Darkness in Appalachia

“Puk, please put him on the couch and go get the first aid kit. I should be in the bathroom on the lower level under the sink.” Robyn switched on the lights in her living room and watched as Michel floated into the room and onto the couch. Once, he was down, she went over to the couch and rearranged his arms and legs into a more comfortable position and turned his head to one side so that she could look at the back. His hair was matted with blood but it looked like it had stopped bleeding sometime during the ride here.

“Walker went to get Beryl. She is the expert in healing magic and can make sure that I didn’t do any damage when I hit him.” Puk returned with the first aid kit and knelt beside me, looking anxiously at the back of his head. “Does this break my contract? Are you going to have to punish me now?”

“I think that I can overlook it this time considering the circumstances. As long as he lives and doesn’t have permanent damage.”

Puk sighed, then perked up, “Maybe he’ll want to punish me when he wakes up. What do you think Robyn?”

She bit back her sarcastic remark as Walker and Beryl walked in. Beryl was a nature sprite and appeared to be a walking bush. Her face was formed by branches twining and twisting around each other, constantly in motion. This same motion propelled her forward to the couch.

“Walker says that you have a man with a head injury here. You know that I don’t like treating humans, right Robyn? What possible reason could you have for disturbing me in the middle of the night to see this man?” Her voice was soft but grating and she was clearly annoyed.

“I’m sorry, Beryl. I wouldn’t have asked but we need to make sure that there is no permanent injury. I can treat the wound myself but I wanted you to make sure of that for me. He’s a police officer and could cause a lot of problems for the reserve if something were to happen to him.” She had stood and turned to face Beryl as she spoke and made her voice as respectful as possible. “I won’t make you if you really don’t want to but it would really help me out.”

She grumbled a little under her breath but moved up beside Michel on the couch. “How exactly did this happen?”

Puk answered sheepishly. “I’m afraid that I did it. He was holding a gun on Robyn and Bobby and I hit him in the back of the head with a metal pan.”

Beryl didn’t look up. “Why would you do that? You have enough magic that you could have taken him out without knocking his brains out.”

I turned towards Puk, “That’s true. Why didn’t you use magic to knock him out? It would have made everything a lot easier.”

Puk was flustered. “I tried but I wasn’t able to use any magic right then. Something was blocking it. I couldn’t even make myself visible.”

Walker spoke up. “Same thing happened to me. It felt like there was a wall between me and my magic. It probably had something to do with that scream. You haven’t told me who that was yet.” His tone was almost accusing.

“Sorry, Walker. I was still a little dazed on the way here and wasn’t up to speaking much. That scream came from the girl when I tried to perform the rite for her.”

He snorted, “You must have performed it incorrectly for that to occur.”

Puk jumped to her defense. “No she definitely did it right but there was something off about the child’s body. The way it was opened suggested something ritualistic. Is there a chance that another ritual interfered with the rite you performed?”

I had turned back to watch Beryl with Michel, “I don’t know of any ritual that requires something like that and the rite shouldn’t interfere with any previous rituals. It’s meant to be outside the normal processes.” Robyn closed her eyes and cleared her head. “I can do some research on it later to find out for sure, though. Right now, we need to decide what to do with him.”

“Do you want me to alter his memories of the day? It wouldn’t take much to do while I’m here.” Her tendrils wandered over his head, pressing here and there to check for other injuries.

“Yes.”

“No.”

Robyn and Walked spoke at the same time and she turned to him. “Why wouldn’t we alter his memories? He could get me in a lot of trouble over this. Bobby, too. And what would happen to the reserve while I tried to get it straightened out?”

“I think that we should tell him everything. I already told you that he has a good smell to him and he’s proven to be smart and intuitive. He could be a big help in this situation.”

“Let’s not forget that he’s hot as hell, too.” Puk grinned when Robyn turned to her. “You need another human around here. We’re not telling you to make him your partner, though I think that you should consider it. Just let him help you this time. It would make me feel a lot better since we don’t know what we are dealing with and it seems that it can take our magic from us.”

Beryl stood and began walking to the door. “Majority rules. Sorry Robyn but I agree with them, too. I have heard that you don’t want to choose a partner but you also need to consider that the gate can choose a partner for you and that is far more dangerous.”

“And who’s going to be responsible for explaining all this to him? It shouldn’t be me since I would rather him not know anyways.”

Beryl paused at the door just long enough to say, “I would say that he has a little bit of an idea of what’s going on after listening to yalls conversation but you might have to fill in the details.”

The three of us spun around to see Michel attempting to sit up. Robyn tried to stop him but he brushed her off. “You should really pay more attention to the person you tried to kill.”

