Young Adult

I was aggravated. No, this is not right. It's not him. But when his smile reached his eyes in amusement, my heart began to melt and I could not deny him. He pulled me close and began to sing my song. Tears came to my eyes as the words penetrated my soul.

"Why are you crying, my love?" he asked in that familiar voice.

"I don't even know your name," I managed to say as I buried my head in his chest.

Holding my chin with his hand so that I couldn't look away, he turned the full force of his eyes on me. "You cannot hide from me, my love. I will always see you."

You know that place between dreaming and being awake? That place where you can feel your body, but you can still feel your dream? I was there for a long time. I dreamt of Sarah at first. She was warm and I kept hugging her while she laughed. I knew it was a dream though. I dreamt of abuela and she was crying. I couldn't talk in this dream world so I just placed my hand on her shoulder. I cringed when I saw that it was covered in blood. When I looked down at my clothes, I saw that they were covered in blood, too. Bad dream. Wake up, wake up. I couldn't wake up, though, so I sat with her while she cried. Her tears were blood and they pooled at our feet, surrounding us. I moved my feet closer to where we sat, but the blood was coming too fast from her tears and it got on my toes. I screamed.

"Despertarse a mi niña. Wake up."

The dream world fell away and reality crept into my conscious mind. I opened my eyes to blackness. I was lying flat and my head was on a pillow or something soft. I tried to move my arms and succeeded in wiggling my fingers, but that was it. When I tried to move my legs, they wouldn't budge. In fact, I couldn't feel them. I began to panic when I remembered the events that landed me in the precarious predicament. Carlos. How could he do this? Whatever it was he had done.

"What happened here? Are they what I think they are?"

"Probably." Daniel assisted her into a standing position. "Come on. Talk later. Move faster. They are still hungry." He urged Katarina to move as Stefan began to stir with a shake of his shaven head and blink of his bleary, bloodshot eyes.

"I can't go any faster," Katarina replied, out of breath, her mind still fuddled with the fog of Niko's tricks.

"Then hold on to me. Tightly."

Daniel had no idea how flight would affect Katarina as his passenger. He focused on the swirling, dense cloud cover that twisted at the edge of the midnight sky. His coat blurred, as if the fabric dissolved into separate particles and hovered around him like murky steam until it melted with the midnight clouds. This undulating miasma coiled and coated them in the spectral mist.

Stefan looked on with a perplexed expression not too different from his usual confused appearance.

* * * *

Wrapped in the hazy coverlet of vapour, Katarina gripped tight to Daniel. Her fingernails dug into the fabric of his coat as her heart dug into his. His thin, muscular arms wrapped around her like a lifebelt holding her safe. She nestled her hands into the cool crease of his elbows. She laid her face, against the firm slab of his chest. No warmth was available to comfort her, but without it she was still secure, even when her feet were no longer upon the ground. They whirled together in the blurred ribbons of fog, spiralled away on the mysterious zephyrs to the furthest edge of the park, away from danger. Giddy, light as a feather, but not nauseous, Katarina would have believed anything, even that time had stopped. Beneath them was the blackness of the whirling cloud. His gaze, vivid and sparkling, held her steady. It pierced her core. The reality of a nearby housing estate seemed to them to be part of a different world while they searched one another's souls in the spinning colours of their eyes.

Once more their feet touched ground. Under the safety of an ancient yew tree, Katarina looked at the pale face before her, a princely shade of white. "How did you do that? No, don't answer. Just, thank you for saving me." She glanced around to ensure Niko hadn't followed and turned back to him, too bashful to hold the gaze of his vivid irises.

"We are safe here," Daniel spoke with tenderness.

"How do you know?"

"I just know."

"Niko, is he…a vampire?"

"He wasn't always. But yes, he is now."

"What was he before?" She realised they were very close and had their hands upon one another's forearms.

"He was my cousin," Daniel answered.

"And you?" Katarina sighed, fearful of his reply. "What are you? You can't be a vampire, can you? I'm not afraid of you. But you feel cold." She released his arms.

"I'm a dhampir, a half vampire. I mean you no harm."

"I know that," she answered and lifted his hands. "Somehow."

Marko had led him unwittingly to the fox's corpse whose eyes were beginning to fog over with the first advances of death. Daniel pitied the dying animal whose mouth had frozen open in a cry of pain, but Marko's presence was taking away all of his compassion. Drained him of it ounce by ounce. Marko picked the creature up by the scruff of its neck and it dangled like a useless piece of meat in a butcher's window. Its glorious tail hung thick and full between twitching legs. Daniel marvelled at the myriad of colours in the pelt, orange and red with flecks of gold, its black tail as if dipped in ink. Delicate white cheeks painted his petite face.

