Murder Out By Caster Bridge

Chapter seventeen

The black cat suddenly turned and sat in front of me with glowing yellow and green eyes.

Hello, Weston, an eerily familiar voice whispered in my mind.

What the hell was this? Since when do cats talk with their minds? And what kind of cat knows my name?

Not all cats can. I am one of a kind. You may call me Mel. And I know you because I have been keeping a close eye on you without you noticing.

"Mel?" I asked, surprised. "Do you know Melinda? Are you her cat? Is that how you know me because she talks to you?"

Something like that. But I don't have time to get into that. You must listen to me very closely. This house isn't safe. The spirits that dwell in here have sensed your presence. It won't be long now before they come to you. You must leave now.

"What are you talking about? You mean that man who showed up a minute ago?"

Mel nodded her head and then scratched her ear with her paw. People who were killed in strange ways are left on earth seeking someone who can help them. That person just happens to be you. But you must be careful. Not all the spirits are nice and friendly. Some will and can hurt you.

"I don't understand," I said. "How can they hurt me?"

Mel's pupil-slitted eyes narrowed. I do not know exactly. You are the first wizard with empathic and mediumship abilities to ever exist. Never has there ever been a witch or wizard with multiple talents. And most witches or wizards with empathic or medium gifts never last as long as you have before they are killed.

"Killed how?"

I cannot say. The longer we continue to talk, the more time it gives the spirits to find you. You must find your friend and escape while there is still time.

"Wait," I said.

Look, I promise to explain everything later, but right now your safety is my top priority. I can not hide your aura for too much longer.

"What do you..." Before I could finish my sentence loud voices invaded my hearing.

"Help us...."

"Help us..."

"Help us..."

I covered my ears and turned around to see a group of different people from the elderly to adults, to teens, to young children all surrounding me, reaching out to me and begging for my help.

Frightened, I backed away. "I..." I tried to speak, but my words got stuck in my throat. I continued to back up until I was against a wall. "Please, make it stop." I placed my hands to my temples as a sharp pain erupted in my skull. It was all coming from emotions. So many. Too many to comprehend whose pain belonged to which ghost.

I slid down to the ground. Even with the ringing and gushing in my eardrums, I could distantly hear what sounded like rain and something rattling. Oh no, my powers were being affected because I couldn't control my emotions.

Just then pounding footsteps approached. I looked to see Norman sprint forward. He phased through the spirits and didn't even shiver as he knelt in front of me. "Weston, hey, are you okay?"

I couldn't help but watch in fascination as the spirits backed away like something was repelling them. Was it Norman?

Before I could say anything, the ceiling above rattled and came tumbling down. Without hesitation, I threw my entire body over Norman, wishing with all the magic inside me, to protect him.

Not feeling the impact, but hearing the crash and crumbling of plaster, I lifted my head to see Mr. Newman. He was dressed differently. He was in a black trench coat and black jeans. He still had on his half-rimmed glasses with his silver eyes shining in the moonlight that was beaming in through the hole in the ceiling.

His creepy eyes met my blue ones. “You have to leave!” he ordered in his thick European accent. The determination etched into his face confused me. Why did we have to leave? And why was he here to begin with?

I opened my mouth ready to say anything, but a loud hissing coming from behind me, echoing throughout the massive shambled room, prevented me.

Dread sank into my stomach. Terrified, my body stiffened and I slowly turned my head. I wished I hadn’t though because my eyes widened and my heartbeat speed up and pounded in my chest.

An enormous ten feet stout black cobra snake was looming over us with a satisfied grin on its face as its pink tongue flickered out and long, pointed fangs protruded, green gooey venom dripped. Like acid, when the drop hit the ground, it sizzled and burned a small hole into the wood.

The urge to scream got stuck in the lump lodged in the back of my throat. Paralyzed with fear, all I could do was stare at the creature in shuddered terror. I barely sensed Mr. Newman pushing us toward the stairway.

"Go now!" he yelled. I watched in amazement as black smoke curled around his hands until an onyx sword appeared like magic. He pointed the sharp tip of his sword at the snake.

“No argument here,” I said as I helped Norman to his feet.

The snake hissed. “Hmm, never thought I would meet you,” it said in a deep menacing voice.

Did that snake just talk? Snakes didn’t talk! What was happening here? Have I somehow been zapped into a nightmarish fantasy world when I crossed the threshold? This was so not happening.

"Weston! Come on!" Norman shouted.

“Not much a talker I see,” the snake said.

I didn't comment

This either annoyed or irritated the snake because it let out an angry hiss trying to strike at us with its tail. Norman and I ducked at the top of the stairs and the wall cracked from the force.

