The Darkness Within (5 page)

“There’s got to be a spell that can take us to the human realm.” Vukasin summoned a large black book. On the front of the exquisite book was the ancient Serbian language of his clan.

Quinton looked on as the wolf chanted in Serbian. As he did so, the pages of the book magically turned themselves. “This is taking far too long, Vuk!” The vampire crossed his arms and impatiently tapped his foot.

Casting the vampire a venomous stare, the wolf continued his search. “Here!” His index finger landed on a page of what seemed to be gibberish to Quinton.

“Chant with me.”

With their combined efforts, the wolf and the vampire were suddenly transported to the human realm.

Chapter Five

Althea frowned at the horrible day she was having. One of her employees wanted to take the afternoon off and another had a sick child to tend to. Suddenly, a knock came at her office door.

“Who is it?” Althea snapped. She rubbed her temples as the headache increased.
Taylor
had told her to rid herself of the powers, but she felt herself succumbing to them each day.
Taylor
’s voice urged her to do what was right, but another voice convinced her he was wrong. The pull between good and evil was taking its toll on her, and she became more enraged with each passing day.

“It’s Dimples. Can I come in?”

“Yeah, sure, why not,” Althea muttered before leaning back in her chair. She looked up as Dimples, her long-time friend, entered her office. With a half smile, the woman sat down.

“What the hell is the matter with you, Althea May Johnson?”

Althea frowned her confusion. “Nothing. I’m just fine.”

“No, something’s wrong with you. What happened to the carefree, happy-go-lucky buddy I went to high school with?” Dimples sat back in the black leather chair, crossing her arms. “And college. You’ve seen me through two divorces.” Dimples snickered. “Damn, I’ve only seen you through one.” Dimples smiled. “Wow, so not used to you doing that. You don’t laugh anymore, hell you don’t even joke. You seem so cold and uncaring. Where’s my Althea?”

“Maybe she died.” Althea rolled her eyes and pulled a file from her cabinet. “Look, I’m busy. Got lots of work to do. Looks like I’ll have to cater this party by myself.”

“That’s not funny.” Dimples cast a sharp look I her direction. “Don’t even joke like that.”

“Look, I’m busy, I really don’t have time.”

“You can ask for a little help from me.” Dimples wiggled her eyebrows to make Althea laugh, but it didn’t work. The woman paused, trying to study her features. “Look, I’m going to give it to you straight.”

“What?” Althea thumbed through the file before pulling another. She looked up at Dimples who had stopped talking. “Go on, I’m listening,” she urged the woman.

“Okay, bottom line,
chica
. You’ve changed.” Dimples rose. “Look at you. You’re pushing everyone away. No one wants to be around you or is willing to help you anymore, not like they used to.”

“Yeah, they’re just being selfish assholes.”

“Althea!” Dimples put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. “Listen to what you’re saying! “How can you be so blind?” After a few moments of silence, the woman tapped on Althea’s mahogany desk. “Hello! Is anyone in there?” She tapped on Althea’s skull.

“Hey!” Althea shoved Dimples’s hand away. “Don’t do that. What the hell’s the matter with you?”

“See, my point exactly. You’ve changed. It’s like someone else has stepped inside your body. Since your divorce, you’ve been slipping away.”

“No, dear, since my divorce, I’ve never been happier! I have more freedom, I’m happier—”

Dimples cut her off. “Are you sure about that part? Being happier than you’ve been? Cause, where I’m standing you appear to be a miserable bitch these days.”

“Get out!” Althea’s nostrils flared as she rose from the desk. “How dare you talk to me like that!”

“See what I’m talking about? You’re selfish, self-centered, and in denial if you ask me. See, Karma is bitch-slapping you all over the place and you don’t even realize it!”

“Karma? I’ve been nothing but nice to everyone!” Althea snapped. “Karma has nothing to do with anything.”

“Oh?” Dimples crossed her arms over her chest. “Look, I’ve never said anything before. But—what you did to Rufus. The old Althea would have never done that.”

“Get out!”

“Hello! Rufus is a bastard, for sure. You put the man in a traction, broke several of his ribs, and burned him with hot coffee!”

A smile formed on Althea’s lips and she began to laugh hysterically.

“What the hell—that’s not funny, Althea,” Dimples chastised. “Something’s wrong with you.”

“Oh, go away.” Althea chuckled and waved her hand at her friend. “Seriously, you’re getting on my damned nerves.”

“No! You’re going to listen to everything damned thing I have to say to you—then I’ll leave.”

Huffing, Althea flopped in her chair, slamming folders down and tossing pencils around. Muttering under her breath, she picked up her cell phone, checking for text messages and e-mails while Dimples continued lecturing her.

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” Althea slammed her phone down on the desk and looked at her friend. “I do know that you’re irri-fucking-tating me!” Her fist connected with her desk.

“Oh yeah?” Dimples pounded her fist on the desk and leaned in close to her old friend. “Well, don’t inter-fucking-rupt me! You know what? I’m done! I don’t even want to be around you anymore! I don’t know why—” Dimples gasped and backed away shaking her head, her eyes filled with terror.