Blood dripped from the bullet wound. Marko held the injury before Daniel's eyes. Blood dribbled down the coarse hairs, changed the colours of the pelt, running free and warm like rich ruby claret. Marko's canines slithered from their shields. His face creased into heavy bunches around his eyebrows. His cheeks emptied of any plumpness. Marko revealed his inner beast.

"Taste it," Marko demanded in demonic tones.

"No," Daniel replied, but could not avert his eyes from the droplets of blood.

"You have been a slave to humans for too long. It's time to rediscover your destiny. Become one of the family. Say yes to your true fate."

* * * *

For a long time, Daniel glared at the fox. Pity glowed in his eyes at first, but his countenance darkened. Katarina noticed dark shadows cover his brow which deepened in circles under his eyes. She had never witnessed his vampire side until this moment when a grotesque mask covered his beautiful features. Wrinkles furrowed his skin. His paleness tinged with grey. Animalistic teeth erupted past the lips she loved to kiss.

Katarina floated away. Hid behind a tree. Turned her face and wept. She wanted to disappear. Yet she knew, if she deserted him, he would be lost forever.

Daniel prowled closer to the fox. He sniffed around the body as saliva drooled in a string from his lips. Shaking, he lengthened a finger and reached for the seeping wound.

It's dark, and I hear the water lapping around me, pressing on my shoulders like liquid hands. It reminds me of a scene in a film, when the heroine is floating in the icy ocean, waiting for rescue.

Except that I'm not in the ocean, and it isn't icy, and I haven't just seen my boyfriend sink under the waves. As far as I know, Jase, who is the nearest thing I have to a boyfriend, is living his usual life of skateboards, I-pods, pizza and patches of poetry. And--well, come to think of it, my situation doesn't remind me of a film after all. It doesn't remind me of anything much, except the fact that I might be five seconds or a million years from home.

Or have I simply slipped through the cracks of reality?

Here I am, treading water in the dark. I can hear the splash of the Jindabek Foss above me. In a moment, I'll dive back through, and then I'll be home again. I hope. I hope.

Well, it's logical, right? Diving back will be like clicking "Undo" on the computer. Or maybe it's more like clicking "Back" on the Internet browser, since "Undo" makes the original action as if it had never happened. All "Back" does is to take you back to the page before.

The things that have happened to me since I dived through the Foss the first time don't mean much in the global scale of things. I mean, what's one gell… I mean, girl … more or less? The world doesn't depend on my courage, and if my theory is right, I won't even rate a mention in the local paper. If my theory is wrong, I'll rate far too many mentions, and everything will be horrible.

It must be right.

It has to be right.

As I just said, the things that have happened are not much in the scale of things, but they are more than much to me…

So, think, Corrie. Think about going home.

And kick-start your brain and get into some serious recall, remembering all the steps that led you here…

“What did the sorcerer do to you?” she inquired.

He squeezed her hand. “Every month at the full moon, I turn into a ferocious beast for a night. When I wake in the morning, I don’t remember a thing.”

Leslie swallowed nervously. She looked up and noticed the moon peek out from behind a fluffy white cloud. “Is it full tonight?”

Peter shrugged his shoulders and waited anxiously. “I hope not. I don’t want our evening spoiled.”

They sat on the bench and watched the moon move slowly into full view.

 “Please, no,” he murmured.

Leslie prayed silently to herself. She didn’t want a perfectly romantic evening ruined either.

When the moon was completely revealed, they both let out a cry of distress.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

His eyes enlarged and he clutched his chest. Peter fell to the ground in agony. “There is only one thing you can do,” he gasped.

“What’s that?” Leslie got up and slowly backed away.

 “Enter the Spirited Forest…that is where the Tridiamond is hiding. It’s a diamond-shaped object made of wood. The magical stones are missing…” The sweat trickled down his brow.

 “How do I find the stones?”

 Peter rolled around in agony. He clutched at his throat and made high-pitched sounds like a wolf. He managed to meet her gaze one last time. “There are three quests you must complete…” He panted. “If you can successfully finish the challenges, then a gemstone will appear in the Tridiamond. When you have possession of all three, you will be strong enough to take on the sorcerer. If you can defeat him…” He clawed viciously at the ground. He let out a loud howl and his body slowly turned into a hairy black beast.

