29. Erin
Chapter twenty-nine
Erin
“Erin. You are beginning to run out of time.”
“I’m trying here. What more do you want from me?” I reigned in the defensiveness in my voice.
The man from my nightmares appeared in front of me. His hair flowed behind him, cascading down his back. Shimmering outlines sprouted from behind him. Black nothingness encapsulated us. No skies or valleys to be seen. Everything had been striped away, only the two of us remained.
“You must try harder. Look closer at the things around you. Your powers, they must be strengthened. There are beings coming. Things you are not yet prepared for. I’d thought our previous encounter would’ve given you more incentive.”
I blew out a breath. “Okay, mystery man. What exactly do I need to do? I’m training daily. I run to work, I’m sparring and fighting with Seth and Derik. I’ve mastered the fire and sparks. What more do I need to do?”
“You must train harder. The information you’ve been gathering on the Demons, you must dive deeper.”
“What am I missing?”
“That is not for me to disclose, Erin. You must discover it on your own, as you did with your fire. Look within.”
“You’ve got to give me more than that.”
“Dive deeper, Miss Snow.”
And then he was gone.
I awoke to a light thumping on the bedroom door. I groaned as I rolled over, attempting to drown it out. Libby was still asleep next to me, her breathing heavy, indicating that she remained in a deep sleep.
Lucky.
The rasping continued and I hissed under my breath as I dragged myself out of the warmth of my blanket. I peaked in the mirror on the dresser, wrinkling my nose at the mop of tangled hair, strands poked out every which way, mascara smudged under my eyes, baggy shirt doused in pizza grease stains and chip dust from the night before.
Talk about a mess and a half.
I sighed as I silently opened the door and stepped out. It clicked behind me, and I looked up to find myself nearly face-to-chest with Josh.
Jeez, warn a girl, could ya?
“Good morning, Miss Erin. Did you sleep well?” Josh asked, his voice husky.
I hissed under my breath. Then poked him in the chest. “Okay, first of all, personal space please,” I half-whispered. “Second of all, it’s rude to wake someone up before dawn. Borderline criminal offense in my opinion.”
He let out a low laugh as he took a small step backwards. “My apologies, Miss Snow. I didn’t have the intention of offending you,” he smirked and lifted a to-go cup from behind his back. “Would a hot cup of coffee ease my retribution?”
I eyed the cup in his grip, quickly glanced up, squinted, and snatched the cup from his hand. “There better be sugar in this,” I grumbled.
“Well of course, Miss Snow. I even added milk,” he winked. “Now, shall we begin the day?”
I’d rather not.
My lips pursed as I followed him out to the kitchen and sat at the island. “What exactly are we beginning?”
“Training.” My mind flashed to the dream visit I’d had from the mystery man.
“Oh? And we’re starting in the middle of the night because?” I asked as I sipped my coffee.
“Miss Snow, five in the morning is not middle of the night. I’m typically awake and already sweating.” His face was neutral but there was a brief glint in his eye. I fought the blush that attempted to grace my face. He hooked his thumbs in the pockets of dark-blue fitted joggers he wore.
Those look familiar…wait a minute.
Is he wearing Seth’s sweats?
Josh continued, his gaze hardened. “If we are to achieve the goal of finding these humans and rescuing them alive, we cannot have any loose ends. And that involves making sure that you, my dear, are equipped with the skills truly needed to defend oneself and others from Demons. You have barely begun your defense training,” I went to correct him; he stuck his hand up. “The defense courses you partook in as a child are not relevant in this situation. We are discussing Demons. Powerful creatures. Not mere mortals.”
“Look, Mister I-wake-up-when-normal-people-are-still-sleeping, I understand Demons are stronger, but there has to be some correlation between the two, right? I mean I kicked one of them in the nards, and that was a decent distraction. So…I’m just saying.” I shrugged.
He quirked his brow then grabbed a granola bar and apple from the pantry. As he tossed them to me, he responded, “That is merely the basics, Miss Snow. The opening to kick a Demon in their genitals is slim, rarely does it take them down like it would a human being. I applaud your luck in that situation but do not count on it. You must learn to fight with a weapon. Swords, daggers, knives, whatever you chose. Even a gun, if need be, although not recommended.”
