Crossing Nexis

by Barbara Hartzler

  My heart stopped. My lungs froze. Somewhere in the periphery, I saw Will and Shanda lunge toward me as if to protect me, only to be subdued by their captors. But all I could see was the barrel of the gun. Pointed. Straight. At. Me.

  “Ah,” she breathed, drawing out the word. “I see I have your attention now. Will you agree to do everything I say? Or do I have to start shooting?” She waved the gun on either side of me—from Shanda on my right to Will on my left and back again.

  Like a puppet whose string had just been pulled to the limit, I nodded. I knew if I didn’t, she’d kill someone I loved. My best friend, or maybe even her own son.

  “Good girl. Now, let’s get started.” Her voice rose as she faced the robed onlookers. “Ladies and gentlemen. We’re gathered here tonight to witness the dawn of a new era in human history. Let the Summoning begin!”

  A roar rustled through the crowd. The three handmaidens stepped back. All eyes turned to me, and the pedestal in front of me.

  Rosalyn angled the gun toward the sacred stone between us. “Lucy, place your hands on the ruby. You’re about to welcome a new being to the realm of humanity.”

  I shuddered. I didn’t want a new being on this planet. No one should have to see what I saw when the shadows close in. And boy, were they closing in now. Growing bigger, too.

  Eoww. Eoww, Eoww. The shadows materialized into towering wraiths on either side of me. Their icy tentacles reached out, wrapping around my arms. Forcing my hands to obey the crazy lady’s command. As soon as my fingernails scraped the dark rock, red sparks appeared.

  “Ooohhh,” came a collective noise from the gallery.

  I stretched every muscle taut, trying desperately to resist the supernatural hands forcing mine to move. Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead, my neck. But they were too strong for me. At last, my hands enveloped the ruby. It glowed red-hot at my touch.

  “Ahhh,” the crowd clapped and cheered.

  Beneath my feet, the ground turned translucent. Instead of rock and dirt, a whole other world brimmed below the surface. Full of fire and billowing smoke clouds. Suddenly the smoke cleared, and my heart dropped to my knees. A staircase ten stories deep, full of shadowy wraiths, materialized right under my feet. The wraiths were in formation, marching up the steps. A demon-horde ready to invade the earth, chanting their own rally cry. Whispering to me of deeper, more sinister plans than the Summoning ceremony ever dreamed of.

  I gasped, dropping to my knees as tears rushed down my cheeks. The ruby’s red light dimmed, and the crowd went silent. The rock returned under my feet as I sank further to the ground, trying to find a handhold to cling to. Fear crawled around inside like a living, breathing organism, making my body quiver from the inside out. I never wanted to see that sight again. Not as long as I lived.

  Whatever Rosalyn had planned paled in comparison to the demonic plans of the underworld. They were not planning to come to earth and play house with a few girls. They had plans of their own, and they had no intention of ushering in a utopian society.

  “Lucy!” In an instant, Will lunged toward me, straining at his chain. Close enough to nuzzle his toe against my boot. “Are you okay? Tell me you’re okay.”

  “I’m okay,” I croaked. “But the world won’t be if your mother succeeds tonight.”

  “What did you see?” he hissed, eyes wide.

  Strong fingers clamped around my biceps, pulling me to my feet. Five seconds later, Will was yanked to his feet, too.

  “Yes, Lucy. Do tell us what you saw.” An odd gleam washed across Rosalyn’s face.

  “I, uh …” I trailed off, staring at her.

  Her lips curled. “Better yet. Why don’t you show us?” With one hand she grabbed my arm, and with the other she grabbed Will’s. Then she placed his hands on the sapphire.

  The moment his hands touched the uncut stone, the Watcher’s Sapphire started to glow bright blue.

  Rosalyn raised both arms in the air. “Behold, my son. The Interpreter.” The crowd went wild as the world above and below us lit up for all to see.

  Overhead, clouds of purple hovered on the ceiling, surrounding what looked like a portal of some kind. Sparkles of light shimmered in the distance, and an army of angels headed our way. Would they get here in time? Would their army be enough to tackle the demon-horde amassing at my feet?

