The rain didn’t bother her, even as it dripped in her eyes and soaked her shoes. She barely felt it. All that mattered was watching the blood run from the throat of the Black Annis. The creature wore a dress made of the flesh of the fourteen children she had stolen from the small town. In an attempt to protect the youngest, the authorities had enacted a curfew. But they didn’t know that the blue hag hunted day or night, luring children into the oak branches with the promises of sweets. Every morning, the local news would broadcast the face of another missing child.
Sarah had to wash away the evidence before Chris came home. He was none the wiser to what his stay at home wife did throughout the day. He thought she used her free time to maintain the home and run errands without a child on her hip. However, that was not the case. The fiery little redhead was more than just a mother. Something her husband would know if he could see past her looks. Just like he would notice how their son looked nothing like him. But Sarah checked all the boxes he needed to present the perfect family when he had to show up at functions. And he was too busy with mistresses for Sarah to care. She had her freedom to hunt the monsters that plagued the world.
“Fuck,” Sarah hissed, as she stitched the gash the Black Annis left in her calf. The iron talons were hard to miss and the first thing Sarah removed from the beast.
“Mommy,” a little voice whispered at the door.
Noah tapped on the door. It was Chris’ turn to pick him up from aftercare, which meant that all her hunting had to be done before five.
“One second sweety.” Sarah turned off the water to the shower, watching the last bit of evidence circle the drain.
Gently, she pulled a pair of cozy sweatpants over the gash and a hoodie over her head. Shaking away the hunter, Sarah forced herself to smile. It was time to be the caring parent and hear all about the adventures Noah had been a part of. He was the only true joy she held onto. Everything else was a facade.
“Baby!” Sarah squealed, wrapping her arms around her son. “How was your day?” She asked, covering his face with kisses.
Noah skillfully dodged her kisses. “I’m not a baby anymore!” He said through giggles. “I’m 5 and 1/2.”
Sarah held him at arm’s distance, looking him over. “You’re right, you’re right. You’re most definitely not a baby anymore. My little elf, that’s what you are.”
“What? No, there’s no such thing as elves,” said Noah, shaking his head.
Sarah frowned. “Who told you that?”
“Tommy,” Noah said matter-of-factly. “He said that all of that stuff is just make believe.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. She couldn’t believe that in kindergarten, Noah was already dealing with this kind of nonsense. Creatures revealed themselves to the world less than a decade ago, yet there were still skeptics.
They probably have to be eaten by one to believe. Sarah thought.
Sarah knelt down to be closer to Noah’s size. “Baby, there are creatures out there. Good ones and bad ones, just like people.”
Noah nodded slowly. “You mean like the one who is taking all the little kids?”
“Yes, just like that monster.” Kneeling was killing Sarah’s calf, but she would not let a bit of pain stop her from comforting Noah. “But I don’t think sh— it will be a problem anymore.”
Noah gasped. “Did the police get him?”
“They sure did, baby.” Sarah said with a sigh. “What did daddy pick up for dinner?”
Noah fidgeted with his shirt. “He said we couldn’t stop because the monster would eat me.”
Heat spread across Sarah’s cheeks. What was Chris thinking telling their son that a monster would eat him? That man never woke up to Noah screaming from his night terrors. Sarah ruffled his hair.
“Ignore daddy. Nothing is going to eat you.” She smiled, pulling him into a hug. “You’re too strong for that.”
They left Sarah’s bedroom and headed for the kitchen. It was a stunning cottage core kitchen, straight out of Sarah’s Pinterest board. Chris had it done for her one summer while Noah and her were visiting Chris’ family. He was always too busy to travel. Or that’s at least what he told his overbearing father and demeaning mother. Sometimes Sarah understood why her husband was cold as ice. However, he was a grown adult. He couldn’t blame everything on his family. He made the choices and aging into them was that choice.
Planting a weak kiss on her cheek, Chris eyed Sarah’s attire. “With all your shopping trips, I would assume you owned more than hoodies and sweats.”
Sarah patted his arm. “Well, if you spent more than 15 minutes at home, you’d know that I do.” She kept her voice low so Noah wouldn’t hear. “Maybe one of your childless whores would be more comfortable in negligees.”
Chris’ eyes went wide as Sarah scooped up their son. Noah’s brown eyes bore into Chris’ blue ones. Sarah had explained her father had brown eyes. It was hard to dispute when she had green eyes and both her parents were dead. Chris had hoped that Noah would have his same blonde hair as him, but the child had neither his light locks nor Sarah’s fire red ones. His hair was dark as night. Behind Sarah’s back, Chris had taken Noah in for a paternity test. Or so he thought. The lab sent the results through the mail. Because of someone’s preference for business trips over family time, Sarah had enough time to edit the results and reseal the envelope.
