Banished To Earth Book One (25)

A short time later, he walked into the kitchen, opened a utensil drawer. He hesitated then pulled out a meat tenderiser, flattened his hand against the counter, drew back the little silver hammer and slammed it against his hand with all his might. Blood squirted in all directions. Pain shot up his arm like fire.

He waited, nothing but throbbing pain. Holding his bruised and bloodied right hand up, he studied it. He could almost see the hurt. It seemed to squirm just beneath his battered, torn skin. Eyes narrowing, he focused all his attention on the seeping indentations left by the hammer. Willed natural healing properties from all over his body to the wounded area and watched the bruises fade as the torn and punctured tissue knit itself together. It only took a few seconds for him to heal himself. It was as if every cell in his body was his to command. Another Hunter ability, most likely. At least the warrel did not make an appearance.  

Maybe it was the taste of blood, raw meat, that triggered the change, that, plus the emotional stress of possibly losing Pry to that animal. The beast stirred. That was it. That was the trigger. It made perfect sense. The warrel was not her pet, but her protector.

Now that Stayner was dead, and he had naturally reclaimed his humanity, such as it was, he had a high degree of assurance that his warrell side would prove more help than hindrance. Guess that made him an enhanced Hunter. Good. He needed every edge he could muster…

That’s what he told himself as he drove through the night toward what might prove to be his new old home. He really loved his beach house, and he really hated that hovel he grew up in. He’d plan on returning tomorrow. Second thought, not a good idea. New shift portals were just too near his house. Stayner was only the first. Others would come. He was not about to let selfishness endanger Pry, Nikki and Beth.

97

   If Stayner found them there, others would too.

   And another thing troubled him. A piece of that idiot was inside him, part of him. He could not help but wonder if some aspect of Stayner’s essence, his presence, would find a way to bring him grief. “Nah.” He said aloud, “Stupid silly notion. You’re just spooking yourself.”

  However, after all this, wasn’t absolutely anything possible? Another disturbing thought crossed his mind. If some part, any part of Stayner remained inside of him, would touching Pry be like Stayner touching her too? The thought repulsed him. He’d better knock it off. He did not want to throw up in his truck…

  Shortly before sunset, Beth drove west to Chase's childhood home, if one could call it that. She noticed Pry was unusually quiet. Nikki was asleep. Pry was clearly lost in her own little world. Her features slackened, her head resting uncomfortably against the passenger side window. A good time to reach out to her

“You doing okay?”

She jerked, “Oh, yes I am doing nothing. You could call that okay.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. Worried, aren’t you? Me too. Tell me, just how good are your shared memories?”

Pry gave her a puzzled look.

“Chase’s memories?”

“Oh, they shift. Some are too painful to dwell on; some are sweet and hopeful. His memories of me when I was his little ghost are usually quite comforting.”

“Oh, okay. That sounds so…strange, but in a good way.”

“I know his past haunts him, as does mine.”

“Really?”

“Something happened long ago, or we made something happen that I can not help but feel was wrong yet fated.”

“Fated. Deep waters, here.”

“But neither of you can remember it.”

“No, but when the time is right, we will join again and sail back in time.”

98

  “You're saying sex for you two is time travel.”

“Sex,” she giggled, “No, Beth. Joining is so much deeper than that.”

“Over my head, kinda sorry I asked.”

She giggled again. “Maybe I should not tell you. It might frighten you.”

“You can tell me anything. Who knows when we will get another chance?”

“You are sure?”

“Please.”

“I pierced his brain with my hair, a single strand of it anyway.”

Her mouth dropped, “This small talk just got a lot bigger than I intended.”

“Small talk?”

“You looked so sad. I was trying to pull you away, help you to feel better. And this road is new to me. The GPS is working perfectly, but it could drop out any second now.”

“Oh, so you are scared.”

“Scared of getting lost.”

“Are you scared of losing me?”

Beth smiled, “What a sweet, awkward question. Yes, yes I am. It’s been just me and Nikki for the last year. I love my baby, but…”

“You want a sister? So do I.”

“Sweetie, if you want to call me sister, feel free.”

“I had sisters on Phastanar. But they hated me.”

“That’s rough.”

“My very existence threatened them. I refused to blood wallow with them, and my mother killed my father, but not like she was supposed to, unintentionally.  And her eyes were like Chase's, soft…”

Beth coughed.  “Got it. That’s a lot. So, you can get us to Chase’s old home just from memory?” Beth asked, quick to shift the conversation back to Earth.

 

99

“Yes.”

 She reached out and took Pry’s hand.

She smiled. Mission accomplished.

Darkness eventually overtook them. Faint light emanated from the dashboard, bathing them in soft green light.

 Nikki slumped in her car seat. She was fast asleep, quiet as a flower and just as pretty.

Beth missed a pothole. Her car jerked, and Nikki woke. “Mommie?”

“Right here, baby.”

Pry, leaning against the door, watched the night slide by. Of course, there was no darkness for her.

Apparently, Pry enjoyed the subtle quiver of the window vibrating against her head. She was leaning against it again. Or was she yearning for the night? She never said.

Nikki noticed. “Watcha doin’?”

“Looking out the window. They are deer? Are they not?”

“Don’t see no deer. I don’t see anything at all.”

“I do.”

“For real?” Beth asked.

“Yes, it is quite real.”

“Can you see me too? It’s really dark back here.” Nikki asked.

She leaned around and looked at Nikki.

Her eyes flashed by Beth.

“Your eyes. They’re glowing!”

“Oh yes. Yours do not?”

“Let me see, let me see.”

She looked over at Nikki and fluttered her eyes. She giggled with delight. “They look just like fireflies. Look Mommie, look.”

 

100

“I don’t want to. It kinda freaks me out.” Beth said without thinking.

“I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten you.” The fear in Beth’s face was impossible to hide, even in the dark.