Mark of Orion

by S L Richardson

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Zar

  What a delightful surprise it was when Olivia ran out of the hospital like she was being chased by the Devil himself. Zar chuckled at his own joke as he watched, with great anticipation, her heading straight for him. Her hair fluttered behind her, and, good, she was crying.

  Oh, a perfect new victim.

  A thrill of excitement pulsed through him. She sat on the bench. Her anger, her sadness, and her hatred hit him like a drug. Olivia's misery was his delight; her hatred was his love.

  He sneered at her back, hoping his visit to her house had helped fan the flames of these magnificent, tumultuous emotions. Zar slipped closer, wanting to absorb her misery. He knew the moment she sensed him when she straightened and peeked over her shoulder. He chuckled at her brave face, but her wide eyes gave her away. When she searched the trees, he was sure Olivia saw him, but she took off for the hospital. His eyes bore into her back the whole way until the doors closed behind her.

  Olivia intrigued him, but the force driving Delilah to seek revenge on this family was eating him alive with profound curiosity. If Delilah didn't share her reasonings soon, Zar would make Olivia his next project and find out for himself.

  He rolled his shoulders, eager for Delilah's arrival.

  Delilah.

  He was playing with fire, and he knew it. Something, buried deep inside of him, held on tight to the memories of Delilah before the Fall. When he closed his eyes, it came flooding back. Laughter and pleasure in her sparkling eyes and a vibrant smile when she looked at him. He fell in love with her the moment he saw her. But it was not to be. A stab of envy found its target when he remembered her choice to devote herself to God. Too naïve to understand the consequences.

  Freedom.

  She didn't listen to him, denied the Fallen. She stood with God as war raged in Heaven. He almost traded his freedom for her, but she didn’t know that. The pull of Lucifer's world overruled his desire to stay. As did his hatred for humans.

  Serve mankind and the Son of Man?

  Never.

  It had been a shock when he had seen Delilah at the hospital, but it ignited an internal turmoil. Should he destroy her or approach her? It was a battle fought then, and every time they met.

  What happened to Delilah, the enticing angel of his memories, to cause her to burn with revenge? He didn't know yet, but turning an angel from the light to the dark would make Lucifer ecstatic and get Zar one step closer to his inner circle.

  And now she promised to share her secret with him. But when? This tested a patience he didn't possess. But if it could bring destruction to Michael and those sanctimonious angels and also give Delilah the freedom to be with him again? He must wait. A wicked grin stretched across his tense face as he fantasized of obliterating the angels from Heaven. Yes, he could delay a little longer.

  Humans.

  He pounded the tree with his fist.

  He hated them most of all.

  So weak, so easy to manipulate. Why did God love such a flawed creature more than his first creation, his angels?

  It gave Zar pure pleasure every time he took a soul to Hell and away from Heaven.

  Like the latest one.

  Bobby.

  The stupid rich kid had it all. But he was bored, isolated, feeling like his parents didn't love or understand him. Always wanting more.

  Whatever.

  Ripe pickings for Zar. Pleasure cooled his hot blood as the power of the memory washed over him.

  Zar had picked Bobby out at high school. Sulky, bitter, indulged. Zar's whispers had planted ideas of booze and then drugs as a way to escape. He fanned the flames of depression and loneliness while coaxing insecurities and self-hatred, which kept Bobby from seeking friends and family. Zar showed himself to Bobby, who reveled in having a demon confidant. Zar had pushed Bobby until he lost control and didn't care about anything anymore.

  That was where Bobby was when his SUV slammed into the other car crossing the intersection.

  High, angry, and hollow.

  Zar reveled in the brutal impact. The quick scream, the last second squealing of tires, then the crunching of metal against metal. And the horrified face turning the moment before impact. The woman saw Zar, for an instant, before he left the wreckage. He snickered, remembering he almost waved at her.

  Imagine the sweet surprise when he recognized her lovely face, beaming from the pictures tucked inside shiny black frames.

  Stella Drake.

  He laughed at the delicious coincidence of it all.

