by K.N. Lee
Raven was reduced to tears as she thought of how the beauty of what Alice did to the humans would have burned her from the inside out and sent her into episodes of agony until she was nothing but ash.
It was then that Raven felt her first wave of doubt. The angels were there to clean up the mess they began centuries ago. They were to either eliminate or find a way to separate the nephilim from the humans. There was no changing that both she, and Koa, were nephilim.
Neither was exempt from the wrath of God and his agents.
17
Returning to the church with Ian in tow and Halston leading the way, Koa assumed that she would feel at ease now. She had imagined smiling and feeling full of joy to have her best friend back. However, her stomach was in more knots than she thought was possible. She felt sick, on the verge of vomiting.
The entire ride, Halston was in a strange mood. She’d expected a completely different reunion. She expected hugs and tears of joy, not the cold, stern greeting she’d received.
Ian’s constant chatter and non-stop questioning did little to break the tension. Koa began to wonder what happened to Halston in the Netherworld. What made him turn cold on her?
Am I the crazy one? Koa wondered such things as she walked into the church for the first time. So much wood. The walls were wooden as well as the pews. Ian stepped inside and sat his backpack on one of the pews. He folded his arms as he looked around.
“I can already feel it, Koa,” he said with a nod. A smile spread across his face and Koa frowned.
“What, Ian? Why are you smiling?” She leaned against the wall and watched Halston go through the door that led to the lower level and the catacombs. He never looked back at her. She shook her head as an unsettling feeling flooded her.
What did I do wrong?
Ian sat on the back of one of the pews and faced her. “We are going to have a blast, you and I. And that surly blonde dude.”
Koa shook her head and cracked an uneasy smile. She lowered her voice as she leaned closer to him. “Halston is no ‘dude.’”
Ian laughed.
Koa laughed as well. “And I’m not sure if we’re going to have a blast. I don’t think you know how serious this all is. We are not playing video games here.”
Ian folded his arms. “Oh but I do. I saw that BBC thing that’s all over YouTube. That Greggan guy made an announcement about changing the VRS and a bunch of other stuff. He claims he’s a king and plans to rule over all the vampires while making the humans feed us.”
Koa stood and stepped closer to him. Her face paled. “What?”
Ian nodded. “Yeah, you haven’t seen the videos? They’re all over the place now. I even embedded it into my blog.”
Koa took Ian’s hand and pulled him along behind her. She went over to the door Halston had disappeared into. The brass handle was rusted and scraped her hand as she turned the knob.
She paused at the top. Darkness welcomed her. The staircase trailed deep into the Earth. The darkness below made her uncomfortable. Koa knew that only horrible things happened in the dark. A flood of fear crept onto her, making her skin tighten and her throat swell. Bad things entered her mind.
Memories.
Not just the memories of the things Koa had seen and done with the Netherworld Division, but the memories that Jax had returned to her. The Netherworld had nearly killed Koa. She struggled to force those memories from her mind. Standing above a dark staircase threatened to cripple her.
Koa’s shoulders slumped. She had to get over her fear of the dark and her fear to face her past. The things that had been done to her in the Netherworld.
Koa swallowed. It was strange being half vampire and still afraid of the dark.
She clenched her jaw and pulled Ian along.
“Hey, what’s the rush?” Ian asked from behind. “I can walk without you holding my hand.”
Koa let go of his hand and glanced over her shoulder. Her brows furrowed. “I’m sorry,” she apologized.
Ian shrugged. He smiled. Such a warm friendly smile was a gift to her in these times of fear and doubt. She was glad that she brought him along.
“It’s fine. I was only joking. You can hold my hand whenever you want.” Ian winked and Koa snickered.
She turned back to the dark stone corridor and caught sight of a row of doors. On either side were large wooden doors, but Koa could hear voices coming from the door at the very end.
“I just need you to tell Halston and the others what you just told me about that BBC video.”
Koa walked quickly to the final door and pushed it open.