“Of course, my dear,” He smiled at Noah. “What delicious meal have you prepared for us tonight.”
They seamlessly transitioned into the roles of parents and friends. Because before Noah, Sarah truly loved her husband. It wasn’t until she was pregnant did his attention drift from his wife, to his secretary, to their accountant, and eventually the nanny. Some days, she longed for the life they had before their child. Traveling the world and going on grand adventures. But knowing what she knows now. There is not a doubt in Sarah’s mind that Chris had been faithful even then. A drunken night or two as they cleaned up the kitchen, Sarah got up the courage to ask Chris why he even stayed.
“Because divorce looks bad for a politician that runs on family matters.” He shrugged. “That and I should have listened to my parents when they wanted me to sign a prenup.”
Sarah had expected his words to have wounded her. However, after years of romantic neglect, they had already turned into roommates. She didn’t know where Noah came from, but she knew he wasn’t Chris’. Years of infertility had worn on them as a couple. Despite the doctors’ explicit reassurance that the problem was his, he still blamed her. The fights pushed Sarah into hunting. She felt helpless arguing with him. Hearing him rip her a part about being a failure as a woman. To which she constantly reminded him that none of his whores have become pregnant either.
One night while Sarah was out hunting for things that went bump in the night, until something bumped her on the head, knocking her unconscious. She woke up in the middle of the woods with hundreds of missed calls from Chris. Angry voicemails about how she can’t leave him. As she deleted the last hateful, teary message, the sky lit up blue and green. She had never seen dancing lights before. But somehow she knew her life was about to change.
“I picked up a rotisserie chicken, your favorite, the honey barbecue and all the fixings.” Sarah pulled the still warm mac and cheese and chicken from the oven. After setting it on the island, she grabbed the salad from the fridge. “I figured you’d forget our anniversary.”
They sat down for dinner. Never once a moment of silence as Noah regaled them with all the gossip of his kindergarten class. Jeffery stole Crissy’s french fries at lunch and she launched her chicken nuggets at him in retaliation. Bradley pushed Matt off the swing and Matt chased him around the playground. They both went on red for being mean. Noah’s chatter made it easy to overlook the chaos of their life. That was until a grinding sound came from the kitchen.
Sarah stiffened. “Chris darling,” she said, grabbing his hand. “Could you take Noah up for his bath?”
Chris looked down at Sarah’s quivering hand. “Uh, sure.”
Without question, he took his protesting son by the hand leading him upstairs. Silently, Sarah thanked whoever watched them for Chris not fighting her. Clearing the dishes from the table, Sarah followed the noise. The window screen over the sink had been shredded to pieces. Sarah snuck into the pantry, grabbing the machete she kept hidden near the broom and Swiffer. A place Chris would never venture to. According to him, the kitchen was meant for women.
With the bath running above, Sarah crept out the kitchen door and into the backyard. Whatever diced the window screen had triggered the flood light making it difficult to see into the night. The grinding was louder now that she was outside. Sarah couldn’t believe that the Black Annis wasn’t dead. She had freed it from its hands and head before fleeing the scene. How could it be back?
The creature gave away location, wrapping itself in a swing. Its scream pierced through the night. Sarah ran towards the creature, careful not to be cut by its iron talons again, lopping off its right arm. Blood trickled onto the ground. Sarah noticed a scar where its head had been reattached.
“Why won’t you stay dead?” grunted Sarah, hacking at the blue creature’s neck.
Blood pooled beneath the swing as yellow eyes raged in the flickering flood light. Its teeth, still grinding, craving Noah’s flesh.
“Good attempt, human,” a smooth voice called from the dark. “But you need silver to kill her.”
Sarah’s skin prickled. She had heard the voice before. The Dark Watcher was across the backyard, slamming a sword into the Black Annis. Its body turned dusty. Sarah stood her ground as he approached her.
The hood of his cloak fell, exposing his long raven hair. His hand was cool to the touch, lingering on her chin. “I see you’re raising my son well.”
Sarah smacked his hand away with the machete. “So you’re the creature that raped me?”
The Dark Watcher recoiled at her accusations. “I most certainly did not. You spent nearly a year with me. ”
“How is that even possible?” Sarah demanded, “I was only gone for a few hours. What did you do? Steal my memories?”
