Cult of the Hexad (Afterlife saga Book 6)

  “That’s Jennifer’s husband and Denis’ best friend. They have a bet on every year that the loser between the two has to play host whenever there is a game on throughout the year and provide the beer!”

  “Really?” I asked making Lucy nod.

  “I am telling you that if I have to make one more hotdog and buy one more bag of chips, I am going to quit being a housewife…although Jennifer and Alan have no idea that Denis has been cutting Carbs and practicing every weekend since I made the threat…and it shows as look at the leader board, he’s winning!” I looked to where Lucy pointed to and sure enough there was his name on the top and winning by 3 points. Lucy also told me that the last round was where the contestants had to kick a pumpkin like a football across the field and into the goal at the end. The first one to get their pumpkin in the net would get ten points added to their score. So it all came down to the hardest round.

  “GO ON! YOU CAN DO IT! KICK IT, KICK IT!” Lucy screamed as soon as the whistle was blown and I did the same. All five of the farmers kicked the pumpkin but each having to fight the odd shapes, meaning they never went where the farmers intended. It was so funny to watch that everyone was trying to cheer through their laughter. Even Lucy was in a bulk and needed to bend at the waist to control herself. It was only when it got between the two friends that the cheering got more serious and Jennifer started screaming frantically when it looked like her husband Alan would lose.

  “Ha, look at her, she’s panicking now! GO ON, YOU CAN DO IT!” And Denis did just that and was first in getting his pumpkin in the net just before Alan.

  “HE DID IT!” Lucy went crazy jumping up and down before turning to me and forcing me to do the same and join in. The crowd also went wild and Denis was clearly lapping up the attention and basking in the fact that he was finally the new ‘Veggie King’. I had to laugh when he got presented with a crown made from carrots and peapods. But it was the trophy he really cared about and as soon as he received it he held it up and shouted,

  “I did it, Lucy!” Her beaming smile told everyone how proud of him she was and after this he took the massive scissors that were handed to him and as the new king got to cut the ribbon to open the fairground. Everyone cheered once more before swarming towards the fair’s rides and sweet stalls. For me it felt like Christmas again as I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen anything like it. The flashing fairy lights, the delicious smells, the joyous screaming coming from the rides and children and families all laughing and having a good time. It was amazing to me and I tried not to let the sadness creep in that Ari and I were denied this.

  “Ari would have loved this.” I told Lucy who turned to me and gave me what I needed most right then…a big hug.

  “Oh honey, one day.” Was all she said and the thought filled me with hope.

  “Right, time to have some fun!” She said and pulled me towards the fairground. Denis was there waiting for her along with their friends Jennifer and Alan.

  “Ah, here she is!” Jennifer said coming towards me instead of Lucy.

  “This is who I was telling you about…Dex…Dex!” Jennifer shouted to a man whose back was to us and who was wearing navy blue trousers and shirt, which I quickly discovered was a cop’s uniform, when a handsome man turned round.

  “Ma’am.” He said giving me a head tilt and a knowing smile. I don’t know why but along with feeling my cheeks go pink, I also bit my bottom lip which I never do. The action drew his eyes to my lips and this was enough to kick the habit, well for the time being anyway.

  “Hi…I’m…”

  “This is Katie.” Jennifer jumped in and said before I had chance to finish. Dex rolled his eyes and mouthed the word ‘sorry’ before turning to his mother and holding her by the shoulders.

  “I think we got this Mom…wait, isn’t that Mrs Peterson waving you over?” I turned my face down and to the side to hide my smile at his tactics.

  “Oh so it is…” She said turning to look and Lucy quickly took in the situation and decided to intervene.

  “Let’s go and say hi Jen, I think her son is getting out of Juvie this month.” And like a meerkat, her head was up at the sound of gossip and she was off.

  “I’m Dex and that there was the only woman in this town who doesn’t ever listen to the sheriff.” I smiled and took note of the star pinned to his shirt.

  “I’m Katie, the very law abiding newbie to this town.” I said not knowing where this new me was coming from. Where was my usual shy response to anyone with authority?

  “That’s good to know, Katie.” He said and the smile he gave me made cute little creases appear around his eyes. He had a kind face with a ruggedness to him that screamed he was in charge and answered to no one…well apart from his mother maybe.

  “So how are you finding our little town?” He asked turning and holding out his arm in a silent request that we walk around the fair together. I thought about that question for a moment and found that from the conclusion I made earlier there was only one word to answer that question.

  “Enchanting.”

  “Enchanting…um, I like that. Come on Beautiful, let’s see the big bright lights of our small town.” He said walking ahead but I had stopped dead. Where had I heard that from before? It was like some crazy version of déjà vu I was experiencing. Had someone from the Colony said this to me before? It only took less than a second to realise how ridiculous that question was in itself but when I saw the face that went with those words it didn’t belong to the sheriff who stood looking at me now. An easy going smile, a mischievous wink and kind eyes were the vision I was assaulted with and suddenly I wished to see that face more than ever before.

  But who was he?

