CHAPTER 9 - Leave it Behind
Dennis clutched his head and fell to the ground. Even though he was dead, he was still psychic and therefore able to pick up on the thoughts of the people within his surroundings. Normally, they were too muffled or hard to hear clearly, but the conversation he heard within his head right at that moment couldn't have been clearer if someone was screaming it directly in his ear.
"Let them leave, Kalina, we don't need them or the book. We still have the spells."
"B-but, the spells have expired for these spirits! Once a ghost is set free, they become immune to the spells! We have to catch them right now-"
"Kalina!! I said we don't need them. Your knowledge of the Arcanum is good enough."
Dennis lurched with the force of another seizure and tried to hold on to his connection with Kalina and Cyrus for as long as he could. He needed to know what they were planning, but he was already losing them and the dialogue was broken.
"If..an..ther..enough of them..fore..ust.kill them.urselves."
"Are..ure..can..do..such a thing without..ave..those..ghosts?" Dana stood over Dennis and gave him a worried look.
"What are they saying?" She demanded.
"I don't really know, but I think they want to collect another twelve ghosts and try to open the Ocularis again." Jean narrowed her eyes.
"They can do that without the Arcanum? How?"
"Cyrus said that Kalina had more than enough knowledge of the Arcanum to find and collect the ghosts." He paused. "But..even if they can't, there's worse news..I think if they can't find ghosts they're going to try to do the same thing they did with Arthur. Kill the people themselves and make their own Black Zodiac."
"They can't do that!" Susan snapped.
"Why the hell not? There is nothing stopping Cyrus once he gains enough power to create another Black Zodiac." Dennis retorted sharply. The group fell silent for a while. Mallory bit her lip - the same way she always did when trying to come to a decision.
"Look, we're supposed to be on vacation. We rented lodges just a short drive away from here. Would you all be safe there for the time being? We can't linger here any longer, anyway. Regardless what you decide, we have to get going now." She gestured at her brothers and sisters. Seth gave her a funny look. This was the last thing he'd have expected from Mallory of all people. He kind of saw this coming, but figured that Zeke or Broadway would have suggested it. Luke and Bianca just looked tired and scared. He didn't blame them, either. Arthur sighed deeply, looking at what was left of his car and shrugged his shoulders.
"You kids should just go. You've been dragged into this and I'm sorry, but now is the time for you to back out and forget this ever happened."
"I don't think we can do that." Mallory replied. She gestured at her siblings again. "We know what it's like to be left behind to fend for ourselves. We also know what it's like to have people reach out and do all they can to make it better. I think what I'm trying to say is, we're in this now, and we're in it until the end." Arthur nodded.
"It seems to me you all have your stories, but I don't think I can allow you to get more involved than I already have." He looked at Jean for support.
"We could never forgive ourselves if something happened to you all. You're good kids, your mothers and fathers would be proud."
"My mother left me on the streets when I was seven years old to fend for myself." Broadway spat.
"My father used to beat me every night until I cried blood." Seth added.
"My parents locked me in the attic crawlspace for the first four years of my life." Luke said.
Bianca took a step forward. "My mother used to give me doses of pesticide when I was a child to get attention from people."
"My father left me in our apartment for three days when I was a child so he could go gambling with his friends. Mallory said softly. Zeke clenched his fists.
"My father killed my mother before putting a bullet through his skull while I hid in the basement. A look of horror passed over Arthur and Jeans faces. "We only have our Matron, the one person who took us out of those god forsaken group homes when we were to messed up for anyone else. No other family would take us in except her." Zeke continued.
"We're in this until it's over." Mallory said. Dana stepped forward and placed her icy hand on Seth's arm.
"Thank you." She breathed.
"I guess it's settled then. Lets get going." Arthur took one last look at the house and his car before climbing into the Malibu beside Mallory. The two cars screeched away leaving the house still and silent once more.
~*~
Broadway sat down on the edge of her bed and flopped backwards. They had finally made it to Brahms and checked into the Cranberry Lake Resort. She crossed her arms over her face and sighed deeply. The group had decided to take the rest of the day off to figure out where they were going to go from there. She jerked her head up when someone sat down on the edge of the bed beside her.
"So what kind of a name is Broadway anyway?" Royce asked casually.
"Fuck! Do you always come waltzing in to other people's rooms?" She snapped placing a hand over her heart. He shook his head.
"Nah, only if they leave the door open a little." She noticed that he door was indeed a bit open. "I can split though, if you really want me to. I was just curious."
"What kind of a name is Royce?" She retorted. "It's like Roll-"
"Don't say it!!"
Broadway smiled. "Rolls Royce!"
"I hate you."
"Good, then you'll get out of my room and leave me the hell alone!"
"You didn't listen to me when I said to leave ME alone!"
"I'm not about to be dragged to hell!"
"That's not the point." He snapped.
"Then reiterate and tell me what IS the point!" He opened his mouth to reply but said nothing, opting to look at the floor instead.
"Broadway is the only name I've ever had. No last name, no middle name, just Broadway. I find it ironic in a sad way." Royce looked at her as she sat up to face him. "I mean, I grew up on the street and my name is Broadway. Har har. But what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Why did your parents name you Royce?" He looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I don't know. I don't remember anything about my life."
