《Ghosts in Low Lights》


 Chapter One: Wolves at the Door

    The train¡¯s rusted wheels screeched as they slowed against the rattling tracks waking Nobia from his restless sleep. His eyes burned looking at the bright red lights of the clock. 4:52 A.M. He grabbed the television remote and clicked the power on. Instinctively, his eyes squinted closed as he held up a hand to shield himself from the bright light of the late-night television infomercial. It¡¯d been weeks since he had gotten a full night¡¯s sleep. ¡°Garbage,¡± he grunted standing up to turn the T.V. off. He looked over at his bed contemptuously, rubbed his eyes again, and walked toward the kitchen. Plopping down into one of the old rickety wooden chairs near the table his dark hair fell into his face, ¡°You up?¡± he rasped.


    ¡°Of course.¡± The sweet voice came as a young girl with enormous yellow eyes materialized from behind him. Her powder-toned face smiled and her tiny fingers pushed out of the yellow raincoat''s sleeves too large for her and rested on the table. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help you sleep?¡±


    Lighting a cigarette, he kept his gaze forward. ¡°A brick to the head might do the trick," he yawned. He turned with a wolfish smile, blowing a plume of smoke through his teeth and rubbing his neck.


    ¡°Those are going to kill you one day, you know.¡± the petite girl added, ignoring his sarcasm.


    "Bricks? Well, I haven''t had too many bad run-ins with them.¡± Nobia chuckled, flashing another smile of inhumanly sharp teeth. She rolled her eyes with a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose and hiding a smirk from his view. ¡°How ¡®bout some apple juice, Brielle?¡± he said leaning back, crunching the cigarette¡¯s cherry into the nearby ashtray.


    ¡°Juice it is!¡± she said before sauntering off into the kitchen.


    He knew she lived for taking care of him since the day he had pulled her from the chaos that was her life in the lower levels of Kaiagoth, the main city on the other side and their home. He knew all the care she gave was her way of paying back the debt she believed she owed him. As he watched her pour the amber liquid into a short thick glass, he began to think about the real reason he wasn¡¯t sleeping. The flashbacks of blurry dreams and old memories he knew were hiding in the trenches of his mind, biting at his eyelids like hungry rats starving for a morsel.


    Neither of them belonged anywhere near a human city, but it appeared to be the safest place with society in the mess it had been in over the past years. It seems contradictory but when it came to humans, they rarely worried about the affairs of anyone but themselves. One of the only positive features of their species.


    ¡°This is an odd bottle of apple juice,¡± Brielle said smelling the bottle. Handing him the glass. Looking back at her, he raised his glass and chuckled. "I assume by your grin, that''s not apple juice."


    ¡°Well, maybe I grabbed a bottle of scotch instead of apple juice at the store.¡± He shrugged with a smile.


    Shaking her head, she glanced over to the window. ¡°The sun¡¯s coming up,¡± Brielle yawned with half-closed eyes. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to get some sleep. You should go by Doc¡¯s place; maybe he can help you with your insomnia.¡± She said walking into her room sluggishly, waved and smiled, ¡°See you tonight.¡± She slurred closing the door behind herself.


    ¡°Doc?¡± He says raspily lighting another cigarette. ¡°Like he¡¯ll help any.¡±


    ¡°But the smoking and drinking will.¡± Brielle retorted from behind the door, startling him.


    "I''ll go," he responded standing up and stretching his lean body. "But only to prove you wrong."


