Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
The next morning found Daniel staring into his coffee, fighting back a yawn.
He hadn't slept well, even though he hadn't dreamed of Caelen for once. No horny dream, no shared dream.
Somehow, this unsettled him.
Fuck, when had 'dreaming of Caelen' become his 'normal?'
Was the half-fae still mad at him? Was Daniel supposed to feel abandoned now that he'd chosen to trust the keepers?
Not that he trusted the keepers. That would have been insane.
He rubbed his face and then took another sip of his coffee. It was too damn early to be contemplating all of this.
Only Leon had made it downstairs so far, busy feeding his guinea pig apple slices while scrolling through his phone. The quiet felt strange after yesterday's chaos.
"What do you think we should do?" Daniel asked his friend.
"Honestly?" Leon looked up from his phone. "I have no idea. All of this…" He trailed off, looking lost for a moment. "None of this should be happening. Maybe it would be best for all of us if the keepers patched up all the holes and everything returned to normal."
"You say that like it's easy."
"I know it's not." He looked down at his phone again, scrolled, then stopped to stare at something. "Oh, shit."
"What?" Daniel asked with a sinking feeling.
Couldn't he have one morning without something going wrong?
Leon walked over to Daniel—a bit slowly; his leg had mostly healed, but it was still bothering him. "Look." He showed his phone to Daniel.
A shaky video played on the screen. Teenagers filming something that looked like an abandoned movie theater. Strange shadows crawled across the walls, and the air seemed to ripple like heat waves off summer asphalt, even though the outside temperatures were chilly.
"This place is haunted!" a teenage boy said, grinning at the camera. "We're going in!"
"Look at the title," Leon said. "It's in this city." He grabbed his phone back, likely so he could look up old movie theaters.
"Those idiots," Daniel cursed. "They're going to get themselves disappeared!"
"I found it." Leon moved toward the door. "Can we take your car?"
"Shouldn't we wait for the others?"
As if on cue, they heard footsteps on the stairs.
A moment later, Lyrian came into the kitchen, one curious eyebrow raised at the sight of them by the door. "What are you two doing?"
"There might be another one of those zones nearby." Daniel watched as understanding crossed Lyrian's face, followed immediately by determination. The siren didn't even hesitate, just joined them at the door to put on his shoes.
Always ready for an adventure he could put into song later.
Leon held up his phone. "Video was posted ten minutes ago. Maybe we can stop those kids before they do something really stupid."
Daniel grabbed his car keys. "What kind of teenagers are even up this early?"
"Betting they're skipping school," Leon said, heading out the door.
"And filming themselves while doing it?"
"I never claimed they were smart," Leon shot back. "Are you coming?" He'd already reached Daniel's car, aching leg notwithstanding.
"Should we leave a note?" Daniel asked, even as he was closing the front door behind himself and Lyrian.
"I'll text Adrian," Leon said, already typing on his phone.
"He might still be asleep," Lyrian threw in. "He and Knox were up late... discussing things."
Daniel didn't need the meaningful look Lyrian gave them to know what kind of 'discussing' they'd been doing. He unlocked the car, sliding into the driver's seat while Leon pulled up directions on his phone.
"Okay, take a left at the end of the street," Leon instructed. "The old Cinema 6 is in some strip mall off Route 9."
"At least there shouldn't be much traffic this early," Daniel muttered, turning the key in the ignition. He tried not to think about what they might find when they got there.
Or about how easily reality could tear apart anywhere, anytime.
The strip mall came into view about twenty minutes later, and it seemed to be abandoned: a sad collection of empty storefronts with faded signs and dirty windows. The Cinema 6 occupied the far end, its marquee bare, ignoring a few broken plastic letters. The parking lot was empty except for two cars: an older Honda Civic and what looked like a fairly new Subaru.
"Those must be our ghost hunters," Leon said as Daniel pulled into a spot near the entrance.
Daniel killed the engine but didn't move to get out. Something felt wrong here. The air looked... strange. Like it was bending around the building, creating weird distortions in the early morning light.
"Well," Lyrian said, his voice tight. "I think we can confirm this is definitely one of those zones."