“Now what the hell is the matter with you?” Althea threw her hands in the air. “You come in here, cussing me out—”

Before she could finish, Dimples made a sign of the cross and hauled ass out of her office, leaving Althea wondering what the hell was the matter with the woman. She touched her face and pulled out the compact.

In the mirror she squinted at herself. “What the hell—” she tried figuring out what had spooked her old friend. “Damn, she almost killed herself trying to get away from me.” Then she gasped at what she saw. In the mirror, two yellowish eyes stared back at her.

“Oh no.” Althea freaked. “No, no, no—no!” The eyes seemed to be smiling at her, and she could have sworn she heard a deep, dark laugh ringing in her ears. But where was it coming from? Deep inside, she felt her chest rumble.

“Oh yes.” She heard the voice say. It grew louder. “You have completed alienated yourself from everyone, even your lovers.” Something rumbled inside her being. “We’ve got you exactly where we want you,” the voice continued.

“Who are you?” Althea looked into the mirror again. Wondering, questioning.

“Ah, you still don’t know?”

“No.” She gulped and had difficulty breathing. “Where did you come from?”

“You created me. You tell me.” The eyes blinked. She hadn’t blinked, so why did they? It was as though someone was looking through her.

“I—I have no idea.”

“Oh, come now.” The voice grew louder. It was a woman’s voice. One that sent a chill slithering down her spine. “It seemed all too familiar—”

“No,” Althea murmured. She gasped as the eyes seemed to smile at her.

“Oh yes.” The voice was so loud it drilled into her skull. With a scream, Althea massaged her temples. “You know damned well who I am. I’ve known you all my life, Althea, my dear.”

She rose as a vision of the past flashed in her head. A high-pitched scream filtered through her office as insanity set in the crevices of her mind. Suddenly the room spun, and she collapsed onto the floor.

Chapter Six

The straw that broke the camel’s back.

Her cheek still stung from where he’d struck her earlier. Althea’s bottom lip quivered when she’d realized Rufus’s betrayal. “I don’t believe you!” She had grown so fed up with his infidelity and abuse. It was like he left clues around just so she could find them. He seemed to take pleasure in lying to her. And now, he’d hit her again and walked away.

She’d been pushed to the brink. “Why! You son of a bitch!” Althea threw her grandmother’s cast-iron skillet at the idiot she called her husband. Unfortunately she missed him. The need to get revenge grilled her insides. “I’ve given you the best years of my life!”

Rufus chuckled as he turned around to face her. “Really, you should get a grip on yourself. You don’t want to run your pressure up.” He looked at her up and down. “Honestly, you could stand to lose a few pounds.” Rufus chuckled to himself before popping an Oreo in his mouth.

Something inside her twisted, rearing its head, and suddenly she wished death upon the bastard who had betrayed her. The cast-iron skillet was too good for him. Feeding him tainted pork chops was not enough. She wanted to inflict pain. To hurt him just as he’d hurt her.

Cheating would do it. Oh yeah, she’d thought about having an affair of her own. As a matter of fact, she’d thought about having numerous affairs. Men found her attractive. But no. Maybe that wasn’t the way to go. He could care less if she’d cheated. He always put her down.

The knife inside her twisted as a red haze clouded her vision. The bastard was still chuckling to himself as she heard him flop his lazy ass down on the sofa and turn the television on. He was watching football. The prick.

Gritting her teeth, Althea pulled out a knife and calmly opened the door. Visions of stabbing the bastard flitted through her mind. No, dammit. She didn’t want to kill him, just hurt him. All she wanted to do was inflict physical, brutal pain on him. Beating the living hell out of him could perhaps bring her some gratification. But how far was she willing to go?

“Very far.” A voice echoed in her head. It was so faint, it was a whisper, but so loud, it was like someone roared those words.

“Go as far as you want. He deserves it. No jury will convict you.”

Althea gasped. Had she gone crazy? “No, I can’t.”

“Yes you can.” The voice came again. “He owes you. Take it out of his ass. Make him pay!”

The voice was now a hot breath against the back of her neck. Althea’s palms became sweaty and her hand tightened into fists. Rage coursed through her veins.

“How?”

Something within her smiled and she glanced over at the freshly brewed coffee in the coffeemaker. She’d had enough. This was the last time he’d make a fool out of her.

“Rufus,” she called out.

“What is it now?” he called from the other room. “I’m watching the game!”

“I just need to talk to you, that’s all. Need your opinion about dinner.” Althea smiled as she picked the skillet up from the floor.

Rufus walked in, munching on cookies. She turned and their eyes met. He sickened her to no end. Something blossomed inside her that day. Something dark, something malevolent. Something primal and ancient.

She wagged a finger at him. “Come here, darling, I have something for you.” The dumb bastard walked over like he was getting a treat. As soon as he was close enough, she wailed on him with the cast-iron skillet. “You son of a bitch!”

She no longer saw her husband, but a red, hazy mist that had overpowered her. The entire time she was wailing on him, a sense of satisfaction and a deep, sick gratification graced her aura. To add to his injury, she poured piping hot coffee over him. His screams of agony sent a rush of control over her. She smiled at the feeling and felt no remorse.