Humans Bite Back

The pain I felt was exacerbated as I stepped foot back into the real world, my head was throbbing, and my bones ached. What I needed more than ever was a spell to ease my pain.

I had no sooner had that thought when a cast came to mind, one that I repeated as I hobbled along to the crematorium.

There was no need for a disengagement spell because the crematorium was permanently unlocked. I supposed that the morticians didn’t have to worry that one of their clients may wander off. Though the building appeared empty, the place reeked of botanical sewage and over-priced cologne, so I knew the Leviathan was near.

The upper level was reserved for memorial services and coffin displays; the mortuary and incinerator were located in the basement. I was aware of the location because I had accompanied Finn when she had prepared my father for his Death Row.

I slipped past the memorial room and the consulting offices. The stairs leading to the basement were easy to identify because they were only for employees. I opened the door and trotted down the stairs.

Only two cardboard boxes had been erected, so I didn’t need to waste time searching for Kenny and Finn. Cremation of a body required an eighteen hundred degrees heat; when I checked the furnace, I was relieved to see that the tempt still sat at fifteen hundred degrees, plenty of time to perform the resurrections before anyone was expected to return.

I popped the lid on Kenny’s body. I had expected him to be dead, but I had not been prepared for the effect that seeing his corps had on me. I was shaken to my core, but I had no time to recover. I wiped away the tears that had sprung to my eyes. “Hang in there, buddy,” I whispered to him, “I’m going to bring you back,” I wasn’t sure if those words were meant to reassure Kenny or myself.

I placed my hands upon his chest and summoned the resurrection spell, the same cast I had performed several times without realizing it. The cast was easy enough, but pulling Kenny away from the other side proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated. I wondered if maybe he had gone to hell and was as reluctant to leave as I had been.

Kenny gasped as his soul possessed his body, alerting his organs. His lungs expanded, his eyes flew open, and he moaned and shivered as if a cold shock wave had seized him. I clasped his face in my hands; his eyes were wild and unseeing, “Kenny,” I called out to him, “Kenny, it’s me, buddy. I need you to try to relax,”

It was as if my words brought him back to reality because his eyes rolled around in his sockets and then settled on me, his pupils dilated as he struggled to focus. “Bishop,” he gasped, “Bishop, why is it so cold?” without warning, Kenny shot up into a set position, “Where’s Dad? He was holding my hand only a moment ago.”

It didn’t take me long to deduce that this was why I had such a tough time resurrecting Kenny. He did not want to come back because he had been reunited with his father. I was suddenly plagued with guilt, wondering if I had made the right choice when I brought him back to life. I supposed this is what witches mean when they say that magic has consequences.

“You will start warming up soon, I have to go get Finn, but I’ll be back,” I promised. Kenny nodded his head in response, though I was sure he had not understood a word that I had just said.

I rushed over to the remaining cardboard casket and braced myself for the shock as I lifted the lid. Finn’s corpse proved to be even more shocking than Kenny’s, not because her lips were any bluer than Kenny’s had been or her cheeks any more lifeless. It was because with her eyes closed, Finn was an exact replica of my mother, and the last time I had seen her was in this very room when I said goodbye before she had been prepped for her Death Row.

I shook away the memories and focused on Finn. I reached for her, but she kept slipping away from my grasp. “Come on, Finn,” I cried, “I still need you.”

As if she had heard me, I suddenly felt her cold fingers slip into my hands. I tugged hard, knowing that the spirit would still be reluctant even if she were willing. Soon enough, she came through, and just like Kenny, she was more startled than relieved to realize that she was alive. Thankfully, she didn’t call out for any lost bonds. As her vision returned, her eyes focused on my face. She reached up to touch me as if she couldn’t believe her own eyes. “Bishop,” she cried, “I thought I had lost you.”

Kenny was rubbing his eyes now, “What happened?” he cried, sounding less discombobulated, “Where are we?”

“The crematorium,” I told him. Kenny allowed this to sink in for a moment; then, his eyes widened in realization as the memories of what had happened prior came flooding back to him. His gaze darted around the room, and he said, “Those psychos were going to roast us alive.”

To my relief, he sounded like the same old Kenny, and thankfully he didn’t ask for his father.

Finn grasped my hands, and she managed to get back onto my feet with my support. “I must have been out cold,” she said, still sounding a bit groggy. I returned my attention to Kenny, “Do you think you can walk?” I asked him.

Kenny wiggled his legs, “The old swagger wagons seem to be in working order,” he claimed, “Though the back of my head is killing me.”

“I have a spell for that,” Finn said, stepping over the rim of her cardboard coffin to assist Kenny. I checked the thermostat’s temperature and saw that the needle was dangerously close to eighteen hundred degrees.

“Guys, the furnace is almost ready,” I announced, “I suspect someone will be along soon expecting to have bodies to cremate.”

I hurried over to Finn’s casket and replaced the lid. I knew it wouldn’t fool anyone for long, but hopefully, it would delay the discovery.