Daniel couldn't disagree with that, although he'd really hoped they wouldn't find anything remarkable here.
Nothing for it now.
Daniel got out of the car along with the others, trying to spot the teenagers, but aside from the cars, there was no sign of anyone around.
"They must have gone inside," Daniel said, trying to peer through the grimy glass doors of the theater.
Just his luck.
Now he'd have to venture into the spooky building to save some brats who should have known better.
At least it wouldn't be difficult to get inside. One of the glass doors had a jagged hole near the handle and hung slightly ajar. Daniel barely had to touch it before it creaked open. "Here we go, I guess."
Lyrian strode past him into the theater before he was even done speaking. "What is this place?" His gaze swept over the movie posters and the thick layer of dust accumulated on the concession counter.
"People used to come here to watch movies," Leon explained. "Like the television we have at the house, just way bigger."
"That sounds fun. Why was such a marvelous place abandoned?"
Daniel could only shrug. "Maybe they ran out of money."
A broad, carpeted hallway led from the lobby toward the theaters. Daniel headed down that way and motioned for the others to follow.
It was getting tough to see. The dirty glass doors at the front didn't let a lot of light through, and the little that filtered in didn't reach far.
Daniel pulled out his phone, switching on its flashlight. "Come out, brats! You're being idiots!"
No response.
"Should we split up?" Lyrian asked, still looking around curiously at the different doors.
"Absolutely not." Daniel shook his head. "Haven't you seen any horror movies since you came here? That's how people die."
A crash echoed from one of the theater halls, followed by muffled voices and giggling.
"Theater three," Leon pointed to the right.
Daniel turned that way. The carpet squished beneath his feet, damp from something. He didn't want to know what.
He pushed open the door Leon had pointed out and spotted three figures with their own flashlights standing in front of the screen.
"Hey!" Daniel called out. "You need to get out of here."
The teenagers spun around, clearly shocked that they weren't alone. Two girls and a boy, probably sixteen or seventeen.
"We're just exploring," one of the girls said, sounding pissed that she got caught.
"Yeah, well, explore somewhere else. This place isn't—" Daniel's words cut off as his flashlight beam passed over the screen.
Instead of the expected white surface, the screen rippled like water, colors swirling beneath its surface. The air around it bent and twisted, creating that same distortion he'd seen outside.
"Oh shit," Leon whispered.
The teens hadn't noticed, still focused on the intruders who'd crashed their urban exploration party.
"Get away from there," Daniel said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Now."
"Don't be lame," the boy argued, crossing his arms. "You can't tell us what to do!"
"Look at the screen." Leon's voice carried an edge of command that made all three teens turn automatically.
Their flashlight beams joined Daniel's, illuminating the writhing surface. One of the girls screamed.
"What the fuck?" The boy stumbled back. "It wasn't doing that before!"
The ripples were spreading now, like someone had thrown a stone into a pond. The colors beneath the surface grew darker, more intense. Daniel could have sworn he heard whispers coming from behind the screen.
"Everyone out," Daniel ordered, backing toward the door. "C'mon!"
This time, no one argued. The teens scrambled toward them, but before they could reach the door, one of the girls let out a choked gasp. Her friend grabbed for her hand?—
And missed.
The girl flickered like a bad video signal, there and not there, before vanishing completely.
I can help you stop this.
The voice in Daniel's head was crystal clear, as if Caelen stood right beside him.
Of course it was. The barriers between their worlds must be even thinner here than they'd been in the bookstore.
"No, no, no!" The remaining girl was screaming, still reaching for where her friend had been. "Sarah! Sarah! "
"We need to get out of here," Leon said, grabbing the boy's arm as the screen's surface began to bubble and twist.
A massive clawed hand burst through the screen's surface, followed by another. The creature that pulled itself through looked like something out of a nightmare, all teeth and spines and too many eyes.
"Oh fuck," Daniel breathed. "RUN!"
They all stumbled toward the exit. Daniel took the hysterical girl's hand, practically dragging her up the aisle as the monster crashed down into the seats behind them.
They burst out of the theater into the lobby, the sound of splintering wood and tearing metal following them. The boy was already fumbling with his phone. "I'm calling 911!"
