The Coming From the Shadows Series
Previous Instalments:
- CFTS: A Family Trip – Awakening Love: A Family Trip to Spain
- CFTS / A Family Trip: A Summer Interlude – Exploring Relationships: A Summer Family Holiday
- C.F.T.S: Isolation at the Hotel – Strangers and Secrets: A Tense Family Getaway
- CFTS / Family Trip: Strangeness in Spain – Exploring Relationships and Fear on a Family Trip
- CFTS / Family Trip: Chaos in Spain – Chaos Unveiled: A Family’s Spanish Adventure
- CFTS / Family Trip: Conspiracy and Unease – Unveiling Family Secrets: A Journey Through Time
- CFTS / Family Trip: Mystery and Intimacy – Unveiling Secrets: Family Bonds in Spain
Coming From the Shadows
Family Upheaval:
Crisis Amongst the Family
Background:
Since the 1st of August; what was originally a Work-Related Trip for Philip Wright, had turned into a vague attempt to feign interest in trying to create ‘Family Time’ though it quickly reverted to its original intention, as Philip, primarily concerned with his Archaeological Career focused entirely on that, rather than his family.
Jenna; a woman that had found herself unintentionally in ever dire situations since first marrying Philip witnessed the continued neglect over the years; from 1992, where Philip displayed a complete disregard, failing to even show up for their first daughter; Eliza’s birth, this repeated a second time in 1999 when Raven was born – it was following Raven’s birth that something shifted though, like a fog had lifted leading Jenna to begin regaining control of her life, with the support of her parents; Ralph and Barbara – and by the time of 2006, when she gave birth to her third child; her son Dylan, once again, Philip failed to show.
By the present date; Jenna, having largely lived as a single mother despite her marriage, had clawed back her financial independence, and essentially lived a completely separate life from her husband, but in Spain; the disconnect had grown considerably wider, during the first day in Tossa de Mar, Jenna experienced a Stalker-Incident while with her son; Dylan at the Hotel’s pool forcing her to seek safety into the Hotel room, and despite attempts to tell Philip, it was waved off before he disappeared for the 2-Days for his Excavation in the North of Spain; during the second day of the trip; Raven and her girlfriend; Yasmin experienced the same Stalker, who had followed them into the Lift, Yasmin’s confrontation and the support of a married couple manage to ensure their safety – when Philip returned though, he simply waved off the worries.
Shifting the tone from her concerns, to the suggestion of attending a party within the hotel’s ballroom; Jenna found herself observing her husband as he continued to neglect her, watching as he enjoyed heavy drinking and flirting with other women; eventually leading to Jenna seeking solitude outside the hotel by the pool; here, a dark figure made his presence known.
Introduction:
The Late Evening of the 3rd of August 2014 A.D.
Tossa de Mar, Spain
Seeking to escape; Jenna would find her way from the ballroom, escaping the event she had no interest in, her attendance purely intended as a ‘Bonding’ with her husband; Philip, but, while she made the effort, like she so often did, Philip instead spent most of his time drinking and interacting with various different women; interactions that became increasingly more frequent the more he drank – this had been unchanging for so long, she had often tries putting things aside before and during their marriage, the first major event of their marriage; Eliza’s birth in 1992 – he had been absent, it had upset her, but she still protected his decision from her own father.
The birth of her middle child; Raven – was met with the same absence – it had been following Raven’s birth though that there had been a major shift, emotionally vulnerable, it was as if she had ‘woken up’ to what he was truly like.
And the third absence in 2006 with Dylan’s birth had pushed Jenna to begin taking back control of her life.
She essentially became a single-mother, Philip’s constant absence became the norm; but now, after he’d secured his dream job; things had only worsened further.
As Jenna finally departed, making her escape from the intense atmosphere, she found sanctuary out along the pool; her eyes locked onto the shimmering light reflected from the water, her breathing shaky; her eyes reddening, reaching up, she pinched the top of her nose, she since the beginning of this holiday, Philip’s absence and the sheer disregard for her worries and concerns about a recent stalker had amplified things to a new height, she was beginning to question the point of maintaining her marriage.
So lost in this emotional turmoil; she failed to notice there had been a shift within the air – it had gotten unusually cold, so cold the water in the pool seemed unnaturally still, an almost frosty sheen present, Jenna’s breath misted with each breath.
A figure stepped from the shadows, his present radiating an unnerving stillness as he approached slowly – his movements fluid, graceful and silent.
Sitting himself down on a sunbed next to her, he watched her carefully, she had not yet even noticed his presence despite him being right beside her, it was only once he spoke, her head snapped up in surprise, his voice was a lower, quiet whispers, unexpectedly alluring which sent a shiver down her spine “Troubled?”
Startled by his sudden presence, she looked at him, her eyes widening in alarm, it was as if she was staring at a man cloaked in shadows, his features obscured by the darkness “Who…, who are you?” she questioned, normally she would have become much more guarded, yet it seemed like her natural defensive instinct lapsed completely, there was alarm, but a strange desire for his presence she couldn’t quite understand, her voice, meant to be filled with some tense aggression had instead escaped from her lips like a whimper, a surrender to confusion
The figure merely smiled, his lips twisting up as he watched her.
Chapter 1:
The Hotel Room
Upstairs within the hotel room; Raven – a typically quiet and reserved girl of Fifteen, had spent majority of the evening with her girlfriend; Yasmin, looking after her younger brother; at that present moment, Raven and Yasmin had found themselves trapped at one end of the bed while Dylan had commandeered the middle of their bed along with their pillows, packets of empty sweets laying nearby while Dylan was sprawled like a starfish.
Raven’s silvery-grey eyes had fixed on her little brother with a subtle irritation, though her subtle smile indicated something different; a gentle, protective warmth; her long dark hair tied towards the side of her head in the typical side-pony tail she was known for, she sat with Yasmin’s embrace, she could feel Yasmin’s arms around her waist “Well….We’re not going to get much of an enjoyable nights rest” she said, a playful exasperation present in her voice “How are we suppose to sleep with Pipsqueak hogging the entire bed”
Yasmin, the polar opposite of Raven in terms of her more boisterous and chaotic energy; she found herself giving Raven that extra squeeze within her embrace “He’s just a little guy” she commented, her voice soft as she pulled Raven close, Raven instinctively leaned back against her, positioning her head back against Yasmin’s shoulder, Yasmin eased herself and Raven back; Yasmin’s back resting against the headboard.
Raven felt her eyes partially close as she relaxed into Yasmin’s hold – though, an unease had begun entering her head, her mind had shifted from their happiness and solitude, towards a building worry; Her mother.
By the Hotel Pool
“Who….Who are you?” Jenna found her voice weak, almost a whimper as she looked at this new arrival with a mix of fear, but balanced by a strange allure towards him; to her, her voice sounded like a surrender to something she didn’t quiet grasp
As he locked eyes with Jenna, his lips twisted, a grin that didn’t quiet reach his eyes as he held her gaze “I am nobody important” he answers, his voice was laced with an unsettling calmness “But…, if you do want a name, you may call me ‘Riaz’…”there was a silence that extended between them as he stared into her eyes “I can see your upset; would you perhaps be seeking to talk”
Jenna hesitated, she wanted to tell him to leave, yet, she couldn’t “How…, do you know that I am upset, I could just be…unwell”
He merely gestured to her posture, his fingers gently moving up, but did not make contact as he indicated to her redding eyes “It is rather obvious my dear; you are quiet upset” his tone seemed to subtly shift, it became more….hypnotic, his eyes were still locked; Jenna simply could not look away from him, he maintained her gaze
Turning to fully face him, the silence returned for a moment, extending as ‘Riaz’ let her gather her thoughts before finally, she began to speak, she was momentarily hesitant, but as she spoke, the more she revealed, she found that she simply could not hold herself back from revealing things, revealing her relationship with Philip, their marriage; she made a conscious effort to stop herself, but things simply continued to spill as she told him of her fears for her children, she gave him her entire life.
‘Riaz’ simply sat quietly, listening to everything she said, when Jenna made mention of a ‘Benefactor’ for Philip’s dig, his eyes narrowed immediately, recognising it as something ‘Garcia’ would likely go by to avoid providing his name; tilting his head, he continued to hold her gaze captive “This…Benefactor” he inquired, his voice shifting subtly yet again, becoming more neutral “Do you know his name?”
Jenna shook her head “No; my husband doesn’t really communicate very well with me, always treats me as secondary”
A slow nod followed as ‘Riaz’ thought for a moment – he kept Jenna’s gaze locked, his gaze was intense-hypnotic and now that she had released a torrent of emotion, she felt a moment of exhaustion begin washing over her, she felt what efforts she had been making, regardless of its success, completely evaporate, she felt as though she was entirely open, vulnerable “I…, I don’t understand” he stammered, her voice barely gaining an audible noise, she felt completely weak and locked up “How did you do that; how did you get me to open up”
‘Riaz’ grin widened into a knowing smirk, it was predatory, his eyes seem to flicker with something ancient and powerful; a momentary red hue that bypassed Jenna’s awareness despite their eyes being locked; there was something strangely unassuming behind the exterior that was presented “I have that effect on people Jenna” he replied, his voice was a silken caress as he once again left his tone shift, it was now more alluring, drawing her in further “I have a…, ‘Gift’…, people simply struggle to keep things in”
The moment became increasingly unnerving, but one thing had not yet clicked; ‘Her Name’ she had made no mention of it to him, yet he used it with such familiarity that it hadn’t even clicked.
