The Destiny of Melissa Smith

I

Melissa Smith smiled. She was waiting at the end of a small line, but she was quite happy to stand and wait.
It was a typically hot, typically humid day in early August. Little Sellington was holding its annual village fete. The large village green at the centre of the village, framed by half timbered and thatched cottages, was buzzing with activity. Rows of white marquees, union flag bunting strung up from wherever it could be attached to, ice cream vans, kids, families and elderly couples in matching pastel outfits, farmers in their corduroy trousers and flat caps, trestle tables bearing everything from home made jams to old toys and bric-a-brac. The grass was a rich green and the sky was an edible shade of blue. In short, it was beautiful. It was England.
The queue Melissa had joined was for a fortune teller. ???Marvellous Marvoli???s Tent of Destiny!??? the sign had read in colourful red lettering. She???d never had her fortune told before, mostly because she???d never been anywhere with a fortune teller and it wasn???t the sort of thing she would actively seek out. She wasn???t even sure if she really believed it was real or not, she tended to be quite a practical person. But she wanted to believe it ??? life would be more exciting if there was magic and mystery. Dan always said that she was secretly a dreamer behind her realist fa??ade.
Her thoughts turned to him as she shuffled forwards one space in the line ??? she would miss him so much. He was meeting her later in the afternoon and then they were going to go for an all you can eat Chinese, a perfect was to spend a Saturday evening. There was only so much time left with each other before she went off to uni next month and she didn???t want to waste a moment of it. He???d still come and visit her of course, but it wouldn???t be the same as living in the same village. It would be tough, but she knew she loved him enough to make it work. Even better she knew that he loved her enough too.
???Enter!??? A gruff kind of thick voice called from inside the tent. ???Enter and discover your destiny!???
Melissa smirked a little at how corny that had sounded and then parted the white fabric of the marquee and stepped through.
Inside it felt like a different world. The ground was completely covered by Persian rugs, there were upturned oak barrels with burning, dripping candles on top of them, old crates covered with brightly coloured fabrics, crystals dotted everywhere and the odd incense stick burning away, giving the air a thick quality and producing a pungent, spicy smell. The sunlight did its best to shine through the thick fabric of the marquee but it didn???t quite succeed, instead it just bathed the whole space in a warm kind of orange glow. In the centre of the space was a low table, and sat on the floor one side of the table was a man who Melissa presumed was Marvoli.
???Hello my dear.??? Marvoli said slowly. He had a hint of a European accent but Melissa couldn???t place it specifically. He was dressed in red and black robes, a thick chain of red jewels hung round his neck and on his head he wore a black satin turban. He must have been in his sixties at least and Melissa immediately thought that he had quite a dirty look about him ??? his face was a little chubby, he looked sweaty. He had a scrubby little greying goatee and his eyes painted with thick lines of cheap eyeliner. Not a good look.
???Hello.??? Melissa said with a smile, not wanting her distaste to show. She stayed by the entrance but he beckoned her forwards.
???Come in, come in ??? sit.??? Marvoli gestured to a cushion on the floor on the opposite side of the table from him. ???Let us discover what gems lay in wait for you.???
Melissa did as she was told and moved forwards. She knelt down on the purple cushion Marvoli had gestured to.
Marvoli grinned and nodded as she settled into position ??? he looked friendly enough but he just seemed so dirty. Physically and mentally.
Melissa smiled pleasantly at him, waiting for him to get on and read her fortune.
He just gazed at her for a long, uncomfortable moment.
Melissa avoided his eyes and looked instead at the only object that was on the table before her ??? a crystal ball. This one looked to be the real thing - she remembered as a child she was given a magic set for Christmas once that had a so called crystal ball in it. The stupid thing had only been plastic.
???So, Melissa.??? Marvoli spoke at last.
Melissa looked up at him immediately. ???How do you know my name????
Marvoli looked pleased with himself. ???I???m a fortune teller. These skills are the tools of my trade.??? He now looked down at the crystal ball. ???Oh Melissa. Where to begin!??? He sounded happy.
Melissa was more interested now - he obviously had some real skill. She leant forwards a little and looked into the ball as well. It seemed perfectly clear to her. ???What is it? Is it good????
???No, my dear.??? Marvoli said sadly.
Melissa panicked ??? she didn???t want bad news! If it was bad then she???d rather be surprised. ???Oh. What????
???It???s not good.??? Marvoli paused and licked his lips. ???It is spectacular!???
Melissa felt relieved. Okay, good. Cancel funeral plans.
???You know a man yes? He paints houses for a living.???
???Dan, yes ??? that???s my boyfriend.???
???Within ten years he will go from painting houses to designing them.???
???Dan???s going to be an architect?!???
???He will also be more than your boyfriend, he will be your husband!???
Melissa felt like she wanted to squeal with excitement. Her and Dan ??? married! She???d wanted to marry him from the first time she saw him all those years ago at school.
???Your job too, I see greatness there. You are about to embark on an educational journey yes? A journey into the subject of law.???
???I go to university next month.???
