More Light is used, and we parry with the wing speed of hummingbirds. Our forms are barely visible. Flashes of Kieran and Sidelle sitting on the patio rush by, and it happens. Shay’s blade doesn’t block mine in time. The tip is inches from his neck. A thin line of blood trails down his throat and is soaked up by the collar of his T-shirt.
My body stops moving.
“Very good.” Shay smiles. “I knew you had it in you.”
“But I used my Light.”
“Yes, you did.” He takes my free hand and leads us back to the chairs. “And why not? It’s a part of you now. During battle, you’re going to need everything in your arsenal. Opponents aren’t going to come at you one at a time. There will be many, and they’ll keep coming until you’re exhausted. And even then, you can’t stop.”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to build up your stamina using your Light,” Kieran says. “I was created with it and have an abundance because I’m used to it. I’m sure Sidelle’s glamour is the same way.” She nods. “It has to be second nature.”
“I was telling Kieran while you guys were playing that my father and Mab are in,” Sidelle says. “As we speak, they are gathering their forces and will be on the ready. Oberon will open the porta and let both Summer and Winter through.”
“That’s great!” I say. “Now, we need to hear from Vash and the packs.”
Someone’s phone chimes. We all check our pockets.
It’s Kieran’s cell. He looks at the screen and texts back. “Speaking of the Alpha,” he says. “That was him. He said most of the packs are coming and preparing to fly here. I told him where the meeting place is, and he’ll let the other pack Alphas know. Vash said that a couple male members will be left at their residences just in case. All children and some of the females will also stay.”
I nod.
If everyone dies, the packs need to carry on their existence. My eyes sting thinking of my family, of my friends. We could die in four days. The world could end in less than a week.
But I have a plan.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Zoe
Wednesday, July 1.
“Mom? Dad?” I walk through an empty kitchen, wondering where they could be.
“Zoe? We’re upstairs.”
I climb the staircase and enter my parents’ room. Luggage lays on the bed, and dresser drawers are open.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Are you packed?” Mom asks. “We’re leaving early tomorrow morning.”
“No. Where are we going?”
She looks at me and to Dad. “Honey, we always go to the cabin over the fourth. Are you feeling okay?”
Of course. My family is headed to our summer house in northern Minnesota. It’s about two hours west of Duluth, so I know that they’ll be safe there. And if any demons come looking for us here, we’ll be gone.
“Oh, yeah. I’m almost packed. You know me, last minute clothes washing.” I turn and shuffle toward my room to start packing for the week-long vacation.
How am I going to get Shay up there? Kieran and Sidelle can make themselves invisible and just hang around. Vash, Cali, and the Packs will meet us north of Duluth, so they can stay in hotels. So it comes back to Shay.
“Um, guys?” I turn around. “Can Shay come with us? His mom is out of town, and he doesn’t have any place to go. And I think Kieran won’t be around, or he’d stay with him.”
“Sure, Zoe,” Dad says. “The holidays are for celebration with family and friends. It’s nice that you think of them. Plus, your Mom and I will take all the time you want to give us. Next year, we’ll hardly ever see you since you’ll be an important senior in high school.”
“Great, I’ll let Shay know.” I head back to my room. “And Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks. I love you guys.”
“We love you, too.”
When I return to my room, I dig out my phone and text Shay to let him know what’s happening.
Me: You’re coming with us to our cabin!
Scrounging around for my suitcase, which I find buried under a mound of clothes in the walk-in-closet, I toss in jean shorts, tanks, and T-shirts. My cell chimes, alerting me to a message.
Shay: Sounds good. I was trying to think of a way to get us to Duluth without raising suspicion.
Me: Problem solved. You should pack and come over here. Maybe I can convince my parents to let us drive separately.
Shay: OK
Taking a toiletry bag, I fill it with makeup, hair product, and plenty of elastic bands. The cabin already has most of my belongings since we spend most of our summer weekends there.
Reorganizing the luggage, I painstakingly refold everything so more items can be brought with me. Even though I know I won’t wear most of it, I must bring enough clothes because a girl has to have choices.
I hear the doorbell and run downstairs to let Shay in. Opening the front door, Shay greets me with a warm smile.
“Hey, Beautiful.” He leans in and kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck as his arms snake around my back, dropping his bag to the ground. “Miss me that much?”
“Always,” I pant, leading him back to my room. “Shay’s here,” I say to my parents.
“Glad you could come with us, Shay.” Dad’s voice carries through the hallway. “We’re about ready to pack the vehicle.”
“Yeah, about that, Dad. Would it be possible if Shay drove me? I’m going to show him around town and some other tourist attractions later in the week.”
“Sure,” Mom says as she walks out of her closet. “And when you’re done with that, you can take Shay to the iron range and Duluth. It’s not too far away, and you can view the harbor and watch ships come and go.” She comes and leans against the door frame. “Oh, have you been to the Glensheen Mansion in Duluth, Shay? There’s a ghost story involved, if you like that sort of thing.”
Shay glances at me and I shrug.
“No, I don’t think I’ve been there before. Sounds cool.”
