"What do you mean “She's not a full blooded Angel?"
"Her father, Lucifer, had fallout with a human woman, named Marie. Anna is half Angel, half human. She's a hybrid, as some humans would say."
"Then, what am I?"
"You're an Angel. You're a full-blooded Fallen Angel."
"Why did Rebekah, Lauren, and Jayden want her and not me?"
"You don't get it, do you?" Kira asked.
"What are you saying?" Charly asked while Blake looked on curiously.
"She's the One. She is the Leader. She is the One that every Angel has been waiting for. Joshua, you call him God, was here to ask her which side she chose, Heaven or Hell. I imagine she chose Hell. She never fell. She's not like you."
"Before you go, answer one question. Why are you here?"
Kira sighed. "Well, isn't it obvious? I came to make sure she chooses the correct path, Hell's path." And then she was gone, with Charly and Blake staring after her.
I jumped up onto the cliff's edge, looking down. Don't do it, a voice called to me. "Joshua?" I called. There was no answer. "No! Don't do it!" Rebekah yelled as she saw me jump over the edge. She grasped my hand and pulled me up. "What the heck do you want?" I asked. "To not get you killed." she answered honestly.
"Well you don't have to pretend like you actually like me. I know exactly what you're planning and I won't do it. I won't lead on Hell's side during The War. You can count on that." I said while slowly and discreetly backing over the edge. "Did you already tell Joshua what you're going to do? Whose side you choose?" she taunted me.
"Well, of course I did! I'm not stupid, like you." I said through clenched teeth. She glared at me, which I laughed at. She was adorable for actually thinking that she could overpower me. She cracked a smile and said in a voice that was cold as ice, "I don't want you in my army. You don't even realize what I am, do you?" She laughed harshly. "You're the stupid one, Anna. You actually think you can lead an army? Joshua is in way over his head. You and that pitiful little team you call an army will crash and burn in Hell while I watch on the sidelines laughing at your agony."
I instantly reiterated, "It doesn't matter what you are. I know I can do this and you can't stop me." She sighed, exasperated. "I don't want to stop you. I want to inform you of what you really are." I rolled my eyes. "I already know what I am!" I exclaimed, "I am an Angel. I know that I am not a Fallen Angel, but a Heavenly Angel."
"You are not either of those things." Rebekah told me.
"I am not a human." I said, my voice leaking of disgust.
"Not fully anyway..."
"What the heck does that mean?”
"It means that you are the Hybrid."
I laughed. "Hybrids don't exist. They're a myth."
"I didn't say a Hybrid, I said the Hybrid."
"Which is...?"
"You are the most powerful being in the universe. You are the One everyone has been waiting for."
"Yeah, right, and pigs fly. Get real, Rebekah."
"I'm serious. You are half-Angel, half-human."
"You're crazy."
"Join us, join me."
"Um, no, why would I join Hell?"
"You would join because of your father, Lucifer."
"Oh, okay. No. I suppose next you're going to say my name isn't really Anna too..."
"Yes! Your real name is Lucia!"
"And I'm leaving." I turned away from the cliff and headed towards the forest.
I walked inside and saw eyes everywhere I turned. I was completely surrounded. I dialed Charly's number and held my phone up to my ear. "Charly?" I asked in distress. "Anna? What's wrong?" she asked. "Rebekah and her minions have me surrounded in the South Forest. I just walked in from the cliff side."
I heard talking from the other end and realized she probably had it on speaker phone. "Wait, who else is with you, Charly?" I asked warily. "Hey, it's me, Kira. Anna?" Kira told me through the phone. I started to walk further through the forest and heard a growl. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me." I muttered underneath my breath. "What is it?" Kira asked. "I am surrounded by Hellhounds. God, I hate those things, except for mine. Mine is precious." I said with a smile.
"Why do you have a hellhound?" I sighed. “I lived in Hell for eight years, duh. So is Blake coming or what?" Charly took back the phone. "He's kind of out of it," she said, "We have something to tell you. Something that's kind of important, Anna-" "I know, I know. Believe me, I know." I interrupted her. "You know what?" she asked. "I know that I'm not a Fallen Angel or a full-blooded Angel. I'm the Hybrid. I'm half-Angel, half-human." Charly got quiet. "There's something you should know." I instantly got suspicious.