    Poking her head back out, she mumbled ¡°Good. Your appointment is at ten; I called and scheduled it yesterday.¡±


    Brielle smiled shutting her door. Nobia glared at her door and turned to look at the clock. 5:12. Grumbling, he headed into his room saying, ¡°It¡¯s already shaping up to be a wonderful day.¡±


    The weak door¡¯s hinges squeaked open slowly to reveal a short older man with a pair of small beady eyes peering out. ¡°Nobia! How¡¯ve you been?¡± he said flinging the door open causing it to smack angrily against the wall as he urged Nobia inward. ¡°It¡¯s been ages! Do come in. Would you like a drink or anyth-¡±


    ¡±No, thank you. I¡¯m here to see the doctor,¡± he said, already very uncomfortable. ¡°Is he busy?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, we got the phone call from Brielle yesterday. We¡¯ve been expecting you all morning.¡± the man said squinting and smiling with his front teeth protruding over his bottom lip. ¡®Thanks a lot, Bri.¡¯ he thought to himself as he followed the tiny hunchbacked man from room to room.


    As they finally reached the doctor located in the back of a sterile white room, Nobia nodded to the odd man in thanks and entered quietly. The room, obviously aged from lack of use or care, was barren except for a small, seafoam green cushioned table and counter adjacent covered in a plethora of silver tools. The original teal paint stood out through the cracks in the frivolously painted top layer of white paint.


    ¡°Not to worry, none of these are for you.¡± The doctor chuckled still facing the counter of tools, as they walked in behind him. He knew well the patients that did not enjoy his work and tried his best to make them feel comfortable there. ¡°You may leave us now, Gorum.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± he said bowing and scurrying from the room. Nobia watched the man leave, biding his time to speak freely.


    Doc began washing his hands in the aged metal sink just right of the long counter. The fluorescent lighting blinked as the fixtures swayed from the clacking of the overhead trains. ¡°So, what can I do for you, Nobia?¡± he said turning the water off with a screech of the knobs. He dried his hands with a nearby cloth, tattered by its obvious age. ¡°I have a feeling this isn¡¯t a normal check-up,¡± he continued, smirking under his thick dark brown beard. ¡°But when have our visits been anywhere near normal?¡±


    The doctor¡¯s human given name was Diarmuid O¡¯Bradaigh. He was a remnant of the last war involving humans and his people. His father was a human that was in the military on active duty. His mother was not. The Japanese referred to them as forest spirits. The English called them the fae: pucks and dullahan and many lost names. They called themselves the Dahl¡¯kor, or The Hungry Children. Diarmuid, named after an ancient Gaelic hero, was a tall, large man with a jolly disposition. Following his parents, he enlisted in the military and served as a physician for a few years before beginning his practice to tend to the other Dahl¡¯kor. The turmoil had been growing over the years in the human world and although he believed he had done his part in following in the memories of his parents, there was a piece of himself that felt as though he had abandoned his people.


    "I''ve been feeling something unusual lately," he said gravely. "I''m...having nightmares again." With that, the doctor looked at him skeptically. Closing his eyes, Doc breathed in deeply.


    ¡®It¡¯s been a long time, Nobia.¡± he replied. ¡°You need to get comfortable, the gate isn¡¯t going to open again. This is our people¡¯s home, now." Nobia looked back at him angrily. Doc held up his hands with a light-hearted face. ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything by it; I just want you to know nothing¡¯s going to change. We''re safe here.¡±


    ¡°How can you be so carefree?¡± Nobia questioned. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember how we got here in the first place?¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Doc looked down solemnly. After a short pause, he looked up to Nobia. ¡°Nothing that happened was our fault and even if he was back, what could we do?¡± Doc said helplessly.


    Nobia sighed regaining control of his emotions. ¡°I should¡¯ve known not to come to you,¡± Nobia growled. Walking out the door, he turned to look at Doc. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me look at this.¡± he said pulling out a crumpled section of a newspaper from his pocket dropping it on the cushioned table and walking out.


    Doc walked over, picking up the paper he paused stone-faced. ¡°¡­Belaska¡±


    Gorum opened the door for Nobia waving cheerfully saying, ¡°Come back soon!¡±


    Nobia chuckled stuffing his hands into his pockets, ¡°Yeah, doubt that¡¯ll happen.¡±


    As he began walking down the street, Doc burst from the door behind him. Grabbing Nobia¡¯s shoulder and pulling him around, he said with a sharp tone, ¡°Is this real?¡± holding up the newspaper in a white-knuckled fist.