Tristan greeted her with a stern look. Koa noticed that the door led to another hallway, one with lights. Tristan was just about to leave. He nearly blocked all of the light as his large body seemed to fill the entire doorway.
He looked over Koa’s shoulder and gave Ian a strange look. “Who is that?”
Koa put her arm around Ian’s waist. Pride shone on her face. “My sire. Ian, meet Tristan.”
Ian held his hand out. Tristan lifted an eyebrow and stared down at Ian’s hand. He gave Koa a sidelong glance. He gave her a smirk. Mischief twinkled in his eyes. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”
Koa poked Tristan in the abdomen. His stomach was as hard as stone. “Yes you did,” she grinned.
Tristan chuckled and looked Ian over, either ignoring his outstretched hand or unsure of just what to do with it.
“Where are the others?”
Tristan nodded to another door. “Just through that door.”
Ian finally lowered his hand and gripped the handles of his backpack.
“Where are you going?” Koa asked Tristan.
He pulled a cylindrical bottle out of his leather side bag. He held it up before her face. His already narrow brown eyes narrowed even more as he looked at her through the glass. “Going to bottle up some sunlight.”
Koa raised a brow but didn’t question it. Anything was possible with Halston’s inventions. “Have fun with that,” she said and walked over to the other door. “Come on, Ian.” She expected to be greeted by a damp, cold, basement.
Koa looked around in disbelief. She should have known better. The basement was oddly modern. Gadgets, electronics, sleek furniture and prototypes of Halston’s inventions were everywhere. It was a lovely sight that reminded her of Halston and their time as partners. She did a 360 and stepped back when she saw Jax. He glanced up from a giant tome that he was reading.
His blue eyes lit up when she looked at him, and his quiet confidence made her look away. There was something about the way Jax looked at her that made Koa feel self-conscious. Whenever those blue eyes rested on her, she felt as if he were studying her, and it made her uneasy.
With a nervous nod, Koa acknowledged his presence and quickly crossed to the other side of the room. She didn’t want to think too much of the night they kissed. She felt guilty, as if she’d betrayed her feelings for Halston. She didn’t have room in her head to worry about such things right then.
Evina sat on the edge of a white leather sofa, and filed her nails with a knife.
“When can we leave this place?” Evina came to her feet and held her hands in the air while turning in a circle. “You mentioned shopping…”
Koa leaned against one of the stone columns and folded her arms. “Talk about priorities, Evina,” Koa said. She avoided Jax’s eyes. He was still watching her. She saw him sitting in front of Halston’s computer station in her peripheral vision.
“You brought someone with you,” Jax said, closing the tome and coming to his feet. He approached Ian like a curious child. He spoke about Ian as if he wasn’t standing right there. “Twenty-one years old.” He looked at Koa. “Freshly turned.” He shot a look back at Ian. “Another day walker.”
Koa’s jaw dropped. “How did you know that?”
“You’re making a habit of underestimating me. Which is fine.” Jax smiled and turned from Ian, who was content with exploring all of the gadgets lyi
ng about. “I enjoy surprising you.”
“New vamp?” Evina eyes brightened and she followed Ian. “Come here,” she ordered him.
Ian paused and raised a brow to Koa. “Should I listen to her?”
Koa laughed. “I would.”
Evina pressed her bosom to Ian’s chest and laced her fingers through his black hair. He swallowed hard and his cheeks flushed as he looked at her. Her face was close enough to kiss and Ian seemed visibly uneasy.
“Not bad, Koa,” Evina whispered as she touched his cheeks and ran her finger over his full lips. “He’s not bad looking. Not bad at all.”
Koa watched Halston who typed away at a computer station. He seemed to be in another world and she did not want to disturb him.
Evina turned on her heels and came grinning over to Koa. “Can I have him?”
Koa scrunched up her brows and glanced over at Ian who still stood there completely still with a strange look on his face. She gave Evina a look. “Don’t even think about it.”