 “What happens?” she cried.

His voice deepened. “The spell will be broken and I’ll return to normal.”

Leslie watched in shock as his hands transformed into sharp claws. “How am I supposed to win the challenges? I don’t have any fighting skills or magical powers!”

“She will help you.” Peter glanced up and revealed a set of pointed fangs. His eyes turned a hideous yellow and his body changed into a wild animal. A large bushy tail swished briskly back and forth.

“Who will help me?”

 “Run away!” he warned. “I’m not human anymore!” He let out a low growl.

I fell in love with Sarah Cruz on a Friday night. She had dirt on her face and her clothes were ripped, but she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. I didn't intend to. If you want to get right down to it, I didn't even choose to. It was earlier in the night when she sang that my heart opened to her with such a force that I could feel the layers of a perfectly crafted wall falling away. It wasn't the beautiful words she sang or the expert way she played the piano, it was her soul. Her soul that she bared so freely for everyone to see. I was so surprised by the emotions that I left, thinking I needed to clear my head but I couldn't go far. I waited for her and that's when I saw him. He was a vampire, of that I was certain. I could smell him. He was walking behind her and all I could think about was how empty my life would be without her, this person I had known for such a short time, this person who had become the focus of my every thought. It was in that moment that I knew, as long as my life perpetuated against this cold night, as long as I drew a breath, no harm would come to her.

Samej sat on an old wooden bench and absently stroked the head of his cat, Noissapmoc. He closed his eyes in the heat of the day and listened to the happy chatter from the birds in the trees. Today was a good day. In fact, he figured this was the best day of his life. He had sent a message to a young woman who lived near the Spirited Forest. When he opened his mail, much to his delight, it was a positive response from her. Samej smiled when he read the letter and stroked his long white beard. Leslie Burrows was going to meet with him first thing in the morning to try and help his people.

Weeks earlier, he had heard the astounding news about her quest to break the curse cast upon Prince Peter. With faith and determination, she destroyed the evil sorcerer and set the prince free. The latest gossip to reach his ears was the delightful news that they were to wed in the future. Samej immediately sent Leslie an urgent message before that happened. He didn’t want any delays. What was happening in the Enchanted Land required a powerful wizard.

He stopped stroking the cat and leaned back in his seat. He gazed out at the desolate land. Aside from his tiny shack in the woods, there was nothing surrounding it. Samej had moved back to his birthplace when the chaos started in the Enchanted Land. He was old and tired. His days in the wizardry world had come to an end. It was only a matter of time before he would die in the comfort of his bed.

Samej stretched out his feeble legs and sighed. His black cat purred loudly. “You will have a new master soon,” he spoke softly. “I want you to obey what she says. That’s very important.” Noissapmoc seemed to understand. She rubbed her wet nose against his gnarled hand and meowed.

He smiled in recollection. It wasn’t that long ago when he acquired this affectionate cat. Samej had been browsing the stands at an open market when a man in a striped coat called to the crowd to gather around. The magician waved his wand, produced a rabbit out of a hat and made his assistant disappear. The audience applauded politely and one man in the crowd asked for something more daring. The magician, without hesitation, grabbed the black cat that was sitting on a nearby stool. He motioned for Samej to come close and assist him with his next act. Kindly he obliged and stood next to the magician in wonder.

“I have the powers,” the magician said, “to make this cat do as I say. When I ask her to jump onto this man’s shoulders, then climb onto his head, the cat will obey.” The audience waited eagerly to see if it worked. When the magician waved his wand and muttered an incantation, the cat sat perfectly still and refused to budge. The magician seemed a bit ruffled and his face turned a bright red. “I will try it one more time.” With the wave of his wand, he ordered the cat to move.

The large black feline never took her eyes off Samej. She seemed entranced by his presence.

Annoyed that one of his spells didn’t work, the magician picked up the cat and shoved her into his arms. “Here, you can have it. She’s been a thorn in my side for years now. One day she listens and the next time she completely ignores me.” The man apologized to the audience and continued on quickly so as not to lose their interest.

Samej never stayed for the remainder of the show. He held the cat protectively in his arms. The moment they made contact, there was a bond between them. He couldn’t explain it. This feline, unknown to his previous owner, was no ordinary cat. This animal had special powers.