    Nobia glared into his breathless face. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s real, do you think I¡¯d waste my time if it wasn¡¯t?¡± he replied. There was a brief pause, as they sat looking at each other as Doc¡¯s mind raced to catch up. Nobia looked down lighting a cigarette, blowing the haze into the morning air. ¡°I¡¯m going to find the others,¡± he said taking another drag. Doc stood speechless as Nobia turned and walked away.


    In the eight hundred and fifth year of the thirty-seventh revolution of Kaiagoth, a creature known by the Dahl¡¯kor as Warwick Belaska, escaped from prison and sought refuge by passing into the human world. Known for the murder and torture of numerous creatures over hundreds of years, his capture and imprisonment was a celebrated time and upon his escape, a great unrest began. In his time in the human world, he began a crusade to rid the worlds of their tyrannical rulers through the torment of the citizenry who opposed him. Warwick rallied thousands of beings against the forces of Kaiagoth while he bided his time against the beings who stood to put him away. War erupted on both sides of the gate between worlds, creating chaos and confusion wherever Belaska¡¯s forces spread.


    Believed to be dead, the denizens of Kaiagoth closed the gate of their world to any left on the other side as they had been ¡°tainted¡± by the stench of humanity. They believed that this was the key to what created Belaska and banished all creatures who fought for their world to stay back from their just rewards in their homeland.


    Doc¡¯s heart sank as his memories came rushing back. There on the paper, a headline read, SMITH AND ROBERTS ELECTED! with the smiling face of Belaska¡¯s human form raising his vice president¡¯s hand in celebration. ¡°It continues,¡± he said. ¡°And this time, we are alone.¡±


    Nobia unlocked the old door to his apartment and shut it slowly behind him sniffing at the air. ¡°Have you ever heard of privacy?¡± he chuckled walking in and removing his worn leather jacket. Instantly a small slender teenager appeared leaning against the wall.


    ¡°Of course, I do, but what¡¯s privacy when you¡¯re family, right?¡± the scaly man said smiling, slinking after Nobia. Removing the hood from his head, the scaly tendrils of what looked like hair poking from above his head in spikes could be seen. His reptilian eyes quickly blinked sideways with a clear lid. ¡°So, what did you need?¡± he said foraging through his bag, removing his laptop.


    ¡±It¡¯s serious, Darwin,¡± Nobia said in a stern voice. ¡°It¡¯s-¡±


    ¡±Okay, look, I can¡¯t come over every weekend to fix your computer because you were looking at-¡±


    ¡±Belaska.¡± Nobia interrupted in a low voice, handing a paper similar to the one he had shown Doc earlier over to Darwin.


    There was a short pause and Darwin looked at the headline of the newspaper.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± he said wide-eyed as he began reading the article. Darwin smirked and looked up at Nobia who was looking at the article from over his shoulder. ¡°At least it¡¯ll be easier to find him this time.¡±


    ¡°Leave it up to you to make this into a joke,¡± he said snatching the paper from Darwin and walking to the fridge, retrieving a beer. Opening the door to the balcony walking straight out to lean on the iron guard, looking forward, Nobia twisted the top off saying, ¡°You know you can go inside.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to ruin Darwin¡¯s surprise.¡± A voice said in a quiet tone from a tall man, covered in a cloak leaning against the wall behind Nobia.


    ¡°You know, you don¡¯t have to wear that either, not here at least,¡± Nobia said turning around. The man withdrew the hood to reveal a slender face, on his head feathers replaced hair. Nobia fumbled in his pockets, finally finding his misshapen pack of cigarettes. Nobia carefully placed one in his mouth and began searching for his lighter.


    ¡°When do we leave?¡± the feathered man questioned with his arms folded. Nobia looked up to him smugly.


