Unexpected Anchor

Chapter Sixteen

"Oh come on!" I scream at the vending machine. I slap the glass then kick the bottom of it. Still, no candy bar falls.

"Still trying to steal candy from vending machines by using your anger?" I turn to see my brother just a few steps from me. He walks up to me as I turn back around to the stupid machine trying to find another way. Harvey pulls out his wallet as he puts coins into the slot.

Pushing the number, watching the chocolate bar fall I grab it and look at him. "Thank you," I whisper as I take a bite from it.

"Why were you abusing the vending machine this time, Hallie?" He leans against the machine.

"I think we both know why. The same reason I've been avoiding everyone." I tell him as start walking down the hall.

"That's the thing. I don't know what it is." He walks up next to me sighing. "You got up and left with no explanation. You apparently aren't performing in the pep rally. And you were using the one good vending machine in our school as a punching bag."

I stop and stare at him as I feel tears coming to my eyes. "Harvey. It's him. Jimmy Platt. The man Sabrina is going after is the man that has been haunting my dreams since we were kids." I feel a lump form in my throat as my mind starts to swirl with the events that happened so long ago.

"But that doesn't make sense! Creepy Jimmy from your dreams was just from your dreams. He was a nightmare character." He shakes his head "How could he be the same person?"

"You haven't figured it out yet? Why you couldn't remember me being gone for two days when we were only six? Why have I never gone near that ice cream truck ever since? Why I don't eat ice cream anymore, period?" Harvey continues to stare at me with no recollection of the events. I shake my head and walk away telling him to forget about it. "I'll see you at home after the pep rally. I just need some time alone, Harvey."

I walk out of the school and make the trek back home. Letting the tears fall as the voices from the past take over.

"You aren't going anywhere."         "The perfect soul."       "No one will be able to hear you scream."

Back in Hell

"I hate pointing out that the novice Queen is running out of time," Caliban tells Lilith as the Kings speak with one another below them.

"You'll learn–" Lilith turns to him, looking him up and down in disgust. "Caliban was it? The unfortunate anchor to the human empath?" He smirks a little before she continues. "Sabrina may be intractable, n=infuriating, and naive, but she is a Morningstar in her bones. And she will deliver the soul to us, as dictated by the Book of the Beast." Lilith pats Caliban's cheek and he clenches his jaw at the action.

Lilith turns to the demon kings, "And while we're waiting, may I offer you gentleman.... Some refreshments?" The kings murmur, nodding. "Minion!" Caliban shakes his head as he feels a weight push in his head. A soft voice whimpering, feeling a pull to it he tries to focus on where she's at.

As Lilith dismisses her minion she looks over to Caliban seeing him grasp onto the bars looking over, but not focusing on anything in the room. She smiles wickedly at him, taking a step to the prince made of clay. "I believe your empath calls for you. We wouldn't want her to drown in her helplessness."

Caliban turns his head to Lilith as he straightens himself up. "You may have figured out our connection, but I see the fear behind your eyes. We both know the power she holds once she has fully unlocked it. It will only be a matter of time." Lilith swallows, as Caliban reads her. "My princess will be the true Queen of Hell. She will gain her full capabilities and be the true power as we reign together." He smirks seeing Lilith shrink in fear as he vanishes into his flames.