King Of Monsters

chapter 8

Lucille’s POV

I’ve been feeling odd vibrations since I got the call from Queen Lorelei about an attack on her human ward. Something strange and powerful is going on. I head into my alter room, being a witch, I totally play into the stereotype and have a cauldron which sits in the centre of the room,. I walked over to a drawer and pulled out a purple velvet bag containing ash. Walking to the cauldron I dropped a handful of the ash into the already existing liquid. as I do this, I close my eyes and pray to the goddess for the ability to see what is causing these vibrations.

The ash on top of the liquid begins to part to reveal an image of a gold locket with a red gem in the centre, the locket spins slowly as if floating in the air. it looks so familiar. I know I've seen it before but I cant place where I think to myself. Then I see flashes of devastation. Flames, tornados, hurricanes, burning buildings and screaming people running around trying to find shelter from the c*****e, blood everywhere, as well as images of others dead on the ground.

In the center of all of these visions appears to be the same young woman, floating in the air with her arms spread wide and head thrown back as if looking at the sky wearing the same locket. I can’t clearly see her face though, all I can make out is black hair floating around her like water, only allowing her eyes to be seen as they lay closed. She wears a red dress and as it moves in the breeze around her the shinning fabric and color makes it look as if she is clothed in blood.

As she floats in the air slowly spinning like the first vision of the locket, flames surround her, licking her skin but leaving no burns. Suddenly she freezes facing me, her eyelids shoot open to reveal bright green glowing eyes behind them, staring directly at me. I freeze, mesmerized by them and I take a step closer to the cauldron.

In an instant the door to the room slams shut and I feel like I’m suffocating, as if there’s no air in the room left to breathe. I try to chant an incantation to block the attack, but I can’t form any words. Beginning to panic to I run to the door trying to pry it open to let some air in but it doesn't budge, banging on it I feel dizzy and weak, sliding to the ground, my lungs burning for air.

Becoming desperate I crawl to the cauldron and use the strength I have left to push it over destroying the vision of the woman. Finally I'm being able to breath, I shift onto all fours as I catch my breath. After my breathing begins to steady, I use the tipped over cauldron to support me as I stand up, looking towards the sky, towards the moon goddess, holding my throat. “What the f**k was that!” I exclaimed at her.

I walked past the cauldron and shut the door behind me. That’s a mess for another day I thought to myself. I walked into my bathroom and inspected myself in the mirror. My white eyes were bloodshot, my pale skin was flushed and my usually styled messy wild white curls were frizzy and disheveled after almost suffocating. Turning my head this way and that I couldn’t find any foreign marks on my throat. I leant on the basin, shaking my head “I need help” I told myself. I took a step back and chanted a spell at the mirror, suddenly my reflection was replaced by a man’s “Yes Lucille?” he asked as his eyes left the book he was reading and looked up at me "what the f**k happened Lucille!?" he shouted “Marshal I need your help” I began. I then went on to recount every detail in my vision. “Do you have any idea what we could be dealing with?” I asked him he had a concerned look in his eye “I have a theory, but they’re very rare, thought to be extinct in fact. I don’t know much off the top of my head so i'll have to track down some books. Where should I meet you when I have them?” “I’ll be with the Lycan royals” I replied. He nodded before closing the portal. I walked out of the bathroom. Suppose I’d better start packing, but first a drink.

Half a bottle of 40-year-old scotch later I’m finally in my room ready to begin to pack, I turn on some loud music and dance while drinking straight from the bottle. With a flick of my hand my 2 large white hardcase suitcases floated out of my wardrobe and sat gently on the end of my bed. Hmm what should I pack first… “toiletries!” I shouted out loud and I flicked my hand towards the bathroom, out floated my toiletry bag, then shampoo and conditioner, hair oil, curl gel, my toothpaste and toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, ties and pins, pads and tampons and a couple of condoms. I frowned at the condoms for a moment “yeah, better to be safe I guess” and with another flick of my hand all of the toiletries floated into the toiletry bag and then that bag into one of the suitcases, I did this for the next hour or so with clothes, shoes, coats, evening wear, and training gear and even though I barely moved I was exhausted. Zipping the suitcases up and putting them beside the front door ready to go with another flick of my hand, I then decided a nice hot bubble bath was in order, with my scotch of course. I brought my cd player into the bathroom and started playing some soft classical piano, then I got some chocolate, an ashtray, cut the tip off of one of my favourite cigars, dimmed the lights and lit some candles, stripped and got into the bath. I figured with that vision this might be the last time I can relax in a while so I’m making the most of it.