Chapter 2:
The Hotel Ballroom
Away from the emotional unravelling of Jenna as she found herself unable to resist the mysterious ‘Riaz’ – Philip had hardly even noticed Jenna’s absence; he had been so focused on the frenetic energy, he cared very little; heavily intoxicated, he found himself drawn to a dark, secluded corner with another woman, she was draped in a shimmering dress, eyes that sparkled with mischief, with lips painted a seductive crimson – despite how intoxicated Philip was, he had enough awareness to distinguish her from Jenna, unlike Jenna with her Silvery-Grey eyes and Dark Hair; the woman before him had rosy tint to her blonde hair, with forest green eyes.
For Philip though, she was something Jenna wasn’t – she had practically stroked his ego, offering compliments of his greatness, speaking highly about his job once he had told her about what he did, for Philip, he could do what he wanted, she had offered no resistance to his advances, unlike Jenna with her mysterious upbringing and usual fierceness that kept her resisting despite his efforts to control his family, it was only lately due to her extreme stress that she’d begun being more ‘agreeable’ for him.
This woman though, she simply encouraged his following actions – his lips met hers in an intoxicating kiss as they moved from the party atmosphere to find somewhere more secluded before vacating the ballroom entirely to go back to her hotel room.
By the Hotel Pool
Shifting his positioning, ‘Riaz’ moved beside Jenna, now invading her space – her inability to resist, regardless of how much internal screaming she felt demanding she move, she remained stationary, her eyes unable to break his gaze as she turned her head to follow his movement beside her – it was an increasingly dangerous encounter, she felt trapped inside her own mind “Thank you” she felt a strain in her voice “For listening” she added
‘Riaz’ merely kept his grin before reaching his hand up – his hand made contact, yet, for Jenna, it didn’t feel natural; it felt like bone against her skin, an unusual feeling that only amplified her building panic, it became visible within her breathing as she felt a whimper escape her lips – the allure she felt, she couldn’t escape it, it began to feel unnervingly intimate, she started wishing for help, that someone would come.
That was when she heard it “Mum” – the moment ‘Riaz’ turned his gaze from Jenna, she finally felt a moment of relief and freedom as she quickly snapped her head around; she spotted Raven; Raven could see the distress her mother was in, her knuckles white against the sunbed as she gripped it
‘Riaz’ shifted, raising up to his feet, he seemed taller than a moment earlier; his focus had fixed onto Raven; there was curiosity present, as though he couldn’t really see Raven; a subtle head tilt followed as his eyes fixed on Raven’s small, slender form – he could see something, but it wasn’t Raven, the air continued to retain its unnatural icy chill, Raven, unlike Jenna, had noticed it as she approached slowly “Come on mum, you look tired” she whispered, gently reaching for her mothers hand, guiding her away from ‘Riaz’ who merely remained still and observant
As mother and daughter began to create distance; ‘Riaz’ eyes adopted the red-hue once more before he retreated back into the shadows completely.
When Jenna and Raven returned to the hotel room; Jenna’s hand found its way to her head, she felt exhausted; Yasmin, hearing their arrival, quietly vacated the room she and Raven share, her movements quiet to avoid waking Dylan, she looked to see Jenna and her distressed state, her gaze falling to Raven who offered a silent smile before she first led her mother to her room before joining Yasmin once more in their room briefly before they would seek out the couch while Dylan continued to claim their bed, getting comfortable within each other’s embrace to fall asleep.
Girona, Spain
Returning from Tossa de Mar; a figure still cloaked within darkness, brought with him his icy presence as he set foot within the warehouse that sat on the very edge of Girona, here, upon his return he was greeted by Stanley who recognised the ‘Dark Master’ upon his entry simply by the change in the air that he brought, and while usually he was a silent, brooding figure – Stanley could sense a shift in the body posture of his master.
As the shadowy figure disappeared into the very darkness that permeated at the end of the warehouse, his previously silent footsteps suddenly echoed out, heavy, hoof-like as the glowing red of his eyes seem to raise higher, the outline of a man long vanishing entirely, replaced by some kind of monstrosity hidden by the darkness as the crimson eyes found Stanley; typically, to this creature; his followers all seemed alike – they were just human beings, he believed there was simply nothing unique or special about them besides their violent tendencies; but Stanley…., he was different.
Stanley had been raised by an Extreme-Cultist loyalist during the 1910’s to 1920’s; and it had been Stanley that would liberate the ‘Dark Master’ from his celestial prison in Crete during the height of the Battle of Crete during the Second World War; despite his advanced age, he looked no older than his late 30’s-Early 40’s, he had gone from a simple loyalist to the ‘Enforcer’ of the Dark Master’s will, a direct link between the Human world and a World of unknowable power.
“You return” Stanley’s gaze locked onto the red eyes attached to the outline of the monstrosity “Forgive me, but if I maybe so bold as to assume you have not completed your investigation, it seems as though you are distracted, is there any assistance I can provide you?”
“The Wright Family” a deep, powerful voice spoke from the shadows “The middle child; the second daughter, she has piqued my interest”
Stanley gave a curious tilt of his head towards his left shoulder, his eyebrow momentarily rising up “Would you like me to send someone to observe?”
“Yes; they shall be lucky enough to work with me; I intend to draw the mother into my orbit, she is pliable…, easy to manipulate regardless of her effort to resist, I suspect them to be the descendants of the Daughter of Shadow”
“The Daughter of Shadow?” Stanley repeats, a moment of realisation clicking in place “Lydia Langdon?”
“Indeed” the voice seemed to change tone, it became predatory “This mother and Daughter share many physical similarities, the most striking is their eyes; Silver, the daughter though is an oddity; I could hear here voice, could see what she looked like, yet, trying to look upon her was…, difficult”
Stanley felt a pique in his curiosity; to hear such a description was unusual, even more so from a being that was already far beyond his comprehension .
“I want this family kept under observation; I believe the father is currently under the employ of ‘Garcia’, keep track of his actions and intentions with the archaeological dig he has taken interest in” Stanley could only now in acceptance of his command
Chapter 3:
Salou, Spain
It was during the peaceful morning atmosphere that Arthur – Jenna’s older brother would find himself interrupted by the ringing of his mobile; raising his head, he, sat across from his son; Anthony, turned his gaze in the direction of his wife; Laura who was already near the phone, answering it before bringing it over to Arthur “Thanks love” he tone was warm, Laura then turned her attention to Anthony, tapping his shoulder before gesturing to resume eating his breakfast.
Arthur, he heard his fathers voice coming from his phone “It’s me son” Ralph’s gruff voice spoke through the speaker “Your mother and I will be setting off to catch our flight in the afternoon, possibly the evening, she’s highly concerned about your sister with everything that is going on”
Arthur gave a slow nod; he knew what Ralph was referring too – The recent vigilante action that had taken place at a Trafficking Hub disguised as a simple night club in Lloret de Mar “Okay; do you need somewhere to stay, we’ve got space here at the villa, it’s only a two-hour drive from Tossa” Arthur glanced towards Laura who simply smiled at him, a gentle nod of her head answering an unasked question – she knew what he was going to ask, she got along with his parents very well
“As long as your okay with it; I didn’t exactly book a place to stay, was just going to wing it once we got there” Ralph admitted
“We’ll get the room set up for you; it’ll be ready by the time you touch down, just give me a call and I will come collect you from the airport”
“Thanks son; we’ll see you once we arrive” Ralph said gratefully
Tossa de Mar – Jenna’s Hotel Room
As the sun struck her face from the nearby window; Jenna found herself blinking, her head throbbing – she was highly disorientated as she began to stir on the comfortable mattress, yet it felt strange and unfamiliar, as her eyes fluttered, she recognised it was her room still, yet, the strange unfamiliarity persisted, as her eyes opened, there was a haze of varying colours.
Everything from the previous night was simply a blur – little piece began to return, she remembered ‘Riaz’ and his strange, overpowering hypnotic effect, the source of throbbing she could feel in her head – once she remembered him, she felt that strange allure return, that there was some mysterious hold that remained, she felt a pull that she didn’t understand, she wanted to see him again despite how much he had begun to terrify her, a subtle voice at the back of her head offering her warning that she felt the need to heed immediately “What did he do to me?” she whispered
Then, another question entered her mind ‘How did he know my name’ she questions mentally, her eyes widening at the realisation.