  Finally, it was going his way. Zar wanted more than harvesting one soul at a time for Lucifer. He had bigger ideas. He wanted to lead the Fallen, along with the army of the Damned, and destroy Heaven and Earth.

  It might come true, thanks to the beguiling and scorned angel materializing before him.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Olivia

  Olivia woke with a start, curled up in the vinyl chair next to her mom's hospital bed. The magazine she'd been pretending to read slipped from her lap, falling open onto the floor. Whatever had chased her in her dreams melted away, and she had no interest in dredging it up to the surface. Day had faded into night in the small, stark room, except for the fluorescent bar above Mom's bed casting a yellow glare. Mom looked fragile under the sickly glow, but she was as strong as they come.

  But also full of tightly held secrets.

  Olivia pushed it aside, not wanting to dwell on why Mom had betrayed Olivia's trust. There must be a good reason... she hoped.

  Mom's awake.

  Olivia closed her eyes, thankful for having her prayers answered. The doctor had said Mom had a few more days here and then could go home.

  Home.

  What would that mean for them?

  Dad was stroking Mom's cheek when Olivia had returned from the park a few hours ago. Her heart had squeezed at their obvious love. They whispered while exchanging a deep love language only they understood. Olivia hung back by the door, composing herself before she intruded. Nothing ruined a moment faster than demon talk. Besides, after Dad’s reaction to the feather, she couldn't imagine his freak-out if she told them about the encounter at the park. She didn't want to upset Mom either, so she decided to keep quiet.

  Mom had fallen back asleep soon after Olivia’s return. Dad left moments later, mumbling something about errands as he darted out of the room. The chair across the bed was still vacant, signaling he hadn't returned.

  "Olivia," Mom whispered. Olivia's heart leapt to her throat as she leaned over Mom. She kissed her cheek, smoothing away a few strands of hair from her mom’s face.

  "Hi Mom," Olivia whispered with a smile. "How ya doing? You want an ice chip?" Mom nodded and sighed when Olivia slipped the ice into her mouth. "I can get you a cup of soup or−"

  "I'm fine, sweetie." She reached up and stroked Olivia's hair. "How are you doing? Dad said you hardly left."

  "I couldn't leave you. I kept praying for you to wake up and come back to me. The thought of losing you−"

  "Sshhh... I'm not going anywhere." Her grin creased the corners of her eyes. "I'm so sorry−"

  "Mom, please stop. None of this was your fault. We'll be home soon, and you'll be back, good as new." Olivia wasn't sure if she was saying this for her mom's benefit or her own.

  Mom’s eyes swept the room. "Dad?"

  "He left a little while ago." Olivia shrugged, glancing at the door.

  Mom's soft brown eyes pleaded with her. "Please don't be mad at him. It's not all his fault." Her eyelids grew heavy.

  "Mom, please. Just rest. We can talk later."

  But Mom shook her head. "You have a destiny, Olivia, that only you and a few others can carry out." A tear glistened on the edge of her eyelash. "Your burden and your blessing," Mom whispered as she drifted off.

  "Mom−" But the door opened, leaving the rest of the sentence lost on her tongue. Dad stood in the doorframe, dwarfing it with his wide shoulders and restrained intensity.
Two long strides brought him to the bedside, causing Olivia to sit back. In a fluid movement, he kissed Mom gently on the lips, but her lips didn't return the affection. Dad sighed as he sank into the chair, the worn vinyl creaking.

  "Were you and Mom talking?" He motioned toward Mom with his chin. Olivia couldn't read his eyes in the poorly lit room, but his body language screamed that his walls were up. But his closed demeanor didn't intimidate Olivia.

  Your burden and your blessing.

  "Mom asked me not to be mad or blame only you... like I can stop that," she said flippantly. "She also told me I had a destiny. Care to elaborate?"

  Dad sat like a stone wall, unmoved by her barbs. "Your mom may not realize what she's saying right now. Let's wait till we get her home. Here isn't the time or place."

  She fumed as he again refused to tell the truth. Had he already forgotten their argument from a few hours ago? "Dodging the question once again. You're unbelievable. I'll take Mom's words over yours any day." She crossed her arms and looked away. The sight of him made her want to scream.

