by Cameo Renae
“I don’t understand. I just want to be with you and dad.”
“In time, darling. In time. We will always be with you in spirit. I have to go now, but always remember that I love you. Your father and I have always, truly loved you, Emma. You brought so much love and joy into our hearts. ” Her face slowly began to dissipate. The white cloud started to turn to a dark shade of grey and I started to feel cold again.
“Mom, don’t go!” I screamed.
“We love you, Emma. We love you,” The voices of my parents echoed and trailed off.
“Don’t go! Please don’t leave me alone. Mom…Dad,” I sobbed.
As soon as my eyes opened, everything around me was pitch-black. I felt the heat of my tears trickle down the sides of my face. My body was trembling, and I was still lying on my back, covered in mud.
“Emma,” A faint voice carried lightly on the night wind.
Oh God. I was losing it…big time.
“Emma.”
I froze again, not wanting to respond. It sounded like Kade. But what if it wasn’t? I couldn’t risk it. So, I waited anxiously for any kind of confirmation. Except for the sound of the river, my pounding heart, and the howl of the wind through the trees, there was nothing. I slowly sat up. The mud had dried and caked to my skin, cracking as I moved. Ugh! It felt horrible.
I looked around, but couldn’t see a thing. I must have been hearing things.
Then, suddenly, a heat overwhelmed me, and I gasped for breath.
There was a rustling in the trees ahead.
“Kade?” I spoke as quietly as I could. I needed to know. The feeling was too familiar, but no one answered. If it wasn’t Kade, I was going to be in BIG trouble.
I sat there, terrified and alone, with only the familiar blanket of warmth to comfort me. I had to risk it. I needed to know.
“Kade!” My voice carried.
“Emma? Emma, where are you?!” He called back.
It was him! My heart swelled three times its size when I heard him respond.
“Kade, I’m here!” I yelled, jumping to my feet.
Footsteps ran in my direction, and then I saw his face. His hazel eyes were glowing in the darkness. His face, luminous as an angel. I wanted to run to him and wrap my arms around him, but I was covered in mud. He stopped in front of me, and grinned, not making an attempt to touch me, and I didn’t blame him.
“What happened to you?” he laughed.
“Long story,” I huffed. “I never thought I’d find you guys again.”
“Hey, I do this for a living. I would’ve found you eventually.”
“I felt you. That’s how I knew it was you,” I breathed, grateful.
“I felt you too, but—”
We were suddenly interrupted by the others.
“Emma, you’re alive?!” Dominic teased, and then stopped with his hands out in front of him. “Whoa – have you been mud wrestling with the Darkling?”
“Haha. Funny,” I said un-amused. “This mud just so happened to save my life, unlike someone else,” I sneered at him, walking towards the river to rinse some of the mud off my face.
“Ooooo-!” Alex and Malachi sang out in unison as they walked towards us.
“Low blow, bro!” Alex said, punching Dominic in the arm.
“Hey, I wasn’t the one in charge of her,” he scolded, his eyes shooting toward Kade. “She was his responsibility, and I was injured. I had an arrow in my side!”
Kade’s face dropped and became saddened, and my heart instantly sank deep into my chest. I didn’t mean for that insult to include him.
“We were all responsible,” Alaine said, appearing out of the darkness. She walked over to me, took me by the hand, and we walked to the river. She bent down, and scooped up water in her hands to help clean off the mud caked on my face.
“I’m so sorry Emma,” she whispered.
My stomach churned, begging me to ask her the question that was burning in my mind. I needed to know. But was now the right time? Heck, creatures and crazy Fallen Angels were hunting to kill me. I’d say this was as good a time as any.
“Can I ask you a question?” I asked her softly.
“Of course you can,” She turned to give me her full attention.
“I just need to know. I mean, have to know…you know…in case something happens.”
“What is it, Emma?”
My stomach twisted and turned with butterflies, but I sucked it up.
“Are…are you my real mom?”
There was complete silence. Even the guys stopped talking and gaped at us.