"Nothing at all?"
"No. Not really. I can tell you everything about myself in five seconds, ready? Name's Royce, died in 1953, played ball, and went to Valley High."
"That's all?" Broadway exclaimed. "You don't remember your last name, your moms name? Your dads name? How old you are?"
"What, are you writing a book?" He sighed and shook his head slowly. "I used to, but those little details became so irrelevant after a while that I forgot them all. Though, I think I'm seventeen."
"Me too. I'm the youngest of my siblings." Royce smiled.
"You're also reckless, an odd ball, aggressive, mouthy, and stacked." His eyes grew wide and he looked at the floor. "I didn't mean the last part."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? What the shit is stacked?!"
"Think fast, Royce" He thought. "Stacked..? Uh..thoughtful!"
(A/N - you can find a listing of all of Royce's slang in the next few chapters ^^)
"What do you mean I'm not thoughtful then?" Broadway demanded.
"Nothing! Will you cool it?" Broadway fixed him with an irritated look and lay back down.
"I don't have time to bicker with you, Prince." She yawned. "I'm going to catch some Z's. Is the origin of my name the only thing you came her to inquire about? Prince..? Royce..?" She opened her eyes and peered around. He was nowhere to be seen. Something on the bed glinted with the last rays of the sun and she picked it up, bringing it close to her face. It was a key. "He must have dropped this." She thought. Broadway unclipped the back of her necklace and ran the chain through the hole at the bottom of the key. "Klutz." She rolled over to where the sun wouldn't be shining right in her face and drifted off to sleep.
~*~
"He spends a lot of time by her, don't you think, Dana?"
"Jealous, Susan? Come on, she saved his ass TWICE. Maybe he's just curious as to why she would do something like that."
"Because she has the hots for him. That's why, I'll bet you any money!"
"Oh yeah, I'm sure she's the kind of girl who goes for those dead, half shredded eligible bachelors! Come on!"
"What if HE has the hots for her?"
"Will you STOP being paranoid! You're acting like the two of you are an item - which IF I may point out you are not. Susan, I think you're acting ridiculous."
"What are you two gals bickering about now?"
"Nothing Prince."
"Not a thing Prince."
(A/N - Thank you to my wonderful reviewers - I couldn't keep the story going without your support! **hugs** I think that from chapter 10-12 I'm going to work more on the relationship developments of the characters. It's not just a Royce/Broadway, but I'm thinking a Seth/Dana maybe. ^-^ Any input would be greatly appreciated ^^)
Dennis clutched his head and fell to the ground. Even though he was dead, he was still psychic and therefore able to pick up on the thoughts of the people within his surroundings. Normally, they were too muffled or hard to hear clearly, but the conversation he heard within his head right at that moment couldn't have been clearer if someone was screaming it directly in his ear.
"Let them leave, Kalina, we don't need them or the book. We still have the spells."
"B-but, the spells have expired for these spirits! Once a ghost is set free, they become immune to the spells! We have to catch them right now-"
"Kalina!! I said we don't need them. Your knowledge of the Arcanum is good enough."
Dennis lurched with the force of another seizure and tried to hold on to his connection with Kalina and Cyrus for as long as he could. He needed to know what they were planning, but he was already losing them and the dialogue was broken.
"If..an..ther..enough of them..fore..ust.kill them.urselves."
"Are..ure..can..do..such a thing without..ave..those..ghosts?" Dana stood over Dennis and gave him a worried look.
"What are they saying?" She demanded.
"I don't really know, but I think they want to collect another twelve ghosts and try to open the Ocularis again." Jean narrowed her eyes.
"They can do that without the Arcanum? How?"
"Cyrus said that Kalina had more than enough knowledge of the Arcanum to find and collect the ghosts." He paused. "But..even if they can't, there's worse news..I think if they can't find ghosts they're going to try to do the same thing they did with Arthur. Kill the people themselves and make their own Black Zodiac."
"They can't do that!" Susan snapped.
"Why the hell not? There is nothing stopping Cyrus once he gains enough power to create another Black Zodiac." Dennis retorted sharply. The group fell silent for a while. Mallory bit her lip - the same way she always did when trying to come to a decision.
"Look, we're supposed to be on vacation. We rented lodges just a short drive away from here. Would you all be safe there for the time being? We can't linger here any longer, anyway. Regardless what you decide, we have to get going now." She gestured at her brothers and sisters. Seth gave her a funny look. This was the last thing he'd have expected from Mallory of all people. He kind of saw this coming, but figured that Zeke or Broadway would have suggested it. Luke and Bianca just looked tired and scared. He didn't blame them, either. Arthur sighed deeply, looking at what was left of his car and shrugged his shoulders.
"You kids should just go. You've been dragged into this and I'm sorry, but now is the time for you to back out and forget this ever happened."
"I don't think we can do that." Mallory replied. She gestured at her siblings again. "We know what it's like to be left behind to fend for ourselves. We also know what it's like to have people reach out and do all they can to make it better. I think what I'm trying to say is, we're in this now, and we're in it until the end." Arthur nodded.