I pulled open the door and led the way up the stairs; I was about to reenter the viewing area when a Leviathan with slicked-back hair and a sharp three-piece suit stepped out of the shadows and blocked my path.

Without turning my back on him, I retraced my steps, the Leviathan keeping pace with each step. My back hit a barrier, and I spun around, expecting an attack, but discovered that it was only Finn, holding tight to Kenny as he cowered in her arms. Two more Leviathan, each dressed more eloquently than the other emerged and formed a circle around us.

Our only option was to retreat into the basement, which I suspected was what the Leviathan wanted. The Leviathan exchanged an arrogant look before they began to move in. Finn released Kenny and threw her hands up. A faint prism of light ballooned from her palms before forming a bubble around us.

The Leviathan retreated slightly but appeared unconcerned as they neatly folded their hands in front of them and rested on the balls of their feet, assuming a relaxed stance.

“They know I’m weak and can’t hold the shield for long,” Aunt Finn informed us in an almost inaudible whisper, “As soon as the shield starts to fail, I want you two to prepare to make a run for it.”

“We can’t leave you behind,” I muttered as I glared at the Leviathan, who regarded us with frozen expressions that were eerily lifeless.

“You must,” Finn snapped, in a calmer tone, she proceeded, “I need you to get to safety and call for help.”

I was conflicted; under different circumstances, I would have had no issue leaving Finn to her own devices, but she was visibly weak, which meant that her magic was less potent, and I didn’t even need to wonder about her mental state.

I searched my mind, seeking out a spell that might conjure us out of this situation. Though I was making my best attempt, my body was dehydrated, and my mind was in desperate need of sleep. I had been churning along on an adrenaline rush that was starting to peter out. My energy reserves had been exhausted, and my knees were knocking together, begging me for a break.

The shield shimmered in front of my eyes as the translucent bubble began to falter. The Leviathan noted this and began to unbutton their jackets and straighten their cuffs in anticipation.

I looked to Kenny, “We need to knock down the small one when we make a run for it,” I said, nodding my head in the direction of the Leviathan that I had encountered in the hall. “Even if he’s only down temporarily, it may make a difference.”

“Be ready,” Finn cautioned us in an almost apologetic tone.

I was mentally preparing myself to abandon my aunt when I heard a long low growl ensue from the darkness of the corridor.

The Leviathan must have been sensitive to the sound because they each reactively clapped their hands over their ears and exchanged worried glances as a great silverback werewolf entered the room.

Finn dropped her hands, no longer reliant upon the shield. “Oh, Dr. Briggs, you found us,” she cried out in relief.

The Leviathan stationed furthest from the wolf decided to take advantage of the distraction and lunged in Finn’s direction. Still, Dr. Briggs was quick, managing to place himself in between Finn and the Leviathan.

“Now would be a prime time to make a run for it,” Aunt Finn hinted, giving me an encouraging nudge. The Leviathan that had prevented me from entering the hallway was still watching us but made no move to stop Kenny and me as we made a break for it.

“Keep moving forward; the exit is just around the corner to the….” I trailed off as The Supreme Mother and another Leviathan stepped into the hallway. They both appeared just as surprised as I felt.

I came to a halt so quickly that Kenny nearly collided with me. “What do we do now?” he asked in a loud whisper.

I spotted an office to our left, “Make a run for the open door, stage left,” I muttered through the corner of my mouth to prevent The Supreme Mother from guessing our next move. A loud crash resounded behind us as the battle at the end of the room escalated. If I were to judge by the triumphant howls, I could assume that Dr. Briggs and Finn had the upper hand.

The sound of Dr. Briggs howling seemed to agitate the approaching Leviathan, who hurried to cover his ears as he grimaced in pain.

“Now,” I commanded as I rushed into the office and slammed the door behind us. There was no lock, but there was a chair, which I used to jam the doorknob.

“That won’t hold them for long,” I told Kenny as I pointed to the sole window in the room, “But hopefully, it will buy us enough time to get a running start.”

The doorknob began to jiggle just as Kenny threw open the window and straddled the seal. “Move back,” The Mother Supreme ordered the Leviathan on the other side of the door, “I’ll blow the door wide open.”

Kenny dropped to the pavement below and paused long enough to ensure I had made it to safety; once we both had our feet on the ground, we started sprinting away from the building. Behind us, we heard a loud explosion; I supposed that The Supreme Mother had intentionally overworked the cast in hopes that we still occupied the room.

“Where are we going?” Kenny called over his shoulder as he surpassed me. “Heads up,” he said, “It looks like we have company.”

I didn’t need to look back to see to whom he was referring. “Head to Edna’s,” I ordered him; she and Chad should be able to provide us some protection.”

My knees buckled, and my right ankle was on the verge of giving out; not even the pain relief incantation was enough to prevent my injuries from hindering my ability to move at a faster pace. Kenny must have noticed because he fell behind long enough to link my elbow with his so that he was dragging me along as we maneuvered through the Industrial Section and weaved our way onto Brewery Street.

