Archangel of the Fallen

by Devin Lee Carlson

  From that point on, the guys’ moods swung higher than the immobilized axe. Perhaps a bit too cocky as they barreled into the cave without her. She cried out to stop them too late. They forgot about the death-ray until it shot at and melted her husband’s boots. His screeches still deafened her ears.

  Sabree should have let Azrian’s anti-ness barricade him. She slipped inside and huddled in front of Sabree while Azrian squeezed against his uncle’s back. Together the three shuffled as one through the death-ray room.

  Eventually, the little luck that favored them had run out. They had made it thus far until they entered the dart room. Of the three, behind the men, and only taking a few darts, she remained conscious long enough to swallow a few Colton tablets. What else could she do?

  The cold spread to her core, her cheeks burned. She braced herself for the only feasible option left—send a telepathic cry for help. “Brian, please help us. We’re on White Ghost’s island…too many darts.” The cold took her last thoughts as she drifted into a deep hibernating sleep.

  34

  Scot-Free

  T he Lighted Realm spiraled to a screeching halt. Quite literally as the endless data that streamed through my mind, shooting sparks in every direction, jammed to a stop. The deafening silence almost jetted me into the farthest dimension of the realm. If a small voice stopped the works, knocked me on my ass, how would I ever defeat aThorsis?

  My version of ears prickled as I listened again for the faint echo.

  “White Ghost’s island,” came my sister’s plea.

  The last time we spoke, she, Azrian, and Sabree claimed they were hiking the Crags. Wait. I should’ve known she was up to no good. Never heard of anyone taking their nephew on a honeymoon hike—never happens. The three duped me but good.

  A red smudge oozed silently, closing in from the edge of the horizon nearest me. It marred the beauty of the realm. I sent a telepathic adios to aThorsis. “Sorry, no time to play.” My turn to run away and fight another day, I kicked into JLS and appeared inside the mansion. Filled with dread, worried aThorsis might follow me here, slowed me down a bit. If Ariane took the thistle crystal globe with her, then nothing could stop him from entering the mansion.

  Sure enough, aThorsis materialized in the driveway, this time possessing an Malakhim body I didn’t recognize. My telepathic message provoked him. “You want me, come get me.”

  “Come outside, coward.”

  What? He couldn’t enter the mansion? I raced into the office and stopped short. The thistle globe was on the desk. Another white lie from sister dearest, but she would only call for help as a last resort. Only if absolutely necessary.

  Zipping around like a madman in hyperdrive, I dressed in fleece from head to toe, and placed the thistle globe and bagful of Colton tabs inside my carry-all stone. Packed and ready, the front entrance of the cave formed a visual in my mind. I’d start at the beginning, oblivious as to where they might have met trouble.

  The entrance to the cave slammed me with a gut-wrenching déjà vu. The last time I stood here, Sabree 2.0 and I were on a mad search for White Ghost. An odd couple of our own sort, we compared to the best of the duos. Batman and Robin, Kirk and Spock, or Mulder and Scully, Sabree as the female character, couldn’t come close.

  A fine mist formed ice crystals on my cheeks, the only skin exposed to the elements. The island temperature had to be well below zero. Behind me the waterfall thundered. How did they survive the scolding falls? The amulet no good here, my sister’s wings couldn’t shield them. How far did they get?

  No clues left at the falls, I approached the entrance to the cave and stopped. Someone had rolled a huge boulder into the path of the swinging axe. My guess, Sabree and Azrian. The only explanation as to how the axe sliced halfway through the boulder had to come from celestial metal. My fingers brushed the silver blade. Tingling sparks pulsed through each digit and up my arm until I yanked it away. Definitely celestial. Nothing weird or magnetizing tugged on my intuition the first time I came across the axe. Because I had been to the realm, my awareness to anything celestial strobed like a neon sign. Touch me, touch me.

  I knelt over the axe and sniffed. The sweet odor of Sabree’s blood, minus the usual dust, wafted in the slightest breeze. By the size of the puddle underneath, Sabree had lost more than a few pints. The wind stung my cheeks. Chilled, I stepped over the boulder to get inside.

