by Last, K. A.
Copyright © 2013 K. A. Last
All rights reserved.
First published in Australia 2013 by
K. A. Last
The right of K. A. Last to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, recorded or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
K. A. Last
PO Box 457
Berowra
NSW, Australia 2081
[email protected]
http://www.kalastbooks.com.au
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry (ebook)
Last, K.A.
Sacrifice: A Fall For Me Prequel/by K. A. Last
ISBN: 9780987384942 (ebook)
Tate Chronicles; #0.5
For young adults
Young adult fiction
Fantasy fiction
A823.4
Formatting and cover design by KILA Designs
http://www.facebook.com/KILAdesigns
Image: Dreamstime® ©Eti Swinford
Also by K. A. Last
Fall For Me (The Tate Chronicles, #1)
For Brendon; the one who makes all the sacrifices for me.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART ONE – SETH
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
PART TWO – GRACE
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Love is a smoke rais’d with the fume of sighs;
Being purg’d, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes;
Being vex’d, a sea nourish’d with lovers’ tears;
What is it else? a madness most discreet,
A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.
William Shakespeare – Romeo & Juliet, Act I, Scene I
PART ONE – SETH
ONE
1642
Michael and I had been fighting for almost an hour. Cloud dust plumed into the air as my feet struck the floor. My patience with him was growing thin. He couldn’t say anything that would change my mind. As far as I was concerned he was wasting his time.
“You can’t do it,” Michael said. “You don’t know what you’re giving up.”
“I know perfectly well what I’m giving up,” I said through clenched teeth.
“But why, Seth? Why leave when you can be with her every day?”
“Because I can’t be with her, can I? It’s against the rules.”
“It has to be better than what you’re planning. Imagine if she knew.”
“She won’t find out until I’m gone,” I shouted. “No one will find out. And if you tell anyone I’ll—”
“What?” Michael folded his arms over his chest. “Kill me? Hit me? What, Seth? What could you possibly do to me? I’m an archangel. I’m your superior, and as your superior, I’m telling you not to do this. Actually, I’m ordering you not to do this. Don’t think you can get anything past the Council.”
Michael stared at me with heavenly wrath in his eyes. My shoulders heaved as I tried—unsuccessfully—to contain my anger. I lunged at Michael and hit him in the chest. He stumbled backwards then righted himself and unfurled his pearl-white wings to their full span. He came at me with a force ten times stronger than my own, and I landed heavily on my back in the cloud dust.
“Grow up. Stop thinking about yourself for once; think about what this will do to her. It will crush her.”
Michael pinned me to the floor. I struggled beneath him, but he held me firmly in place.
“Get. Off. Me,” I said.
Finally, he did as I’d asked. I sat up, ran a hand through my hair, and watched Michael walk away. He kicked at the cloud dust as he went. The mist floated before settling back into place.
“You don’t understand,” I said. “I have thought about this. I’ve thought about it until my head feels like it’s going to split open. I love her.”
Michael turned to face me. “Then why is being beside her not enough?”
“There’s no room up here for her and my heart. Because when I’m with her, I want to break every vow I’ve ever made. And I can’t ask her to do the same.”
“Then I guess we’ve got a problem.”
I got to my feet and squared my shoulders. “Yes, I guess we do.”
TWO
Our gazes met across the expanse of white. She smiled and it touched her eyes. Her face lit up as if the sun was shining from within her, making her skin glow.
Grace was the most beautiful angel I’d ever seen.
For a few moments I stood like a complete dolt staring at her. Then the cloud dust exploded and obscured Grace from view.
When the dust settled, Michael stood before me. He looked down his nose, shook his head and laughed. A wide grin spread across his mischievous face. He stretched his wings and they lifted him into the air where he hovered in front of me. He was still pissed at me and trying to exude his importance.
“Do you always need to make such a dramatic entrance?” I asked.
Michael laughed again and shrugged. “You know me. Someone needs to keep it light around here. Everyone is far too serious.”
I flapped my wings and rose to Michael’s level. There was no way I was going to let him get the better of me. We continued up until the other angels were out of earshot.
“That’s not the impression you gave me this morning. Besides, serious is what gets the job done,” I said.
Michael shook his head. “What’s happened to you? You used to be so … I can’t believe you’re doing this.”
I sighed. I wasn’t in the mood for another argument, and I knew why he’d come, so I changed the subject. “What do they need this time?”
“Hey, I’m just the messenger,” he said, putting his hands up. “Don’t shoot me. You have to take it up with them.”