    Lighting his cigarette and taking a drag, Nobia glanced at his watch. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll bet Doc will be here in about two hours with his things,¡± he said in smoky words. ¡°We can decide what we do when he gets here.¡±


    ¡°Arrol!¡± came a young girl¡¯s voice from behind them, as Brielle ran and hugged him tightly.


    Arrol grinned hugging her, ¡°Hello. It has been quite a while.¡± He replied softly as she buried her face into his chest. Nobia raised an eyebrow and walked off rolling his eyes to sit down next to Darwin on the couch.


    Nobia had saved Brielle from her home during the commotion of the war with the help of Arrol. She was one of the hybrids left after the gate closed. Hungry and alone, her parents had found a way to cross back into Kaiagoth, promising to retrieve her once they had successfully gained passage only to never return and leave her stranded in a strange place.


    Nobia plopped down onto the couch next to Darwin who was entranced by the video game he was playing. Sighing deeply, Nobia leaned back with a long stretch. His body seemed to ache all over from his sore neck to his gurgling stomach. No sleep in weeks had left his body and mind in disarray, on top of the obvious concerns. Staring at the ceiling, he could feel the bags under his eyes pulling down on him. He leaned up and burped loudly. ¡°I¡¯m going to get some food, you coming?¡± Nobia said grabbing his jacket and looking at Darwin.


    Darwin never looking away from the screen whined, ¡°Well, I just started this game and-¡± Nobia cut him off clearing his throat, nodding toward Arrol and Brielle who were talking with smiles on their faces still on the balcony. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m coming.¡± he said pulling his jacket on following Nobia out the door.


    Nobia¡¯s breath came out in a haze as he walked into the cool air. Darwin immediately opened his bag pulling out a sweatshirt, pulling it on quickly. He shook his head looking up at Nobia, who had begun staring at him. Nobia smiled and grabbed Darwin under his arms chuckling, "Where do you want to eat?"


    ¡°This place looks good to me.¡± Darwin said as they passed a nearby pet store.


    ¡°Not quite.¡± Nobia smirked. They continued to walk in silence on the damp sidewalk lining the street through the steam billowing out of the sewer drains. Pointing to a nearby street vendor, he continued, ¡°Let¡¯s try this place.¡±


    Several minutes passed with Nobia and Darwin staring at the menu overhead when Darwin leaned over to Nobia standing next to him. ¡°Why are we waiting on Doc?¡± Darwin said, his eyes never leaving the list of overly fattening foods. ¡°It¡¯s not like he-¡±


    He was cut off by the rude, pimple-faced clerk, eyes half-open, saying, ¡°What¡¯s your order?¡± Nobia ignored him and kept staring at the menu. After a minute or so the teenage clerk huffed and began tapping his foot. Nobia gave his order and Darwin¡¯s followed. They took their food and sat on a nearby bench nestled under a large oak tree, away from the rain-soaked concrete and prying eyes.


    Nobia unwrapped the wax paper covering his bacon triple-hamburger and began eating. Darwin looked at Nobia who was now staring at a whirlwind of leaves that had materialized in the street. ¡°So?¡± Darwin said, dragging out his word.


    ¡°Let''s just say he is a vital part of the operation.¡± Nobia said hungrily finishing off his burger. ¡°Eat up.¡±


    ¡°Glad to know there''s an operation.¡± Darwin smiled.


    The two finished their food and began walking toward his apartment. Looking down at his watch, he said ¡°Twenty minutes ¡®til Doc gets there. Make sure you have anything you want before we leave. We won''t be coming back to the apartment.¡±


    "Nothing cryptic about that at all." Darwin said. "Are we going to roleplay detectives next?" Nobia playfully punched him in the shoulder. Darwin returned with an elbow to the ribs as Nobia grabbed him by the head and wrapped his arm around Darwin''s shoulder as they walked together trudging over the vibrant tapestry of leaves that masked the concrete below.


