Gray

Chapter 36

Gabe

I felt like my skin was on fire as Silas and Gray cooed at their newborn son. Nate nudged my elbow and tilted his head toward the door. Nikolai's eyes burned as he watched all of us, his face warped with a sadistic grin as if he'd just won a prize. The door swung open, but he didn't make a move to enter. My stomach rolled when I looked at the floor behind him. Reid lay, slumped against the wall.

"A fine grandson you've given me, Gracie Jean. Won't it be fascinating to discover his hidden talents," the demon sneered as he rubbed his hands together.

Silas straightened his shoulders, "You are not welcome here, Nikolai."

Nikolai laughed loudly, "And where should I go, sylph? Where will all of you go? Do you think you can just get in your vehicles and drive off happily into the sunset?

"Your spell is breaking all around you, you bastard," Gray seethed. "You can't keep us here any longer. We will find a way to leave, and don't call him your grandson. You are nothing to him!"

Nikolai sneered, "We'll see about that, daughter. Enjoy what little time you have left." He vanished along with Reid's body.

Gray's shoulders dropped as she began to sob, making the baby begin to cry as well. I ran my hand through her hair and whispered, "Shh, beautiful, it will be okay. We've broken the glamor and we'll figure out the rest as well."

Owen

Three weeks had passed and things had become rather complicated to say the least. When Kota and Gabe broke the spell for us, they also caused it to break for all the other souls trapped in the town. It quickly became apparent that some souls were well over a hundred years old, while others were closer to their actual ages. We still haven't figured out how they've all been trapped here. The longer the spell remained unbroken, the more the town itself seemed to begin collapsing just as it had that first night Gabe had confronted Gray.

Kota, Victor, and I had been scouring the internet to create files for all of the souls in the town, but some simply were untraceable. Meanwhile, Silas and Gray were exhausted trying to care for their newborn son, Galen. All of us had been taking shifts with him as well. He appeared to be normal as best as Sean could determine, but because his conception and birth were pure miracles, we had no way of being completely sure.

North stumbled into the room, a burp rag over his shoulder. "They're all three finally asleep," he muttered, falling into an oversized chair and groaning. "Hey, Gabe, how did you know you had the gift of spirit?"

Pursing his lips as he thought, Gabe replied, "It's been so long that I'm not entirely sure. Why?"

"I'm starting to wonder if part of the reason Galen is so fussy is he can sense all the trapped souls. He becomes more agitated when one of the townsfolk are nearby, be it here in the camper or Clara's place," North observed. "Maybe he's got a gift similar to yours but is too young to understand or even express it."

"That would make sense based on Gray's abilities," I added. "Galen could have any combination of their powers, or even ones that are unique to him. That may be one of the reasons Nikolai is so interested in him."

"Can you read anything from him?" Kota asked Gabe.

"I hadn't even thought about it with everything going on," Gabe replied sheepishly. "I'll see what I can pick up when they wake up. I don't want to take a chance on disturbing any of them."

North let his head fall back on the chair, "Yeah, please don't. I don't know how many more times I can sing "You Are My Sunshine." We all chuckled at his exaggerated groan.

Gray

My skin felt icy and it was difficult to move. Blinking rapidly, I tried to focus in the suffocating darkness. Then my heart felt like it had stopped in my chest.

"How long do you think I'll let you continue to play house, Gracie Jean?" I tried to speak, but no sound came out. "You are lucky I made Reid see reason. Having that child could have ruined your contract with him, yet he is willing to have you still." I wanted to scream, to rage against my father, yet whatever spell he had used to bring me here, held me silent and in place. "On the full moon, the terms of your contract must be fulfilled. As a gracious father, I will allow your sylphs to leave. Whether the child remains or not is your decision. If he does, he will be trained by me and stay with me until you have fulfilled your contract with Reid and provided him with a son." He stepped forward, his full demonic form before me and my eyes widened. I had no memory of this version of him. He was hideous, his skin marred and burned on his face and upper torso, agate black eyes with fiery red irises that seemed to pierce through me. His hand stretched out, or at least what he used as a hand. It more closely resembled a cloven hoof with two sharp points. He grazed along my skin, drawing a rivulet of blood in doing so. "Choose wisely, my child. I will not hesitate to destroy all of them, slowly and painfully. You have no hope of challenging me." Darkness engulfed us.

I bolted upright in bed, gasping for breath as Silas reached for me. "What is it? What happened?" My eyes focused on Galen lying peacefully in the bassinet. "Gray?" Silas said softly, his hand settling on the small of my back.

I turned to look at him and let out a shaky sob. "He's coming."

Author's Notes:  Ahh, the showdown is coming soon!  Only a few chapters left.  Please vote, follow, share, and comment.