  Just beyond the entrance, a quick inspection revealed a pair of melted boots abandoned in the middle of the first chamber. Sabree’s by the looks of the expensive leather. Thus far, the evidence pointed to Sabree catching the brunt of each booby trap. Well-deserved if coming here was his idea. If not, I pitied him for joining Azrian and Ariane’s wild ride, their fools’ quest.

  From the boots, my gaze raked over the floor and then up the wall to where the ray gun or camera was wedged. I kicked one of Sabree’s fried boots across the room. A whirling sound, barely audible, divulged the ray gun’s exact location. I raced around the room so fast, my legs carried me along the top of the wall. By lap number two, I kicked the weapon from its lodged position. Destroyed it in case we had to come back this way.

  The ray gun spun in place, spitting sparks between discharging laser beams at the walls. I landed next to it to stomp it out of existence, but in its final death throes, the ray gun fired a final beam, missing my leg by inches. It sizzled, sparked, and then died, leaving silence and a tinge of burnt metal in its wake.

  From the depths of the cave, a bouquet of rosé wine drifted across the draft of the metallic char. Who would drink at a time like this? Ariane? A solid kick shot the ray gun through the entrance, across the path, and into the waterfall pool. I ventured onward, trying to recall which booby trap popped up next. The darts? Did an automated machine replenish them? Cautious steps switched into zip mode. Nothing could hit me if I sped up until time stood still.

  Fifty feet down the path into another open chamber, my hiking boots skidded when the sweet scent of Sabree’s blood overwhelmed my senses. The speed excessive, both sneakers braked and left the ground as I leapt over three bodies sprawled across the narrow chamber. I spun in place and stared at my son the pincushion. Then my gaze settled on Ariane. Still semi-conscious, my sister raised her flask and swigged, holding it at ninety degrees to swallow the last drop.

  “Bout time,” she said, slurring her words. “My brother, the hero.” Ariane let the empty flask fall next to the other.

  There wasn’t enough wine in the two flasks to put her in a drunken stupor. Most likely the dart poison messed her up. She’d never fess up to calling me a hero. Her unborn child unaffected by alcohol might have issues with the poison. “Are you okay?” I knelt down and placed a few tablets between her lips. “Chew. Here’s a few more for the baby onboard.” I handed her a couple more.

  Dust sprinkled from the ceiling and gravel popped about my boots like popcorn kernels. The familiar rustle jump-started my instinct to full alert. Sweet blood filled my nostrils. Both eyeteeth extended as if to feast. I stood upright to look around until my gaze fell on Sabree. Blood oozed from the thick gauze bandages. A droplet splashed on the floor. Several pints wouldn’t have set me in motion any faster than that single drop. My mind buzzed, recalling the last time one globule of Sabree’s blood hit the dirt.

  Mere seconds was all the time it would take me to corral all three farther into the tunnel before the ceiling caved in. I stooped over and heaved Ariane over my shoulder, grabbed Azrian and sped for the tunnel. Dropped both and dashed back for Sabree. Just as we rushed over the threshold into the tunnel, the entire roof caved in. No going back the way we came.

  After I munched down a few tablets to refuel, it took six tabs each to bring everyone to their senses, to counteract the poison. Even the super-dosed tabs left each with a headache. Standing over them, my arms folded, I waited for someone to fess up. Sabree looked up but glanced away before I could ask if this mess was his fault. His blank stare focused on the tunnel ahead. Then my son sc
ratched his head, his eyes darting about to look at anything but me. Guilty.

  “So, Azrian, this was your brainstorm?” The fading blisters on his arms reminded me of the army ant bites. “Whose lame idea was it to run through the waterfall?” I yelled the last word.

  Ariane, sober and free of poison, spoke for the team. “Mine.” She coughed into her hand when she stole a glimpse of my eyes. The pressure behind them burned, the rims glowing a tawny amber. No longer did they turn red now that I had skinny dipped into the Lighted Realm. The amber streaks in my hair were hidden beneath the knitted cap. Embarrassing of late, the streaks mimicked miniature strings of golden lights used to decorate vases and tabletops. Fairy lights.

  “I had no idea our supply of Colton tabs would boil into a useless pulp. No idea…” She sniffled to fight back the tears. “I’m sorry.”

  The burn from my eyes traveled down my throat. What if she had lost consciousness? Never called for help. They would have petrified, buried inside the caved-in tomb for all eternity. Sabree’s dripping blood guaranteed to bring the house down. A deep grave. Doubted even my A-factor would have located them. “Whose idea?” I asked again an octave higher.

