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Azalea put her hands on her hips. "Going on? I know what's going on. There are corrupt spirits everywhere I look. They're traveling in swarms. I'm working now. Things are out of hand, and I can't afford to wait for your friend, the ‘guide' or anyone else."

  Korin glanced around the room. On the table, a collection of huge canning kettles stood. "Working? What are you working on?" She stood up and straightened up her hair.

  "I am cooking up a solution. Whenever I leave my daughter's home, I'll be taking this mixture with me." Azalea sighed heavily.

  "That is a lot of ... whatever-you-call-it. Is it what you told me about, what you use to destroy the Scourge creatures?"

  "Yes child, this will end them. This is a hard thing for me now. Years ago, when I was young, this infestation would never have gotten so bad. There have always been a few souls that want to lose track of the body they were meant for. Those souls that have been trapped here without a body for too long start to cause trouble for the rest of us. Even so, my sisters and I could keep things under control. Now it's just me, and little Xavier. But he's still a child." Azalea turned back to the ingredient she was chopping on a cutting board.

  Korin sat down at the kitchen table. "You look worried, Azalea. Don't be! I found Terra; she's in a hospital now. I have to tell you the amazing news; more guides have come to Earth! They realized there was a problem, and they're here to help get things back the way they should be."

  "I see no guides here," Azalea said. "What I see is crime and death and decay."

  "They only just arrived. When I left they were meeting with Terra to come up with a plan of action. I heard they took out a whole army of Scourge as soon as they transitioned to Earth."

  "I hope what you say is true. I would very much like to work with these guides."

  "About that, I think Terra is curious about what you say you can do, but she was worried about it. She thinks that if the Scourge realizes that there's a way to destroy an entity, they will try to use it against her and the others."

  "My family has kept that secret protected; there's no reason why we can't keep it that way."

  Korin looked down at her hands as she fidgeted." The Scourge has ways of getting into people's minds. That's how they win over so many corporeals."

  "So you think your Terra won't come to me?"

  "I think she'll go with the guides to hunt for the one she calls the Originator. She says that he's responsible for starting this infection and that destroying him will stop it."

  "Destroying one entity will not stop the others. If I have no help, I will face these creatures on my own." Azalea stirred the contents of each kettle, one by one. Her ancient face appeared suddenly older and frailer.

  "You look sad, are you alright?" Korin asked. She stood up to approach Azalea.

  Azalea held out her hand, signaling for Korin to keep her distance. "I'm old now. Not able to move like I could or even drive. I will go out to take care of this, but I think that will be my last task in this world." Azalea glanced up at Korin with a strange twinkle in her eye.

  Korin halted midway through the kitchen. "I'm sorry," she held up her hands.

  "You don't want to get near this batch. If I mixed it well it will dissolve what bonds the energy of any entity. It won't ask if you're corrupt."

  Korin shivered. "Thank you for the warning!"

  "I'll be packaging it up," Azalea said. "Some like little water balloons, and some in larger containers."

  "What will you do?" Korin asked.

  "I'll do what I have to do. I'll clean up this mess a bit at a time. So long as the mixture does its thing, I'll be fine. I just don't know if I can get enough of these creepy things in time."

  "In time for what?" Korin asked.

  "The era of humanity is in danger of closing. This place, it is only right for mankind now. I thought it would last a bit longer, but it looks like I may have been mistaken."

  "What do you mean?" Korin asked.

  "You see this world around you as what you know. The Earth, the Sun, the universe is all part of this layer of existence. It's easy to think that all of this is all there is. But you'd be wrong; you already know your friend Terra came from the next realm, the Tweens. That's another layer. That does not account for what we see today. There's another place, beyond this one. It must be a terrible place because it has produced this infection of Scourge that is consuming mankind."

  "Another place? I thought there was only Earth and the Tweens?" Korin wondered for a moment if the elderly woman was still firm in her mind.

  "There is something beyond. I think of it as a sandwich, many layers that touch but don't always cross over."

