Allegra paced back and forth, chewing on her bottom lip as she thought about what to do. She hadn't been trained for something like this. Quite honestly, she was terrified to the core.
"Think, Allegra. What would Erik do?"
Obviously what Erik had done turned out to be a complete flop, so that didn't help her thinking. "No, no, no. Think, think!"
"Allegra?" a teenager's voice said, leaning her head into the bedroom. Her black hair tumbled forward as her piercing green eyes stared at Allegra. "Why are you talking to yourself? Oh, is there a ghost?!"
Not currently, Allegra admitted to herself. "Hey, Melody. You're into the supernatural stuff, right?"
She leaned against the doorframe, a smug smirk on her face. "As in a researcher of multiple myths such as vampires, werewolves, and ghosts, and a long time fan of gravesites, yup, I am."
"Do you know anything about demons?"
"Uh.. Multiple stuff, I guess, but mostly that they shouldn't be messed with. My friend almost died when she tried to catch one in a pentagram."
Allegra sighed. "Is Meg home?"
"No. Mom won't be home 'till late. Working on paperwork. Why?"
"Look. You can't tell her what I'm about to tell you, but I really need your help. I think a demoness has kidnapped my friends and they might be in trouble." Allegra handed Melody the note. "I need to get them back."
"Woah, wait 'till I tell Matt and October. Tell me everything first, and I'll try to help."
Allegra told her everything about Carlotta and Nya's death, even about Erik and Christine. "You can't tell anyone, you swear? This is really big. Bigger than the both of us combined."
"Fine, I get it. What doesn't add up is how she can manipulate objects. There must either be a strong emotional tie to the land or a large energy force surrounding it if she can manifest freely. Most ghosts and demons we can't see because they are what we call 'drifters.' Erik and Carlotta are special, Allegra." Melody eyes narrowed slightly, and Allegra caught a small hint of envy in her eyes before it dissipated. "Anyway.. Come on to my room of the supernatural."
Allegra had never actually been in Melody's room before, so she tentatively followed Melody down the hall.
It looked.. interesting to say the least. She had blocked out her windows and ceiling light with black paper, tracing where the ceiling and walls met with a light cord. Candles littered the place, and her desk contained large stacks of old looking books. Overall, everything seemed shrouded in darkness.
"This is my humble den," Melody smiled. She went over to her drawer and pulled out a wooden box. "And these are my warders." Pulling out a crystal necklace, she said, "Here, put this on."
Allegra placed it over her head and looked down at the multiple colors. Some looked like amethyst and quartz, but she couldn't be certain. "How will this-"
"Energy," Melody interrupted, putting a necklace on herself. "Also, I have two vials of holy water, a bunch of salt, and a lighter."
"That's it? You haven't seen her yet. You don't know what she's capable of."
"Yet? I don't even know if I want to come. Demons are some serious business."
"So I'll be left to die? Fine." When Melody didn't respond Allegra tried another tactic. "I guess Max and October will never know about the cool fight then, or how you barely made it out alive, hm? What a shame.. Thanks for the help though, it means a lot to me."
As she walked down the stairs Melody called out "Wait! I'll join you."
If you could choose how you wanted to die, dying at the hands of a crazy demoness in a cool fight to save your friends seemed better than dying in your sleep. Or so thought Allegra.
As they were walking towards Carlotta's cottage, they discussed the game plan. After deciding on one, Melody started chatting away to stave off the nervousness. "So how did you meet?"
"In his labyrinth."
"Is he cute?"
"Uh.. Sure, yes. But not at first. At first he seems pretty, uh, ordinary, but once you get to know him his face sorta becomes him, and it becomes something better."
"Okay, super weird answer.. So do you love him?"
Allegra glanced at Melody. "Do you love Matt/Max/Whateverhisnamewas?"
Melody's face flushed. "Wh-what? No, we're like siblings. He's not into me like that.."
"Well if you can obviously lie to me then I can lie in return, so what's the point in replying?" It seemed like something Erik would say, making Allegra miss him more.
"What if you die and he asks about it later?"
