The Devil's Prey (The Demon Within) Page 12

  I opened my eyes and looked around. I saw a sea of bodies lying on the ground. I stood up to see Ethan at my feet. Then I saw Amanda and Lauren, and in the middle was my mother. They all had been killed- everyone that I loved in my life was gone. I felt like I was all alone. I fell to my knees to scream into the empty sky.

  Lightning was going off everywhere. It stopped only when it began to snow. A soft blanket fell to the ground, starting to cover up the bodies. I tried to make it stop, but it only got worse. ‘NOOOOOO!’ I burst into full fury, and it it burned away the snow around me. I could feel myself shaking from the cold.

  ‘Look what I can do to everyone you love, with a simple snap of my fingers.’ The voice was high-pitched.

  ‘Stay away from them!’

  ‘Summer, wake up.’ There was a different voice in the room.

  I felt like I’d been jumped out of my world and back into reality.

  ‘Summer, I need you to calm down, ok?’ Liam was talking to me. I looked around. Why was my room covered in snow? I felt someone place their hand over my mouth.

  ‘We need to make her stop, Liam,’ the woman who was covering my mouth said. I managed to get her hand away.

  ‘I killed him, I killed them all!’ I felt tears still running down my face, and I could see it was snowing outside.

  ‘I killed Michel! I killed him!’ I was becoming hysterical, and I jumped out of bed. ‘He is dead, and Ethan and Amanda, and…wait!’ I had picked up my phone, but the woman took it away from me.

  ‘Summer, what are you going on about?’ the woman asked.

  ‘I need to find them! I need to find them all!’ I looked outside to see snow on the ground, and my heart sank.

  ‘NOOOOO!’ I screamed, and lightning hit the ground. ‘MOOOM!’ I ran out of the room, downstairs, and outside into the very cold night. I started to claw my way through the snow. ‘I killed them!’ I kept sobbing. The weather had dropped at least to minus three degrees, but there I was, clawing my way through the snow, oblivious to the very real possibility of frostbite.

  ‘Summer, no one is here. You need to come inside.’ The woman took hold of my hand, but I yanked it away.

  ‘No, I have to find them!’ I kept looking in the snow.

  ‘Grab her now.’ I heard Liam’s strong accent from behind me, and I felt hands grab me.

  ‘NOOO! LET ME GO! I HAVE TO FIND THEM!’ I screamed as they hauled me back inside.

  ‘We need to sedate her to stop her powers.’ Liam was talking.

  ‘Is there any other way?’ the woman asked.

  ‘No. From what I’ve seen, it is the only way.’ I felt myself being thrown onto the bed. ‘Summer, when you wake, everything will be fine.’

  I felt something sharp pierce the skin of my left arm. ‘Wait, what is this?’ Liam exclaimed before my vision went blurry.

  I kept drifting in and out of consciousness. Sometimes I could see Liam. Other times, I was alone. Occasionally I could hear people whispering and touching the scars on my stomach, leg and arm.

  ‘Poor child, she shouldn’t have to suffer like this.’

  ‘I know it is cruel. That’s why I am trying to help her, but her mind is closed like a book.’

  ‘What about Ethan, or this Michel kid?’

  ‘Yes, Ethan, but Michel is just some kid from school, and from what I have seen, no one knows about any of this.’

  ‘What will you do once inside?’

  ‘I hope to find out what she knows, and try to ease her pain.’

  The voices paused, as if in thought.

  ‘She believes everyone she loves is going to die because of her.’

  ‘Do you believe this?’

  ‘I don’t know what to believe. This is a rare case. Firstly, out of all the pure fairies I have taught, none of them had the ability to make their dreams real- and secondly, all the others are quiet and shy, but she is loud and has confidence. She might be the key we are all looking for.’

  There was a silence again.

  ‘I think she is coming around.’

  ‘Ethan,’ I moaned.