“I have to finish gathering my stuff. Come on, Shay.” I tug his hand back into my room. “That’s so weird of them. I thought they would kick up a fuss about you coming along, and then for Mom to suggest we go to Duluth for the day.”
“I know. It’s like someone is watching over us.”
“Maybe He is?”
“Could be. Or it could be luck is finally on our side.” He sits on my bed and watches me pack.
“Most of my stuff is already up there, so I won’t need to bring too much in the way of personal items.”
“This isn’t too much stuff?” Shay smirks.
“This? Nope. You should see the first and last trip of the season. I think I could fill an entire truck. But I like having variety. You never know when it’ll rain, snow, or be cold.”
Shay glimpses back to the door and lowers his voice and says, “My car is loaded to the gills with weapons and amo. We won’t have enough time to come back for it, so we need to bring it all with us.”
I nod and continue to fold clothes.
“Zoe?” Shay and I look up at my sister who is standing inside my room. “I know I should ask to be in here, but I thought you guys would want to know that something is happening.”
“What do you mean?” I pull Stella deeper into my bedroom. “What have you seen?”
“Right now, we’re in the calm before the storm, and all of Hell will be unleashed and that’s not a figure of speech,” she says. “There are rumblings that the Knights are gathering near the Canadian border.”
“We know,” Shay says. “Kieran let the angels know that that’s where Zoe’ll be for the trap. We need them there, so the Veil can be opened with as little prying eyes from Ordinaries as possible.”
“Wait. You’re the bait? You can’t be!” Stella hugs me. “I have a very bad feeling about you being there. I know you have your sword now, but I can’t see beyond the battle.”
“What do you think that means, Shay?” I ask.
>
“Not sure. But I’ll protect you. We all will. We knew using you as the bait was risky, but it’s the only way to make sure that the demons go up north and not force our hand and take the fight where the population is high.”
I sit next to Shay and guide Stella to sit on the other side of me. My hands shake, and my breathing labors.
Shay threads his fingers through mine and squeezes. “I know you’re scared, Zoe. You have every right to be. You’ve only known about angels and demons for a couple of months, you’re just learning how to use your sword, and you only recently received your wings. It’s a lot to take in. I understand. But your friends are all with you. I know you can do this, and we will be by your side. And we will drive back evil and win this war.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Zoe
Thursday, July 2.
We make it to our cabin in Nisswa a couple of hours ago. The weather was slightly troublesome as sheets of rain decided to pour down on us, making visibility difficult. Shay expertly drives his car along the highway with the other vacationers heading to their getaways.
The air becomes colder the farther north we go, unusual for the middle of summer. Dead animals lined the ditches. I lose count on how many deer and birds I saw, knowing that many more lay on the ground deep within the woods.
The news station we briefly listen to told us that the entire Middle East is in an all-out war. Truces are being ignored and skirmishes escalate. Thousands are dead from bombings and gunfire. Ships navigate off the coast of Japan and sail for China. Retaliation is imminent. They have threatened to release nuclear warheads.
It’s starting. That’s all I can think of. The world is already at war, and I’d be battling evil in a few days. Am I ready?
“We should try to get to Duluth a day early,” Shay says. “That way we can get the lay of the land, and if fighting starts early, we’re there. The angels should be ready to construct the Void as soon as possible. We’ll have to make sure that you’re seen all over the city. The wards around you will drop, so your Light will shine like a beacon, calling the demons to you.”
“Do you think this’ll work?” I ask.
“It has to.”
My parents take Stella into town to get groceries and ice cream, leaving Shay and I alone. We lounge on the couch, his arm drapes across my stomach. My head lies on his sculpted chest.
Our cabin is small compared to the monstrosities around the lake. It’s one of the originals, but it’s all my family needs. Fond memories of swimming, fishing, and playing tag with other vacationers flutter in my mind.
The large picture window fogs with the rain that still pelts down, leaving streaks of dirt behind. As soon the weather clears, cleaning is the first task. It always is. Even though we come up to the summer home almost every weekend, a fine layer of dust seems to settle over things.
But it’s a tradition that we all enjoy. Time spent with each other. Just like my room at home, I don’t have to share one with Stella, but we do have to share a bathroom.
“Maybe we should go to Duluth tomorrow, then?” I suggest. “We can go to Canal Park, eat at Grandma’s, walk the shore, and watch ships come in.”
“Do some tourist things outside.” I feel Shay’s head bob. “If the weather worsens, we could get a hotel room, so we don’t have to drive back. At least that’s what we’ll tell your parents.”
“Okay.” I shift from Shay’s body and reach in my back pocket for my phone. Brushing the screen, it turns on and I find the weather app. It’s supposed to continue raining all night and into tomorrow evening. The temperature today is also lowering as the day wears on.
Something strange is happening. It’s bitter cold in the midst of summer. Yes, even in northern Minnesota it gets into the nineties, but along the north shore, they do get lake effect, which lowers the temperature. Not like this though.
This is something beyond abnormal.
My parents come home from the grocery store and ice cream parlor, and then we make burgers on the grill. Dad prepares and flips the meat, Shay is out there too for moral support, while us ladies are in the kitchen prepping the salad, coleslaw, and peeling potatoes to make homemade French fries. That, too, is our traditional first night’s meal.
