Wounded

“What will we do now? What if she dies?” Josh whispered as he helped Matt carry Usha on the motel bed.

Apparently Irene hasn’t been accurate in reporting the number, and weapons, the demons had. Irene said their leader, was one of the responsible of the kidnap and could give them a lead to who their father was sent to after he was kidnapped.

Josh was certain they knew of their arrival; they were too prepared, not only for them but also for Usha. She didn’t expect them to use holy weapons, weapons dipped in holy water. And the only reason they could have use such weapons was to defend themselves against a stronger demon, Usha.

“I’m not going to die you pathetic Idiots.” Usha said grinding her teeth a hand on her wound.

“Come and help us!” Josh shouted to Marie who was sitting calmly on a chair. She didn’t response and Josh didn’t have time to deal with her. At least for now.

Usha was shaking. Apparently there was something that could hurt even the strongest demon. It was good to know. Usha would never have told them such a thing.

He checked her wound. It was pretty deep and didn’t stop bleeding.

“What do we do now?” Matt asked. Josh thought about letting her die. She was one of them after all, one of those who kidnapped their father. And for some reason he felt she was responsible somehow. But looking at her, defenseless, human, made him realize he was not like them. He wasn’t an assassin. He sure would kill to find his father. But not like this. He wouldn’t murder a defensless…creature, human or not.

He couldn’t kill her.

“We stop the blood.” Josh said taking a towel from the bathroom and pressing it on the wound. He ordered Matt to get some water and one of Usha’s vodka bottles.

Usha started laughing.

“At least you find it funny.” Josh said wiping his forehead.

“I never thought you would be the one to save me!” She said coughing.

Josh didn’t reply. Matt was back, he gave Josh the bottle and put the bowl of water next to him.

Josh took a deep breath and opened the bottle.

“This is going to hurt.”

“It is already hurting,” Usha snapped.

Josh raised an eyebrow. “I warned you”

He poured the bottle on the wound. Usha started moving hysterically. Josh screamed to Matt to keep her down. She started screaming and tried to push Matt away who grabbed her legs while Josh pressed her shoulders on the bed and tried to keep her still.

Then she stopped. For a second Josh thought she was dead. Matt looked at his brother slowing releasing her legs.

Josh check her chest.

She was alive.

“Now get me something to sew the wound.” He said sighing exhausted as he started cleaning the wound.

Father

The sky darkened, the horizon filled with dark clouds, thunders could be heard in the distance.

He was coming. Usha knew it. He always liked spectacular entrances. It was in his egocentric nature.

When he materialized in front of her, in his white suit as always mocking his colleagues up there, Usha did not move. She clenched her fists and took a deep breath.

Not matter his seemingly kind looks, Usha was scared of him. She feared him for what he did and for what he could do.

“Hello my lovely daughter!” He said with a smile arms opened. Usha remained in her place, silent.

“Is this how you salute your father? Who thought with your humanity you would lose politeness!” He knew this hurt her. Humanity. What he did to take it away from her. He probably expected her to get angry, maybe attack him. But Usha continued to take deep breaths and to remain calm. Her nails piercing her skin.

“Where is he?” she asked annoyed. She didn’t want to talk to him. Taking to him, or any demon, is giving them access to your mind. You never lead when talking to demon. You think you are, but they are always one step a head of you. She knows it, she is one of them.

“Who?” he asked pretending not to understand.

“Adam.”

“Oh…him. Why should I know?”

“You kidnapped him.”

“I did? Oh yes I did, now I remember.”

He suddenly turned serious. “Come back and I’ll free him. Be daddy’s good girl.”

“You know this will never happen,” Usha snapped.

“Then you better hurry.” He said fixing his blazer, “I’m getting bored and you know what happens when I get bored.”

 

Catherine

In her bedroom, sitting on the bed was her sister.

“Catherine?” Audrey remained by the door, a part of her terrified.

“Don’t trust him.” Catherine said. It was her voice. It was her.

“What? Who?” She asked trying to remember what her sister just told her.

“Don’t trust him.” She repeated.

“Audrey is everything ok?” Audrey frowned. Who is this? Yes Patrick. She thought turning towards the stairs.

“Yes, yes…” she trailed off still confused. She turned to look back in her room, but Catherine was gone.

Someone touched Audrey’s shoulder.

“Audrey” She startled.

“Are you ok?” Patrick turned her towards him and she simply nodded breathing out her heart racing.

“You have to go.” She said looking once more in her room.

“Are you sure? After what happened today I can stay.”

“No” She closed her room, slightly trembling, “I’m fine, I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”

She walked him to the front door and without letting him say bye, locked the door behind her.

Arecah

Usha pushed a man on the wall and kissed him, tasting her snack. A perfect energy boost to start the day she thought as she took his hand and pulled him into an alley.