From that day on, the two of them were inseparable and did everything together. Samej knew that his days on earth were numbered. That is why he went to great lengths to find the perfect master to take his beloved pet. Samej gently stroked the cat again. His thoughts were not on the peace and tranquility of this place where he lived, but on the young lady, he would meet tomorrow. He was sending her on a dangerous quest and into unfamiliar territory. She had been successful before and with the same luck and determination, she would be again.

Samej grabbed the cat from underneath the belly and placed her onto the porch. He slowly rose to his feet and walked toward the entrance. “Come inside, Noissapmoc. It is time we get ready for bed.”

I daydreamed and stared out the window above the sink, but too many things twirled in my head to concentrate on anything specific.

I shivered as a chill flashed across the back of my neck and I spun around.

Demetri stood right behind me, his cool breath poured down the back of my neck. Glaring at me, he didn't speak or respond to my startled reaction. He held his empty wine glass and I moved back as he leaned around me to put it in the sink. The gentle brush of his arm against my side made me woozy and my stomach flip-flopped.

"I... I didn't see you there."

"You didn't hear me either."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me. I'm not the one at risk because you aren't paying attention. You are," he declared with a cold matter-of-fact tone.

"I, um... I'm not used to everything yet."

"I know that, but still, you should have developed the most basic survival skills within the first twenty-four hours."

His intense stare bore through me and filled me with a mix of fear and defensive instincts.

"I fed within the first few moments, even though I was alone."

"A reptile can do that, Stray," he hissed.

His hostility stirred something deep in the pits of my gut.

"A reptile can be lethal at birth, too," I snarled back at the unwarranted insult.

His eyes widened.

I couldn't believe I'd snapped at the magnificent creature.

"Is that so?" He growled.

"Ye--"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his hand come at me. I deflected the blow, but he grabbed my arm and spun me away from him. He twisted and pinned it taut behind my back. Demetri pushed against me hard, his head bent over my shoulder. I watched his reflection in the windowpane as he growled in my ear. I was trapped.

"You're such a child," he snarled. "You won't last long if you can't predict when and where an attack may come."

"I don't plan on putting myself in a position to need protection."

He loosened his grip, but didn't release me. "With that scent, Stray, you won't have a choice."

I trembled at the thought that flashed through my mind of Quinton and what Porscha said about him tracking me to claim his creation. A profound shiver of fear rushed through me like a roller coaster.

"Quinton," I whispered.

He jerked me around, grasped my shoulders and almost lifted me off the ground. I winced, prepared for another attack.

"What did you say?" He hissed. His stone cold black eyes locked onto mine with a sinister gaze. I was terrified.

"I...I said Quinton."

"What about Quinton?" He moved his snarling face close to my neck area and inhaled deep. His breath was cold. Although his scent was like nothing I'd ever smelled before, my instinct to survive was more prevalent than my urge to succumb to him.

"I don't know who I am, my memory's gone." I began to explain. "Porscha said there was a possibility my creator may have been Quint--"

He pushed me back and rubbed his jaw. Tension radiated from him. "Are you saying that Porscha thinks it was Quinton who..." His voice trailed off as he paced and stared at the floor.

"She doesn't know and I can't remember anything from that night at all."

I calmed a bit, as he came across more concerned with what I said than he was about me in general.

"Nothing? You remember nothing?"

"I don't even know my name, hence the nickname Stray." Sarcasm returned to my voice. I had a natural urge to remain guarded in his presence.

"Oh, right." He looked up. "Well, if he is...and I'm not saying that he is, you're going to have a fight on your hands."

"I never thought it would really come to that. I guess so much has happened, he slipped my mind." I stepped forward, but he moved back with his jaw clenched.

"You can't ever forget the danger. Being a vampire doesn't make you immune to death." He spoke in a quieter voice, but his gaze remained distant.

I thought of his wife and hoped he hadn't realized I knew how she'd died. It felt like an invasion of privacy. I slowly lowered the wall for a moment, as he appeared so vulnerable.

"I understand. I'll be careful." I promised. I meant it but at the same time, I was no match for a thousand year old vampire sure to have powers like nothing I could fathom.

"You must learn, Stray. You may not have time to wait for skills to develop."

"How?" I didn't even know what my instincts were much less to understand and act.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I guess, if Porscha plans to keep you, I could show you a few things." He ran his fingers through his neatly kempt hair. "I'm not saying it'll keep you alive, but maybe it'll help." The tension eased a bit, but remained noticeable.

"If he's my creator, is it even possible for me to resist him if I can't escape?"

His eyes cut away for a second, as though he pondered the question, then much to my delight, his gaze returned to me. "The best scenario would be to make sure you never come face to face with him. That would be best for everyone."