  Azrian coughed on a reply. “Mine.” Between grimaces, he swallowed the water I offered. “My idea, Pop. I wanted to find our own White Ghost so we could exchange it with yours. We did this for Zoeree. Aunt Ariane and I begged Sabree to help.”

  “Amazing you all got this far scot-free. But how did you get to this island? No airport, no misting, ships take longer than a month, so how?”

  This time Sabree cleared his throat. “I carried Ariane and Azrian in a carry-all stone like the one I gave you.” He shook his head as if to clear it of cobwebs. “Can we go now? White Ghost waits.”

  “You had two carry-all stones? Let me rephrase that. You stole two?” Both hands rubbed my scalp until a fine dust stirred in my hair, evidence from the near miss cave-in. When Sabree shrugged, his gaze glued on the tunnel ahead, I twirled and kicked my pack in the same direction. It shot all the way to the other side of the chamber.

  Where’d that outburst come from? Rage from almost losing them? Frustration? No one had a clue how close they had come to being buried alive. Worse yet, my sister brought her amulet for backup, forgetting that along with the stones, nothing celestial worked on this island. I pointed at her wrist, and just as quickly, yanked my hand behind my back, its shaking evident. “Guess you forgot the amulet doesn’t work here, huh, Sis?”

  Fresh tears brimmed her eyes as she studied the bracelet. “I forgot.”

  At least the Fates were merciful for a change. For me and especially for the three stooges hovelled at my feet. At the very least, I earned three gold stars for the rescue: capture this time zone’s White Ghost, collect another locking ruby, and teach these stooges a valuable lesson. I hoped the latter would hold true. A little white lie should reveal their true intentions.

  “That’s it then, we’re done here. I’m going to JLS you home, one at a time.”

  “No!” Azrian hollered. “Leave me behind. I still have a mission to complete.” He cocked his head in my sister’s direction, hoping she’d join him.

  Ariane rose to her feet and brushed my hand aside. She dusted herself off. “I’m with him. Zoeree needs us.” She nudged Sabree’s backside with the tip of her boot when he remained seated. “Join us. Thought you were a musketeer once.”

  Clearly, none of them trusted me enough to come through for them. Little if any had confidence in my ability to defeat aThorsis. Doubts filled each one. But to this extent? To blatantly stand against me. “I promised to find a way to free Zoe the second I defeated aThorsis and take his place. Undo the damage he caused.” All three sets of eyes stared beyond me. All three still doubted, so I caved. “You win, but only if I can come along for the ride.”

  “Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Azrian said, adjusting his pack. “We can’t lose if you’re on our team.” He looked to Ariane and Sabree. “He’ll make sure we survive the rest of the booby traps and then JLS us home. It’s a win-win.”

  They did need me after all but only under their own terms. “If memory serves, there’s a gas bomb in one chamber and a floor of nails in another. Can’t recall which came first.” Following their lead, I picked up my pack and slipped it over my shoulders. “Not knowing might slow us down a wee bit.”

  “No such thing as slow going for you, Pop. I’ll take the lead. If something goes wrong, we will only be one man down, and still have you as backup.” He pushed his way forward on Ariane’s nod. Sabree fought against Azrian until my son shoved him aside to take his place at the head of the line.

  The intensity Sabree exhibited to take the lead seemed unlike him. Curious, I took up the rear. Or so they thought. While they trudged onward in an exhausted march, I sped ahead to scout for traps and then zipped back behind them. Back and forth more times than I could count. No one knew the wiser.

  Sabree kept urging Azrian onward, poking his back, so on each zip-by, I nudged Sabree back a few steps. Then every time Ariane glanced behind to check on me, I brandished my infamous crooked smile and waved her on. Waves of envy from her mind knocked on my own. The extent of my powers bothered her of late as did my future sister. But would she envy all I would ultimately give up, leave behind to take aThorsis’s place? Perhaps, I was daft after all.

  The next dash forward and back revealed a wall trigger up ahead—the smoke bomb. “Hold up,” I hollered after dashing to the end of the line. “Need to tie my boot.”

