Chapter 33 - What Could Be Lurking in the Darkness?

As Rose turned the handle, everything around her seemed to go dark. “My Rose. My darling, Rose. Don’t go speaking to the witch. Stay here where you’re safe.” The voice was low and lilting. A sense of pure joy came over her as she listened to it.

“My angel?” Rose said, turning round, looking for it. Looking to see the memory of it, that was just beyond her reach. “Where are you?”

“I’m here, my lovely little Rose. But also far. We’ve been looking for you. We are coming for you, my lovely, lovely Rose.” His voice twittered, almost laughingly. She could feel their excitement. “I’ve found you. Finnnalllly.” The last word was a sigh, as if they’d been searching forever.

Somewhere, in the distance, she heard panic. She heard fear in voices that seemed leagues away. It made her remember what she was doing. “I need to go speak to my mother. I have to figure out—”

“NOT your mother!” The voice hissed around her angrily. “NO. Not safe. Not your mother. Not my little Izzy. Noooo…” The voice went from angry to, what was it? Sorrow? Pain? Before she could put her finger on it, the darkness that had surrounded her lightened again, and she was back, standing in the doorway holding the still cold handle. She didn’t know how long it had been, but the door handle shouldn’t be so cold. She let it go, and at the same time, Kai ran into her folding his arms around her waist.

“What was that mom?” His whole body was shaking, his voice trembled.

“Precisely. What was that Rose?” Henry’s voice was hard.

“I… I’m not sure.”

“Lies!” Aiden shouted. “Not two seconds after we start talking about witchcraft here, and you disappear? Kai was the only one who could still see you. He heard what was being said, but none of us could. Explain yourself now, or we’re all out.” He pointed toward the door angrily.

“Don’t you talk to her like that.” Henry hissed. Unlike every other time she’d seen Henry get angry, when he turned back to her, he didn’t let it go. No. He was even more angry as he stormed over to her. “However, I would very much like to know who’s this *angel*?”

“They…they saved me. Once upon a time. They… love me.” She didn’t know how she knew, the words just came out. "They don’t seem to like my mother much though.”

“He loves you?” Rage seemed to overtake Henry, and she could see him physically shaking.

“Not like you love me. This… it’s different, Henry.” She moved to comfort him, but he backed away, shaking his head.

“Explain.” His hands were rolling into fists, and unrolling uneasily.

“I, I can’t. I don’t really—” she sighed, holding her head, as it started to pound with confusion. She had to be able to explain herself. They were all watching her with anger and fear. “It’s like a memory from a dream. I know, I know I know. But I can’t quite grasp it yet. It’s there, lying on the fringes of my memory, but still out of reach.”

“I think it’s time for us to leave. We have no idea what’s going on here. Why should we risk our lives for them? They won’t even explain what’s going on.” Aiden’s anger was almost palpable at this point. “We’ve already lost a man to it. How many more will you risk on this unwitting venture, Henry? Did you miss where Kai said it was calling her his love?”

She watched as Henry closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. “Is he your lover?”

“He’s not a he. He’s a they. And it’s not like that. More like, an uncle or aunt. Not like I love you.” She said, walking toward Henry, wanting to comfort him and make him understand how it wasn’t what he was thinking. “Please, Henry, I can’t explain what I don’t really understand.” All of this was becoming so much. Rose’s emotions suddenly felt like they were in complete turmoil and she felt the tears threatening.

That’s when they heard it. Evelyn. She was screaming from the basement. Rose, though she seemed to have super hearing for a while, couldn’t make out a thing her mother was screeching from the basement. As Henry backed away from her outstretched arms, she folded. It was clear he didn’t trust her. And she couldn’t blame him. All this crazy shit came out during their first date, and he’d done everything and anything to help her. To protect her. Of course he would feel some sort of way about these events. If it were the other way around, she wasn’t sure she would be as graceful as he’d been.

“I think it’s time we go talk to Evelyn.” Henry said, watching her. His amber eyes hurt, yet curious.