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve got a fan club.¡± Darwin snickered after turning around to see a pack of stray dogs following them.


    ¡°As if this never happens to you?¡± Nobia said walking over to pet his malnourished friends.


    ¡°Of course, it does,¡± Darwin said smiling. "It''s definitely one of the benefits of living on this side of the gate."


    Nobia sighed. ¡°Yeah. Always glad to have a little love from something.¡± Nobia said giving the dogs each one last pat before sending them off. "Won''t be seeing much of it where we''re going.¡±


    Nobia and Darwin arrived at the apartment minutes before Doc was expected. Taking off his coat and sitting down, Darwin looked at Nobia puzzled. ¡°Where are they?¡± he said looking around.


    Nobia sniffed at the air and stood silently, ears twitching. Pulling out a cigarette, he said, "They''re coming down from the roof." Arrol and Brielle appeared on the balcony with one flap of his enormous black wings. They both wore solemn faces that could be seen even in the shadows of the waning sunlight. Brielle walked into her room and shut the door without saying a word to anyone. Arrol walked over to Nobia who was leaning forward on a stool by the island of the kitchen. Sighing, he stared at her door.


    ¡°What did you tell her?¡± Nobia said leaning back propping his arms behind him.


    ¡°The truth,¡± Arrol responded quietly, turning to face Nobia.


    ¡°Ooh. Bad move.¡± he said surprised.


    ¡°Not all of it. Where I have been, what I have done. Not why. That¡¯s your job to tell her that.¡± Arrol said calmly turning to Nobia. They stared at each other for a moment, their gaze telling the other more than their mouths could convey.


    Darwin, determined to break the silence, looked at the clock. It was exactly two hours from when Nobia had said Doc would arrive. ¡°Two hours, right?¡± Darwin said drawing their eyes away from each other. ¡°I guess you were wrong about Doc getting here in two hours. It¡¯s been two and he¡¯s still no-¡° Darwin¡¯s voice was interrupted by a knocking at the door. He paused and turned to look at the door. ¡°That¡¯s just ridiculous,¡± Darwin whispered to himself.


    Nobia glanced over to Darwin. ¡°Open the door, would you?¡± He said reaching for his lighter.Darwin nodded at Nobia and walked quietly to the door. The door handle clicked and squeaked open to reveal Doc, staring into the room holding several bags. His towering height, which normally carried with it a sense of strength, was diminished by the pink and green plaid of the handfuls of luggage that filled his arms. His mouth fell agape surprised at the sight of the others.


    ¡°I know he¡¯s ugly but I¡¯m sure he doesn¡¯t appreciate the staring.¡± Nobia said with sarcastic concern, hoping to regain the attention in the room. ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Nobia said lighting his cigarette. ¡°I hope you packed enough clothes, it¡¯s going to be a long trip.¡±


    Fumbling with his oversized suitcases, Doc stuttered, ¡°I-I-I don¡¯t know about you but I am going to the capital to see if all this is true. Where are you going?¡±


    Taking a long drag from his cigarette, the cherry burning in the dim light, he said, ¡°We¡­are going to open the gate.¡±

 Chapter Two: The Gate of Kaiagoth

    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. Not only is it impossible but it¡¯s a waste of time.¡± He said walking in slowly, dragging behind him a large suitcase on wheels. Doc stared at the faces looking back at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re the last one to be filled in. If it weren¡¯t for the kid,¡± Nobia said blowing a cloud of smoke into the air. ¡°I¡¯d have left you here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and you¡¯d be dead before you got through.¡± Doc responded. ¡°None of you can mask yourselves well enough without me here.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re heading straight to Teros. I imagine by now they already know more than we do. We¡¯ll make our plans after speaking to them.¡± he informed Doc. Turning to the others, he continued, ¡°Darwin and Arrol you two help Doc with his things, Brielle and I will catch up.¡±


    ¡°What happened to this being an escort?¡± Darwin joked. Nobia shot a sideways look at him and walked past them into Brielle¡¯s room.