She reached for my hand and grasped it tightly in hers. Although I knew what the answer would be, my heart pounded furiously, waiting for her answer.
“Yes, Emma. I am your mother.”
I took in a deep breath and couldn’t hold back the tears that had already welled in my eyes. This time, I wasn’t sure if they were tears of joy or sadness. Both, I guessed.
“And my father?” I wanted her to tell me. I wanted to verify what Danyel had said.
She shook her head with a look of pain in her eyes.
“Your father is dead. He was killed by the Fallen when they found out about us,” she swallowed hard, struggling to speak those last words. A single tear trickled down her cheek. “You would have loved him, Emma, and he would have loved you. You have his eyes,” she breathed taking my face into her hands. She pulled me to her and hugged me tightly against her chest. “I’m so glad you’re alive,” she repeated.
“Hey Emma. How did you get free?” Dominic asked. “The last thing I remember… you were standing right by me, and the next, you were gone.”
“Someone grabbed me. I don’t think it was a Darkling because it didn’t smell like one, AND… it did the sleeper thing to me.”
“Whoa! Looks like someone needs an ass whoopin’!” Dominic blurted, smacking Kade on the arm. “Right?”
“Right,” Kade nodded, but his eyes looked a little distant. I wondered what he was thinking.
“Hey…I’m ready to give an ass whoopin’! Bring it!” Alexander hyped, raising his sword above his head.
“Boys. Please. Let Emma finish,” Alaine said.
“Well, I woke up in a cave. I was bound to a chair when three of the Fallen came in. One of them asked the others where my mother was, and they said that she vanished. He yelled at them and told them to go back out and look for you and said you had the gift of invisibility,” I said, turning to Alaine who remained silent. “When the other two left, he told me I was some kind of super-breed of Angel, said that I was some part of an ancient prophecy…and when I turn eighteen and transform, I’d have to pick a side. He also said he was a friend of my father, and that my father was his mentor. And then…he just let me go. He told me which direction to run, and exactly how to get out of the cave.”
Alaine gasped. I could tell by the look in her eyes that I’d completely baffled and horrified her. “Did he give you a name?” she asked, her eyes begging for an answer.
“Danyel.”
Alaine turned and stared blankly into nothingness. “Danyel,” she whispered loudly to herself, and then turned toward the others. They all shared a silent look.
“Do you know him?” I asked.
“Danyel was your father’s best friend. I’d never met him, but your father talked a lot about him. They were nearly inseparable.”
“Yeah, that’s what he said. But he wasn’t the only one who helped me escape. There was another, and I’m almost sure he was an Angel too. I’d met him before. Actually, I met him when Courtney and I were on the outside of the property, on the other end of the labyrinth’s tunnel. He told me that I shouldn’t be alone, and that I shouldn’t leave the property. He’s the one that made me go back.”
“When I was escaping the cave, I heard him call my name in the tunnels. He carried me out of the tunnel, and told me to run and find all of you. He fought off the Darkling so I could get away.”
“Who was he? Did he giv
e you his name?” her eyes were wide.
“He didn’t say. He just told me that he was a friend.”
“He must have been close to your father,” she said softly.
“But the Darkling captured him. I heard them say they were going to take him to Lucian. We have to save him. He risked his life so I could get away. We have to save both of them.”
She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply, then got up and turned to the others.
“If Emma is right, then the Fallen and Lucian are here. We need to be extra careful, because we don’t know how many there could be. Our main priority is to find Caleb and James.” She glanced over to me. “If we do find Danyel and the other, along the way, then we will try and save them too. But we cannot risk any of our lives for them.”
“But, they risked their lives for me!” I cried.
“And so are they,” she said pointing over to where Dominic, Malachi, Alexander and Kade. As soon as I turned and looked at them, they all smiled and nodded, as if they were happy to be keeping me alive. My stomach twisted and made me nauseous at the thought of any of them, including Danyel and my rescuer, getting injured or killed trying to save me.
“It’s a pleasure, Emma.” Kade said with a grin.