Slowly, she began to sit up, her body seemed reluctant to move, she felt as though she was forcing herself upright with a great effort, she then took notice of something, or rather, the absence of somebody – Philip.
“Philip?” she questioned aloud, hearing nothing, she forced herself to her feet, slowly leaving the bedroom to explore the hotel room.
Stepping out of the room; she made her way to the main living space, noticing the door leading out to the balcony wide open, approaching she discovered Raven and Yasmin outside.
Raven noticed her mother, unlike the usual olive-complexion that mother and daughter shared, she saw her mother looked rather pale; Yasmin took notice of the change in Jenna’s usual complexion too, there was a distant, hazy look to her eyes “Where is Philip?” Jenna asked, though she sounded distracted, heavily distracted, as though she couldn’t focus on the question itself, merely asking out of a reflex of his absence
Yasmin, who often found herself seeking out the Wright Household due to her abusive family, saw Jenna as a surrogate-mother figure, the change she could see alarmed her as she looked towards Raven before looking back to Jenna “I’m not sure Mrs Wright; we haven’t seen him…., are you okay?”
Jenna waved off the concern “I’m fine…, just…” she found herself drifting off topic, she turned around, looking around a moment before her gaze fell towards the kitchen section of their hotel room, her left hand raising up to her forehead.
On the opposite side of the hotel, Philip groaned as he began to open his eyes to the colourful walls of a room so very different from his own hotel room, he felt the subtle shift in his stomach, a heaviness in his head – an effect of his alcoholic adventure, his head felt as though someone had been striking him with a hammer as he found himself sprawled on a bed with unfamiliar sheets, a subtle scent of perfume, his eyes drifting to find the woman he had gone off with from the ballroom event.
Remembering what had happened, he carefully moved – he didn’t want to awaken her as he quickly got dressed before slipping out from the room, going to the restaurant, he could claim he woke up early, before anyone else and simply went for breakfast ‘She’ll believe that’ he gave himself a nod with a sly grin curving his lips
Chapter 4:
Eliza’s Hotel Room
Across the Hotel, on a floor two-floors below Jenna’s hotel room, an aroma of beacon filled the air, a sound of a subtle sizzle; Tyler hummed gently to himself as he focused on his cooking, he could hear Eliza enjoying her morning show, the sound of running water, he smiled, he recognised she would soon be coming out, he knew her routine very well.
Tyler, a Local Blackpudlian-lad had first met Eliza when she was Seven and he was ten; it had been during Eliza’s first attendance to a Tae-Kwon Do class that Tyler was already a student at they he encountered her, unlike how he looks now; originally Tyler had a dark blonde initially but, as he grew older, became increasingly darker, almost matching Eliza’s own dark hair, though their was a subtle difference that could be observed, and he had a pair of ocean-blue eyes, their initial encounter had originally been one of rivalry that turned to friendship as they became close as team-mate, beginning with the entering of Local, then Regional, National and eventually International Competitions, and like their Tae-Kwon Do lives, their friendship had evolved to, becoming much more romantically involved.
Tyler had become a recurring figure in Eliza’s life, joining her regularly at her home, and even filled a void created by her father; Philip, providing Eliza’s young brother Dylan with a persistent male-figure that he could learn and interact from.
As he began to plate the breakfast meal, he heard the clicking of the door as it cut subtly through the air.
“Mm” Eliza murmured, approaching the kitchen, a towel around her as she used a smaller towel to dry her long dark hair, her deep-blue eyes finding Thomas “Something smells good” she said, a happy chirp to her voice as she joined Tyler in the small kitchen as he turned to face her – like Raven, Eliza shared many physical similarities to her mother; Jenna, but also her Great-Great Grandmother; Lydia, though unlike Jenna and Raven, she had inherited her eye colour from her Great-Great grandfather; Thomas Davidson “What’s all this then?” she purred
“Preparing a little something special for my lass” Tyler said with a grin, gesturing to the table; he waited for Eliza to sit down before he placed the plate down in front of her
“Thank you” her voiced softening as she looked at him, a subtle shift in her expression – a vulnerability reserved only for Tyler “Everything you’ve been doing these past two days; it means a lot” she told him, her voice seemingly straining the shift in her demeanour became noticeable
“Eliza?” Tyler moved to kneel down beside her “Eliza, are you crying?”
Taking a deep, shaking breath in she rubbed her eyes before looking at him again “I’m just so grateful to you” she told him softly “It means so much what you’ve been doing” she reached her head to him, gently tracing her fingers against his face “I love you; I really do, I know how lucky I am”
Tyler felt his lips tug up before, their eyes were locked before he shifted his position, copying her action as his hand found her face before he leaned in, kissing her gently – Eliza felt a spark, a warmth as his lips pressed against hers, her eyes closing as she kept her fingers gently against his face as she kissed him
Jenna’s Hotel Room
Having enjoyed his breakfast alone in the restaurant, he finally swaggered back into the hotel room a cheerful expression plastering his face “Morning!” he announced, his eyes landing onto Jenna as she emerged from the bathroom – he failed to even notice the pale look as he just gave a wide smile before twisting away to move in the direction of the nearby chair “You making a brew love”
Jenna, a little more composed than she had been despite her pale complexion, contorted into a mask of controlled anger “Where the hell have you been?”
Philip turned sharply, a look of surprise at her outburst, remembering his cover story, he simply shrugged “Hey, I got up early, went down to the restaurant to get breakfast, not my fault you slept in Jenna” he lied – though, hearing Dylan’s voice, his head turned to spot not only Dylan but also took notice of his daughter out on the balcony with Yasmin
Raven, upon hearing Philip had immediately become silent, when she realised he was looking at her, she felt a building of unease, her attention drifting from Yasmin towards her father – being in such a close proximity, she felt she was on the very edge of a dangerous fall, Yasmin saw Raven tense up, gently, she squeezed her hand in effort to support her
Philip’s eyes narrowed for a moment before his looked at Jenna “I was thinking” he announced, oblivious to Raven’s rising tension “We can go and visit my dig today; show you some proper work for a change eh; instead of that hobby you set up back home, this could make me famous this new discovery” he felt his lips widen with a grin
Jenna felt a shift in her temper “Hobby?” she questioned “It’s shelter to help people, it isn’t a…”
Philip quickly waved her off “We’ll go in a bit; make us that brew will ya, could do with a cuppa” he quickly turned, his attention returning towards the balcony, as he walked away from Jenna
As Philip stepped out onto the balcony, Raven felt a build up of panic, initially, Philip was intending to go interact with Dylan – but, his eyes landed onto the Black Velvet choker around Raven’s neck, his eyes narrowed “What in god’s name is that!” he barked, his tone adopting his usual hostility, the entire façade he had kept up crumbling
Chapter 5:
Philip’s eyes locked onto the Black Velvet Choker around Raven’s neck, while Jenna, like Eliza had been supportive of Raven’s relationship with Yasmin – Jenna being the reason behind Yasmin’s presence on their holiday trip; they had also accepted Raven’s decision to wear the Choker, it had initially been a joke by Yasmin when they were amongst the markets with Eliza and Tyler – but Raven, in an unusual switch of their typical roles, declared her liking of the Choker, leading to Yasmin purchasing and gently wrapping it onto her neck that day.
Philip, who was already struggling with Raven’s relationship, typically always hostile despite his usual absence, the appearance of the Choker – a symbol of Raven and Yasmin’s relationship; his anger surged “Do you have any bloody idea what that thing is!” he barked loudly; outside, his voice carried all the way down to the happy families by the pool, some shifting their gazes in search of the shouting as the family remained unseen from public onlookers
Raven moved her hand up instinctively, her fingers touching the choker, defiance surfacing as she narrowed her Silvery-Grey eyes “It’s a gift”
“From who?” he snapped, stepping closer towards Raven’s chair – an action Raven sensed as hostile jerking her from her seat, slipping onto Yasmin’s lap in a desperate attempt to create space “Is it meant to be some kind of gothic trend your following; some rebellious symbol” he shot, normally, his anger was tempered by Jenna’s constant intervention, this time though; Jenna remained quiet, she knew what was going to happen “You need to begin growing up; act like a proper young woman!” his voice dripped with venom
“It’s beautiful” Yasmin chimed, an effort to alleviate tension as she gently put her arms around Raven’s waist in an effort to keep her calm, though, her eyes indicated her defiance
Philip rounded onto Yasmin, his face contorting with rage “Stay out of this; this is between me and my daughter!” returning his angry gaze back to Raven, his voice was acidic “Take it off!; take that ridiculous thing off, it is quite frankly disgusting, why would you wear such a thing you look…., you look…” he trailed off a moment, he was purposely thinking of something hateful as his gaze fixed on his daughter “…Like a Lesbian” he spat out, a venomous tone blending with his anger
Raven felt her eye twitch, a building frustration came racing to the surface as she stood up; she had no control as she snapped back “I Am!” her voice ran out loudly, close enough to sound like she screamed at him, the pleasant morning atmosphere had not only shifted, but the very environment too, the sky seemed to darken suddenly, the bright sky and warm air became darker, colder.