  A wave of light burst from the ruby, rippling across the ground beneath my feet. The rock floor faded away again, and the glowing staircase of demons appeared again.

  “Is that what you saw before?” Will whispered in my ear.

  I could only nod as hot sludge pooled in my throat.

  “Oh, holy hell.” Shanda’s eyes were glued on the ground.

  My heart fluttered like a humming bird. “Can you see that?”

  She nodded, her eyes flicked to my face. “Honey, we can all see that.”

  “No,” I breathed, my head snapping up.

  The three handmaidens in front of me had the tiniest flicker of fear in their eyes, even Becca. But the crowd was the creepiest part. Their eyes gleamed, mouths smirking, hands rubbing together. This is what they’d been waiting for. For years, maybe even centuries.

  I lifted my chin to the purple sky. The lights were getting closer now, close enough to see horses and chariots of light, with my angel leading the way.

  “Gratiam, corum, domino.” A deep voice rumbled behind me. And yet it sounded familiar.

  A cheer went up from the crowd, and I turned to Will. “Who’s behind us?”

  He hung his head. “It’s my grandfather.”

  “Uh-oh.” The words escaped before I could catch them. The Stanton Patriarch was presiding over the ceremony. Of course.

  Will turned to me. “Why is your angel and his army so far away?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. “But he usually has his reasons. Maybe they’re waiting on something.”

  “Gratium, corum, domino.” Stanton raised his voice louder this time. “Let the age of the Nephilim begin.” He took the sapphire in his hand and raised it above his head.

  “Nexis Semigod Nations. Genesis six domination.” The crowd chanted over and over again.

  Suddenly, the world around me was bathed in a bluish light. Four figures came out from the crowd and removed their black robes, flanking the distance between me and Will, and the handmaidens in front of us. A flash of red hair swished in front of me.

  “Felicia?” I gasped, looking around. Her father stood across from her. Then Miss Sherry, and the vaguely familiar reporter who stalked me after Jake’s attack. I guess the Watchers had chosen sides.

  “Shut up,” she hissed back at me. “You’re gonna want to see this.”

  In unison they all held up one hand, and a laser-beam of blue lit up the sky, aimed straight for the sapphire behind me.

  The ground beneath my feet shook and crackled. In front of the pillar, the earth caved in.

  Tentacles of shadow burst from the fissure like fireworks, widening the crack in the rock with shuddering force. I backed up as far as I could in my chains and let go of the ruby.

  Like a clap of thunder, all the lights went out and the fireworks halted. The world returned to its usual state of cavern and torchlight.

  Still, the sky glowed overhead. Butterflies danced for joy in my chest. The angels were still coming. This wasn’t over yet.

  “No,” Rosalyn shrieked and grabbed my hands, digging the barrel of the gun into my side. She forced my hands back around the ruby, and the scene of Armageddon flickered back into existence.

  The pyrotechnics resumed in front of me, banging and chipping away at the earth. Making an ever-widening hole.

  Wraiths and shadows erupted from the hole in a screeching cloud of smoke that swirled and slithered around the stones, between the handmaidens, and into the crowd of gawkers. The cheering in the amphitheater subsided, making way for the shrieks and howls of the underworld.

  “Is this what a reckoning is like?” Will whispered in my ear. />
  “Pretty much.” I nodded.

  The shadows started whispering. First in Latin, then in English. Gratium, corum domino. Here come the fallen.

  “Except that,” I hissed at him. “That’s new.”

  The staircase of demons loomed closer now. Foul smells of rotten things, dead things, emanated from the caving earth. Along with something else I couldn’t explain. All of a sudden, a wave of sadness overtook me, and tears started streaming from my eyes. Then it hit Will and Shanda and trickled out until the assortment of handmaidens and Watchers in front of me were sniffling and crying.

  Then I was gripped by a fear so paralyzing I couldn’t move. As soon as the feeling left me, it rippled out to everyone around me.

  As wave after wave of foul emotion overtook every person standing in the amphitheater, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of the scene in front of me. What once had been a crack was now an intricately carved archway, with stairs jutting up from a landing five feet below the earth.

  The battalion of demons marched ever closer. In minutes they would be here, ready to do their worst.

