Sleep Keeper (17 page)

I snapped open my eyes and broke free from the flashback. I wiped the sweat from my brow and tried to catch my breath. My hands shook profusely.

I remembered someone lingering in the shadows… Erebus.

What if the fairytales were actually true and Erebus could corrupt those around him. I thought about the pain in Draco’s eyes at our second encounter. For just a moment, they didn’t look so haunting against his porcelain skin. Was Erebus the real reason I buried Mitchell? But it still didn’t make any sense… why kill Mitchell? The only thing it did was kept me away from Orion. Maybe Mitchell’s death did exactly what it was meant to do. Maybe it worked and now Orion’s dead, which was why I couldn’t see him anymore!

“Oh, please no!” I cried.

Several people glanced my way and I bolted to my feet. I ran out of the church, rushing to my car. I threw it into gear, but had no idea where to go. I felt completely helpless. I sped to the only place I could think of… home. I ran into my room and threw myself on the bed. I closed my eyes and lay very still, trying to force myself to fall asleep. But my heart was pounding and my body shook in a panic. I knew it was true – Orion was dead too. I could feel it now as true as the sky is blue. Without him, there was no reason left for me to exist.

Stop thinking and sleep!

It was no use. There was no way I was going to fall asleep. I sat back up in defeat. My mind raced wildly. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, focusing on my breathing to calm my mind.

Breathe in. Breathe out.
Breathe in. Breathe out.

I repeated this pattern for nearly thirty minutes. As I relaxed, I became more aware of the sensation of my breath as it entered my lungs and filled my body with fresh oxygen, and then quickly exiting, expelling the negative energy as it passed. I concentrated on this sensation while forcing my thoughts out… diverting them from following the many paths of my anxious mind. I closed my eyes and cleared my mind of all everything except breathing and Orion’s face.

I opened my eyes to a crimson sky. Red flames licked the horizon and the outline of heavy smoke hovering below the treetops. I took a breath… the air had no scent… my eyes and throat did not burn. Through the thick air appeared an unfamiliar town. The ill-lit town was lined with buildings, three or four stories high. They were snuggled close together with only a narrow alley disjointing them. Each held a unique charm but their overall character was similar, as if designed by the same hand. Uniformed windows were carved into the buildings with the same arched top and a square-bottomed frame. The streets were paved in rich umber clay as hard as asphalt under my feet.

At first glance, the town appeared deserted, but as I listened closer I made out the sound of faint cries echoing in the distance. I placed one foot forward, leaning in the direction of the voices. Without moving a step, I was suddenly at the next block’s corner, peering around the nearest building. Dark smoke billowed in the sky as scarlet flames danced wildly throughout the town. Three rows of men, maybe two dozen, laid face down on the street, encased in debris. Their arms were stretched out above their heads. Six others circled them, carrying swords, daggers and axes in hand. Their feral eyes darted neurotically as they yelled at the men to lay still and stay silent. My heart was racing as I searched the faces for Orion’s… both hoping I would find him and desperately praying he wasn’t there.

Frightened cries came from a building on my right. Their desperate pleas made my heart sink.
THEATRE
in antiqued calligraphy hung above the entrance. Guarding the doors were two men. I recognized Draco. The other wore dark clothes … presumably Erebus. Seeing them replaced any sorrow with a jolt of instinctual fear that quickly transformed into anger. My stomach twisted in a knot. Draco’s brow was thick and hardened, like a permanent scowl was plastered on. He mouth was turned in a brutal sneer. He held a torch and was talking to Erebus. I couldn’t hear them… the cries of townsfolk drowned their words.

The scene suddenly shifted and I was inside a room. It was dark – and quiet. From the window I could see the men lying on the ground in the distance.

“Shhh, don’t scream,” a deep voice whispered.

I gasped and shot my head around. A middle-aged husky man was standing over Orion, fifteen feet away from me. He held a stone-cold rugged face. A rush of excitement filled my chest at the sight of Orion.

“Orion!” I blurted out.

He didn’t acknowledge me.

The man leaned his solid chest uncomfortably close to Orion. “Who are you? I don’t recognize you?” he interrogated.

“My name’s Orion Nellis. I’m not from here. I came to help.”

The man stepped back to size him up.

I stood in shock. After all this time, after all this pain and misery, how could he ignore me?
My eyes swelled with tears and I swallowed hard.

“Orion!” I repeated, but it came out more as a pleading question.

“Help, huh?” the man repeated and took another step back. “What do you know about this?”