???Yes, and there you will excel in your course. I can see you???ve always dreamt of helping people Melissa, of helping those less fortunate. You will become one of the most successful human rights lawyers of our time.???
Melissa gawped at him. ???Are you serious?!??? She couldn???t believe it! In her brain there was part of her that wanted to run down the street, screaming and skipping and doing cartwheels ??? then there was the practical Melissa who knew that in the real world nothing was certain. Nothing was for sure. But what he was telling her, he knew so much! Maybe he was right!
???I???m always serious. Melissa, this is your destiny. You really will have a wonderful life.??? Marvoli sat back from the crystal ball and rested his hands in his lap. Again, he looked pleased with himself.
Melissa was over the moon with the news. She wasn???t extrovert enough to scream with joy but she certainly felt like doing so. She couldn???t help but beam a smile that went from ear to ear ??? even if she didn???t like the way Marvoli looked at her still. ???I can???t believe it!??? she gasped, laughing a little as she spoke.
???You should, my dear. It???s all true.???
???Thank you so much!??? Melissa said. ???I never expected you to be this good, no offence. I thought it would just pass the time but this has been amazing ??? really.???
???I???m glad you enjoyed it.??? Marvoli smiled. ???Now all that remains is for you to make payment and then you can leave.???
Melissa had forgotten about paying ??? there hadn???t been a price outside, she wasn???t sure how much Marvoli would want. Nevertheless she reached into her jeans pocket for her purse. ???Of course, I have some money here -???
Marvoli cocked his head to one side. ???Money, my dear????
Melissa felt a little twinge of discomfort in her stomach. ???Yes, I don???t know how much you want but -???
???You can???t make payment for my services with something as common as money.??? Marvoli leant forwards over the table. ???I???ll need something a lot more personal.???
Melissa shuffled backwards. The twinge had grown into a full on explosion of discomfort now. She readied herself to run. ???I don???t know what you mean.??? she said firmly. ???But I???ll find a convenient place to shove that crystal ball if you try anything personal with me.???
Suddenly she heard the flaps of the tent moving and a new person burst in. A boy, well, a young man. Tall, slim, dark brown hair with a fringe swept down over part of his left eye. Skinny jeans, polo shirt and trainers ??? good looking without being particularly drop dead gorgeous.
???Get away from her!??? the newcomer shouted. He had a firm, masculine voice but it wasn???t rough ??? it had a nice, smooth kind of edge to it.
Melissa did wonder what the guy was doing but at that moment she didn???t really care. Perhaps he was next in line, perhaps he???d heard Marvoli?
Marvoli gazed at the boy and grinned wickedly at him. ???|My, my, my - look at you!??? he purred slyly. ???Just look at you!??? Marvoli sounded amazed, almost ecstatic. It was like he???d just read this boy???s destiny and seen something incredible.
The boy seemed to ignore him. ???I said get away from her.??? he warned.
???She owes me payment!??? Marvoli seethed. ???And payment I shall have!???
???No whilst I???m here you won???t.???
Marvoli grinned a gap toothed grin. ???Then I shall collect payment myself.???
Melissa was just trying to figure out what Marvoli meant when she gasped as he disappeared right in front of her eyes ??? literally he disappeared in the blink of an eye. ???What the hell is going on???? she asked the boy who was now looking hurriedly all round the tent.
???I???m not sure.??? he said, turning to her briefly and smiling warmly. ???Sorry, I???m Isaac. Nice to meet you, sorry about barging in but I wanted to stop him before he did anything worse.???
???Oh, don???t worry about it!??? Melissa exclaimed. ???I was about to knock him six ways from Sunday myself but I???m still glad you came in! Where did he go though? I mean when he read my fortune I couldn???t believe my ears, now he???s just vanished and I can???t believe my eyes.??? she said, smiling back at the boy as he kept looking round the tent. ???And I???m Melissa, Melissa Smith. Pleasure to meet you. What are you looking for????
???Clues.??? Isaac said whilst poking through the contents on one of the crates. ???Information on Marvoli.???
???What was he???? Melissa couldn???t believe she was asking that kind of question, although secretly she was sort of loving it. A man had just disappeared right in front of her eyes ??? it was fascinating! ???Was he human????
???I doubt it.??? Isaac said with a frustrated sigh. ???There???s nothing here.???
???So what then? Alien? Monster????
Isaac gazed at her with a curious kind of look. ???You don???t seem too phased by all of this.???
???I???m a lawyer ??? well, I will be one anyway. You can???t deny the facts.???
Isaac appeared impressed. He nodded in agreement. ???Quite right, you can???t. And I imagine he was some kind of demon to answer your question. I just need to figure out where he-???
Out of nowhere Melissa felt a firm grip grab onto her left wrist. She screamed out of shock and turned to look at what had grabbed her. Now she really couldn???t believe her eyes. From out of the crystal ball that still sat on the low table, a hand had sprung ??? a hand that now grabbed her tightly. Even more shocking still was that it wasn???t a human hand ??? the skin was jet black and smooth as silk to the touch. There weren???t any fingernails or lines or veins visible either. She pulled and tugged, tried to get to her feet.
