and amazing
luck?
‘Who are you and what do you want?
If it’s to try and set the fairies free don’t bother, many have tried and
failed.’ Jamie said through a yawn.
‘I am here to form a contract with
you, just like the others have.’
Emma winced a little at the first
twinge of labour. ‘Are you a witch?’
‘Yes, in return for your firstborn
child, I can offer magic.’
‘Can you teach us to use magic?’
Emma asked, eyes glinting.
‘No, your bodies are influenced with
fairy magic. You and any children you bore after forming your fairy contract
aren’t compatible with witch powers. Ella, however, will have no problem
learning.’
‘And why would we be interested in
that?’ Emma snapped as a more painful twinge tightened her stomach.
‘I am four hundred years old,’
Evanore smirked, ‘Magic makes me young.’ She paused long enough to see the
excitement enter their eyes then continued before they could interrupt. ‘I will
teach Ella magic in return for a claim to her, but I will not use my own magic
to aid you in any way. Ella may request lessons on specific magic so she can
aid you herself, if she wishes, but I will only use my magic for Ella. Those
are my terms, are we agreed?’
Emma may have argued the terms, but
the twinges became full contractions and she gasped her agreement through the
pain. Hours later, as she handed her new daughter to a wet-nurse, she realised
her mistake. Why would a witch offer her services so easily? It would be
another ten years before the truth came out.
Ella
began her sixteenth birthday with an early morning swim. The course was a large
man-made moat circling the entirety of their land and held many wonders due to
Siglath’s tweeks. Her demon father watched her smile at the beauty he’d
created, his heart full of love. They
reached the end of the course where a small outhouse was stationed for Ella to
change in. Darnaloth waited outside, ready for a refreshing gallop around the
area. Some of it Ella ran beside her while part of it Darnaloth allowed her on her
back. No other creature has ever been permitted to ride on Darnaloth and none
ever would be.
Ella was dropped off at Famo’s
shrine for brunch. He shared the story of his origins with her, which she felt
honoured to hear. She swore never to reveal the story to her human parents.
She went to Winnie next, a playful
fairy by nature who spent their time together coaxing Ella to play games. Ella
viewed Winnie more as a sibling than a parent, but loved her for her innocent
nature.
For lunch she visited Ostreth, who
had developed a weakness for human television. They ate and laughed together at
a comedy film, completely relaxed in each other’s company.
After lunch was a magic lesson with
Evanore, who always seemed impatient, bordering on desperate, for Ella to
master her magic.
‘Maybe I should learn a spell to
help Emma with an effective contraceptive. I’m the oldest of twelve siblings
now.’
‘If that’s what you wish.’ She said
with a disapproving scowl. ‘But she could always choose abstinence. Barrier
magic will be more useful to you.’
‘Are we preparing for a war, Eva?’
Ella teased.
‘We’re preparing for anything.’
Ella’s smile dropped. ‘But…who would
we have to fight?’
Evanore wouldn’t answer, but Ella
had noticed the witch’s growing unease in the last year. Something was about to
change.
Teramoth came to collect her for a
flying session. Sometimes Ella flew beside her, but today Teramoth insisted on
carrying her, letting her focus on the sights rather than worry about keeping
afloat. Teramoth didn’t speak much, and usually Ella was happy to fill the
silence, but today she just marvelled at the view, letting her troubled
thoughts slip away. Teramoth’s grip on her was soothing, and once they landed
she could see the concern in the demon’s eyes.
‘I’m sorry, there’s just a lot to
consider lately.’
Teramoth nodded in understanding,
her eyes straying to the mansion’s main doors. For the first time all day Ella
felt a sense of dread.
The evening meal was supposed to be
spent with her human family, but her parents were absent. Ella had no idea where
they’d gone. Samuel was there, who had always been hostile towards his big
sister for the attention she got. Today he ignored her, with only one of her
sisters, seven-year-old Sarah, eager to see her. The elder siblings either
talked to each other or were absent, while the younger ones were being minded
by stressed nannies.