    Closing the door behind himself, he sighed before turning around. He could feel burning yellow eyes against his back. ¡°Belaska? Really?!¡± She said huffing angrily, grabbing things from hangers in her overstuffed, tiny closet nestled in the corner of the cramped room. ¡°And why didn¡¯t you warn me that everyone was coming?! Or that there was any type of mission?!¡± Brielle continued stuffing an oversized bag with her things.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t want you to worry,¡± Nobia responded. ¡°And this isn¡¯t a mission. We¡¯re just informing the Council at Teros what is happening here. If that happens to mean that we get to go back home, then so be it.¡±


    ¡°If it was that easy to get home this whole time, then why did we stay for this long?¡± Brielle aggressively tied her bag and slung it onto her back. ¡°Next time, tell me before you make decisions. I¡¯m not a child.¡±


    ¡°Well, good thing I have someone around as smart as you, huh?¡± he smirked, hoping for a smile from her. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re heading for the gate¡­when you¡¯re ready.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ready and I packed your bag already,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s in your room, on your bed.¡±


    Nobia opened the door laughing, ¡°Always one step ahead of me.¡±


    Smiling to himself he walked across the apartment, empty and quiet once again. Entering his room from the kitchen, he grabbed a tattered, beige bag from his room and looked over the place where he had lived for years. The cracking, chipped paint on the walls, water-stained and ugly. But it was his ugly. Or at least it had been. He backed out of the door and shut it behind himself softly. Walking away, he looked over to Brielle who was waiting for him near her door. Giving a nod, he headed to the door and they walked out together. Exiting the building, they could see that Doc and the others were waiting for them on the sidewalk in the cold, misty darkness. What little light there was flickered from the streetlights.


    ¡°Doc, lead the way. Put up a shield in case anyone sees these two.¡± Nobia said pointing to Darwin and Arrol. ¡°We don¡¯t want another ¡®Jersey Devil¡¯ situation.¡±


    ¡°That was not my fault!¡± Darwin exclaimed. ¡°And I was nowhere near any goats.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just be careful this time.¡± Nobia laughed. Each of them covered their faces with their jacket¡¯s hoods and began walking in silence. Around a corner into an alley painted in thick darkness, Nobia sniffed the air. His eyes flashed like mirrors keeping watch on their surroundings. Exiting into the empty street and through the fog that plumed from a nearby gutter, they continued down the dew-covered pavement.


    Stopping next to a streetlight, Doc turned to Nobia. Nodding Nobia placed his hands in his pockets and walked across the street to a worn park entrance, disappearing into the darkness. ¡°All of you stay still,¡± Doc said, carefully retrieving a small brown pouch from his coat pocket. Breathing into it, he dropped it onto the ground. Instantly, a thick mist began pouring out, covering the air around them, clouding their vision.


    As the mist cleared moments later, Nobia stood in front of them holding a small man up by his neck. With a flick of his wrist, he snapped the man¡¯s neck and dropped him on the ground.


    Brielle jumped and maid a small sound.


    ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s only a doll.¡± Nobia said. The man¡¯s lifeless body hissed and melted into a mound of black clay. ¡°He¡¯s been following us since we left the alley. Someone knows what we¡¯re doing.¡± Nobia continued waving his hand at the green smoke bubbling up from the oily pile of remains. Sniffing the air, he continued, ¡°There are two more raiding my apartment, so it looks like we just missed them. Let¡¯s get the hell outta here before they figure out their spy was found out.¡±


    ¡°Black clay¡­that¡¯s-¡° Darwin said nervously.


    ¡°Yeah, I know who it is. I just didn¡¯t expect our little expedition to be found out so quickly.¡± Nobia spit. ¡°Now, get to the gate. Arrol and I will keep watch here until I know you¡¯ve reached it and then we¡¯ll join you with the others and pass through together.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid,¡± Brielle added looking back at him with her large yellow eyes.


