by Sarah Bailey
Chapter Twenty One
He felt strange. He didn’t know where he was, but he knew Ella wasn’t there with him. His heart ached for her.
“Open your eyes, child.”
The voice was beautiful, inhuman. He couldn’t help but obey the request. Standing before him was a woman. Her hair the same chestnut brown as Ella’s. But this woman was inhumanly beautiful. There was a white light encompassing her.
“What are you?” he asked.
“You know what I am, Lukas.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I have watched you grow from a boy into a man. I was there when Beleth changed you. I know you, Lukas Alden.”
He stared at the woman. The word formed in his mind.
“Angel.”
“Yes, sweet child.”
“Where am I?”
“In a space between Heaven and Earth.”
“Am I dead?”
“No, but we do not have much time.”
He didn’t understand what was happening.
“She needs you.”
“Ella.”
His heart ached again. His Ella. Beautiful. Strong. He needed her too.
“Who are you?”
“When you wake up, you will know everything.”
The angel. She looked familiar.
“You’re her mother, aren’t you?”
The angel smiled.
“Go to her. She needs you.”
He fell the pull. He needed to go, but there was something he had to know.
“Why? Tell me why you made us.”
“There is something coming. It will consume the world. There are others like you, but you are the first to meet each other. To love each other. You are our only hope.”
“What do you mean? What’s coming?”
The angel smiled again. There was a touch of sadness to it.
“Take care of her, Lukas.”
She leant down and kissed his forehead before straightening again. He opened his mouth to speak, but he was ripped backwards. Pulled by some unknown force until he slammed back down into his body. He felt the impact as he took a gasping breath and opened his eyes.
Staring down at him in shock was the woman he loved.
The woman who had half of his soul inside her.
“Ella.”
§
She couldn’t quite believe it. He was alive. Ella’s hand went to her mouth, holding back the tide of emotion threatening to burst.
“Sweetheart.”
He reached for her, tangling his fingers in her hair.
“I thought you were dead.”
She almost threw herself on his chest, clutching him as she buried her face in his neck. A small sob escaped her lips.
“No. I suppose it must’ve seemed that way.”
“Don’t do that again!”
She heard him chuckle, feeling the rumble of his chest beneath him.
“I would never leave you willingly, sweetheart.”
She pulled away, staring down at him with wide eyes.
“You wouldn’t?”
He stared up at her in earnest.
“I told you. I’m yours, sweetheart. Always.”
His eyes. They were different. Lighter. She couldn’t stop staring at them. He’d changed. Did it mean he was like her now they shared each other’s souls?
“Ella, you are everything to me. You have a piece of my soul inside your chest.” He reached out, placing a hand over her heart. “And you have something else of mine too.”
Did he mean what she thought he did?
“You have my heart.”
“Oh, Lukas.”
“I love you too.”
There were no words. She pressed her mouth to his, pouring everything she had into that kiss. He loved her. When they released each other, he was smiling tentatively.
“There are things we need to talk about, but first, where is Beleth?”
She sat back up on her knees, pulling him with her.
“He’s gone. I threatened him with another weapon. He recoiled at the sight of it when I summoned it.”
“What was it?”
“A brilliant white staff. It was beautiful.”
“It comes from your mother. It’s hers, just as the sword is Beleth’s.”
“My mother?”
“Is an angel.”
Angel. How was that even possible when her father was a demon? But if she’d learnt anything in these past couple of weeks, it was anything is possible.
“How do you know that?”
“I was in a space between Heaven and Earth. She appeared to me. Her hair is the same colour as yours. I know you were made and how I was too.”
“What? You saw my mother?”
“Yes, but before I explain everything, we should get away from here. Beleth may come back.”
She nodded, too shocked to string another sentence together. He got to his feet and pulled her up. They hurried out of Beleth’s house together.
He took her back to his place as it was closer. They settled down on his sofa together. She gripped his hand tightly, needing to be sure he was still here and still hers.
“This is going to sound crazy.” He sighed. “But I suppose it’s no more insane than what we’ve already been through.”
“I don’t think our lives were destined to be normal.”
“No.”
“So, I’m half angel, half demon… and so are you.”
“You did give me half of your soul.”
He smiled and she couldn’t help returning it.
“That wasn’t entirely intentional, but I guess it worked out.”
“Your mother didn’t tell me in so many words what happened, but she gifted me the truth. She told me something is coming, something that will consume the world and they have no hope of defeating it. They created us to ensure humanity had a defence.”
She knew that couldn’t be the whole story, but clearly, her mother had only told him so much.
“Created us. So, we were always meant to be half and half?”
“I guess so, but it’s not as simple as giving a person half of each soul. Your mother had to possess a human, just as Beleth did.”
He shrugged a little.