The echoing rumble of thunder vibrating the very air around them as a momentary flash split the sky followed by a sound as though the gods themselves had begun pounding against the atmosphere.
Jenna, finally moving forwards, purposely pushed Philip away, shoving him aggressively causing him to slip against the railings where he grabbed a hold to steady himself, he felt wet droplets hit his face causing him to momentary glance upwards at the darkening sky, then his gaze fell back to Jenna “Enough Philip; enough!”
It was during this outburst that Eliza and Tyler had just entered, they felt the crackling tension and observed Jenna physical intervention as a tense silence settled in, Eliza’s eyes fixed on her mother and father carefully
Jenna moved towards Philip, gesturing towards him as her voice became dangerously low “I am this close Philip; this close to ending things with you, apologies, apologies right now!” her voice cut through, Philip was stunned as his gaze locked onto Jenna’s eyes
With attention purely on the confrontation; Raven, almost entirely unnoticed slipped away, escaping the tension on the balcony and quietly returning to her and Yasmin’s shared room; Yasmin being the only one to have took notice and followed; as Yasmin entered, she closed the door quietly behind her with a gentle ‘click’ turning her gaze to her girlfriend carefully.
Raven had sat herself down on the floor, leaning against the bed, her body shook; trembling, silent as her hands rested against her face, seeing Raven’s distress, Yasmin approached with soft steps, easing herself down and gently putting her arm around her, drawing her close into her embrace “Hey, hey…., it’s alright” Yasmin said softly
“I hate him” Raven murmured; her voice shaking, the clattering of what had been a light rain, was now heavier, matching Raven’s emotions as tear slipped down her face, wet lines glistening as she turned her head into Yasmin’s shoulder “I hate how he can say things intent to hurt me and not care”
“I know…I know” Yasmin spoke with a gentle softness as she began to rock her in an effort to ease her distress
Girona, Spain
The disturbance in the weather did not go unnoticed, despite its distance, a rumble of thunder had reached as far as Girona; the ‘Dark Master’ immediately snapped onto the change, raising upwards, the outline of the head indicating the tilting of its large head, his icy gaze had fixed towards a nearby window as the clattering of rain drew his attention.
Stanley too had noticed as he stood by the far door, his gaze drifting out towards the rain as it fell against the open doorway he was beside; thought his attention was soon brought back to the ‘Dark Master’ after he heard the heavy movement; the stomping indicating movement, one moment the glowing Red Eyes were visible, the next, they had vanished completely, the sudden departure made Stanley realise that the change in weather had more meaning that he realised “Hmm” he murmured
Chapter 6:
Sometime in 1910 A.D.
English Countryside, Great Britain
Lydia Langdon; a vision of angelic innocence – her long, Raven-Dark Hair tied neatly back, her Silvery-Grey eyes honed in on her intended destination ahead of her; she was simply a predator in disguise, a killer cloaked with deceptive beauty.
Since childhood; Lydia had been raised, first by her Cultist Father and his brutal educational methods, alongside her older twin; Elizabeth, unlike her sister; Lydia’s moral compass and youthful innocence made her a timid child; the weaker link of her family – something that her father; George Smythe, the leader of the Cult of the Minotaur detested, Lydia was far too much like her mother; Cathryn, and George had tried to purge those traits.
In 1905 though; an act of rebellion by William; Lydia’s older Half-Brother, resulted in the burning of the Smythe Manor allowing for Lydia to escape, seek out the safety of her mother after being forcibly separated in 1900 – a 5-Year gap of being trapped in a brutal environment, it was following this reunification of mother and daughter that led to Lydia being trained, willingly, to fight against the Imperium, against her father’s Cult of the Minotaur – she had developed into a weapon.
Beside her hip, her usual bag bounced lightly from her movement; the strap slung over at the opposite shoulder; within the bag she carried various tools both for survival and as alternative weapons; strapped to the side of that same bag though was the usual weapon of choice; her prized possession; a Jian Sword, its scabbard gently swayed with her light movements – her movements were silent, fluid and graceful; finally though, she came to a stop; observing the subtle glow in the distance that illuminated windows of a farmhouse, her eyes narrowed.
Behind her, Thomas; Thomas was a British soldier, and since 1908 had become a recurring presence in her and her mother’s fight against the Imperium, official joining the group that very same year of 1910; initially, during their first meeting in the Himalayan Mountains during December 1907; Lydia had taken a disliking to Thomas, but, his persistence since that encounter had gradually worn down those defensive barriers, Lydia had even begun developing feelings she couldn’t quite articulate or understand.
He came up beside her, his own movements equally silent; his blue eyes locked onto the building ahead of them “Have I told you, I really think this plan is a bad one?” he whispered
“You may have mentioned it” Lydia answered, turning her head to look at him “But, I think it will be safer this way, I have been trained to move unseen, you know I can do it too, there have been times you never even realised I was there until I made a noise”
Thomas nodded slowly “True” he said, looking towards her “But, if you get caught in there, how would I know”
“Trust me; You would know if someone caught me” Lydia gave him a rather innocent smile
Thomas slowly nodded; smiling slightly, though, his desire to protect her warred against his respect for her ability “Just…, be careful”
“Always” she said softly
4th of August, 2014 A.D.
Reus, Spain
A flight from Manchester finally touched down onto the tarmac of the Aeroport de Reus with a gentle bump; the Spanish sun had already begun to set, casting long shadows.
Ralph, a face etched with the fatigue of travel shuffled along the aisle behind Barbara; she was much more organised compared to her husband.
Barbara; at the age of 67 still retained a lot of her organisational skills from her younger years, unlike her husband, he, at 71, had mostly lost a lot of that, or at least, appeared to have done; he did however at least get the flight they needed without any hinderance, Barbara, feeling a sense of urgency had made it very clear, she wanted to go and find their daughter, to get to her and ensure her safety, something Ralph wouldn’t fault, he wouldn’t argue, he understood why, and endeavoured to ensure a quick travel.
Now moving through the familiarities of the deboarding chaos; the passport control and baggage carousel; it was an irritating slog, finally though they were done; the air though was not warm like they’d expected, when it was said that Spain had experience a drastic weather change, Ralph had assumed it would either be an exaggeration or simply have changed again by their arrival – yet, still it felt like there was a chill within the air, still, it was a welcome change from the stale cabin.
Pulling his phone free, he took a moment to check his contacts; a skill, Ralph noted Arthur and Jenna would be faster at, then, there would be the younger generation who would be even faster than them; when he found Arthur’s number he put his finger against the smooth surface of the mobile device “I hate these things” Ralph commented, his eyes drifting to his wife
“It’s why I won’t have one” Barbara commented in response
Hearing a voice; they realised Arthur had answered “Arthur?…, Arthur?” he repeated “Bloody hell, how do I get this thing louder” with a frustrated sigh, he finally found what he needed, as his son’s voice came through louder “Ah…, there we go; right, we’ve landed son; we are at the Reus Airport; any chance of a lift?”
“Aye, I will be there shortly, don’t go anywhere please; I don’t want a repeat of the last time, it took two hours in the dark before I found you” Arthur said, his tone light, fondly remembering his 2-Hours of search, though he didn’t wish to repeat that
Chapter 7:
Within the later evening, the argument caused by Philip remained a raw thing – a painful split that had only reinforced the two different lives that seemed to exist within the Wright household, while Philip had gone to find his own place to cool off, Jenna had taken her daughters and son, alongside Tyler and Yasmin to enjoy a return to peaceful normalcy in hope of getting things to ease out once again, though, she did question the viability of her marriage.
It was during this attempt at normalcy that the air had seemed to shift, a shift that Raven had picked up on, a sense of fear also surfaced, which was noticeable amongst other patrons, a shift in body posture, the subtle change in how people spoke during their conversations, as if suddenly wary of some kind of discovery despite the very public nature of their environment; then, her eyes found what she was searching for – ‘Riaz’ he still retained that strange shadowy appearance despite the very light of the room, it seemed to not even touch him as he practically glided across the restaurant, he knew what he was searching for – yet, upon his gaze landing onto the family, he feigned surprise as he approached.
His movement unnaturally graceful “Hello again my dear” he spoke softly, adopting that previous alluring and hypnotic tone that drew Jenna’s attention immediately, while ‘Riaz’ would introduce himself to the rest of her family, his focus was mostly, and while each would be transfixed on him, Jenna was unable to resist him, she could hear a voice at the back of her head, a vain attempt to warn her of danger, yet, she couldn’t acknowledge it, her eyes felt heavy, a subtly disorientation was present much like how she had felt that morning
‘Riaz’ then turned his gaze to Raven – unlike how everyone else seemed transfixed on him, she simply stared, while there was a subtle fear and weariness in her expression; she was mostly unaffected by him.