“I didn’t try to kill you. We just wanted you to quit aiming a gun at us. Puk isn’t used to hitting people so she accidentally hit a little too hard.”

He looked around, visibly trying not to flinch when he saw Puk. “You’re Puk, right? Just what the hell are you? A grim reaper?”

She bristled in annoyance, “Do I look like one of those horrible things? I’m clearly a

pukwudgie.”

He studied her for a brief moment and then turned to Walker, “And I take it that you are no ordinary dog?”

Walker growled and bared his teeth at the insult and Robyn stepped in, holding up a hand. “He’s a skin walker and you need to be careful how you speak to him.”

Michel pursed his lips and nodded, “OK, so a pukwudgie, a skinwalker, and whatever that thing was that was here a moment ago.”

“Beryl’s a nature sprite though I’m not exactly sure what kind. She’s very good at healing and memory magic so we called her in to make sure that you were alright.”

He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes, absorbing the information and what he’d heard while pretending to still be out. “And you? What are you Ms. Elmore?”

Robyn sat on a chair across from him “I’m human and a guardian.”

“Guardian of what?”

She sighed. “I am a guardian of the entities and of the gate that they come through.” She had decided to only give direct answers to his questions. That way, he wouldn’t learn more than he needed to.

“Do you guard humans from them or them from humans? And what is this gate that these things come through? Are there more than just the three that I’ve seen? And how do you get to be a guardian anyways? And does any of this have anything to do with the girl in the morgue?” He was still leaning back as if relaxed but his voice was agitated.

Robyn leaned back,making a show of getting comfortable while she decided how to answer his questions without giving away too much. He already knew more than she was comfortable with but she didn’t tell him enough that he wouldn’t think to ask more questions.

He leaned forward, staring at her with those sharp eyes. “I know what you are doing. You are trying to pick and choose what you tell me but I want the whole truth this time. I’m not leaving until I get it.”

She smiled sarcastically. “Do you plan to camp out in my house until I answer your questions?”

He smiled back, just as sarcastically. “If need be. Truthfully, if you let me leave without the answers I want, who knows what I will tell them about what happened to me.”

Puk and Walker chuckled as Robyn’s eyes narrowed. She met his eyes defiantly, her mind racing as she tried to determine if he was serious about going to town and telling people. “You would look insane if you went there spouting stuff about pukwudgies and skinwalkers.”

He shrugged. “That’s true. But I could tell them that I caught you in the morgue contaminating the body and that you hit me over the head, knocking me unconscious before kidnapping me and bring me to your house. They may not believe me but they would have to investigate and it would be hard for you to keep your secret if they did.”

Puk laughed out loud. “He has you there, Robyn. I like him even better now.” Robyn glared at her and her smiled faded. “Why don’t I go into the kitchen and get some drinks? This seems like it could be a long conversation.”

“Get him a sealed bottle of water. I’m thinking he’s not feeling too trusting at the moment and wouldn’t want to risk drinking something we prepared.” Walker stretched out on the floor and closed his eyes, removing himself from any further conversation.

Michel didn’t react to them, just eyed Robyn patiently waiting for her to start. She was still reluctant but couldn’t see many options. She could lie but suspected that Walker and Puk would set her straight if she tried. Giving in, she leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes, rolling her shoulders and trying to decide the best way to explain.

“I will answer your questions but it’s important that you know there are risks to knowing about these things. You could be bound the this place for the remainder of your life and dealing with entities isn’t always safe. It killed my parents and my siblings. There’s also the risk of serious injury. If that’s not something you are willing to risk, you should just stop me now.” He just raised an eyebrow and waved his hand for her to continue. “It started several generations ago, when English settlers were just starting to explore this area. My however man greats grandfather was part of a scouting party but he got separated from his group. He wandered the area for days by himself until he ran into the local Indians and suffered an injury. He got away from them by running into this area. Apparently, the locals wouldn’t come here. His injury made it difficult to move around so he found a spot next to a stream and made a crude camp before becoming ill. He was on the verge of death when the demon found him. It took care of him and nursed him back to health. Once he was well, the demon took him to a gate made of stone. The demon told him that the gate led to other places and that beings could come through it and enter our world. The demon offered a deal. If grandfather would guard the gate, the demon would give him and his ancestors power over the creatures that would through and would make sure that none of them would ever know hunger or poverty. Grandfather knew that it was bad to make deals with demons but he was desperate. He agreed to the deal and a searing pain ran through his body, centering on the back of his neck. He later discovered a brand there. One that all the guardians in my family carry. It didn’t take long before he became used to dealing with the gate and the creatures that came through. He thought that they were demons and that it was a gate to hell so he would force them back through or kill the ones that refused to leave. Somehow, he met my grandmother and, after their marriage, she became branded as well. Their firstborn child also bore the mark of the guardian. He was the one that found out what happened if they tried to leave. He didn’t want to be a guardian and left the land when he was old enough. He died within forty eight hours and at the moment of his death, the second child suffered the pain of the brand. She also tried to leave to get married and also died within forty eight hours of leaving the land and the third child became marked. Over time, they realized that each marked person is bound to the area and is destined to be the next guardian. Each guardian has a partner, normally a spouse but it can also be a sibling or a close friend and that partner can’t leave either. If they do, they kill themselves and the guardian they are partnered with. If a guardian refuses to choose a partner, the gate will choose one for them from the humans that come onto the land but that’s only happened once or twice. They also determined that the gate didn’t lead to hell and the creatures weren’t demons. Over time, they began letting some of them stay but they had to agree to sign a binding contract that gave the guardians power over them. The guardians used these contracts to control them and make sure that they didn’t hurt the people in the area. And that’s led to now, I use the land as a reserve for the entities that come through giving them a safe place to live while they are in this world and protecting the world from them.”