  ‘Summer, this is Liam talking. I need you to listen carefully. You are at the house, in your room. I am going to try to access your mind about all your scars. If you want, you can open up your mind, or you can tell me when you come around.’ I slipped back into a sleep. I could feel someone poking around in my head, and I tried to search for the source, but I couldn’t. I could feel a memory tear open- it was the first time I met Ethan. Warmth filled my mind, but was replaced with confusion. Another memory was tearing open, the one where I find out about my dad, and when I opened the box to find his letters. The memories kept tearing open until suddenly the intruder paused.

  I knew what memory we were at. It was the one I kept locked up so tightly that no one could get in, but I could feel it leaking into my mind very slowly. I tried to wake up, but nothing wanted to work. I screamed into my mind, but the memory was open. It started from when I felt like my chest was exploding, seeing Andy watch me as Lucy escaped my body. Running for my life as I was being chased. When Ethan was in the hands of Andy, and I was forced to fight with whatever power I had left. When I was being hit by dark and powerful fireballs. When I killed Lucy, and when the knife plunged into my stomach, and Ethan was screaming my name. I wanted the memories to stop, but they kept going. The pain I felt when leaving my body, and then coming back. The last bit of memory from when I was in recovery.

  The memories stopped for a long moment.

  My brain was about to explode when they started again. The message engraved into my arm- me trying to heal it, and the effect it had on me. When I went crazy at school, and when the second message appeared on my leg. Me making captain, along with the first time I used my powers, and the message written in my blood on the paper.

  I knew the memories had finished, because I could feel the intruder leaving my mind. The memories I kept out of reach were any involving Michel. I could feel the intruder come back into my mind. I felt my memories relaxing, becoming less painful, but then it all sprang back into place, like a rubber band. This time, when I tried to wake, my body let me.

  Chapter 16

  When I opened my eyes, they immediately filled with tears of pain and hurt. I could see that Liam and another woman were in the room with me. ‘Summer, how are you feeling?’ Liam asked.

  ‘I don’t know, because some intruder was in my head, opening up every goddamn horrible memory I have locked away- and now all I am filled with are these memories I kept locked away for a reason . So I don’t know what I am feeling, because I am feeling a thousand different things at once!’ I finished talking when Liam sat next to me.

  ‘Summer, that was me in your head. I needed to understand what is going on with you. I tried to ease the pain, but it did not work. How did you know someone was invading your mind?’

  I stared at him. How dare he open wounds I didn’t want open? ‘I don’t know. I just felt every memory burst open, and I had no control over them.’ I wrapped my hands around my body to stop myself from shaking.

  ‘Summer, we are going to leave you alone, ok? But we need to start having daily meetings until you go back home.’ He nodded my way, respecting that I wanted to be alone. The thing was, I didn’t think I could be alone. I tried to call Ethan, but he did not pick up his phone. All I got was voicemail. I also tried to get ahold of Amanda, but again, all I got was voicemail, so I called the one person who will come and understand.

  ‘Michel, if you can hear me, I need you please.’ I spoke with a shaky voice. I didn’t know if he could hear me or not, but when I called for him, he usually did come.

  ‘I came right away.’ He stopped when he saw me, and an expression I could not identify came over his face.

  ‘Summer, who did this?’ It was like I didn’t have to explain what happened to me. I shook my head, because I couldn’t talk about it. It was just too painful.

  ‘Summer, who did this to you?’ His voice was firm, yet stil
l caring. I just shook my head again. I could tell he was annoyed, because he was running his hands through his hair. ‘Summer, I need to know who did this,’ he asked again.

  I tried to answer, but all that came out were sobs. It was like I had lost my voice, like it was being consumed by memories and feeling s I didn’t want. Michel stopped asking, as he could see I was no state to talk. He came and sat next to me in my bed, and cradled me in his arms.

  Why was it that the one time I needed Ethan, he was not there? And why did I feel like everyone was abandoning me?

  ‘Get some sleep, Summer. You need it,’ Michel said, stroking my hair. I shook my head, because I knew what I was going to see the moment I closed my eyes. ‘Go to sleep. I am not going anywhere, Summer, not when you’re in this state.’ I closed my eyes, and bam- I was screaming down the house with memories of the truth and my imagination mixed together. Michel was telling me it was only a dream, but it was a dream that felt so real.