"What?" I asked. "That's not the whole story. Um, I don't really know how to say this-" "Oh, just spit it out already!" I interrupted. "You're my sister! Or my half-sister anyways..." I was at a loss for words.
Chapter 6
It's a good thing I lived in Hell for most of my life. I know how to deal with Hellhounds. Don't run. They will always chase and rip your head off. No human can ever fight them off. The only sure way to kill them is to kill their Master, their Demon Master.
I was guessing they were Rebekah's, but as it turns out, they weren't. "There's something else you should know." Charly said. I faintly heard someone shoving someone out of the room. She continued, "Those aren't Rebekah's hellhounds. They're Kira's." I blinked rapidly. "You're lying. You have to be lying."
"Well, I'm not."
"Well, even if you weren't, which you are, you would have to kill her, which you can't. She's a witch. She's virtually impossible to kill."
"And that's where you're wrong. We could kill her easily seeing as how she isn't a witch anymore."
"What? She's still a witch. That's why she came down here in the first place!"
"No, she came down here to get you on Hell's side. She told me this herself.
"Well, we have bigger issues right now. How do I get away from the hellhounds?"
"Just try to-" The line went dead.
"Charly? Charly, answer me!" I screamed into the phone. It was no use. I heard laughter and it was getting closer. I saw Kira with Charly, dragging her along like a sock puppet, lifeless. "Let her go." I said in a deep, dangerous, low voice. She laughed while Charly struggled to get free and stood right in front of me. "You want her? Take her!" She shoved Charly into my arms who were mumbling softly. I looked into Charly's eyes. They were hazy and unfocused. "What did you do to her?" I cried.
She laughed and said, "Just a bit of magic I've picked up over the years. Charly was wrong, by the way. I didn't lose my magic. It has simply gotten stronger. She is under a spell as you very well can see. Maybe I'll turn her into a Demon." She laughed at the idea. I was about ready to call her some choice words when Joshua stopped me in my head. Tread carefully, my child, he warned, the magic she uses is dark. Do not underestimate her. It will be the death of you. Use the light magic within you to overpower her dark magic. I have given it for you.
All of a sudden, my entire body lit up in full light and it extended outwards. I touched Charly and she was healed of the dark spell that Kira had put on her. "You stay away from me!" Kira screamed. I stepped forward, toward her. This time, I was so close I could feel the heat coming from her body. My hand was full of light and love and I touched it to her forehead and she zapped full of light and vanished. When she left, the hellhounds left too because their master was gone and, apparently, the connection too.
"Where did you send her?" Charly asked. My glow slowly started fading out and I looked up at her with new eyes. "Hell. I sent her back to Hell." What's wrong with your eyes? They look different. They look lighter, happier. You skin, it is white as snow and your hair is as red as a blood red rose." I looked at myself. As soon as I had let go of all the hatred and anger, all I could feel was light. "It was the magic, the pure magic. I let go of every horrible thing that I have ever done and felt. Everything horrible faded."
Charly's cell phone buzzed on th
e ground. Kira must have dropped it while she was dragging Charly along. I picked it up and recognized the number as Blake's. "Hello?" I answered. "Who is this?" he asked. He didn't recognize my voice. "Anna. My name is Anna." He sighed aloud. "Anna? Are you and Charly okay?"
"Define 'okay'."
"I'm on my way."
"Meet me on the cliff's edge. I love you."
"I love you too."
He hung up. I looked around and noticed a bush moving. I walked towards it and--gasp--came across Lauren. "What are you doing here?" I asked her. She slowly stood up. "I came here to help you, but I guess you don't need it what with all of that power residing in you." I looked down. "Okay, look, Lauren. I know we used to be friends. We used to be the best of friends back when I was there. We could continue on being friends but I'm guessing you want to be stay friends with Rebecca who absolutely hates me, but I won't make you choose. And about the magic thing, I can't just tap into it whenever I feel like it.
