Into The Abyss
He looked beyond livid. The arch in his eyebrows drew tightly together with his nose racing to meet it in the middle of his face. Was he snarling at me?
"Where did you hear that name" he seethes.
"I only did what you asked," I whisper looking him straight in the eyes while we begin to rise from the floor. Jake grabs my forearm and pulls me towards him.
"I said. Where did you hear that name?"
"Wow wow wow Jake calm down, she can't have known" Jared interjected, trying to pray Jake's iron grip off me. I feel his nail begin to dig into my skin and I screech, "You're hurting me!" as I try to peel his hand from my arm.
I take a deep breath to calm myself and focus my amethyst necklaces energy on my forearm to shake Jake off by heating the skin underneath his hand. But he didn't move, not an inch. He didn't display any signs of discomfort so I pumped up the juice, increasing the temperature. Amethyst was a protection stone and my mother and I spent many years working together to mold it and to store a proportion of my raw energy for later use. It was a powerful stone in my hands. While releasing more heat Jake's begins to ferociously shake me, demanding I told him how I knew Ness
The commotion started to gain the attention of the other BBQ goers. Sam jogged over in his kitchen apron and roared, "Leave her Jacob." Still nothing. Without breaking eye contact I increased the releasing energy further. However, Jake never loosened his hold so I continued to radiate. That was when the sizzling of his burning skin could be heard by the naked ear. Jake finally let's go in pain and looks down at his hands. They were red and the sores were becoming prevalent.
"Oh my god, jake your hands!" Jared shouts and jumps back. I was shaken and breathing heavily, even sweating a little.
"Jacob, what happened to your hand?" Sue comes towards us concerned. This seemed to snap Jake out of whatever trance he was in with this whole demeanor relaxing.
"Nothing, I'm fine," he says wiping his hands on his jeans.
"See," he says holding up his hands.
My mouth dropped. His hands were fine as if nothing had happened if anything they looked a little red.
"Lou are you alright, what's going on here" Sue turned towards me.
"Nothing, I'm fine." I shrug, slowing my breathing and smile at Jake.
Jake was playing ignorant and two could play this game.
The crowd disbursed and they wrote the ruckus down as some new young banter tactics. Jake, Jared, and Sam went over to talk with some others and would now and again looking over to me before turning back to share hushed voices.
The cry WITCH had changed over the centuries. People didn't run around with pitchforks prosecuting every out of ordinary female they came across. However, there were many occultists and weirdos out there who still cling to this old tradition and I had just met these people. How was I sure they wouldn't be the same. It was foolish to use such invasive magic in public and I fear I'll pay for it later
Nana walks up to me looking less than impressed. I'm sure I'll get an earful once we leave. "I think it's time we leave Louisa," Nana said leading me out.
"There's something different about them, I just can't put my finger on it," I whisper.
"There something different about this whole little town."
I tossed and turned all night. Finally throwing my sheets off me I pick up my dressing gown and begin to walk down the stairs and out the front door onto the porch. I sit down on the porch swing and gently begin to push my foot off the ground to create a slight rock.
I felt a twinge in my chest and I can tell by the accompanying wincing in my face it was guilt. It shouldn't have gotten so it of hand. I shouldn't have taken something so personal from him. I had hurt him and no smoke and mirrors were worth that. My reaction didn't take into consideration the others around me. It was selfish to be so reactive. But I'd be a fool to disregard the reality of the situation. Those boys are not what they seem. I could write their strange aura off as a fluke but that accompanied by the growth spurt I saw in Jake's head made it all the more suspicious.
Snap! I look up, drawing my dressing gown tighter around me. I wouldn't dare to call out. Not if I didn't want a response back. Which I didn't! It was a warm night but it also a dark night making the heat that filled atmosphere claustrophobic. It was also quiet and plague by the sounds of insects of the night. Suddenly I saw it, just out of the corner of my eye. That damn fleeting aura!