Yes, I’d have to take it up with them. My next mission was something I’d been waiting for, but now I wasn’t sure if I should go. If I did, it meant I would finally have the chance to follow through with my decision. But the thought of leaving Grace made me feel sick.
Michael and I floated down until our feet rested in the cloud dust. I looked over his shoulder at Grace and she grinned. She also knew why Michael had made an appearance. He’d become predictable with his showy entrances to the cloud field—the place the angels rested before their next summons or duty.
It’s time again? Grace asked.
I nodded slightly so she knew I’d heard her, but I didn’t reply. Angels can talk to each other silently. All I had to do was think what I wanted to say and she’d hear it in her head, but I didn’t really need words when I was near Grace. We’d been friends for so long we were completely in sync, like we were a part of each other.
The angel beside Grace raised her head and furrowed her brow. Ange
lica and I very rarely saw eye to eye. She was on a higher level, and her job was far more complicated, but she was also on a power trip. It’s not about power. As an angel, it should never be about power.
I’ll see you after you’re summoned, I said to Grace. She nodded, her smile never wavering, and I turned towards the cloud field gates. When I reached them I lightly ran my fingers over their smooth, pearly surface, and they opened without a sound.
The cloud dust licked at my legs as I walked. I wound up a spiral staircase and each step dissipated as I went. The terrain changed the closer I got to the Council’s chamber. It went from soft and low where it covered only my feet, to dense and thick, reaching almost to my waist. Over my shoulder I could see the path I’d made through the whiteness. The quiet floated around me. No one else was around. I was on the second highest level, reserved for the Council members, and the only way to gain access was to be summoned.
When I reached the Council chamber the door was closed. I placed my palm in the centre and waited to be admitted. The white slab of marble was warm beneath my fingertips. Everything in Heaven felt warm to the touch.
The door slid open and I stepped through into a white, circular room. If I wasn’t a divine being the brightness would have blinded me. The door closed behind me then disappeared. I moved to the centre of the room.
My heart was heavy, and a knot formed in my stomach. Normally I would have been excited about a new mission, but this time I didn’t plan to return home. I’d guarded my secret for so long; a harder task than I’d thought it would be. So far Michael was the only one who knew, and I was hoping to keep it that way.
“Welcome, Seth,” the Council said. Their voice echoed off the walls of the chamber. They spoke as one entity, but they were also many. Twelve empty thrones lined the circular wall. The Council only appeared to the archangels. Lower level angels didn’t get the privilege. It was like having a conversation in a cave with your eyes closed.
“What’s the mission this time?” I asked, cutting right to the chase. I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries or small talk.
“England—”
“It’s always England,” I said. My brow knitted and I scowled.
“That’s where you’re needed most.”
I didn’t personally have anything against England, but a change of scenery would’ve been nice—although, after this mission it wouldn’t be a problem.
“The land is at war. Many innocents are dying before their time,” the Council said.
The cloud dust swirled at my feet and parted to reveal the earth below. I looked through the gap at a castle. People bustled about, archers lined the walls, and knights readied their mounts. The surrounding village was a hive of activity.
“Mankind has always been its own worst enemy,” I said. “Some of them deserve everything they get.”
“That may be so, but a lot of them don’t.”
“What needs to be done?” I asked.
The white mist drew back over itself then swirled again and dissipated to reveal another image. A young girl, heavily pregnant, walked through the village that spread out at the castle’s base. She looked over her shoulder and I caught a glimpse of her vivid blue eyes.
“This girl is very important,” the Council said. “You must find her—”
“And do what? She looks healthy. Is someone going to do something to her?”
“You must make sure she and the baby survive. We can’t give you all the answers. You know our interference must be minimal, and you will know what to do when the time comes,” the Council replied. “This task is more important than any you’ve been set before. You haven’t failed yet, Seth, and we trust you won’t this time.”
“Where are we landing?”
“Not far from the castle. Find the river and follow it to the village. A woman at the first cottage will be there to help you.”
“Does she have a name?” I asked.
“Seth, by now you should know how this works. You will instantly know your go-between. You’ll be able to see it in her eyes.”
Yes, I did know how it worked, but there was no harm in asking. Go-betweens were our link between Heaven and Earth during our mission. They weren’t angels, but they were blessed with divine knowledge. They acted as a guide and an aid if we needed them.
All was quiet for a few minutes and I watched the girl walk along the road, her hand resting on top of her swollen belly. Why are you so important? I thought.
The Council spoke, breaking through my reverie. “As always you may choose one other angel to accompany you. May we suggest Angelica, she tends to use her head a little more than—”
“You already know who I’ll choose.”
