Hear the Crickets

by BJ Sheldon

  I didn’t smile. I didn’t laugh. I didn’t flinch. I just continued to stare Raja down. I was determined to get Sean back unharmed. Dorian’s vision had scared the hell out of me, and I couldn’t imagine Sean going out like that. He deserved to live a long life with his comic books and video games. And when the time came, his death should be peaceful, not as a captive with his hands bound behind his back while wearing a Batman t-shirt.

  “Now get rid of your pet dogs here. I don’t like being outnumbered, especially when I can tell they’re not wearing any deodorant. I mean really, for crying out loud, you guys are wearing black leather in the middle of summer. Unless that’s part of your battle tactics—kill ’em with B.O.”

  Raja turned slightly and waved his hand. One of his cronies put out his hand and opened up a portal. All three of them stepped through, and it immediately closed behind them leaving me alone with old Red.

  “Now release him. Let him go and you get the spear.”

  It was Raja’s turn to laugh.

  “You must be joking!” he said between laughing fits. “Now you must think I’m the idiot.”

  I could feel my heart rate begin to surge. He was calling my bluff.

  “Show me this spear you say you have and we’ll discuss terms.”

  “No. No deal.”

  Raja pulled out his sword and forced Sean to his knees.

  “Show me the spear.”

  I tried to stay calm.

  “No.”

  Raja placed the blade of the sword to Sean’s neck.

  “Uh, Skyy. Feel free to show him the spear anytime. I get razor burn when I shave too close,” said Sean through clenched teeth.

  “Last chance. The spear.” Raja pressed the blade a little harder to Sean’s neck.

  I felt myself holding my breath for a moment but then released it slowly. My eyes narrowed, staring down my enemy with calm and resolve.

  “No.”

  Everything happened in a single moment. Raja’s hand clenched tight around the hilt of his sword. He began to press it into Sean’s neck as he prepared to slice open his carotid artery. Lillith leapt out of the ground from where she’d been hiding and grabbed Sean, tossing him backward and temporarily out of harm’s way. She ripped off his blindfold, picked him up and led him away. I jumped forward, sword in hand, and swung at Raja, but he managed to block my maneuver with his blade just in time. He countered, swinging his weapon around his head. I brought my sword up, stopping him cold before he was able to make contact. Moves and countermoves continued, metal on metal clashing fast and hard.

  But I wasn’t trying to defeat him. I just needed to distract him long enough for Lillith to get Sean to safety. I continued to wield my weapon at Raja with every bit of strength I had, forcing my enemy to try and stop my incessant advances in an attempt to get some kind of foothold to fight back.

  From the corner of my eye, I watched Lillith open up a portal and shove a frightened Sean toward it.

  “I can’t go in there!” I heard Sean yell over the clanging of our swords. “I’ll be disintegrated.”

  “There’s something you need to learn about me,” Lilith shouted in response. “I lie.”

  Lillith forcibly shoved Sean through the portal and closed it, staying behind to help me fight.

  She ran over and joined the brawl, anxious to get in a few licks of her own.

  It was two against one.

  Raja was good. He advanced, once more swinging his sword above his head. Lillith’s sabre hindered its progress, allowing me to back Raja up against a rock face. We were relentless and continued to barrage him with blow after blow. Neither one of us slowed or gave our enemy an opportunity to regroup. He was forced back farther and farther, unable to gain any momentum.

  In a moment of what I could only describe as a combination of cowardice and self-preservation, he spread his wings and leapt into the air, taking flight, leaving us temporarily victorious and exhausted.

  Chapter 14

  Sean had put on a good front, but I knew he’d been terrified by the entire experience.

  When he landed hard on the other side of Lillith’s portal, he’d fallen directly into Sam and Dorian’s arms. He was shaking with fear as they dragged him to Lillith’s tent. Together, they covered him and tried to calm him down. It didn’t take long until Sean passed out from sheer exhaustion.

