The Weaver
an excerpt

Malaik’s voice was cool and steady. “You seem to think I have all the time in the world, Karen. I have been more than patient all of these years. You know the laws of this world as well as I do and I’ll be damned if I’ll let you get in my way for another half century.” He turned and fashioning the fingers of his right hand in the same position used previously, he made a large circle in the air with a powerful sweeping gesture and the air contained in the circumference began to glow with faint blue light. A gust of wind rushed into the room and picked up the broken bits of debris, playing with them in a cruel game of toss. Alice sucked in her breath and shut her eyes tightly as she spied the broken cover of a hardback book blowing straight toward her, but was instead surprised when her captor turned her around quickly, protecting her from being hit.

Karen yelled something that Alice couldn’t hear over the rush of air circulating continuously through the room, but was amazed to see her throw her hands into the air to catch what looked like a violet ball of light. Her face set with determination, she pulled the pulsing orb down and to her side, then shoved it forward with all her might in Alice’s direction. Alice shut her eyes as the ball of light exploded around herself and the group of men, momentarily blinded, but unharmed.

Malaik laughed. “I can’t believe you honestly did that! You must be desperate. Did you think I would be dense enough not to come into your territory without a shield? So what is this girl to you anyway? The result of some illicit love affair with a human? Or a lover perhaps? I didn’t think that women were your type Karen, but I’ve been proven wrong before.”

Karen was heaving from exertion and fury, her face twisted in a mask of pure hatred. “I swear to the gods above Malaik that if you harm her, I will track you down and kill you, Above World laws be damned!”

“We both know that you won’t do that Draconai, because you can’t. Though I don’t doubt you’d try. Rest assured the girl will remain unharmed, but I’m taking her Below until you turn the Weaver over to me. There are only five days remaining where the veil will be thin enough to pass between the Above and Below Worlds. If you haven’t produced the Weaver before that time is up, I can’t keep any promises as to her condition. We are constantly hungry, Karen. A frightened human may prove to be too much to resist.” Several chuckles from the group of men sounded around her. Alice’s captor remained silent, his grip tightening slightly as Alice inhaled sharply at his leader’s insinuation that she might end up as supper for one of them.

The ring that before had been glowing with a faint blue light had grown into an electric blue portal. A few of the black clad men were already starting to walk towards it. Alice’s captor started to move in that direction as well, and to Alice’s horror, her feet started to walk in time with his instead of digging into the threadbare carpet as her mind demanded. She tried to turn again in Karen’s direction, and finally, as if he could sense what she wanted to do and decided to take pity on her, he allowed her to turn her head and released his gloved hand from her mouth.

“Karen, please! Don’t let them take me!” she shrieked.

Completely helpless for the moment, Karen looked utterly dejected. Malaik stood by the vibrant blue portal, indicating with a jerk of his head for his group to begin entering.

“You have five days Karen,” he closed the few steps between himself and Alice and stopped her captor’s progress by brushing his fingers through the loose ends of Alice’s hair and lifting the strands to his nose. Alice shuddered noticeably as she felt his breath on her ear as he once again inhaled her scent.

“Mmmm. Such a sweet thing. Absolutely dripping in fear. I think I detect just a whisper of anger underneath…peppered with utter confusion. Lovely.” He laughed. “Five days my lady Draconai, or else I will personally drain the girl until there’s nothing left of her but Below World dust.”

Alice felt the tears start to fall down her cheeks in rivers as she felt her feet moving unwillingly toward the portal once more.

“He can’t hurt you Alice! No matter how much he threatens you, he won’t harm you. I promise!” Karen shouted.

Alice looked over at Karen helplessly, trying desperately to choke back her sobs. Karen stood with her hands clenched into fists, her mouth drawn and her violet eyes deathly calm. “I will come for you, Alice! It took me five years to find you…I won’t lose you again!”

Alice shook her head, too overwrought with terrifying emotions to even try to understand what she meant. Her captor brought her to the circle of blue undulating energy that even a fool would recognize as a doorway into another plane. Malaik placed a hand on her shoulder and her captor’s arms fell away, leaving the white rope around her arms and torso as her only means of bondage.

“Touching, Karen, truly. Just be sure to bring the Weaver with you when you come calling.” He turned to Alice and curled his lips into a terrifying smile.

“Welcome to my world, sweeting,” he said, and shoved Alice roughly into the blue light before her.