by Mary Ting
He didn’t have a chance to finish his words. I took a fistful of his hair and yanked him to me. I had no idea what being in love meant or how it was supposed to feel, but if this was it, then it was absolutely amazing. Now I understood why humans needed this kind of love. My heart was so full, expanding to no bounds. I levitated off the ground and every fiber in me awakened. The sensation was addictive, compelling, and I wanted more.
Our lips danced under the dark sky, perfectly as one. But the sky wasn’t dark to me. The moon glowed golden and full and the countless stars were bursting with brilliance. That was what he made me see, how he made me feel. Everything was beautiful and timeless.
I needed him to know how much I had grown to care for him. And though we had no future together, I wanted to live for the moment, with him. He mattered more to me than I’d thought anyone outside my family could. We shared a level of trust and comfort that was hard to come by. It was easy to be with him.
The sound of someone clearing his throat broke us apart. I didn’t know which way to look. Oh God, please don’t let that be my uncle.
“Brody.” Eli ran his fingers through his hair, trying to block Brody’s view of me with his body.
Brody scratched the back of his neck, most likely wondering how he should react. “You know I can see Lucia behind you, right?”
“Oh yeah, of course.” Eli took a step to the side, trying to act cool. “What’s up?”
“Have you seen Abel? I can’t find him.”
Eli’s expression turned sour. “He’s been acting weird lately. I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”
My mind went back to when Abel and I were dancing inside the gym. “Abel said some strange things to me that didn’t make sense. Do we need to worry about him?” I added.
“I don’t think we do.” Eli sounded hesitant.
Brody scrolled through his phone, checking for messages. “Do you think he’s upset with Lucia, or you?”
Eli pulled out his cell and checked for messages too. “No. He told me he shouldn’t have taken Lucia to the dance once he knew how we felt about each other. He said this to me tonight. Right before he left the building.” Eli’s words were slow in coming as he realized that maybe Abel had left. His eyes roamed the parking lot.
“Doesn’t look like he’s around here. Plus, he came in a limo. Don’t worry, he’ll do his part.”
“Okay. He’d better. I also came for another reason.”
“What?”
“It’s time.”
Chapter 32
The beautiful moment Eli and I had shared was pushed to the back of my mind. More pressing matters were at hand. Lives were at stake. Death was sure to come, but to whom?
We had come up with many scenarios at our meeting the night before, focusing on what would be the best defense and offense in every possible situation. But no matter how much we thought we were prepared, it wasn’t even close to being foolproof. The outcome was unpredictable.
Eli, Milani, and I went to the field first, since we had the necklaces that could protect us from Cyrus. Then everyone else would follow but keep their distance. The three crystal necklaces would be just powerful enough to shield everyone. While some of the students were still in the gym having an amazing time, the other half were right behind us, ready for battle. But there weren’t as many as I’d hoped there would be. And where was Abel?
A tall man dressed in black stood alone in the middle of the football field. He could have been attractive from where I stood, but I knew he was no man. He was a monster, a beast from Hell, a nightmare you wouldn’t want to haunt your dreams. Even when he turned to watch the three of us walk to him, his stare was menacing, most likely plotting ways he could torture us. His black wings were behind his back, half closed.
The fresh-cut grass scent had been replaced by the stench of evil. Even the cool breeze I couldn’t normally feel stung my skin like needles. And the surrounding field lights that usually gave off a yellow hue were as red as blood.
“I see you’re not alone.” Even his tone gave me chills down my spine. “You’ve brought the very two I wanted to meet. One who will die tonight and the other who will be the death of you.”
“Shut up.” Eli cursed under his breath, tightening his grip on the rolled-up page. “I swear I’ll burn this.” Little did Cyrus know that the one Eli held was a fake.
Cyrus started to roll up his long sleeves. The monster was well attired in his pressed dress shirt and black slacks. He could have passed for a businessman.
“My, my, my.” He clicked his tongue. “Someone has a temper and it’s not me this time. We’re so much alike.”
Eli took a step forward. His jaw clenched and the paper in his hand crinkled. “I’m nothing like you.”