“After you destroyed the La Ciguapa, you touched the talisman she wore around her neck. That sent you into my realm. I came across you unconscious and alone in Spieviesta.” The Dark Watcher looked towards her house. A shadow watched from Sarah’s bedroom window.
Sarah’s head was spinning as a memory of a small brook with purple and pink bioluminescences filled her mind. “What the hell is Spieviesta?”
“It’s the Forest of Spirits. It holds the souls of the dead beasts. The talisman allowed you to cross.” The Dark Watcher told her, gently pushing the machete away. “Your soul was so entwined that I thought you belonged to our side. But as you healed, I saw you were human. You begged me not to return to your world. You were so broken I gave in.”
His hand caressed her cheek. Against all instinct to run, Sarah leaned in. A wave of calm came over her.
The Dark Watcher pulled her in close. “But when you became pregnant, I had to let you go. Spieviesta is no place for the living, let alone a child. So I watched from the shadows. You, my dear, are a force.”
She wanted to remember, but fractured memories were all that came. Giant oaks with cabins built in their limbs. Dances around massive bonfires with fairies illuminating the night. Never once did Sarah see the sun, but she didn’t crave its heat. Safety existed in that place. A safety she craved at home but never found.
The slamming of Sarah’s back door interrupted them. Chris charged towards them. The Dark Watcher shielded Sarah behind him.
“A White Lighter is raising my son?” The Dark Watcher seethed.
“A what?” Sarah peeked around the Dark Watcher’s broad shoulders. Chris’s aura was radiating a brilliant blue, bordering on white. “What the hell is a White Lighter?”
“Sarah, get away from him.” Chris demanded.
Before Chris could come any closer, the Dark Watcher slammed his walking stick onto the cement patio. The ground cracked open, leaving a revive between them.
“She belongs to me, Watcher.” Chris called, pacing along the opening as flames flicked the edges.
“I don’t belong to anyone,” shouted Sarah.
She was flush against the Dark Watcher’s back. His level breathing kept her calm. Sarah had seen Chris’ drunken rages before. But this was different. His eyes burned red. The longer she stayed separated from him, the more his arms twitched. He cracked his neck a few times, rolling his shoulders. Sarah gripped the machete’s handle, preparing for a fight.
The Dark Watcher’s free hand wrapped around him, clutching her waist. “A White Lighter, a being that demands loyalty for protection. Many believe that a White Lighter acts as a guardian angel. However, they only protect the most subservient of their followers. And you, my dear, are nothing of the sort.”
“If you come back to me, I can wash away the memories, just like last time.” Chris tried to cross the ravine, but the flames leapt at him. “Let him take the boy and the pain will be gone. You will be happy again. We can be happy again.”
Sarah looked back at the pile of dust behind her. “I needed silver to kill the Black Annis. What do I need to do to be rid of him?”
The Dark Watcher’s smile reached his coal dark eyes. “You just need to release him from your vows.”
“A divorce?” Sarah almost leapt over the flames herself. “You knew this. No wonder why you would never divorce me. You wanted me trapped. To control and punish because I didn’t fit your perfect mold.”
“It doesn’t have to be as formal as your legal system makes it out,” The Dark Watcher told her. “You just have to recant your vows.”
Chris panicked. His aura was a deep red that didn’t match his soothing voice. “Sarah, there is no need for this. Come home and we can forget everything. Noah needs you. I need you. This is just a phase baby. One we can overcome together. We’ve done it before, we can do it again. Let me take away your pain.”
Sarah’s brain tingled. She knew this feeling. One that she had whenever she took her daily pill. However, Chris was the one who kept her calm, not her pill. He stole away her emotions and freedom. No wonder when he was gone did she become a new person. One where she felt herself. One where she was free.
“No,” she uttered. “I will not give in to you again.”
Sarah came toe to toe with the edge of the fire. Her green eyes boring into his blue ones. A wind from below pushed him back and made her fiery red locks dance like the flames.
“Chris O’Mally I release you. I release you of our wedding vows. I release you of the promises you have not not fulfilled. You have not loved me through sickness and health. You have multiplied, harmed me, and most certainly have not forsaken all others.”
A deep laugh bellowed across the ravine. “That is rich coming from you, since I have been raising a Dark Watchers’ offspring.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “One time, and you stole from me. When I finally found happiness and was free of you. You stole my freedom again. Chris O’Mally all bonds with me are broken.”
Sarah had expected lightning to flash through the sky or a vicious wind to rip through the air. Instead, she heard a soft click. Looking down to the broken patio, she saw her wedding band broken in half and a chain reaching across the ravine attached to the band Chris had worn.