  "Go home, Olivia. I went by the house−"

  "Why?"

  "I needed to check it out for myself. It's safe now to go home. I have people watching the house−"

  "What people−"

  "Will you stop fighting me, for just once!" Dad said between gritted teeth. He leaned his head back, rubbing his temples. She was fighting him, and not sorry one second for it. Olivia's eyes narrowed as she skimmed her father's face. Tired, drawn, yet still handsome under it all. And untrustworthy.

  She leaned over and kissed her Mom's forehead. Standing up, she gathered her purse from the nightstand. "Until you are honest with me, I've got no reason to trust you or listen to you."

  "Olivia−"

  She held up her hand and started for the door, surprised he had stopped talking. She paused as her hand closed around the door handle. "How do I know the house is safe? Should I look for someone or a car parked out front?"

  "You'll never see them, but they're there," he said.

  She smirked. "Perfect. More mystery." She yanked open the door, not looking back.

  A chair clattered across the floor inside Mom's room.

  Good.

  I'm not the only one who wants to punch something.

  Each step she took away from the room brought exhaustion, stress, and more anger. She had an overwhelming ache to curl up with Thunder and get a day's worth of sleep. The problem was that her turbulent and frightening dreams chased her while she slept. She wondered if she'd ever have a peaceful night's rest again.

  Not when Mom drops bombs, like I have a destiny.

  Let's just add that information to the equation.... Rude.

  Olivia

  On autopilot the whole drive home, Olivia was stunned when she parked in her driveway. The porch light cast a dim glow, making it difficult to scour the hedges or homes nearby. The deep shadows revved up her imagination, but she shoved them aside. Those images wouldn't help her get to the front door. Relying upon her dormant mark, she mustered up the courage and got out of her car. Keys in hand, she ran to the porch.

  "Liv."

  A startled scream escaped as she turned and swung out automatically with her fist, too late in recognizing his voice. She rolled her eyes as a smile crept across her face.

  "Jeez, Zach! Why are you always sneaking up on me?"

  His smile grew as he held up a brown paper bag with grease spots on the bottom. The enticing smell of cheeseburgers reached her nose, making Olivia's stomach growl.

  "Why are you always throwing haymakers at me?" Mischief played in his eyes as he wagged the bag in front of her. "I thought you saw me walking down the street. I brought you some comfort food: cheeseburgers and fries."

  "What if I'm a vegetarian?" she asked, knowing she'd devour the burger on sight.

  "Then I guess it's burgers for me and fries for you."

  She chuckled as she unlocked the door.

  "Wait..." He brushed in front of her. Olivia caught sight of a leather knife holder clipped at the waist of his jeans.

  "That's new. Where did you get it?"

  "It's a hunting knife my parents gave me when I made Eagle Scout. I thought I'd wear it." He tapped the knife. Confidence rang in his voice. "I told my parents I was staying here tonight so you wouldn't be alone." His tense body dared her to say no, but then he cleared his voice. "Unless you don't want . . ." His voice trailed off, his hand paused on the door handle.

  The air between them stirred, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. A gentle warmth flushed through her, realizing Zach stood beside her at the cost of his own safety. Knowing he shared her burden lifted a weight off her shoulders and bolstered her fledgling confidence.

  "Thank you, Zach," she whispered, at a loss to say more.

  She let him lead the way.

  Zach

  After Zach had dropped Olivia off at the hospital, he'd been distracted and on edge. Later, he went to her house and peeked through the porch window. Everything looked like they'd left it. The ever-present desert dust drifted through beams of sunlight until it settled, adding a layer on the untouched objects. The vacant house stood waiting for the owners to return and breathe life back into it. An uneasiness raised the hairs on his neck, but his mark didn't throb. Even though he didn't see anyone around the house, a sense of being followed plagued him as he walked home.

  Now the same eerie feeling he'd had earlier washed over him as he stepped into Olivia's foyer. He put his finger to his lips, looking back at her. Her eyes widened as she scanned the room. "I think someone is watching us," he whispered.

