• Chapter 3


    It’s been three days since Amelia was forced to buy that book and she didn’t even open it once. But now as she lounged on her bed her eyes kept drifting to the book that she had threw carelessly on her desk.

    Annoyed with herself she turned her head to the ceiling counting the glow-in-the-dark stars she and her brother had placed cleverly on top of the walls and ceilings. It was finally Christmas Eve and Amelia was enjoying, or rather she content herself to laze around while her brother went last minute shopping a few hours ago and had yet to return.

    Her mother was at work setting up decorations around the house for her dinner party and wanted everything perfect, hence why Amelia wasn’t helping; she was utterly useless when it came to things like this.

    Her eyes went back to the book and with a sigh and a grunt she got up from her comfort and grabbed the book. She fell back on her bed holding the book up examining it then turning herself over she flipped the book open to a random page. She stared at the print unblinking the words on the page blurring and morphing in to a giant black spot. Her eyes watered and she blinked a few times and read a few lines from the page.

    “Furfur,” she read “is a powerful Great Earl of Hell.” Amelia paused pursing her lips frowning. “What the hell?” She flipped to another page.

    “Gremory a strong Duke of Hell that appears as a beautiful woman?” she read rather questionably.

    “Seriously, what did I get conned into buying?” She shut the book and threw it on the floor. “Well whatever, maybe I’ll just give it to Nix or something.”

    She grabbed a pillow and hugged it sitting up, staring at where she threw the book. There was something funny about it. Amelia widen her eyes having thought of seeing a dark blackness surrounding it and was trying to focus on it, but she was forced to blink.

    It was gone when she tried to focus again.

    There was a knock on her door and a head popped in, it was Rick who stared at her widen eyes and hunched posture he raised an eyebrow. “Amelia? You doing some type of drugs that I don’t know about?”

    Amelia glared. “When did you come back? And no, I’m not. What do you want?”

    Rick grinned in good humor. “Just now, oh and by the way Nix is here.”

    “What?! Oh my god I haven’t even showered yet! Or even changed!” She jumped up.

    Rick chuckled and another head popped from under his head. “It’s okay Amelia I've already seen what you've looked like on a bad day.”

    Nix grinned flashing her purple braces at her friend. Rick left rolling his eyes. Nix strolled in flipping her mousy brown hair over shoulder and pushing her glasses up.

    “Yo, Ames. I see that your brother is hot as ever.” Nix wiggled her brow laughing a bit.

    Amelia made a face. “Ew, Nix that's just disturbing and besides you already have a boyfriend.”

    Amelia shook her head.

    Nix grinned. “Hey, it’s true, don’t deny it. Besides I love my boyfriend I would never cheat on him anyway I came to bring you your Christmas present early, and to get you up your lazy arse up and moving.”

    Amelia stretched yawning before sighing and slumping her shoulders. “Fine, I’ll be in the shower then.”

    Nix spotted the book that Amelia previously threw on the floor and picked it up curiously “Yeah, don’t take long, alright?”

    Amelia shrugged picking out her undergarments. “Yeah, yeah get me something to wear for tonight.”

    She then left not even bothering to wait for Nix’s answer.

    Nix rolled her eyes at her friend's attitude, but felt complied to answer to the now empty room anyway.

    She placed the book on the desk and walked to Amelia’s closet her hazel eyes scanning the wardrobe in deep thought. After a few moments her nimble hands pushed clothes aside separating them from the lone dress she picked out for her friend.

    Satisfied Nix picked up the book again and opened it to the first page. “Realms of the Forgotten,” Nix read aloud curiously. “Sounds interesting.”

    She all but hummed while she turned to the next page and sinking into the bed, her eyes glossing over as she took in the text.

    By the time Amelia was done with her shower and by the time she entered her room dressed in her undergarments and a robe Nix was already halfway through the book in a sort of trance. Amelia however wasn't surprised by the pace her friend was reading at, after all Nix was known for being a bookworm as well as having photographic memory.

    Amelia picked up the dress Nix choose for her and looked at it with acceptance and a smug smile, then she put it on not caring that her room was occupied or that she had left the door open and forgot to close it. The dark forest green dress swished as she did a twirl in front of her mirror.

    Nix looked up from her reading and snorted. “Conceited much Ames?”

    Amelia stuck her tongue out at Nix's reflection in the mirror. “You’re just jealous. Anyway how’s the book you're reading?” Amelia turned to her dresser browsing through her makeup collection.

    Nix dog-eared the page she was on and closed the book. “It’s actually pretty interesting. Sort of reminds me of Wicca.”

    Amelia blinked. “Witchcraft? How so?”

    Nix gave her friend a thoughtful look. “Well, it has things like summonings and so far spells of all sorts. And so far it even gives some information about each one.”

    Amelia frowned. “I see...it’s probably just fiction.”

    Nix shook her head furiously disagreeing. “No, I believe it’s all true and real. Believe me Ames I would know what’s real and what’s not.”

    Amelia looked at Nix disbelievingly. “If you say so Nix...whatever floats your boat.” She turned back to her dresser.

    Nix scowled flipping through the book until she got to a page that had piqued of her interest the most. “How about this, Amelia: Minor demons are monsters that hold no significant threat to the summoner, they do just about anything the summoner tells them to do be it labor or not. They also cannot break free of their summoners control, unless the summoner themselves free them....”

    Nix looked up from the book trying to figure out Amelia’s reaction.

    After a moment Amelia shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, so what I learned something new. What about it?”

    Nix blew heavily though her nose irritated that her friend held no interest. “Look I’m going to cut through the chase. Want to try summoning one to see it if works?”

    She watched Amelia's expression carefully. “Think about it, if it actually works then you won’t do anything you don't like doing, like chores.”