Evina chuckled. “Stingy.” She pointed at Koa with a long finger and red manicured nails. “You cannot have all of the attractive guys, Koa. First there’s my brother, then there’s Halston, now a new guy. Come on, share a little.”
Koa’s cheeks burned red. She tried to hide her embarrassment from Evina’s comment and walked over to a glass cabinet stocked with liquor. She had to admit, Halston had everything covered with this safe house. It was like a bunker full of everything they could possibly need if they needed to lay low.
She sat on the counter top and opened a bottle of carmia. She drank it down and opened a bottle of tequila.
“Drinking so early?” Halston asked without looking up.
Koa shrugged. “To help me sleep.”
“The War-Breeder seems to be sweet on you,” Koa tried to change the subject. She drank a shot of tequila. Her favorite.
Evina scoffed. She faked a laugh. “Please. Do I look like I’m interested in a War-Breeder? Netherworld royalty do not intermix with the other races. No thanks.”
Koa shrugged and downed another shot of tequila. She sucked in a breath. “Suit yourself. Big man like that, fairly attractive considering the scars, and he likes you. Why not give him a chance? Because Ian, and Halston, are off limits.” She immediately regretted that last statement. She swallowed and felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Jax frowned at hearing it, but didn’t say a word.
Surprisingly, Evina kept her mouth sealed as well. They both looked at her with knowing eyes. Koa cleared her throat and poured herself another shot.
Her arm froze midway to bringing the shot glass to her mouth when she heard something come down the stairs. The sound of tiny feet.
Koa smelled a familiar scent, one that brought her to her feet and made her set her shot glass down.
“Mother,” Koa shouted. Tears instantly filled her eyes and she squealed with delight when her mother ran to her. Koa ran to her and Raven leapt into her arms. Koa fell to her knees and closed her eyes. She embraced her mother and wept with joy.
Raven purred. She was soft and warm, but their embrace would never be the same as when her mother was free of her curse.
“My dear Koa! You made it back to me again.”
Koa nodded and let the tears fall into her mother’s black fur.
“I did!”
“Halston kept his word, again.” Raven pulled back and looked at Koa with big, green eyes. “I knew he would. He always does what he says he will.”
Koa squeezed Raven to her bosom again. “I missed you, Mama.” It felt so good to have the freedom to call her that again.
“I missed you too, dear.”
Koa smiled and sat on the floor stroking her mother’s fur.
A young woman came down the steps. She was a pretty girl. She stepped into the room with a wide smile. Koa looked her up and down. Tall, long legs, pink hair. She had big gray eyes and looked to have been blonde from the highlights in her pink hair.
There was something about her. An air of superiority. Koa could tell this mysterious intruder should not be taken lightly. Koa moved her mother aside and came to her feet. She brought her hand to the hilt of her sword.
“Well, this is a lovely reunion,” the woman said. Her gray eyes scanned the room with a look of approval. “Halston. Brother,” she said warmly.
Halston finally stopped working on his computer and stood.
“Welcome back, Alice,” Halston said with a nod. “And you as well, Raven.”
Jax and Evina gave her a quick bow. “Master Alice,” they greeted in unison.
The girl made a sound with her tongue. “Oh, children. You don’t have to call me master. We aren’t in the Netherworld anymore. No one’s watching… I won’t tell.”
Evina and Jax both looked at her and nodded. They looked afraid of her.
Alice turned her gaze to Koa. She approached her and Koa tensed. She looked confused when she hugged her.
“It’s great to finally meet you, Koa. I’ve heard so much about you.” Alice took the shot glass that Koa had set on the countertop and tossed the tequila into her mouth. She licked her pink lips and winked at her. “Where’s the lime?”
Koa’s mouth parted. Her eyes widened with realization. “You’re Al? I mean Alice? I’ve heard of you,” Koa said slowly. “You’re a legend.”
“Oh sweetheart.” She gave Koa a fond look. “You’re much sweeter than your reputation led me to believe. How nice of Halston to finally let me meet you.”
