by R C Knight
Ryder glanced over at Aria, a sigh of frustration leaving his lips. “Are you fucking kidding me?” he shouted, the table falling silent. “I know there’s more to this story. What the hell are you hiding from us?”
Zane maintained eye contact with Ryder. “The minute details of the mission are insignificant,” his voice remained calm. “We blew up New York, stormed Gideon’s palace, and killed all the demons that got in our way. We became separated for a short time, during which both of us got our asses kicked and almost died. But we were able to fight through it and catch Gideon off guard. It was clear Gideon had some kind of warning that we were coming, he was prepared for us. Other than that, there’s nothing else to tell.” Zane looked around the table, his head held high. “Now, if it’s not too much of a hassle. I would love to get back to enjoying everyone’s company.” He made eye contact with Ryder. “Unless you have something else you’d like to question me about?”
Ryder sighed as he looked over at Aria, her eyes wide and distraught. “Whatever. I’ll find out eventually.” He stood up from the table and stormed out of the room. Zane sighed with relief as the door closed behind Ryder. The room sat in silence, everyone staring at Zane.
“More booze!” Jackson shouted, breaking the silence as he pulled out a bottle of liquor and started pouring some in everyone’s glass. Myra’s face paled as the ship swayed with the waves. She quickly turned to the side and vomited all over Jackson’s shoes.
“Damnit. I just bought these.” Jackson hollered as he shook the vomit off his shoes.
“Sorry,” Myra mumbled as she stumbled out of her chair, her hand covering her mouth.
“Someone hand her a bowl,” Mikayla shouted. Jackson fumbled for his bowl, dumped out the food, and quickly placed it in Myra’s hands as she fell to her knees.
“Looks like someone can’t handle sailing.” Riley chuckled as Myra vomited into the bowl. Laughter filled the room as they continued to eat and banter. Aria stood up from the table and quietly left the room, leaving her food untouched.
Chapter Thirty
Earth
Ryder sat on his hammock, glaring at his satchel on the floor. Shortly after they set sail, Myra brought him the Book of Whispers. A message had arrived for him from Michael.
Ryder,
I fear Aria is letting her emotions control her decisions.
It is important that you watch her and any interactions
With Zane. I believe he is hiding something.
Report directly to me with any findings,
no matter how insignificant they may seem.
Michael
Ryder sighed as he thought about the letter. He was uncomfortable being asked to spy on Aria, but it was clear she was hiding something. He grunted with frustration as he kicked his satchel across the room. It hit the wall with a satisfying bang. He ran his hands through his hair, what the hell is going on? He looked over at the worn door that led to the hallway. He jumped as a knock sounded on the door. It creaked loudly as Aria slowly opened it and quietly stepped inside.
She looked around the room, her eyes landing on the Book of Whispers lying on the floor. “I see you’ve already talked to Michael.” She nodded at the book, her voice flat and void of emotion.
“I have,” he responded; his voice deep. “He’s worried about you.”
“There’s nothing to worry about.” She smiled sadly. “You cannot change the past Ryder.” She sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest. “You learn from your mistakes and you move on.”
“How can you say that when it is blatantly obvious that Zane is hiding something. He said you two were separated. You don’t know everything that happened. What if he’s turned on us?” His voice rose as his frustration grew. “He can’t be trusted, Aria. And I think deep down, you know that. Otherwise you wouldn’t be acting so different.” He looked up at her, his eyes desperate for the truth. Aria sighed as she looked around the room.
“He’s lying to protect me.” She glanced into his green eyes. “I wasn’t strong enough, Ryder.” Her eyes glistened as tears began to form. “I… I wasn’t ready…” Ryder jumped off the hammock and reached for her. She stepped back from him, her body tense.
“Aria,” he whispered; his voice hoarse. “What happened?” She shook her head as a tear silently rolled down her cheek.
