Amongst the Fallen

by Devin Lee Carlson

  “Cherubs? Wayde attacked you.”

  Again, I rubbed my eyes. If I could only focus, maybe my mind would clear up as well. “What happened last night?” I forgot which symbol I dialed to escape. Couldn’t remember dialing at all.

  “Ariane and I heard the helicopters,” Sabree said. “She insisted I help, so I misted into one helicopter and attacked the pilot. Wayde wasn’t onboard. The craft slammed into the mountain. Flames engulfed me as I misted out in the nick of time only to crash land into boulders. I lost all sense of you. Confused and in agony, I stayed put to heal. Eric saw me and raced to the edge, worried about Ariane being alone.” A glimmer shone in his eyes. “I finally sensed you. Regrettably, I was in no shape to rescue you until early morn.”

  “You promised to stay with Ariane.” Damn it, must I do everything? Protect everyone? I tried to rise, but Sabree pinned me down.

  “She was frantic, worried about you and Eric. Trust me, once recover, I’ll pack my bags for the one-way trip into the portal. For now, let me help you down so you can heal under the shade. Hold your wings still.” Sabree dragged me by my feet through the brush edge and lowered me to the ground.

  I mumbled a curse about the flash drive in the pouch. My lids fluttered when Sabree lifted me to a sitting position. The wings tucked behind my back and wiggled to adjust themselves.

  “The flash drive is safe, hidden at home in the wine rack, behind my favorite bottle of Bordeaux. I also made a quick stop at my ghoulish blood bank.” Sabree held out an IV pouch. “I could only transport one. It’s your sister’s blood. Drink.”

  “Not bad for a sidekick.” I sank my fangs into the plump bag. An indescribable sweetness filled my belly, filled every cell with an energizing bolt.

  “Clever sidekick.” He knelt close and placed a hand on one of my wings. When his fingers disappeared into the dense blackness, Sabree yanked his arm back so fast he could have dislocated his shoulder. He stared wide-eyed as if to count all five fingers before shaking his hand. “The Fallen once had wings of radiance, but never four. What makes you so special?” He continued when all I could do was nod. “Like Turian’s, yours are black and absorb light instead of emitting it. Did you see how it nearly devoured my hand?”

  Amazing how friendly Sabree could be if he chose. I drained the IV bag and craned my neck to examine the appendages now at rest. The obnoxious beings who attacked me in the portal still puzzled me. Perhaps the radiance emitted from the cherubs rivaled what Sabree described. “In contrast to Malakhim wings, mine might be the mark of damnation,” I muttered to myself as I lowered my gaze.

  “The beauty of the dark...”

  What did Sabree mean by that? I stared at him for a moment, uncertain if he would follow through with an explanation. Instead, I stood.

  “Look,” Sabree said. “We better return to camp.”

  Concerned about my sister, he’d get no argument from me. The worst of my injuries had healed, but my hunger was nowhere near satisfied. I set the amulet to neutral and braced myself for the predictable reaction. The black wings retracted inside each of its respective sacks. I winced when they folded beneath each scapula. The wings usually retracted before my body materialized into solid matter. With Sabree’s help, I pulled on the torn shirt hanging around my waist.

  The return hike had taken us an hour. Neither of us spoke during the trek until Sabree spotted the tents ahead. “Here’s where we part company.” He leaned close and said, “I’ll wait for you back at the ranch. Remember, you can trust me.” His body dissolved into a fine mist.

  “Wait!” I frowned at the spot where Sabree once stood. The mist hovered in place. “At least bring me another IV bag.” I stomped my foot. “Why in such a hurry to leave? Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

  Sabree’s lips rematerialized in midair like the Cheshire cat, except his teeth gritted instead of flashing a wide toothy grin. “Sorry, no can do. Got to split.” Poof. The frown vanished.

  51

  MEET THE GRIM REAPER

  R eluctance weighed heavily on each step I took closer to the campsite. Thrilled to see Eric unharmed, I broke into a sprint to greet him. Instead of returning a wave, he crouched low in a battle stance with the ice ax in hand. Uncertain why he recoiled, I crept forward. My gaze darted from the tent back to Eric, whose bloodshot eyes roused my worst fear. “Where’s Ariane?”

