Falter

by Haven Cage

  The sky was deep purple, and the moon was already making its appearance. Memories of George and me naming the stars beneath the same moon sifted through my thoughts. It was many years ago, but I remember crouching next to him, imagining the most bizarre names until I fell asleep cuddled against his soft belly, like it was only nights ago.

  “What are you thinking about?” Archard’s enchanting warmth wrapped around me as soon as he stepped in the room.

  I turned to look at him, not sure whether I should hug and kiss him, or slap him for taking so damn long. “Is everything okay?” I asked, shaking off his question. I couldn’t bear to talk about George right now.

  “Yes.” He glided closer, staring past me into the evening sky. “Are you ready?”

  “Yeah.” I tugged his hardened face towards mine and softly kissed his chin. “It’ll be fine.”

  His strong arms wrapped around me.

  A cat-calling whistle sounded from the doorway. Arkin leaned against the door jamb, ogling me. “Wow, cupcake, you look hot in all that leather!”

  A low growl rumbled from Archard’s chest.

  I slapped my angel’s shoulder playfully. “Don’t get upset. You’re the one that gave me all this leather.”

  “I know, but did you have to fill it out so well?” A smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth.

  My cheeks heated, and, again, I regretted having to wear the snug outfit. “I’m so sorry,” I responded sarcastically to hide my chagrin. My forearms folded around my stomach, and I tugged the hem of my top down in an awkward attempt to hide the thin patch of exposed skin at my waist.

  “Did you get it?” Archard strode toward Arkin with his hand out, ready to receive something.

  Arkin retrieved a sword hidden behind his back. “You know it, brother.” He held the blade out in front of him and slashed through the air ninja-style. “Hi-yah, yaw, wah,” he joked, mimicking the corny noises that went along with any bad ninja movie.

  Archard yanked the sword from Arkin’s hand and punched his shoulder. The force knocked Arkin into a stumble, but he quickly righted himself while laughing at Archard’s empty scorn. “You’re welcome!”

  “How did you get it?” Archard asked, scrutinizing every detail of the blade.

  “Well, honestly, I had to steal it from an Arch.” To my surprise, his words carried no remorse. Archard smiled graciously at Arkin, but refused to thank him.

  “You stole it?” I squealed in disbelief. “But you’re an angel.”

  “Yeah, I know.” The egotistical, chauvinistic angel polished his nails on his chest proudly and then blew on them. He was completely okay, even happy, with his accomplishment. “I never said I was good at it.” His mouth curled into an impish grin.

  I shook my head at Arkin’s idiocy and walked to Archard’s side. The closer I got, the more I was drawn to the hunk of metal in his hand. It was gorgeous.

  My curious gaze raked over the elegant sword. The end of the hilt secured a large, faceted amethyst within a bronze-tinted loop. The precious jewel gleamed under the stream of moonlight shining through the window, casting purple reflections on the floor. The sword-smith had slightly twisted the handle before the metal cooled, yielding the simplest element of decoration. My eyes moved down the blade, admiring the rich material, marbled with a strange patina that told of its ancient age.

  “Do you like it?” Archard asked, resting the blade on his palms to present it to me.

  “It’s amazing.”

  He held the weapon out, urging me to take it.

  I looked at Arkin with wide eyes. “You stole it for me?”

  He nodded, watching me like a proud parent watching his kid opening a present on Christmas morning. “More like I procured it...if that makes you feel better.”

  I smiled graciously and lifted the antique sword from my angel’s hands. From what I’d learned from the weapons portion of my training, the balance and weight were perfect. It seemed like it was fashioned for my hands alone. I swiped the sword through the air as Arkin had instructed me.

  “We couldn’t let you fight them with just those little fists of yours.” Archard’s body closed in around me from behind, encasing me in heat and power. He guided my arms outward and eased his knee into the back of my leg, adjusting my stance to fit against his. “Like this. You’ll have more control,” he whispered in my ear, searing my neck with his breath.