  “Seriously, Pop?” Azrian blocked the path. “Easy, Unc, stop pushing.” Azrian elbowed him back when Sabree shoved an arm across his chest. “What’s ahead?” my son asked, stepping on Sabree’s bare foot to keep him at bay. “I know you’ve been speeding ahead and back, looking out for us. You create a slight breeze each way. Over and over again.”

  Busted. I squeezed by Ariane and bodily shoved an impatient Sabree against the wall. “Still trying to take the lead?” I growled. My fingers dug into his jacket and pulled him along. “Want the lead so bad? Here, have at it, but wait…” I wiggled a finger across the trigger.

  The smoke bomb blew out a puff of green gas that fogged the tunnel. I shoved Sabree behind me and spun in place mimicking a mini tornado, driving the gas away until it dissipated.

  Sabree’s eyes, the color of washed-out champagne, stared at me as if I wasn’t there.

  “What’s with him,” I asked my son. “He’s not himself.”

  Ariane screamed like a banshee, a cry so chilling it meant only one thing: critters, bugs, or snake-like worms. She jammed a balled fist to her mouth as she pointed at Sabree’s back.

  I spun him bodily around. Something under his pack wiggled. Closer inspection revealed the pack had legs, thousands of them. I leapt back, slamming against the wall so fast, my body pounded a two-inch dent into the rock wall. Ariane screamed again. Nope, that girly scream had come from my own big mouth.

  Sabree muscled to the front of the line. Hesitant at first, I grabbed his arm to avoid touching the three-foot-long centipede attached to the back of his neck and hanging down to his waist. The army of centipedes that attacked the future Sabree were wee critters compared to this whopping mother. What hole had it crawled out of?

  Azrian freaked out next. Topped my girly scream by a few octaves higher. No one except my future sister idolized bugs, never mind a quadrupled-sized snake-like centipede with millions of crawling legs and chomping incisors the size of my fangs. More gruesome, the critter’s mouthful of razor teeth followed the entire perimeter of the pede’s body—four feet in all if I counted down one side and up the other.

  Twirling like ballerinas, Azrian and Ariane checked each other’s backs and released heavy sighs when they announced no bugs. Their backs clear, my sister examined mine next. “You’re good.” Then she pointed at Sabree. “Get it off him, Brian,” she cried.

  My sigh shadowed theirs. Poor Sabree, but the only thing that came to mind was thanking
the gods that Ariane was pregnant, even though this version of my sister showed no love of bugs. “How? The effing bugger is all teeth.” A shaky finger poked its back. The pede reared up at my hand and took a chunk out of it. Blood and dust sprayed. F-bombs echoed off the tunnel walls.

  Still cursing, I danced around with my hand between my thighs. The pede’s saliva stung worse than fire ant bites. I risked a glance at the wound. Veins of green hues traveled up each finger under the skin. “It’s spreading. My God, it hurts. Tears of fire streamed down my cheeks. I held my hand up to Azrian’s face. “Cut them off!”

  His eyes bulged. “No way! I won’t do it.”

  Ariane slapped my face. Stunned, taken aback that she struck me, I examined my hand again. The screaming green dulled to a greenish-yellow until it vanished completely, my fingers healed. “False alarm,” I squeaked. “Sorry.”

  “The poison must’ve caused temporary insanity. You went ballistic. Sabree never flipped out like that.”

  “Give me a break, Sis. The frigging pede hurt like hell.” So, maybe I overreacted a wee bit. Undaunted by color-blending archangels, Malakhim armies, and even a Dark One, I deserved an Achilles’s heel of my own. Be it bugs. Before she could knock me down another peg, I offered my two cents for what it was worth. “For reasons unknown, its poison burned like hell. Felt like my hand was on fire. Maybe the pede has to be nicer to Sabree to get him to carry it to its destination. Maybe to meet White Ghost.”

  “Hey, guys,” Azrian said, pointing at the tunnel, “Unc and his bug went on without us.”

  “See,” I said to my dubious sister. “Either the pede is egging him on or a desperate Sabree is beating feet to see if White Ghost will tell him how to remove it. Wait here.” I ran after him, leaving the others behind. Both boots dug into the dirt when I screeched to a stop. In the next room, Sabree was walking along as if the floor was smooth marble. Not tiles but nails. He almost sank to his knees with each agonizing step. “Sabree! Stop.”