  Eric shot a glance at the sleeping bag by the extinguished campfire. “She’s dead.”

  Ariane? No way. Immortality had cursed us. We couldn’t die. But what about fire or decapitation? “No!” I shook my head and stifled a sob as I leaned toward the bag. “No, no, she can’t be.” I dropped to my knees. Before I flipped open the cover, Eric shoved me away with the brunt end of his ax.

  “Don’t touch her,” he cried, his voice cracking. Tears streaked down his reddened cheeks. “Sabree left her behind—unprotected. Some black-haired witch killed her. She even had the nerve to wait until I returned,” he said between sobs, “bragging about how she destroyed one of the ghouls and was now healed.”

  Unable to move, visions of the attack flashed through my mind. Abyss? Why? The bitter brew of rage, fever, and jealousy drove her to attack the one person I cared about the most. However, Ariane was immortal like me—we couldn’t die. No one was to blame but me and certainly not Sabree. Without his help, none of us might have survived. I anticipated Wayde might interfere but never imagined Abyss would attack. Freaking enemies kept showing up more and more. My back went rigid. “What’d she say?”

  “The bitch hissed at me and disappeared the same way Sabree does.” His twisted expression revealed how sick he was of the ongoing nightmare. Eric ripped the sleeping bag aside to expose the butchery.

  Horrified, I choked on a sob when I saw my sister’s throat torn apart. Sabree had warned me of Abyss’s savagery. A gruesome thought filled my mind with dread. Again, because of my carelessness, my blood infected Abyss, launching her into a ferocious rampage. I leaned over to inspect the wound. Healable, it has to be. Ariane’s skin was an alabaster gray, cold to the touch. She couldn’t be dead. Maybe my blood could heal her.

  A shadow caught my eye. I spun around in time to catch Eric wielding the ice ax to strike me down. I jumped to my feet. “Killing me won’t bring her back.” My lower lip quivered. “She will heal if you let me give her some of my blood. For God’s sake let me help her!”

  “Ariane’s gone, Brian. I loved her even though she and I were never supposed to happen, yet it did, and now I must bear the grief. I won’t rest until every last one of your kind is destroyed.”

  “Consider what you’re saying,” I said above a whisper. “You cannot rid the world of the Fallen all by yourself. The clans will crush you.” Pointless. No reasoning with the grief-stricken man. Nothing I said would matter. Eric was possessed with a vengeance that wouldn’t rest until he completed his newfound mission. “Mission impossible.”

  His tear-streaked eyes and sneer revealed his intent. Eric advanced. He spoke without compassion. “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way. I might not be able to kill your kind, but I’ll make sure your lives are a living hell.” He glanced at the ax and then at my skull. A chuckle escaped his lips. “Burn them to ashes, seal what’s left inside a metal box, and toss it into the nearest volcano.” Eric glanced aside to avoid witnessing the grief in my eyes.

  “But we’re friends not enemies.”

  “Friends? Bullshit. Duncan hired me.” Eric spat the words. “To keep an eye on you. The first three years of your puny existence were nothing but fabricated lies, implanted memories—Prof’s lies. You were never human, never Scottish, not even a mutated vampire. You and Ariane were the twin embryos Turian tried to hide. A DanJal scientist helped Prof with the process, including the artificial memory implants and your abbreviated educations. Ariane absorbed a shitload more than you did. Smarter until she fell for that monster. Wayde tried to kill Duncan when he discovered the truth, but I hear Sabree beat him to the punch.”

 
As absurd as it sounded, most of what Eric said made sense, some I had already suspected. Except, it didn’t explain how we grew up in a span of three years. I shook my head in reaction to the bombshell. “You’re wrong. Ariane and I do have human DNA.”

  “Nothing about you is human,” Eric growled. “Enough talk.”

  Agreed. Too much information to absorb at once, especially with my sister lying at my feet. I stepped closer. All I could see was Eric’s silhouette against the sun filtering from behind. I recognized the outline of the ax too late. It cracked against my skull. Explosive sparks drilled pain into every cell. I dropped to my knees as warm blood flowed into my eyes.

  Eric stood over me and whispered a vow. “Being paid to be your friend makes this easier. From this day forward, you and I are enemies at no cost to anyone except Ariane—she paid dearly. The next time we meet; prepare to meet the grim reaper.”