Suddenly a man appeared standing in the alley, his figure in shadow. Usha hasn’t sensed his arrival and there were only few she couldn’t sense.

“Leave human.” The figure ordered. Usha didn’t let go of the man’s hand; she wouldn’t let her prey go that easily. The man stepped forward and revealed himself, making Usha’s heart stop.

Only few had this effect on her. Only one had this effect on her. She let go of the man’s hand.

“Arecah” she whispered.

“I said leave” he repeated to the man, this time more strongly. The man stepped back, then ran away.

Usha clenched her fists as Arecah got nearer, few inches before her.

“That was my brunch.” Of the million thoughts she had, this was what came out of her mouth. She wanted to kill him. Rip out his heart, but before she wanted to know why. She has waited for him for many years. But now that he was here, she couldn’t ask him.

“You have to stop.” He ordered. She smiled.

“Stop what my dear … archangel I believe?”

“You are killing innocents, you have to go back.” he said ignoring her provocative comment.

“You think you can come, after what happened, after all these years and give me orders?”

Arecah remained silent.

As expected Usha thought hoping to get some explanation from him.

“Tell your employers up there, I’m not coming anywhere until I find Adam.”

“Why are you interested in the human?”

“Because he succeeded where you failed.”

 

Amnesia

“It is time to go.” Said her brother.

“Why? I want to stay with you!”

“No, three months are more than enough. I don’t want you. I want my privacy now.”

“But-” Vicky couldn’t finish the sentence; her brother pushed her and she fell.

And before hitting the ground, she woke up.

The room was in darkness. Something felt wrong with her body; every movement was a fatigue. With a hand on the wall she slowly went over to the big dark curtains.

She opened the curtains and found everything covered in snow; the small houses in the distance, the trees.

Where am I?

The room was suddenly filled with light. She turned around and saw a man standing by the door.

“You’re awake.” he said, ran to her and hugged her.

“Who are you?” Vicky asked pushing the man away. “Where am I?”

The man frowned.

“You’re home.” he said “I’m your husband.”

Marie

Neither Josh nor Matt remember exactly when Marie entered their lives.They never knew her parents, her hometown or even visited her house. When they were kids, they would often meet under an apple tree. They didn’t need to call her, she would always be there.

Josh remembers when their father first introduced her. Matt was too small to remember. But Josh remembers clearly when their father introduced Marie. He didn’t say she was his patient, but Josh knew she was. He saw them talking in his study, taking notes as he usually did. Marie didn’t look like a normal patient. He remembers her wearing a dress, her blond hair loose on her shoulders. She sat straight, hands on the knees eyes fixed on his father. If it wasn’t for her small figure, he would have sworn she was an adult.

After the session, his father simply said she was new to the neighborhood and that they needed to be nice and friendly.

Marie became very important when their father disappeared. Just like now. She remained next to them, helping them, always reassuring that their father will be back. Her conviction made their waiting easier, and when he did come back, it was as if he had returned from a journey and they were expecting his return.

Then she was gone. She disappeared, just as their father, without leaving a note. They waited under the apple tree for days, until their father told them she moved out with her parents, that they could write to her and he would make sure she received the letters. They did, Matt in particular kept in touch with her. And when their father disappeared again, Matt called her and the next day she was there. But this time she didn’t reassure them he will be back.

Instead she promised to do anything to help them find him. Anything to make him come back.

Irene Part 2

As Irene had confirmed Adam was hid well. Very well. And it would be a suicide to go alone, even for Usha.

They needed more alliances.

This is why she decided to let Irene live and help them, instead of killing her. After interrogating her it became clear that they needed help, even an army if possible if they wanted to find Adam alive.

Three humans were not enough. She doubted they would arrive at the end of the day alive, how could they fight demons much stronger than what they are used to?

Back then, after the interrogation she decided to confront Irene. Irene was still tied to the chair bleeding.

“I told you all I know” she had said. “Just kill me, he will kill me anyway.”

But Usha had no intentions of killing her. She knelt in front of Irene.

“I’m going to free Adam Irene,” she had told her, “And I wouldn’t mind you on my side.”

Irene remained silent, then started laughing.

“As I see it you have two options; either you die by his hand or live by mine.”

It was then that Irene started to seriously consider her position.

“Well, get it done” Irene had agreed, “I’ll need blood.”

And with that Usha pierced her chest and engraved her initials on her heart, making Irene, hers.

Girls Jealousy

Matt sighed “Nothing” he said resigned.

As usual whenever there were mysterious murders, Matt, Josh and Marie would go where the murders occur and do some research hoping to find a lead about their father.

Researching about what supernatural being might have killed the victims was the most difficult part though. Considering all they could use was usually libraries and internet, Matt, who usually did this research, would find many contradictions that led to nothing concrete.