Waking up at my alarm I sat abruptly up in bed to throw it at the wall. The pieces fell on the floor next to pieces from the previous alarm clock that had met the same fate. I groaned lying back down putting a pillow over my head. f**k. Why did so drink so much, I thought throwing the pillow off. resigning myself to having to get my ass up. Come to think of it, I don’t even remember going to bed, I remember getting in the bath and that was it, I looked around my room in confusion. Suddenly my bedroom door flew open and crashed into the wall, I jumped up on the bed fireballs in hand ready scorch the stupid f**k that decided to break into my house when I walks Marshal with a tray of breakfast staring at me like a mad woman. The fireballs in my hands went out with a poof of smoke. “Marshal WHAT THE f**k”. I jumped off the bed and walked over to him hands on my hips and all my attitude showing “what the hell are you doing here?” “What? You don’t remember?” he put the try down on the end of the bed and turned around “I don’t know why I’m surprised; you drank a whole f*****g bottle of scotch” he continued throwing his hands in the air turning for the bedroom door. Before leaving he turned back to me “you should eat that before it gets cold. And you are welcome by the way” he said and left. I stood there gaping after him. This man is in my house uninvited! and he’s pissed at ME for not thanking him for making me breakfast.

I followed him out of the bedroom. He was cleaning up the dishes he used to cook. I leant against the counter watching him. “Thank you for breakfast” I said to diffuse the situation. He looked at me over his shoulder judging whether I had meant it or not. When he decided I did, he turned to face me properly crossing his arms at me. “What exactly do you remember” he asked me “I remember getting into a lovely bath” he rolled his eyes at me “You didn’t close the portal properly earlier, which” he paused to point at me “is stupid in itself, anyone could have come through and you dear sister have a lot of enemies at this age. so, when I came back to try and call you again, I saw you in the bath asleep. then I noticed the empty bottle of scotch beside the bathtub, and I thought it best to intervene before you drowned yourself.” He turned back around to finish the dishes. I pursed my lips well I feel like a dickhead now don’t I, I thought.

“If was passed out drunk that means…you dressed me” I added he looked at me with a horrified expression and shivered. “yep” was all he said emphasizing the P at the end, “sorry bro” and then I left to get dressed and eat. As I was eating the now cold food, Marshal walked into the room. “I found those books” he simply stated, “that was quick” I looked at him “yeah well turns out Stewart had them out for some reason” he said rolling his eyes, “you two fighting again?” I asked him taking another mouthful of soggy scrambled eggs. He looked at me dramatically, hand on his chest as if to say who me? making me laugh and spit egg everywhere.

Then he got a serious expression and sat down next to me “I think he’s cheating on me” “oh Marsh I’m sorry” I said hugging him “but what makes you so sure? You guys have been together forever, why would he cheat now?” he chuckled “yeah, almost 260 years now. But things have been different lately. He’s not as affectionate, always distracted, he’s gotten all private now and barely ever wants to have s*x-” “oh god!” I said getting up and blocking my ears and singing loudly, I turned around to see him holding his stomach with laughter “oh you’re such a prude” he commented still laughing. I just shook my head at him “not wanting to hear about my twin brothers s*x life does not make me a prude” I said in my defense pointing at him, but this his laughter just got stronger. I stood there before grabbing the breakfast tray and taking it to the kitchen, he followed me still laughing.

“As much as I would love to continue this conversation Marshal, I really need to head off “I said “are you going to come with or crash here for a while?” I asked him drying my hands after washing up. “Well since I’m the only one that can translate the books you need to figure this out, I suppose ill be coming along” he smiled at me before running out the room shouting, “I’m picking the music!” I rolled my eyes and chuckled grabbing my handbag I followed him out, locking the door behind me.