“Yeah…and it helps that we like you. Well, mostly,” Malachi added with a smirk and a smile.
“Well, I guess I like you too. A cute thing like you is definitely worth dying for,” Dominic said with a wink.
“Yeah, me too Emma. Ditto what they all just said,” Alexander, said with a nod.
“Thank you,” I said, appreciating every single one of them. I knew they would fight to protect me, and because of that, a bond, to each and every one of them, grew in my heart. They were my handsome guardians.
“We need to get moving,” Alaine said, placing her hand on my shoulder. “And we will do what it takes to make sure everyone gets out safely, but we cannot make any promises, especially knowing that Lucian is here.”
“Why would Lucian be here?” I questioned.
“I don’t know. But he never show up unless he has to,” Malachi responded. “You must be really special, Emma, for him to show up.”
“Danyel said he doesn’t know about me yet,” I said.
“Emma, do you think you could get us back into the cave?” Alaine asked.
Wait… hold up! Did I just hear her right? She wanted to go back into the place I’d just escaped from? I wanted to interject, but I bit my tongue because I knew we needed to go back in and look for Caleb, and I also knew that was where Danyel and my rescuer were.
“I think so. I remember running from that direction – right of the river. So, as long as we head that way, we should find it,” I instructed with a hand gesture.
“Dominic, I want you to keep a hand on Emma at all times. Don’t you dare let her out of your site,” Alaine ordered.
Kade’s head snapped up and glared at her. He looked as if he was about to say something when she held up her hand. “I’m sorry Kade, but I really need you to cover their back.”
“That’s bullshit,” Kade cursed under his breath.
“Easy, big guy. You don’t have to worry. I’ll take really good care of her,” Dominic said walking up to my side. He tied a loop knot with a rope around my arm and fastened it tightly to his. “Now you won’t be pulling a Houdini without me knowing. If they try and take you this time, they’ll get a bonus, because you’re not disappearing without me tagging along,” he laughed.
Dominic was strong, tall and handsome. Muscles bulged from his tight black shirt; his handsome, defined face was covered in sweat and dirt. His green eyes gleamed in the dark. Any girl would probably die to be this close to him, but for some reason I wasn’t feeling anything. Maybe it was because we were surrounded by things that wanted to kill us.
I glanced at Kade and shrugged my shoulders, shooting a look of ‘sorry’. He closed his eyes and shook his head in frustration. Was he jealous? Or was he just upset that he’d been replaced? I couldn’t tell. But in my heart, I hoped it was the first.
Dominic opened his big mouth.
“Hey man. No hard feelings. She’s not your girl anyway.”
“You got that right,” Alaine butted in. “She’s off limits to all of you, and don’t you forget it,” she said, pointing her finger angrily at every one of them.
I watched Kade’s expression and saw a glint of sadness; his face mirroring the shooting pain in my heart as she spoke those harsh words. I was off limits, and I knew it. I didn’t want anyone, especially Kade, to have a mark of death on their heads because of me.
“Wrap it up. Let’s go – and quietly!” Alaine commanded.
She led the group with Malachi at her side. Alexander and Kade fell behind me and Dominic. Something sticking out of the ground tripped me, but Dominic caught me before I hit the ground. The rope actually worked. He pulled me back up, like a fish on the end of a hook. He smiled and I rolled my eyes. As we started to walk again, he grasped hold my hand. His hand was large, and his grip was too tight.
“Excuse me, but you’re squeezing the feeling right out of my hand.”
“Oh, sorry,” he said, loosening his grip. I wondered if holding Dominic’s hand was affecting Kade, but I didn’t want to turn around and find out.
We continued through the dark forest. The air was even colder now, and my blood wasn’t ready for this kind of cold, and on top of that my clothes were still damp. I was shivering to the core. The only thing I could think about was Kade’s warming touch. His presence didn’t have an effect on me at the moment. It seemed that it only worked when he came within a certain radius, and only for a short time.
