“Watch me,” she countered with an evil grin. The fire squeezed around me again but instead of pushing it away, I concentrated on my own energy. It stretched outward from my body, creating something of a force field, repelling her advances. Feeling exhilarated and stronger than I ever had before, I met her eyes with confidence. Right before my world exploded.
Images exploded across my mind; blinding me with a mirage of colors, places, and most predominately, people suffering. I attempted to push them away, but somehow the onslaught worsened. I actually felt the agony and pain of the judged souls; hear their pleading and failed attempts at persuasion. Finally, I was able to concentrate long enough to realize that I needed to pull my energy back, not the other way around.
“Get out! Get out! Get out!” Carmen began to shriek over and over, this time in her own voice.
I concentrated on bringing anything and everything ‘me’ back to my body. My energy rushed back into me with unmistakable force and the world spun. I collapsed in the sand beside Carmen and clutched her hand. Maybe, I could get through to her while she was still in control.
“Carmen, please!” I squeezed her hand, “You have to fight them!”
“I can’t,” she whimpered, her voice now weak with exhaustion.
“You have to!” She screamed out in agony again; scratching at her skin as if attempting to pull the beings, or herself, from her body. I wrestled her arms away from her skin before she clawed herself to death when suddenly her body went limp and pale. Her blank eyes met mine slowly as the real Carmen started to shrink back inside herself.
“They’re too strong,” she cried. “I deserve my fate.”
Chapter 14
“Stasia,” Natasha and Elina were now standing beside us, trying to pull me away from her.
“No!” I yelled, pushing them away.
“If she gives in, we must allow her to do so. It is her choice,” Elina stated calmly.
“No! I won’t let her! You hear me Carmen!?” As my hysteria and desperation rose, the sand beneath us began to dance and shift again. Getting an idea, I slid my hands under her arms and began to drag her body towards the water’s edge.
“Stasia, what are you doing?” Phoebe called to me.
“Help me!” I instructed her. Whether it was my fierce tone or the determined look in my eye, she didn’t argue or ask questions. Once the gentle waves lapped at our feet, I sat down in the water and pulled Carmen’s body to me, so that her back was propped up against me.
“Come on Carmen, you’re in the water. Pull from it. It’ll strengthen you. Concentrate on the way it makes you feel.” She continued to stare up at me blankly as Phoebe gently splashed water onto her face and shoulders. “It’ll help you fight them.”
Another minute went by filled with blank stares before we saw any reaction or sign that she could hear us.
“Stasia, look!” Phoebe exclaimed. I peeled my eyes from Carmen’s absent stare and I found what Phoebe was referring to. The water had started to vibrate around Carmen’s body ever so slightly. It slowly organized; sending small waves rolling outward. Excitement shone in Phoebe’s eyes as she watched.
“You’re doing it, Carm!” she rejoiced. “Keep it up!”
With no sounds or movements from Carmen, it was difficult to know what she was thinking or if she was even able to think. I was waiting for the moment when the three beings would come to the surface and decide to retaliate; potentially hurting me or Phoebe. I held her close in anticipation.
Phoebe, however, was in full celebration mode. Tears of joy were running down her face, and she rotated from one side of Carmen’s body to the other several times. Just as I had feared, her joy turned out to be premature. Unfortunately the waves halted, and Carmen’s warm brown eyes darkened to a pitch black.
“No! Carmen!” Phoebe yelled at her and shook her shoulders in panic. “Come back!”
“She just isn’t strong enough,” I whispered, tears springing to my eyes. It was then that I noticed the picturesque woman walking towards us from the waves.
“Allow me.”
As she approached, I knew that she had to be a Nereid. Her dark skin was only a couple of tones lighter than her long, straight hair, which was a rich mahogany with chunks of black strands raining down throughout. Her dark, smoky eyes gave her an air of mystery and strength. She wore a dark blue dress that flowed behind her in the water. As she walked the waves become stronger and larger, clearly as affected by her presence as we were. It could only be Oreithya.
Rendered speechless, I allowed her to take Carmen from me and into her arms. I pulled Phoebe back toward the beach and onto the sand with Finn. We watched on as Oreithya cradled Carmen in her arms and closed her eyes. A bright light flashed, and a massive wave echoed outward from where they were standing. Oreithya opened her eyes and smiled down at Carmen, who still appeared to be limp in her arms. She carried her to the beach and laid her gently on the sand.
“Carmen?” Phoebe asked quietly. Her hands shook with fear as she reached down and touched her arm. Thudding footsteps behind us undoubtedly put me on the defensive, but I didn’t have time to protect us before Ricker had appeared.
“What happened?!” Ricker fell onto the sand beside us, almost pushing us out of the way. I moved back and stood beside Finn as Ricker and Phoebe hovered over her. Her eyes were closed, but color had returned to her cheeks.
“She is free of their grasp, but not of their judgment,” Oreithya told Finn with a respectful nod. I heard Willow’s sharp intake of breath when she realized who the newest arrival was.
“And judgment shall be served,” an ominous voice added with malice. We all angled toward the voice and gasped. Three women now stood before us, watching us with impatience. Manifested in human form, I could feel the darkness they held within - they most certainly belonged to the Underworld. Their similarities were glaringly obvious. Their long black cloaks of velvet pooled at their feet, while large red amulets hung from silver necklaces; pulsing a deep, macabre red. Their hair touted every shade of red and orange; reminding me of a dancing flame.
“Who are you?” Phoebe stood angrily and glared at them. “Is Nadia behind this?” I was taken aback by her sudden show of courage.
“We are Tisiphone, Megaira, and Alekto,” one of the women announced with an old world accent. “We do not reveal who sent us.” Her golden eyes flickered bright yellow as she spoke.
“Ricker? Phoebe?” Carmen’s weak voice was barely audible above the crashing of the waves, but most importantly it was her own. Phoebe returned to her side along with Ricker, who smoothed her hair back from her face. “Ricker…they know.”
Ricker’s face paled as some form of recognition washed over him. Just as quickly, those pale features hardened with determination. The three women moved toward Carmen, but Ricker was already on his feet; blocking their path.
“I am to blame,” he declared, lifting his chin with conviction. “I convinced her to do it.”
“Ricker don’t…” Carmen attempted feebly.
“Stupid boy!” Another of the women snapped. “The act cannot be disputed. It is the intent we seek. She will not disclose her own intentions.” She took a menacing step towards Ricker. “However, your own shame and ire are also telltale byproducts of guilt.”
“No!” Carmen cried out, rolling onto her side to meet the eyes of the Erinyes. “He wanted it!
He told me we could do it. He said it would be okay. But I…I talked him out of it. I convinced him that we were too young. I thought I could make it up to him after…” she cringed.
“After you aborted your unborn child.” The third woman stated accusingly. I heard a collective gasp out of the onlookers as well as from my own mouth. Carmen had…an abortion? I couldn’t imagine how difficult that must have been for her, and how heavy of a burden that would be now. I had to admit her love/hate relationship with Ricker made more sense than ever now. She managed to sit up with Phoebe’s help. Her tired features contorted with undeniable fury.