Ella left the dinner with a
headache, making her way to her last parent. Laurel’s room always fascinated
her, constructed to look like a meadow with a mini-waterfall and stream. He was
another quiet parent who usually let Ella chat, but today he seemed alert. He
was already waiting in his human-sized form, something Winnie never did and
Laurel only conjured for Evanore or Ella.
‘Evanore has just been,’ He said as
she sat near the waterfall, gazing at its soothing rhythm.
‘She’s talking about a war with Emma
and Jamie, isn’t she?’
Laurel nodded, ‘Your human parents
have become too greedy and dangerous. Imprisoning fairies was unacceptable, and
they haven’t stopped there. They’ve been asking Famos about the higher demon,
Astaroth, and a higher God. He won’t say which one, which only troubles me
more. If they involve these creatures a war is inevitable, and we’ll all be
stuck in the middle of it.’
‘But what can I do?’
‘You already know,’ Laurel said,
face stern.’ They need to be stopped, no matter what.’
‘…But they’re my parents.’
‘We’re all your parents. Their greed
has grown and they won’t stop exploiting others. Soon they’ll have so many
children with fairy aspects they could storm the fey realm. I’m sorry Ella, but
you’re the only one who can do this.’ His tone softened and he tried a
reassuring smile. ‘We’re all here for you, no matter what.’
Ella sighed and clasped Laurel’s
hands tightly, knowing her life was about to change forever.
I slammed the car into an emergency stop, staring through the ground, through the car, at the hundreds of bones I could see contained within the soil. Human bones.
‘What the hell?’ I climbed out of
the car, standing and staring beyond the ground until a horn jerked my gaze up
again.
‘Are you okay there?’ A man in his
late fifties with kind eyes asked. He was stood next to the passenger side of a
van while a younger man remained inside, behind the wheel.
I shook my head to clear my
thoughts, then realising how this action would look I tried a smile. ‘Sorry,
I’m a bit lost. I was looking for Easing.’
‘Ah, that’s the next town along, but
it’s twenty miles of back roads. Probably better to stay the night at out B
& B and set off in the morning.’
Not likely, I thought darkly,
pulling my phone from my hoodie pocket. No reception. Of course.
‘It’s only seven, I’m sure it’ll be
fine.’ I smiled again, hoping it wasn’t as shaky as I felt. ‘Sorry to have
bothered you.’
I climbed back into my car before he
could reply and drove off, deeper into the Bone Zone town. Houses were on
either side of the road now, with gardens full of fruits and vegetables so
beautiful my stomach grumbled.
Growing outside at this time of
year? How? I glanced down, seeing nothing but human bones in every single
garden. I snapped my gaze back to the road, willing my growing panic back down.
It was already starting to get dark. I switched the headlights on and swore at
seeing the petrol gauge.
It won’t make it through twenty
miles of back roads.
I groaned but clenched my jaw and
kept driving, ignoring a for Arthur’s B&B. The petrol would last
another ten miles, at least, walking the rest would be safer than this town.
A lit up ‘Pay at Pump’ sign to the
left changed my mind. I swung the car into the station, seeing no other cars or
people as I parked beside a pump.
It’s fine. I can do this, just
fill up and go.
The price had reached the £30 mark
when I heard a car on the main road. I quickly replaced the pump, seeing the
kind-eyed man catch sight of me, a crossbow already aimed.
I tried ducking into my car but felt
an impact on my right shoulder, making me fall onto the seat, legs dangling
out. I opened my mouth to scream, but it was too heavy to move or form sounds.
‘That was a close one,’ The man’s
voice said. I couldn’t see him. Were my eyes even open? ‘Lord Harvest loves the
younger ones for his fertiliser.’
I managed a croak, a twitch of a
finger. I heard a deep laugh.
‘This one’s a fighter! I wonder if
they’ll last to witness the ritual.’
The first few times had been terrifying and painful. A
sword piercing her chest from behind. Savage dogs ripping through flesh. A
lamppost falling, crushing bones. Perhaps staying in the house would have been
better, but she had awoken alone, her family nowhere to be seen. Nothing had
been out of place- the car was still parked, the dishes waiting to be put away-
but the silence was a physical pressure stealing her breath. She couldn’t stay.