  I crumpled to the ground as darkness cloaked my mind.

  3 3 3

  Unaware of how much time had elapsed, I woke from the coma Eric hammered into my head. Anxious fingers explored the damage. The crimson dust coating my head and face was a sure sign the ice ax had cracked my skull. An electric bolt shot through my spine the second I recalled the nightmarish image of Ariane’s shredded neck. I tried to look for her sleeping bag, but waves of vertigo clouded my mind. I leaned on the log to steady myself and shook the horrible vision aside only to have another take its place—Eric’s vow of destruction.

  The three years that made up my short life were nothing but lies—fabricated stories dreamt up from Duncan’s imagination. Lies molded my personality, my morals, and the man whose twenty imaginary years had been fashioned to this day. Even my Scottish ancestry was bogus. I choked on a mouthful of bitter bile.

  The DNA results proved Ariane and I were part human and Malakhim—Julia and Turian the two main genetic donors. Unknown DNA existed. Along with Eric’s bombshell, everything in my world crumbled. As I saw it, fate offered two choices: overlook the anger, fear, and grief for now, or let those emotions consume me. No choice. Overlook won out for now.

  Above, a raven announced its displeasure, rousing me from my stupor. I squinted up at the brazen bird and our eyes met before it soared skyward. Its black wings reflected the rising sun. I pulled myself onto the log to inspect the situation and glanced at my bare feet. Eric took my hiking boots. Unwilling to move just yet, I surveyed the pristine campsite. It evoked the illusion that no one had set up camp here in weeks. Eric must have swept the ground where the tent once stood. The packs, along with my cell phone were missing, probably burned by the looks of the amount of ash and melted sludge in the campfire. Thank goodness Sabree stashed the flash drive in Arizona; certain Eric searched my unconscious body for it as well. “Sabree? If you can hear me, now would be a good time for another refreshment.”

  Silence urged me to my feet. Another wave of vertigo knocked me head on. I staggered over to the markings etched in the soft dirt. Closer inspection revealed Eric had dragged a homemade litter to the trailhead. From there the marks became less distinct on the hardened, well-packed trail. He stole my sister. Took her with him to God knows where. He’d pay if he hurt her in any way.

  Disheartened, I bent over to brush the crimson dust from my hair. Dialing in my speed to catch up came to mind, certain the litter would slow Eric down. Instead, unwilling to face Mr. Vengeance again, I’d hike alone in bare feet. Ariane would have to be on her own for now.

  52

  WANTED DEAD OR UNDEAD

  A tan SUV screeched to a stop. Dust eddies rolled in the breeze and blanketed the Ford Fiesta and Jag parked in the driveway. I climbed out of the backseat and paid the fare before the Uber sped off. Shoulders slouched, I faced the adobe-style ranch. How could we still call this place home? Too much time wasted on the scavenger hunt had been lost long before the hike and now only tragic memories resided within. Too bad I sold the estate in Edinburgh.

  Back in Marblemount, I tried to catch up with Eric, but the man had already checked out of the hotel. All signs of him and Ariane had vanished, until I texted Jesse with my new number. He called me back to tell me she was all right, and in his care until my sister considered it safe to return. Jesse also suggested that Sabree and I stay at his grandfather’s Navajo ranch. My sister safe, I called my bank to cancel the check I paid Eric. I refused to fund his future endeavors. If he dared use my visa card, I’d cancel those charges later.

  The encouraging news urged me inside. I shouldered through the front door expecting a friendly face to greet me. Instead, swirls of burgundy spattered the foyer, staining the walls and ceiling before the blood had turned to dust. A large metal arrow pierced the stucco wall. My heart sank.

  “Sabree?” Silence answered back. A trail of crimson dust led down the hallway to the bedrooms. I grabbed a trekking pole and held it close in case Wayde broke into the house. I followed the dust and stopped at the sight of blood and dust splattered across Sabree’s bedroom door.

  This wasn’t the work of Wayde or the Fallen. Had Eric already launched into his vow of vengeance? I never dreamt I’d fret over Sabree’s welfare. My chest heaved for the uncertainty that lay beyond. White knuckles turned the knob and swung the door open. I leapt inside ready to do battle.