???Stay calm!??? Isaac instructed, rushing over to her. He grabbed the wrist of the invading hand and tried to pull it from her ??? it wouldn???t budge. ???Hang on!??? He darted back to the box he had been rummaging in.
???Can???t really go anywhere!??? Melissa said, trying to make a joke out of it and suppress the strong fear she was feeling. Adrenaline was coursing through her ??? as terrifying as this was she felt so alive! A monster hand had just grabbed her from within a crystal ball ??? brilliant!
Isaac returned with a rubber mallet that must have been used to erect the tent in the first place. ???Stay as still as possible.??? he said quietly before looking at her apologetically. ???I???m sure I won???t hit you, I???m great at darts. You???re meant to get it near the outside of the circle right????
Melissa laughed nervously, she couldn???t help it. Isaac was obviously funny if a bit mad. ???I can???t look!??? she squealed, turning away and shutting her eyes. The next thing she heard was a swoosh and a loud thud, then the grip instantly released from her wrist. She looked with one eye first and then both ??? the hand had gone!
???Quickly,??? Isaac said urgently, ???Get back!???
Melissa got to her feet and staggered backwards in the tent, standing side by side with Isaac. They were both now staring at this crystal ball like it was about to explode.
???Maybe it???s gone???? Melissa said tentatively. Even as she spoke she knew she???d spoken too soon.
There on the table, the hand reappeared. Then, shockingly and seemingly impossibly, another hand emerged. Then arms ??? silken, smooth and jet black like the hands. Then a there was something bright red emerging, which shone and glittered. Melissa suddenly realised she was looking at one of those Venetian festival masks which covered the upper part of the face and had a protruding, beak like nose. She flashed back to when she saw a mouse coming out of a tiny, tiny gap in her skirting board at home ??? the scene before her looked just like that. Now the head of this thing was fully out, jet black like the rest of it apart from the ruby red mask. Then moments later a torso and then legs too ??? within moments this creature was fully emerged, born into the world and standing upright in front of them. It was about as tall as Isaac was, so about six foot Melissa guessed. The creature was naked for all intents and purposes but its body was so lacking in any bodily features that it didn???t really need to wear clothes. It stood there with a regal kind of posture, and gazed at them through the seemingly eyeless eyeholes of the mask it wore.
???So, demon yeah???? Melissa said nervously to Isaac. The adrenaline was still coursing.
Isaac was surveying the demon with a furrowed brow. ???Yeah.??? He didn???t take his eyes off the creature as he spoke. ???So it would seem.???
The demon suddenly performed an elaborate kind of bow to them with a flourish of his hand above his head. ???Marvoli at your service.??? he said in a polite, even and surprisingly gentle tone as he rose upright again.
Melissa hadn???t expected demons to be so polite ??? not to mention her shock at how the creature was talking when he didn???t have a visible mouth. She was also confused ??? Marvoli had been the man from before. Were they one of the same? ???Marvoli???? she asked. ???That???s what the little pervert man was called.???
Isaac shook his head. ???I don???t think there ever was a little pervert man. He was just a projection wasn???t he????
Marvoli nodded courteously. ???An illusion, yes. My true form doesn???t exactly drum up custom. Now I have a question for you ??? how did you know to burst in like that young man? How did you know of me????
???I???ve got an interesting book shelf.??? Isaac explained. ???I saw your name on a poster and I knew it rang a bell, you???re right there in The Occult Middle Ages ??? Marvoli the destroyer of destinies. It didn???t describe you physically though, I do like the mask. Very pretty.???
Melissa found herself gazing at Isaac now rather than gazing at the demon in front of her. This boy was incredible! She???d never met anyone like him before, she doubted she ever would again.
???I also checked to see if you???d visited any other towns recently. Last month in Croseby ten people killed themselves within a week of your visit. A bit sloppy if you ask me, hitting the same area twice in a month.???
???People don???t normally notice.??? Marvoli said casually with just a hint of malice.
???I???m not normal people.??? Isaac informed him.
Melissa could sense the tension in the tent, it was curling off of both of them like smoke. It was as if they were both restraining themselves, as if really they both wanted to leap forwards and attack each other. She was also still unsure exactly of what this Marvoli demon wanted, so she decided to speak up herself.
???So, you said I needed to make payment???? she asked the demon.
It nodded politely. ???That???s correct madam.???
???What payment? What is it that you do????
???As Isaac said, my name is Marvoli, the devourer of destinies. I tell people their futures, I often make them ecstatically happy by doing so. Then I devour their destinies as payment. As a result their lives change, their past, present and future alters ??? devoid of the aspects I have devoured.???
???That???s disgusting.??? Melissa was horrified.
???Is it???? There was no sarcasm in Marvoli???s voice. ???I provide a service and I take payment for that service. And your destiny Melissa, well ??? that will be such a feast. All those tasty little morsels of love and health and happiness. Your payment will sate my hunger for quite some time.???
Melissa surprised herself by stepping forwards a little in confrontation. ???You won???t get anything from me.???