"Then tell him I loved him. Honestly, I'm still working out everything in my head, because we can't really be together. He's a ghost, you know? Not really.. here. It's hard to love somebody you know you can't love. At least, until I die I guess, but I'd also rather not spend my life like I'm staring at a clock.. Sorry, I'm rambling…"
Melody shook her head. "No, I get it. My mom is never really around, so it's hard to really love her when I never see her anyway. Sure, I do, it's like an unspoken rule to love her, but its.. wobbly."
Allegra noticed the cottage getting closer in view. "Hey, at least we had a nice heart-to-heart talk before the battle."
"Yeah," Melody grinned. "I actually am not as jealous as I was before. I sure wouldn't want to be you right now."
"Thanks, Mel…"
"Don't die now that I actually care if you die or not, k?" Melody glanced at Allegra one last time before jogging off to the right, disappearing behind the treeline.
"Here goes nothing."
Allegra nervously walked up to the front door. "Should I knock?" she murmured to herself, but as she finished her question the door creaked open. "Oookay.."
She stepped inside, uncapping the holy water. "Erik, Elizabeth?! Carlotta show yourself!" Her voice shook from fear, but the fear of losing Erik and Elizabeth forced her to stay.
The door slammed behind her, and when Allegra tried to twist the knob it stayed put. There was no way out now, besides killing Carlotta.
"Oh precious child," Carlotta's voice cooed, sounding like it was coming from everywhere at once. "Erik isn't here darling. Neither is my traitor of a daughter. They came for me hours ago. You really are quite slow.."
"I was at your daughter's memorial!" Allegra retorted. She realized that she could see part of the room where Nya had died. Feeling faint, she asked, "Where are they?"
"Just because you're going to die doesn't mean I'm going to tell you all of my secrets, child." She chuckled. "Ready to face me?"
Allegra gave a curt nod, even when her entire brain wanted to jump out a window and run, or curl up into a ball and wait to be killed.
"Then meet me where Nya's soul left."
Allegra caught on to Carlotta's trick fast. Melody had said emotional ties to land made demons stronger, and that much residual energy would be an unfair advantage.
"No, we battle outside. You don't have any neighbors anyway. Unless you're so weak that you have to rely on extra energy.."
A pause. Then the door opened behind Allegra. When she turned around Carlotta stood about thirty feet away, cloaked in a red that matched her eyes and hair. She took a deep breath and stepped outside.
Wind whipped around Allegra and the sky darkened. Melody was probably watching Allegra for her cue, so she didn't feel completely alone.
Without a warning, Carlotta darted towards Allegra at inhuman speed, a knife glittering in her hand. Allegra jumped to the side instinctively, spraying the blob of red with a mix of holy water and salt.
Carlotta cursed, brushing off the salt water off her arms. It left second degree burns, but Carlotta only seemed annoyed rather than turning into a puddle. Not good.
Allegra then noticed a pain in her own right arm and glanced down at it, shocked to see a trail of red running down it. The wound wasn't that deep, but it was enough blood to frighten Allegra.
Taking out her supply of salt, she drew a pentagram around herself, in hopes that Carlotta would run into it and become trapped. Allegra stepped back from Carlotta and the pentagram, smiling.
"I don't know why you're smiling. You do know that when a demon isn't inside the circle, it invites other lost spirits to manifest inside of it?"
Allegra knit her eyebrows together, confused. Melody hadn't told her that part. That wasn't part of the plan.
A blob of black started to form in the pentagram, growing, shaping itself into a human form.
The darkness dripped away, leaving behind an african-american girl in a flowing blue dress.
Nya.
(Hey guys! So sorry I haven't posted in forever. This week has been crazy for me. Just today I spoke at a teacher rally, went to a study group for my AP Chemistry Exam in three days, and was interviewed for a position in Girls State. I'm still a little frazzled and jittery from being put on the spot so often. So I probably won't update until Wednesday, with my huge exam coming up, and another one May 13. Also, a friend of mine asked if I listened to music while I wrote. Yes, I do, and I'll be adding a list of songs to my profile that you should check out. As always, thank you so much for reading and reviewing! 'Till next time!)