  I finally got to sleep around 2:30am. I was cuddled into Michel, using his chest as a pillow. He stayed with me all night, like he said he would, but he had to leave when I woke up because Liam was coming.

  ‘Summer, how are you feeling?’ Liam asked as he approached me.

  ‘Fine,’ I spat at him.

  ‘Summer, I know you are mad at me, but now I can help you every day. After you clean up from training, we are going to talk.’ He kept his distance from me, because he was afraid of what I might do.

  ‘Can I ask you something? Why was I covered in snow before?’ I was still mad at him, but I needed to know.

  ‘That is tricky, but what you were projecting in your dreams, you were also doing out here.’ He was looking out into the distance outside. ‘Today I have cancelled everything so you can relax, but you must stay in the house.’ He went to the door, but before he left he said, ‘Summer, everything will be ok.’

  I had destroyed about twenty-odd dummies and drained the river of water when Liam walked in. ‘Summer, what are you doing?’ He looked around at the destruction I had made.

  ‘Just letting off some steam,’ I said as I sent a spear through a tree.

  ‘I told you to take the day off.’ He approached me with caution.

  ‘You know what? I am sick of everybody saying I should take a day off just because something happens to me, ok? I didn’t come here to take a day off just because I nearly sent Italy into the next ice age, all because you opened my bloody memories. I came here to learn, and learn I will!’ I threw a purple light into a tree.

  ‘Ok, if you want to learn, then we will, but your work is sloppy. Try this.’ The rest of the holiday was uneventful. I went out with Michel, and he showed me around Italy. We also went clubbing again, but we didn’t drink much after that first night. My training was hard, as I was pushed to stretch my powers to their limits. We also discovered that if I used too much power, or if I overused it or strained it, my nose started to bleed. Liam said I could stop my heart if I pushed too far. In the afternoons, I had daily meetings with Liam, where we talked about me and my life. I always ended up crying or freaking out.

  On my last night before returning, I asked Michel, “So what are we doing tonight?” I was hoping we could go out to the club, because after my session with Liam, I really needed to get out of the house.

  'I didn't know you wanted to go out.' He was smiling at me.

  ‘So where are we going?’ One thing I had learnt was that Michel was really good at keeping secrets. He wouldn’t give me hints on what to wear, so I was dressed in jeans and a shirt.

  ‘Well, first we are going to play bingo, then go for an evening stroll and be back by 8pm.’ He was being sarcastic, which always made me laugh.

  ‘Come on, where are we really going? Is what I am wearing appropriate?’ I gave a little twirl.

  ‘Yes, it is. We are going to dinner at a restaurant my dad took me to when we came here together.’ He offered me his hand.

  ‘Ha! I knew you had been here before!’ I laughed.

  ‘You got me. Now we better go, before we are late for our reservation.’ I took his hand, and we were off.

  ‘You know, Michel, one thing I have learnt here is that even though everyone is halfway across the world, I can always rely on you to be there.’ We were having dinner at a homey, casual restaurant where we were eating pasta.

  ‘Why, thank you, and three things I have learnt are that, one, you can kick some serious butt; two, whoever is sending you those messages are going to know about it; and three, I don’t think I have a better friend than you.’

  Michel asked for the check as we finished. I had told Michel about the messages, and I was glad I did, as he supported me in a way Ethan or Amanda never would be able to- because he understood what it was like to be different.

  ‘So where to now?’ When we left, it was still hot outside.

  ‘How about the club to end your stay?’ I jumped up and down and gave him a hug. We spent the rest of the night at the club. I think we were probably the club’s favorite customers, since that night we must have had thirty drinks apiece. My fairy tolerance was finally kicking in and I was finding it much easier to hold my liquor, but Michel was still much better at it than me. Maybe demons have a higher alcohol tolerance than fairies.

  ‘So you ready to head back? Early plane trip tomorrow,’ he yelled over the music.

  ‘Yes, I think it is, but can we walk? It is such a nice night.’ When we left the club, the air was nice.

