by Lola StVil
“The hell we do,” she says as she starts to storm off. Then she thinks better of it and turns to face the leader again.
“You know what, I was just gonna walk away from this because there is too much going on, but on second thought, I need you to know something,” she says angrily.
“Atlas, before you say anything—”
“I don’t give a damn what is happening in this world or in the whole damn solar system, you lay your hands on me again and I cut off something I know you’d miss. Do you get me, Mason?”
He did what? Wait? What the fuck happened?
“Yes, I get it but—” “Jerkoff” says.
“No! You don’t get to stand there and try to explain yourself, Mason. You put your hands on me again and it will be the very last thing you do on this Earth,” she warns.
“Do you think I just walk around angrily attacking young women?”
“No, why would I ever think that about you? You’re such a lovely guy,” she replies sardonically.
“I was trying to cause a spark between us.”
“You think attacking me is a good way to cause a spark between us? Look, ‘Christian Grey,’ whoever told you that crap would work lied to you. I mean really, I read the book and it was more like fifty shades of misogyny! If getting the crap beaten out of you was so damn sexy, why the hell didn’t she get to bend him over a pool table and take a belt to him too? I’m sure she had issues in her past she needed to work out, why didn’t she get to work it out on his spoiled ass?” Disney rages.
“Atlas, when I said I was trying to cause a ‘Spark’ between us, that’s not what I meant. You’re not listening.”
“No, Mason. I’m not. I don’t give a damn why you attacked me. You put your hands around my neck and choked me. I would rather set the world on fire my damn self than let anyone treat me that way. I have been a lot of things since being pushed into the Shadow world, but I will not be a victim.”
It takes everything in me not to fly out the window and head to New York City. But I want to stay and listen to all of it so I know exactly how painful I will make Mason’s death.
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” he tells her.
“Mason, mess with me one more time and see just how sorry you will be.”
“Atlas, please. Just listen for one minute. When I attacked you, I was trying to cause a ‘Spark.’ A Spark is what happens when magic spontaneously occurs because of fear for one’s life or extreme stress. I thought if I could scare you enough your power would emerge.”
“I don’t buy it. You were really pissed off at me. That was not an act,” she challenges.
“The rage was and is very real. Your actions were reckless and dangerous. But if I thought for one minute you wouldn’t be able to summon up Sadie’s power, I would not have done what I did. As I said before, I’m sorry. I really thought your powers would come out. They should have. Some part of you should have rallied to defend yourself unless…”
“Unless what?” she asks.
“Atlas, are you starting to regret your night with Kane?”
Every muscle in my body tenses up as I wait for her answer. I’m sure I know what it will be. I’m sure she has come to her senses by now and knows there is no point in having feelings for a demon like me. But knowing that and actually hearing her say it out loud are two different things.
“I’m not gonna talk to you about that.”
“Okay, but will you stay? Will you forgive me?” he asks.
“This sounds like the first five minutes of a ‘Lifetime’ movie. Then fast-forward to the end, the woman who was crazy enough to forgive ends up in the hospital.”
“It’s not like that,” he pleads.
“You’re damn right; you’re the one who would need medical care,” she vows.
“I believe you and I’m sorry. It will never happen again…can we start over?” Mason says.
“Fine. But you will put my doors back,” she orders.
“Done.”
“And for the record, you are not my leader. I am my own damn leader. We work as a team, fine. But you do not lead me. Got it?” she demands.
“Fine. There’s something else I need to tell you—not exactly ‘quest’ related. Can we talk up on the roof?” She shrugs her shoulders and agrees to follow him to the rooftop.
***
I appear above her building, tuck in my wings, and fall feet first like a graceful missile. I spot Disney and Jerkoff talking. The majestic skyline of New York is composed of illuminated skyscrapers and the Brooklyn Bridge; it’s a shame a place so pretty is the setting for the ugliness that’s about to happen.