"Leave the boys alone!" shouted Mr. Newman. He swung the sword. Only the snake seemed to preemptively know his move because it swiped its tail at him. Mr. Newman didn't dodge quickly enough. The snake's tail hit him and sent him flying into a nearby column. The sword fell and clanged to the floor.

Mr. Newman groaned. “I'm getting too old for this."

The snake slithered towards us. Panicked, we scurried back. “And now, you will both face your doom,” the snake said, fangs protruding longer. However, as the snake was ready to strike us, an instinct kicked into me. I lifted my hands.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” I said cryptically.

Something in the ceiling began to creak and rattle. The snake’s head tilted towards the ceiling. I knew what the noise was. It was the pipes. It was the same kind of noise that happened at the museum and home with my mom. Even though I doubted this place had running water, I could somehow feel the water moving. The water pipes shook more violently and then busted.

I wasn't afraid of getting wet. I knew I wouldn't anyway. Instead, I concentrated as hard as I could. I didn't exactly have a plan. I was just doing this by instinct. I watched as I made all of the water gather in front of the snake.

Startled, the cobra constantly tried to strike, but couldn’t budge or get through the water.

“Smart boy, but I’m waterproof,” the snake said. “Your little water tricks won’t work on me a second time.”

I smirked. “Doesn’t mean I can’t trap you with it," I said, sassily.

The snake’s head tilted to the side as the black slits in his yellow eyes narrowed. He then hissed angrily when I made the water move until it stopped when the snake was backed into a corner. Having nowhere to run, I controlled the water to rise to the ceiling and form a wall to block it off.

The snake hissed and pounded at the water wall. But it never budged.

Breathless, I lowered my hands limply as my energy suddenly felt extremely depleted. I felt clammy and could feel sweat beading across my forehead. My eyes were drooping, but I fought against it as I looked at Norman.

He was staring at me with wide eyes and a bright smile. But there was worry pouring out of him.

“Don’t worry,” I assured, squeezing my eyes shut. “I’m fine.”

"Liar." He rose to his feet and then helped me up. I was unsteady but Norman kept his arms on me to keep me from kneeling over. I appreciated his help.

"Come on. No time for a round of Q&A. I doubt that will hold for too long."

“Then we should run while there is still time.”

“Good plan." I ran a hand through my damp hair and straightened myself up. "Do you think we can make it to my Jeep?"

"Maybe."

I bit my bottom lip. At the moment, I was conflicted. My primal instincts wanted me to flee from this unusual scene, from the horrid estate because a giant talking snake was trying to kill us. However, Norman didn't look that afraid. He was showing determination and confidence in his body language.

Just as we got to the bottom of the steps, the snake hissed and continued to beat against the impenetrable wall of water with its whole body. However, the snake let out what sounded like a sinister laugh as it used its pointed tail to touch the water which caused the wall to crumble, making all of the water splash everywhere.

"Watch out!" yelled Mr. Newman who lunged at us. Fear shot through us. I couldn’t move as we landed in the water with a splash. My face heated up, and I turned a bright shade of red from embarrassment. I was lying on top of Norman. True, we avoided the snake’s strike as its protruded fangs sank into the back of Mr. Newman's neck.

Mr. Newman let out of scream.

Just as I was about to yell, a rush of black smoke pushed me and Norman back and into a door that opened on its own. Once Norman and I were inside, the door shut and we landed on the floor.

I groaned. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. You?"

"I'm fine." A purple glow got my attention. I turned and looked around. We were in what looked like an office room of some kind. There was a desk that had dust on it. Books were all over the floor.

But my eyes traveled back to the glow. It was coming from behind a bookcase. "What is that?" I asked.

"No idea. But let's check it out." Norman got up and I followed. "Can you use your magic to move this?"

I shook my head. "I can't move anything heavier than my bag."

"Dang. Guess we'll have to do this the old fashion way." He started grabbing books and throwing them into the already large pile of books.

"Should you be doing that?"

"Probably not. But I want to investigate this light. Are you going to help?"

I let out a sigh but started to help him. When he got all of the books off the shelves, we moved the bookcase together. Behind it was a weird door. The purple glow was brighter.

Norman went to touch the knob, but I grabbed his wrist. "What?" he asked.

"What if opening the door brings in another snake or worse?"

"You are so paranoid. I doubt that snake came through this door." He removed my hand and then turned the knob. Instead of a room, there was a purple vortex swirling.

"What the hell?" I asked.

"That's my line," said Norman.

I rolled my eyes before I could make a resort, a loud bang caused the room to shake. Norman and I looked at each other before we jumped into the vortex.