Divine Uprising

by Rachel Van Dyken

  How had I missed that the blood had been drained from all the old ladies? I guess it didn’t help that they were already pale and smelled funny.

  “So, what now?” Seth sat dramatically across the seat. “You wanna kill her, Thena, or should I do the honor?”

  “Decisions, decisions,” I muttered, fingering the dagger with excitement. It’d been too long since I’d killed, and my body was itching to do physical harm to the witch in front of me.

  Empusa giggled again. “Kill the messenger? Now that isn’t exactly playing fair, is it?”

  “Messenger my—“

  “Enough, Seth,” I interrupted what would have probably been a string of unholy curses from his otherwise dirty mouth and smiled at the girl in question. Her blue eyes shone back at me. Tilting her head in a predatory stance, she licked her lips, as if in anticipation of a snack.

  “I’ll do the honors.” I made a lunge toward her. Everything always happened in slow motion for me. I heard the blood-curdling screech come from her lips. My eyes focused on the blood as it pounded through her black veins. It was like her body came alive, until as she drew a final breath I ran my dagger along her throat fully ending her existence.

  Her body was motionless and defenseless, but her eyes continued to scour our faces, waiting for one of us to finish her off. The only way to kill a being like her was to dismember her sad excuse for a body.

  I’d always let Headquarters do the dirty work before, but lucky for me, Seth was more than willing this time. I think he actually enjoyed it more than what was considered normal. As he smiled and ripped her body to shreds, I dusted off my hands and waited for Adonis to say something. He’d been watching the whole exchange with a peculiar look on his face.

  “What?” I said, wiping my knife on my pants.

  “Nothing, it’s just…” He raised his fingers to his head, pushing back beautiful locks of hair. “I don’t see why Empusa would be sent on the plane with us. It’s not as if we’re an easy target. I mean, we do have Atlas with us.”

  The plane started to plunge. My heart nearly stopped.

  “Well, crap.” I gave Adonis a panicked look as we ran to the front of the plane.

  The pilot’s seat was empty. Atlas had disappeared on us, what was he thinking? Let us crash into…

  “Wait…” I ran back and grabbed the map to look at the coordinates. “He overshot the plane. We’re not landing in Fairbanks.”

  “So where we landing?” Seth walked up and stretched as if it had been an afternoon stroll. How was he acting so calm after the old lady killing spree and plummeting plane?

  I gulped. “We’re, uh, heading straight for the mountain.”

  Seth grinned. “Awesome.”

  I wanted to punch him. “Please tell me how this is awesome?”

  “The way I see it, Atlas got us as close as he could without actually having to betray the rest of his brothers. Look.”

  We all looked out the window. Noting again how high we were made me hesitate a bit. A few clouds parted and Mt. McKinley in all its glory appeared. To my utter horror, I realized our only escape was to jump.

  “Well…” Great. It seemed the only intelligent thing I could say was well before our jump into the highest mountain range in the United States. Fantastic.

  I pulled at the duffel bag, frantically trying to jerk out my parachute and was mentally doing all the calculations of death versus survival at this type of jump.

  “So, I just pull this cord, right?” I asked for the millionth time. I’m sure Seth was ready to jump out of pure annoyance.

  Adonis was busy making sure there wasn’t any evidence left behind from our battle with Empusa. Naturally it won’t look too bad, considering the crash should disintegrate any sort of evidence. Still. To us the loss of innocent human lives was sad. Good guy that he was, Adonis did a final walk of the plane, praying blessing over the remaining bodies.

  I know I was being selfish, but I couldn’t help but think about what we were about to do, not what we’d already done.

  Seth pulled at my parachute and tightened the pack. “Okay, Thena, look at me.”

  I obliged him.

  “Pull this cord.” He held out the small string “And don’t worry. It’s not like you would die anyway. Trust me, it would take a lot more than a silly jump to kill you.”

  Numbly, I nodded my head. Seth leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You’ll be fine, Thena.”

