Part 12

Jayden eyed Kalika with distaste. He couldn't believe he'd ever been even remotely interested in her. How could he have ever thought he wanted her over Alisha?

He heard Alisha's mental voice inside his mind, screaming for her to come and save him. Kalika put the hall light on. "That's better, isn't it?" she said.

Jayden frowned, wondering what she was up to. Kalika just laughed. "You think I'm going to stand here and *tell* you?"

Jayden sighed and shoved her out the way, marching towards the basement door. He yanked open the handle, expecting it to be locked. He was surprised when it just turned in his hand. He pushed the door open, standing on the top step.

Alisa was below, tied to a chair, staring up at him adoringly.

Jayden was about to start down to her, when Kalika's hands shot out, shoving him down the steps. He crashed downwards, landing painfully in a heap. Kalika followed, landing on top of him and pinning him, knocking the stake from his hand.

She laughed harshly. "You're an idiot," she told him.

* * *
Keeping her hand tightly on the silver knife Elaine slipped into Kalika's house. She switched off the hall light.

Spotting a figure by the basement door she called out.

"Hey, Sylvie!" she whispered.

Sylvie turned around, her eyes widening in shock as Elaine plunged the knife into her heart. The light went out her eye and Sylvie collapsed, dead.

* * *

Alisha cried out in alarm as Kalika appeared behind Jayden, pushing him down the steps and pinning him. She yanked hopelessly at her chords, hating feeling so helpless. Jayden was in trouble and there was nothing she could do to help him.

Her mouth opened when the hall light went off. Someone else was here? When she spotted Elaine peering in she almost cried out again, then didn't.

"Whatever you're gonna do isn't gonna work!" she said.

Kalika glanced over at her. "Sure it is," she said casually.

"You're insane!" Jayden spat at her.

Kalika smiled at him. "Once I do the binding spell there'll be no more of that."

Alisha frowned. Binding spell? "Why can't you just get your own boyfriend? Stealing other peoples' with magic isn't going to do you much good in the long run."

Kalika sighed with impatience. "We've had this conversation. I already told you why."

Kalika turned away, back to Jayden. Without warning Jayden suddenly kneed her hard in the groin. Kalika cried out, her grip on his wrist loosening enough for him to get his wrist free and push her off him.

They were wrestling for the stake.

"Come on Jayden!" Alisha called out. "Don't be such a wuss!"

Jayden glared at her, but tried again, harder. Kalika lashed out with her nails, striking his face. Elaine hurried down the steps with a stake of her own, plunging it into Kalika's back.

Kalika cried out with shock, before slowly turning into a weathered pile of old bones. She was dead.

* * *