She nodded. “Agreed.” All she could do was nod. She was worried. The angel had seemed so set against it, but, she also needed answers, and had no idea why they would try to keep her from her mother. No, mother wasn’t really an answer. “Could you go first though? I’m scared.” Rose whispered to him, and that’s when it happened. He caved. The anger fled and he opened his arms to her again. 

“I can. But, don’t get mad if I pop. It’s been a hell of a few days, and—”

“I won’t. I think I’m ready to pop too. I’m just so confused. I hope you know, this is all news to me, and I didn’t have a clue as to any of this. I’m not trying to hide anything, but the more that comes up, the more my memories start to tickle. Those long-lost things that I always wished I had? Or knew?”

Henry nodded, pulling away from her as he descended into the basement. “Kai, you too, buddy. I think you have more to do with this than we know. After all, you’re the center of tonight.”

Kai wasn’t thrilled in being called out. “Aiden, hold. I will be back.” Henry added. Though the man was glaring at them, he nodded curtly.

As they ventured down into the depths of the basement, toward the cell Evelyn was sitting in, she was screaming. “Don’t you let that devil IN! Rose! Rose, listen to me! They’re not who you think they are! Don’t listen!” She was frantic against her chains. That made Rose feel all the worse. Henry paused, looking back over his shoulder. She was still standing at the top of the stairs.

Evelyn no longer looked like Evelyn though. Her hair had gone from that white blonde of hers to a bright red. Her skin looked younger, paler. Her eyes were a brighter green. Even her build was more curvy and full. "What's happening to you?"

"I don't know," She cried. "Maybe it that devil. He's changing things to make you question everything." As Henry turned back to look at her, Rose shook her head. She knew, that wasn't right. She didn't want them to think whatever that was, whomever owned that voice, could be bad. She knew they were good. She just, didn't know who they were or why she was so sure. Rose shook her head, and Henry sighed. "He wants to steal her from you. He wants to have her for himself. He's the one. The real one I've been protecting Rose from all these years." Evelyn added, quite desperately. "You need to let me out. Let me out of this prison so I can protect my daughter. Please, Henry."

Henry turned back to Rose, looking worried. "Rose, honey, I really need you to think about this answer, and be completely honest with me."

Biting her lip, she nodded. "Okay."

"What can you tell me about, it? That thing?"

Rose shook her head. "Not a lot. The moment I heard his voice though... it's like, hearing your father's voice after years of him being gone. After missing him forever. So long, you didn't know. But it all came rushing back the moment--"

"Of course it did," Henry held up a hand, to stop Evelyn in her tirade. Looking back at her angrily, "He's making it like that! Your father is dead!"

"That's enough!" Henry roared. "Speak again and you won't come out of that prison, do you hear me? I'm asking Rose." If looks could kill, Evelyn would have with that daggered look of hers. Warning bells were suddenly going off in Rose's mind. "Rose, please, continue."

"Do you remember the moment when I realized, behind the garage, who you were?" Though she could tell he was trying to hide the small smile playing at the corner of his mouth, he was unsuccessful. "It was a lot like that. The assurance. The joy. It tumbled around me. But for very different reasons. They're not a threat to us. I know they're not."

"You have no idea the threat you're--"

"I told you to shut it." Henry cut her off. "I will give you a say if you stop. But if you're going to pretend like Rose's opinion doesn't count, then we're going to really start having issues." Henry's amber eyes were hard as Evelyn pressed her lips together suddenly.

Rose swallowed. "But that's it. I just know, I want them to come back. I need to trust it. Every fiber of being is begging me to."

The room remained silent for a moment, before Evelyn broke through one more time. "Demons often appeal to our desires. But you really, truly never know what's lurking in the darkness. And this will be the end of us all if you're not careful."

Henry raised his head, "It's interesting you say that. Considering. I mean, you get locked in a prison that will hold a witch and take away her power and suddenly you look different. And all of a sudden this thing is able to reach Rose again? A thing she feels nothing but at ease with? Why don't you tell me who you really are?"