  Lillith beat me back to camp using her portal. I flew as low as I could, not wanting to attract attention. Even though Lillith had made sure that mortals were blind to our presence, I didn’t want to take any chances with any non-mortals that could be watching.

  I landed at our campsite to find that Lillith hadn’t been happy that Sean had been placed in her tent. She pouted and stomped around the campground the rest of the day like a child who didn’t get her way.

  Dorian and I sat near the extinguished fire pit and discussed ways to ensure that Sean and Sam remained out of harm’s way.

  “We could send them back to town and have them stay at a hotel,” I said matter-of-factly. “Or have Sean take Sam back to his house on the reservation. They’d be safer there, I’m sure.”

  “It doesn’t matter where we send them,” said Dorian. “If Raja wants them, he’ll find them. They’re safer with us than not.”

  “That’s unsettling,” I said. “Well, they need to be able to protect themselves then. But what are they going to do? They’re only mortals.”

  “I heard that,” said Sam, popping out from behind his tent. He’d obviously been eavesdropping, and his expression was one of confidence. “And for your information, I’m pretty handy with a knife.”

  “Being handy isn’t going to save you when a Hybrid is coming at you with a sword,” I said.

  “Then I just need to stop them before they get near me.” Sam straightened up, making himself look taller than what he actually was, with his arms folded high across his chest.

  “Exactly how do you plan on managing that?”

  Sam tucked his hair behind his ears and walked over to Dorian’s duffle bag full of weapons. He carefully rifled through the cache of swords and found three knives floating around near the bottom of the bag. He walked over to the cooler and pulled out a bottle of water. Then he grabbed a piece of string from his pocket and tied it around the top of the bottle, just under the lid. A lone tree sat at the edge of our campsite, and Sam sauntered over to it with a haughty stride. The tree appeared sick. Half of its boughs were dead or dying, its bark falling away. Sam tied the other end of the string to one of the branches and allowed the bottle to hang. His hand then slapped the bottle, sending it into a wild swing, side to side.

  He turned and marched away with one of the knives in his hand, the tip delicately being held between his thumb and forefinger. After twenty paces, Sam spun suddenly on his heels and threw the knife at the swinging bottle, slicing the plastic like butter, and forcing it into the trunk behind it.

  Sam’s face lit up, his eyes glancing over at us.

  “Alrighty then,” I said. “I think Sam can take care of himself.”

  * * * *

  Hours passed, and Sean was still asleep. It was late, so Lillith reluctantly climbed into her tent, finally succumbing to the idea that someone needed to stay with Sean all night. Not long after, Sam yawned and got up to head to bed as well. He, too, would be bunking with Lillith since Dorian and I would be heading out to protect the site soon.

  Lillith hated the idea, even arguing with us for a while, but she eventually surrendered to the notion that the mortals would need to be protected. None of us wanted a repeat of the night before.

  “Night, Skyy,” said Sam, yawning again.

  “Night, Sam. See you in the morning,” I replied.

  “G’night, Dorian. You guys heading out soon?” Sam asked.

  Dorian nodded. “Probably in a bit. Do me a favor. Stay on your side of the tent for once, would ya? If you elbow Lillith in the face in the middle of the night the way you elbow me, she’s going to make you s
tay out here by the fire—on the dirt.”

  Sam laughed and waved, then ducked into the tent.

  The fire burned hot. The evening was colder than it had been on previous nights. Dorian leaned forward trying to warm himself from the chill in the air.

  I was a Hybrid of sorts, like the others, and yet very different. Dorian and Lillith required food and rest, just like regular humans. They got cold when the temperatures dropped and grew hot when the mercury rose. And they were lucky enough to live a limited number of years.

  But I was nothing like them. Even though we had the same descendants, somehow I had been the one to end up as a freak.

  I leaned over and grabbed the blanket from the chair next to mine and handed it to Dorian.

  He smiled.

  “Thanks.” He opened it up and covered himself with it. “It’s colder out here than usual.”

  I nodded. I knew it was cold. I could feel it on my skin. But it didn’t affect me the way it did with everyone else.

  “So, what about Sam today?” I asked.