“I’ve been pursuing two men across the lands. I spotted the fires from the forest and thought they may be responsible.”

“Pursuing, huh? What’s it to ya?” he probed.

“I’m here to take them down,” Orion answered.

His tone was harsh and unfamiliar to me. I took several steps closer. Neither man so much as blinked. I slowly reached out my hand.

“Well… okay then,” he stately replied. The man’s demeanor relaxed and he extended his hand to Orion. “I’m Leyland. Leyland Balli. I own the butcher shop down the street.”

I stretched out my hand and touched Orion’s shoulder. It went right through him.

What’s happening? Am I dead?

My mouth was suddenly parched as the panic built in my throat. “Orion! Orion!” I shouted and flailed my arms through his body.

Silence.

Orion shook Leyland’s hand. “Give me a run-down of what we’re dealing with, Leyland. The men I’m chasing were only two. I saw at least six more out front.”

“They came in and attacked so fast… we didn’t have time to react. There were six, carrying torches and weapons. Without a word, they lit the town on fire,” Leyland recalled with a cringe. He paused to compose himself. 

What’s going on? Oh God, I’m dead! But… I don’t feel dead.

I placed my hand under my nose -
did dead people breathe? Okay, calm down. Calm down.

I took several deep breaths.

“Most of the townsfolk were with their families, fast asleep when it happened. I was closin’ up shop when I heard the noises outside. Within minutes smoke was everywhere. People ran from outside and they rounded them up as they came out. They forced the men to the ground and locked the women, children, and elders in the theatre. I saw it all happen from my shop window, slipped out the back, and hid in the trees. There was an albino-lookin’ man who threatened to kill some of the women if the locals didn’t join him. The last I counted, four of our men caved. -- One of them was Robby; he runs the mill across town. I figured he agreed as a trick so he could free the others. When I had the chance, I snuck up behind him and grabbed his shoulder to pull him away, like I did you. But… when he turned to face me… somethin’ in his eyes had changed. He looked like a wild dog ready for a kill. He punched me in the gut and I fell to the ground. He kicked me in the head so hard I must have blacked out for a minute. When I awoke, Robby was standin’ a few feet away, lookin’ the other way. I crawled into the nearby brush and hid again. He didn’t seem to notice my absence and went to join the others. That’s when I ran in here. I don’t understand, Robby’s a good guy,” Leyland explained with pressed brows. 

“It’s not his fault Leyland, its Erebus,” Orion answered.

Leyland’s body stiffened and his eyes flashed with terror. “What’d you say?...”

“The two men I’ve been chasing, Erebus and Draco. Do you know of their names?” Orion asked.

“Only in stories,” he confirmed with a horrid expression.

“I wish it was only a story, my friend,” Orion consoled and placed his hand on Leyland’s shoulder.

My chest squeezed tighter as Orion touched Leyland. What I wouldn’t give to feel his hand caress my skin again…

“Now tell me, you said four of your men agreed to join Erebus. That means there are ten in total. I counted six out front and two by the theatre. There’s two more somewhere?” Orion guessed.

“I heard the dark-clothed one, Erebus I take it, tell a few of the men to check the town’s perimeter.”

Orion paced the room, his usual tactic when distraught. He brushed right past me. His arm swung through my ribs. I felt a wave of excitement as he passed by, but didn’t catch his scent.

“What’re you thinkin’?” Leyland asked.

“I’m thinking that ten is quite a large number. How good are you at fighting?” Orion examined his physique and waited, observing his reaction to the question.

“I’ve never fought before, but… I’m a butcher. I can swing a mean cleaver.” He lifted the massive knife from the small table beside him. The anger in his eyes along with the fire reflecting off the blade sent shivers down my spine.

“Good enough for me,” Orion responded. “The key is to separate Erebus from the others, otherwise it’s useless.”

“What about the guards? These men are my friends… they’re good people. I can’t kill them.”

“Leyland, they will kill us.”

Leyland glanced out the window at the men he called friends not long before - then back at his cleaver. I watched the turmoil behind his eyes as he was asked to kill his brethren.

“Look, I have a plan to draw Erebus away. You distract him while I release the hostages. I’ll spare as many lives as I can, okay?” Orion reassured him.

There was a slight pause, then Leyland shoulders tightened and he gave a single nod. As more dangerous as it was to face Erebus, I think he would rather go against him then his own men.

“How do I distract him?” he asked.

