The Once and Future Scream Queen: Marlene Ambrosia Mysteries Page 20

  The owl shook his head, but Marlene shot him a look.

  “End of discussion. I am not killing anybody.”

  “Even if he murdered Gwen?” Cromwell asked.

  “Even if.”

  “Even if the police won’t be able to hold him?”

  “Even if.”

  “Then what are you going to do?” Jesse asked. “I mean, I admire your bravery, Marlene, but the Dark One will just keep coming back.”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do yet.”

  “The Void,” Cromwell said.

  “Uh, no.” She remembered the feeling of being trapped in that place outside of this plane for only a few minutes and couldn’t stomach the thought of spending eternity there. It was a punishment worse than death. She couldn’t do that to someone else, no matter how evil they were. It was inhumane. “I won’t do that either.”

  The owl let out a big sigh and puffed his chest. “Then you will die, Marlene, for the Dark One will never stop until you are dead.”

  “Why don’t we just turn him back into a man?” Marlene asked. “You said that’s what he used to be, right? So maybe we could make him into one again? Then I can catch him and the police can hold him and his power will go away. All our problems are solved.”

  Cromwell was about to shoot down her idea, but then he paused.

  Jesse thumped his tail.

  Cromwell finally nodded. “It is said The Merlin did this once.”

  “Do you know how?”

  Cromwell puffed his chest out. “Yes. But simply telling you how won’t enable you to do it.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt, either,” Marlene said slyly.

  The owl shook his head. “You know how to dunk a basketball, do you not? But simply knowing how to do a thing does not mean you actually can.”

  “Fair point, but what have you been saying?” Marlene smiled. “I am the Merlin.”

  “I believe in you, Marlene.” Jesse barked. “You saved my life without knowing how you were doing it. But how are we going to find the Dark One?”

  Cromwell might have smiled. “That will be the easy part.”

  “You’ve known where he’s been hiding this whole time?” Marlene asked, a little ticked off.

  “I know how to find him, which is a different thing.”

  “When exactly were you going to share this information with me?”

  Cromwell owled his head at her. “When you were strong enough to defeat him.”

  “Oh.” That point took the wind out of Marlene’s sails. Cromwell was just watching out for her. But it begged one significant question.

  How much more did Cromwell know than he was sharing with her?

  Marlene could worry about that later. “So how do we find the Dark One?”

  Cromwell nodded. “His presence affects the environment. Wherever he hides, you will find death, decay, and darkness.”

  Then Marlene put two and two together. Ganny had mentioned it in passing and it had come up with Artie as well. The Mayor had been forced to cancel this year’s Triathlon because the water had become inexplicably polluted.

  “Diamond Lake!”

  ***

  Marlene opened the back door for Jesse and the passenger door for Cromwell. Both animals got into her Camry, while the rest stayed at the house.

  “We should wait for Merlin to return,” Cromwell said. “This is beyond your powers.”

  Marlene backed out of the driveway and got onto the road. They were fifteen minutes from Diamond Lake.

  “We don’t know when Merlin will be back, if at all,” Marlene said.

  The owl gave her a look like he was offended. “He always returns.”

  “Yeah?” Marlene asked, feeling a little angry. “Well, where has he been the last few days when I could have really used him? The Dark One nearly killed me in the library.”

  “And now you might be killed at this lake,” Cromwell said. He nearly fell off the seat as she took a bend in the road. “I should have just flown myself.”

  “Uh-uh. You are going to need your strength for this.”

  “I would not have gotten tired. Do you know that—”

  “Cromwell, let’s focus here, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Jesse stuck his wet nose between the seats. “What can I do to help?”

  The owl answered. “You won’t be able to do much of anything until the Dark One is made a man again.”

  “Oh.” Jesse whimpered, clearly let down. “And how is this supposed to work again?”

  Cromwell pointed his wing at Marlene. “The Merlin can trap someone in mortal form, if they were once mortal.”

  “Yeah.” Jesse’s cold wet nose touched Marlene’s arm. “But how again, exactly?”

  Cromwell put his wing over his face, angrily. “I explained this to Marlene while you were outside doing—”

  “Guys.” Marlene looked over at Cromwell. “Focus here. Let’s walk through it again. It will help me.”

  “I don’t think this is a good idea,” the owl said. “You hardly understand your powers.”

  “And we don’t have any time. We need to get Artie out of jail as soon as possible and identify the real killer. Each minute Artie spends behind bars damages his reputation. If it takes too long, we can kiss this election goodbye. He’ll never be able to recover, even if he’s innocent.”

  “Then perhaps he should try again in three years during the next cycle,” Cromwell said. “By then he will have rehabilitated his reputation and gained valuable experience. He’ll be more electable.”

  Marlene shook her head. They had maybe ten minutes now to the lake. “That gives the mayor three more years to dig in. And by then, Gant’s son will also have that much more experience. That kid has been part of the mayor’s cabinet now for a while. The mayor will continue to give him more responsibility and exposure. In terms of experience, Artie won’t be able to compete. No. The time to strike is now. No one else is ready to challenge the mayor, Gant’s popularity is at an all-time low, the lake is polluted, he just started talking about the big box store again, and if I can tie him to Gwen’s murder—or even imply it—then we’ve won. It’s a slam dunk for Artie. That’s why we need to capture the Dark One and nail him for the murder.”