  “Right? Who knew?”

  “He seems like a good kid. I wish we hadn’t dragged him into this.”

  “He didn’t get dragged anywhere. He found us, remember? Sam wants answers just as much as we do. I guess he must have really liked that professor who disappeared.”

  “That professor didn’t disappear,” I said.

  “Well, yeah. I know.” Dorian shivered under the blanket. He stood and flipped the blanket around onto his back and wrapped it around his shoulders, pulling it tight in front of him and sat back down.

  “Better?”

  “Yep.”

  We sat quietly, listening to the wood crack from the heat of the fire. Dorian tilted his head back and stared up at the dark sky. He stayed still and gazed at the emptiness above him.

  “Do you ever wonder about the stars?” he asked.

  “I look at them. Not sure I’ve ever wondered about them.”

  “They’re up there and they’re huge. Most are massive, bigger than the earth. But from down here, they just look like tiny pinholes in a dark, night sky. It’s amazing to me what a vast place our universe is. And we’re only one tiny speck on another tiny speck in a universe that’s just a tiny speck in a larger universe. And Azazel wants this tiny speck of a planet to rule over. Rule what, exactly? Once he rids himself of all the humans, the only ones he can rule are the other angels and Hybrids. Seems small and too narrow-minded to think he would cause all this chaos just to take over a speck of a speck of a speck.”

  “Hmm.”

  “What’s ‘hmm’?”

  “Hmm, that was deep,” I said. “And possibly correct.”

  “How do you think Sean will be when he gets up tomorrow?”

  “Hard to say. He’s never been in a situation like this one before. In the fifteen years I’ve known him, the worst situation he’s ever gotten himself into was some kid who tried to rob him at the store.”

  “Someone tried to rob a comic book store? Seriously?”

  “Yep. The kid had a toy gun in the pocket of his hoodie, but his hands were shaking so bad that Sean could actually see the plastic green handle from the edge of his pocket. Sean couldn’t stop laughing, so the kid finally left. Other than that, he’s lived a pretty uneventful life.”

  “I guess.”

  “Sometimes, I think that’s why he’s friends with me. So he isn’t bored. Or alone. He doesn’t hang out with his kind much. Once in a while, there’s a small group of guys he’ll go to the movies with or play video games with. But most of the time, he’d rather hang out with me. Guess I’m different. He’s the only one who knows I exist. I’m his deep, dark secret. I think he likes having that kind of intrigue in his life. Otherwise, it would be comic book store, trailer, comic book store, trailer, day in and day out.”

  Dorian scooted his chair closer to the fire.

  “What about you?” he asked. “Do you like him hanging around?”

  I glanced back at Lillith’s tent where Sean was sleeping away the demons of the day.

  “Don’t tell him I told you this, because I’d never hear the end of it. But without him, I’d be completely alone. And I’ve been completely alone before. It sucks. I wouldn’t recommend it. I think the longest span I’ve gone without seeing a single person was, let’s see...” I looked up and tried to count the years in my head. “I think it was about ninety-seven years. Not a soul in sight. I enjoyed it at first, but after a while it can get quite lonely. Not to mention, it can make you crazy and make you want to be anywhere else but here.” I glanced over at Dorian. “You’re lucky you’ve had your sister all these years.”

  “You say lucky. I say cursed.” He laughed. “No, my sister’s great in a fight, and I love her, but she’s never been very good with the touchy-feely I love you stuff.”

  “She’s never been in love?” I asked.

  “Never even had a boyfriend. Not really.”

  “That’s sad.”

  “You’ve met her. Who’d take her?”

  I raised my eyes with a smirk. “Sean,” I said, holding back a smile.

  “Ah, yes. He does seem the type to be a glutton for punishment.”

  I chuckled.

  Dorian made me feel comfortable, like I was a normal person and not a freak. But life again showed me how unfair it truly was. I had just found him, and soon he’d be taken away. Where was the justice in that?

  “Are you scared?” I asked.

  “About what? Facing off with Raja and Azazel?”

