The Forgotten Island

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:

MOM (PART TWO)

-Maria-

His question sat in the air, swirling around us like an uncomfortable secret. The younger mans smile faltered when I did not respond. “Of course,” he said “Where are my manners? My name is John, and this is my brother, uh, Mike. We need to speak with Ms. Arya. Is she home?”

Despite the charm he tried to display, alarm bells were sounding off a chorus in my head. What did these men want with my daughter? I smiled sweetly at the two men, doing my best to channel my inner grandma vibes “I’m so sorry boys, but my daughter isn’t home at the moment. I’ll let her know you stopped by though.”

Mike, if that was even his real name, which I doubt it was, narrowed his eyes at me. “She is lying.” His voice was a low baritone, dripping with malice as he spoke. I took a step back as John looked at his brother, and then back down at the suitcases by the door. I moved to close the door, but John was faster, stepping into the doorway and using his foot to block the door from closing. I pushed against the door despite the appendage blocking its way, but his foot was like cement. John put his shoulder into the door and muscled his way inside of the house while I fell with an undignified huff on the entryway floor. He casually strolled by me “We will just wait here for her to return, it’s no trouble at all. We wouldn’t want her leaving without getting our message.”

Outraged, I got to my feet as Mike brushed past me to join his brother inside my living room. I felt like the bumbling maid from 101 Dalmations, when the two robbers stole the puppies. “Now look here! You two need to leave at once. This is private property, and I will get the authorities involved!” John plopped on the couch, making himself at home as he leaned back into the cushions. “I think we will wait” he stated calmy. Mike paced the room behind him, purple veins beginning to stand out on his neck. His nostrils flared as he seemed to sniff the air. He turned to his brother with dark and stormy eyes “The scent is weak, but it is here.” The veins became more prominent with each word, his eyes beginning to develop a red tinge.

“I don’t know what you want with my daughter, pendejo” I yelled indignantly “But you won’t be getting it. Get out. Now.”

John stood smoothly from the couch, moving to stand between Mike and I with his hands held in front of him “Everyone calm down, we will leave as soon as we get what we came for, there is no need for hysterics.”

“I told you she isn’t here, and this is your last warning to get out.” I gnashed out the last words as fury rippled through me. How dare they demand my child and invade my home? I splayed my fingers at my sides, pooling power around me. John sniffed the air before looking at me curiously “What are you doing?” he asked me. Could he SMELL my power? Well good, then he can get a good whiff of me kicking his ass.

“I tire of this” Mike calmy stated, whose appearance seemed to be crumbling away like an abandoned building.

“Brother” warned John, side eying his brother “The cloaking spell, calm yourself.” Mike growled at him in response, an honest to gods growl, before stomping off towards the kitchen.

“ENOUGH” I bellowed. I flicked one of my hands, and each of my house plant pots burst, the soil melding together before separating into two masses. The masses grew double in size before flying straight at the two men and plastering them to the wall in two hardened gravel cocoons. The room rang with silence upon their entombment. I ran back to the kitchen and reached for my cell phone to call the police. These bastards were going to see jail time when the cops got here.

I had dialed the first number on my phone when I paused. From within one of the cocoons, I heard a deep rumbling laughter. I made a rolling motion with my free hand while I took slow steps back toward the living room. Pothos vines began to grow quickly at my movements, spreading from their broken pots to cover the walls and ceilings as I took another cautious step forward. As I watched, the cocoon began to crack, a spider web of lines spreading from the center.

With a roar, the cocoon suddenly burst, and the devil himself emerged from the rubble. He stood before me, taller than any man, with skin a sickly white, almost translucent color. Blue and purple veins were visible all over his body, and two large wings extended from his back. Blood red eyes challenged me from below a thick brow; and his sharp canines flashed as he began to chuckle. At the crest of his forehead were two twisted horns that ended with sharp tips as if to emphasize their deadliness. “You dare to challenge me, witch?” Over his shoulder the second cocoon burst open, revealing another demon, just as terrifying as the first. I backed up slowly as Mike moved forward, John flanking his left.

I recovered from my shock quickly and squared my shoulders as I met their gaze. If they believed me to be an easy target, they were wrong. Taking a deep breath, I launched my next attack.