  “Ahem.” Adonis cleared his throat. “Stop screwing around, guys. We gotta jump, now or never.” He fastened his pack haphazardly, making me even more nervous. He could at least make sure it is tight and not going to fall off halfway through the jump.

  I watched in fascination as Adonis kicked away the plane door. Muscles ripped through his arms as he braced the opening of the door against the outside air. I looked out, and all I could see were clouds, which was way worse than seeing land. At least then I’d know there was an end to my fall. Right then, Heaven was looking pretty good.

  I sent up a quick prayer and prepared my body for the fall.

  “Ready?” Adonis yelled above the noise.

  Seth and I nodded.

  “One,” Adonis screamed, and the plane moaned and cracked. “Two.”

  The adrenaline in my system was pumping so hard it was difficult to see straight.

  “Three!”

  I closed my eyes and jumped, noticing both men were close by in the air.

  Hmm, this isn’t so bad, it’s not even…

  “Aghhhh!” The initial shock wore off, and my stomach clenched. Maybe it was because my body kept expecting the fall to stop sometime this century? Instead it continued. I looked to my left, and both guys motioned for me to pull the cord on my chute.

  I nodded my head and pulled it.

  Nothing happened. I pulled it again, harder this time. Still nothing. I started to panic and then told myself to snap out of it. I was supposed to be wise. Quickly, my mind took in my surroundings. I was headed straight for the ground. If I didn’t do something fast, then I was going to break bones and put the mission in jeopardy because I’d need to heal and don’t heal as fast as purebloods.

  I felt around for my second chute. Thankfully it pulled out… and then detached from my pack.

  Fabulous.

  It did, however give me a minor slow down. I refused to give into fear as air whooshed by my ears.

  Think, Thena, think…

  It was too late. My brain told me as the mountain came into full view that I was heading straight for it. I closed my eyes, so I could disconnect from the inevitable pain, and waited for the impact.

  About the time I imagined my body should be hitting cold, hard mountain, something lifted me up, and again I was Heaven-bound. I opened one eye then the other. I was on some sort of winged contraption. The contraption was attached to a man. Wings with no feathers were attached to the device, and they looked waxy and shiny. He flashed me a smile and set me down on the mountain then removed the contraption.

  “Icarus, at your service, Athena. Atlas said you might need some help. Tell me, was your plan to see how many bones you could break on the side of the mountain?”

  “Yeah, well… I thought it would be fun.” I gave a half-hearted laugh, still shaking from the whole escapade. Icarus pointed up to the sky where Adonis and Seth were slowly descending.

  “Seems to me your plan was faster…” Icarus flashed a wide grin. Have I mentioned how much I hate being surrounded by male beauty? He was dressed in golden armor and bronzed like the sun. His yellow hair ran down his back like a golden blanket. A silver crown wrapped around his head.

  “It’s going to be a few minutes. Care to clue me in on why you and your partners are making this particular visit? Or why you killed Empusa in the process?”

  I groaned. “Sometimes I hate how connected everyone is.”

  “Yes, well…” Icarus went to a nearby rock and pulled out a duffel bag. “It seems those of us who are Fallen are still connected, wh
ether we like it or not. We just can’t see any of the plans unfold the way the Seekers do.” He pulled out a down coat and matching gloves. I snatched them greedily.

  “So, are you here to convince them, then?” His voice got serious.

  “I’m going to try.” I am, I just don’t know how it’s going to go.

  “It won’t work, Athena. Trust me. I’ve known the Titans for a long time. I’ve fought for both sides and suffered the consequences when they fell. Now, I’m a cursed guard for the mountain. They don’t take kindly to strangers.”

  My shoulders slumped. “I don’t really have any other option, Icarus.”

  His eyes flashed. “But you do.” Suddenly he was in front of me, all seven feet of him and I desperately wished Seth and Adonis would hurry up. Why was I always being attacked?