  Olivia gave an exasperated sigh, shutting the door. She walked past him, snatched the bag of burgers out of his hand, and made her way to the kitchen. "Dad said he has people guarding the house." She flipped on the overhead light and dug into the bag. "Maybe that's it." She shook her head.

  Thunder jumped off the den couch, scampering over to Zach. He rubbed against Zach's leg, arching his back, his loud purr rumbling. Zach bent over, scratching the scruff of his neck.

  "Hey, look at that!" Olivia said, taking a bite of her burger.

  "Yeah, it's crazy. I thought Thunder would never come to me after meeting Hank. I guess his experience in your closet changed his attitude." Zach chuckled. He could have sworn the cat winked at him before dashing off to demand the same attention from Olivia. She met Thunder at the pantry and grabbed his food. They left the kitchen, but she returned soon leaving Thunder to feast.

  They stood in the kitchen in silence, devouring the greasy meal. Zach glanced at her, pleased she was eating, but she didn't seem to taste it. She had dark circles under her eyes and stared off into space as she mechanically put fries in her mouth.

  Man, she looks drained.

  Zach lamented the heartache she'd suffered and the stress lining her furrowed brow. But Olivia was tough, tougher than him, truth be told. But he detected the vulnerability etched in her eyes when she thought no one was looking. He didn't know how or why their futures were linked, but he was ready to face it head-on. For her, yes. But he needed to find himself again, or the person he was a year ago would never surface again from the abyss of cowardice and shame.

  "Penny for your thoughts?" His voice echoed around the kitchen. He wadded up his burger wrapper and tossed it in the bag. Her blue eyes carried the weight of the world as she bit her thumbnail. He suppressed the urge to hug her, sliding his hands into his jean pockets.

  "On the positive side, my mom woke up today." She grinned up at him.

  "Thank God! That's awesome, Liv. How is she?"

  "She doesn't stay awake long, and I think she's still kinda fuzzy. She said she saw two guys in the car that hit her, but there was only one. Hopefully, her memory will clear up soon." She hesitated, rubbing her hands together.

  "And the negative side?" Zach prompted her.

  "When Mom woke up, Dad and I were arguing. He told me the black feather was from a demon and that my life was g
oing to change."

  Zach's stomach dropped.

  "He said this was his fault, and then Mom said it was her fault too. We were so excited when she woke up, I asked no more questions. My parents have secrets involving me, but they won't share them. I have this nagging fear everything will come tumbling down around us." Her voice caught as she turned away.

  "Me too, but we're still here and we'll survive this... together."

  She turned back with a sudden intensity. "You don't understand. Mom also said I have a destiny. My burden and my blessing, she called it. She said I'd share this with a few others. I think she means you and Sergio."

  Something inside Zach knew what she said was true, but there were too many blank spots. Olivia had handed him another strange puzzle piece, and no matter how many ways Zach tried putting them together, the ends never fit. Did their parents hold the answers?

  "I need to tell you something that happened to me."

  Olivia's body jerked off the counter. "Are you okay? What−"

  "I'm fine... I guess." He gave her a roguish grin. "Look at the time." He nodded toward the glowing green numbers on the microwave.

  "11:07." Olivia cocked her head back at him.

  "It's almost New Year's Day, silly." Zach chuckled.

  Olivia smacked her forehead with her palm. "I have lost total track of time."

  "It's been crazy, Liv." Zach pulled his hand from his pocket, reaching for her hand. "The fireworks will go off soon. Is there any place we can watch them? I'll fill you in while we wait."

  "There's a balcony off my mom's bedroom with a perfect view of the valley. Come on." She gave him a big smile, clasped his hand, and led Zach upstairs.

  Olivia grabbed two fuzzy fleece blankets from the upstairs hall closet. She glanced at the empty bed before opening the sliding glass door leading to the wrought-iron balcony. Thunder ran up behind them and jumped on the bed, padding the fluffy comforter with his giant paws. Fresh, brisk air rushed into the dark room, sweeping out the stale bedroom air.