    Amelia looked at her hesitatingly “I don't know, what if my parents find out? You know how they are mega Catholics and stuff.”

    Nix grinned. “They won’t find out, trust me. We can do this sometime during the party where everybody will be a bit too drunk to care for what we're doing.” Nix paused looking thoughtful “I'll even sneak in a bottle of Vodka just for you.”

    Amelia grinned. “Deal, so what do we need?”

    Nix gave a wide grin showing her teeth becoming animated as Amelia plopped herself right next to her.

    ***

    Derek—with lack of sleep and patience close to wearing thin—wanted to pull at his hair, he wanted to pull and pull until he tore out bits and pieces of hair that would leave a possible bold spot. But he couldn’t, wouldn’t dare do that sort of action in front of his superior no matter how increasingly frustrating his superior was being, or how annoying he always was.

    Instead he kept a cool calm facade willing that his superior was close to done with his rant so he could leave him alone. Leave it to him to get caught by one of the most self-centered man of all the superiors he had, Derek was stuck at the moment with him. Really, he thought, today is not my day.

    “Oh, Doctor Hunter there you are! I’ve been looking for you for like forever.”

    Derek almost groaned—keyword almost—at the sound his fellow coworker Zach who spotted the two as he came around the corner of the hallway they were currently in. Yet there was a sort of relief in Derek when he heard Zach call out. It gave him a chance to escape from the current predicament.

    Feigning an apologetic look Derek turned to Zach. “Yes, McKenzie? What is it that you need?”

    Zach stopped standing much too close than Derek liked. Zach looked at the two and then back to Derek. “Well, sir it’s about Lab 42, the specimen—Subject X6748 it’s very important that you are there at this moment.” Zach had never looked so serious for as long as Derek had known him and a surge of excitement swelled up in his gut.

    He also noticed a sense of urgency in Zach’s tone that Derek became more alert. He turned to his superior and took in his whole appearance: his suit with a matching tie, squeaky clean and probably brand new shoes, blond slicked back hair, and disheartened smile, Derek felt a twinge of guilt but quickly brushed it aside.

    “Mr. Brock, I’m sorry but I have some important business to attend to immediately.”

    Mr. Broke looked at them both and then with a cool gaze he nodded a dismissal which held a trace of annoyance. Derek just nodded turning on his heel following his coworker.

    Once he was a good distance away from earshot Derek shot Zach a glance. “What about Subject X6734? Are there signs of its awakening as well?”

    Zach shook his head. “No, all the other subjects haven't shown any sings that we know of, of awakening.” Derek frowned disheartened as his excitement went down a notch. Nevertheless he continued to stride forward in a rather rushed pace.

    He entered Lab 42, a rather spacious lab more so than the one he was usually in. Three rows of tanks much like the one holding ‘Sammy’ in were spaced out in equal distance from each other. Computers were lined up all around with wires and tubes connected to their corresponding tanks. Derek righted his glasses taking the file that Zach was holding out to him.

    “Did you already start the progress of removing the liquid?”

    Zach nodded an affirmative. “Yes, it’s being removed as we speak.” They moved swiftly among the rows to the last tank held in the third row towards the right corner of the lab. There were other workers and assistants hovering around the tank. Derek grimaced at the site of the crowd.

    “Move it; either you’re here helping or you’re getting out.”

    Most of the spectators paled or flushed in embarrassment but left not wanting to be on the wrong end of the stick with Derek Hunter.

    Noticeably pleased when the crowd lessened leaving only the assistants and workers assigned for that specific tank Derek leaned forward on the machine watching the sets of numbers and codes run across the screen.

    His eyes lifted as he supervised the green liquid draining down from the numerous holes that opened. The figure curled up, limp, and slightly chubby was a naked female child inside; her eyes were fluttering trying to open up and see, but failing to do so. He noticed the few things that set her apart from looking like a total human were the clawed hands and feet, long whiskers, pure white fur and noticeable quills trailing outwards from her face all the way down her body excluding her stomach, face, and private parts. There was also the fact that she let out an unnatural amount of energy, almost as if she's unable to control it—he mused.

    “Go get some clothes!” Derek barked out to the nearest assistant close to him.

    They scampered off in haste.

    Derek hoped that the female wouldn’t be too uncooperative, the last thing he wanted to do was sedate her. “So boss what are you planning on doing once it's fully awake?” Derek blinked startled by Zach’s presence, he had forgotten about him.

    “We will medically examine her of course; check her systems, before actually doing any experiments and examinations.” Zach frowned at that but stayed silent watching the last of the liquid drain out and the girl on her side still curled.

    “Go prepare the medical team immediately.” Zach watched as Derek started to issue out orders, he had half the mind to tell his boss to relax but he didn’t knowing that his boss would only glare or a give look that made him feel inferior. There was loud sigh of the tank as it opened up letting fresh air enter.

    Derek took a thin blanket from one of the assistants and cautiously moved towards the girl. She started to move uncurling herself as she lifted her head with great effort, her wet white hair framing her face. She was dazed, confused, and sluggish, her onyx eyes blinked groggy from the heavy sleep. Her throat was dry and her lips chapped, the oxygen mask still strapped on.

    Derek slowly knelt down next to her exaggerating his movements so he wouldn’t frighten her. He threw the blanket around her wrapping it securely tightly, and then with a swift movement he picked her up bridal style. She made no protest unable to because of the lack of energy. Derek facing away from his fellow peers let out a small smile. The girl watched him with half-open eyes barely conscience of her surrounds now. She heard him breath out a wispy whisper.

    “Welcome to the world of the living...” There was a long pause as she slowly closed her eyes starting to drift back to sleep. “...Alice.” And with that darkness overtook her.