  "So you think that is where the Scourge is coming from?" Korin asked. "I thought the Originator was the cause!"

  "If there's an Originator, where did it come from?"

  "I see your point," Korin said.

  "I feel sure that this infection came from elsewhere. Somehow, something is crossing between the two realms."

  "Let me help you Azalea. Terra always tries to keep me out of the way. I really want to help if I can!"

  "You would give up your human life?" Azalea asked.

  "What do you mean?"

  "You once told me that you had a body sitting in prison somewhere. If that's true, then you have a life to go back to. Why would you want to stay like this, with nobody, just to fight?"

  "I think my body isn't going anywhere, literally. Going to prison doesn't exactly have the same appeal as a regular life. Besides, knowing what I know about what's going on, I'm nervous about going back to humanity and not being able to see what's going to attack me next."

  "Well, if you insist on helping, I'd like some company. It will be dangerous, if just a tiny bit if this solution touches you, there would be no way to stop what happens."

  "It sounds like a risk worth taking," Korin said.

  "What will you tell your friend?" Azalea asked.

  Korin paced back and forth. "I'm not sure; I think it will be something that has to be handled carefully."

  "Let me know what you decide to tell her."

  "For now, I think I'll wait. She has a lot going on with the guides. I don't want her worried about what I'm doing."

  "If that's what you think is best…"

  Korin laughed unexpectedly. "I wonder what Troy and his recruits would think about me finding a way to destroy a Scourge before any of them!"

  Azalea pressed her lips together, her eyes widening. "Who is this Troy?" she asked. Her voice was suddenly raspy.

  "Oh, Troy is, well he was, a police officer. Like so many others, he lost his body. When he met Terra, he had been following his soul mate as she became a Scourge, but Terra couldn't destroy him because he wasn't really corrupt. So he's been gathering others like me, who are stuck without a body but somehow have avoided becoming one of the Scourge. He's been training the others to fight and protect themselves from the Scourge."

  The glint returned to Azalea's eye. "Training? How many entities are in his group?"

  "Oh, I think there were around one hundred last time Terra mentioned it."

  "This may be just what I need to make a stand. I need you to take me to meet your friend Troy right away."

  Chapter22

  Terra's stomach fluttered with anticipation. The person on the bed was mostly covered with piles of blankets except for one leg, which lay heavily bandaged and elevated on several pillows. The room was dimmed for the patient's comfort.

  Terra strained her eyes looking for a familiar face among the pillows as Christine pushed her closer to the bed.

  Finally, she could see him. His long eyelashes rested on his cheeks making him look more childlike and vulnerable. Terra's eyes inspected his even cheekbones and masculine brow line. His chin revealed the slightest shadow of a beard destroying the impression of true childhood. Terra was struck by the sheer physicality of this young man who she had loved before he had ever become human. As Terra gazed at Liam, other details became apparent: a long,
jagged scratch ran down one side of his forehead. One eye was shadowed with bruises. His neck was covered in scratches from the invisible hands of the things that had tried to choke the life from him in the park. Terra felt her stomach lurch.

  "Are you alright?" Christine whispered.

  "Yes, I think so," Terra lied. She reached out and took Liam's hand in hers. His hands were firm and bore traces of callus leftover from physical labor. The warmth of his touch was a reminder that neither of them had completed this corporeal journey. Oddly, that was comforting. Life meant hope and a chance for a better result. Mortality meant a chance to grow, and to heal even after the darkest of times.

  "Liam, can you hear me?" Christine whispered. "We're here with you. It's Terra and mom. Can you hear us?"

  Liam stirred slightly.

  "Liam, can you hear me?" Terra asked. Her voice sounded intrusive in the subdued quiet of the room.

  Liam stirred and stretched slightly.

  "I think the medication still has him pretty knocked out," Christine said.

  "Yeah, I don't think he's ready to wake up," Terra said.

  Christine looked at Terra for a long moment then smiled. She gave Terra's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Don't be nervous. I think I'll go get a cup of coffee. I'm worn out. Hit the call button and have the nurse find me when he's ready for me."