    ¡°You know me.¡± He answered turning away with a grin, motioning to Arrol to follow. ¡°See you in a bit.¡± Nobia walked slowly around the nearest corner into darkness. Arrol nodded, quickly reaching his slender clawed fingers out of his cloak and removing it to reveal a pair of large black wings attached to a thin body covered in intricately crafted garments towering over the others. Gently placing the cloak around Brielle, he bent down softly to kiss her head before hastily walking to join Nobia. In seconds, they were gone.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Doc cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. They can handle themselves I¡¯m sure. Let¡¯s hurry and get where we are going.¡± Brielle nodded and the three began walking down the abandoned street into the unlit park, melting into the shadows of the nearby trees.


    <hr>


    Nobia launched himself into the air of the alleyway. His hand transforming and wrapping his slender clawed fingers onto the railing of a window grate. Pushing off from the wall, he leaped to the ledge of the roof. Lifting himself swiftly, he knelt on the tattered flat cement top. He stopped and sniffed the air slowly, taking in the night that lay around him.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he grinned standing upright. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he retrieved a beaten soft pack of off-brand cigarettes, tapping the pack and removing one.


    Arrol flew up with a gust of wind landing quietly next to him. ¡°Is he here?¡± He asked, looking back at the direction of the others.


    ¡°That¡¯s the question, isn¡¯t it?¡± Nobia replied placing the slightly bent cigarette in his mouth. Snapping his fingers, the end of the cigarette caught fire, calming to bright embers in seconds.


    ¡°You won¡¯t be able to smell me coming with that burning.¡± A shrill voice stated from in front of them.


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s your answer.¡± Nobia sighed, breathing out a plume of smoke. ¡°Do you plan on coming out or will we be talking to the thinner, more invisible you?¡±


    A cloud of black feathers shot into the air from the street below, landing several feet from them in a formless mass. It began to melt together and upwards into the shape of a dark-haired young man in a pinstriped suit. The man¡¯s left ear was missing, the area surrounded by three large scars tracing the curves of his head. Adjusting his tie, the man cleared his throat and brushed the non-existent dirt off from his suit. ¡°Better?¡± came the smooth voice from his newly formed mouth.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re still ugly as ever, Rasul. And why is it that if you can change into whatever you want, you can never seem to grow that ear back?¡± Nobia answered.


    ¡°Souvenir, I guess. Reminds me of the wolf at my door.¡± Rasul replied folding his arms calmly. The two seemed calm and relaxed, as though they had been friends for years, but Arrol stood stone still.


    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think you¡¯ve lost your touch.¡± Nobia continued. ¡°Gorum? That man has never been polite to me a day in my life. Hopefully, you liked my performance, though I may have been a bit dramatic.¡±


    A sneer crawled across Rasul¡¯s face. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now. You¡¯re away from anyone who could change what I¡¯m going to do to you.¡± He retorted, his voice dissolving into a sharp tone.


    ¡°Maybe this time we can fix that lopsided head of yours.¡± Nobia laughed, crunching the embers of his cigarette into his open palm.


    <hr>


    Brielle, hearing a loud screech echoing from behind her, stopped and turned to look back. She sat still for a moment, her eyes searching for the origin of the noise in the shadows but there was nothing.


    ¡°They¡¯re fine.¡± Doc¡¯s voice flowed calmly into her ear, breaking her concentration. She nodded in silent agreement and continued walking on the path. It quickly narrowed as they continued their descent into what was becoming a thick forest. The trees surrounding them stood with flashing claws and gnarled faces; monsters frozen in time. The city lights faded into the horizon; slivers of moonlight were all that could be seen.


    ¡°We¡¯ll stop here,¡± Doc said leaning against a tree. ¡°At least until the other two get here.¡±


    ¡°Well, you won¡¯t have to wait long,¡± Nobia said as he hopped down from a nearby tree. Arrol flew in from the shadows overhead landing next to him. A roar echoed from where they had been. Everyone in the group jumped at the screech with the exception of the Nobia and Arrol.