"That would be nice. Thank you, Demetri."

"Don't thank me yet."

Beauty radiated from him. Even through his anger and the way he'd lashed out, I sensed an unquestionable connection. He was like no man I'd ever imagined. I didn't have my memory, but the inexplicable feeling was deeper than any memory could be.

He could very well be everything I thought he was the first moment I'd laid eyes on him, possibly much more. I hoped he continued to come around so I could figure out what it was about him that got to me.

Somehow, I thought I saw something he may not have wanted anyone to see. I didn't know what it was, but my attraction was undeniable.

Although unrequited, it didn't lessen the flutter of butterflies swarming in my stomach. It was apparent, the more I was around him the closer I came to losing myself.

Whatever the risk, loss, discovery or outcome, life as a vampire was my reality and I began to embrace it without much effort.

Terrified and perhaps even angry about the unknown events that led to my creation, for the first time I saw a silver lining as the tides appeared to turn in my favor. Who would have thought that the cold glare of a man I didn't even know could affect me in such a profound way? I couldn't help it, I liked it.

He shined the light across the long hallway just off the entrance. To the right, a stairway led up to the second floor. Sage cautiously made his way into the musky smelling hallway and could feel how cold the inside of the house felt. It was almost a chilling feeling ten degrees cooler than outside. A shiver of apprehension raced down his spine. His instincts never failed him and tonight they were on high alert.

He could sense the body heat of the others following him and saw Jason light the flashlight he'd given him. Once everyone was inside, the door slammed shut without warning and a loud click reverberated throughout the room.

"What was that?" Sage knew the sound was the door locking and he also knew the door couldn't lock on its own. He turned his head just in time to see a strange white apparition floating past him. No, he decided his imagination must have been playing tricks on him. He didn't believe in ghosts. Just at the point of asking one of the others if they'd seen anything, Sage heard Summer scream.

"Let's get out of here, Sage!" Her blood curdling scream sent another wave of apprehension racing through Sage. She grabbed his arm and dug her nails into his skin.

As she stood watching, the door to the house opened slanting a yellow beam onto the porch. A slender man walked from the entrance into the moonlit night. She could feel another chill settling over her. It looked as if he was heading straight for their cabin.

"We're letting our imagination run wild," Carol admitted before she joined Lacy near the window. When she bent her head to look out into the yard, her eyes widened in surprise. Her gaze followed the man as he got closer. "Do you know him, Lace?"

Lacy could feel a shudder race through Carol's arm as it brushed against hers.

"I don't have the slightest idea who he is." Her tone sounded muffled as a splash of fear seized her.

Lacy found she couldn't look away. Her eyes were drawn like a magnet to the slow moving silhouette. The man headed straight for the door of their cabin, and as he drew closer, Lacy felt her stomach knot up inside.

"He does look a little like Norman Bates," Carol's words trailed off as they heard the gravel beneath the stranger's feet outside the door. "Do you believe in reincarnation? That could be him and he's come to get rid of us."

"Carol, will you be quiet? You're doing a good job of scaring me to death." A hard knock sounded on the door and both girls jumped in alarm.

 "Well, he's here," Carol squeaked out.

"I'll get it," Lacy volunteered in a trembling whisper. As she glanced over at Carol, she didn't miss the scared expression that covered her face combined with a white pinched appearance.

"I don't believe I can move an inch," Carol admitted in a shaky tone.

"Thanks," Lacy said, shaking her head over her foolish thoughts. "My parents are right next door if we need them. We can get their attention by tapping on the wall."

She figured they were just being silly about the entire situation. They didn't even know the identity of the man standing outside waiting for them to answer. There was only one way to find out who it was. Open the door and ask him his name.

“How long does it take to get there?” she shouted.

“You don’t have to yell. I’m not deaf. We’re almost there.”

“I can’t see a thing. I don’t even see any stars. All I see are huge rocks.”

“Those rocks are your stars. Down on Earth, the moonlight lights them up and they become what you call stars.”

“Is Kelhatmor another planet? I’ve never heard of it.”

“Kelhatmor is only known to us and the children who are fortunate enough to visit it.”

“I’m going to look stupid in my nightie. I wish I could have put on some clothes. What will everyone think?”

“All new arrivals first come that way, either in a hospital gown, pajamas, in your case a nightie, and sometimes only underpants. No one will laugh at you. You’ll be welcomed in our midst with joy.”