  "Alright," Terra agreed.

  Christine moved quietly to the door. Terra turned her full attention back to Liam. She tried to reach him as a mortal for their entire mortal lives but the short-lived reunion they had had after eighteen years had only consisted of being attacked and nearly blown up. Now Terra was overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the moment. Liam was right there in front of her. She could hear his quiet breaths with her own ears. She could feel the warmth of his hand. Terra caressed the top his hand: such a simple human gesture yet it had been impossible for them for so long.

  Will he recognize me? Will he want me here? How can I tell him the truth? If he's like Portia, his mortal mind may not be able to accept it. His mind, I still can't hear his thoughts. I should be able to reach him now…

  Terra sat in silence and watched him. After several minutes, she carefully rose from her wheelchair and stood over him.

  Memories of Liam's touch before they had both become mortal beings flooded Terra's thoughts. She missed the sense of proximity; she remembered the sensation of his lips against hers...

  Should I? This might be the only chance I have. Terra drew in a deep breath. Critical decisions were a part of her normal existence. Why would this decision be any different? She leaned over Liam, careful to look for any signs of his discomfort. When he remained still she lowered her lips to his: Terra's first mortal kiss. His lips were still for a moment, and then they moved against hers slowly. Terra felt a strange tingling that moved through her jaw and left her dizzy. Embarrassed she stepped back, feeling a warm flush cover her face as she blushed. Her stomach fluttered as her head swam with an influx of giddy hormones. Terra sat down in awkward silence.

  Humanity still could surprise her, and this strange rush of hormone-driven endorphins was overpowering.

  "Well hello, beautiful," Liam mumbled as he peeked at Terra through half-opened eyes.

  "Hi," Terra said. The flush of her cheeks intensified.

  Liam fully opened his eyes. He gazed at Terra with an amused smirk. She noticed that his smile did not meet his eyes.

  "Umm, how do you feel?" Terra stammered.

  "I was awakened by an angel. I feel almost human!" Liam's voice answered Terra, but something felt very wrong. Why can't I sense his thoughts? Clearly, he's awake now, but somehow this is all wrong!

  "I'm glad. Does your leg hurt much?" Terra's voice shook slightly.

  "No, it's numb; no worries," Liam spoke, but his voice had a new inflection that was not his own.

  "Good… That's good. I… well I want to apologize for what happened."

  "Yeah, I guess you have to learn the hard way," said Liam. The hostility in his voice was unmistakable.

  "Learn?" Terra instinctually rolled her chair back several feet as her eyes met his.

  "You were warned. You knew you could only leave with him one way. You chose. Now you'll never find him. That was very sneaky Terra, bringing the others with you to the fight. The Master was very angry."

  Repulsion shot through Terra with the confirmation: This was not Liam. The young man she had sought to save, then comfort was not in this body. "Where is he? What have you done with him?" Terra shouted.

  "Shhh, you'll bring the whole hospital in here. Shame on you for shouting at a patient right after surgery!"

  "I'll destroy you. You just made a horrible decision of your own!"

  Liam's low voice laughed a foreign chuckle. "Are you threatening me, young woman. I should call the nurse and have you removed. Perhaps a restraining order would help you calm down." He grinned at her as he pushed the controls on the bed. It emitted a mechanical whirr as it raised him slowly to a seated position.

  Terra reached for the imposter. Her hands closed around his forearm as she forced a mental connection. Terra was instantly plunged into the psyche of the Scourge. Her fury at this entity that dared to take over Liam's body knew no bounds. She tore through the thing's short-term memory with no attempt at finesse. It was all there; Liam never had a chance against the attacker.

