Page 36 of Ace's Ascension

“Sure, let's get some gators!” Duke rubs his hands together and Liz sits back laughing.

“What do you want me to do?” I ask.

“Sit there and look hot.” Liz winks and damn if it doesn’t do things to me.

The ride to the island where Liz’s Memaw lived was uneventful. We only spotted a few gators but they stayed far away from us. The biggest bitch from the guys were the bugs. Some of them were huge blood-sucking vampires. Liz slows the airboat down and gently guides it into a clearing made of sand.She shuts the motor off once we reach a little way inland and takes a deep breath.

“This is it.” Liz climbs off her seat and grabs her bag. “This way. We still have a little bit of time before everyone else shows up.”

Duke, Tex, Stone and I follow suit with our bags. I take hold of Liz’s hand and give it a gentle squeeze. We walk further into the woods until it gets so dark, you can’t tell it’s still morning. We reach another clearing and the morning light streams through the trees. The birds and creatures quiet down once we step foot onto the property. A small shack with a rundown porch and rotting boards appears before us. The once white paint is now murky brown and peeling. A swing suspended on the porch is broken and hanging on my one chain. Liz stifles a sob trying to break free.

“This place used to be so beautiful. Now it’s just a memory. I’m so sorry Memaw.” Liz whispers into the breeze. She closes her bright blue eyes and a tear falls down her cheek. I watch as Liz turns her face up toward the sun and the breeze turns into a warm gust of wind that wraps around the five of us.

Liz opens her eyes and nods her head like she’s having a silent conversation with someone I can’t see. She turns those pretty blues toward me and I open my arms and hold her against my chest.

“Remember, I am with you the whole way. No matter what goes down today, I’m not going anywhere.” I state into the softness of Liz’s hair.

“Thank you, Ace. This is going to get nasty.” I hold onto her for a moment longer before she pulls away. “We have work to do before the others show up.”

Liz gives us directions on how and where to place her stones around the perimeter of the shack to ward off evil. Once Duke, Stone and Tex wander off to do their assigned jobs, that leavesLiz and me alone. I can finally ask her the questions that have been on my mind.

“Can I ask you something without you getting offended?”

Liz places a stone down before answering. “Sure.”

“Who’s Aerik and why did you stiffen at the mention of his name? I know about your brother, but not this guy.” I am not holding back on this. I need to know how to protect her and from who.

“Aerik is no one you need to worry about.” Liz answers. She doesn’t look me in the eyes when she speaks. Instead, she keeps her head down and places stones around the sand.

“Liz, I’m not buying that bullshit. Tell me who Aerik is and why you’re so afraid of him.” I approach Liz and make her stop what she’s doing and look at me. The fear and sadness in her blue eyes guts me, but I need answers. Liz opened her mouth to tell me when shouting came from behind us. “We’ll pick this up later. But Liz, don’t ever lie to me.” I kiss the top of her head in reassurance and take off toward the noise.

What I walk into once we reach the shack is something I didn’t think I’d ever see. The man I met last night, Liz’s grandpa, Amir, is standing in the clearing pointing an accusing finger at Liz’s mom. He’s shouting obscenities at her with tears in his watery blue eyes. Liz’s mom is shouting back at him and her screeching makes my blood turn cold. A man is standing behind Liz’s mom who looks like a younger version of her Grandfather. A guy with the same fiery red hair as Liz, with similar freckles and bright blue eyes is next to him. That’s where the similarities stop. Liz has a peaceful, elegant, innocent nature surrounding her and her twin radiates bitterness and I would say evil if I believed in such things. When his gaze lands on Liz, he snarls, curling up his top lip.

“Look who finally graced us with her presence, Princess Elizabeth.” Tomas snarls.

Liz’s spine stiffens at Tomas’s words. She doesn’t speak, instead, she goes to her grandfather's side. I follow her with Duke, Tex and Stone surrounding Liz and her grandfather.

“Haven’t you done enough to destroy this family, Elizabeth?” Liz’s mom's snide remark hits Liz right in the heart. Her face crumples but she doesn’t shed a tear. She doesn’t speak as her mother and brother both belittle and criticize her for something she didn’t do nor was she responsible for.

“ENOUGH!” Liz’s grandfather bellows. I didn’t think the old man had it in him to be so boisterous. “You might be married to my son, Jalinda, but remember where you came from. If it wasn’t for my wife, God rest her soul, you would still be slinging crawfish to the gators in the swamp. Your daughter’s innocence was robbed from that buoy you are desperately clinging to. Now, if you don’t mind, we are here for Madeline. To celebrate her life and bring us answers for her death.”

Liz takes Amir’s bony hand gently and guides him up the stairs into Madeline’s home, ignoring the glares and rude comments each of her family members is spewing at the two of them. I follow close behind Liz, protecting both of them. Once we’re inside, Amir breathes a sigh of relief and Liz helps him into an old worn rocking chair.

“Thank you, my sweet Rose.” He looks past her toward me. “Protect her with everything you have. She’s going to need it in a few moments.”

Amir closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He smiles, “Memaw is waiting for me. I’ll give her your love.” Amir pats Liz’s hand before it goes limp at his side and he stops breathing. His body sags in the old rocking chair and Liz has tears streaming down her face. I want to comfort her and give her my love, but she has to do this on her own.

After a few moments, Liz stands, kisses her grandfather on the cheek, chants something I can’t understand then turns andlights two candles. “One for Memaw and one for Pawpaw. May they rest in peace together for eternity.” She grabs a big white candle and lights it with the two smaller ones at the same time. “Now no one can separate the two of you ever again.”

A light warm breeze picks up, ruffling the hair on my head. Peace settles over me and I don’t know how I should feel but I feel happy and even though my heart is hurting for Liz losing both grandparents now, I can feel the love between the three of them in the room.

The door bursts open, creating a cold gush of wind. Liz is still holding the big candle in her hands. It flickers but doesn’t go out. “What have you done!” Jalinda screeches at the top of her lungs. She lunges for Liz with her hands outstretched, screeching. She wraps her fingers around Liz’s throat before I can stop her and digs into the sensitive area around Liz’s neck. Liz doesn’t let go of the candle nor does she fight back right away.

I try to pull Jalinda off Liz, but before I can, something heavy hits me on the back of the head, sending me to the ground. A heavy boot stomps on my back, holding me in place. I smell the evil radiating off Tomas. When Liz sees Tomas holding me down, she tries to fight back. Where are Duke, Stone and Tex? They should be here by now helping us.

“Your three friends are currently incapable of helping.” Tomas sneers down at me like he can read my mind. “Aerik has graciously tied them up.”

A man with blonde hair swept into his green eyes steps into the shack. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” His deep voice commanded everyone to freeze. Jalinda’s fingers loosen around Liz’s neck slightly. The fear in Liz’s eyes shined brightly at this stranger’s voice. Tomas’ boot didn’t let up as he kept me pinned to the ground when this guy walked in.

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