Puk had come in with the drinks sometime in the middle of her monologue and Michel had been absently drinking his while hanging on her every word. Puk had sat down in a chair across from Michel so that she could watch his reactions to what he was hearing.

“That sounds like a fairy tale you would tell your children.”

Robyn shrugged and sipped her drink, leaving Puk to respond to his almost question.

“Actually, most of the human fairy tales are based on encounters with one of us. There are gates all over the world and that means sometimes humans will run into one of us when we come through. It was especially common several hundred years ago. Most of us will avoid humans if we have a choice.”

Michel focused on her, piercing her with his eyes. “Why is that?”

She fidgeted, uncomfortable with his gaze. “Well, humans are known for wanting to destroy things that they don’t understand. There are all kinds of stories of one of us running into them and being burned alive, dismembered, or chased off my mobs. We are able to use magic with can protect us to a degree but humans can use magic as well and are very good at finding ways to deal with ours.”

Michel started. “Humans can use magic?”

In answer, Robyn held out a hand and created a fireball in the palm. Holding it long enough for him to get a really good look. “We can do magic but it doesn’t come naturally to us the way it does for most entities. Most entities start using certain types of magic from birth so that it’s second nature to them. Humans have to learn and it’s painful. Like trying to use a muscle that hasn’t been used in a long time. Traditionally, only certain people have used magic and they start as children. Ancient priests, shamans, and witch doctors often use magic of one kind or another.”

He took a second to absorb that information, leaning back and sipping his water with a pensive look on his face. Robyn watched him out of the corner of her eye, just waiting for the next question but hoping he was done for the time being.

No such luck. “Why do guardians need human partners? And, Ms. Elmore, you’re not the oldest in your family and you don’t have a partner.”

She leaned forward, propping her elbows on her hands and her face in her hands, starting to feel tired and ready for this to be done with. “Entities tend to be limited to one type of magic depending on what type of entity they are. Humans aren’t limited. We can use any type of magic that we take the time to learn. Guardians have partners in order to share the burden and their power between the two making is easier to control more powerful entities. While any entity that comes through my gate has to sign a contract giving me power and authority, entities that come through other gates may not sign a contract at all so guardians have to be strong enough to deal with any of them that come into their areas.” Rubbing her eyes, she answered the second implied question. “And, you’re right. I’m not the oldest. I had two older siblings that passed away before I became guardian and I have, so far, managed to avoid dragging anyone else into this.”

An uncomfortable silence filled the room, broken only by the soft snoring of Walker. Puk had leaned back in the chair and was just watching Michel to determine his reaction, hoping that he would be receptive to this story. Robyn remained doubled over resting her head in her hands with her eyes closed. Michel was looking at the ground, going over everything he had been told in his head. It was a lot to take in but all he had to do was look up and see Puk to know that there was at least some element of truth to the story.

Robyn broke the silence by standing up and stretching. “Even if you have more questions, I am done for the night. Anything else will have to wait til later. Do you want a ride back to your car or are you staying here tonight?”

Michel looked up at her, a slight smile playing about his lips. “If I leave now, you’re going to find some way to avoid me so that you don’t have to answer any more questions. Besides, it’s getting late, you look too tired to drive, and I’m recovering from a concussion.”

Robyn had expected that answer so wasn’t surprised. “OK Do you need help up? There is a bedroom upstairs that you can borrow for the night along with some clothes and a shower. We can get your clothes washed as well so that the blood doesn’t set in too much.”