He realised she could see through the façade as she kept her attention on him – the illusion he held, she saw past it, past the hypnotic allure, but yet, she couldn’t comprehend him; like ‘Riaz’ who struggle to really focus on Raven – she in turn struggled to put a name to what she was looking at, she looked both curious and afraid, a blend of interest he had encountered only once before, normally, his very presence would trigger primal fear, only controlled through his illusion, his façade; the very fact Raven could see through it alarmed him.
His predatory grin that has curved his lips during his interaction with Jenna, faltered, his gaze locked on Raven – a curiosity grew, he was trying to work out how she was resisting; she was only human.
Returning his gaze towards Jenna, he made a subtle gesture, his hand barely grazing her cheek “I shall be attending an event my dear; should you wish to speak, to get any worries off your chest, do not hesitate to come and find me” Jenna took a moment, then, she gentle gave a nod of her head “I shall leave you to enjoy your meal”
Taking one final look towards Raven; he backed up before twisting and walking from the restaurant, the icy-air retreating with his absence.
Yasmin found herself blinking, as if she had just woken from a momentary lapse of consciousness causing her to glance about before her attention landed onto Raven, it was as if a fog completely lifted as she began to process everything “Raven?” she subtly reached her hand, clasping her hand gently over Raven’s, as she seemed to keep staring despite ‘Riaz’ absence
Raven’s attention finally moved; turning to Yasmin “Hm?”
“Just checking on you; you wasn’t moving then, started making me a little worried” Yasmin commented, a warm smile curving her lips
“No, No…, I am alright…just…” Raven trailed off, unsure how to finished her sentence, she turned her gaze back towards the very doors ‘Riaz’ had left through – she wasn’t sure why, but she felt unsafe around him, she could sense a predatory intent
Chapter 8:
5th of August, 2014
South of Pyrenees, Spain
During the early morning of the 5th; north of La Jonqueera and south of the French border, located within the forested hills a clandestine excavation had been underway for the past few days; the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and rotting foliage.
Tom, an American Archaeologist on Philip’s team, and as of late, the only member of the team that seemed to have a perpetual expression of scepticism , slowly followed along what had become an increasing difficult-to-navigate maze of corridors; the process had been painfully slow; setting up various L.E.D Lights to try penetrating the darkness that seemed to just absorb any attempts to light the ancient structure.
Walls of obsidian; as black as midnight, simply did not want to yield their secrets, they had to get as close to the walls as possible to even inspect the gruesome, inhuman carvings that depicted various strange scenes, some simply acts of the most horrifying things they could ever discover, others seemed to tell of a story from a time long before some of the worlds earliest civilisations.
“It’s like a bloody rabbit warren” Sarah commented; another British colleague of the team, she usually had a no-nonsense attitude, but this entire excavation was pushing her limits on so many things “What did Philip sign us up too?”
Consulting his notes, he shifts his gaze around the darkness; the air, unlike the warmth outside was cold; very cold, like an oppressive weight; shifting his gaze to Sarah for a moment then over to a younger archaeologist nearby, wanting to catch a glimpse of the readings being produced on a rather sophisticated piece of technology that had been provided, he returned his attention to Sarah “I really have no idea Sarah” he answered finally “But, I think we’ve finally reached a point where we won’t be pushing further”
In front of them was a dead-end, or rather; a massive stone door; its surface unnaturally smooth and featureless; there was no hinges, no handles; nothing to indicate how to open it, but it was obvious to be a door due to the difference set against its surroundings walls.
“Well…, that is just fantastic isn’t it” Sarah said, her tone laced with frustration “What now?”
“We call Philip; tell him we’ve hit a wall…, literally, whatever that mysterious ‘benefactor’ wants, it maybe, behind this door”
Sometime in 1910 A.D.
English Countryside, Great Britain
It was macabre scene inside the old barn; the strong smell of sweat and blood wafted through the air; Vincent, a man impeccably dressed, despite his surroundings knelt before the young woman that had been captured; her expression said it all, the look of horror as fresh crimson liquid rolled down her face “Please….” She sobbed, her voice raw and broken “I don’t know anything!; I am just a barmaid”
Vincent tilted his head, a thin smile playing on his lips “This is growing tiresome” he told her, his voice low and threatening, gesturing, the man behind her made a move, he drew a knife and prepared once again to inflict pain – though, within that moment there was a blur of metal as something fell from directly above them.
Lydia; she landed with a thud against the ground, her Jian Sword, drawn free she was quick with her movements, fluid and graceful as the sword swung through the air with a sharp whisp; the blade first struck Vincent, it was just a flesh wound, but, it shocked him sending him backwards, his eyes snapping up to witness as she spin around; she was like water; such fluidity, well-practised – the sword next found its market with the one behind the young woman, before Lydia shifted her posture, a sudden surge forwards, using momentum as she pivoted on her supporting leg, with her right leg now raised and kicking out; landing a side-kick against the third Cultist; it sent him sprawling due to the close proximity and Lydia’s forward momentum.
Twisting around, Lydia looked at the young woman pointing “Run!” she barked; the young woman, stunned by the sudden violence scrambled quickly; she practically flew out of the open barn doorway without even thinking.
Lydia, snapping back around, she sidestepped as another Cultist came at her, she reached her hand into her pocket; pulling free what looked like an egg-shaped object, clearly fragile and she flung it forwards with the flick of her wrist; it immediately shattered into the Cultists face; releasing what became evidently; finely grounded glass.
The reaction is immediate; the Cultist, drops his weapon, his hands flying to his eyes as he frantically begins rubbing at his eyes, unfortunately, his actions make the irritation worse as he starts mumbling incoherently, clearly in pain as reddened tears fall down his face in his frantic attempts to clear his eyes.
But, despite this; the advantage was fleeting; Vincent, shifting his position had gotten around Lydia with her focus on a Cultist engaging her from the front; he made a quick act, a rough rope soon snaked its way through the air setting over Lydia’s head; as she realised, Vincent yanked backwards – the noose tightened around her neck with the sharp tug that sent her stumbling backwards, the Jian sword dropping from her hand as her feet went flying from beneath her as her entire body went backwards; the rope bit into her neck, cutting off her air as her hands flew up clawing for at the noose in a desperate effort to loosen in; Vincent though moved, pulling her deliberately across the ground.
Faced with little choice; Lydia could only let herself get dragged across the ground, the roughness beneath her back as she found her slender fingers desperately gripping at the rope around her neck in an effort to get it loose, though the sudden strain seemed to tighten further sending her into a, panic as she began to choke and gasp as her body pulled upright, she could feel gravity pulling her back down as her feet barely touch the ground, kicking in an effort to gain something to put her feet against; Vincent had purposely hoisted her upwards, her small, slender frame easily being raised as he held the rope as she kicked desperately “Kill her now!” he ordered
As a Cultist moved forwards, several loud bangs rang out; Lydia’s precarious positioning left her to try climbing upwards while loud gunshots continued to ring out one after the other, her eyes eventually landing onto Thomas by the open barn doors as he moved towards her quickly; collecting Lydia’s sword, he made a quick movement, the blade sung as it cut through the air; slicing through the rope and letting Lydia drop to the ground as he knelt down in front of her, loosening it; finally able to breath she started coughing and spluttering as her hands gently rubbed her throat “You’re okay” he told her “I’ve got you” he shifted his gaze, hearing a groan, he spotted the injured Vincent on the ground; his eyes narrowed as he unholstered the revolver, a surge of anger racing to the surface as he decided to reload the revolver, having just emptied it, Lydia shifted her gaze, watching as Thomas slowly walked over towards Vincent “You are never harming her again” he said, his tone icy as he pointed the revolver; a squeeze of the trigger was soon followed by a bang that rang out.
No Mercy; Simply an Execution.
Chapter 9:
The 5th of August, 2014 A.D.
Tossa de Mar
Sat on a bench; Raven’s mad had returned back to the previous argument with her father, her eyes were fixed on the gentle lapping of the ocean; it seemed calm, matching her current emotional state; the gentle lapping was soothing, and the additional of a vibrant tapestry of sun, sea and laughter created a rather beautiful scene before her, it was a far cry from the hostile disapproving she kept experience.
Yasmin sat beside her; she was close enough to offer comfort without stifling her partner too much; Yasmin knew Raven needed a little space to process her thoughts, her eyes though occasionally found their way to the Velvet Choker on Raven’s neck; she had half-expected Raven to have stopped wearing it due to her father – instead, Raven kept it firmly around her neck, the fact she had decided to keep wearing it spoke volumes for Yasmin, she never questioned Raven’s feelings, but this only served as a true sign of her commitment to their partnership regardless of Philip’s hostility, Yasmin felt a mix of genuine warmth she couldn’t really articulate.