Cyrus crossed his arms and his wings ruffled in back. “Oh yes, you are. You astral travel to watch your mother die in my arms, over and over again. You’re a sick fool, just like me. Just as I enjoy watching myself kill your mother over and over again.”
I placed a hand on Eli’s back. He dropped his shoulders and took a step back, then extended his arm. “I’m going to hand you this paper you’ve asked for. Take it and leave. Leave us alone.”
Cyrus twisted the buttons on his shirt. “How do I know you’re not giving me a fake?”
“Just like I don’t know if you’re going to leave when you get it,” Eli seethed. “I guess we have to trust each other, don’t we?”
Cyrus lifted his chin and revealed his stone-cold eyes full of vengeance. “I don’t trust anyone, so I’m going to need collateral. I think I’ll take that one.” Cyrus pointed at Milani, beckoning her with his finger. He was stunned when it didn’t work.
Milani held a cocky smirk. “You can’t touch me.” She lifted her chest higher in a challenging stance and her fingers flickered with a small spark. Thank goodness her necklace worked.
Cyrus looked down for a second as if to contain himself from exploding with shock and rage, and then glared back at us. “You leave me no choice.” His words were like ice picks, scaling up my back. “Bring him!” Raising his hand halfway, he opened his closed fist, showing all his fingers.
The air moved like waves behind Cyrus. A shield unraveled, revealing countless numbers of his followers. He was prepared for battle, just as we were. But nothing could have prepared us for what was to come next.
Next to Vince was Abel. I recognized Vince because he still wore the same uniform as when I had seen him invade the cottage. I still couldn’t see his face behind the mask. And behind them were Possessor demons in human form, guarded and waiting for the command to kill.
Abel came forth with his followers—Cayden, Vanessa, and even the ones I didn’t know by name that sat with us during lunch. From their expressions I couldn’t be sure if they were captives or there of their own free will. But I knew the answer when I saw a figure next to Abel with his hands bound behind his back and his mouth gagged.
“Jack,” I breathed, feeling my heart race a million times faster.
Abel couldn’t meet our eyes when he spoke, “I had no choice. It was either all of our lives or his.”
“You coward!” Eli yelled. “You only think of yourself.”
Abel glowered in rage at Eli. “And you think too much of others. Someone had to take care of the Lamias, what’s left of us. I did it to protect our kind. You are still part of us. Give him the damn paper and we run. This is not our fight.”
Eli shook his head. “You think Cyrus is going to let us go free? He will own us. We’ll become his slaves in misery, to eternal damnation. You are still part human. You just sold your soul to the devil.”
“No. I bought us a way out.” Abel tugged Jack closer to Cyrus. “Give me the dagger. Let me do it.”
Cyrus scowled, tilting his head sideways. “You must think I’m a fool. If you’re a traitor to your own kind, you are a traitor to all. I’m letting you escape my wrath this time for sticking to your end of the bargain, but don’t think there will b
e a next time. Now—stick around and see what happens to those who stand against me.”
“Abel, no. What are you doing? Stop.” I begged. I didn’t realize I was inching forward until Eli held me back.
“Bring me the paper, Eli, or Jack dies,” Cyrus demanded.
What would Cyrus do when Jack’s blood on the dagger didn’t reveal the secret message on the fake paper? Would he kill him?
I couldn’t understand how relaxed and uncaring Eli was that Abel had once again betrayed him. Maybe he was used to it. I hadn’t gotten to know Abel that well, and I didn’t ever want to. Was that why he’d said all that nonsense when we were dancing?
Eli tossed the paper. It dropped near Cyrus’s polished black shoes.
“All this trouble for a paper.” Cyrus picked it up. Unfurling it, he brought it up to the sky. He took out the true-cross dagger and handed it to Vince.
Jack jerked and yanked to escape, but there was no hope. Vince grabbed his hand and sliced a line on his palm with the true-cross dagger. Jack winced as he saw the dagger submerged in his own blood. His eyes rolled back, and he appeared as though he was about to faint. Then Vince handed it to Cyrus.