  “Hey, space cadet, you good?” Dex said and after another lip bite I was back by his side and trying to ignore what just happened. Why did that keep happening? It was as though there was something at every turn trying to make me remember something that had never actually happened. Were they visions of what was to come? Was I becoming a bit psychic?

  “So what do you say?” Dex asked and I realised I hadn’t heard a word he had said.

  “Sorry I…”

  “Hey Sheriff.” A woman in a tight dress thankfully interrupted me and I watched as she first gave me the once over and then flicked her hair back before smiling at Dex.

  “Hello Shelly, how’s Henry?” At this she laughed and smacked him on the arm saying,

  “Oh you know him, probably asleep watching the game but forget about him, when are you going to take me up on that dinner, you have yet to taste my fried chicken, its finger lickin’…”

  “Yeah you said. But you know I’ve been pretty busy lately.” He said and even for me who didn’t really know the ways of the world, I could tell it was him blowing her off.

  “Babysitting the new locals I see.” She said faking a smile my way and Dex rolled his eyes before she saw.

  “Actually I am babysitting him, you wouldn’t believe how many married woman just throw themselves at him… or so his mother tells me.” I couldn’t believe the words had come from my mouth until seeing Shelly’s mouth drop open in shock confirmed it. Dex burst out laughing before the obvious cheating wife stormed off in a huff.

  “I am so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” I said apologising.

  “Oh don’t be, that was the funniest thing I’ve seen this month! The truth is she had it coming to her, trust me. Her husband Henry is a good guy and hell, half my precinct go drinking at his house on Game day!”

  “A good day to rob a bank then.” I joked and seriously, once again I don’t know where it came from. Dex started laughing again and nudged me on the shoulder and said,

  “You know, you’re pretty funny.”

  “Thanks.” I said blushing at the look he was giving me. He had warm brown eyes that lit up when he smiled that were undeniably infectious. He was tall or seemed so next to me, which wasn’t hard. He was obviously fit given his profession and looked smart, being cl
ean shaven with short crew cut hair. Actually if I was to venture a guess I would say he walked straight out of the military into this job.

  “So back to my question before we were rudely interrupted.”

  “Oh…OH.” I said finally getting what he was asking when he thumbed the big wheel ride behind him. My eyes widened once again making him laugh before he grabbed my hand and said,

  “Come on, you’ll be fine giggles.” I wasn’t so sure about that but I let myself be led anyway. If it had been Ari then she would have been the one dragging him on there. In fact, I couldn’t understand it when it seemed I had quickly developed a fear of heights in a matter of seconds.

  “Well I don’t want to keep you from your duty now.” At this he laughed, shook his head and lifted the bar on the carriage that came down for us to sit in.

  “Not at all, like you said, you are babysitting me against all the married women that continually throw themselves at me, you’re not going back out of your duty are you?”

  “Ha, I see what you did there.” He gave me a wink in answer, a little push and then took the seat next to me before securing the bar. We were just about to swing up when a ruckus on one of the stalls started and it seemed a fight was about to kick off. Dex quickly turned professional and lifted the bar.

  “Save me this one for later Sweetheart, I will be right back.” He said after helping me off the chair. I stepped aside gladly letting another couple take my place and I moved away from the queue. I watched as Dex pushed his way through the crowd that had gathered to watch and he reached for his radio as he went, obviously calling for backup. I decided to stand way back on the side lines and wait to make sure he was okay when something caught my eye.

  My eyes focused in just as another pair of eyes was doing the same back. It was like have an ocean of people all busy enjoying themselves so no one noticed the two people that stood frozen, opposite each other from across the fair. It was a woman, that much I was sure but the who or why was lost on me. Abruptly she turned and started walking the other way so I decided to follow her.

  I know it was stupid and I am sure that if I had stopped and thought about it sensibly then I wouldn’t have moved. But this wasn’t the case and I wasn’t being sensible. Making my way through the crowd was a lot harder when a large group of people were all getting off one of the big rides at the same time.

  “Excuse me, pardon me…Ooops, sorry.” I pushed my way through the mass of excited teens all talking about the loops and speed and I didn’t understand how you could get excited about almost throwing up but either way, I left them to it and pushed on. I had just excused myself for the millionth time when I almost fell into the empty space where it was clear the fair ended.

  I walked on, looking left and right trying to find the woman that I had been following. It was creepy out here away from the crowds and suddenly I wasn’t feeling so brave about this decision. I was just about to turn back, thinking the daylight wasn’t going to last much longer and being out here in the dark would be a stupid idea, when I caught a flash of colour. There off to one side was a small maroon coloured tent that looked as if it had been piled high with rug after rug thrown over the frame. It became like a beacon, drawing me in and I found myself stood outside it before I knew I had moved.

  “You may enter.” A voice from within spoke and after an unsure breath, I ducked my head and walked inside, where the same voice welcomed me…

  “We meet again, young Electus.”

  Chapter 11

  Gypsies and Voids

  Hearing that voice again was like bringing back a pain that had haunted me for eighteen years. I couldn’t understand why it evoked feelings like this as I had never seen this woman in my life.

  “Welcome to my home, I recall we never got this far last time.” I frowned at the woman who was sat in the shadows cross-legged on the floor.