Marvoli titled his head to one side and considered both of them through his mask. ???I tell you what, I???ll make you a deal.???
Isaac laughed a little. ???A deal from a demon????
???Oh now come on, be sporting! I???m an honourable man, the man part aside. You want to know why I was so amazed when I looked at you don???t you Isaac????
???I just assumed you liked my hair.???
???Haha, very droll. But you assumed no such thing. You wondered what I saw ??? what destiny I saw for you.???
???I don???t want to know my future.??? Isaac sounded certain of that.
???That???s good. I???m not going to tell you. Suffice to say, it was extraordinary. I???ve never seen anything like it in seven centuries of doing this. The things you???ll see, the things you???ll do -???
???And you can stop right there.???
???Fine, fine. But anyway, this is the point of my deal. I will happily take either of your destinies as payment. Either Melissa???s, or yours. You can choose, I???ll leave it entirely up to you. But be assured of this much ??? you will give me one of your destinies by sundown today, or I will rip through every destiny in this place and leave everyone here with nothing but bitter endings and broken dreams. Man, woman or child ??? they???ll all be taken. Your choice.???
???Then I think I???ll choose a third option.???
???And what would that be????
???Running out on the bill.??? Isaac turned to Melissa and grabbed her by the hand. She took it and gripped tightly without a second thought, like she trusted him. ???Run!???

II

They pelted out of the tent and into the crowd outside, running as best they could through the sea of children with ice creams and young couples holding hands. Melissa almost tripped over a Yorkshire terrier that was sniffing about round a bin as they dashed past a mobile burger bar. She chanced a glance over her shoulder. Marvoli wasn???t following them.
???So what now???? she asked quickly as they hurried through the crowds.
???We keep running.??? Isaac skidded to a halt as two toddlers were playing with balloons in front of him. ???Well, we keep trying to run anyway.???
???He won???t attack here will he? In front of all these people????
???He???s a master of illusion, he???ll think of something. We need to get to safety.???
???Well I live here in the village, we could go to my house? Or Dan???s house isn???t far but he???s not home at the moment-???
???Who???s he????
???My boyfriend. We???re meant to be going for a Chinese tonight.???
???You will do.??? Isaac said reassuringly. ???God I???m hungry now.???
???Well if we went back to mine I???ve got food, you could-???
???Church!??? Isaac exclaimed.
Melissa was starting to understand this Isaac guy a bit more now. Unpredictable, slightly mad, funny and also quite brilliant. There was something about him though, something he wasn???t saying.
???We should go to the church.??? Isaac confirmed. ???It won???t keep Marvoli out forever but it might put him off for a bit. It???ll buy us some time either way.???
???Time sounds good.??? Melissa agreed. ???It???s not far, it???s just up that little street over there.??? She pointed at the little cobbled side street that lead off from the green and towards St David???s church.
???Okay, let???s go.???
They headed off out of the crowd and across the green. Once away from all the people they could move a lot quicker and so within moments they were entering the side street, past rows of white cottages with gardens in full bloom and then round a corner until they came to the heavy looking wood of the churchyard gate. Isaac lifted the latch and opened it, ushering Melissa through into the churchyard before entering behind her. The whole place seemed deserted ??? everyone was at the fete. The church itself was a lovely building, all old and grey, worn looking stonework and a tower and steeple that stood out beautifully against the blue of the sky. They rushed through the churchyard and lifted the wrought iron door knocker which hung on the solid wood door of the church. The door swung open noisily and they darted inside, slamming the door shut quickly behind them in case Marvoli was hot on their heels.
Melissa stepped forwards into the church whilst Isaac made sure the door was firmly shut. ???I love it in here.??? she sighed happily. It brought back happy memories of school visits, nativity plays and camp, kitschy songs about God. The pews were empty, they were alone.
???We should be safe for a while.??? Isaac walked past her and up the central aisle of the church. ???Safe as houses. Well, safe as churches anyway.??? He turned back to her and smiled. ???Are you okay????
The question wasn???t as simple to answer as it was to ask. ???You know when you???re little and you pretend that monsters and fairies and all kinds of make believe things are real, and even though they???re scary it???s still exciting to pretend they???re real? And then you grow up and you go to school and slowly all those little make believe lights get shut off, and you start just accepting the world as a boring old plain kind of place????
???Yeah.???
???I feel like I???m five years old again, hunting for fairies in the garden. Only this time the fairies are trying to eat my destiny.???
???I know it is all a bit bonkers. Sorry you had to get caught up in the middle of it.??? Isaac sat down on the edge of one of the pews. He nodded towards the pew on the opposite side of the aisle from him. ???Have a seat.???
Melissa walked forwards and sat down on the pew. It was hard and uncomfortable, but it was still nice to sit down. ???So is this what you do then? You go around investigating monsters????
???Pretty much.??? Isaac said nonchalantly.
???On your own????
Isaac???s expression flickered with sadness momentarily. ???Yes. Yes, on my own.???
???How did you start -???
???Well I didn???t start on my own. Something happened a few years ago and I???ve been on my own ever since.???