The
sky had been dark and cloudy. It still was. The threat of rain lingered but
never delivered itself. She’d begun walking with no clear direction in mind or
plan of action. She had been alone at first and she prayed for anyone, anything,
to appear. How she regretted that.
The
dogs attacked as she reached the main road. As soon as her foot turned the
corner one leapt at her, knocking her down. All she remembered was pain, terror
and teeth.
Her
eyes were closed when the words ‘reloading checkpoint’ appeared. They flew open
in surprise, to see her body intact and stood just before the main street
corner. A loud scream escaped as she patted her body down, shaking fingers
unable to believe she was still whole.
What
the hell is going on?
She froze when two dogs came into view…who carried on
walking along the main street. They hadn’t even noticed her. She tried turning
and heading back to the house, but an invisible barrier blocked her way. She
screamed again, fists banging against the barrier until she sank to the ground
in a shaking heap.
It
was another ten minutes before her eyes stopped blurring with tears. She
frowned, noticing an object leaning against the curb. A crossbow.
She
found bolts scattered across the area, keeping them tucked her belt. She
watched the dogs. First a Doberman, then a German Shepherd moved up and down
the main street, staying on the same side of the road and always turning at the
same points. Meanwhile a Greyhound continuously crossed one side of the road to
the other while a Chihuahua stayed in the same spot, ears perked up and eyes
alert.
I
guess I should take out their sentry first.
She
died five more times before her aiming improved enough to take out all four
dogs. Each time the pain and shock were less noticeable.
Just
keep moving.
The
lampposts had fallen at certain angles and times. She lost count of how many
times she ‘reloaded’.
‘Couldn’t
you have had a checkpoint halfway through them?’ She growled after finally
surviving the last one. The material over her knees was ripped and stained with
blood.
She
reached the town’s shopping street and stopped in confusion. Had someone just
screamed?
‘Hello?’
She called, hope winning over caution. The sword pierced her chest before she
could react. Blood filled her mouth.
‘Just
let me out! How long do I have to do this? How many people do I have to kill?’
A male voice demanded.
She
reloaded a few metres away behind the man. Instinct made her aim.
‘Who
are you? What’s going on here?’
The
man spun around then burst out laughing, ‘This one talks? Nice touch!’ He
screamed at the sky, ‘But it won’t stop me! I’ll kill whoever I need to beat
this thing and go home.’
The
man sprinted forward and her crossbow fired. He blinked in confusion at the
bolt in his heart before dropping to the ground.
Why?
He wasn’t the only person she ran into…or killed. She
never saw the same person twice, never saw their body disappear. She guarded
one for hours, just to check.
Why
is this happening?
The sky never changed, she didn’t get hungry or tired.
Time was hard to measure but she knew it had been days, even weeks since this
started.
When
will it end?
She had left behind her hometown, exploring the
countryside, exploring cities. She collected and mastered multiple weapons,
changed her clothes to camoflague better.
She couldn’t even list all the
ways she’d died anymore.
Why won’t I stay
dead?
The first few times had been
terrifying and painful. Now she felt nothing.
The building near her
exploded, knocking her to the ground and cracking her skull on the pavement.
Reloading checkpoint.
‘Aw shit,’ she sighed, opening
her eyes. ‘Here we go again.’
Now that I’ve discovered the wonders of instagram, I’ve found a way to stop being lazy and get back into writing. I’m following a few writing prompt pages and have written over 500 down in notebooks. I then put each number into a box like a raffle for me to pick one at random every day (well in theory, I actually started this in October and have only completed three so far) and write something based on the prompt. It’s a good exercise to get me back into the rhythm. The writing feels a bit forced at the moment but I’m still enjoying it.
So these daily prompt tag posts will be based on these exercises, with links to the original Instagram post too.
Overgrown jungle in the back garden growing, creeping closer. The house is crying as the weeds and trees grow into the house, invading and merging into the walls, piercing the brick, manipulating its structure.
Misaligned tiles leaking water through the walls. Ceilings drip, drip, drip onto damp scented carpets, the scent of abandonment still lingering in an occupied home. Trying to mark inhabitation, but the vines tap, tap, tap on the window and the water drip, drip, drips on the floor. Inside and out are taken, nature fighting against your existence.
Scribbled Thoughts 