“Wow. It must be some kind of a magical place. At home, if anyone would see me like this, they’d all make fun of me, just like some kids at school made fun of my bald head.”

“Children on Earth can be cruel sometimes. They don’t understand. But you haven’t gone to school very much. Didn’t your mother teach you at home?”

“I went to school sometimes. I even started high school, but then the tumors in my head grew again and I had to go back to the hospital.” The memory of those days made her sad for a moment, and then the thought of her parents sitting by her bedside. “I guess they’ll be very sad for a while after my funeral,” she told Rhuntana.

“Funeral? Girl, I don’t want to hear you talk of death again. You’re very much alive.”

“Sorry. Then it’s a dream. Never mind, I’m enjoying all this even if it isn’t real.”

Rhuntana didn’t answer her this time so Polly assumed she was right, she was dreaming. The vast space around her suddenly got brighter and she thought she saw a light in the distance.

“We are approaching Kelhatmor. You’ll see it soon,” Rhuntana said.

Polly strained to see through the dim light and yes, soon she saw something. At first it was just a dot, then as they flew closer, it resembled an island. Long vines dangled from the bottom. It didn’t seem to be attached to anything, just floating free in space. The area around them brightened even more until it became a vivid mauve. Above the island Polly saw a brilliant sun surrounded by a mauve halo sending mauve beams in all shades down to the island. Peeking out from behind the sun was what looked like a very purple planet.

“What’s the name of that planet?”

“That’s Zultfor. We go there on field trips sometimes to study its exotic animals and vegetation.”

“Wow. I’m going to love it here.”

“Pollyanna, no one stays on Kelhatmor permanently, but yes, you will enjoy your visit with us. Get ready to land now.”

The traffic was light at such an early hour and jokes and laughter floated around the interior of the car. Somehow, Lacy felt safe now that Ryan sat only an arm length from her in the front seat.

“Lacy, grab one of the CD’s out of the glove box and put it in the stereo,” Ryan told her. “I can’t get anything on the radio but this country music. I’ve never been too fond of country, but that’s all they’re offering.”

“I know what you mean. Carol and I ran into the same problem on our last trip. Talk about boring.” While she talked, she placed the CD in and cranked the sound up filling the car with a current hit song.

Amid joking, laughing and singing the entire trip, the ride seemed shorter than Lacy remembered. It wasn’t long before she saw a sign along the highway with Salem printed on it.

Just on the outskirts of the small town, Lacy glanced at a car headed in the opposite direction. She thought for an instant her eyes were playing tricks on her, believing she saw Steve and Jason riding along in a hot rod at a fast rate of speed heading out of town. No, I have to be wrong. Surely, I’m imagining things. Steve and Jason were supposed to be in jail waiting for the court date that morning. But again, they could be out on bail waiting for the trial to begin.

Suddenly, there was a metal sound filling the air around them. Lacy glanced over her shoulder just in time to see the hot rod deliberately swerving toward a pickup truck. The truck tried to get out of the way of the car, but the driver wasn’t having any success. The truck spun out and flipped over a number of times before coming to rest on its top in the ditch.

Leslie fell to her knees. Blackness was about to overtake her when she felt something blast close to her ears. She shrieked in fright as guts and blood sprayed against her face. She looked down and saw that the snake was blown apart. Leslie quickly regained the strength to stand and ran from the terrifying scene. She huddled close to the king for protection. “Thank you,” she cried. Leslie leaned over and placed her head between her knees.

The king patted her sympathetically on the back. “Are you all right?”

The tears trickled down her cheeks. She brushed them hastily away. “I just need some fresh air.” Leslie took a few large gulps and then stood.

Warc held his smoldering hot scepter in his hands. The king glanced up at Leslie with some words of wisdom. “Please stay close to me from now on.”

She nodded in agreement.

He took over the lead and walked carefully up the steps. He held his scepter above his head in case of danger.

The shadowy trees swayed in the breeze. Their long branches seemed to hiss at them.

Leslie envisioned them reaching out and strangling her. She kept her hand on the dagger for protection. She swallowed nervously as they made their way past the dead carcass. Leslie shivered when her shoes squished on the guts. She thought the snake might suddenly spring back to life, but to her relief, nothing happened. Warc motioned for her to open the door quickly. She did as she was told and stepped inside. Leslie shut it behind them and took in the shadowy room. The branches from outside scraped against the doorframe. Then she heard the sound of hundreds of snakes hiss ferociously from outside. Leslie knew what had happened. The branches had materialized into deadly pythons. She rushed to the window to witness this for herself. She cried out in shock. They were trapped in a haunted house for the night.