Melissa was curious, she felt like she was getting close to the crux of Isaac???s whole character. All along she???d sensed there was something about him ??? this was it. ???What sort of something????
Isaac looked at her a little darkly and then cleared his throat. ???So you live locally then???? He sounded hopeful as he spoke, like he was glad of the fact.
Under any other circumstance she would have worried he was about to ask her out, but she???d clocked from the moment she saw him that he was gay. He wasn???t overtly camp or anything, she just had a good sense for that kind of thing. ???Yeah, yes I do. Little Sellington born and raised. You????
???Marlborough, so not far away.??? Isaac rubbed his hands together and looked away a little awkwardly. It was like there was something he wanted to ask her but was too embarrassed. She wondered what it could be, he hadn???t been shy or coy at all so far. All the demon stuff he???d just rattled off like it was nothing, now this more normal stuff seemed to have him a bit flummoxed.
???It???s a shame,??? she said, ???we could have been good friends. I???m going off to uni next month.???
???Me too.??? Isaac smiled. ???I???m meant to be packing today.???
???Oh god don???t get me started. Mum???s flying around with cardboard boxes, she keeps offering me things from the kitchen ??? do I want a garlic crusher, do I want to take the tagine she bought and never used. What student has a tagine!???
Isaac laughed. ???My mum just gave me some money and told me to go and buy whatever I needed from town.???
???Ahh see that???s a lot better.???
???Yeah I suppose so.??? Isaac sounded like he wasn???t so sure that it was better at all. ???What uni are you going to????
???Monks-Lantern.??? Melissa replied. ???You????
An enormous and completely natural smile had appeared quite suddenly on Isaac???s face. ???Really????
???Yeah, why????
???That???s where I???m going.???
Melissa found herself involuntarily smiling too. ???No way!??? she laughed. ???That???s amazing! We can be friends after all!???
???I know!??? Isaac seemed overjoyed. ???I look forward to many Moroccan meals with your tagine!???
???Haha, oh no ??? I???ve already told mum I???m not taking it. I???ll be laughed out of halls.???
???What halls have you been assigned to????
Melissa pouted ??? this was one of the bits about uni she was not looking forward to. ???The crap ones, Redfern Hill I think? No en-suite, one little kitchen per twenty rooms. It???s going to be a nightmare. What about you? Please tell me you???re at Redfern too????
???Oh, well, that???s the thing actually ??? I???m not staying in halls.???
???Oh????
???My parents have bought me a house there. God knows why, I told them not to but dad???s an architect and he insisted. Go figure.???
???A house?!??? Melissa hadn???t heard of any first years having a house. She knew where she???d be going to get away from twenty smelly people sharing one kitchen.
???Yeah.??? Isaac nodded. That awkward look came across his face once more. He shuffled his feet and looked at the floor. ???If you wanted to, I mean you don???t have to ??? it???s just an option, but I have four spare bedrooms. And my parents have paid for the whole thing so there???d be no rent. You could always move in with me, you know, if you liked. I mean I know we???ve only just met but I???m sort of -??? He trailed off and looked away up the aisle at the alter, perhaps hoping for some divine intervention.
???Sort of what???? Melissa probed, leaning forwards a little.
Isaac turned back to her and looked her in the eyes now. ???I???m sort of fed up of being alone.??? He sounded quite fragile now, very different to the confident young man trading verbal blows with Marvoli earlier. ???Ever since what happened a few years ago I???ve been alone, I thought it was best, I don???t know ??? I thought maybe it was safer, maybe even that I deserved it. But then just recently I realised that actually I don???t like it at all. I miss having people. I miss having friends.???
Melissa smiled sadly. That was what it had been with him all along. Loneliness. He held out her hand across the aisle and he took it. She squeezed it and swung it from side to side a little in a playful fashion. ???Well we???re friends now. And I think a rent free house with the occasional demon investigation sounds amazingly perfect to me.???
???You do????
???Of course! I mean I love the law, I???m all about that. But everyone needs a bit of fantasy in their lives too. Plus I can invite Dan to come and stay sometimes too ??? if that???s okay with you of course? He???ll love you, I know he will ??? his brother???s gay so he???s totally cool with it.???
Isaac looked at her and laughed ??? he seemed completely shocked. ???How did you know????
Melissa tapped the side of her nose and giggled. ???I???m a walking gaydar.???
Isaac smiled happily. ???Well yes of course, he???ll be very welcome. Now we just have to focus on getting you there safely.???
Melissa had quite forgotten about Marvoli for a moment. Now it all came flooding back. ???What are we going to do????
???Well, we have a few options. One is that one of us gives ourselves to him.???
Melissa shook her head dismissively. ???Not an option.???
???Two is that we just leave town, let him take the destinies of everyone else in the village.???
???Still not an option.???
???Then that leaves us with three. And three is get our thinking caps on and try and think of a brilliantly clever and last minute kind of way of stopping him.???
???Thinking caps it is.??? Melissa nodded firmly. She carried hers with her wherever she went ??? studying the law required being analytical and attentive to detail and all times.