  Angel, I need you. What do I do? My thoughts reached up, even as my eyes searched the skies above me. Angel and his brigade of light-soldiers were just on the edge of the portal. Hovering. Waiting to attack.

  I’m right here if you need me, came the still, small voice.

  “If I need you?!” I screamed into the night. “They’re almost here. They’re going to take over the world.”

  A laugh rumbled from the crowd, and the demon-horde marched on.

  Hush, little Seer. You still have work to do. Sparkles drifted down from my angel, fluttering onto the stone.

  The stone. Of course. I had to destroy the stone. I glanced at Shanda, then at Will. Their faces echoed the resolve beating in my heart. I had to make this stop. I was the Seer. I was the only one who could do it.

  The moment I tried to lift a finger from the stone, all the wraiths that had been released screamed in pain and flew to my side. Black tentacles wrapped around my hands, locking them in place. Then the shadows swarmed, swirling around me like a tornado of darkness. The clawed at my hair, yanking random locks as they whirled past. They shrieked in my ear until I couldn’t hear anything but ear-splitting screeches.

  Then the whispers started. “You’re just a little girl.”

  “There’s nothing you can do to stop this.”

  “Haven’t you hurt enough people by defying us?”

  Hissed curses assailed my ears, trying desperately to sink into my brain. The more I tried to resist them, the angrier I became. Anger seeped into my pores, clenching my fingers into balled-up fists. My muscles tightened and clenched as my feet moved into fight stance. The rage condensed inside me into one single, determined thought. I have to destroy the ruby. I have to destroy all the rubies.

  Angel’s light flickered over my head, as if he was nodding in agreement.

  How do I destroy the ruby, Angel?

  A warm, comforting wind rustled across my face. You don’t, dear one. Give it to me.

  I glanced down to find the demon-horde ten steps away from making their entrance into the world of mankind.

  My fingers itched to release the ruby, but the shadows still forced my hand. Since I couldn’t take my hands off the ruby, I did the only thing I could think of. I grasped the ruby tight, and hoisted it toward the cavernous ceiling.

  Here you go, Angel. I surrender this to you. Destroy it if you can.

  If I can. Lightning flashed all around me. Once. Twice. Three times. Watch this.

  BOOM… a clap of thunder shook the earth, causing the ground to quake. The crowd wobbled on their feet. The demons reared backward on their staircase, halting their procession toward earth.

  CRACK… a massive bolt of light crackled through the sky. Heading straight for the ruby in my hands.

  With a thwap, it struck the ruby, disintegrating it into bits. Suddenly I felt my feet leave the earth, my body rising higher and higher until I was floating mid-air with an amethyst haze surrounding me. And yet, the purple glow took on a familiar hexagon shape. Dangling mid-air in a purple diamond made of light, I glanced down at my necklace, now hanging free. My mind flashed back to a dream I had five years ago. How could I forget all about the purple light that protected me and sank into my heart? That was right before James disappeared. And now I knew why. He wanted to find the amethyst to protect me. He’d known I’d need it one day.

  Air whooshed by me as I tumbled through the sky.

  People were screaming below me.

  “Lucy!” Shanda cried.

  “My ruby!” Rosalyn yelled.

  “I’ll catch you.” Will called, struggling against his chains.

  Smack. My back hit his arms first, the force slamming us both onto the ground. My ribs smashed into the stone floor, knocking the wind out of me. The laser-amethyst around me burst into an exploding shower of purple sparkles that all landed in my chest. The shape of a hexagon blinked on my black shirt—once, twice, then faded away. I clapped my hand over my heart as I lay there, unable to move or breathe. I knew I’d be okay. Somebody was looking out for me.

  “Lucy!” Shanda screamed, breaking free of her guards and rushing to my side.

  “Is she breathing?” The fall must’ve broken Will’s chains because he rushed to my side two fingers feeling my neck for a pulse. Paying no attention to the jagged scrape on his own cheek.

  With a great force, air rushed back into my lungs. I coughed and sputtered, desperate for the much-needed oxygen.

  “If she’s not dead, I’ll kill her myself!” Rosalyn shrieked in the distance.

  Will and Shanda pulled me to my feet. “We have to get out of here.”