I turned the corner into the bath and stopped in my tracks. The semi-transparent shower curtain encircled the deep tub and the water ran long and hot. The door wide open, I saw what appeared to be the shape of an old person soaping themself up. When I say old, I mean like an ancient, troll-like physique standing in our shower. No more than five feet tall, it possessed skinny arms and legs, was bald and had long fingers and a pronounced, beaklike nose.

It hummed. I froze.

The fear infused me with sudden paralysis of mind, body and spirit. This, this…person, this monster in our shower knew I stood there and knew I couldn't move.

It stopped soaping its misshapen limbs and turned its oversized grotesque head over its bony shoulder and, although I couldn't see its eyes, it stared at me. Without a move of a muscle, the shower stopped and I heard a low growl. Bile rose in my throat, hot and stinging, tasting of Fritos, and I willed myself to swallow it back down.

Whatever you do, don't pass out again. Another growl, this one more sinister than the first, came from the--the entity showering in front of me.

In a voice filled with what sounded like gravel, dirty, gross gravel, a low ominous sound came from behind the curtain. "Do you want to die, Alexis?"

A laugh began. At first a baritone reverberation, but as it continued, it picked up a higher cadence and fell into a full-out childish giggle. High-pitched and squeaky, it repeated itself… "Do you want to die, Alexis? Do you want to die, Alexis?" It didn't stop. In that cartoon character, shrill and penetrating tone, it repeated itself over and over and…

"Alexis?" Mom said from downstairs. I heard the twins run in and go straight for the kitchen as the back door slammed.

"Oh," it said. "They're home." It reached its scrawny hand to the shower curtain and slowly pulled it back. Its face stuck out at me and for a brief second the revulsion I felt at the sight made me shudder and lose consciousness briefly. I shook my head and opened my eyes, staring it full in the face.

Brown, molted fingertips held the corner of the curtain aside and it smiled at me showing yellow teeth. Rancid, fetid skin covered a skeletal facial structure, rotting in places. Its ears gone, a green slime came out of a hole in the side of its neck.

"Gotta go bye bye now." It disappeared. Gone…poof. I hadn't realized how frozen the air surrounding me was until it warmed again. I felt my arms thaw and I moved my hands up to my face. My legs moved next and with my back against the wall, I slowly slid into a sitting position. What in the hell just happened to me?

"Alexis, where are you? Do you want a grilled cheese?" Sara yelled.

My body shuddered uncontrollably, a woman coming back from the brink of death. I lowered my head in between my knees and cried.

Mae quickly placed her foot on the gas, revving the engine. The car made a slow getaway with some aliens still clinging to the roof. Her flat tire made the escape unsuccessful. She honked the horn, hoping the loud noise would scare them away. A few more dropped from view and howled in agony. This made her load lighter. The car picked up speed. She honked again and heard the curses from above. A couple more dropped onto the road. She heard one more move around up there. She swerved the car back and forth on the narrow road, trying to lose it. Mae let out a terrified scream as a green head suddenly blocked her windshield.

“I want to drink your blood,” it said.

Mae drove a little faster, determined to lose the creature. She swerved back and forth. The dirt created a brown cloud in her wake. She gave the steering wheel one quick turn. The vehicle spun around in a vicious circle several times before rolling into the ditch.

She tried to move her body. Everything seemed to be okay. Stay calm. Someone will rescue you. The seat belt cut into her chest. The pressure made it difficult to breathe. Mae felt a trickle of blood run down her face. You’ll be okay. She saw the green alien a few feet away.

Mae managed to unbuckle her seat belt. Her hand fumbled for the door. She gritted her teeth and tried to push it open. The door was jammed. Damn! Mae tasted sweat in her mouth. She pushed her entire body against the door and banged against it repeatedly. The door finally swung open and fell off its hinges. She tumbled into the high grass. Her head was swimming. Mae wiped the blood and sweat out of her eyes. Slowly, she walked away from the wreckage. Her entire body throbbed in pain. She stumbled and tried to regain her strength. There was no sign of the angry mob. Maybe they went back to town.

The dead alien lay stretched out in the ditch. Its yellow eyes stared off into space. Feeling relief about this, Mae took to the road by foot. She needed to go home. Looking behind her one last time, her eyes widened with fright. The alien that had been lying dead in the ditch was gone!

Wendy turned and left as Liana stormed toward them and hurried off to the other end of the hall.