“Why would Hell work with Heaven?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Clearly Beleth didn’t want to uphold his side of the bargain, completely.”
“He helped create you.”
“By tearing out half of your soul.”
“The method they used for us was an experiment. There are others, but we are the only ones who have been successful. It seems love is the missing component.”
“So, they imbued me with an angel soul and half of your demon soul.”
“Yes. They created me first. A demon mother and an angelic father. They made you when they realised their experiments were failing.”
This was so messed up. Whatever they thought was coming must be driving them to desperate measures.
“That’s really fucked up, experimenting on humans. I thought angels were supposed to be good.”
“I don’t think anyone is purely good or purely evil, even angels and demons.”
“No, I guess not.”
She sighed. She didn’t feel as overwhelmed by this revelation as she had done when she learnt Beleth was her father.
“Does this mean neither of us had a choice about each other?”
She couldn’t look at him. Everything about this situation was crazy, but it was the one thing bothering her. She’d been created for him. She didn’t have a choice when they found each other, but she knew how she felt. She knew she’d fallen in love with him because of who he was.
“I suppose it’s why we were drawn to each other. My soul wanted to be reunited with its other half. It wasn’t what made me fall in love with you.”
He turned her face towards him, fingers resting under her chin.
“You are strong and brave. You saw me, darkne
ss and all and yet, you still cared regardless of what I’ve done. Ella, you are truly the most remarkable person I know.”
Tears fell down her cheeks. He brushed them away with a gentle touch.
“I love you because of who you are, not because you have my soul.”
She couldn’t speak for several minutes. She stared at those dark brown eyes which held her hopes, dreams and love.
“Damn it. You have to stop making me cry.”
She smiled to let him know she was joking. He cupped her face, brushing his thumb over her bottom lip.
“I love you, Lukas. I realised it the first time we… you know.” She flushed, waving her hand between them. “We didn’t even know about all this other shit then, but it terrified me. Loving anyone terrified me.”
He gave her a reassuring smile. It urged her to go on, to open up to him completely.
“It was only when I thought I was going to lose you forever that all my fears seemed insignificant. I couldn’t let him kill you without saying anything. I didn’t know in doing so, my soul would rip in half, but it saved you.”
“You saved me long before today, sweetheart.”
She wanted to curl herself around him and never let go.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if he’d taken you away from me.”
“Beleth didn’t care about what you and I wanted. He wanted power, but who knows if you would’ve survived the process. Humans aren’t built to possess two souls. I’m surprised you survived with one and a half.”
She was too, but she’d been created by two humans possessed by a demon and an angel. She imagined that they took the necessary steps to make sure she would live. And she wasn’t alone in the world anymore. She didn’t need her parents. She had Lukas.
“I guess both Heaven and Hell will be watching us very carefully now.”
“I imagine so.”
She had a sudden thought. Lukas wasn’t completely a demon anymore. The two of them were some kind of angel demon hybrids.
They hadn’t been made the same way. She was sure their powers were different. She could summon weapons of Heaven and Hell, but he could do something very different.
“What do you think will happen when you shift to your other form?”
“Why don’t we find out?”
He stood, cracking his neck as he took a few steps back. She watched him. He no longer had just a red aura, it was white too. The two intertwined with each other.
The air around him shimmered. It started with his eyes. One glowed red, the other blue. She knew they mirrored her own when she allowed her power out. Horns sprouted and spiralled upwards. But it wasn’t those things that caused her to gawp.
Beautiful white wings unfurled at his back. They were magnificent. She stood, taking two steps towards him.
“You’re breathtaking.”
He gave her a small smile. She reached out, brushing her fingers over the feathers. He shuddered.
“That tickles.”
“Sorry. I just… They’re so beautiful.”
“I don’t know if this means I can fly.”
“We can’t really test that out in the middle of London. Can you imagine if it got out? You look like some kind of dark angel with your horns and black hair.”
He chuckled, brushing her cheek.
“I’m your dark angel. And you, Ella, are my light.”
“Whatever it is that’s coming. We’ll face it together.”
“Always.”
He wrapped his arms around her. She was careful not to brush his wings as she curled her own around his neck. His wings enveloped the two of them. He kissed her.
“You think I’m breathtaking?”
“Well, you do have a habit of taking my breath away on a regular basis.”
“I plan to take it away some more.”
He pressed her to him, kissing her passionately. Her whole body was burning by the time he pulled away.
“Take me to bed.”
He grinned wickedly.
“Your wish is my command.”
“Don’t shift back.”
He raised an eyebrow as he uncurled his wings from around them. She took his hand, leading him into the hallway.
“No?”
“No, I want you to stay just like that.”
“Does this shit turn you on?”
He pointed at the wings.
“Maybe.”
She smiled as she opened the door to his bedroom.
“Kinky.”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
He pushed her back onto the bed before crawling over her, his wings extended. He brushed her hair from her face.
