Nine Lives

Chapter One: The Body

1806

The night was dark and silent, perfect for the evil doings happening under the blood moon. Howling winds crashed through the forest around the shadowy figure below, providing an eerie backdrop to his crimes.

A potion bubbled below him, a sickly yellow color that gave off the putrid odor of burning flesh. It was almost ready.

A piercing scream broke through the night. She was awake. It was time for the sacrifice.

He looked down at the woman, tied to the table. There was a smear of dried blood in the corner of her mouth, her cat-like eyes widened in fear, her cherry lips parted as she let loose another shrill scream. Tears beaded in her eyes.

He gripped the dagger in one strong, steady hand. He stroked the tip of the blade, a bead of blood forming at the tip of his finger as it broke the skin.

He brought his bloody finger down to her skin and let it dance across her chest, forming the ancient symbols in his blood. He could feel his life force bringing life to the spell, could feel it growing in power.

It was almost time, the moon was almost at the full eclipse; the blood moon would soon appear. He could feel the magic in the air. Tonight was the night he would get back what was rightfully his.

Present Day

"There's a body in the swimming pool."

My breath rushed out, the cloying chill of apprehension rushing through me. Goosebumps broke out across my skin, a sudden gripping feeling clawing up from my stomach. The putrid feeling of fear pumped through my veins.

"What?", a voice asked, softly, quietly. It was hollow, empty, frightened. After a moment, I realized it was my own.

Marcy's eyes twitched at my intrusion; I was not welcome here. She carried on after a moment, her back turned to me, blocking me from the group.

"I was driving to work, you know I live down Donner Lane, so I always pass right by the pool. It's been closed for months, so the whole place has been dead," she paused a moment, cringing at her word choice, "But when I passed by today, there were cops, everywhere. It looked like the whole police force was out there."

Everyone was avidly listening, sucking up each word like honey. Marcy loved the attention, a self satisfied smile curling up the ends of her cruel lips. They all leaned in, towards her gleaming eyes and hushed tones. I was on the outside, like I've always been and always would be.

"So I get out of my car," she says slowly, dragging out her words with a sickening lilt in her voice, "And I see them putting up that yellow crime scene tape, like the kind they have on tv. Then I see Chief Randy and ask him about what the hell was going on.

"At first, he absolutely refused to tell me anything," Marcy said on a sigh, clearly put upon, "He kept telling me to get lost. Me! I was right about to leave, nothing was happening and nobody was telling me anything - it was so annoying - but then, that's when I saw them do it. They pulled the body out of the water."

A chorus of gasps broke through the otherwise silent room; my fingers tightened around the tray I was holding. An unknown terror was beating itself against me. I knew this was the start of something, something evil.

"But get this," Marcy said, pulling her glossy locks over her shoulder in a display of dramatics. "When they were putting the body in one of those black body bag things, I saw his face."

Ice was pumping through my veins. I was drowning in apprehension and fear, my heart racing and adrenalin bursting through my body with nervous energy. A bitter taste resonated in my mouth as I waited for her big reveal.