"The Book"

Hidden in the cover of the night, a young woman walks quietly amongst the trees. She was hiding and hoped that the man chasing her couldn't find her.

"I know you are there Sky. Come out and let's talk." The man called out. His voice sending shivers down Sky's back. He was bad news. He didn't want to talk. He wanted to trap her in the pages of his book.

At the thought of the book, Sky's eyes teared up. Her friend, Joanna, had been trapped. And now she was probably going to be next. Tears blurred her vision as she tried not to sniffle. The man's footsteps grew closer and closer.  Sky hugged the ringed book close. Tears splashed down weaving their way threw the pages. Silently, Sky muttered "I don't want to be bound."

The book began to glow brightly. Sky tried to cover the book but it was too late. "There you are my pretty." The man said as he came into view. He looked down at the book wrapped up in the girls arms. "That is my book." The man said as he bent over grabbing the book from Sky's hands. She tried to hold on causing the man to slap her. She let go, falling back to the ground.

The book glowed brighter in the man's hands as an evil smiled danced across his face. His eyes focused back on Sky. "We could have been happy together Sky. Your stupid friend shouldn't have been there. This is her fault for making me do it. Now I have to claim you. You have a choice. Be my wife or be like your friend."

Sky didn't know exactly what to say. She couldn't be with a psychopath. She also didn't know what the book done.

"What happened to Joanna?" Sky asked.

The man laughed. "She is part of my collection. Do you want to see?"

Sky didn't want to see but maybe if distracted him, she could figure out what to do.

The man sat down next to Sky. He placed the book in his lap, the book glowed brightly once again. Carefully the man opened the book. At first Sky saw nothing but white. The pages seemed empty. She heard the man chant something and the light dimmed, images began to take form.

Sky leaned closer, her head almost resting on the man's shoulder. As she looked at the pages she realized the images were of women. The man smiled as he looked down at the pages, he traced the woman's cheek with a finger. "She was one of my favourites."

Sky shivered and the man hooked his arm around her drawing her closer to him. That was one thing about the man. He was always so warm to be against.
As Sky looked at each image she couldn't help but wonder why he had them.

"Why collect all these women?" She asked.

The man didn't say anything at first as he stared at a dark skinned woman with red hair. "Have you looked at the cover my dear?" He asked her.

Sky shook her head. The man closed the book to reveal the cover. An image of a fairy sitting on a crescent moon graced it. The stars that surprised her seemed to glow as the man touched the book. "A fairy?"

"Not anymore." The man replied. Sky was confused "not anymore?" The man sighed "she used to be good. We all were. Then she dabbled in dark magic. This book used to hold her spells and recipes for potions. Now it holds the souls I need to live. That she needs to live."

"All these women?" Sky was afraid and she pulled away from the man surprised that he even let her go. He looked up at her as she stood over him, tears pooled in his eyes but didn't fall. "You don't understand. I can't control it."

"What?" Sky yelled takes a step back.

The man didn't move to get up just continued to stare at Sky with unshed tears. "The book chooses the souls it wants. Sometimes I can make it choose another."

"Who was she?" Sky asked curiously. She didn't want know about the souls anymore. If they were trapped maybe they could yet be saved.

The man looked back down at the cover. "My mother." Sky kneeled down and this time as she touched the book the light glowed brighter. The moon light up and book rose from the man's lap.

As the seconds ticked by, neither the man or Sky moved, both mesmerized by the sight before them. "What is happening?" Sky asked. The man shook his head though Sky didn't see him.

"Raymond."

The man turned his head and looked up at the girl standing next to him. In the two years he had known her she never called him by his name. Slowly he stood up "I don't know what is happening" he said as he cautiously took hold of her hand. Together the pair stood side by side and watched as the book began to flip it's pages. A ball of light flew out of each page as it flipped.

"How many?" Sky asked.

"I don't know." The man said as he continued to watch in awe. As the book flipped to last page it slammed shut. A dark mist rose from the cover. A ball of dark light formed and slowly it reshaped itself into a person. Well almost a person, A set of black wings fluttered behind.

"Raymond..Raymond...Raymond.." The dark Misty shaped figure tiscked. "I told you what would happen if you fell in love."

Sky didn't have a chance to react as the man, who chased her threw the woods, who she had loved, wrapped his arms around her, spinning her away from danger. Dark light had shot from the mist and Sky expected an impact.

"What is happening?!" The dark mist screeched.

Sky opened her eyes to see her and Raymond bathed in white light.

"This ends here sister." A voice said from the white balls that hovered just outside of the white light.

"Yes you will not take this one." A different voice said.

The black mist screeched as more dark energy flew towards Sky. "I am your queen." The black mist yelled.

"Not anymore."

With those words the black mist vanished as did all the white light. A feeling of peace washed over the pair.

Sky woke up in her bed and stretched. Her bedroom door bursted open.

"Joanna?"

----------------The End------------------

A story for ParanormalLovers