"It takes a lot of energy out of me and it’s not there to save my life. It's to save the lives of others. I'm doing this to save people. So, go off with Rebekah, but don't expect for me to welcome you back with open arms when Rebekah dumps you like everybody else. She only cares for herself and her agendas are always for the benefit of her. Remember that next time you are with her. It may save your life, or your heart."
I walked away with Charly in tow. I looked back and saw Lauren being pale and looked like she wanted to say something. And, get this; I heard it in my head. I don't want to be evil. I want to be good. I want to be as good as you even. I know this is kind of a late apology, but I'm sorry. I wish it could be different. "I know you do. It doesn't change a thing though, does it?" I said aloud.
I sat on the cliff's edge thinking about everything. Charly left earlier and I lay down, wondering if Blake was going to show up. "Hey." I heard behind me. I sat up and looked at him. "Hey." I went up to him and hugged him really tight. He hugged me back and kissed my hair. I started sobbing and couldn't seem to stop. I was breaking from the inside out. "Shh. It's okay." he kept repeating. I finally stopped and he sat down with me in his lap.
"It's my fault. I'm the reason all of this is happening. I should just leave all of you alone." I said. I looked down and he put his hand under my chin, forcing me to look at him in the eyes. "Hey, listen to me. You are the reason Charly is alive. You are the reason everyone is alive. You don't go down without a fight. That's a good thing."
"Wait, wait. What about Taylor? What has happened to him? Where is he?" I asked.
"I don't know. Nobody has heard from him in days. Why? What's wrong?"
"The last time I couldn't talk to him, he tried to kill himself. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong."
I stood up and dialed his cell phone number. There was no answer. I tried to send him a message through our minds. Still, there was no answer. I started to panic. He tried to subdue me, but to no avail. "You don't get it, Blake. They took him. They did it to lure me. And I'm going to trade my life for his." I told him. "No! Don't do it. What will the point be? Of you loving me? Of you killing your father? There would have been no point!" I walked off and created a portal with my mind. It’s time to head back to Hell.
I arrived and, of course, people were waiting for me. "Stop it, please! She doesn't need to be hurt or forced even. She is innocent!" Lauren's voice rang above us all. "Shut up!" Rebekah hissed. "No! She is my friend. If this is what it means for us to be here, then I choose her side. You guys can...go burn in the Lake of Fire forever for all I care!" She stormed off of their side and ran up to me. Rebekah was looking at her in horror. She could not believe she would choose my side of things.
Jayden stood up and walked beside me too. That one really surprised her and she did nothing to disguise her anger toward all of us. I was equally surprised and she shrugged. "Sometimes Hell isn't the answer. Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight in the war? Everyone is saying you have to choose, but what do you want to do?" I gave it some thought. He definitely had a valid point. What did I want do? I don't want to fight, I decided. I definitely didn't want to be a part of The War.
"I will not fight on either side! I wish not to so I will not!" I exclaimed to everyone on the battle field. Jayden smiled. First, it was just a quirk of his lips and then a full smile. I couldn't help but smile back. What am I doing? I asked myself. Think about Blake! You're in love with Blake. I looked at Jayden, like really looked at him. He had dark black hair that fell in his eyes, icy blue eyes, and a bright white smile. He stopped wearing the compromising clothing and settled on dark clothing. It fitted him best, I thought. I really needed to get my thoughts under control.
We turned back to the look at everyone. Beside me sat Lauren and Jayden. Everyone seemed shocked, as if they never even anticipated that I would say no to both sides. I turned to leave when Rebecca screamed and ran to me, fully anticipated to rip my head off when Jayden stood between me and her, protecting me. That seemed to stop her in her tracks.
"Jay," she whispered, "Don't do this." He said, "I have to. I cannot let her die. I read the scrolls. We are destined to be together." That puzzled I and he looked back at me with what could only be described as pure love. It nearly knocked me breathless, which is saying something. I was feeling jittery and unsure of myself. What is happening to me? I thought.
He took my hand which was warm and literally made my heart go in my throat. I had feelings which I thought I only had for Blake. Rebekah backed down and went back to Hell's side. "Wait! Where is Taylor?" I asked. Jayden yelled to Rebekah, "Retrieve Tanner, now." She shrunk back and brought him to me. I just so happened to look into a fiery tree and see none other than Charly and Blake. Oh, God, I thought. Charly immediately ran into his arms. They enveloped each other and embraced. Their lips came smashing down onto each other and were pressing each other closer and closer until it was as if they were one being.