That caught my attention. “Why not a gun? That would seem like the easier, obvious route?” I gulped down the remainder of my coffee and Josh pulled another from the counter behind him.
Someone planned ahead.
“A few reasons. First, beginning with the amount of time it would take for a bullet to unload and reach a Demon to inflict a fatal wound. They would already be on you. Secondly, they heal far too quickly for a bullet to do much damage.”
“But a blade wound wouldn’t heal too quickly?” I pursed my lips. “That sounds like a whole lot of bologna. And incredibly inconsistent.”
“I assure you, Miss Snow, it is not ‘bologna’. Demons are weak to few things. One being iron and weapons that are forged from it. That and pure silver.”
“What? Are they werewolves or something?” I rolled my eyes. Josh didn’t find that funny. “Wait. Are there werewolves?”
His face grim. “No, Miss Snow. However, there are Demons who have the ability to transform themselves into terrible creatures. Many of which have led to curating the nightmares and terrors that haunt humanities dreams.”
“Oh, well. Isn’t that comforting.” I snorted.
Josh shook his head. “This is serious, Miss Snow. And needs to be taken so.”
“My dude. I am taking this seriously. I just might not be too keen on learning that Demons can turn themselves into other creatures.”
Have you heard of a sense of humor?
He sighed. “Miss Snow, would you rather not know and be caught entirely off guard by an animal, such as a puppy, who shows itself to you, wanders into your home here, and then ambushes you when it transforms into its true Demonic form?”
“They can turn into puppies!? What? What am I supposed to do then? Just ignore every sweet, innocent furbaby that I see? Because I can tell you right now, I’m not doing that. I’ll take my chances.” I slammed my cup on the island and crossed my arms across my chest.
If a dog or a cat comes up to me…I’m risking it.
Josh just stared at me, like I was an idiot. “Well then. Lucky for you, that was an extreme example. They often turn into fearsome creatures. Only if a Demon were desperate enough, would they turn into such a feeble, harmless house pet. They deem actual creatures or ‘fur babies’ as you called them, weak, useless.”
“Well clearly, they had their dicks shoved up their asses. Because puppies are adorable. And far from useless.”
He pinched his brows together and ran his hand down his face. “Miss Snow. These are literal Demons we’re discussing. They have no need for simple creatures or to take into consideration their target’s concerns for wildlife. Will you focus, please.”
“Fine. But I’m not fighting any puppies.”
“Oh my God, Miss Snow. Drop it. No puppies. Dear Lord,” he took a breath. “Okay. Demons. Iron is what ultimately causes them the most harm from our weapons. Therefore, always keep a dagger, sword of some form, or knife on your person. Today we will begin training with weapons.”
“Do I need to use any specific weapon, or can I take my pick? Where do I get one? Because as far as I know there’s not a swordsmith anywhere around here considering we’re, you know, in the twenty-first century.”
He let out another sigh, once again shaking his head. “Miss Snow. This might be the twenty-first century but there are still swordsmiths out there,” he stepped to the pantry. “That being said, take your pick.” He blocked the inside of the pantry. There was a click.
I blinked and the wall moved. Exposing a whole other room filled to the brim with weapons. I got up from the island and tiptoed in behind Josh. My eyes widened, taking in the scene in front of me. Swords, daggers, guns. Weapons of anything one could imagine lined the walls. My mouth gaped. “Holy shit.”
Well, doesn’t this look all…stabby?
I peered at Josh out of the corner of my eye. “By the way, I don’t know if you realize this. But you sigh and shake your head like a disappointed parent. Like a lot.”
He mumbled, “It comes with the territory.”
I scoffed. “Of course it does.” I was astonished at the different blades that donned the walls. In the middle of the room was—what I assumed to be—anti-weaponry/bullet and fighting gear. Any lethal equipment you could think of was all held within the room. “What the hell is this place and why didn’t Seth tell me about it?”
I swear to all hell. If he keeps one more damn thing from me, I’m going to blow my top.
“I would assume that would be a better question to ask Seth. Rather than myself, who would only assume he withheld this information in an attempt to protect you. And if that were the case, as you can assume, I believe that you being aware is far more beneficial to your survival. As well as the humans at stake.”