“I… I can’t.” She stepped back, her hand fumbling for the door handle. “I thought I could tell you.” Her eyes became wide as her hand slipped off the door handle. She took a deep breath and forced her mind o calm down. Her hand found the handle and she gripped it tightly. She looked back at Ryder, her face set with determination as a tear rolled down her cheek. “It wasn’t his fault. He did everything he could. He’s just trying to protect me.”
“Aria, tell me what happened.” Ryder begged. “Please, let me help you.” She shook her head as she opened the door.
“I’m not ready.” She stepped out the door, closing it quickly behind her. Aria let out a shaky breath as she leaned against the door. She glanced down the hallway, making sure she was alone. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she took a deep breath. Just calm down. You’re fine. She took another deep breath, wiped the tears from her eyes, and turned down the hallway.
She went directly to her room and pulled her daggers out of her satchel. A sad smile crossed her face as she ran her finger along the delicate blade. She slipped the blades into their sheaths and left her room, heading directly to the storage room.
A smile lit her face as she entered the room, barrels and sacks of supplies lined the walls. She wandered through the organized mess, searching for what she needed. Her eyes fell upon an empty barrel lying on its side, another empty barrel sat next to it. She picked up the barrels and glanced around the room, her eyes falling on some unused rope. She grabbed the rope and threw it into one of the barrels, her face set with determination as she carried them out of the room.
The cool, night air was refreshing as it hit Aria’s face. She looked around the empty deck, her eyes searching for the perfect spot. Her heart was pounding in her chest with anticipation as she walked to the bow of the ship. She set down the barrels and pulled out the rope, quickly stacking the barrels and tying them to the banister.
Aria stepped back, a small smile on her face as she admired her handiwork. She unsheathed her daggers, deftly spinning them in her hands. With a shout that echoed through the silent air, she ran towards the barrels, attacking with all her might. She continued the assault, her breathing heavy as she thrust the daggers into the barrels and pulled them back out. Sweat began to drip into her eyes as she destroyed the barrels.
Her hands fell to her sides as she stared at the splinters of wood that were strewn across the deck. She was breathing heavily, her body trembling with adrenaline. She twirled the daggers as she looked out at the ocean, watching the moonlight dance on the water. This is what I need, she thought as she stopped spinning her daggers. With graceful ease, she sheathed her daggers and turned from the banister. A small smile crossed her face as she began to sprint across the deck. This will fix everything.
Chapter Thirty-One
Earth
One week later…
Zane awoke to the smell of the ocean with a mix of cinnamon. He smiled as he looked down at Aria, curled into him. Her eyes were closed, and a small smile crossed her face, making Zane curious about her dreams. She had made a habit of spending the night with him, quietly entering his room and lying next to him. She hadn’t talked about what had happened in New York, but he could tell she was working on moving past it. He watched from the helm as she spent hours each night destroying barrels, running around the deck, and sparring with anyone who was willing; physically exhausting herself to escape her memories.
He sighed as he looked out the window. They would be arriving at the island today, which meant he wouldn’t be able to justify having Aria spend the night. Keira was already mad at him for spending too much time with her. Now that they were back, he wa
s going to have to distance himself and allow Aria to move forward. He gently nudged her shoulder, smiling as she mumbled incoherently.
“We need to get up.” He nudged her shoulder again. Aria sighed as she rolled towards him.
“I don’t want to.” She looked up at him, her bright green eyes pleading with him. “I’m going to miss this,” she sighed; a flicker of guilt flashed across her face.
“I will too.” He stared into her eyes. “I’m always going to be here for you, no matter what.” She nodded, a sad smile on her face. She stood up and crossed her arms, her body shivering from the cool air.
“I hope Keira realizes how lucky she is.” Her voice was low and quiet. She glanced at Zane then turned and quickly left the room. Zane sighed as he watched her go, his heart pounding in his chest. What the fuck is wrong with me?