  ‘You know we have to go back to cold weather.’ I walked haphazardly, crossing my legs in front of each other.

  ‘Yeah, I know, but think of the snow.’ Michel had his hands in his pockets. He knew, like me, that this would be the last time we got a whole night together before we were restricted to morning runs again.

  ‘I wish you would come on the plane with me to keep me company. Did I tell you last time I had to sit next to an old fat man who snored the whole way and wouldn’t wake up when the plane landed?’ I laughed, hoping I wouldn’t have to sit next to someone like that again.

  ‘Nope, you never told me. So, Summer, why the walk?’ He knew me too well. I never do anything without reason.

  ‘I just wanted more time, and to say thanks for everything. You were there for me when others weren’t. I had an amazing time, and thanks for everything you didn’t have to put up with from me, but you did anyway.’ I gave him a big huge as thanks. ‘You do know words won’t be able to describe how grateful I am for everything you do.’ I let go of him, and we keep walking.

  ‘Well, thank you, and you really- and I mean really- showed me how to party and get sloppy drunk.’ He laughed.

  ‘You are never going to let me live that down!’ I tucked my hands into my front pockets.

  ‘Nope, same way you ended up in jail.’ We were both laughing as we walked through the streets of Italy.

  ‘Ouch,’ I said, rubbing my back. I felt like I had been stabbed by a pin.

  ‘Summer, you ok?’ Michel sounded worried, probably because of the expression of sheer horror on my face.

  ‘Ouch, Michel, lift up my shirt.’ I knew what was going on, but I was hoping I was wrong.

  ‘Summer, it’s happening again.’ He ran his finger along where the words had been written.

  ‘What does it say?’

  He was silent.

  ‘Michel, what does it say?’ I raised my voice a little.

  ‘Come home, Pure. I am waiting for you.’ His voice sounded scared as he pulled my shirt back down. ‘Summer, they are waiting for you back home.’ He had taken my hand, and I was grateful because otherwise I might have fallen.

  ‘It’s alright, Michel. I am ready for whatever they throw at me.’ He let go of my hand. ‘Come on, let’s just go home.’ We continued walking home in silence. Every once in a while, I would rub my back, but nothing more was done beyond that terrifying message.

  Chapter 17

  The moment I stepped off the plane in shorts, a singlet and sunnies,
I was freezing my ass off. Michel had warned me to wear warm clothes, but I didn’t think it would be that cold. Once in the terminal, I could see Ethan, Amanda, and Lauren waiting for me, but my gaze was on Michel, standing far back, saying, welcome home. I couldn’t help but laugh.

  ‘Amanda!’ After I turned my attention back to everyone, I ran up to Amanda and gave her a huge hug. ‘I am so glad to see you! I have so much to tell you about Italy, and my training, and everything! It was just amazing! I wish you could have come with me. The weather was beautiful, as you can see, and you got a haircut! I like it!’ I was talking really fast again.

  Amanda smiled at me. ‘Ok, Summer, slow down! I missed you too, and might I say we have lots to catch up on.’ She really emphasized the word lots, and I knew what she was talking about.

  ‘Um, hello? I am here,’ Ethan said, waiting patiently. I was surprised he was even talking to me.

  ‘Oh, yeah. Ethan, good to see you, too.’ I didn’t kiss him. I just gave him a huge hug, because I still was annoyed at him.

  ‘Ok, let’s get home. I have so much to show you, Amanda. You won’t believe what I can do!’ The whole way home, we both talked about our holidays, and what we did. Her holiday wasn’t as exciting as mine, but she still hadn’t mentioned about anything about me going clubbing. I guessed she was waiting to talk about that at home, where she would rip my head off.

  ‘Welcome home, Summer.’ That was the first thing Lauren had said to me since I arrived.

  ‘Lauren, I am really sorry for what I did, but it wasn’t completely my fault,’ I said. I could see Ethan and Amanda look at me strangely, but I didn’t care.

  ‘That’s ok,’ Lauren said. I was surprised, but decided not to question her. The only reason I did it was because Liam thought it would help me let go of some of my anger, but I still felt like the same old me.