  “What do you mean…I don’t know you.” I stated as firmly as I could which merely caused her to start laughing. It was more of an old woman’s cackle you would have expected from someone who smoked their body weight in cigarettes a day.

  “Oh the fools have you masked to yourself, that is to be sure, but the real you would have remembered me, of that I have no doubt. Now come here and let me see what I am working with.” She ordered but instead I took a step back.

  “What are you saying? I…I am me…you must have me mixed up with someone else.” I said walking backwards and trying to escaped from the tent.

  “You will find no exit there, my dear.” I sucked in a sharp breath when looking round to find she was right. The opening had gone and when I frantically started searching for the opening all I found was a brick wall.

  “But that’s impossible!” I shouted making her laugh once more and it was an evil sound.

  “Coming from you Electus, that is highly entertaining.”

  “I don’t understand what you’re saying and stop calling me that, I don’t even know what it means!”

  “Sit down, Keira before you do yourself damage.” She said now sounding unimpressed. I turned slowly to face her as I felt the icy chill invade my senses.

  “Wait…how…how do you know that name?” I said only ever hearing it being said in my dreams before.

  “How do you think…we have met before, you and I.”

  “But…no, you lie, I have never met you before…I would remember.” I said all this in a panic, only half believing in what I was telling her.

  “It doesn’t sound like it’s me you’re trying to convince.” I shook my head but it felt as if it was the rest of the world that was spinning out of control. I stumbled over to where she was sat knowing this was my one and only opportunity to get the answers I needed.

  “Finally you start making the right choices.” She said cryptically and I frowned down at her before lowering myself into sitting opposite her.

  “It’s not like I have any other option, you turned the exit into a brick wall.” I informed her dryly making her fully aware of my feelings about being trapped.

  “Ah yes, but of course…you have felt locked up against your will on many occasions throughout your life…even the one stolen from you.”

  “I don’t understand anything you say, so seeing as you are keeping me here then I suggest you start making sense.” I threatened making her laugh again.

  “Or what? Who would you call for help this time because according to you, there is no-one.” She whispered this last part at the same time leaning forward making me jump.

  “I…but…?”

  “What’s the matter young Electus, do you recognise me?” Her voice was so smooth and alluring that it started to drag me under into an unconscious world of remembering.

  “There was a little girl, I can see her. She’s crying…she’s crying for her sister.” I said seeing it playing out in front of me.

  “That’s right little girl. Now what else can you see?” I listened to her words as if floating in a trance and the sound of her voice was only reaching me over the waves she created. I felt my body swaying and I couldn’t stop it. I squinted trying to focus on bringing back the vision.

  “You’re there! You…you start walking closer, oh God don’t hurt her!” I shouted fearing for the little girl.

  “Are you lost, young lady?” I nod my head at the question at the same time hearing the little girl say,

  “Yes, I can't find my sister, she was taking me for some sweets.” This was when the vision suddenly changed. And adult version of myself felt trapped again, in a dark room but I wasn’t alone not when a voice told me so.

  “You shouldn't be here.” A deep voice growled from the shadows and I jumped at the words. It was him.

  “I...I’m lost” I stammered for what felt like the second time.

  “Oh no, you’re not lost...you've been found.” He growled at my neck before yanking my head to one side and biting down. I screamed out at the pain I felt but soon realised that the pain I was experiencing wasn’t coming from my neck b
ut my hand. Eyes that I didn’t even realise were shut snapped open and the sight they met made me scream again.

  A pair of cloudy white eyes stared back at me before blood seeped into them filling them from the corners. They started to flicker back and to as if reading some hidden page as quickly as she could. I looked down to where the pain came from to see a small silver dragon from the end of her finger, biting down into my flesh as if needing to taste my blood.

  “Did I not say to you child… ‘until next time’?” Those same words spoken were heard for a second time and I was sure the first had been when I was but a child. I looked up to find her back to herself and looking at me with her head slightly tilted. It was the first time she wasn’t hiding herself in shadows and I could now see a small red star close to her right eye. I wondered what it meant.

  “It is you, yet it is not. I guess in order to hide you they must first hide you from yourself…very clever indeed.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What is it you believe your name to be I wonder.” I laughed once without humour and said,

  “Shouldn’t you know, after all I thought you were the mystic.” This made her mad and she snarled at me like a raging dog would. I fell backwards as she stood to loom over me. The shadows behind her started to grow taller and come alive behind her as though she had a small army at her back. I scrambled backwards even more in hopes of getting away from her.

  “Yes and this mystic once gave you a gift! I wonder if you would like it back again seeing as you obviously lost it!” I started shaking my head frantically, saying over and over,

  “No, no, please don’t.” I had no idea what she was planning on doing or what gift she spoke about but I definitely didn’t want to find out any time soon.

  “No, you didn’t lose it…it was taken from you! My gift was stolen. AND I WANT IT BACK!” She suddenly screamed looking up to the highest point in her tent and her shadows all did the same. Then she opened her mouth and an almighty screeching sound came from deep within her followed then by a demonic voice of the likes I had never known. I screamed putting my hands over the sides of my head as the pain shot through my ears.