???We just need to find his weak spot. From his point of view he doesn???t feel he???s doing anything wrong ??? if anything it???s you that???s doing wrong by not paying for his services. Demons can be funny like that, they???re quite keen on things having a certain kind of legality to them in a way. If you want something from them then you have to pay a price.???
Hearing Isaac speak made a massive lightbulb click on inside Melissa???s brain. ???Ah, you said legality! I???m good with legality!???
???Of course, brilliant, trainee lawyer! Find us a loophole!???
???Well,??? Melissa started, sitting up in the pew with the excitement of a blossoming idea, ???you only have to pay for something if the goods and or services that you were promised lived up to their promise. It???s like you can go to a restaurant and refuse to pay if you didn???t enjoy your meal or if there was something wrong with it.???
???But he did what he promised he would do ??? he told you your future.???
???Unless the future he told me was wrong.??? Melissa was getting carried away now, she could feel her brain moving faster than her words could express it all. ???He told me that Dan and I will be happily married one day. What if I text Dan now and dump him? Tell him I never want to see him again? I???ll be changing my future.???
Isaac looked horrified. ???You can???t do that! You love him, we???ll think of another way -???
???But I won???t be doing it for real. I???ll just text it to him, then once Marvoli agrees to give me a refund or whatever you want to call it then I???ll call Dan and explain.??? Melissa paused. ???Well, maybe I won???t explain everything. But I can make something up.???
???Melissa, I don???t know. The idea???s good but I don???t want you to risk your relationship.???
???I???m not risking anything.??? Melissa got her phone out from her pocket. It did fill her with a sick kind of dread to text Dan such a horrible thing, after all it would be the furthest from the truth possible. But it wasn???t real ??? Marvoli just needed to believe it was real. Isaac had said that Marvoli was a master of illusion, and that???s what it was all about. It was all an illusion. ???There isn???t another way.??? she said firmly. She opened up the message centre on her phone and wrote a few lines, telling him that it was over, that she never wanted to see him again and that she never actually loved him. The sick feeling continued as she typed but she pushed it to one side. It was all an illusion.
Isaac still didn???t look that happy but he also had a look of strange admiration on his face when Melissa glanced at him. She smiled as she finished writing the text. They made a good team ??? she felt a few butterflies of excitement flitter away in her stomach now at the thought of what they might discover together in Monks-Lantern.
???It seems we have a plan.??? Isaac said, standing from the pew.
???It seems we do.??? Melissa stood up too. She didn???t press send, she thought they???d better wait until they were in Marvoli???s presence. She smiled at Isaac and then let her smile fade as she saw his face turn deadly serious as he gazed past her shoulder.
???Melissa.??? Isaac said slowly. He didn???t take his eyes off the area directly over her shoulder.
???What is it????
???That stained glass window just moved.???

III

Melissa felt her blood run cold ??? she turned round just in time to see Marvoli leap with cat like grace from the window ledge of one of the long stained glass windows. He must have been standing there stock still for goodness knows how long!
???I applaud your determination.??? Marvoli said with genuine commendation. ???But no man nor indeed woman can outrun their destiny. It???s time to pay.???
Melissa raised her phone above her head ??? it was now or never! ???We???re not paying anything!??? She pressed the send button as firmly and dramatically as she could. The phone beeped noisily as the message was sent. ???I just changed my future. I don???t have to pay for a bad service Marfoney!??? Melissa quipped.
Marvoli looked at her with his mouthless, noseless, earless, expressionless and seemingly eyeless face and yet through his scarlet mask he still managed to look unimpressed. ???Your destiny remains unchanged my dear girl. I can see that tonight you???d go home and explain all to your lover and by tomorrow morning the pair of you will be right as rain and bound for wedlock once more.???
Suddenly Melissa felt her phone vibrate forcibly in her hand ??? Dan was calling her! He must have read the text. She pressed the button to forward him to voicemail. ???I???m changing my future!??? she insisted. ???I???ve broken up with him!???
Marvoli took a few steps towards her. ???You???ve done nothing of the sort my dear. Come now, it???s time to end all this foolishness. Pay your fee.???
Melissa inched backwards. There had to be another way out of this! ???No!???
Suddenly Isaac came forwards and stood in between her and Marvoli. ???There???s another way to settle this.???
???And what, pray tell, might that be????
???Well it???s like the old saying says,??? Isaac explained. ???If at first you don???t succeed ??? use force.???
Melissa gasped as Isaac drew his fist back and then threw it forwards towards Marvoli. She gasped again when she saw Marvoli duck fluidly out of the way ??? ducking and diving to one side.
He moved just like a ballet dancer ??? Isaac tried to hit him again but he simply hopped to one side and then bounded weightlessly over to the alter where he picked up a large golden candlestick. With precision and grace he twirled the candlestick above his head and then out before him as though it were a sword, and then he leapt back towards them and with a mighty twirl in midair he swept the candlestick round and smashed it into Isaac???s face before Isaac had had time to realise what was upon him.
Isaac grunted in pain and fell backwards into the pews ??? he didn???t pass out but he seemed dazed, struggling to get back to his feet.