Oblivious to the drama unfolding around them, Blake saw mine and Jayden's hands and ran. "Wait! Blake!" I yelled after him as I unlinked my hand from Jayden's and ran after him with tears running down my face. "Don't." he growled. As he got farther and farther away from me it finally happened. I fell down and collapsed from the grief. I couldn't lose any more people and I just lost the most important one of all.
Jayden caught up to me just in time to see me collapse. "DO YOU SEE WHAT YOU DID TO HER YOU SICK (INSERT WORD OF CHOICE)? DO YOU? YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED MY MATE!" he kept screaming as he kept crying. He saw the knife in my pocket and bent down and picked it up. He lifted it to his neck. "No!" I screamed from below him. He immediately set it down. "You're alive." he whispered. "I can't move." I moaned. He bent down and gathered me in his arms. As if he could not resist, he gathered me up his arms and kissed me, hard. For some odd reason, I kissed him back. He pressed me closer to him and walked with me back to the others. Charly and Taylor finally stopped kissing and noticed us. They cleared their throats. Jayden took my knife and slashed his wrist.
"No," I moaned. "It's the only thing that will heal you." he reminded me. He brought his wrist to my lips. "Drink." he ordered. I obliged him begrudgingly. Charly looked at us in horror as I attached my mouth to his wrist and drank deeply. When he was satisfied I had enough, he pulled his wrist back and sat me on my feet in front of him. "I," I tried to speak but couldn't find the words. "I know," he said, "even if you don't." I realized what I wanted to say, but was afraid. It was bad. They were the three most dangerous words in the world. I wanted to say I love you.
We arrived back at my house with--big surprise--Jayden. "I have to go do something. Don't follow me. It's for your own good." I said. Jayden looked like he was ready to argue but Charly gave him a look and he backed down.
I walked down to the Cliff's edge. "Joshua," I whispered. He showed up beside me immediately. "I don't know what to do. Sink or swim. Choose Heaven or Hell." He sighed. "Child, it is time we have a talk. You can't swing both ways. And need I remind you that he tried to kill
you. But maybe you need to think to yourself who is the better option. Who do you choose, Jayden or Blake? It is your choice and your choice only. What about the War? You can't just sit out. You have to choose."
And with that, he was gone. "Blake! Blake!" I called. He walked out of the Forest. "I-I'm sorry. I hope you understand. I choose..." Who did I choose? "I choose you, Blake. You will always be my one and only. I love you. How could I not? You are the best thing that has happened to me since Charly." He said, "Prove it. Tell Jayden what you choose, now." I grabbed my phone and punched in Jayden's number. After one ring, it picked up. "Jayden, we have to talk."
"Okay. So talk."
"So I've been thinking about some stuff. I have decided. Blake. He is the one that has been there for me through everything. You tried to kill me. I care about you, believe me, I do. But I love him, Jayden, which is why I have to let you go."
I hung up the phone.
Chapter 7
I looked at Blake. "You believe me now?" I asked softly. He looked at me and kissed me fully on the lips. After what it felt like to be 10 minutes or 10 years I don't really know, we broke apart, gasping for air. "Does that answer your question?" He asked smiling. I grinned like an idiot and kissed him. "Yes" I whispered. And his mouth was on mine and for once everything felt okay. It felt right.
"Where the heck are they?!" Charly swore. I walked into my apartment. "Well, hello to you too." She laughed and gave me a bear hug. I walked around, picturing my father's past Mansion. Arms wrapped around me and I turned in them. "I missed you." I said wistfully to Blake. I closed my eyes, basking in the warmth of his arms around me, holding me to him. He kissed me on my eyelids, my nose, my cheeks, and finally my mouth. I couldn't help but grin and he grinned back.
"Ya'll done yet?" a voice said behind me. I stiffened. "Blake, stay behind me." Wha-" He started to say but I cut him off. "Just stay there."
The Pain Page 3