I knew I had to do something to slow them down. I closed my eyes and allowed Kenny to take the lead. I suddenly envisioned Erica, then Emanuel, and I could feel that rage begin to boil within the marrow of my bones. I thought about the way she had blushed when he had directed her, but this time I took it a step further and imagined him reaching out and tucking one of her wayward strands behind her ear.

That was enough to do the trick. Suddenly I felt a surge of energy pass through my body. I knew that dark clouds had swallowed the light before I even opened my eyes. Just as we ducked into the alley that was sandwiched between Edna’s and the soft pretzel shop, there was a sharp crack in the sky followed by an outpour of rain.

Through the racket of the downpour, I could hear the Leviathan cry out, “This is a two thousand-dollar suit,” that’s when I realized that they were closing in on us quicker than I had initially believed.

“We have to split up,” I huffed as I rushed to the back entrance to Edna’s and threw open the door.

Kenny opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off. “We were in their visuals when we turned the corner, so they know where we are; if neither one of us emerges, then it won’t take long for them to guess where we’re hiding.”

Kenny crossed the threshold and looked back at me, still uncertain. “Borrow Edna’s cell phone and send out a mass message instructing everyone to converge upon the fairgrounds. The Leviathan provided the beverages for the event, so it’s fair to assume that this is the next stage of their plan. Tell them to do what it takes to prevent the humans from consuming those drinks,” I moved to close the door, but Kenny seized my elbow to stop me, “What are you planning to do?” He asked me.

Up until that moment, I had not been entirely sure, I had not thought past diverging The Mother’s Supreme's attention, and though I had not known it, a plan had already begun to take shape in my mind. “If I don’t make it to the fairgrounds, come find me at The Great Oak,” I told him, reclaiming my arm and slamming the door shut before Kenny could have second thoughts.

I climbed onto the dumpster that sat along the dividing wall and hoisted myself onto the ledge, kicking my leg over so that I was straddling it. I waited for the high witch and the amphibious monster to turn the corner, so they could get a glimpse of me clearing the wall.

Soon enough, my feet exchanged the concrete for slippery mud. My shoes sank into the wet earth, making it challenging to keep up my pace. I was discouraged when I planted my foot into a sinkhole.

Even after I lost my shoe to the sinkhole, I continued to march on. I comforted myself as I was reminded of The Mother Supreme’s trademark stiletto boots. The image of her tromping through the mud in those death traps was enough to bring me some comfort and revive my wavering motivation.

As my rage subsided, so did the rain, and it was now reduced to a light sprinkle that may have induced calm under different circumstances. Behind me, I could hear The Mother Supreme arguing with the Leviathan.

“What do you mean you won’t take one step further?” The high witch screamed. I chanced a glance over my shoulders and saw that she was waving her arms, her displeasure evident. The Leviathan crossed his arms in response. “These are hand-sewn Italian leather,” he argued, gesturing at his fancy footwear as if their appearance was a viable excuse for giving up the chase.

I couldn’t help grinning to myself as I turned around and continued to move forward. Behind me, The Supreme Mother let out a howl of outrage.

“Fine,” she relented, “I’ll capture him myself. I wouldn’t want you to take the risk of getting your shiny shoes dirty,” I could hear her boots squish in the mud as she resumed her pursuit.

My muscles had stopped contracting shortly after I had left solid ground, now, my knees were reduced to jelly, and my legs were threatening to refuse to hold me up any longer.

“Perhaps it may have been better if I had died with the others in the factory; perhaps death would have earned me a little rest,” I thought bitterly as I began to clear the last few feet of my journey. I must have slowed to a crawling pace because I could sense a presence behind me. I turned around just in time to throw my hands up to protect my heart from the dagger that The Supreme Mother had meant to plunge into my back.

The blade cut deep into my hands, and if my nervous system had not gone numb after enduring hours of pain, I might have recoiled from the attack. Instead, I lashed out with a bloody palm and knocked the knife out of her grasp.

The Supreme Mother’s eyes followed the blade as it arched into the air and landed in the grass a few feet away. She made the split decision not to recover it and lunged after me instead with her palms open and her arms extended as if she intended to end my life with her bare hands.

I rested my palm upon the tree, allowing my inherited blood to summon the elevator to hell before I stepped aside to dodge her advances. The Supreme Mother was caught off guard and was sent tumbling into the recesses of The Great Oak.

Not allowing her time to rebound from her tumble, I used my blood to draw the same symbol my great ancestor had used when he had sentenced The Order of The Felix to an eternity in hell.

The Supreme Mother cried out as the bark slid shut, sealing her inside. I rested my ear against the bark until I heard a sharp “ding” ring out from within the hollow of the tree, signaling to me that the witch had pressed the button and was now well on her way.

I sank against the tree just as my legs gave out from underneath me. I allowed myself to decline until I was wallowing in the mud. I thought I just needed to close my eyes for a moment, but then I felt a tingling sensation in my palms. I lifted my hands to examine them and saw that a nasty puss was oozing from the wounds that The Mother Supreme had inflicted with her dagger. “Well, that just takes the cake,” I thought as the ground below me began to spin, sending my grasp on reality into a downward spiral.