Cyrus’s chest rose and fell in slow steady beats, but the elation of victory in his eyes was evident. As blood dripped from the dagger Cyrus lifted it up, opened his mouth, and let a drop fall onto his tongue. “He is surely the descendant of Jacques. How I wish he could be alive to see this day.” Raising the dagger, he plunged it through the paper.
The sound of something hard hitting a rock echoed through the air as lightning struck and thunder boomed. I had expected Cyrus to go on a rampage, for nothing was supposed to happen. But something did happen. On contact, light so bright, enough to blind everyone, burst through the hole, lighting up the football field. When it disappeared, a flicker of fire sparkled, and then words appeared. But we couldn’t read them. We were too far away. I couldn’t comprehend what was going on. Eli had given him the real one. But why?
It was not the time to ask. Astonishingly, the words I so desperately wanted to read disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. Only three people had a chance to read them. Cyrus, Vince, and Jack. Abel and his friends were surrounded by demons. Cowards. If Cyrus had allowed Jack to read the words, that only meant one thing.
Abel was the only one close enough to help Jack, but I knew that wouldn’t happen. I had to do something. When the words disappeared, I leaped forward for Jack. I had no plan in mind. Yes, it was reckless, but I followed my heart. The one thing driving me was to get Jack out of there. My wings provided the speed I needed to move, but they put me at a disadvantage. There was more of me to grab.
No, Lucia! Zach screamed in my mind.
I didn’t realize the ripple effect I would create. Zach and Uncle Davin dove out of the shield to come to my aid. Jack was safe in Zach’s wings, but I was in the hands of Cyrus. From the corner of my eye I saw Eli struggling to get to me, but Brody and Milani were holding him back.
Chapter 33
“Let her go,” my uncle demanded, holding his sword out. “You got what you came for. Leave.” His sword vacillated from Cyrus to Vince, back and forth, threatening to come at them.
“You are no match for me, little pathetic angel,” Cyrus growled. “Do you know who I am? And behold all those you would have to stop.” He waved his hand behind him.
“Well, good thing we came prepared.” My uncle nodded to Eli.
Eli flicked his finger and the veil opened behind him, revealing our group of Elementa and Lamias under Eli’s command. Some I recognized from school and others I’d never seen before.
It didn’t seem to affect Cyrus at all. In fact, he laughed, mocking us. “It’s a pity you’ve brought your friends to die with you.” His eyes became greedier and small flames shot out from them. “I’m the lord of Possessor demons. You can’t win. Bow down to me or die.”
“No, thanks. I’d rather kill you instead.” Uncle Davin leaped and surprised Vince from behind. He cut a good slash across Vince’s chest, but it wasn’t enough. They tangoed with their swords, but Uncle Davin retreated when Possessor demons came forth. Then it was chaos.
The demons came charging full force, but just as they reached Eli and his crew, they froze. In the light shining from Milani and Eli’s necklaces, the Elementa held out edelweiss flowers in their hands. We had hoped our plan would work, and it did. A thin layer of vapor was the only thing that moved around them. Their skeletal structures remained frozen, even their swords still protruded forward. The Lamias, under Eli’s command, stepped in to finish the job. It was glorious.
Some people didn’t believe in the old legends. But I’d always thought some parts were true. Thank goodness the edelweiss flowers had worked. I had to thank Lana for this. If it hadn’t been for her stories, I would have never thought of the idea. But I needed to get out of Cyrus’s hold. My necklace.
Cyrus was furious. The ground shook with the rhythm of his rage. Then it stopped. “Well, that was too easy, but don’t worry. I’ve just begun.”
Something was happening with the necklace. Heat was rising from my chest, but before the necklace could fully activate, something tugged at my neck and it slipped away. It was out of my reach on the ground. Since Eli and Milani had already used the power from their necklaces, our last weapon was gone.
Cyrus had a tight grip on me, but I craned my neck and gasped when I saw a girl with black wings. Her eyes were blood red and focused, and she seemed familiar. I knew that face. But how? As she fanned her delicate yet eerie-looking wings, she swung her sword as if to say “don’t mess with me.”