~~~~
The ship had finally reached the island they called home. Myra was the first to rush off the ship when they finally docked at a small port. She had suffered from motion sickness most of the trip, spending her time in the sleeping quarters with a bucket between her legs. Zane’s team rushed to unload everything so they could go see their friends and family. Aria, Ryder, and Kai were standing on the deck, staring with fascination. Zane slowly walked over.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked, making eye contact with Aria. She smiled sadly; her lips tight.
“Yes.” Her voice left her like a whisper on the wind. Her green eyes scanned the island, taking in the white sand beach. Excitement filled them as she watched a crab scuttle across the sand. Riley walked over to the group.
“You better go see Anne as soon as you drop your stuff off.” He stared at Zane, his lips tight and brows furrowed.
“Don’t worry, I will,” Zane sighed. “Although, I think she’ll be more excited to see you.” Riley nodded, a smile crossing his face. “Go on, we’ve got everything taken care of here.” Riley nodded as he ran off the ship and into the village. Keira walked over to Zane.
“You ready to go?” she asked, glancing over at the angels.
“Yea.” He turned towards Aria. “You ready to see our home?” Aria smiled, her green eyes shining with curiosity.
“Of course.” She turned towards Ryder and Kai. “Let’s go.” They nodded as they picked up their satchels and followed Zane and Keira off the ship. Myra joined them on the beach, her face pale from exhaustion. The island was mostly swamp land once they got past the beach. A small village had been built up above the swampy waters. Wooden decks acted as walkways from one building to the other. The buildings were all raised above the water by wooden beams. Adults were wandering around, completing their daily chores. Almost every one of them were injured in some way. Kids ran around, their laughter filling the air as they played.
“Who are these people?” Aria asked, happiness filled her eyes as she watched the children.
“Survivors.” Zane responded; his voice full of sorrow. He cleared his throat as he looked around. “They’re survivors of my previous groups. Most of them have been injured and can no longer fight, so they stay here. It started out as my safe house, but it’s grown over the years. I’ve lost more than I have saved, however.” He looked at her, sadness in his eyes. “But everyone who lives here has started their own families, and they work hard to keep the place up and operational.” He smiled sadly as he looked around the village.
“How many groups have you had in the past?” Myra asked.
“More than I’d like to admit,” he responded. “But enough of that.” He pointed to a house in the distance. “You can rest at my place for now. I’ll talk to Anne about sleeping arrangements when I visit her.”
Zane’s house was a decent sized wooden hut. The walls were made of wooden planks and it had a simple thatch roof. He stopped the group in front of the house, then walked around back to start up the generator. “Alright,” he smiled as he walked back to the group. “Welcome to my home.” He opened the door, turned on the lights and ushered them inside. Everything in the hut was covered with worn, white sheets. He walked around, quickly pulling the sheets down.
Bookshelves lined the walls, each one packed full of books. Several large swords, like the one he carried, were hanging on the wall above a small, stone fireplace. A worn couch and a few chairs had been placed by the fireplace. Off the living room was a small kitchenette with a rectangular table pushed up against the wall. There was also a short hallway with three doors.
“Well this is it.” Zane smiled as he looked around the hut. “If you feel like showering, we do have running water here.” He pointed down the hallway. “The door on the left is the bathroom, the one across from it is a guest room and the one at the end is my room. Feel free to make yourselves comfortable.” Zane watched as the angels wandered around the living room. “I don’t know if you guys cook, but the water here is drinkable and there are non-perishables in the kitchen.” Aria looked over at him and smiled.
“We’ll be alright,” she responded.
“Okay. Well.” He paused. “I’ve got to go see Anne. I’ll be back soon.” Keira walked out of the hut with him.
“Walk me home first?” she asked, looking up at him innocently.
“Of course.” He smiled as he held out his arm. She placed her arm through his and they headed off to her place. Once they reached Keira’s hut, she dropped her bags in the doorway and gazed longingly at Zane.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered. “Are you sure you can’t see Anne later?”