  “Your father…”

  “Stop.” I pushed him away. “I do not want to hear about my father, nor about his little uprising or his plan to throw over the Heavenly armies. He’s pure evil, he broke too many rules, he caused Hell to reign on earth, and for that I’ll never forgive him.”

  “You think I’d defend him for what he did?” Icarus’s face twisted into rage. “I hate him for his actions, but you have to realize something, Athena. If you win… what’s in it for you? Do you honestly think anything will change? That you’ll actually see Paradise or be anything more than what you already are? You’re a Seeker. You have the blood of angel and human coursing through your veins.” He let out a curse and kicked some snow. “At the end of the day, Thena, you’re still an abomination, and you always will be.”

  My stomach dropped. He was right. Of course he was right. The pain in his eyes spoke volumes, for all of us had experienced the loss and pain of being orphaned, fitting neither in the heavenly world nor the human one.

  “We don’t belong anywhere,” he said, almost as if he could read my thoughts. “Just remember that when you start picking sides, Thena. Remember the pain that comes with not belonging. The Titans feel it still, only they remember what it was like to be in a brotherhood, whereas we’re just what’s left over from their sins.”

  A loud thud jolted me from his painful speech. Adonis threw off his pack and rushed to my side. “Are you hurt? Anything broken? I could kill you right now for scaring me like that!”

  “Yes,” I said sarcastically. “That was my plan. Scare Adonis and nearly kill myself in the process. However did you know?”

  Seth let out a cheerful laugh. “Icarus! Haven’t seen you in forever, man!” He gave him a high five and a man-hug before grabbing at the extra down jacket Icarus held in his hand. “So, any news?”

  Recognition passed across Icarus’s features before he shook his head. “Nothing exciting. Both sides are still waiting to attack. Time’s running out though, if you really want the Titans to fight on your side.”

  “If they fight on our side, there won’t be a fight,” I interrupted.

  “Right…” Icarus looked away. “Well, it looks like I’m going to be your tour guide. Try not to fall off the mountain. We have a long hike ahead of us.”

  “Hikes, plane rides, demons… yup. Sounds about right.” I slapped Adonis on the back. Instead of laughing, he grabbed my hand and clenched it in his.

  “Please try to be more careful, Thena, I’m too young to have heart failure.”

  “Ugh, you’re over six thousand—”

  He slapped his hand over my mouth, his eyes smoldering. Blood pumped through my veins at his touch.

  His lips quickly brushed where his hand had been, leaving mine wanting more. “Just be careful.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  We walked for three hours. Seth and Icarus talked like they were long lost lovers, and Adonis literally grabbed me each time I tripped on a rock or the snow. I was ready to fight him just to keep him from freaking out on me anymore, but then again last time we fought, I almost lost. Wow. That was a hard pill to swallow.

  The only good news during the long walk was that I didn’t have any more odd visions or singing… which made me wonder all the more why it had been affecting me so much before and not as much now? Though the haunting melody was familiar to me, I hadn’t heard the siren’s voice since Seattle.

  “Thena?” Adonis grabbed my arm again, and that time I let him. I hadn’t realized how high we were getting until then. Did everything have to do with going down and up? I clenched my teeth and leaned on Adonis.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled, knowing I sounded super distracted, but I couldn’t help it. Something felt off. The general direction we were traveling was toward the top of the mountain, but the closer we got, the harder it was for me to concentrate on any one thing. It didn’t help that as we got closer, it grew hotter. Not that temperature really bothered me, but it was strange. Shouldn’t it get colder as you get higher?

  “You feel it too,” Adonis whispered.

  At my nod he tensed. I looked around. Seth and Icarus were still ahead of us. Seth looked somewhat out of sorts. His coloring was paler than usual. Dark shadows were visible beneath his eyes. As if he knew I was staring at him he turned to look at me, and suddenly my steps froze.

  Something hit me across the head, and within an instant Seth was breathing down my neck.

  “Nobody can hear you scream.” His voice was hoarse as if he had just swallowed fire and couldn’t quite form words. “I want to taste you. Now.”