“I almost can’t believe you’re mine,” he said.
“You’ll have a hard time getting rid of me.”
“Lucky for you, I don’t want that.”
He kissed her.
“I love you, Ella. Now and always.”
Chapter Twenty Two
“Holy motherfucking shit, Ella!”
Daisy stared at the two of them, her mouth gaping.
“I know. It’s batshit crazy.”
“So, wait, you can make weapons appear out of thin air?”
“Well, two specifically, but yeah.”
Daisy leaned back in the booth. The three of them were in their favourite cafe.
“What does he do?”
She waved her hand at Lukas.
“I can speak for myself you know,” he said with mock indignation.
“Go on then. Is it as cool as her powers?”
He looked at Ella with a raised eyebrow. It is pretty cool. It also kind of got her all hot and bothered seeing him with wings and horns, but Daisy didn’t need to know that.
“I have another form.”
“When Lukas and I first met, he could only shift into his demon form. You know, horns, elongated canines, but now…”
“I have a set of wings too. Ella likes them. A lot.”
“Don’t tell her that!”
Ella poked him in the ribs.
“Shit! I have to see this,” Daisy said with a grin.
“I’m not a circus act. I don’t perform on demand.”
He folded his arms across his chest, giving Daisy a dark look.
“But you showed them to her.” Daisy pouted.
“She’s my girlfriend. It’s different.”
Ella’s head whipped around, giving him a confused look.
“I am?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Did I need to ask?”
“Well no, I guess not.”
“You two are adorable,” Daisy said.
Ella frowned at her.
“What?” Daisy attempted to look innocent. “You are. And yes, Lukas, you do need to ask her first.”
He rolled his eyes, but he turned to Ella, taking her hand.
“Sweetheart, will you be my girlfriend?” he asked.
“Well, now I don’t know. I mean, you made a huge assumption before.”
“Ella…”
He gave her a warning glance. He was only asking to appease Daisy.
“Of course, idiot. Besides, you’re a little bit more than just a plain, old boyfriend. You’re my soul partner.”
He smiled and gave her a kiss.
“Eugh, tone down the PDA!” Daisy winked at the two of them as they drew apart.
“Jealous much?”
Ella stuck her tongue out.
“Bitch.”
“You love me really.”
“Hmm… you see, not so sure about that. You are like some weird hybrid human now.”
She chuckled as she leant against him. He wrapped an arm around her, smiling.
“So, I’m guessing dear old dad is going to come after you.”
“Well, I did thwart his plans somewhat. He said it wasn’t over.”
“We can’t be complacent. He could strike at any time, but we’re stronger now,” Lukas added.
His hold on Ella tightened. She knew
he worried about what Beleth was planning. It seemed crazy that he’d help create them only to put the two of them down. But she couldn’t think of how else he could use them. They weren’t going to follow the demon blindly. Ella’s mother had said they were made to stand in defence of humanity, not to serve Heaven or Hell.
“What was Ella’s mother like? I mean seeing an actual angel must’ve been pretty awesome.”
“She was beautiful, not unlike her daughter.” He kissed Ella’s hair. “But she was otherworldly. To be honest, we didn’t speak for long. I still have no idea what our true purpose is.”
Daisy turned to Ella.
“And you’re totally cool with the fact that she appeared to him and not you?”
“Not sure I could’ve handled meeting both my parents in the same night. Daddy demon was enough.”
“I thought you said he looked human.”
“He did, but he was terrifying all the same. I challenge you to meet a Duke of Hell and not wet yourself.”
Daisy cringed.
“I’d rather not meet any supernatural types, to be honest. You two are more than enough for me.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll keep you out of that part of our life if we can.”
Daisy gave them a grin. Ella wasn’t quite sure she could keep her word on that, but she’d try. Her mother had said something was coming, but there was nothing they could do. They didn’t even know when it would happen or what it even was.
§
“Are we there yet?”
Lukas grinned, his hand leaving the steering wheel to prod her in the ribs.
“Soon, love.”
Excitement ran through her. They’d decided to go away for the weekend. He wanted to see if his wings would allow him to fly.
They’d be staying in the Scottish Highlands and had flown up to Edinburgh, where they’d hired a car. It was January, so it wasn’t warm, but neither of them felt the cold much.
“You know, I’m going to have to train you to fight with your staff and sword.”
“Do I have to? I mean, it’s not that hard, is it? Just bash the baddies over the head and a little bit of stabby, stabby in the gut. Isn’t that how they do it in the movies?”
He rolled his eyes and chuckled.
“We’re not in the movies, sweetheart.”
“Too bad. If this was, then you’d have whisked me away to some far away exotic country rather than cold, wet and dreary Scotland.”
“Might I remind you that you wanted to come here?”