The Council fell silent, and I imagined twelve elderly men sitting on their thrones, one running his fingers through his grey beard. “Very well, we will summon her,” they said.
Before the cloud dust closed over I took one last look at the girl, committing to memory her round face, and the way her chestnut hair folded in waves onto her shoulders. I walked to where the door would be.
“Seth,” the Council said. “We trust you will make the right decision?”
Their question made me hesitate. The silence hung around me and the tension in the air was thick enough to feel with my hand. I’d been foolish to think I could get anything past the Council. They saw everything, and even an angel with the strongest mental guard had no hope of closing them out.
“I will do what I think is right,” I finally said.
The marble door appeared. I pressed my palm against it and it slid open. The moment I stepped over the threshold the door was concealed again. The high mound of cloud dust encasing the Council’s chamber fell to the floor and left me standing alone in the silence.
I took my time walking back to the cloud field. I could have orbed, or flown, and been there in an instant, but while I was in Heaven I preferred to walk. Something about the action soothed me. There was plenty of time for orbing on Earth. Besides, Grace wouldn’t be in the field, she’d be in the chamber going through the same conversation I’d just had.
The Council never gave us many details about our missions. Mostly it was fine, and we knew what to do soon after we got to our destination. But sometimes it took us a little longer to work out what needed to be done. It frustrated me when they wouldn't share everything they knew. I’d long ago suspected they had a crystal ball of sorts. The Council could see what was coming, but they broke no rules by making us figure things out on our own. Basically, the Angels of the Light did the dirty work.
By the time I reached the cloud field gates Grace had returned. She wasn’t opposed to orbing in Heaven. I stroked the gate and it opened for me, moving the cloud dust around my feet. Grace walked towards me, her white dress rippled out behind her, and her pearlescent wings fluttered gently. She held my gaze with her brilliant, sapphire eyes.
“England again, huh,” she said. “I wonder if there’s anywhere else in the world that needs us.”
“There are plenty of earth-bound angels, Grace,” Angelica said, coming to her side. “I’m sure you only get sent there because you’ve been before.”
“Or maybe we’re the best angels for the job,” I said.
Angelica raised her eyebrows as if to question me and I scowled at her.
“Knock it off you two,” Grace said. “When will you learn to get along?”
Never, I thought. Angelica irritated me. I didn’t like or trust her, but she was Grace’s friend so I tolerated having her around.
“Come on, Seth.” Grace orbed to the far side of the field. Catch me if you can.
I chuckled and shook my head, then began walking across the field. Grace was always trying to get me to orb around the place. I never knew why she was in such a hurry. It wasn’t like we needed to be anywhere in particular when we were at home. I put it down to the fact she couldn’t sit still. Grace got bored easily; she wanted to be constantly busy. Something you couldn’t really achieve wh
en you lived in a huge expanse of whiteness.
“Would you hurry up,” Grace said, materialising beside me and grabbing my hand. She orbed, forcing me to orb with her. We crossed the field in seconds then exited through the earth-bound gate.
“Why the rush?” I asked. “I’m sure they can wait the few minutes it would’ve taken us to walk.”
“We’re going back to Earth; isn’t that reason enough to hurry?”
On any normal mission it would have been. We both loved leaving Heaven. Down there we could do so much, see so much, and have experiences we couldn’t have surrounded by whiteness and cloud dust. But I didn’t want to rush because I probably wouldn’t be coming back. It could be the last time I ever saw my home. The last time I ever got to kick the white mist into the air and watch it settle gently back into place.
After passing through the gate, we spiralled down a ramp towards one of the lower levels. It led us to the departure pad—a large round depression in the cloud dust. An angel looked up from the marble departure desk. He brushed his dark hair from his brow and picked up a white clipboard and pen.
“Hey, Daniel,” Grace said. “How’re things?”
“Pretty much the same. Angels go down to Earth, and then they come up again.” He smiled. “So, you two are off to England.”
“Yeah. Where, exactly?” Grace asked. “It’s kind of a big place.”
Daniel pursed his lips. “The form just says England. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“Great,” I mumbled. “You know it wouldn’t kill the Council to be specific once in a while.”
Daniel laughed. “You’re a big boy, Seth. Besides, I know you love a challenge.”
Yep, that was true.
Daniel handed Grace the clipboard and asked her to sign next to the red X. I did the same, and we stepped out onto the departure pad.
“Good luck,” Daniel said.
“You ready to go?” Grace asked.