  His tongue moved across my lips, black flashed in his eyes, and he began to suck energy from me. I tried to speak. Suddenly a flash of light appeared in front of us. A fiery sword appeared in Adonis’s hand. The same sword I’d seen for years on the archangels.

  “Be gone, demon!” Adonis yelled as he pushed Seth against a tree.

  Icarus began to laugh as he grew another two feet. He pulled out a black sword made of steel. His metal clashed against Adonis’s. Sparks flew between the swords. Seth screamed and was on his feet again, running toward me. Why couldn’t I move? Why couldn’t I fight?

  “Because you don’t want to,” Seth whispered behind my hair as his hand came to grip my neck. “Because deep down you’re exactly like us.”

  I tried to shake my head.

  A tear ran down my cheek as I watched Adonis fall, and then his eyes met mine. “I’m sorry, Athena, so sorry.”

  He was going to die.

  I was going to have to watch my best friend, the man that I loved, die in front of me.

  Adonis closed his eyes, a burst of light came forth from his hands, and then he was glowing. His light was so bright I had to fight to keep my eyes open. Seth and Icarus screamed. Adonis’s hair grew down his back shining white like the angels’. His t-shirt disappeared, and in its place was a golden plate of armor.

  Just like that, a thousand angels surrounded us.

  A beacon of light in the darkness.

  “You will not touch her,” Adonis’s voice echoed.

  Seth cursed and fell to his knees. Icarus began to hyperventilate.

  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling less than brave at the sight. It was rare to see that many angels in one place at one time.

  They sang, breathless with music. A few aided me, and I knew. They were ministering angels. Like the ones in the Bible who brought people food and drink when they were in the desert. I opened my mouth as the angel closest to me poured honey onto my lips, and suddenly I was able to speak again.

  “Make your choice.” Adonis directed his command to Seth and Icarus. They glared in my direction and nodded just once in unison.

  The angels disappeared, and everything returned to normal.

  Everything except the person I thought Adonis was.

  I couldn’t help but feel my heart shatter into a million pieces. For the one man, or person I thought was a man, would never share with me anything more than a brotherly friendship. It reminded me once again that I didn’t belong. I was exactly as Icarus said. Just like them.

  “So act like it.” The phrase flashed through my mind. I knew it
was Seth’s voice. I knew it was poison, but I couldn’t help but slightly agree.

  “Don’t,” Adonis said, his voice shaking the trees nearest us. “Don’t believe the lie, Athena. You are so much more than you know.” With that he went back to his normal form.

  Only, nothing was normal.

  We were traveling with enemies who had some sort of hold over me that I didn’t know how to fight. And my best friend was apparently an angel.

  Adonis pulled me to his side and scowled at Icarus and Seth. “Now, if you two little boys are done playing swords, can we please return to our journey? You’re outmatched. I have an entire army at my beck and call. I’ll destroy you before you can even think about fighting back. Lead us to the Titans, and I may let you live.”

  “And if we don’t?” Seth grinned. “After all, once we reach the Titans, it’s you who will be outmatched.”

  “Who says the Titans would follow a tiny ant when they could follow a god?”

  I gasped aloud. For Adonis to compare himself to a god was absolutely heretical. It didn’t make sense; he wasn’t anything like that. He was…

  I looked at him, I mean, really looked at him. His eyes were shaped slightly different than before. They were deep blue and almond shaped with gold glowing irises in the middle. I felt his arm brace around mine. He was on fire. As in, his skin was so hot I almost felt it burn me, and temperatures never affected me.

  I shook my head in confusion. If he wasn’t an angel, what was he? And how was he able to command the armies of Heaven?

  He smiled sadly down at me, and then followed it with a wink.

  Yup, same Adonis. “At least you haven’t lost your cockiness.”

  “I’ll always be cocky. It’s part of my charm.”

  I swallowed the emotion in my throat, “What are you?”