HOSTS

FRIENDS FROM HIGH PLACES

Fred.

I rushed inside because I saw the the door was broken. I knew that could only mean one thing. The Dark Hosts. I entered the house. Everywhere was scattered but there was no sign of Christie or father. I was overwhelmed with anger. Thinking Draven had killed them the way he killed my mother. I felt Edwin's presence as he took a step towards me.

He was right behind me, as I stopped and turned. I faced him and I noticed the fear in his eyes. His shoulders dropped and his soundless mouth couldn't get closed. I knew he would be terrified but I couldn't control my anger at the moment. I could barely tell who was the enemy as I was overwhelmed in my thoughts.

Without thinking twice, I charged at him with a fireball in my hand.

Then I realized a voice said something just before I moved. The voice said “Run!”. The voice sounded familiar. I looked back and it was Christie's voice. Edwin was still on the run. “Draven's men were here,”Christie said. I wasn't really concerned about Hans but I asked “and father?”

“He went after the last of them that came”

Then father appeared with a flash of golden dust. “I'm here. Draven has destroyed the Grey Hosts”

“What!!!” I chorused with Christie.

Father continued. “Yes. Draven wants to be the greatest of all Hosts. To become the greatest, he has to wield the kazulli staff. The staff was buried deep within the center of Hilliard and only the strongest Host leader could summon it with three rites. A human's blood, a female's tears and a Host leader's angry scream. No one had been able to summon it for centuries.”

Then Christie mumbled “and now that he has collected the power of the Grey Hosts,” father replied “Draven is currently our worst nightmare. He's going to wait till the next full moon which is next week. Only then can he summon the staff. For now, we stay so he doesn't get any of us. Fred, no school for you till the full moon is gone”

I then remembered that Edwin was still on the run. I vanished and appeared before him, grabbed his shirt and vanished back to the house.

“Who is this?” asked Hans. “He saw Fred's Host nature. I think he's his friend from school”

Edwin shouted “School?!!! I don't know anybody in school. Guys just release me and let me go. I swear I saw nothing. I've never known Fred”

“Oh dear, you just mentioned my name”

“I don't mean Fred. I said, my friend. Alright I promise to tell no one.”

As he spoke, I noticed Christie was falling under his spell of beauty. She insisted that we free him, which we did.

To my surprise, Christie wasn't at home on Friday. I tried summoning her but she's the Golden Host leader. She decides where she wants to be at any time. Father looked worried and I was definitely worried. We waited till she showed up in the evening with Edwin.

I wasn't far from the truth. She loved him already. I didn't like it. She even made him stay for dinner. Father allowed it because he kept looking for means to please us. After the meal, I personally opened the door for him to leave quickly.

That went well.

I was on the lookout for Saturday. I woke up and saw Christie. Good. But then, it wasn't long before I saw I group of boys knocking at the door.

Edwin

They wouldn't let me rest. They wanted to know who the lucky girl was. I didn't want to bring them but Griffmore insisted that he would also come along with his clutch and bonded head.

We were allowed in as I saw Christie. It's as though I've never loved before. Like we have been together for years. She hugged me and the crew also entered. Irritation was written all over Fred's face but he just had to allow us.

Griff sat gently on a couch while others used the single chairs. He looked at Hans, and then at Fred. He was going to say something but he swallowed his words. We had a lasting fun till around 2pm when we were ready to leave. Christie followed me as we all went outside. We walked a few houses far away.

Suddenly, I saw a car driving furiously towards me. Others ran out of its way as it parked right in front of me. Steph got out of the car. I had no idea how she got to know where I was. She came right to me, grabbed me in front of Christie and kissed me deeply. Then she faces Christie and told her “He is my man. Don't you have something better to do than sleep with other people's men?” She got into the car and started the engine.

Christie's mood changed at once. I was speechless. Before I could make any words, Christie made a terrible loud cry. It shook the ground and broke all the glasses around, including Stephs car glasses. Then Christie vanished.

Everyone ran for their lives as I rushed back to Christie's house to explain. I had not knocked the door before it opened. Fred came out and grabbed my neck without even touching me. My feet weren't touching the ground anymore. “Do not let me see you again, ever!”, he said as he dropped me on the floor and shut the door.

I was totally damaged. The sky turned dark. This love wasn't even up to a week but it felt like a lifetime. I felt the reality of no hope. I gave up instantly. It started to rain and the whole thing just looked like a movie to me. I was walking in the rain with a torn irredeemable heart as a lightning landed right in front of me. I wasn't really concerned. It looks like Christie's scream called friends from high places.

I thought I had seen the most terrible thing that could happen to me that Saturday. What could be worse? Well I saw something worse. A creature came out of the lightning. And that was it. The next thing I saw was that I opened my eyes and found myself here. Drenched in this blood of mine.

Now, how long have I been here? Two days? A day?

Both of you just kept quiet since. If you are both guards, at least you should be able to say something. It must be you boss that showed up in the lightning. Well, whatever you want to do with my body, get on with it real quick. I can't endure this pain anymore.

Kill me please!