I erupt through the loft’s ceiling at just the right angle. Disney shrieks and falls back as my great black wings extend and arrest my fall—but not before I slam both heels into the chest of that asshole angel who dared touch her.
The impact hits Jerkoff like a train, and I only regret I can’t see his face after I kick him. It happens too fast: he’s knocked through the floor and crashes down through three more levels. Wings lifting me off the ground, I look down the hole and see way down there, he’s come to a crunching stop on the first floor, in a heap of bricks and dust. I spin to Atlas, who’s on her hands and knees, staring in shock at me and the hole where Mason had been.
“What the hell did you do?” she shouts at the top of her lungs.
“Thanks for the rescue, Kane. I’m so glad you were here to help,” I reply in a mocking tone. She blinks at me and then scrambles in horror to the edge, looking down.
“Mason better not be dead!” she warns. She pulls away from me and rushes down to the first level to check on him. I follow her, matching her stride.
“I’m the one who should be angry; that kick didn’t make me feel as good as I had expected. In fact, I’m really hoping Jerkoff’s still got some fight in him. I need to beat him to death; it’s partly cloudy outside, and in case you didn’t know, partly cloudy is perfect ‘beat a guy to death’ weather. Especially when that guy attacks my—not that you are—I mean…whatever, I’m here to kill Mason,” I declare.
“He’s not there,” Disney whispers, and I’m about to confirm it when the windows behind me blow out into a thousand shards. I try to turn but the air escapes my lungs as the angel crashes into me at full speed, and we both wind up blasting through the brick wall into her bedroom.
I look over the rubble, to the bed, and then I smirk at Disney. Another time. I grab Mason’s throat and let the flames roar up my arm, grinning as his pale flesh scorches black and erupts into blisters. But he’s fast, and freakishly strong. He knocks my hand free, grabs me by the ankle with both hands, and stands. Before I can react, he spins and releases me towards the ceiling.
I’m thrown out the roof, across the night sky, and into the neighboring high-rise. Stuck in the brick wall, I peel myself out as Mason flies up through the second hole I just made.
Our eyes lock. I kick off the building and race toward him. Somewhere I hear Disney shrieking at us to stop. And somewhere, on the ground, the locals are looking up and screaming.
Might have an idea, I think as we slam into each other above the loft. I can feel the shockwaves from our collision. His fists are lit up with some worthless angelic brilliance, but my darkness and shadow fire are more than a match for anything he can dish out.
“I’m taking her away from you,” I say, glaring into his eyes. “Not a thing you can do about it.”
“Just try me.”
Angel-boy is stupidly confident, as usual, but now I see what I’m sure he noticed down below.
“Ah, the rest of the Scooby gang has finally showed up.” I smirk at him. “All for little old me?” With that, I summon all the dark energy I can that’s swirling around us, then I rear back and give him a massive kick.
He plummets and almost smashes into a crowd of onlookers, but his wings save him just in time. But, speaking of time, that move bought me the amount I need. In a heartbeat, I fly to the top of the high-rise
and land beside a huge blue cylindrical water tower. I fire off dark fire orbs at the front supports. Then I fly up and around—and just as Mason soars back into view, I give the thing a gentle kick.
It breaks through the melted support legs, then crunches onto its side and rolls over and down—straight down, toward at least a dozen people on the sidewalk.
“Son of a bitch!” Mason yells just as he closes in on me. Wings stopping his motion, he turns and flies over the edge to presumably save the hapless mortals.
Good riddance. Now…a few more distractions.
The rest of the Maitoe are about to run into her building and help; that won’t do. In a blink, I’m at the edge of her brownstone roof, surveying the area of below. Choosing targets.
“Kane, don’t!” Disney shouts at me from behind. I hear the rooftop door open, but I’m busy at the moment. I see Mason flapping his wings with all his might, lifting the water tower from where he caught it just a few feet over the heads of the lucky residents down there. It’s dripping from structural tears, raining on them. Directly below me, the other angels are looking up. I know Saudia can teleport, so I’ve got to be quick…
I start tossing demonic fire down like softballs, but with deadly precision. The nearby park goes up in flames, scattering humans. Then the chocolate store, shattering the front windows and melting half the stock; next the bookshop…
“No!” Disney says as she comes running to my side, looking at the fiery wreckage in total fury.