  I swiped the blade back and forth, catching glints of light on the surface. “What’s that?” I enquired, spotting a delicate scrolling pattern that stretched from hilt to tip.

  “It’s our language. It says ‘God will prevail with me as His humble weapon.” He smiled down at me. “This sword is special, Nevaeh. It’s one of very few that God blessed Himself. It has been around since He made us.”

  I was speechless. I detected a hum of energy buzzing from the sword into my hand the moment I’d taken it, but this was too much. I was not worthy enough to carry it. “I can’t take this.” I pushed the sword back at Archard.

  “You have to.” He nudged the blade away.

  “Are we gonna sit here and debate this all day, or are we gonna use it to do some damage?” Arkin asked anxiously before strutting out of the room.

  Archard and I glanced at each other, snickering, then followed him toward the training area.

  When we entered the large room, I gasped at the power vibrating against the walls. Angels were scattered everywhere. They were all dressed for battle in leather like mine. Weapons were fastened to their backs, hips, thighs, and ankles. Their fierce statures would intimidate any creature that dared to get close to them.

  “Listen up!” Arkin yelled at the chattering Archs and Guardians. They ceased talking the moment they heard his booming voice.

  “Everyone up to speed? We go in, hide Nevaeh, and wait. The moment they find her, and we get eyes on George and Gavyn, we move. The demons have to initiate battle with her before we do anything. We can’t let her fight for too long though. Everyone understand?”

  The angels rumbled their agreement in unison.

  I couldn’t believe it. Reality hit me like a ton of bricks. This was really going to happen. It felt so surreal before, but now it was right in front of me.

  This would end tonight.

  I peered down at my feet. Anxiety tightened around my throat like a noose. I tried to relax the tension from my expression and gulp down a big dose of courage, but it was hard.

  “Are you okay? We don’t have to do this.” Archard clasped his fingers with mine.

  I shook my head. “We do have to.” I shoved the fear down deep in my gut and numbed myself. “Let’s get to it.”

  “Okay.”

  He looped the arm straps of a harness around my shoulders and secured it to my back. I adjusted the tension of the straps as he slid my sword into the sheath now fastened behind me. Waving my arms back and forth in front of me, I tested my ability to move, then reached for the blade, assuring that I could access it easily.

  “Good?” Archard asked. I nodded.

  Arkin clapped loudly, grabbing our attention as he marched in a circle around the soldiers. “Alright, angels, lets fly!”

  I covered my ears to muffle the echoing thumps of beating wings and war calls. As the magnificent beings took flight, a gale force wind stirred up dust from the floor and slapped my pony-tail against my neck. I shrugged a shoulder up to shield my face from the wind, but kept my eyes drawn up toward the ceiling.

  The sight above me was unbelievable. I studied the colorful blurs of feathers while they flapped in powerful movements against the air. Hues of reds, blues, and greens blended into the varying backgrounds of soft whites and precious metals as they soared into assembly. The angels looked like a huge spiral of exotic birds, rounding the room as one mass; their forms were precisely synchronized with one another as they joined in the dance of battle. The vibration of their roars and thrusting wings surged through the concrete floor below me, working its way up to a tingle in my toes.<
br />
  Archard stepped in front of me, dipped down, and hoisted both my legs around his hips. Everything else disappeared. All I could focus on was how close we were and how good he felt between my thighs. Our invisible energy ignited, damn near setting the space between us on fire.

  “You okay with riding like this?” He grinned. “You’ll have a better grip on me.” The playful gleam in his crystalline eyes betrayed his innocent reasoning. He knew exactly what he was doing, and it wasn’t about safety.

  “I think I can handle this.” I squeezed my thighs tighter and pressed into him. I combed my fingers through his hair and twisted a curl at the base of his neck. Two can play that game.