  “Well, yeah. But, no. What I meant was...never mind.”

  Dorian squinted at me for a second. Then, his eyes seemed to understand what I was getting at. “You mean about my time ending here, don’t ya.”

  I was suddenly angry with myself for even bringing it up. “Sorry. We don’t have to talk about it.”

  “It’s okay. It used to freak me out, but I’ve had time to adjust to the idea. I mean, everything and everyone dies in the end.”

  His words hung there between us, and my eyes fluttered for a moment between him and the ground. The regret on his face was clear as he suddenly closed his eyes and dropped his head.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “It’s okay.”

  “No. It’s not okay. I’m a jackass.”

  “You’re not a jackass. I never should have asked in the first place. It’s a personal thing, and it was none of my business. I guess...I guess I’m just curious to know what it feels like. Death. Or to know that it’s coming. I mean, I go through life, day after day, knowing that it can’t happen for me. I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve seen a lot of things. Eventually, Sean will pass on and I’ll just be alone again. So sometimes I just wish that I was normal, a mortal, and could die.”

  Dorian nodded his head.

  “I get that,” he muttered quietly.

  I grew uncomfortable with the conversation, stood, and gazed up at the stars. Dorian quickly joined me, the blanket wrapped around his upper body, as he stared off into the distance.

  “I’m scared,” he said quietly, suddenly interrupting the silence. His words surprised me. “I’ve spent most of my life fighting other Hybrids, searching for the one who would stop Azazel and his army. And then here you are, standing with me under the stars. And you’re beautiful. And you’re funny. So much more than I ever realized. And all I wish for is more time with you. Where were you a hundred years ago?”

  My heart felt heavy as if it would fall through my chest.

  “Somewhere near the Smoky Mountains if I remember correctly,” I said, trying to be somewhat amusing in an effort to hide my vulnerability. I chuckled awkwardly but was met with his steely, gentle gaze.

  His fingers grazed my neck, his eyes never leaving my face. His thumbs both traced my jawline as I watched his chest rise and fall harder than it had before. Dorian took a step closer and placed his hands on either side of my face. Our mutual attraction was inescapable, but it was also a futile
endeavor. Soon, he’d be gone, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel that way about anyone ever again. I placed my hand on his to press his touch closer to my face.

  “We should head to the site,” I mumbled, barely able to speak over the pounding of my heart.

  He grinned and leaned in, kissing my forehead.

  My heart was racing, and I needed some space to breathe. I took a step back, forcing Dorian to drop his hands. He quickly shoved them in his pockets.

  “It’s okay to say you’ll miss me, you know,” he said, his smile sending a shiver through my wings.

  My skin tingled. I wanted to kiss him like before. Feel him in my arms. But I was terrified to allow things to progress knowing he’d soon be gone.

  I ran my fingers through his hair, allowing my thumb to trace the outline of his ear.

  “I’ll miss you. You have to know that. But thinking about having to cope after...I just can’t.”

  “I know,” he said through a sad smile.

  I stretched out my arm and he took my hand in his. Dorian opened a portal. We stared at the dark void before us, pausing to contemplate what lay ahead. Then, we stepped through to the other side together.

  Chapter 15

  The sun began to rise over the horizon. I sat with my back against a rock wall, Dorian asleep next to me with his head on my shoulder. I’d kept him warm with my wings all night while I kept watch over the Fallen’s burial site. The evening had gone by without incident, but the seventy-two hour deadline to produce the Spear of Azazel would be up come nightfall. I worried about Sean and Sam’s safety and wondered just how we’d defeat Raja and his crew.

  “Dorian,” I whispered. “Time to get up and get back to camp.”

  Dorian began to stir. His eyes slowly opened, meeting my own. He smiled.

  “Hey,” he grunted as he sat up and stretched. “We should wake up together more often.”

  I chuckled. “You forget I don’t sleep.”

  “I could stay up with you all night, too.” Dorian winked and stood. He put out his hand for me to grasp. I reached up, and he pulled me to my feet.