“What’d she want?” Liana asked.

“She wanted to know if I would dance with her.”

“She usually dances with Peter.”

“Yeah, I know, but she said she doesn’t like dancing with him.”

“But he dances all right.”

“She didn’t seem to think so.”

“He’s not as good looking that’s why, and I am sure she’s got the hots for you. I have seen her looking at you.

“Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Well, don’t let it go to your head,” she warned and smiled.

“I won’t.”

“So, what’d you tell her?”

“I told her that you and I had a new routine to practise.”

“Good, I’ll fix her wagon,” she said and stormed off toward Wendy.

“Are you ready?” Warc asked.

Leslie didn’t have time to answer his question.

In a blink of an eye, the pack lunged toward them and knocked the two onto their backs.

Leslie swung her weapon at the large animals. She howled in agony as they dug their sharp fangs into her tender skin. Leslie knew her life would soon end. There was no possible way they could survive this brutal attack. Using the blade, she sliced a few wolves at the throat, causing them to yelp. Just when she thought she was gaining the upper hand, another pair appeared. Leslie closed her eyes at the searing pain. It was hopeless. Darkas was victorious. The tears of defeat streamed down her face. At this very moment, her prince was waiting to be rescued. I failed him. Then she thought of her loved ones back home and anger set in. She managed to swipe the weapon at a couple of wolves and they retreated toward Warc. Leslie couldn’t give up. Her determination wouldn’t allow it. She raised her sword and swung it wildly at the pack. The wolves became more aggressive and held her wrists in a firm grip. Blood poured from the wounds.

In the distance, Leslie heard the cries of Warc. She glanced over and saw a thick pack surrounding his small frame. If she didn’t think of a plan, he would be dead in minutes. His cries for help became less frequent. The sound of hungry wolves gnawing on bone and flesh filled the eerie silence. Leslie was about to give up when she thought of the one person who could possibly help. She called out his name before a wolf lunged for her throat.

Damaged by several collisions with space debris, Collector Dog 3173 limped into Earth's orbit with the transmitter considerably damaged. Those tracking it lost contact as it veered end over end, smashing down in a remote wooded area of Michigan's Upper Peninsula The collision broke it apart, burying parts of it and strewing the contents of the collection pod over the ground between the trees. The egg landed on a patch of soft moss in a small clearing near a creek. The sun's rays warmed it out of hibernation and though it was still hard, the cells inside began to multiply.

* * * *

Eleven-year-old Nahma Marten, searching for wild strawberries, had found some along the creek last year, so followed the bank, becoming more and more disappointed when she didn't find any--strawberry plants, yes, but no berries. Grandpa would remind her they were to be shared with the birds, chipmunks and rabbits, which she knew anyway, but they could have left her a few.

About to turn back, she caught a glimpse of an unusual color. Turquoise? Nothing that color grew around here. She hurried to see what it could be, but once she was staring down at the oval-shaped turquoise egg, she couldn't believe her eyes. No bird around here could possibly have laid an egg that big!

She put her berry pail on the ground, reached down and picked up the egg, cupping the turquoise find in both hands, and muttering, "You're a strange color and size for an egg, but you sure look like one. Wonder what you'll be when you hatch? Big, that's for sure."

Thrilled with her find, she laid the egg back on the moss and gathered a nearby large withering blue leaf with a soft pod attached to the stem and laid them in the bottom of the berry pail to cushion the egg. It barely fit in the pail sideways.

"Wait till I show Gina," she said. As soon as the words left her lips, she realized who she wasn't going to show it to--her grandfather. She almost never kept anything from him. He'd taken her in years ago, after her folks died in that accident. She loved him dearly, but she also knew how his mind worked.

He'd want to take the egg somewhere to be examined--and what if someone wherever he took it, decided to cut it open? It might not hatch anyway, but she wanted to give it a chance. Chicken eggs hatched if they'd been fertilized and the hen kept them warm. But no hen could ever keep this big an egg warm.

Nahma had no idea if the turquoise egg had been fertilized, but she hoped so. She'd have to keep it warm while she waited to see if it would hatch and that posed a problem. A heating pad would be too hot. Maybe a lamp. Yes! Grandpa had put his sunlamp away till next winter and it was flexible. She could fix up a nest in her room and bend the lamp down to shine on the egg, close enough to keep it warm, but not hot. In her closet, if she meant to keep it a secret.

If it did hatch, what would come out of it? She could hardly wait to find out.