  He groaned and launched us into the air, thrusting his magnificent wings downward in a heavy swipe. We rose as high as the other angels and fell into formation, circling the cavernous room a couple more times. I never noticed before, I guess because I hadn’t had this view, but there were large sliding windows lining the top of each wall. Archard yelled something in his heavenly language and then darted for one of the open windows. He pulled his wings in tight to his body and placed one hand gently on my head and one under the small of my back. We rocketed through the frame. A squeal escaped my mouth when we almost missed and hit the wall.

  Archard laughed his deep, throaty laugh, gripping me tighter as he extended his wings and began flapping hard to keep us in flight. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to watch where we were going while hanging upside down from his body. I burrowed my face comfortably into Archard’s chest and enjoyed the cool night breeze against my skin with his heart pounding steady against my cheek.

  I held on for dear life for about a half hour before I heard my angel whisper in my thoughts, we are close. My heart skipped a few beats. It was another reminder of what was about to go down, and I was scared to death.

  For the first time since we were airborne, I peeked around Archard’s arm to make sure the other angels hadn’t succumbed to second thoughts and left me on my own. It was dark, but the view of the army of angels flanking us was glorious.

  The moonlight shimmered off their metallic feathers as it did Archard’s. Dozens of glittering wings twinkled like stars around us. The silhouette of each soldier was ferocious and free in the night sky. They lined up perfectly, only breaking formation to enjoy a playful dive now and then. I felt overwhelmingly honored to fly with such unbelievable heavenly creatures.

  We slowed, descending toward the ground moments later. A rush of adrenaline exploded inside me. Thankfully, it eliminated the edge of my anxiety—at least enough for me to breathe again.

  Even if I wasn’t The Clavis, I was certain of my place with the Celatum. I knew who had my back and trusted they would take care of me.

  “Nevaeh, are you sure?” Archard asked in an uneven voice as he landed softly on the ground below us and eased me down from his body.

  I stretched my cramped legs and adjusted my leather with trembling hands. “I’m sure. Let’s get this over with.” I grabbed his head, guiding it down to me, and kissed him softly on the lips.

  As we broke away, I gazed at his perfect face and memorized every beautiful detail: his light, golden hair, slightly swollen, cherry lips, and the depths of his beckoning eyes. I pondered telling him what I felt, but decided it wasn’t the right time. There would be a chance after. I wanted to tell him in a moment of happiness, not fear.

  “Quit making googly eyes at one another so we can get this show on the road,” Arkin teased, smacking my ass as he strolled by.

  “Alright,” Archard nodded. “There’s a door just around this corner. Go in and wait there for my orders.”

  “Okay. What are you going to do?” I needed to know he would be near and that he was going to be safe.

  “Make sure there aren’t any demons already inside.” He squeezed my shoulders lovingly and kissed my forehead. “Now go. It’s almost time.”

  He flapped his wings and launched off the ground in a spiral upward, disappearing into the night. I’d aimed to get a layout of the building, but it was pitch black. I couldn’t see much more than two feet in front of me. However, I could vaguely see the ornately designed facade next to me, and a huge window just beyond my reach.

  I inched along the cold brick until my hand skimmed over a corner. Peeking around the edge of the wall, I made out the raised frame of the door Archard had mentioned. Rusty hinges whined in protest as I forced the slat of splintered wood open.

  The inside was blacker than outside. I stilled as my eyes fought to adjust, but there was no light to take in. I fumbled around and found the walls were closer than I expected—not more than an arm’s length away. One wall had some sort of screen window, and another wall framed a narrow entryway which I gathered led to the main part of the building. I slid my fingers along the door, tracing the etched wood to a handle notched out at waist-level.

  The air was stuffy and stagnant. I was so tempted to leave the room, but Archard would have a shit-fit if I didn’t listen. I pressed my ear to the door, listening for any signs of thumping wings or whispers from the angels.

  Are you in? Archard’s words entered my mind.

  Yeah. Can you hear me?

  Yes. Stay there. The demons aren’t far. We are getting into position now. Stay hidden until I tell you, his troubled voice echoed against the walls of my head. Shit was about to get serious.

  Where are you? I want to see you.

  Wait a second.