"Jake?" I call out and slowly stand up.
"How'd you know," he said emerging from the left side of the porch banister. I jump out of my seat falling onto the cool floor.
"What the hell are you doing creeping around my house." I gasp holding my hand to my chest.
"We were just in the area," he smiles leaning on the banister.
I feel the hidden aura of two more people if they can even be called that.
"So you didn't come along?" I ask
"You know Sam from the BBQ and this is Paul," he said as the two others came into view.
"My god, have you both been standing there this whole time? What is wrong with you guys!"
I had already met Sam but I hadn't met Paul yet.
"It's nice to meet you, Louisa," he says coming into the light of the porch and our eyes met. Paul's brown eyes were soft and in the light of the porch the rims of the iris' glistened gold and in this moment everything begins to slow down as if frozen in time. The noises of the night seem to have faded out which allowed space for a tranquil buzz. Within this new space, the only important thing that existed was Paul and I. There was something so familiar about him, as though this wasn't the first time we had met. In another life perhaps, it was cosmic. Reality began to settle back into place like dust in the air coming to a standstill on the coffee table.
"Just Lou is fine," I say breaking eye contact and clearing my throat. This wouldn't be the first crush I've had to deal with. I'll need to behave or I'll embarrass myself.
Jake and Sam both look at each other and seemed to share a non-verbal conversation then looking back at the two of us. Very awkward that they had to watch me ogle their friend for so long.
"Is there something I can help you with at this hour," I say leaning against the door frame. Before either of them could answer I rambled on.
"Look if this is about the reading, I don't give refunds" I now cross my arms
"I didn't pay" Jake scuffed.
"Exactly so what's the problem, let's just forget it ever happened"
"You see Lou," Jake begins walking around the banister and up the porch steps. "I can't forget about it and you must answer the next questions truthfully".
"Stand down Jake," Paul commanded striding in front of him and between us.
"Look, we don't want a repeat of whatever happened earlier, so let's keep this friendly", Sam peace made. Jake looked past Paul.
"You know what Nessie is, that's a fact. Now, are you like Nessie? Half and half,"
"Half and half?."
"Well you smell human but you're also gifted. Are you half-vampire?"
Vampire's were used as a ghost story to scare little witches and warlock from traveling unaccompanied at night. They were just a metaphor for humanity's toxic humanity. The kind that is injected into our lives and changes us forever. It can't be real, could it?
"Are you on crack, I'm just clairvoyant, do you even hear the crap you're spouting?" I said reaching for my necklace, just in case.
"You also burnt me!" Jake chimed as though I never spoke.
"And what proof do you have of that?" I say standing up tall and straight raising my eyebrow.
"She answered your question!" Paul spun on Jake, beginning to push him back.
"No, she didn't!" They were now nose to nose. Well, Jake was about half a foot shorter than Paul so it was nose to chest.
"That's enough!" Sam joined, turning to me.
"What's going on here, what are you"
"I'm just the girl that reads the tarot. Now get out of here before I call the police. You do have trespassing laws in this country don't you?"
"Lou, we can help each other here", Sam pleaded. Sam seemed so trustworthy, he carried himself as an open book. It almost made me want to oblige and confide. He reminded me of Georgie. I smile remembering my time with him but still ignore Sam. I'll have to stay clear of that one.
During this whole encounter, Paul kept Jake a safe distance away from me, shamelessly watching my every move. Processing and memorizing my face, speech, and mannerism with his eyes. He seemed confident in himself that Jake would not pass him. There was a stray piece of silky black hair that partially covered one of his eyes, this made him look laid back and nonchalant. The obscurity of his vision didn't seem to bother him at all and it was kinda sexy.
Defeated, the three of them begin to walk away when Paul turns around and smirks, "hopefully I'll be seeing you again soon, Lou."
Me too, I think as I enter the house again for the night.
Hey Guys! Chapter 2 is up, let me know what you think - Isley Sister :)