Michel didn’t answer but attempted to stand, stopping every couple of movements to give himself time to deal with the dizziness. Robyn watched, moving closer in case he fell but not reaching out unless she had to. Once on his feet, he swayed for a minuted before gaining his balance.

“Just one question. Are there any entities upstairs that I need to know about?”

Puk chirped from her chair. “Entities aren’t allowed upstairs. The previous guardians created a barrier that prevents us from going up there so that there would be a...” she struggled to find the right word, “sanctuary, of sorts. They keep journals and mementos from previous guardians up there that they would prefer some entities not see.”

Robyn turned and started heading upstairs, checking every couple of steps to make sure that he didn’t need help and wasn’t about to fall. She led him to the first door on the right and preceded him in. Inside, she went to a dresser by the bed while he collapsed into a chair. Inside the dresser were spare men’s clothes. She picked out a pair of shorts and a shirt that looked like they would fit him and tossed them at him.

“There’s a bathroom through that door where you can change and grab a shower if you want. Toss your clothes out and I will get them in the washer. Towels and washcloths are on the shelves and there should be soap and shampoo in the tub.”

He looked at the door she motioned to and then took in the rest of the room. It was decorated in masculine style, lots of greens and heavy wood furniture including the queen size bed. “Whose room is this?”

Robyn was walking to the closet and pulling down extra sheets and blankets. She planned on changing them for him while he changed since she couldn’t remember the last time that the ones on the bed had been washed. “It was my brother’s before he was married. No one has really used it since.”

He saw what she was doing and moved to stop her. “Ms. Elmore, it’s not necessary for you to change the sheets or anything. Or to wash my clothes.”

She ignored him and kept moving. “At this point, you should call me Robyn. I hate being called Ms. Elmore anyways.” She turned and looked him up and down. “Do you need help changing clothes?”

His face flushed slightly which Robyn was surprised to find was very cute. “No, I’m sure that I can undress myself.” He started to turn towards the bathroom but turned back. “And it’s David.” He disappeared into the bathroom and a moment later Robyn heard the shower turn on. She allowed herself a small smile at his expense before finishing up the bed. Once done, she looked towards the bathroom and considered going in real quick to grab his clothes so that she could get them washing and get herself to bed.

Instead, she sat down in the chair he had vacated and leaned back, closing her eyes. Listening to the spray of the water she struggled not to doze off. Her mind played over everything that had happened to day, replaying it over and over like a movie stuck in a loop. At some point, she caught herself focusing on David more than the events of the day. The different expressions he made and his calm acceptance of the situation appealed to her more than she wanted to admit. It didn’t help that she had Puk’s voice in her head telling her how fine he was.

David exited the bathroom drying his hair to find Robyn in the chair. He came closer, studying her face. It was the first time that she had looked completely relaxed. Normally, there was a tightness or wariness in her face and eyes that hinted of the secrets she had to keep. It was one of the things that caught his attention the first time they’d met and made him so suspicious of her. Right now, she looked like a kid just out of high school instead of mid twenties and looked completely innocent. It was deceptive considering how strong and stubborn he knew her to be. Attributes that he had to admit he found very attractive. He caught himself studying her slightly parted lips and leaning towards her just a little, unsure of just what he intended to do.

Robyn’s voice stopped him from having to answer that. “Is there something on my face?”

He looked up to find her green eyes open and more aware than they should have been if she had been asleep. Embarrassed, he backed up, hitting the backs of his legs against the bed and plopping down on it.

Robyn stood and stretched, “Did you bring your clothes out or leave them in the floor in the bathroom?” She took the wadded up clothes that he handed to her. “OK, I’m leaving. Do you need an alarm or anything? I always get up with the sun so I can wake you up then or a little later if you want.”

“A little later is fine. I don’t have anything on tomorrow so it’s the day I would normally sleep in. Good thing too since I will probably have a pretty good headache when I get up.”

Robyn was at the door, hand on the knob preparing to close it. “Let me know if you do and I will do something for it. You probably won’t because Beryl treated you but I do have things that I can do to get rid of a headache.” She left without waiting for a response, shutting the door firmly behind her.

In the hallway, she leaned against the door trying to calm her racing heart. She had been sure that he was about to kiss her and had almost let him. It had been far too long since she had spent any real time around another person and even longer since that person was a man. She was sure that that was the only reason she was reacting like this.

She didn’t know how long she stood there but, eventually, she straightened up and headed down the hall. She would throw these clothes in the washer and then head to bed. Morning would come early and she had a lot to do the next day.