Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 13:23:25 -0400 (EDT) From: Danny Subject: Love Magick Part 29 This is a work of fiction. It is straight out of my imagination, except for most of the pagan practices mentioned. This is written for adults and if you are not supposed to read this where you live, then please don't. Part 29 The phone rang as I pulled items from my cabinet. I looked at the phone and then at Ryan. I walked over and picked up the receiver, and cautiously put it to my ear. I could hear heavy breathing and sobs. "Hello," I said trying to figure out who it was. "Caison," I heard the voice say. "Caison. I need your help. There is a woman here saying that she is going to kill me and August if you do not come over. Please help me Caison. I have no idea what is going on," he said and broke into more sobs. "I am on my way," I said and put down the phone. Ryan looked over at me and his jaw dropped. "What are you talking about? You aren't going anywhere." He stood up and walked the short distance to my side and put his arms around me. "I won't let you." "I have to," I said, kissing him on the cheek. I took his hands in mine and pulled them from around me. I looked into his eyes and tried for a reassuring grin. "She killed Ward, and I don't think she is going to stop there. I have to put an end to her madness. She has Steven, and I know she will kill him and August if I do not go." "You are not going alone," he said. He turned around and grabbed his coat from off of the sofa. "Oh yes I am. You would get in my way. You are not advanced enough to protect yourself, much less fight her." "I am going," he said, and pushed past me to the door. He opened it and stood waiting. I pushed some items into my pockets and, still in our tuxes, we were on our way. We got to Steven's mansion as quick as we could go. There were no lights on in the windows, but the front doors were standing open. Ryan and I climbed the steps and cautiously looked inside. I stepped through the doorway and looked for a light switch. The switch didn't work, so I pulled a flashlight from a pocket. I shined it around the room, taking note of the destruction. The large crystal chandelier that hung from the third floor into the foyer, had fallen, shattering on the marble floor. "Glad to see you made it," Cecilia said from the first landing of the stairs. "And you brought a peace offering." She smiled broadly in the glare of my flashlight. I looked at Ryan and my stomach knotted. She raised a hand and I pushed him into the parlor. I waved my arm and the pocket doors slid shut and locked. I looked up to see that she had disappeared. I ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I reached the second floor and heard a door slam. I ran to the first door and put my ear against it. I didn't know what I was going to do when I found her, but I knew I had to stop her. I wanted revenge for the death of my lover, but I also had to stop her from hurting anyone else, especially Ryan. I put my hand on the doorknob and started to turn it. I heard a scream from inside the room and flung the door open. I found August curled up next to the bed. He was dressed all in dark blue, and his hair was falling down in his face. He was sobbing in his hands. He looked up at me and gasped. "I thought you were her," he said jumping to his feet. He took a step toward me and I put up a hand. "Where did she go," I asked. "She came into the house and hurt Steven. She made him call you. That was the last I saw of him. He was down stairs. I ran in here and hid." He fell into sobs and I stepped next to him to comfort him. I placed my hand on his head and he smiled up at me through his tears. "Do you know where she could be right now," I asked softly. "No. Come, hide with me. We can escape her and be together." He looked frantically around the room. He threw the covers from off of the bed and pulled at his shirt. He ripped the shirt open and sat back on the mattress. I stared in disbelief. "No, I have to find her," I said as I turned around. I looked up to see Owen's painting of me hanging on the wall next to the door. "I love you Caison," I heard behind me. I turn back to find him standing next to the bed. "Forget about the little boy down stairs. I can make you happy. I love you, and always have. I can be anything you want me to be. I can be your man." He stepped forward and kissed me. My eyes were still open and I couldn't move. He opened his eyes and I saw her inside. I pulled back and slapped him across the face. He looked away then turned to face me. His face slid and melted on his skull. His mouth filled out and his cheeks flattened. Cecilia stood staring at me in a torn dress. Her breasts exposed and her lip bled. Around her neck hung the intricate celtic pentacle, I remembered so well. "You asshole! How dare you strike a woman?" "You were a guy when I hit you," I hissed. She lifted her arms and I staggered backwards, out of the door. I slammed the door and ran down stairs. I heard the casement explode as the door flew across the hall and slammed into the wall. "I gave you one last chance. Now you are going to die." I stopped and turned around. "You have been trying to kill me all along." She stopped and shrugged. "Mood swings." "I have to die, because you are hormonal," I asked. "No, you have to die because you broke my heart. You destroyed me." She lifted her hands and I flew across the room. I scrambled to my feet and lifted my hand. She flew against the wall and fell down the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and didn't move. I lifted my hand and the parlor doors opened. Ryan ran out and wrapped his arms around me. I pulled him close, and started to cry. He pulled me into the parlor and pointed up at the wall next to August's painting. Steven's lifeless body hung above the mantle. The painting of his mother lie tattered on the floor. "I am sorry love. I wouldn't have pushed you in here if I had known." "Don't worry. As long as it is all over," he said and kissed me. "I am just getting started," Cecilia said from behind us. I turned around and stood in front of Ryan. "Move out of the way so I can exterminate the pest." "You have to go through me first," I said. I was out of tricks, but I was going to go down fighting. A blue haze formed in front of me and Cecilia stepped back. She stumbled over a broken chair and stepped back into the hallway. "No, stay away," she screamed. "I killed you." A loud wack echoed through the room and Cecilia hit the floor. The blue form faded away and Marina stepped through the doorway. She held a wooden bat in one hand, and a drink in the other. "Sometimes it just takes a bigger wand," she said and took a sip from her cocktail. Several witches filed in and picked up Cecilia. "Are you going to be okay," she asked. I looked at Ryan and he pulled me close and kissed me. "Yeah, they will be just fine," she said before she started barking orders to the men in the hall. (To be continued) The next chapter will be submitted soon. I welcome comments, twinkchaser@excite.com