  “Not so fast.” Rosalyn stood five feet away, gun aimed straight at my chest. “You destroyed my ruby. Now you’re going to pay.”

  As she cocked the trigger, I froze. Ready to take the bullet. Hoping the amethyst or my angel would save me. But if they didn’t, I couldn’t say I blamed them. Maybe this world would be safer without the Seer.

  “No, Mom. Don’t.” Will stepped in front of me, staring his mother down. “What in the world are you thinking? You can’t kill Lucy. The Seer. Point blank. You just can’t.”

  “You’re right, son.” She lowered the gun, her face softening.

  “Thank God,” Will murmured, holding out his hand. “Now put down the gun. We’ll figure this out.”

  “Rosalyn,” the Stanton patriarch hissed. “Now is not the time to go soft on me.”

  She nodded, her jaw hardening. “I’ve already got it figured out. And somebody’s gotta pay.” Her eyes flicked to the right, and she raised the gun again.

  Bang. A shot rang out.

  Shanda crumpled to the ground beside me.

  Chapter 27

  “No!” A scream ripped from my throat. “Shanda!”

  I rushed to my best friend’s side and sank to the earth next to her as blood oozed out from her middle. Without thinking, I pressed my hands against the wound, hoping to staunch the flow. My efforts were useless. There was too much blood.

  Will knelt at my side. He wriggled out of his shirt and pressed it hard into her stomach. Her bleeding slowed. She reached for my hand, her eyes glossing over as she looked at me.

  “Lucy, you finish this,” she whispered. “Only you can do it.”

  “No, Shanda,” I cried, tears streaming from my face. “I need you.”

  “You don’t need me. You have your Angel. He’ll take good care of me.” Her lips were barely moving now.

  How could I forget? I glanced up, and Angel hovered right beside Shanda. “Can you fix this? Please fix this,” I begged, reaching for him.

  My angel shook his head. “No, sweet Seer. It’s time for her to go home. She’s done her job.”

  “I’ve done my job,” Shanda whispered, blood gurgling from her lips. Her eyes were totally glassy now, caught somewhere between earth and heaven. “I protected the Seer.”


  Chaos erupted around us. Sires blared, emergency lights strobing. Walkie talkies screeched. People screamed, running in every direction as a team of fully-outfitted soldiers swarmed the underground chamber with assault rifles.

  Heavy combat boots clomped down the stone steps, and suddenly Tony was at Shanda’s side, kneeling over her.

  “Shanda, I’m so sorry, baby.” Tony whispered, his chest heaving as he cupped her face and brushed her hair off her cheek. “I got here as soon as I could. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “But I am.” Suddenly a beautiful light enveloped Shanda, washing her in a heavenly glow. I rushed to her other side and took her hand.

  “Angel’s here. It’s going to be okay,” I whispered.

  “Thank God,” Tony breathed.

  A soft cadence filled the air.

  “It’s okay. I’m ready to go home.” Shanda’s voice danced above me and I finally glanced up.

  “No!” I screamed, an awful screeching note that clashed with the angelic symphony playing out in the sky.

  The darkness of the cavern lit up with myriads of diamonds, crystallized in a sparkling array as they kissed Shanda’s caramel skin, illuminating it from the inside out.

  Angel hovered in the air, holding her in his arms. “I’m sorry, Lucy,” came his voice through the blinding white outline. “It’s her time.”

  “No,” I croaked as sobs racked my body. “She can’t leave us. What will we do without her?”

  “It’s time to live your destiny.” Shanda’s eyes were golden now as she stared at me from above, her stomach perfectly intact again. “You have to find the rubies and destroy them. You have to destroy Nexis. You’re not alone. You’ve got me and a whole army of angels to help you.”

  “What if I can’t?” The tears were streaming down my cheeks now.

  Bronze sparkles rained from her golden eyes. “Lucy, you are the Seer. I know you can do this. This is your calling. This is your destiny.”

  “What’s going on?” Tony grabbed me by the shoulders, but I couldn’t rip my gaze away from the dazzling display in the sky. “What do you see?”

  “It’s Shanda,” I hiccuped, extending my hand toward her. She reached for me too, but I only felt a wisp of wind as our fingers touched. “She’s not going to make it.”