  Sabree yelped, his eyes blood red, brighter than the dark hue dusted across the bed. He drew the blankets up to his neck.

  “My God, what happened?” I ran to his side.

  “Get out! You’re in danger.”

  A quick scan of the room confirmed we were alone. I lifted the blanket to reveal the gaping wound. Too much blood instead of dust filled the cavity that healed from the inside out.

  Sabree’s fangs grew as he raised a trembling hand. “The danger comes from me.” After a coughing fit, blood dribbled from his mouth.

  “You’ve lost too much blood to be a threat. Who did this?”

  Barely audible, Sabree whispered, “Eric.”

  So, the newly recruited vampire hunter left the arrow in the foyer wall as a calling card. I continued to stare at the bloodied vision. Eric’s intentions were clear; injure Sabree to increase the need to feed on my blood. Weaken me so he could return for the kill. Was Eric watching the house right now? I had to stay alert. Still, I offered Sabree what he needed most despite the consequences. I sat on the edge of the bed and held my left hand to his mouth. “Drink, you’re not healing fast enough.”

  “But.”

  “No buts. I need my sidekick in working order in case Eric the vampire hunter returns. Look, don’t worry about me. I refueled back in Marblemount.” I scoffed at the phrase refueled, but it sounded less gruesome than drank someone’s blood.

  Sabree sank his teeth into my wrist. He gave me a thumbs-up when I twitched from the dual stabs, and then he sucked hard, swallowing the revitalizing life force as fast as he could.

  My brows furrowed when his fangs released their hold and he leaned back onto the bed. “You didn’t drink much.”

  “Enough to heal. The remedial effects are already at work.” Sabree’s eyes fluttered shut.

  “Rest, I’ll be right back.”

  Seconds later, I returned with a first aid kit. “Eric destroyed the few bags of IV, so let’s get you patched up the old-fashioned way. Can’t have your wound spraying dust all over the house every time you move. Not the kind of reveal the Property Brothers would take pride in.” I caught his brief smile. Good sign, he still had a sense of humor. I emptied the kit onto the bed and rifled through the pile.

  Unraveling the gauze, I cocked my head. “Something’s troubling me. You left me stranded at the campsite.” Sabree’s jaw tensed so tight his teeth might shatter. My hunch right on, Sabree had ducked out because Abyss attacked my sister. “You knew, didn’t you?”

  “I lost my connection with Ariane. I couldn’t stomach seeing her hurt knowing it was my fault.”

  “I suppose you had no idea Abyss joined the hike after you misted into the helicopter. You were supposed t
o protect her.” I almost gagged on the breath I held.

  Sabree choked. “I screwed up between listening for Ariane, escaping the crash, and not predicting Abyss’s attack. My injury prevented me from misting back to protect Ariane from that she-devil.”

  “After you healed, you could have misted home and grabbed another bag of blood to help her.”

  “Eric would never let me near her. I wouldn’t blame you if you drop me into the portal. I deserve it.”

  “Cut with the death by portal crap already. It’s just an empty threat.”

  “I still failed you, failed Ariane.” Sabree glanced at the door. “Where is she?”

  “You were right about Eric. He cracked my skull with his ice ax and then hiked out with her in tow before I could heal. She is safe. Someone came to her rescue.” Thanks to Jesse, my sister survived but thought it best to leave Sabree out of the loop for now. Jesse and Ariane had an alternate plan.

  “Eric blames me for Abyss’s attack.”

  “No one is to blame but me. So, what happened here?” Brian taped the gauze tightly around the wound. “What did Eric say?”

  Sabree stared at the walls as if he tried to find the right words pasted on the stucco. “The bastard surprised me with a high-tech crossbow. I couldn’t mist fast enough. After he shot me, he stood there and watched me bleed. The crazed look in his eyes and his demented smile disturbed me more than the wound. Once I was no longer a threat, he disappeared down the hall into the bedrooms, threatening to hit you where it hurt most. I misted free of the arrow but collapsed. I crawled away while he trashed your office.”

  “What?” Between mutters, I bound the tape around Sabree’s abdomen. The news of my office being ransacked hit me harder than my patient’s war story. My angst cinched the tape too tight. Worried about the condition of my laptops, I ignored his complaints.