Alaine held up her hand, but I didn’t see it and bumped into the back of Malachi, who felt like a brick wall. I bounced back and stumbled into Kade’s arms. He caught me, and carefully lifting me upright, and in the process, an instant surge of warmth filled my body. I gasped. Why didn’t it happen when I touched anyone else? This was something I would have to ask Alaine, but now…was definitely not the time.
“Hey, Emma! I hope you’ll be getting your powers soon, because you’re a bit clumsy,” Dominic jested.
“Thanks,” I answered back.
“Watch out Dom, when she transforms, she’ll probably be able to give you an ass beating,” Malachi said, coming to my defense.
“I’d love to see that,” Alexander laughed.
“Enough,” Alaine huffed at them. “Emma, is that the way into the cave?”
It was a lot darker now, but I faintly saw the line of trees where my nameless hero had his run-in with the Darkling. Hidden under a thick overgrowth of brush was the cave’s exit. I couldn’t believe that we were returning to this horrible place. My stomach began to twist in knots.
“Yeah, that’s it. There’s a long tunnel that leads to a cavern under a waterfall. But we’d have to find a way to get up. There’s no way to climb.”
“Waterfall? No problem,” Dominic whispered in my ear.
Yeah, sure. It didn’t seem like anything was a problem for them. I was the one that seemed to acquire enough problems for everyone. Mom and Dad would still be alive. Caleb, Danyel, and my nameless rescuer would be free, and we wouldn’t be running around in some God forsaken forest, avoiding Darkling and Fallen Angels.
Before I could begin to get sad, we were on the move. Dominic pulled me close, and wrapped his arm around my waist.
“Dude, let her breathe,” Kade scolded.
“Relax man. She’s my responsibility now, and this time she’s not gettin’ away. Just watch our back.”
I heard Kade exhale and mutter a series of unintelligible words. Maybe he was jealous. I squealed in my mind just thinking about it.
“Before we enter… Malachi, go ahead and make sure the way is clear. We’ll have to move quickly. Dom, has your injury recovered enough to carry Emma?”
I’d forgotten. Dominic was shot in the side with an arrow right before I was abducted.
“Ribs fine,
just a little tender.”
“I can carry Emma, if you can’t,” Alexander butted in. They all turned and glared at him. “Just saying.”
“She’s not a freakin’ bag of potatoes,” Kade scolded.
“I didn’t say she was. And what are you getting all huffy about?” Alexander blurted, turning to face him.
“Nothing,” Kade said through gritted teeth.
“Whoa,” Dominic said with raised hands.
Oh crap. If we survived the night, living with them would be unbearable.
“Would you guys knock it off?” Alaine came back and stood in the middle of them. “I said this once, and I’m going to only say it once more. Emma is off limits. If I catch any of you trying to make a play for her… you’re history. Period.” She turned and walked away. “Dominic. Carry Emma. End of discussion.”
The three sneered at each other, but Dominic’s lips turned up into a wide smile. He’d won. Even in the dark, I could see Kade’s face turn red. I’d never seen him upset before, but he looked so handsome, regardless. He glanced at me and I gave him a smile, then he turned and walked away. Alex was back to his normal self, and went after Kade. He patted his back and whispered something to him that I couldn’t hear.
“Let’s move.” Alaine waved for everyone to follow her. I didn’t even realize that Malachi was gone, and in a split second I was whisked up into Dominic’s arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we took off, literally flying through the tunnel. I focused on the only thing I could hear, the quick and steady beating of Dominic’s heart. After a minute, we stopped at the waterfall.
We were already here?
Dominic kept me tightly in his arms. “Now that wasn’t too bad, was it?” he breathed. His warm breath tickled my ear.
I shook my head, and quickly released my arms from around his neck. “You can put me down now, thanks.”
“Yeah, sure,” he said, setting me down carefully, but our arms were still fastened together with the rope. Everyone was accounted for except Malachi. Maybe he tried to find a way up.
Then, as soon as I processed the thought, a rope ladder dropped down from the top of the falls.
What the heck?