Melissa screamed as the very next second Marvoli had leapt over to her and placed his silken hands tightly around her neck.
He brought his featureless face close to her ear, brushing her blonde hair to one side, and mouthlessly he whispered to her, ???A curious thing, that boy???s future. He faces the most terrible of days, days of fire and destruction. The fate of the world seems to hang in the balance inside his mind ??? it???s unbelievable the things I can see in him. You know he???ll sacrifice all that for you if he has to. Do you really want to let him, knowing what I???ve told you now????
???Get off me!??? Melissa yelled, and she pushed against him with all her might.
???What are you saying to her?!??? Isaac was back on his feet and marching towards them.
Marvoli released his grip. ???Only some friendly advice.???
???Friendly???? Isaac coughed, clutching his head still. ???From you????
???Isaac, I???m not a monster -???
???Oh yes you are.??? Isaac sounded angry now, his voice seemed to be shaking as he spoke, like he was speaking through gritted teeth. ???You are a monster. You destroy lives, rip people apart, you take everything someone holds dear and you tear it from them and you leave them with nothing! Nothing!??? Isaac shouted. ???But not today. I???m telling now you will not do it today! I???ve lost too much already, I???m not having a monstrosity like you take another friend from me, not now ??? not ever. Never again!???
Melissa remembered Isaac saying about something happening before ??? obviously he???d lost people. His anger and his pain about it was blasting from him now ??? all those emotions that she could tell right from the start he was keeping cleverly hidden, here they all were in their fullness. She felt sad for him. She walked forwards and put a hand gently on his shoulder and squeezed very lightly.
His breathing slowed down. The calm, clever boy she first met was surfacing once more.
Marvoli simply stood there, one hand on his pitch black hip. ???So what do you propose to do then? I can???t forcibly take payment, it has to be given. You still refuse to pay me and so here we are.???
???We???ll run.???
Marvoli shook his head. ???I???ll follow.???
???Then we???ll keep running.???
???And I???ll keep following.??? Marvoli shrugged his inky shoulders. ???There is no way out of this. One of you has to pay. One of your destinies belongs to me. One of your lives is mine, by law. The time has come.???
Isaac seemed rooted on the spot for a moment ??? he was gazing fiercely at Marvoli. ???Two minutes.??? he eventually said to Marvoli.
Marvoli nodded understandingly and took a step backwards.
Isaac then turned to Melissa ??? he had a sad, almost undetectable smile on his face.
???What do we do???? Melissa whispered. A horrible little corner of her mind knew what they had to do, but she wanted to ignore it for as long as possible.
???Oh Melissa.??? Isaac said wearily. ???I was really looking forward to our tagine.???
???What do you -???
???It???s the only way. He won???t leave us alone, and I can???t risk him hurting everyone in the village.???
???No!??? Melissa said firmly. They couldn???t just give up! ???There has to be a way, a loophole ??? come on you???re clever I know you are, think of something brainy!???
Isaac shook his head. ???Too late I???m afraid.???
???Then let me do it.???
???No, no way.??? Isaac said firmly. ???All that wonderful happy life stuff you???ve got coming up, you???ve got to live that.???
Melissa felt her eyes sting as they welled up with tears. ???I wanted us to be friends.???
???We are friends.??? Isaac smiled with apparent genuine happiness. ???We are friends.??? He repeated those words happily to himself and nodded to himself in satisfaction before turning to face Marvoli. ???Okay.???
???No!??? Melissa screamed. No, she wasn???t going to let him do this! ???Marvoli, stop him!???
Isaac turned to her again, angry confusion on his face now. ???Melissa!???
???I???ll do it!??? she yelled, ???Just stop him!???
Marvoli nodded. ???As you wish.??? He raised a hand and instantly Isaac seemed to be stuck in tar, he struggled and shook his legs but he couldn???t move from the spot.
???Melissa!??? Isaac barked. ???No, no ??? stop it! Stop it now!???
Melissa felt tears run freely from her eyes as she walked past the stuck Isaac and towards Marvoli. ???You shouldn???t have to pay for me!??? she said, not quite sure what she was doing or whether she was really brave enough to do it. ???I pay my own way.???
???If you do this then your whole life will change!??? Isaac yelled. ???Everything he told you about your future, that won???t happen anymore! He???ll take everything good about your life - you???ll lose Dan, your career ??? everything! Just stop it, get back and let me do this!???
???I can???t let you.??? Melissa sniffed.
???You can!???
???I can???t! You???re too important Isaac, you need to get through this!???
???You???re important!???
???Not important enough.???
???Melissa, please ??? okay, please, please ??? I???m not losing another friend, I???m not standing stuck again and watching a friend be destroyed ??? I won???t!???
???You???ll find other friends Isaac.??? Melissa sobbed. ???We just weren???t destined to be together like that. For what it???s worth though this last hour you???ve made me feel more alive than I have in years. Five years old again, hunting fairies in my garden.??? She turned and looked at him one last time ??? his eyes were desperate, he was still straining against whatever magic was holding him in place. ???Thank you. Goodbye.???