“Why?” she begs.
“Do you work there or something?” I grin at her, the flames reflecting in her eyes.
I see Mason has set the water tower down a short distance away. In the chaos below, Saudia teleports near some humans who have fallen under the rubble. And over by the park, Langston’s shield is keeping a couple safe from the flames. The twins help keep a large crowd from panicking and stepping on each other as they attempt to flee.
“I’m keeping most of your friends busy because I wanted to kill Mason without interruption. And maybe get a moment to talk to you. And say…hi and how are you. Is that too much to ask?” I counter.
“Is it too much to ask that you stop trying to kill my friends? Or that you stop terrorizing the city?”
“Mason is not your friend. He assaulted you! You know what, I’m not getting gratitude here and honestly, I’m disappointed.”
“You have to stop all of this. People are getting hurt,” she insists.
“Is there something going on with you and the Mr. Perfect? Why did he need to see you on the roof? Did something happen between you two?” I ask.
“Seriously?”
“I have a right to know!” I demand.
“And I have a right not to be pushed out onto the cold street when you decide you’re done with me!”
“That’s not what happened!”
“What? But that’s exactly what you did,” she accuses.
“How else was I supposed to say good-bye to you?”
“USE YOUR WORDS!” she shrieks.
“There are no words! Okay? There just aren’t any words at all that could help me say good-bye to you. Why don’t you get that? And why did you let him attack you? Stop hiding your powers away like porn under the bed.”
“What? I don’t keep porn under my bed,” she says.
“Really? Where do you keep it?” I ask, raising an eyebrow suggestively.
“You should have kicked Mason’s ass,” I tell her firmly.
“Mason isn’t the one I want to throttle right now!”
“Oh, so what exactly is it you want to do with him?” I push.
“ARGH! You are unbelievable!” she says, stomping her foot. Our argument rages on while New York City’s plunged into utter chaos.
Suddenly, Jerkoff comes roaring back at me with his sword out. I leap back, and my own dark sword rips free, crashing into his at the last second. His wings tucked in, he spins and swings up at me from behind. Not a bad move, but I’m more than ready, parrying that and using his lack of balance to deliver a left hook to his face.
“Now that was satisfying.” I smirk at Disney as I knock her semi boyfriend across the roof and into the vine-covered chimney wall.
Pointing the sword at Mason, who’s struggling to rise, I hop back on the roof’s ledge and with my free hand out palm up, I select a half-dozen shell-shocked humans down there.
“Rise,” I whisper, and in moments—to Disney’s cry of alarm—the six squirming mortals levitate into view, legs and arms flailing as they scream for help.
Behind me, Mason shakes off the debris. He’s hurt, I note happily, but still coming for me—until he sees the humans.
“You won’t,” he pleads. Pathetic. Then he looks to Disney. “She’d never forgive you.”
“I’m not asking her to,” I inform him, careful to avoid Disney’s glare. With that, I let the humans drop.
“NOOO,” Mason screams, and with a whoosh of feathers, he soars over my head and down the side. Disney runs as well, looking down. My back to the edge, I just hold up my sword, admiring it from all angles. I can hear sounds of teleportation, grunts, and whisking wings. Atlas turns to me, anger softening. “You knew they’d be saved.”
“Did I? But next time, it’ll be different. I’ll kill them one by one.”
“Why?” She looks at me, terror in her eyes.
“Because you need to know that I’m not going to stop. Not until you come with me.” I extend my hand to her, and for a moment, I’m sure she’s going to take it, but then—
Ugh, he’s back. Mason soars up; his wings spread and outlined against the twinkling backdrop of the city lights. Blazing sword drawn.