  Cromwell appraised her for a moment. “Marlene, I have been wrong about you.”

  “What?”

  The owl kept his big eyes on her. “You might be just coming into your powers, but you have courage and a lot of heart. I am proud to be with you.”

  Jesse barked. “Me too. Now, how do we do this again?”

  Cromwell explained. “It will take all your strength, Marlene. If it doesn’t work, you’ll have nothing left. You’ll be dangerously exposed not only to the Dark One.”

  “But also to the Void?”

  Cromwell didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.

  Marlene took the next turn. They were five minutes away. Just a couple more bends and one more turn into the parking lot and they’d be at the lake. She slowed the car a little.

  She knew what she had to do. Cromwell had explained several times now.

  “Marlene,” Jesse said. “I don’t know if this is a good idea. You don’t even understand how to do what Cromwell is saying.”

  She nodded. “Just like I didn’t know how to save your life. But somehow I did.”

  Cromwell turned once more. “Please, Marlene. It would be better if you knew how to do this and had a plan.”

  She smiled. “Cromwell, you’re going to have to get used to the fact that I rely on intuition and feel my way through situations. It’s gotten me this far.”

  They drove on.

  ***

  The gravel parking lot was empty. The full moon rose above the tree line on the far shore and glowed on the still waters.

  Marlene turned the car off and got out. She kept the keys in one palm in case she had to run and jump in the car and get away as quickly as possible.

  In her other palm was her phone.
It was only half-charged and she wondered if that would have any effect.

  According to the thermometer in her car, it was supposedly fifty-five degrees which was a warm night for early March in New Jersey. But standing outside her vehicle, it felt closer to twenty. She zipped the light jacket she’d brought and wished she had more to bundle up with. The air was damp and chilled her to the bone immediately.

  The lake didn’t smell great on the best of days, but right now it positively stank. The air was stagnant and pungent. You didn’t need any fancy equipment to know the lake was polluted. One look and half a whiff was all you needed.

  She let Cromwell and Jesse out. The dog headed for the water. His hair stood on end and he lowered his head to the ground menacingly as he started a low growl. Cromwell perched on her shoulder. His talons dug a little bit into her shoulder. If she hadn’t been wearing the jacket, they would have hurt her. But she wasn’t about to ask Cromwell to get off—she was grateful for the owl’s help.

  Marlene cautiously approached the lake, holding her phone out. She didn’t think it could smell any worse, or get any colder, but each step closer proved her wrong. Her stomach twisted at the rotting stench of death. In the full moonlight, she could now see the various signs that had been posted on the beach, warning people off from swimming in the lake, or God forbid, eating anything they caught in it.

  Cromwell’s voice was a whisper. “This place has an ancient power.”

  “What does that mean?” Marlene asked.

  “It means she might be here.”

  “She who?” Marlene was terrified to face the Dark One by himself. The thought of having to face off against two supernatural beings at the same time was too much to handle. She was about to run back to the car and get out of here. Cromwell was right. This was a really stupid idea. All she knew was that she had to turn the Dark One into a full mortal again, and that it would require all of her energy to do so leaving her dangerously exposed. If she failed, the Dark One would kill her or the Void would pull her in for an eternal, endless torment.

  But Marlene didn’t run.

  Because right now, Artie Ryan was sitting in a jail cell and falsely accused of murder. It was her destiny to help him. She knew it now. She could picture him being mayor. She could picture him going on to do great things. Some day he could be a great leader not just for the town, not just for the state, but for …

  The water began to ripple. A dark light filled the lake, turning it purple like someone had switched on a black light.

  “He comes,” Cromwell said. She felt him tense on her shoulder, his talons digging in a little harder. “Tell Jesse to stay back.”

  “Jesse. Come!”

  “I’m not afraid of him, Marlene.”

  “You won’t be able to hurt him,” Cromwell said, finally addressing the dog directly.

  “We’ll see about that!”

  “Jesse. Come here.”

  The dog ignored her. At the shore line, Jesse barked loudly and ran back and forth. Five feet this way, five feet that way.

  The lake continued to light up. The moon turned purplish-green to match the color of it. Then the water began to break, as a head came up.

  His head.

  He was in the middle of the lake. If it weren’t for the strange light of the lake, Marlene wouldn’t have been able to see him. But there he was.

  The Dark One.

  He continued to emerge and now he started forward. She realized he was walking through the water toward the beach. He was in no hurry, as if savoring these final moments before their big fight. His walk brimmed with confidence.

  “Marlene.” His voice echoed across the rippling, bubbling lake and she felt it like a slap across the face.

  Marlene tried not to tremble. She said nothing, out of fear her voice would break and reveal how terrified she was. Every part of her wanted to turn and run. Every part except one.

  Her heart.

  Marlene held the phone out but did not call for Excalibur yet. She waited for the Dark One to approach.