    ¡°If you¡¯re here, who is that?¡± Brielle asked nervously.


    ¡°I decided to make a couple of dolls myself. Rasul is up there fighting some smoke dolls of what he thinks are Arrol and I. I wouldn¡¯t have minded staying a bit longer to watch.¡± Nobia grinned.


    ¡°Rasul?¡± Brielle said wide-eyed. ¡°Belaska¡¯s son? I thought you killed him in the war.¡±


    ¡°Well apparently everyone I killed is just popping back up.¡± Nobia laughed, bumping Arrol on the arm.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a game Nobia,¡± Brielle said glaring.


    ¡°Then we¡¯d better get going. Doc, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Nobia answered waving his hand forward toward the path ahead of them.


    As they approached a clearing, a massive oak tree could be seen in the center. Where normally ancient trees sapped the life from the ground around them leaving barren ground, this one grew bright green grass and flowers whose colors could be seen even in the darkness. Its age was unknown even by the present company and it commanded silence from the creatures that lived among it. Doc stopped at the entrance and turned to face the others. ¡°As you all know we can¡¯t enter in these forms unless we release our human selves. Does each of you have your seals?¡±


    Nobia held up his right arm in the dark to reveal a white circular beaded bracelet carved with faintly glowing symbols. ¡°This isn¡¯t our first rodeo.¡± He continued smugly. ¡°Although, it has been a few years.¡±


    ¡°I will begin opening the gate,¡± Arrol said, walking into the clearing towards the ancient tree.


    ¡°How do you plan to do that?¡± Doc asked. ¡°We have been stuck here for years and the gate just happens to work now?¡±


    Arrol turned to look at Doc. ¡°Remember your place. I owe you no explanation,¡± he replied. Turning to face the tree, he lifted his hands, palm open, and closed his eyes. Exhaling slowly, he opened his green glowing eyes to look upon the ancient tree and began to speak in a foreign tongue.


    Doc growled under his breath and closed his eyes, his transformation beginning. From the tips of his fingers it began to spread, his skin began to dry and crack into the bark of a tree. Simultaneously, his beard and hair began growing into twigs with a few leaves attached to each one. As the metamorphosis ended, he stretched his thick oaken limbs and each creaked and moaned like the trunk of a tree swaying in an angry storm.


    ¡°Sorebi optu, Arrol, tarin Kol Lohk¡¯tas. Sorebi Kol Lohk¡¯tas ega mahn. Optu tarin molas, Kaiagoth.¡± Arrol¡¯s voice echoed in their ears in the foreign language and English simultaneously. ¡°I stand keeper of doors, as you have given us passage to this world. I call upon you to open once again. Give us passage home.¡± Silence consumed the glade for the moments after.


    Finally, the tree lurched within and a thin mouth cracked from the center of the tree. ¡°And why should I do that?¡± hissed the voice from the tree.


    ¡°Ki lok hidan Modas.¡± Arrol¡¯s voice echoed again in their ears. ¡°I command it as your King.¡±


    ¡°The world beyond is not ruled by the words of mortal bottom feeders.¡± The voice boomed shaking the ground. ¡°What proof have you that you are what you say?¡±


    Arrol closed his eyes and a faint light began to glow near the center of his head. A symbol formed and as it formed it burned itself into the flesh of the tree whose voice tore at the ears of anyone in range. ¡°Your word is law.¡± The voice trembled and the mouth of the giant face grew wide and began to bathe the area in soft green light.


    Everyone sat for a long moment in silence. ¡°Works for me,¡± Nobia said. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here before we get stuck fighting ol¡¯ one ear.¡±


    Striding forward, they each walked through the gaping mouth of the ancient giant into the warm yellow light of the gate and into the other side.