“Clarissa?” Milani seemed utterly shocked, as did Eli. “What the hell?” Milani fired, baffled by what she saw before her. I recalled Milani mentioning Clarissa was her friend. She was also one of many teens who had gone missing.
Suddenly, I knew why she looked familiar. Clarissa was the missing teen on the poster at the beach information kiosk. She wasn’t missing now. There was no mistake; Milani had recognized her friend.
“Ahhh, you two were friends. You see how I used the word ‘were’ there?” Cyrus stressed. I hated the pompous monster he was.
“Why? How?” Milani’s shoulders drooped and she appeared defeated as she tried to inch toward Clarissa, but Eli stopped her. How she must have desperately wanted to help her friend. When she backed away without a fight, I knew she had realized it wasn’t the right time.
Cyrus repositioned his grip on my half-closed wings. “No more playing. I’ve had enough. Feel my wrath and meet the rest of my family.” With that, Cyrus opened his mouth to the sky. Demon after demon flew out of his mouth and out of his body. Buzzing and swarming like bees, they surrounded us. We were in a tunnel of blackness with no beginning and no end, just a continuous darkness of pure evil. Oddly, the edelweiss flower didn’t have any effect on them, and unexpectedly, these demons had wings. They looked like bats out of Hell.
“Such a pretty little creature she is.” Cyrus stroked my wings. He held out the true-cross dagger in front of me. “Too bad she’ll be wingless. Or maybe I’ll let her keep her wings and she can stand beside Clarissa. Or maybe I’ll cut them off and give them to the highest bidder.”
“Let her go,” Uncle Davin commanded. “If you touch her, the Divine Elders will hunt you down.” He meant my parents.
“Really? Why aren’t they here to save her? Will they come if I kill her now?”
Cyrus scowled when Uncle Davin didn’t respond. His angered breath hissed on my face. I closed my eyes to calm my frenzied heart, but with the dagger inches away from it, I was sure I understood what it felt like to have a heart attack.
“You”—Cyrus coughed out a laugh—“you angels don’t think I’m worthy? You think I’m so small that I’m not worth your time? Well, maybe it’s time I show them how powerful I am. I might be half fallen angel and half demon, but I am more than worthy.” Cyrus’s hand lifted to penetrate the dagger into my heart.
As I watch
ed his hand move, my eyes fixated on Eli. He was so close, yet so far. Even if he tried to reach me with the speed he could move, he couldn’t save me. Sadness filled his eyes, the same expression as when I first met him. They were dull and sunken. Then pain beyond anything I’d experienced before racked me. Light blasted from the area where he’d stabbed the true-cross dagger into my chest.
“No.” I heard my uncle and Zach’s voices.
“No. Stop!” Eli bellowed. “Wait. What is your demand?” He inched closer.
I gasped loudly when Cyrus pulled out the dagger. It hadn’t gone in deep. Though only a minor puncture, it was painful. There was something magical and powerful in that dagger. I’d felt its strength when it was inside me. For a brief second I had been paralyzed.
“We gave you the paper,” Eli continued. “Let her go, Cyrus.” Eli took a few more steps. “Come on, Cyrus. Let’s bargain. What do you want? Have you degraded yourself to killing a small worthless angel? If you’re going to kill, why not the big one?” He pointed at my uncle. “He really sucks as a teacher. I really would like for you to get rid of him for me. You owe me that.”
Even at times like this he joked. I loved his humor and bravery. I loved that he cared enough to come save me. But it was a no-win situation and that thought broke me.
Cyrus’s eyes grew brighter as he reeled with thoughts, and his lips curled to a winning smile. He acted as though he tasted victory. “You would die for her, wouldn’t you? You’re in love with this girl with wings. I can feel your energy become stronger when you’re near her. And you’re right. I do want something else, and you fell into my trap just as planned. But you already know it’s not her I want. It’s you.”
“No!” Milani screamed. Her hands grew bright with heat energy, lighting up the night. “Eli, no. Don’t do it. Please, Eli,” she begged as tears welled in her eyes. Brody wrapped his arms around her, holding her back as she kicked and screamed.