Koa nodded, unsure of how she felt about the statement about her reputation. She looked Alice over once more, intrigued by her sense of style. She couldn’t believe how pretty Alice was. As an agent that preferred to be called Al when in the field, she could have easily have passed for a model. But of course, there wasn’t an angel that Koa had met that wasn’t attractive.
“Well you know how Halston is,” Koa said.
Alice clasped her hands before her and looked up at Halston with inquisitive eyes. “So, Mr. Boss Man. I saw that giant War-Breeder outside filling vials with sunlight. Nice touch, I must say. Now, we have a prophet,” she nodded to Jax. She pointed a finger at Evina. “A temptress.”
Her gaze fell on Koa. “The half-blood and her mysterious banisher of a mother. Two angels, one of which is a pretty awesome metal-mind.” She tossed her hair, referring to herself. “Spoons is our navigator.”
Jax grinned. “You found Spoons?”
Alice nodded. “Did you doubt me?”
He shook his head and Evina smiled as well.
“Amazing,” Evina said.
Alice turned to Halston. “Well… that seems to cover just about everything we need. We seem to have a pretty nice team put together. When do we start killing enemy vamps and banishing demons?”
“More importantly,” Koa cut in. She walked over to Raven and picked her up from the floor. “When is Jax going to break my mother’s curse?”
Koa looked from Halston to Jax. Halston stood from his desk chair.
His jaw tightened as he stepped over to Jax. The tension in the air was thick as they shared looks of loathing.
“Why don’t you tell everyone what you did?” Halston said.
Koa felt her stomach bubble with anticipation. This is what she’d been waiting for. She could only imagine how Raven was feeling at that moment.
Jax looked past Halston and with a straight face, absent of emotion, spoke. “I can’t break the curse. Only the Alchemist can.”
Koa’s face heated. She shook her head. “What?”
“The Alchemist gave me the spell to help your mother stay safe from Bund.”
“And failed to mention that the Alchemist warned him that the spell was irreversible,” Halston added.
Jax glared at Halston, who was a few inches taller than him. “I was getting to that.”
“I can’t believe it,” Raven said.
The disappointment in her voice broke Koa’s heart. All she wanted was to protect h
er mother and break her curse. It never occurred to either of them that Raven would be forced to live as a cat forever.
Halston turned to them. “Let’s not lose hope now. I’m working to bring the Alchemist to this world. We will find a cure.”
Koa hugged Raven close.
“It’ll be all right, sweetheart,” Raven whispered to Koa.
Koa only felt mildly comforted. She couldn’t help but glare at Jax. She felt cheated somehow. She was under the impression that helping Jax escape the Ivory Tower would solve all of their problems.
Of course, Koa thought. Nothing is ever easy.
18
Koa waited outside. Her hopes for a quick cure for her mother’s curse were dashed. Now, they would have to find another way to stop Bund.
She chewed her nails as she watched for Halston. She stood far off into the forest, watching the church’s door for him to exit. This was the moment she’d been hoping to have since they’d reunited. Just to have him alone, to find out what happened in the Netherworld and why he was acting so strange. She needed to know.
Halston stepped out of the church’s back door shortly after he told her to wait for him outside. She heard his boots crunching on dead leaves as he approached. Koa wasn’t sure if she should be the first to speak or not. She decided against it and sat on a tree stump with her hands in her lap.
Her chest filled with hope as she watched him walk closer to her. He looked as perfect as ever. Not a single wrinkle or blemish tainted his sun-kissed complexion. His white blonde hair was a little disheveled and his bright blue eyes were a little dimmer than Koa remembered.
It worried her. There was something new in his gaze. There was a weariness that she wasn’t used to.
“I didn’t mention it earlier,” Halston began.
Koa detected a small measure of nervousness in his voice.
Peculiar, she thought.
He glanced at her, and then at the sky, folding his hands behind him. In the clearing, the sun seemed to shine only on him, like a spotlight. Koa watched the sparkle of dust motes float around him in that perfect light.