“Run to him and say that you’ve captured me inside this building and that I asked to speak to him. Don’t look directly at Erebus and don’t agree to anything. And even more important, don’t fight… you will lose and nothing will be accomplished. Make sure you say my name and make sure he follows. Enter this building first and tell him I’m in one of the back rooms, then exit and run back to help me with the guards,” Orion explained.

“I can do that,” he affirmed.

Just then, there was a commotion outside. Orion and Leyland hurried to the window. I followed directly behind, still unnoticed. In the distance, Draco dragged what looked like a young woman from the theatre. Her white crochet dress contrasted against the darkness. Her curly blonde hair was pinned back with ribbons. An older woman, possibly her mother, clung desperately to her, screaming. One of the men clubbed the back of the woman’s head and she fell to the ground in silence. He shoved her back inside the theatre and slammed the door.

I gasped and moved my hands to my mouth - no one heard me.

Draco dragged the woman to the center of the opening. He knelled her on the ground and bellowed, “Who else will join us?” as he stared down at the men.

Several of the men shot frightened glances to the others, while the rest remained still, possibly hoping to call his bluff. Leyland’s body stiffened, his muscles quivering with anger. He clenched his teeth and gripped the cleaver tight as he headed toward the door.

“Leyland, don’t do anything stupid,” Orion insisted as he moved quickly out of Leyland’s way. “Stick to the plan.”

Leyland’s wild eyes flashed with rage, then without a word, he was out the door. He ran toward Draco and Erebus. Orion pulled out his bow and arrow and waited, positioning himself partially out of the open door. From Leyland’s demeanor, I pictured him attacking, and failing, leaving one more corpse. Their odds were slowly getting worse. I couldn’t just stand there and watch - I wanted to help. I felt so helpless.

Suddenly, I was standing next to Draco.

“None of you will join, huh? Have it your way,” Draco grimaced in pleasure.

Before I could take a breath, he pulled out his dagger and sliced open the girl’s throat inches from me.

“No!” I screamed and reached for the girl. My hands slipped right through her as she fell to the ground.

Two men jumped from the ground and charge Draco. In a split second, Draco severed them both with his dagger. He stepped over the pile of lifeless bodies. The remaining men lay silently as screams flowed from the theatre.

I was frozen in shock… my mind couldn’t comprehend the horror scene before me.

Leyland charged forward with immense speed. His back was toward Orion, probably blocking his line of attack. Erebus glided over at the same time that Leyland reached us. I didn’t want to watch, anticipating Leyland’s demise. Instantly, Leyland’s body language changed; he lowered the cleaver to his side and bowed his head.

“I was on perimeter watch and caught someone sneakin’ in town. Said he’d speak to only you,” he spoke impassively, just as instructed.

He even appeared to cower at their feet. I held my breath; my hands tucked under my chin in trepidation.

Erebus slid closer, inspecting Leyland’s expression. “Whom does he ask for?”

Leyland turned up his head and glared directly in his pale eyes. With a voice dripping with wrath he spoke, “Erebus.”

Draco’s body stiffened. They both appeared to mistake Leyland’s tone for fear.

“What’s his name?” Erebus leaned in.

I was nearly on my tiptoes with anticipation. My heart beat a thousand times a minute. Leyland stayed in character and peered back down at his feet in silent. I wasn’t sure what was wrong… why he wasn’t saying Orion’s name.

“Say his name… Say his name…” I chanted.

After an endless pause he whispered, “Orion.”

Erebus head shot forward. Draco darted about nervously. He charged forward, picking Leyland up by his shirt and then threw him against the theatre wall. I was shocked at how easy he made it look, as Leyland was not a small man.

“Where - is - he?” Draco snarled.

Leyland shifted the cleaver in his hand, perhaps wondering if he was quick enough. Just one swift slice is all it would take… but then Erebus would destroy us all. Luckily, Leyland restrained himself and kept him arms by his sides, with the cleaver still in his hand.

“Over there, in the back room. I’ll take you,” he offered as he pointed in Orion’s direction.

“Move it!” Draco scolded and dropped Leyland.

Leyland led them to the building and I hurried close behind. They entered the building entrance. Before I entered, I saw something in my peripheral move against the alley wall. I paused. Orion bolted across the street with his sword drawn. Without a thought, I drifted behind him, like a magnet.

He ran with great speed until he reached the scene. Without slowing, he used all of his strength and shoved the sword in the middle a guardsman’s back. It slid through easier that I would have thought and emerged out of his chest. The man fell to his knees, sliding Orion’s sword free. Two other guardsmen nearby turn around; Orion stood over the body, his sword drenched in blood.