  Suddenly, thin rays of light seeped through the cracks around the door. A familiar aroma rolled into my little room.

  What is that? What’s going on?

  An uneasy feeling rattled my nerves. My eyes jumped from dark wall to dark wall, seeking perspective. I’d never visited this place before, yet I somehow knew the smell and the feel, of this hallowed building. More than that, I was almost one hundred percent certain that in the deep crevices of my brain, I knew what was about to happen.

  Earthy, sweet spices melded with the stale, moldy air. I scoured my memories to put a name with the odor roaming in from outside my small chamber; anything to spark a clear thought about my strange recognition.

  We lit some lanterns and incense. It’ll make it harder for them to detect us. Are you still ok?

  A single drop of sweat slid down my face and stung the cut on my lip.

  Everything tumbled into place like a domino reaction.

  This can’t be happening.

  I rushed to look through a sliver of space in the doorframe. It was exactly how I remembered in the dream.

  The broken, elaborately painted ceiling gave way to the glowing stars. The frayed, red velvet runner lay torn on the stone floor. Climbing ivy flourished around huge marble pillars. And, hiding in the rafters, I caught the neon glow of his eyes. He hid exactly where I knew he’d be.

  I wiped the sweat from my mouth with the back of an unsteady hand and checked my sword to make sure it was there. I was going to need it.

  Pieces of my dream continued to click into place, one scene at a time. This wasn’t going to end well. The demons never intended to bring George and Gavyn for the trade.

  At last, I recalled every terrible detail. I wasn’t going to survive this, but what other option did I have? How could I save George and Gavyn if I didn’t make it out alive?

  There has to be another way. I raced frantically through different scenarios, pacing tight circles inside my confessional—a rat in a cage.

  The spiced fragrance of incense flushed out of the room as another smell flooded in and violated my nostrils. Between the incoming putrid odor of sulfur and my frazzled nerves, I doubled over, unable to fight the vomit that spewed from my mouth.

  Archard, I can’t do this. I know how this ends, I screamed in my head.

  What are you talking about, Nevaeh? Just stick to the plan. We’ll keep you safe. I promise. Archard’s assuring words attempted to save me from panic, but it wasn’t enough.

  There’s another way. I have no choice. I’m so sorry, I
answered.

  Wait. What are you going to do? Nevaeh, don’t do anything stupid, he pleaded.

  I relayed every detail of my premonition into his mind and hoped that he was able to understand why I was doing what I was about to do.

  NO! Nevaeh! Archard’s energy surrounded me like a storm cloud, full of fury and speed. It clawed for a grip on my will, struggling to take control of my intentions and save me, but it failed.

  I’m so sorry. I’ll come back to you. Please forgive me. As I thought the words, I peeked through the door crack one last time. He was shuffling in the shadows, debating whether to come after me or not.

  The demons lurked just outside my sinner’s chamber. This is where I had belonged all along. Especially, for the choice I was about to make.

  As I breathed the words, the burning on my forehead ignited. “I renounce God and relinquish my soul as a servant of Satan.”

  The harsh rush of bitterness flowed through my blood. Archard’s mental shouting vanished. My insides felt as though they were tearing apart—a sure sign that my spirit was transitioning. The pain was excruciating and, yet, lovely to my newly poisoned heart.

  I collapsed to the floor in agony, fire burning through my veins. Pushing past the agony, I crawled to the empty wall next to me.

  A deluge of power exploded from my body. The ceiling quaked and crumbled. The wood panels around me snapped and popped as the little room gave way. The door split in two, allowing low light from the lanterns in the church to seep into the small room.

  My eyedammits focused beyond the broken door to the curious demons trampling toward me. Their screeches and clicks no longer bothered my ears. It was music to my darkening soul.

  I had to move quickly. I couldn’t let them get me, yet. My unsteady hand rose and pushed flat against the wall. I collected whatever power I might have gained by declaring myself and willed it to open a portal. There was no guarantee it would work, but it was my only chance to escape this trap.