Although I knew realistically that it would do nothing and Seth was more than likely passed out in his bed, I shot a glare in Seth’s direction at the likely implication of him doing exactly what Snooty Pants hinted at. I wouldn’t have put it past him.
“Okay, well. Assuming that you’re correct and Seth was attempting to shield me from this—for whatever idiotic, big brother complex reason he has—why are you showing me this room?”
Josh faced me. Assessing. “Truthfully, Miss Snow. I believe you have potential. That you very well may be ‘The Key’ to attaining these humans and have the power behind you to do what needs to be done.”
“Josh, I am flattered. That may be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” I slapped my hand over my chest. “I’m truly honored, oh all-knowing-mighty leader.”
He shot me a glare and I smirked in return. “I am not your leader, Miss Snow. That position falls to your beloved, Seth.”
I stammered, “He’s not my beloved. This isn’t the sixteen hundreds, old man.”
Josh turned his back to me once more, unfazed. “My apologies, once again, Miss Snow,” he waved me over. “Take a look at the blades available and choose what calls to you.”
I side eyed him. “What calls to me? What is this? Some magical bullshit?”
“No, Miss Snow. The blades have a hum. Each unique, calling to different powers and auras. They have souls of sorts. Therefore, listen for the one that calls to you. You may use others, as Miss Libby or Derik have, but the weapon that fits you most, will call to you.”
I mumbled under my breath, “Sounds like a whole lot of magic mumbo-jumbo to me.”
I ran my fingers over the different swords and daggers that were laid along the shelves and walls in front of me, feeling each one out, attempting to listen for one that ‘called’ to me, as Snooty Booty described. I grew frustrated.
How the fuck is this supposed to work?
Do one of these things just jump up and start rattling off some musical number?
“Ugh. I’m getting nothing, Josh.”
“Try closing your eyes, Miss Snow. And truly focus. Remove everything else from your mind and focus. Listen.”
I closed my eyes and evened out my breath. I let go of the thoughts of Seth, the weapons surrounding us, the Demons.
I reached further in. The little voice I had avoided in the back of my head, laughed at me. Taunted me with the fact that if I don’t get it together and get stronger then everyone will end up dead or worse.
If they die. It's my fault.
I suffocated the thought.
Not the time.
A hum began to vibrate within me. It grew, expanding to the top of my head and down to the pit of my stomach. It pulled me across the room and I followed. My arms lifted, searching for the source. Everything fell away. A bright orange hue appeared behind the lids of my eyes.
“You’ve come.” A melodic voice floated within my mind.
I squinted my closed lids. “Who are you?”
“I am yours.”
“Does that mean you are my weapon? The one that calls to my power?”
A flame appeared, forming from the orange aura in front of me. “Yes. We are one in the same.”
“What does that mean?”
“We are the flames. The flames that ignite in the realm surrounding us. Whether chaos or savior, the decision is up to us.”
“Oh.”
A warmth caressed me, as if in a comforting embrace. “Now, we must find my sisters.”
“Sisters? Blades have sisters?”
“In our case, yes. And you must find them. There are two within this room. Take me into your warmth. Then listen. We will call to them together.”
I grabbed for the flame in front of me, vaguely feeling a sharp blade in my grasp.
“Concentrate. You must concentrate. Beyond my hum. And you will find them.” The voice hurried.
The hum emanating from within me thickened. The air around me closed in. I gripped the flame closer to my body.
“Keep going,” it whispered.
I honed in on the humming. Following it, my body moved forward. The energy pulled me towards itself, growing louder the closer I became.
“Here. We’re here. Sisters, it is us!” I heard twin voices ring between my eyes. I reached my hand forward, the other grasping the blade I’d gathered close to my chest. My fingers slid along two small blades. I pulled them into myself and the humming stopped as I drew them in. “Sister.” Echoed behind my lids.
My eyes fluttered open to find Josh staring at me, dumbfounded.
“What? Did I get coffee on me or chocolate chips from the granola bar somewhere?” I frantically began taking in my grease covered shirt from the night before, reminding myself how much of a mess I was.
And then I saw the blades. A long sword and two daggers, all cradled in my arms.
“Ah, well. Um. I guess I found my weapons?” I said to Josh, my voice pitched.
“Indeed, Miss Snow. It seems you have.”