“Hang on a sec,” I tell Atlas, and then, with the aid of my wings, I leap at him. We crash together again, swords clanging and rippling with impacts of light and shadow. Blow after parried blow. Swooping and spinning, surging back and forth. It’s an exhilarating fight, and damn if I’m not starting to weaken from his stronger blows and that stupid light blinding my eyes.
Time to end this.
I feign weakness, pulling back my sword, and he seizes on the moment, slashing down at me with all his might. But I’ve darted fast, in a blur of darkness, and I’m now behind him. I grab at his right wing as I ignite my hand and cast the flames across his feathers.
Screaming in agony, he swings back with the sword, which I parry just as fast, and then I telekinetically blast him far away from me.
Damn. Should have watched where I shot him…
His flame-wracked body is careening straight for the water tower. Sighing, I soar back to the rooftop and land beside Disney, who’s watched it all. I hear a great crack below, and the sound of water spraying everywhere as the angel smashes into the tower.
“You could have burnt him up, but you didn’t…”
“Whatever. Now…he may not die today. But he will. And so will the rest of his team.”
“I will not let that happen.”
“Yeah, it will. But if you come with me, today won’t be their last day.”
“Fine,” Disney says, her voice lower. “I’ll go. I have no choice.”
“No, you really don’t.” I call up the portal, feeling its heat and energy swirling just behind us. “And honestly, Mason. Mason? That guy?” I wink at her. “You gotta see I’m the lesser of two evils.” With that, I take her hand and pull her into the portal.
We appear in the middle of a series of underground caves. There’s a large fire in the center of it, floating above our head. She looks confused.
“What is this? Where are we?” she asks.
“I’m sorry, Princess. I don’t have a choice. I have to do this,” I inform her.
“Do what?”
“End your life…”
I can tell by the look on her face she’s scared. There’s panic in her eyes, and I swear I can hear her heart racing from where I stand. But she’s not one to show fear, so she swallows hard and folds her hands across her chest stubbornly. He
r stance is that of someone who is both pissed off and bored. Beyond the fear and false composure, something looms behind her eyes: hurt. My words have hurt her. And that causes a sharp pain in my chest, a pain I have never experienced before today.
“So, that’s it? You take me here to your lair to kill me?” she says.
“Look, I—”
“Whatever you do, don’t try and explain yourself. I won’t bother fighting since I know you are far more powerful than I am. But I also won’t beg for my life. So you can suck it.”
“Okay…”
“C’mon, get it over with. And after I die, you better not do anything dirty with my body. Or I’ll come back as a ghost and haunt your ass for all of eternity,” she vows.
“Are you really threatening the guy who could wipe you out with flick of his hand?” I ask.
“Are you really gonna kill me?” she counters.
“Yes.”
“Oh,” she says sadly.
“It’s the only way I know how to save you,” I admit as I look into her eyes.
“Wait—what?”
“When the quest fails and the river dries up, all the humans will die. But the Shadows will live on. So the only way I can think to keep you alive is to make you a Shadow. So, I asked Vanessa to bite you,” I reply, signaling for the vampire to appear. Vanessa has raven hair, blood red lips, and hips that could bring gods to their knees. She’s dressed in a gold sequined outfit and high heels. She enters from one of the openings in the cave. She takes in the scene and inhales deeply.
“Kane, she smells delicious,” Vanessa says, licking her lips.
“Down girl. You can’t drain all her blood. Just get enough venom in her so that when I kill her, she can come back as a vampire. That way she’s a Shadow. And the end of the world will have no effect on her.”
“Oh come on, her scent is the sweetest I’ve detected in a very long time. I can’t just stop once I start,” she says as she saunters over to Disney.
“Don’t touch me!” she warns the vampire.
“And she’s got some fight in her. Those are the best kinds of meal. Something with a little spice,” Vanessa says as she brushes a stray hair away from Disney’s face. She pushes the vampire away, and Vanessa laughs.