A Raven in the Hand

CHAPTER 21

The cave was dark, the only sounds were the church bells that rung within the walls. Suddenly, one candle was lit, then another, and all after. The Vodu looked around the space nervously, there was no body laying on the crude alter now. The Vodu turned back to look towards the little witch, who was trying to get her weak body back onto her unsteady legs.

Kayla grinned as she stood tall and never took her eyes off the wizard, "You wanted his power? Now try to take it…"

The Vodu glared at her in anger, "You! I will make you pay for what you have done!"

He took a few steps closer towards the young witch, but Kay stood still with the same grin on her face.

Another gust of wind blew out the candles as a gong was heard in the darkness, then the candles lit up the small cave again. The grin on Kay's face widened to a smile as she looked past the Vodu.

"He's here…" She whispered, the wizard's eye widened in fear.

The Vodu could now feel the presence of the Reaper, but from behind him. Before the Boogieman could move, the Undertaker had grabbed the man by his neck and lifted him straight up from the ground.

"Never fuck with the Deadman…" The Undertaker's dark and raspy voice boomed out and echoed within the cave.

He threw the squirming body across the span of the cave, the Boogieman hit the rock wall full force. The body make a sickening cracking sound as it hit, the Vodu fell on the dirt floor moaning as the Phenom moved before the broken body.

The Deadman stood over the Vodu, his eyes white in anger, "You want my power?" He grabbed the Vodu by his neck again and lifted the shattered form high in the air again, "Then maybe you should experience it first!"

Kayla leaned against the cave wall as she watched the Reaper do what he was created to do. She could see the fear now in the Vodu's eyes as he tried desperately pry himself from the Deadman's lethal grip. But it was to no avail. She could see the life force being drained from the Vodu's face as he screamed for his gods, the Undertaker's grimly visage seem to show through his human skin. The darkness around his white eyes sent shivers up her spine as the Vodu was being drained himself into the Reaper.

This is what he truly was, a Reaper. Reapers feed on souls, not just take them to the after world. They gain the abilities and power from their victims, making them stronger. Just as the Boogieman wanted to take Mark's power and use it for his own dark purposes, the Reaper was now doing the same. And he didn't need a stone to do it, it was as natural as breathing to the Deadman.

After a few minutes of struggle ling, the Vodu stopped moving, his hands released its death grip from the Undertaker's arm. There was nothing left inside the Boogieman's corps, it was nothing but an empty shell. Kayla breathed a sigh a relief, she thanked the gods that it wasn't Mark laying on the ground instead.

She looked up at him and smiled, he smiled back, his face was back to normal and showed a concern for her as he walked over.

"Are you all right?" He asked as he took her into his arms to hold her week body up.

"I'll be fine, what about you? Are you ok?" She couldn't help but smile at him, she rested her head on his chest, no longer startled by the lack of a heart beat.

He kissed the top of her head, "I'm fine. He didn't get shit out of that stone." He pulled her face up towards his with his hand, "I heard you. Wherever I was, I heard you."

"I was scared, I didn't know what else to do…" A tear fell from her eye.

The Undertaker gently wiped it away from her cheek with his thumb, "Kay, no matter where I am, all you have to do is say my name and I will be there in a thought."

"Mark…I…" She leaned in, ready to feel his lips on hers.

She didn't care if they were cold, she didn't mind. She just wanted to feel him again, to know he was still alive with her. She could feel his breath on her face and he moved closer, the feeling was quite mutual…

"Kayla!" The two were startled, Mark's first move was to move Kayla behind him and prepare to attack.

The Deadman stood motionless as Kay peered from behind him to see the group in the light of the candles. The one who had called her was a man of her age, with long blond hair and big blue eyes. He was dressed in black as with a few others, three women and five other men. All whore the same silver pentacle as Kay did.

"Stephan?" Kay looked over that the man, "How did you get here?"

Mark looked at her, "Friends?"

"Yeah, they're from my Covent." Kayla moved from behind the Deadman, "How did you guys get here? How did you know where to find us?"

Another witch, a woman with short black hair stood forwards, "Matron Shalla received a disturbing call from a Vodu in New Orleans, the Vodu told every detail of your visit to Shallow."

"And Shalla cased a location spell on you but she couldn't find you. So she cast it on your familiar and she found him. So she sent the bunch of us here looking for you in case you needed help. She knew you wouldn't be far from your raven."

The woman who stood beside Stephan starred at the Reaper, "Who is he?"

"A friend." Smiled Kay, "The Undertaker."

"Where is the Vodu?"

"That would be the pile of shit in the corner over there," Mark pointed the body to them, "I doubt he'll be a problem anymore."

The group moved towards the body and took care to examine it. The woman stood up from them and looked at the odd couple.

"What happened to him?" She asked.

"He tried to dance with Death and lost." Mark grinned.

"What…"

"Clair, there's nothing really…" Kayla couldn't finish the sentence without dropping to the dirt ground, she had forgotten that she was still weak from using all four elements.

"Kayla!" Mark shouted as he picked her up into his arms, she was still dazed from the battle.

"I'm…fine…" She whispered.

"You're still weak, we better get you into a bed." He smiled at her.

She leaned her head against his chest, "Sleep would be great right now."

To be continued…