“Keira,” Zane sighed. “You know I need to see her. You were nagging me about it on the ship.” Keira sighed sadly, a look of defeat in her eyes.
“Are we okay?” she asked hesitantly. “You’ve been acting weird since New York.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” he responded with irritation as he turned and walked away. He made his way quickly to the village and walked over to the clinic. Anne had been running the free clinic for two years now. She was the best doctor they had and enjoyed helping the villagers. As he walked into the clinic, a small boy came running from one of the rooms. He was giggling as he looked over his shoulder.
“Catch me if you can!” The boy laughed as Riley came chasing after him and quickly lifted the child into his arms. The boy screamed playfully as Riley looked over at Zane, a huge smile on his face.
“Oh good, you’re here.” Riley looked down the hallway. “Anne, sweetie! Zane’s here!” Riley called out.
“Aiden’s grown quite a bit since we’ve been gone.” Zane smiled as Riley set his son down. “You should be proud, Riley.” The boy ran off down the hallway, but quickly returned as Anne came around the corner. She was wearing a soft pink tank top and trousers; the right leg had been hemmed up so it didn’t drag on the floor. She had lost the lower half of her leg during one of their missions and needed a cane to walk around. She smiled as she saw Zane, her tight curls bouncing as she walked. Riley kissed Anne softly then picked up Aiden.
“I’ll take this one so you can get to work.” He nodded at Zane as he left the room. Aiden’s giggles filled the air as they disappeared around the corner.
“Let’s go to one of the exam rooms.” Anne smiled as she led Zane down the hallway and into the first room. “Sit,” she commanded, pointing at a narrow wooden table with a thin mattress. Zane quickly sat down and looked around the small room, suddenly uncomfortable. “So, why weren’t you wearing the plate carrier I built for you?” she asked sternly.
“I assume Riley already told you and you just want to tease me.” Zane smiled.
“Shirt off” she replied. Zane sighed as he pulled off his shirt and set it next to him.
“Anyway, I didn’t feel like I had a choice. We were already bringing an angel with us. I couldn’t risk getting caught with a vest that had angelic plate armor inside of it. Besides, none of us had our armor. We weren’t supposed to fight, which was stupid of me to think. We’ve never gone anywhere without fighting.” Zane chuckled.
Anne laughed
as she walked over to the table. “At least you can admit it.” She looked at his chest, examining the cut closely.
“Well, the cut healed nicely, it looks like it just barely nicked your seal. However, I won’t be able to fix your seal; an angel would have to do that.” She sighed as she sat down next to him. “How are you feeling?”
“I can feel the hatred burning inside of me. Almost like its alive and trying to escape.” He looked at her, he could see the worry in her eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ve been controlling it.”
“What about these angels. Why don’t you see if one of them can fix it?”
“No,” Zane responded sternly. “Aria is the only one that has seen it and she’s agreed not to tell anyone. Plus, she’s a Fallen, so she couldn’t help even if she wanted to. I don’t know what would happen if one of the others knew about it. They’re just as likely to kill me as they are to help me.”
“If Raphael was still around –”
“He was Fallen as well, Anne,” he interrupted, a sad look on his face. “He grew weaker every time he used what was left of his powers. He wouldn’t have been able to help.”
“I suppose you’re right.” She sighed in defeat. “I still think about him, a lot. He would be proud of you. Of how much we’ve been able to accomplish.” She smiled at Zane, a look of encouragement on her face.
“Well, maybe these angels will help us accomplish more.” He smiled as he pulled his shirt back on. “How many huts do we have available?”
“Now? Three.”
“Perfect.” He responded with a smile. Zane stood up and began to walk to the door.
“One more thing,” Anne called out. “Riley told me about you and Keira. I’m glad you finally found someone.” She smiled. “She’ll be good for you.”
“Well, I make her happy,” Zane replied with a small smile. “I like that I can do that for someone.”