This usually meant to wait for Usha, who knew everything about these supernatural beings. But no one knew when she would be back, or what she did. Josh didn’t care, He didn’t like her or trust her. He preferred when she was gone.

Matt on the other hand, was much more realistic. Usha was useful, strong and resourceful. For all he knew she was the best enemy they could have on their side. He felt she had an unknown interest in finding their father and since their father was a normal man, he could imagine someone risking his life for a normal man. So whatever reason she had, it will help them find their father alive.

This was enough for Matt.

“We’ll just patrol tonight and see what we can find and wait for Usha.” He said lying on the bed and opening the TV.

Marie came on holding fast food bags.

“Just in time.” Josh said taking a bag from Marie and going back on bed to follow the TV program.

“Any news?” She asked sitting in front of Matt and giving him his fries.

“Nothing, only contradictions,”

“I see” Marie said taking the plastic fork and eating her salad.

Josh laughed, he’s probably watching that comedy show, Matt thought.

“Maybe Usha will tell us more.” He said trying to reassure Marie.

“You shouldn’t relay on her that much.” Marie suddenly said.

Matt frowned.

“Why? She’s been very helpful.” Matt knew Marie didn’t like Usha. But she never mentioned anything about it before.

Marie put down the fork and looked at Matt.

“But she is also an enemy. She is one of them.” She paused, “and them must not be trusted.”

Matt remained silent. Marie wasn’t that blunt or direct. She usually proposed keeping a low profile, and agreed to anything Matt and Josh decided. He knew she didn’t like Usha, but she never explained why. And he always thought it was some girl jealousy.

“But it’s true, she has been helpful.” Marie suddenly said, obviously noticing his silence. She went back to her salad and never opened the subject again.

For the first time Matt considered there might be more than just “girls” jealousy.

 

Usha and Irene

“They don’t trust you.” Irene said drinking her martini. She liked how and where Usha organized their “secret meetings.” Josh and the others didn’t know anything about Usha, and for some reason, this is what Usha wanted. This is why they would meet later and talk more in details.

Usha usually chose high-class places, like five stars hotels or restaurants. Not motels and dark smelly alleys. She couldn’t expect less from her after all.

“I know” she said asking the barman for a refill of her cocktail.

Irene sighed, “You know,” she said, “I don’t understand why you are doing all this. You are strong. Powerful. You could doanything.”

Usha smiled, “You’re right.”

“Then why? Why care for that human. You can back, he’ll understand.”

“I’m also human”

“Not anymore. You are one of us now.You are not weak or emotional like them anymore.

Usha paused.

“Tha man showed me the beauty of being weak.” she almost whispered. But Irene heard her clearly and frowned. She didn’t understand what that meant. And even if she explained, she will never understand it. She was always ordered around by someone stronger than her, being weak meant to succumb and there was nothing beautiful in that.

“May we offer you a drink?” Two men, apparently businessmen, stood next to her.  Irene looked at Usha, knowing that she would probably send them away now that they were on the human team.

“We are actually hungry.” She said instead delicately licking her upper lip and turning toward the men.

“Even better!” one of the men said.

Irene wasn’t sure what she heard really happened.

Usha looked at her and smiled.

“I have to eat after all, whoever I am.”

Irene smiled and accepted the arm of the other man.

Maybe teaming up with Usha, despite working with humans, wasn’t a disaster. Afterall she was with the strongest boss she had ever had.

And maybe there was hope for Usha too.

Answers

Irene was back.

“I have good news.” She announced taking an apple from the table sitting on the sofa.

Josh eyed her. He didn’t quite trust her but, as with Usha he didn’t have other options. Despite still having troubles accepting Usha, he needed her to find her father, as she was the only one who knew why and where he is. But Irene was once against them, before Usha marked her heart, and went under Usha’s command. Irene knew who was against them, who took their father and why. She had all the answers, and even if he didn’t like her, he needed her just as he needed Usha.

Especially because Usha was too secretive, too evading and smart to ever let any kind of information slip from her tongue. Irene on the other hand, was much more talkative and maybe more willing to talk under the right circumstances.

“What news?” Usha came into the room, followed by Marie and Matt.

“He is alive.” she said eating the apple.

“And?” Matt asked waiting for more.

“I’m sorry, did I say he is still alive?” she paused, “Yes I actually did.”

“And that’s it?” Matt insisted.

“Yes” Irene said annoyed, “considering who took him any why, this is excellent news.”

Josh raised an eyebrow. His thoughts were confirmed; she knew everything. Usha stepped forward. Irene looked up and noticed her serious look and stopped talking, finished the apple and vanished.

“I’ll see you later.” Usha said and before anyone could answer, she vanished as well.

“I feel we are not doing any progress here.” Matt sighed.

“No we are,” Josh said, “we have all the answers, we just need someone to say them.”