"It seems to me you all have your stories, but I don't think I can allow you to get more involved than I already have." He looked at Jean for support.
"We could never forgive ourselves if something happened to you all. You're good kids, your mothers and fathers would be proud."
"My mother left me on the streets when I was seven years old to fend for myself." Broadway spat.
"My father used to beat me every night until I cried blood." Seth added.
"My parents locked me in the attic crawlspace for the first four years of my life." Luke said.
Bianca took a step forward. "My mother used to give me doses of pesticide when I was a child to get attention from people."
"My father left me in our apartment for three days when I was a child so he could go gambling with his friends. Mallory said softly. Zeke clenched his fists.
"My father killed my mother before putting a bullet through his skull while I hid in the basement. A look of horror passed over Arthur and Jeans faces. "We only have our Matron, the one person who took us out of those god forsaken group homes when we were to messed up for anyone else. No other family would take us in except her." Zeke continued.
"We're in this until it's over." Mallory said. Dana stepped forward and placed her icy hand on Seth's arm.
"Thank you." She breathed.
"I guess it's settled then. Lets get going." Arthur took one last look at the house and his car before climbing into the Malibu beside Mallory. The two cars screeched away leaving the house still and silent once more.
~*~
Broadway sat down on the edge of her bed and flopped backwards. They had finally made it to Brahms and checked into the Cranberry Lake Resort. She crossed her arms over her face and sighed deeply. The group had decided to take the rest of the day off to figure out where they were going to go from there. She jerked her head up when someone sat down on the edge of the bed beside her.
"So what kind of a name is Broadway anyway?" Royce asked casually.
"Fuck! Do you always come waltzing in to other people's rooms?" She snapped placing a hand over her heart. He shook his head.
"Nah, only if they leave the door open a little." She noticed that he door was indeed a bit open. "I can split though, if you really want me to. I was just curious."
"What kind of a name is Royce?" She retorted. "It's like Roll-"
"Don't say it!!"
Broadway smiled. "Rolls Royce!"
"I hate you."
"Good, then you'll get out of my room and leave me the hell alone!"
"You didn't listen to me when I said to leave ME alone!"
"I'm not about to be dragged to hell!"
"That's not the point." He snapped.
"Then reiterate and tell me what IS the point!" He opened his mouth to reply but said nothing, opting to look at the floor instead.
"Broadway is the only name I've ever had. No last name, no middle name, just Broadway. I find it ironic in a sad way." Royce looked at her as she sat up to face him. "I mean, I grew up on the street and my name is Broadway. Har har. But what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Why did your parents name you Royce?" He looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I don't know. I don't remember anything about my life."
"Nothing at all?"
"No. Not really. I can tell you everything about myself in five seconds, ready? Name's Royce, died in 1953, played ball, and went to Valley High."
"That's all?" Broadway exclaimed. "You don't remember your last name, your moms name? Your dads name? How old you are?"
"What, are you writing a book?" He sighed and shook his head slowly. "I used to, but those little details became so irrelevant after a while that I forgot them all. Though, I think I'm seventeen."
"Me too. I'm the youngest of my siblings." Royce smiled.
"You're also reckless, an odd ball, aggressive, mouthy, and stacked." His eyes grew wide and he looked at the floor. "I didn't mean the last part."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? What the shit is stacked?!"
"Think fast, Royce" He thought. "Stacked..? Uh..thoughtful!"
(A/N - you can find a listing of all of Royce's slang in the next few chapters ^^)
"What do you mean I'm not thoughtful then?" Broadway demanded.
"Nothing! Will you cool it?" Broadway fixed him with an irritated look and lay back down.
"I don't have time to bicker with you, Prince." She yawned. "I'm going to catch some Z's. Is the origin of my name the only thing you came her to inquire about? Prince..? Royce..?" She opened her eyes and peered around. He was nowhere to be seen. Something on the bed glinted with the last rays of the sun and she picked it up, bringing it close to her face. It was a key. "He must have dropped this." She thought. Broadway unclipped the back of her necklace and ran the chain through the hole at the bottom of the key. "Klutz." She rolled over to where the sun wouldn't be shining right in her face and drifted off to sleep.
~*~
"He spends a lot of time by her, don't you think, Dana?"
"Jealous, Susan? Come on, she saved his ass TWICE. Maybe he's just curious as to why she would do something like that."
"Because she has the hots for him. That's why, I'll bet you any money!"
"Oh yeah, I'm sure she's the kind of girl who goes for those dead, half shredded eligible bachelors! Come on!"
"What if HE has the hots for her?"
"Will you STOP being paranoid! You're acting like the two of you are an item - which IF I may point out you are not. Susan, I think you're acting ridiculous."
"What are you two gals bickering about now?"
"Nothing Prince."
"Not a thing Prince."
(A/N - Thank you to my wonderful reviewers - I couldn't keep the story going without your support! **hugs** I think that from chapter 10-12 I'm going to work more on the relationship developments of the characters. It's not just a Royce/Broadway, but I'm thinking a Seth/Dana maybe. ^-^ Any input would be greatly appreciated ^^)