After a moment, Raven slowly brought her attention to Yasmin; she never spoke, she just locked her eyes with Yasmin’s; she stared rather deeply, Yasmin was uncertain why, but, she didn’t want to disrupt whatever thoughts were going through Raven’s head – Raven, finally shifted, moving her hand up and gently placing her fingers lightly against Yasmin’s face, her expression was unreadable for a good long moment before finally softening completely as she leaned forwards; resting her forehead towards the top of Yasmin’s chest; Yasmin simply sat still, letting Raven move and decide at her own pace what she was going to do
Sniffling a moment, Raven raised her head back up “Can we get something to drink?” she asked softly, a slight tremble in her voice
Yasmin smiled softly, nodding and rose to her feet, holding her hand out; Raven took it, intertwining their fingers as they left the bench; waling to a nearby café; it was a small, family-run building just a short distance from the beach a sweet aroma wafted through the air; here, an elderly Spanish woman came out to greet them, her face a roadmap of wrinkles and wisdom; a warm smile curving her lips “Hola Chicas” she said; her voice was thick with a local Catalan accent “And what can I get you today?”
As Raven and Yasmin sat down; the woman ‘Clàudia’ sensed the distress in Raven “You look sad Nieta” she said gently, using the term of endearment that meant ‘Granddaughter’ “How about I get you two Chicas some hoyed tea and you tell me what is troubling you, hmm?”
Raven tilted her head slightly; it was a short moment before Clàudia returned, easing herself down in front of the two “It’s just a bit of family trouble” Raven said quietly
Clàudia nodded knowingly “Ah; Family, always the most complicated thing in life eh?; tell me, what is more important; The Love of a Family Member that doesn’t accept, or, the Love of your Friends and fogonadura that do?”
Raven felt her eyes widen a moment, taken aback by the unexpected question; Yasmin, tilting her head, was about to speak, to say something; but Clàudia raised her hand gently “Is like a man on a boat; Yes?, sat there unable to choose which oar to use to get across that like hm?…, if he tries to use both, he goes in circle, no; now…, it is time for your tea, enjoy yes?” Clàudia said with a hearty chuckle
Raven found herself giggling; she couldn’t help it; Yasmin chuckling alongside her, the subtle shift in tone was enough to finally help ease the mood.
Back at the hotel; Eliza lay on a sun lounger, basking her athletic frame in the warmth of the warm golden glow of the Spanish sun; she had her eyes closed, trying to unwind, though, there was so much still going on in her head; beside her was her mother; Jenna, she slowly sipped a pleasantly cold drink, her brow was furrowed with concern “Are you sure Tyler will be alright with Dylan?” Jenna asked, it was like the tenth time she had raised this question “He’s a good lad; but, you know your little brother”
Eliza opened one of her eyes to look to her mother; a reassuring smile curving her lips “Mum; Tyler offered, he loves hanging out with Dylan, besides, by now, they’ll have found something to do on the beach, probably involving Tae-Kwon Do or maybe playing games or something” she lets a light chuckle escape her lips “They need to blow off some steam anyway, things aren’t easy having to be around…, him…” she gestures towards the poolside bar where her father was standing, far enough away that he wasn’t creating tension between mother and daughter
Jenna sighed; running her hand through her dark hair “What do you think Eliza….” She looked at her daughter carefully “With how everything has been…, do you think it would be so selfish of me to…, shove him out…, I worry how it will effect Dylan…, but, it isn’t a healthy environment with how he is”
Eliza looked to her mother; she knew she was getting more and more frustrated, and she had been shocked by her declaration the previous day; before she could say anything though; a voice rang out “Jenna…, Jenna!”
Both of them shifted; they saw Barbara hurrying towards them, a face etched with concern and worry; as Jenna rose up, Barbara quickly embraced her into a tight hug “Oh my dear darling girl; I am so glad we found you, Arthur told us everything that you told him”
Jenna patted her mother’s arm gently “Everything is fine…, we’ve gotten police involved with regards to that stalker”
Barbara nodded; Ralph finally coming up behind her – Barbara’s face turned to look at Eliza and she smiled “Sweetheart, you look wonderful; where is that loving boyfriend of yours?”
“He’s taken Dylan off for an adventure today; they needed some ‘Boy’ time” she said with a smile; Ralph let out a light chuckle
“Good for them; keeps them out of trouble eh?” Ralph chimes with a warm smile
Back along the beach; the air buzzed with the energy of a summers afternoon; families splashed in the shallows, children built sandcastles and teens flirted awkwardly beneath colourful umbrellas; Tyler and Dylan – they were amongst them, though, they had tried to keep a safe distance as they played with a football they decided to purchase, they had fallen into the own little world of friendly competition.
Despite his usual fierce competitive nature; Tyler was deliberately holding back, allowing Dylan to score goals in their makeshift goal-posts – he wanted to build Dylan’s confidence, and with how close they had bonded, he wasn’t going to be disappointing the young lad “Come on Dylan” he said, feigning effort as he chased after their ball, “You aren’t going to let me win that easily are ya?”
Dylan grinned; his eyes sparkling with determination as he chased after Tyler, eventually managing to tackle the ball away, and turning it back around towards their make-shift goal posts; kicking it hard to get another goal “Goal!” he yelled triumphantly, jumping up and down
Nearby; Raven and Yasmin had once again begun strolling along the beach; their hands intertwined as usual; Yasmin, noticing Tyler and Dylan by the sounds of their voices gently nudged Raven “Hey…, look; isn’t that Tyler and Dylan over there?” she said softly
Raven followed Yasmin’s gaze; spotting the two and nodding as they watched them laughing and play football “Yeah; that’s them” she answered; her voice equally as soft
“Let’s sit and watch” Yasmin suggested, smiling as she gently guiding Raven onto the beach; the two sitting down to watch the two lads; Raven, now comfortable, leaned against Yasmin; her head resting comfortably against Yasmin’s shoulder – Yasmin wrapped her arm around her shoulder, they simply settled into the sandy floor, they still maintained a safe distance, to avoid getting caught by a rogue ball flying at them, but they watched Tyler and Dylan play football, occasionally though Raven’s eyes shifted though feeling the feet against her feet as she gently pushed her feet forwards to push the sand about
Yasmin simply smiled at Raven “I love you” Yasmin whispered, drawing Raven’s attention towards her “I mean it”
Raven found herself locking eyes with Yasmin again; twisting a little, she raised her hand to Yasmin’s face, gently tracing her fingers against her cheek before leaning in and kissing her; it was a slow, long kiss – conveying Raven’s feelings; Yasmin felt the softness of her lips, the warmth of her mouth as they kiss deepened their bond; slowly, they pulled back before resting their forehead together, Raven’s eyes gently closing as she simply enjoyed Yasmin’s arms around her
Chapter 10:
At the Hotel; at the bar near the pool – Philip had noticed Barbara and Ralph’s arrival, he remained where he was, becoming distracted when he noticed he had messages on his phone; his eyebrow, now raised as he began reading, Tom’s updates revealed their progress, but, that they’d reached a dead end with no means of progressing further.
Leaning against the bar, Philip thought for a moment “I best get back there” he said to himself, an excitement building, the idea they may have finally found what they needed “I need to tell our Benefactor though….” He thought “No, I will wait a bit longer…”
Quickly he turned, walking off; the decision didn’t go unnoticed, Eliza had been watching; she shook her head as she watched as her father disappeared
3rd of January, 1942 A.D.
The Dutch East Indies
The air of the Dutch East Indies; usually hung thick and heavy, like some kind of suffocating blanket of humid air; but here, at this forgotten corner of an old rubber plantation, a different chill had settled; one that clawed at the bones and whispered of ancient beings and secrets; Stanley, a man who burned with a fanatic devotion stood panting, flecks of sweat mingling with blood already soaking his clothing, it had been a fierce fight, but, he had landed a devasting blow against his first opponent, George; who was now sprawled on the muddy ground, disarmed, unconscious a testament to Stanley’s renewed strength and brutal efficiency – like George, Stanley was a British soldier, but, first and foremost, he had pledged loyalty to something else entirely, something beyond the barriers of national borders – ‘The Imperium’
Since childhood, Stanley had been raised within the British Cultist movement; the Cult of the Minotaur, a once powerful Cultist Group that, under George Smythe had even controlled the Imperium itself, though since an event in the December of 1911 saw the collapse of that influence.
Stanley though at that time was merely a child; it wouldn’t be until 1941 that he would be the first in the Imperium to not only find the Ancient Prison, which had been close to discovery 30-Years earlier in 1911; but, he also freed the Ancient Celestial being sealed within; the ‘Dark Master’ of the Imperium.
Now, only a few months following that act; Stanley had received substantial rewards for his loyalty – the Imperium, while never fully recognising Stanley’s act, no longer seemed to hold the power; the ‘Dark Master’ was back amongst the Mortal World; and Stanley had become his direct enforcer, the Imperium’s Council no longer held all the power, and Stanley didn’t even need to be on their Council – he acted as the ‘Masters’ voice.