“Have you seen all the horrible news reports on TV?” Mom asks.
“Yes, troubling reports, indeed,” Dad says.
I don’t say anything and neither does Shay. That was the only downer to the evening.
We continue on nicer subjects and laugh, tell stories of our younger years, and I’m thankful to be with them one last time. My parents don’t know what will happen tomorrow but Stella does. She keeps glancing my way throughout the night. With a slight shake of my head, I put her off. I can’t get into it with her. Not yet.
After dinner we bring out the games. Stella chooses first and insists we play cribbage. Thirteen going on thirty. We pair off, and I play against my dad. Mom sneaks back to the kitchen, even though Shay tells her to leave the dishes, and he will take care of them after winning against Stella.
The evening draws to a close after a vivacious game of Old Maid. My parents call it a night and suggest we kids do not stay up too late. We should be in bed before the sun rises.
I grab lawn chairs and sit out on the porch and listen to the rain pounding on the wood roof. Neither Shay nor I say anything. There isn’t anything to say. He knows how I feel about him, and no words can express what I know in my heart, anyway. Besides, Shay can feel my emotions through our soul mate bond. At least I can his.
Around midnight, we hear Stella sneak out of her bedroom and join us. I have a suspicion that she needs to tell us something but is waiting for the right time. Now, we all are sitting in silence.
The calm before the storm.
“Are you ready for tomorrow.” Stella breaks the quiet first. “I know you’re planning to go to Duluth and get to the field first. Stupid on your part, Zoe.” She punches me in the arm. “And stupid for you to let her do something this reckless.” Her arm strikes Shay’s shoulder. “But I get it. I think it’s a good plan.”
That’s all she says. The three of us sit in chairs, look over the lake, and be exactly the way it should always be.
Chapter Forty
Zoe
Friday, July 3.
In the morning, the entire family eats breakfast together. I break the news to my parents who are sitting around the dinette table drinking coffee.
“Today we’re going to go see the sights in Duluth like Mom suggested,” I say. “Since it’s still raining here, and we can’t go swimming or fishing, we’ll hit the harbor, the lighthouse, and the Glensheen Mansion.” I stuff scrambled eggs into my mouth. My mom always makes the fluffiest eggs, just the way I like them.
“You guys be careful on the drive over and if it’s raining like this, stay away from the shore,” Dad says. “The tide may be ferocious, and we don’t want to lose either of you.”
“Can I go with?” Stella asks.
“No, Honey,” Mom says. “Why don’t you let Zoe and Shay go by themselves.” She turns, addressing me. “Besides, you’ll be back by the end of the day, right?”
“Yeah,” I mumble.
Shay is deep in thought over his bagel.
We pack a little cooler of beverages and snacks. Before I went to bed this morning, I remembered to pack a bag of spare clothes and necessities. We snuck that into Shay’s car.
My sister sees us off.
“Keep them safe, Stella,” I say. “I’m counting on you. If you get any other visions, text me.”
“I will. You just come back alive.” She hugs me, then Shay. “And good luck.”
“Do you think we need luck?” Shay asks.
“You’ll need everything you can get.”
That doesn’t sound good for us. “All right,” I say. “Ready to go, Shay?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
I wave to my parents from Shay’s car window, plastering a smile onto my
face. They wave back, and I quickly turn my head, so they can’t see the tears running down my cheeks. It could be the last time I see them. If the battle goes south and we don’t make it ... No. I won’t think like that.
I’m an angel. And my friends are fairies, Nephilim, wolves, and all the Packs in the world are coming here to fight. The Heavens are clearing out and joining us in earth’s realm.
“You’re quiet.” Shay turns his head my way. “I know it’s hard saying goodbye to your folks and sister. But you’ll see them again.”
“I hope you’re right.” I stare out of the rain-streaked glass. “I was just grateful that we got to spend one evening together as if today isn’t the beginning of the end of the world.”
“Yeah, it was a great night. I know you love your family. And they love you.”
“Have you heard from Kieran today?” I fiddle with the radio, but we’re driving in no man’s land up here. Reception isn’t the greatest.
“Yes, he said that most of the Packs are taking private jets into the airfield and will be staying in multiple hotels in the city. They want to spread out just in case they need to do damage control. He and Sidelle are still at home, awaiting word from Oberon and Mab. But Sidelle assures us that they will be there. He’ll meet us once we know where we’re going first.”
I inhale and nod.
The rest of the drive is quiet. We banter a bit but mostly listen to CDs. Before long the two-hour drive is done. I can see the high bridge as we coast down a hill.
Pouring rain is relentless, but we make our way to Canal Park and grab a bite to eat. We stop at a pizza joint. We sit at a round table waiting for our food when Kieran walks through the glass door.
He waves when he spots us in the corner. “Are you ready, Zoe?” he asks.
“For what now?”
“I need to lower the wards around you, so the demons know where you are.”
“Will it hurt?”
“No, you won’t feel a thing. I don’t think.” He frowns. “But maybe you’ll feel a bit of more Light now that you’re an angel.”
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