Oakbrook - The Portal

Excuses

Making excuses

Within the light, everything fractured. Kate lost all sense of who, or where, she was, until she fell from the light to sprawl on the ground in front of a large male being.

Staring at rough feet, she couldn't call him a man, although he stood on two legs, had the normal arrangement of human type limbs and only one head. She couldn't tell if he was naked or clothed, or if it mattered, but little was left to the imagination. The green tinged brown skin, gnarled like tree bark, covered densely corded muscle. He was tall, over seven feet, well-built and wore a beard, neatly clipped but appearing like the moss growing on the trees. Moss, ivy, leaves, hung about his hips, not really hiding obvious masculinity. The moss that formed his hair was woven into braids using wooden beads, leaves and flowers. His eyes were uniformly brilliant green, no distinct iris or white, although there seemed to be a horizontally split pupil. Scrambling to her feet, she stared, terrified he might be with Kokare. He dropped to one knee, and she stood there dumbstruck, not knowing how to react.

"I am Oran," he greeted her. "My deepest apologies for the mistreatment you have suffered at the hands of our Master." His voice was soft, yet deep, and resonant. "Your child is safe and will be brought here in a few moments."

Kate brushed dirt from her jeans. "She's not my child."

Oran laughed as he rose to his feet. "She is your child. You came for her, she is yours and you are hers."

Kate became aware that the shining light had winked out and no longer shine behind her. She whirled, "Where did it go? How do I get back?"

He stood beside her, towering over her. "Easy, Mistress, it will return. Lilith shattered the Portal as she entered. The fragments will return in a short while."

Long moments later fragments of bright light coalesced in the air and the Portal reformed. By the time it was fully formed, Kate's heart had slowed to almost normal, and her mind was starting to work again.

"If I go, can I come back?" she asked.

Oran nodded, a slow, heavy movement. "As long as the Portal remains open."

In Kate's kitchen, Sam took a penknife from the kitchen drawer and began to whittle on the axe handle. Tom looked on, interested.

"What's that?"

"It's a pentagram; like a witchy Hallowe'en star." Sam explained, "It's meant to protect you from bad magic."

"Figures." Tom shrugged. "Lily has a silver one she wears all the time." He wandered towards the living room. "I'm going to play my game, ok?" He looked back at her. "Mum will be cross if you don't put the axe in the shed."

"I know," Sam agreed.

Sam was concerned about Tom. Although he seemed physically fine he was refusing to go upstairs and was obviously scared. Sam understood why, but was at a loss for how to help him. She glanced at the living room door, partially closed. Flickers of light and noise told her he was playing his favourite racing game.

A noise from upstairs made her jump. Sam hefted the axe in her right hand and headed for the stairs. She shook her head, wordlessly questioning the sense of even going to look. With the axe held ready, she crept steadily forwards. She peered through the railings at the top and gasped.

"It's back." She whispered, "Oh Gods, it's back." Her whispered words trembled in a combination of fear and hope.

Susan, Kate, Lily, Kokare. Sam wasn't sure who she hoped for most, and what she feared.

At the top of the stairs, the light was white and too bright, shining round the edges of Susan's closed bedroom door. Sam eased it open. The portal shone like a beacon but there was no sign of anyone. Sam took a step towards the light.