"They can't help," Daniel said, his heart pounding. Sarah could be dead, or trapped in Veridia—and he didn't know which would be worse.
Sarah is lost, Caelen spoke in his mind. And you might want to run faster. That's a cave lurker. They're quite fond of fresh meat.
The cave lurker burst through the lobby doors just as they reached the exit. Lyrian spun around, placing himself between the creature and the others.
"Get them to the car," he ordered, his voice taking on an otherworldly resonance that made Daniel's skin prickle.
"Lyrian!"
"GO!"
Daniel hesitated for a split second, then pushed the teens toward the exit. The girl was still crying, but at least she was moving.
Behind them, Lyrian began to sing. The sound filled the abandoned lobby, a battle song in a language Daniel didn't understand. The siren's aquamarine hair lifted off his shoulders as if stirred by a supernatural wind, and the air around him shimmered and solidified into translucent barriers that pushed against the cave lurker. The creature slammed against them, making them flicker and crack.
He can't keep that up for long, Caelen warned. Not in your world. The magic's too thin.
Daniel didn't want the voice in his head to be right.
The cave lurker slammed against the barriers again, and this time, several of them shattered completely. Lyrian staggered, his song faltering for a moment before he caught himself.
"Get in the car!" Daniel shouted at the teens, shoving them toward his Honda. Leon was already in the passenger seat, turning to help pull the sobbing girl inside.
Daniel hung back near the doors, frantically trying to think of some way to help the siren.
If only he had attended more than two Judo classes before getting bored with it.
"I've got this," Lyrian ground out between verses, though the strain in his voice said otherwise. "Get yourself to safety!"
Daniel hesitated, then turned toward the exit—and froze. Another monster had materialized out of nowhere, blocking their escape route. This one was smaller than the cave lurker, but moved like liquid shadow, its form barely holding together.
They were trapped between two monsters, and Lyrian's shields were failing.
You could call the keepers. Caelen's voice held a note of amusement. If you think they'd get to you in time.
"This isn't the time for jokes!" Daniel burst out. He must sound crazy to Lyrian, who couldn't hear the other end of the conversation, but at this point, he didn't care.
No, of course. You're right. I'm teasing you because you know how to stop this, but you won't.
The shadow creature slithered closer, its edges rippling like ink in water. Behind them, another of Lyrian's barriers shattered.
Please, Caelen said, his voice losing its mocking edge. Let me help you.
"Why would I trust you?" Daniel hissed, backing away from the shadow monster.
Because it's the only way I can save you.
Lyrian's song cracked. The cave lurker's claws reached for him, closer now. Too close.
You know what to do, Daniel. Focus on the connection between us. I can come through just like the monsters did. I only need an anchor point.
"And then what?" Daniel demanded, even as he felt that connection between them without wanting to. It was tangible here, in this strange place, this zone of overlap. "You'll just help us out of the goodness of your heart?"
The shadow creature lunged. Daniel threw himself sideways, barely avoiding its touch. He could feel the fury radiating from it, its desire to kill.
I won't let these things harm you, Caelen's voice was deadly serious now. Pull me through, and I'll save you. And the siren too, Caelen added, almost like an afterthought.
The shadow creature lunged again. Daniel dodged, but in doing so, backed straight into Lyrian, whose song cut off with a strangled gasp. The last barrier shattered.
The cave lurker roared in triumph.
Daniel. Now.
He could feel it, some kind of magic flowing between him and Caelen, like a rope bridge spanning two worlds. All he had to do was reach for it, pull...
"Promise me," Daniel gasped, as the shadow creature reformed for another attack. "Promise you'll fight on my side."
I promise. Now PULL!
Daniel closed his eyes and reached through that connection with everything he had. It felt like grabbing a live wire, power surging through him as something—someone—rushed across that bridge between worlds.
When he opened his eyes, the Shadow King stood before him, his presence filling the space like a storm about to break. White hair floating in an ethereal wind, green eyes blazing with barely contained power.
He was beautiful. Dangerous and arrogant and beautiful.
And Daniel already knew he was going to regret this.