Across from Stanley; was his second opponent, the sister; Victoria, she was laying on the ground, her hands clutching at her stomach, her long, dark hair, usually neat and practical was plastered all across her face, stuck by the sweat and dirt; Stanley had just delivered a devastating ‘Push-Kick’ against her stomach – it had knocked the air from her lungs, stolen her breath and left her in searing pain within its wake.
Stanley finally moved; approaching her, her eyes slowly opened, and like her brother; shared the same Silvery-Grey of their mother, she watched Stanley’s fluid, predatory movements as he came towards her.
Stanley towered over her; he was like a grotesque parody of a saviour; pausing, he glanced towards George’s unconscious frame, dismissing him with a contemptuous snort his attention now shifting back to Victoria as he kneeled down beside her, a cruel smile twisting his lips, he reached out; his fingers wrapped around her throat.
Her eyes widened in panic, she clawed at his hand, the pressure tightening, cutting off her air, her vision blurred as the humid air felt even more oppressive; in desperation, she swung a wildly; her fist flying to whatever she thought would get him off.
Stanley’s left hand shot out; intercepting her wrist with surprising ease; his grip tightened until she felt the bones grinding; his other hand still constricting her throat, he leaned down close towards her; he could have done anything he wanted, when he spoke, his voice was low, like a chilling whisper “You’re beautiful Victoria” he rasped, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity that simply scared a usually unshakable young woman “Just like your mother”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of defiance momentarily eclipsing her fear; but suddenly, Stanley let go of her throat – Victorias gasped, sucking in ragged breaths, but, before she could recover; a fist slammed into the side of her head, the world seemed to explode in a blinding white, he struck again as she went limp, her raised wrist, held in Stanley’s grip fell once he released, slapping limply against the muddy floor – Victoria teetered on the edge of consciousness.
Stanley straightened, a strange expression on his face; the heavy, tropical air had vanished, replaced by a biting, unnatural cold that felt like sharp knives against the skin; the tree’s seemed to shiver, the ground suddenly felt like frozen earth; a figure, cloaked in shadow emerged from the jungle ‘The Master’ had finally caught up from his deliberately slow pace – he could have easily moved faster, intervened and had dealt with the siblings far faster, but, Stanley’s instance on fighting them simply allowed the ‘Master’ to be more leisurely in his movement.
His gaze slowly swept over the scene; his voice, when it finally came was unnatural, like cracking glacial ice, each word laced with an unbearable weight “We have wasted enough time; it is time to continue on, take me to your supposed ‘Grand Leader’ of this Imperium”
Stanley bowed his head, gesturing; the fanaticism had been tempered by his masters overwhelming presence; he momentarily glanced to Victoria as she struggled to move, her eyes still glazed with disorientation; a slow, predatory grin curved his lips – he looked to his master “Of course” the two began moving, disappearing onwards, resuming their travel; they needed to reach the next settlement where transport could be arranged to finally travel to America; they had every intention to travel to the ‘City of Angels’
5th of August, 2014 A.D.
Tossa de Mar, Spain
By the late evening, things with the Wright’s had finally settled once again, Philip’s absence becoming a welcome relief, and now, with the addition of Barbara and Ralph; discussions were now going on between Jenna and her parents; Dylan by this point had already gone to sleep, while Raven and Yasmin; they decided to cuddle together on the couch in the living room of the hotel to watch a movie together.
On the floor below; in Eliza and Tyler’s hotel room; Eliza found him sat on the couch, he was clearly lost in thought; slowly, she decided to approach, placing her hands first against his shoulders drawing his attention before she eased herself onto his lap; easily getting comfortable as his arms moved around her waist as she looked at him “Is something bothering you?” she asked, her voice soft
He smiled at her “No; nothing is wrong, just thinking about how bad your dad is with that hostility, I just find it…., uncalled for, how deliberately he is with trying to hurt Raven”
There was a moment of silence; he shifted his left hand upwards, gently stroking Eliza’s face as he looked into her eyes “If ever I became a dad; I would never treat my child like that”
Eliza simply smiled at him; tilting her head against his hand – her eyes partially closing, slowly, she eased herself forwards leaning her head towards his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him; after a moment, she whispered “You would make a great dad I think” it caused Tyler to smile as the two of them remained in each other’s embrace.
Chapter 11:
The 6th of August, 2014 A.D
South of the Pyrenees, Spain
The morning sun, usually a welcome ray of brightness, felt more like a harsh spotlight that morning, it exposed the brittle seams of the Wright Family amongst forced camaraderie; Philip had managed to coerce Jenna into an agreement, he had provided various arguments, gaslighting and even feigned an apologetic-approach to get her to accept, not just the trip, but to keep their marriage going, Jenna found herself questioning if she was the one causing the problem due to some of the excuses Philip provided her.
As the SUV rolled along the country road, Philip barely paid Jenna any mind, even as she sat silently arguing with herself internally, one side of her mind blaming her for how things where going, while the other trying to point out the flaws in Philip’s arguments; she felt fractured, close to tears as she turned her head, looking out of the window.
“Almost there!” Philip announced with a cheerful tone, oblivious to the disinterest from his family, he made a quick glance to check that the second SUV driven by Tyler was still following, grinning before looking ahead yet again
In the back; Raven sat with a somewhat rigid posture, her head resting against Yasmin’s shoulder, her gaze scanning the passing landscape with a cautious curiosity – Yasmin, she kept her arm around Raven; her attention fixed forwards, watching the direction of where they were going, Dylan meanwhile, he had decided to engage in a pursuit to wind his sister up, poking her ribs causing her discomfort in some attempt to get her to engage.
“If you don’t stop Pipsqueak; I’m telling mum” Raven muttered; her eyes narrowing playfully, though there was a genuine weariness that underscored her voice
“Oh…, I am so scared Raven” Dylan chirped, though Yasmin’s shift and stern gaze caused him to quickly retreat
When the two vehicles finally came to a stop at the excavation site; it was a forested area along the rolling hills a short distance from the French border; one feature dominated the scene; an obsidian structure that was partially hidden beneath the surface of the earth with a large stairway leading to its entrance, various, powerful lights providing visibility inside.
As the family approached, Philip gestured his arms widely “This is it!” he declared “This will make me famous, like I pointed out, this has meaning, and goes way beyond a hobby” he gestured grandly towards the structure “Remarkable isn’t it, never seen a structure like this before, far older than anything Roman made.., we’re still trying to date it, but the sheer size of this…”
Tom quickly approached to pull Philip aside; Raven though; she felt a strange, inexplicable pull towards the exposed dark, glassy edifice, it wasn’t merely curiosity, it was something deeper, it resonated like a deep ache within her bones, a whisper at the periphery of her hearing urged her forwards, walking away from the group and approaching the structure, drawn by something invisible, her eyes becoming transfixed on something unseen; as she drew closer, the whispers grew clearer.
‘She Returns….’
‘….Remember the past….’
‘The Darkness grows; chaos and death approach’
The world around her began to blur, the sounds of people’s chatter fading into a distant drone; to her, the structure seemed to pulse, not just visually, but experientially, as if she could feel its heart beating against her own; a trance-like state settled over her, her pupils dilating, her breathing coming in shallow, quick gasps, slowly, she reached her hand out, fingers trembling as she reached towards the sleek, cold surface as if being compelled.
“Raven!” a voice called out suddenly
“Hey…Raven” Yasmin’s voice became sharper, filled with concern, cutting through the ethereal haze Raven was under as Yasmin quickly moved, tugging gently but firmly onto Raven’s arm – Yasmin had noticed Raven’s vacant stare and the way her body had been leaning as if pulled by invisible string
The touch was like a shock that yanked Raven back to the present reality as she blinked; her head shaking slightly as the whispers abruptly stopped, her hand, which had been inches from touching the structure dropped back down to her side.
“What’s wrong Raven” Yasmin moved in front of Raven, cupping her face gently into her hands “You looked like you was sleepwalking there” her brow furrowed with worry as she locked her gaze with Raven’s
Raven stared at her, still regaining her bearings; the confusion clouding her eyes “I…I don’t know” she stammered; then, in a hushed voice tinged with fear she hadn’t known a second ago, she added “I was hearing voices”
Yasmin’s concern deepened, her head turning as her gaze scanned the structure, then looked back to Raven paled expression “Voices…, what kind of voices?”
Raven shivered “I…, I don’t know; I can’t explain it, but they were calling to me, or, that is what it seemed like they were doing”
Yasmin drew Raven closer before gently moving her from the structure and towards Eliza and Tyler; whatever Raven had experienced, it was enough of a reason that Yasmin felt it was best for them to leave, luckily, they wouldn’t be the only one; Tyler would volunteer to drive the family back, Philip despite all his effort barely even registered their decision to leave.
Girona, Spain
Along the outskirts of Girona, the monstrous silhouette could be glimpsed at within the darkness, the outline of the large figure slowly moving back and forth, the red eyes glowing, the only true visual identifier of the ‘Dark Master’.
Typically a primal dread would follow much like the icy-coldness; but, this time it felt different, the primal dread was still present, but it was not as powerful a sensation as it usually was; Stanley had come to suspect that it was a result of an increasing curiosity.