  He moved slowly, taking his time, enjoying this like he was hunting. Now he was only knee-deep in the muck that had once been normal lake water but now seemed something else entirely. Something dark and slimy and sapping.

  “You have come to die,” he said.

  Jesse was right there. The dog bravely ran in, lake water splashing up all around him. The Dark One hardly noticed. Jesse tried to bite the man’s leg, but the dog’s mouth passed right through like he was chewing air.

  The Dark One continued on, while a confused Jesse continued to attack and bite. But the dog couldn’t do a thing to him. As he stepped fully out of the water, the Dark One flicked his wrist and Jesse went flying across the beach. The dog landed painfully on his back and whimpered.

  “Jesse!” Marlene cried out.

  The dog rolled over and shook his head, looking dazed. Meanwhile, the Dark One continued forward. He was fifteen feet away. Then thirteen. Then ten. Then eight.

  “Now,” Marlene said.

  Cromwell swooped on cue. The owl moved blindingly fast. The plan was for Cromwell to distract the Dark One and harry him so Marlene could focus on what she was doing and not also have to fight at the same time. Unlike Jesse, Cromwell had some magic. That was why he’d been able to harry the Dark One before.

  Their nemesis saw the feint coming, though. He ducked out of Cromwell’s way and a bolt of purple energy shot out of his hands. Cromwell took evasive action, suddenly veering hard right and down, but the Dark One’s energy zapped the bird’s wing. Sparks flew and a couple feathers fell off him and Cromwell screeched as he hit the sand hard.

  The Dark One laughed while he watched the bird. “Pathetic.”

  Anger and fear left Marlene speechless.

  The Dark One turned back to her. “Was this your plan?”

  Marlene shook her head. She found her voice. “I didn’t have a plan.”

  The Dark One laughed even harder as he began walking toward her again. Six feet. Then four.

  “I use my intuition,” Marlene said.

  The Dark One was about to laugh again, but Marlene called for Excalibur. The phone turned into the sword of power and she plunged it into the Dark One’s chest.

  The blade held him in place and obviously pained him, but it was not a mortal wound just as Cromwell had explained.

  “You think this sword can kill me?” the Dark One said, clutching at the steel and trying to push himself away from it. “It will only banish me temporarily. In a few minutes, my form will return.”

  “I’m not trying to kill you,” Marlene said. “I’m trying to bring you back to life.”

  The Dark One’s smile vanished and his mouth sneered. His eyes went wide. “You aren’t strong enough to do that.”

  “We’ll see.” And Marlene did the only thing she could think of.

  She grabbed the man’s arm.

  Unlike Jesse, Marlene was able to touch the Dark One. His skin was cold and clammy but not wet, despite just walking out of the lake. He tried to break her grip, but Marlene latched on. She found strength she didn’t know she had. Excalibur helped hold him in place while Marlene closed her eyes. Cromwell had explained there was no spell for this, it just required an ancient, brute power that Marlene would either have or not have.

  She was gambling her life on having it.

  But as Marlene held onto the Dark One, she realized she wouldn’t be strong enough. They were right. She was just coming into her abilities and should have heeded their warnings. She tried to unleash all the energy she had and felt it rip through her arm and shoot into the Dark One’s body. It was enough to keep him distracted and unable to attack, but she also knew it wasn’t enough.

  It had only been a short burst, but Marlene could already feel her power fading while she kept hold of the Dark One. His energy began to return, and again he started wriggling himself back off the blade. It took everything she had not to let go, but slowly—and surely—he was gaining str
ength and her grip was loosening.

  Marlene opened her eyes. Jesse was still out for the count along the beach while Cromwell was trying to push himself up. He didn’t even look like he could fly, his wing was so busted up.

  The Dark One hissed. “Now you die.”

  Marlene knew he was right. She’d been a fool to come out here and challenge him. But it had seemed the right and only thing to do. She should have planned better. Or she should have waited till she was stronger. But she hadn’t. She’d come out here on a lark, relying on her intuition.

  And now she was going to lose her life because of it.

  Lose her life.

  Lose her life force.

  What had Cromwell said, the first night she was able to understand him?

  The Merlin has more life force than all others.

  She looked into the Dark One’s eyes as he took a step back. He’d almost removed Excalibur completely. Once the blade was clear, she understood he would quickly regather his strength. Her other hand was cramping from the effort of trying to grip his arm.

  “My gift to you,” Marlene said.

  He frowned. “What gift?”

  Marlene hoped that she had more life force to give than the Dark One needed to become mortal. Otherwise she was about to commit suicide. But then again, she was going to die anyway so she didn’t have anything to lose.

  Marlene had tried to fight brute strength with brute force. It was the equivalent of getting into a fistfight with a heavier, better trained opponent. And she understood these were things the Merlin would do.

  The male Merlin.

  She was the Merlin. But she was also Marlene. Rather than use brute force against the Dark One, Marlene decided to try something else. Something more feminine.

  Marlene pictured in her mind what she wanted to happen. And she felt her own life force flowing out of her and into the Dark One.

  “I give you my mortality,” she said.

  His eyes flared open in fear.

  Then she passed out.

  Twenty-Eight