???Melissa! No!??? Isaac yelled.
It was too late. Heart beating loudly in her chest, hands shaking and tears running freely down her cold, wet cheeks she turned from him, turned from Isaac and towards Marvoli.
The demon stood before her with his palm outstretched.
Melissa approached him and looked up into his eyeless eyeholes. ???What do I do????
???Simply touch my palm my dear. Then this will all be over.???
Melissa readied herself ??? she closed her eyes and thought of Dan. Oh that boy, that wonderful boy that used to ride her around the village on his crappy bike. She was just about to touch Marvoli???s hand when she felt her phone vibrate once more from within her pocket. She pulled it out and through tear clouded eyes she saw a text message had arrived. It was from Dan, and it read simply this:

I will always love you Melissa Smith. X

Melissa choked tears back and clutched the phone to her chest with one hand. Trembling, she outstretched the other hand towards Marvoli???s palm.
???Goodbye my love.???

Melissa vanished instantly from before Isaac???s eyes as she touched Marvoli???s palm. Immediately he was freed from his magical prison, but it was all too late. He raised his hands to his eyes to wipe the tears from them. It had happened again.
Marvoli bowed to him gracefully. ???Farewell, Isaac. Perhaps I???ll see you again one day.??? With that the demon turned and walked sure footedly towards the front doors of the church.
???You knew she???d do that didn???t you???? Isaac shouted out after him. ???You told her something about my future that made her decide that hers was less important.???
Marvoli stopped walking for a moment and turned back to face Isaac. ???That???s true, yes.???
???Why????
???Because it was always her fee to pay. And because happiness makes for a much tastier dish than heartbreak does.???
Isaac felt a chill run down his spine, unnerved by Marvoli???s words. ???What do you mean????
If Marvoli had a mouth then Isaac would have sworn that the demon was smiling. ???You???ll find out.???
???And what about Melissa? Is she happy at all now????
???Why don???t you find out for yourself my fine fellow? I believe she works in that odd little caf?? by the train station.???
???Was it worth it? Her life to feed you????
Marvoli nodded assuredly. ???When one hungers for something the acquisition is always worth the cost. Even when it shouldn???t be.??? He considered Isaac for a moment. ???You???ll learn that in time.???
Isaac was about to speak out again as he opened his mouth he saw Marvoli fade from view before him, dispersing as though he???d been made from smoke all along.

Isaac ran as fast as his legs would carry him from the church, through the churchyard and down the lane again towards the green. He skirted round the fete by sticking to the road, only having to dodge the occasional cyclist or dog walker. At the small roundabout he headed left and down the slight hill that lead to the train station. He allowed his legs to slow only when the station was finally in sight, tucked away past a row of white rendered cottages.
Adjacent to the station were two ugly little buildings, completely out of keeping with the cuteness of the village as a whole. One contained a newsagents and the other was a greasy spoon type of caf?? ??? the sort of place you only usually entered if your train was massively delayed and you were absolutely desperate.
Isaac approached the caf?? and peered in past the menu that hung clumsily in the window. It was a depressing sight inside. The seats inside were a sickly orange plastic, moulded together and fixed to the floor with stainless steel supports. The tables looked plastic too, some were stained with ketchup spills from long ago. There were only two customers, they both looked to be surly types who sat at one table and kept their heads down, tucking in to what looked like a full English.
Then Isaac saw her.
She came out of the back room, red tabard tied hastily over plain clothes, hair put up in a hurried ponytail, the odd wisp of blonde escaping and flying out over her ears and forehead. She didn???t look up, not even to her colleagues behind the counter or to the surly customers. She simply took a spray bottle of blue disinfectant and a cloth from a side cupboard and started wiping down the tables with very little energy or care.
A part of Isaac wanted to run in and speak to her, but he stopped himself. He wouldn???t know what to say to her ??? she was a different person now and he didn???t want to risk offending her. He tried to gauge just by looking as to whether she was happy at all ??? whether in this new life she???d managed to find some satisfaction.
She just looked so tired, so very tired, so unaware of everything she had and everything she was going to have not ten minutes beforehand. Melissa Smith ??? bright and funny, a dreamer and a realist, besotted with a boy called Dan and successful lawyer in the making ??? every human happiness ahead of her. Now all of that was gone, that Melissa was dead. This one was now the shell that was left after all those happinesses were taken ??? all she could do now was maybe dream of that life she once had, that life she was going to have.
Isaac felt several tears well up in his eyes and escape, rolling slowly and warmly down his cheek.
Without warning, Melissa looked up from her task and looked at him, as though she???d just realised that someone was staring at her.
Isaac panicked, unsure of whether to turn and walk away quickly or pretend he was looking at the menu. Instead he found himself simply looking back at her, trying to convey some warmth ??? some echo of the brief friendship they shared.
Then Melissa did something, something that both broke Isaac???s heart and mended it at the same time ??? something that showed that maybe Marvoli hadn???t taken everything from her, that maybe her fate wouldn???t match the other victims of Marvoli, that maybe she still had happy days ahead of her.
Melissa Smith smiled.