The Horror Library - The Best in Horror Fiction

Magic and Loss
By Jason R. Beirens

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The figure sat in the shadows. Weeping could be heard, low and steady. Every once in a while it would raise its head and look around. A strange green glow was visible when the head was raised. Smaller drops fell from the glow, touched the cobblestone and then quickly faded away.

It was near midnight in Eisner Square, it was clear. A million stars stood as sentries above the city. Mister Bellows was watching the figure. Bellows sat near an alley that led to a small group of shops at the waterfront. He would tilt his head from side to side every now and again, waiting. The nearby clock tower began to strike the hour, the weeping figure got to its feet and began to leave.

There was very little Bellows didn't know, and when he found something unknown it intrigued him to no end. It did not befuddle him, it did not anger him (a slower to anger being you would be hard pressed to find), when he did not know something, it intrigued him, filled him with wonder. To know that after all the time he had been around (which was for all of it) new things still existed to be discovered, this knowledge made him very happy.
He followed the figure and the strange green glow. Staying a block or more behind at all times. Listening for the foot steps to sound against brick and stone and wood. Bellows knew the city, his city of August well, and enjoyed the darkened scenery as he went. The two were heading inland, toward the hills outside the city limits. Less than ten blocks and the city would turn to fields of dry grass and then the tree line started.

They had reached Larson Ave. The last true road on the north end of the city. Bellows slumped beside a tall fence. The figure looked back, The green glow swished from side to side, and then faced forward again. The figure began to take a step and then stopped. The raised foot not quite touching the ground.

"Why are you following me?" The voice was feminine, raspy, tired, scared, but feminine.

Surprised that he was discovered, he stood tall and stepped from behind the fence. He did not answer.

"I asked you a question."

Bellows walked forward. The woman began to run to the field.

"Don't hurt me. I am so tired of that."

"I would never dream of hurting you."

The woman ran faster.

"Please."

Mister Bellows watched as she went into the trees on the other side of the field. He had not gotten a look at her.

###

She ran fast into the trees, stumbling, but never falling. Her feet knew where they were going, even if she didn't.

Mister Bellows waited a few moments and then followed into the forest.

The glow was gone, as was the scent. The want to know was not however. He fell back on more earthly means of following. Broken ground, disturbed trees, foot prints. She was easy enough to find.

###

The cave was small. She had to crawl inside on her belly. The previous occupant was now her dinner. She ripped at the flesh of the badger and pulled away the fur and tossed it aside. The fresh bleeding meat shimmered in her green glow. Hunger over took her and she sunk her teeth into the animals hide.

"A bit messy, but I suppose if you're hungry."

She crawled back, dropping the mutilated animal corpse. She spit the mouth full of badger at Bellows who sat hunched over, his head scraping the cave ceiling.

"Please don't," she whimpered.

He noticed then the green glow came from her eyes. They were solid green, her tears fell emerald and glowing as well, but fizzled out as they touched the earth.

"I will not hurt you."

"I've been told that before."

Her face was pleasant. She was no great beauty, but any man would be satisfied with her.

"You are thin as a rail. Please come with me. I will give you food."

"NO! I fell for that before."

Bellows didn't move.

"I will not hurt you. Please."

"Lies. Men hurt me. You hurt me."

He exhaled, holding back tears of his own.

"Why do your eyes glow?"

"Go away." She found a stone and held it up, threateningly.

"Is that why the men hurt you, your eyes?"

She screamed and threw the rock. It struck Bellows in the eye. He, to his surprise fell back, only a little, but more then ever before. As he looked up to meet her gaze, she was looking to the ground stroking a freshly formed scar above her left eye.

"No anger, no pain." Bellows held out his hand, palm up. She looked up, jumped forward and grabbed it and bit. She gnashed and snarled and tore at his fingers. He did not move. He did not pull away. He wiped away at her tears. The green light was liquid, and it formed in his palm. Seeping into his skin. His body began to read its structure, the memories it held from her life, what she was, what she wanted, and what she was afraid off.

"Eve." Bellows' voice was calm. She stopped trying to hurt him. She looked at his hand. She had done nothing. "Eve." he said again.

"Go away." she whispered.

"I am so sorry for what they did. I am sorry you did what you did. They can't hurt you now."
Images flashed in both of their minds, dead men, mutilated, torn to bits and scattered about. They both looked to the badgers body. "I am sorry that happened to you. So sorry."

"What am I?" She covered her eyes. It went dark in the cave.

"You are magic. Latent magic. Those men were bad, they were killers. Your magic stopped them.
You stopped them. You did good."

She tightened herself into a ball. Her head tucked to her knees.

"It hurts."

"I am sorry. I wish I could take the pain away."

"You can. You are magic as well. No one sees me. You saw me."

Bellows gave a slight smile,

"I could take the pain Eve. I could. You are so smart," he pauses, "but I would be taking a part of you. Pain, pleasure, and everything in-between makes you who you are."

"So tired."

"I know. I know, now. You are strong though. So strong. I know that now as well."

She looks at Bellows and the cave lights up again with the strange green glow of her eyes.

"Please come with me Eve. I will help you."

###

Eve sat outside Smith-Mossier Hall, the clouds from the days storm were passing over the horizon, dying off to let night be born. The first stars came into view as the last of the purple and orange clouds fell down behind the horizon. Eve had a book in her lap, Beloved by Toni Morrison. It was only half finished. Her head rested against a tree and she caressed the soft grass with her finger tips. The smell of roses permeated the air. She was a senior at the school. Two weeks from the end of her last semester. Her real finals were over, and the book in her lap was the only thing left before her diploma and real life.

She heard the footsteps, she should have known to run then, something wasn't quite right. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She slowly got to her feet and moved around the tree trying to hide. This was her favorite spot on campus, because no one ever came here, it was quiet, secluded. They had followed her, she knew this, but didn't quite know how she did. They were patient, and clever. Eve turned to look to the opening between the buildings. Two silhouettes stood guard. She turned to the other side, the same view met her gaze. Three others were close.
A shout from just beyond the two to the west turned a bit too late and were tackled to the ground. A few moments of scuffling and one was out. One of the approaching three turned and walked calmly to the action. A knife glinted in his hand.

She heard a gurgle following a low whimper. Her would-be savior slumped to the ground dead. She again new the dead mans intentions, just like she knew the groups. She began to run, the east side was the least guarded. Then something struck her above the left eye. Falling back hard to the ground, smelling the grass and dirt scuff her scalp. Her shoulder blades twisted, and she snarled in pain. Blood trickled into her eye and down her temple, drip dropping to the ground. She heard the footsteps, could smell the leather of their shoes. The sweat beading on their foreheads in anticipation could be seen by her suddenly clear eyes, the blood bubbled in her vision She fought her way to her feet, a couple of the men tried to shove her back down, but they were met with enough resistance to shatter their wrists. The seven evil men began to scream, a few broke out into a run, tripping over the newly dead man. The killer looked at the killed and saw a smile form on the corpses' lips, aside from the color green it was the last image his eyes would ever see.

The green flash grew to a size of a block and then fell away. Eve was alone now. The bodies were gone, flashed away, wished away.

Eve ran.

...to be continued