As Stanley stood by observing the moving red dots; the heavy hoof-like stomps echoing out within the silence of the warehouse, then, the eyes fixed upon Stanley as the figure came to a halt “I can confirm that Garcia is Mister Wright’s Benefactor” Stanley told him, his voice calm, measured as he fixed his gaze upon the red orbs staring down at him
Chapter 12:
“What is Garcia searching for?” came a deep, inhuman voice, a sound that elicited a sudden rise in that primal fear that so often followed, it had begun to strengthen; those working nearby felt the shift in the air, particularly when their master spoke
“That I am unsure” Stanley answered; he was irritated at the lack of an answer as he observed the master carefully “But, it serves the Imperium, and by that extension; You, which, for now, I would consider enough of an answer without further proof of potential independent interest, perhaps, you could acquire information from the Wright Matriarch”
The red eyes seemed to narrow for a brief moment “I have no intention of using her for that kind of information gathering; besides, she is no follower, she maybe pliable, but until I can get a true understanding of what her daughter is…, I do not know the permanence of what I intend, never before have I encountered something that I struggle to see” a supressed fury could be felt within the tone of his voice when speaking “She is mortal, but, she is not weak; Pliable, Yes, but only due to her emotional fragility, she maybe stronger mentally if she was not close to an emotional collapse, such is usual amongst your kind; why Elpis held such love for you I shall never understand, you should have been eradicated”
Stanley thought for a moment before simply nodding his head “What do you intend to ensure her compliance?”
“I shall seize what pains her most” he answered simply “She will come to me, seek my comfort; I shall provide it, as for you though Stanley; investigate further into what Garcia is up too”
Stanley bowed his head “As you command”
Jenna’s Hotel Room
Later into the evening, a quiet peacefulness has been established since the families return, though, Philip’s return soon shattered it, with his questions on Jenna getting started on cooking, questioning what they should plan for the evening, though tension was soon sparked once Philip targeted Raven and Yasmin yet again.
This time it wasn’t simply a brief, behind closed-doors moment, they were all present; Barbara and Ralph sat on the couch with Dylan, Barbara’s face a mask of concern, while Ralph maintained an unreadable expression; Eliza and Tyler sat together in an armchair; Eliza sat in Tyler’s lap, his arms around her waist, not purely for comfort; but to keep her from confronting her father, her expression a protective scowl as she stared towards Philip.
Meanwhile; Raven was huddled with Yasmin; Yasmin’s hand gently stroking Raven’s back as she tried to prevent Raven from reacting, escalating the situation.
Jenna gripped her hands tightly; clenched into tight fists, knuckles turning what “They’re happy!” she snapped; her voice a higher pitch than usual “Why can you not just accept that?”
Philip back on the defensive puffed himself up “I’m just saying Jenna; it isn’t exactly…, traditional…, is it; and in front of her grandparents, it’s just a bit much” he gestured vaguely towards Raven and Yasmin whom stiffened
Tyler felt Eliza’s body attempting to raise up, taking a deep breath, he let his hands slip, purposely grabbing for her hands instead as she finally shot up; he’d at least keep a hold of her hands to prevent her going in for a punch “It was a quick kiss; and it wasn’t even in front of any of us; you caught them as they came from their room; it isn’t a bit much at all!, its just a couple being affectionate to one another, it is completely normal you antiquated muppet!”
“Eliza; Language!” Barbara interjected, though her gaze remained firmly on Philip
“No Mum; Eliza is right” Jenna twisted around, her voice shaking, it was the same argument over-and-over; it was becoming too much “I can’t take this anymore!” she snapped, turning back to Philip “Get out…, just…, just get out of my sight!” she pointed a trembling finger towards the door “Go!; I don’t care where you go, just go bac to your job, I will look after this family, like I have always done”
Philip was taken aback by the outburst, momentarily their was a flicker of hesitation before he decided to leave; slamming the door on his way out – Jenna, with tears stinging her eyes retreated to the bedroom; an attempt to seek sanctuary and try to compose herself.
Barbara, her heart aching, exchanged a look with Ralph before she got to her feet and followed, intent to offer what comfort she could.
In the bedroom, Jenna sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers pressed against her temples as she struggled to stem the tide of tears that began to fall; tried to force down anger that had begun to boil, a despair that had begun to take root in her stomach – she was at a breaking point, he wouldn’t simply let their daughter be herself.
As she struggled to compose herself though, something subtle had shifted – an insistent whisper began to surface; ‘Riaz’
Riaz had promised an ear for her to seek, someone prepared to listen to her, despite her fear of him, that allure she had felt had begun resurfacing , she wanted to go and find him, to seek his comfort – despite her family being right outside that bedroom door, it was Riaz she was determined to seek out instead – it was simply a powerful urge, overwhelming – it wasn’t a choice, it was a compulsion, a subconscious tug.
As Jenna stood up, to collect things; Barbara entered the room; her movements soft, face etched with concern “Jenna, sweetheart; are you alright?” she reached her hand out to Jenna’s shoulder
Strangely, Jena flinched, not from malice, not from being surprised; but due to the sheer intensity of her compulsion – she was usually open to her mother, but now, it felt clouded, her true intentions guarded by an unseen barrier “I…I just need some solitude mum” she answered quickly, her voice surprisingly steady despite what had just happened, and how emotional she had just been – though, even to her ears, it felt like a lie; a deflection, but she couldn’t articulate why she wasn’t revealing more “I need to clear my head; could you keep an eye on Dylan for me until I come back?, just for a little while”
Barbara watched Jenna with a confused expression, she could see something wasn’t right, how Jenna had become evasive, but she also saw the pain in her daughter’s eyes, a desperate need to escape “Of course darling” she said, her voice gentle “Go on, go have a walk, just don’t be too long”
Chapter 13:
It would be an hour later that Jenna would find herself navigating what felt like a maze of hallways, each movement was deliberate but involuntary; a mental fog had enveloped her and show no sign of lifting, in fact, the yearning for Riaz’s presence had only intensified with each beat of her heart, she had instinctively taken extra care of her appearance, dressing with an elegant dress that Philip had insisted she bring for special outings, applied a light makeup, and brushed her hair – it was a subconscious effort she had no control over, an attempt to be worthy of someone that had shown interest in being a safe space for her.
Locating the hotel’s event, she had found herself walking into a secluded lounge, a more intimate scene bathed in a soft, inviting light, she failed to even register the icy coldness, even as she shivered; her eyes canned around, then, they found him – Riaz.
He stood by a large window, overlooking the hotel courtyard, sensing her arrival, he turned to greet her; his eyes immediately locking onto Silvery-Grey eyes, and once again, she was completely ensnared by him, a predatory grin curving his lips as she approached “Jenna” he murmured, his voice a rich, velvety baritone that seemed to caress her name – he could see the effort she had put into her appearance which only widened his predatory grin, a silent acknowledgement of her subconscious obedience
As she finally stood in front of him; the difference in height was telling – his hand extended towards her, not to shake, but to gently cup her cheek, his thumb stroking her lips; an intimate gesture that sent a shiver down Jenna’s spine – it was both unwelcome, yet alluring, though, she also felt that strange texture of bone against her face that she couldn’t respond too, she simply stood in front of him, her head gently leaning back to gaze up to his eyes “My dear” he began “I have a feeling you would come; tell me, how are you, you look…, troubled”
The questions, the touch, the intense gaze – it was too much as her composure shattered “Philip” she whispered; the name tasting bitter to her tongue, an unusual shift “We’ve…, had another fight; same argument again; I.., I just don’t know what to do anymore; I am tired…, I can’t take it”
Riaz felt a subtle chuckle bubbling, supressing it, he deliberately softened his expression, morphing into one of empathy, though, for someone paying attention, it would very obviously be a false-empathy; a calculating gleam present in his eyes as he drew her closer, his hand moving from her face to her arm, then subtly, possessively, to her waist “Oh my dear” he crooned, his voice dropping to an even more alluring, seductive tone “You have carried such burdens haven’t you; such endless, mundane cruelties” he began to lull her – his words a silken threat, weaving a false safety-net around her, his natural hypnotic effect, amplified by her raw emotional vulnerability, began to take full hold
“You’re here now” he continued; his gaze unwavering, penetrating the deepest, most desperate parts of her soul “Your safe; rest with me, let me soothe those troubled waters within you” his touch became more confident, more intimate as he leaned inwards, his lips brushing against the delicate skin of her ear, his breath cool against her skin “You deserve peace Jenna; you deserve…bliss”
Any lingering fears she might have felt, any faint words of warning from her subconscious, they became utterly lost; drowned out by the intoxicating melody of Riaz’s voice, she found herself unable to resist him; her eyes fluttered closed as she simply leaned into his embrace, succumbing to his advances completely as she simply let him guide her – her mind had become a blank canvas.
Written By: Westley H.
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