Free Summer Shorts-Four Short Stories by Jan Miller Page B

over. Botis enforced those instructions in
his usual efficient manner.
    The show went exactly as Phoenix had planned.
He was announced to wild cheers of the audience. He made his way
onto the stage, explained that his day was past but that the music
would live on. Then he introduced Craig as the band broke into
"Fire Dance". Craig embraced the spotlight as if the two had been
constant companions for years. He performed brilliantly and with
the last chord, he shot his outstretched arm into the air prompting
the crowd to shower him with a repeating cheer of
"Craig...Craig...Craig". He turned to the band and asked if they
knew another Black Raven song for an encore. Botis waived from the
side of the stage and pointed to Phoenix who shouted "No. Come off
now.. .immediately !" Craig obeyed but was puzzled by the
decision to leave the audience hanging, expecting an encore.
    "There is a medical emergency at home. We
must depart at once."
     
    ******
     
    The brilliant blue sky lit up
every corner of church packed with sobbing, grieving humanity.
Every ray of sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows
illuminated faces in shock and disbelief, as is usual when a
vibrant, joyous child unexpectedly dies. The priest did his best to
console those in the grip of disbelief, wondering how a just God
could take such an innocent life. Oddly, the only two souls not
showing devastation were Terri and Craig. The latter seemed coldly
detached, the former steeped in a deep burning hatred and
anger .
    Terri had refused his entreaties when he
returned home. She would not speak to him…would not see him. She
rode with Bess to the funeral and then afterwards to her parent's
home. She declined his phone calls. Friends and relatives had
removed their possessions from the home they had rented…the home
where it happened. Animal Control had hauled away the dead dog and
assisted in cleaning up the blood.
    Craig's clothing and laptop computer were all
that remained in the little house. He never came to retrieve them.
There was only one place for him now: the Gressil mansion.
Immediately after the funeral, he had Botis drive him there.
Phoenix and Edon did not attend the funeral or the service before
it.
     
    ******
     
    Upon entering the mansion, Edon was waiting for him
on the staircase. "How was the service?" she asked mockingly.
"Lovely" he smirked, walking towards her.
    "Are you ready for the final phase?" Edon asked.
Craig anxiously applied "Times wasting. Let's get to it."
    This time the circle and candles were on the
master bedroom floor…Phoenix's bedroom. Phoenix lied on his bed
wearing a black plain robe. From one door; Craig entered, again
naked. From another door, Edon entered wearing her ceremonial white
robe, carrying a goblet. As before, she commanded Craig to drink.
He remained standing, but drained the cup. Botis in his black robe,
took the goblet, and then held out his arm to Edon. She removed her
robe, placed it over Botis' outstretched arm, then nude she lied in
the middle of the circle staring at the ceiling. Craig mounted her
and the two engaged in furious intercourse as Botis recited an
incantation in a strange, unrecognizable language. Edon screamed as
she climaxed, at which time Botis left the room and reappeared with
Phoenix's black embroidered robe. Craig stood and Botis put
Phoenix's robe on him. Then Edon stood and Botis put her robe back
on her.
    Although Edon was long past being a virgin,
there was a small puddle of blood on the floor in the center of the
circle. Botis handed Edon the black-handled dagger, and she swiped
its blade length wise into the blood until the blade was completely
red. Botis led Craig to the bed and had him lie down beside
Phoenix. Edon took the blade of the dagger and spread a line of the
blood first on Phoenix's forehead; then turning the blade over, she
did the same to Craig. Botis then handed her two plaster cast
masks: one smiling to represent life; the other frowning to
represent death.