  The Scourge entity had lurked unseen in the shadows as the doctors expertly repaired Liam's broken leg. Terra gasped as she realized the extent of the damage. His bones were reduced to bloodied chips in parts. The sedation held Liam in a drug-induced stupor. His consciousness was suppressed, leaving him vulnerable to the evil that stalked him. After watching the surgery for some time the entity emerged from the corner as it scurried under the operating table. It was careful to test its stealth as it curled its grotesquely mangled fingers over the edge of the platform. When the surgical team did not react, the thing's confidence was boosted. It slunk up to its full heights as it took in the gore around it. It stood opposite from the anesthesiologist, near Liam's head; invisible and insidious as it grasped his throat.

  As the thing tightened its grip on Liam's exposed neck, the monitor began to tone. The thing grinned, exposing exaggerated rows of sharpened fangs. Instantly the highly skilled medical team changed their focus. They would not allow their patient to die from a routine procedure. The Scourge thing looked on with mirth at the response it had incited with the slightest squeeze. It released its grip slightly, after a moment the comfortable sounds of routine replaced the emergency response mode in the brightly lit operating room.

  Something in the doorway caught the thing's attention. Terra watched helplessly as the memory of two mutilated henchmen moved through the closed door followed by a cloaked figure that was stretched thin to the point that its head neared the ceiling. The tall thing pulled back its hood revealing a gaunt, pale, face marked by bulging round eyes.

  "You have no time to wait," the thing barked. You were chosen as a placeholder. Remove the corporeal from the body. This hospital is occupied by those that came here to destroy; waste no more time!"

  The entity nodded slightly as it reached through Liam's flesh to grasp the entity within. As the thing attempted to pull Liam from his body, it began to yield to his grasp. Within seconds, the entity disappeared into Liam. The two henchmen descended upon the inert body. They wrenched Liam from his physical body and dumped him carelessly on the floor.

  "Who, what happened?" Liam sputtered. His eyes grew large as he took in the doctors working to repair his leg, quietly going on about their task in the company of invisible Scourge. "You!" Liam said. Instantly the two henchmen descended on him. Terra winced as they collided in the memory.

  "Get up," the leader cackled at him. "Quick, the hood!" he demanded.

  "You won't be able to get away with this!" Liam's voice was cut short as one of the henchmen produced a bag.

  "She'll be looking for him. We have to get him out of here."

&n
bsp; Liam thrashed against his attackers, overturning a tray of instruments. The surgical team was startled by the invisible disturbance. A small commotion ensued in the room as the team scrambled to clean up the contaminated tray and to call for a replacement.

  "Terra will come for you; she can track me. What makes you think you can just leave here and walk away?" Liam's threats came from between clenched teeth as he fought to overcome his attackers.

  "Not this time." The tall entity smiled. He stooped over Liam as he lowered the bag over him. The bag was pitch-black, and it rippled and shimmered as Liam struggled inside it. The henchmen bound the bag beneath Liam's chin. They hoisted him between them, and then carried him through the doorway. The tall entity followed behind them, scanning the hallways as he proceeded.

  "I came so close to Liam, only to have him ripped from my grasp," Terra gasped. She could still feel the warmth of Liam's body as she held it immobile in her grip.

  "So true! I know just where to find the answers you seek," the thing cackled within its unwilling host. As it laughed, its tone and intonation changed. It took on the familiar threatening wheeze of the Originator.

  You, you did this. What have you done with him? Terra's thoughts vacillated between her desire to find Liam and the revenge she would relish against this self-named master.

  "Easy now, sweet Terra," his voice was an insidious hiss that gurgled from some remote cesspool of evil.

  It will be simple to destroy you. Terra threatened the presence silently.

  "Will it? It is hard to destroy what you can't find. Besides, my hold is all around you. You wonder how we have spread through humanity so completely. It is because evil is part of human nature. It's a nasty little truth that your guides tend to avoid thinking about."

  "I will find you and rip you into so many shreds that there will be nothing left of you but particles of energy."

  "Temper, temper; I warned you. You knew I would only be satisfied if you joined me. I gave you the option. You could have killed Liam, and yourself- returned to the Tweens, had a nice vacation from humanity. That should have appealed to you: going home. You just couldn't leave well enough alone. Nope, you even invited some friends to our little party."