I screamed as my mom held onto my arm pressing it hard onto the table. The veiled woman had a long, slender pink tinged metal rod that she pressed onto my skin.
“Don’t cry little one,” her voice was soft and soothing to my younger self’s ears. “Meena is here to help you.”
My eyes popped open to see Malachi inches from my face. He was on top of me holding me down by my wrists and breathing hard as his eyes were filled with surprise.
“No, I’m alright. It’s just a small burn.” I could hear Nessa’s voice.
“Her name was Meena,” I said, gazing into Malachi’s striking blue eyes. They reminded me of the blue goblets at my second foster home that we were never allowed to use. “Your eyes,” I said softly. “They are beautiful.”
Malachi’s lips curled into a big smile as his scared-surprised eyes turned conceited. He chuckled as he released my wrists and helped me to my feet. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but that quickly faded when I saw Nessa holding her hand with blisters covering it. Seth was already applying what I guessed was serpents oil.
“Nessa,” I said with concern. “Did I…did I do that? I’m sorry.” I felt horrible as Nessa hid her pain with a smile towards me.
“It’s fine. Just a small burn, and,” she flinched as Seth applied more oil. “It will heal quickly.”
“Nessa will heal, but I don’t think this gent will be so lucky.” Malachi motioned with his head towards a statue of some headless Buddha looking wax sculpture that sat on a narrow table along the wall. “You decapitated him. Dislike river trolls?” he asked picking up the head that belonged to the sculpture off the floor.
I looked between Seth, Nessa and Malachi. “What-what did I do?” I pressed my hands to my head trying to contain the range of emotions inside of me.
“Come here and sit,” Malachi said, guiding me to the sofa.
Seth took a pale Nessa into the kitchen to bandage up her burn. I felt horrible, and more like a monster that humans depicted them to be—one to be feared for the terrible things they did. I had hurt Nessa, and possibly could have killed her, and by the scotch marks on the wall along with the ruined sculpture, I could have destroyed Ayil’s home.
I wanted to cry, but couldn’t as so many emotions ran through me. A memory of my past had surfaced uncovering things long forgotten. The demon that had bit me so long ago has found me. I wanted to run until I found that sanctuary made by the angels, and be sheltered from my past that I wanted nothing to do with at the same time I did.
Malachi sat beside me and didn’t say a word. He just wrapped his arm around me and we sat there.
I thought of everything that had happened, and gazed towards the wall with no memory of what I had done to it. The next thing I clearly remembered was staring into Malachi’s gem-like eyes. A wave of embarrassment flashed over me.
“I said you had amazing eyes,” I said, still not thinking clearly.
Malachi removed his arm from me and grinned. I sat horrified realizing I had said my thoughts out loud.
“You actually said beautiful, but amazing is a nice complement as well, and I accept that complement.” I knew a wave of dread washed over my face that Malachi could clearly see. “All the girls tell me that my eyes are amazing, so, you’re not telling me anything I don’t know, spell-struck,”
Could this day get any worse?
“You’re eyes are lovely too,” he said as I looked up at him.
“They’re brown,” I said, thinking the color of them wasn’t special.
“Yes, but they have flecks of blue and green in them. Never seen eyes like yours before—they are unique and so are you.”
I stood up and went to the window. “When Ayil gets back she won’t think my uniqueness is all that great.” I turned and motioned towards the wall.
Malachi glanced at it then back at me. “Yes, well, we monsters are used to things like this.” He stood up and walked towards me.
His eyes were something I could get lost in; kind of like gazing at a painting that had so much detail, you couldn’t pull away until you’ve looked at everything the artist had painted into it.
Malachi stood in front of me and took my hands in his. I let him as my fingers sat loosely in his palms. He smiled at me, not with his arrogant grin that I’ve noticed and thought nauseating. Instead, I saw something else that I didn’t know what it was, and clearly had my interest. “You, April Snow,” he said softly, “are not the monster you think you are.”
Seth
“April said her mother called it a market they went to. Do you think it was the night market in Nethopania?” Nessa asked fighting off the drowsiness caused from the serpent’s oil. “That place is kind of shady you know.”
“Possibly,” I replied letting my thoughts drift to Ezra.
I had just checked on her, and she was sleeping—in fact that’s all she’s been doing. I had to do something for her, and Ayil said that maybe the angels could help her, but even their powers aren’t that strong.
“Look, I know you are concerned about Ezra, too,” Nessa said, gently grabbing me by my chin to meet her gaze, “but we need to do something, not sit here and wait for the stinking angels to arrive.”
“Yes, we should, but my Uncle Hes gave me Ayil’s name and sent us to her as someone we could trust. And we will wait for the angels and Ayil to come back.” I said, straightening myself. “And when they do get back, we will tell them about April’s vision.” Nessa crossed her arms and glared at me.
“It’s our mission and we won’t know unless we investigate, because I don’t trust angels unless I know them, and I don’t know very many angels.” Nessa’s eyes were beginning to glaze over and her words slightly slur. “Dang this serpent’s oil,” she rubbed her eyes. “I need coffee.”
I smiled at her. “Your small stature is no challenge for the oil, you know that, and the perk coffee will give you is only temporary.” Her head wobbled the more she tried to straighten it. “Nessa, you need to sleep for at least an hour.”
“I don’t want to,” she said in her stubborn voice. “I don’t trust angels, and I’m not sure about Ayil.” She whispered her name even though Ayil had left to see if the angels had arrived. “She didn’t share very much information about these angels. What if they are bad ones?” Nessa’s eyes widened, as her gestures were that of someone intoxicated. “I mean how do they know April is a princess and her ring has the power of the angels? Do you think maybe they wanted that power back?”
Nessa was making some valid points through her sleepy stupor. I’ve allowed myself to become preoccupied with Ezra that I’ve pushed our mission behind her. There was lot that hung in the balance that we were responsible for. But I also knew Uncle Hes wouldn’t send me to the enemy, unless, that relationship had changed. The race of angels and demons looked upon monsters the same way. They both used and hated us. If April’s ring contained the lost power of the angels, and put into the wrong hands, the race of monsters could be destroyed. It’s no secret that angels detest us even breathing air, and they wouldn’t think twice about turning us to ash. The only problem was it would be too late if that was the intentions of Ayil’s angel companions.
I took in a deep breath and stood up. “You’re right, Nessa, at least enough to cause speculation.” I stepped behind her.
“Of course I’m right,” she said agreeably as I lifted her gently up.
“We will go the night market, and we will leave as soon as we can.”
Each time Ezra opened her eyes, the less she could open them. She was fading, and she was fading fast. Her breaths were raspy and she coughed up blood when she talked. My heart ached the first time I lost her, and now, it ached even more. I felt it my fault she was like this—if only she would have left the Shadowlands.
“Something troubles you besides my passing,” Ezra said, trying to retain a cough.
I smiled. “Don’t worry about what troubles me.”
She tightened the grip she had on my hand. “My time
is fading.” Her eyes opened a little wider. “The angels won’t be able to help me, this I know. There is only one thing that can be done, and April can do it.”
I wanted to cry out demanding the fates to explain why they torture us. April could do a Taking, but then what would be the result of that?
“You don’t understand what I can do,” Ezra pressed. “By April taking my life force, I will live in her. My strength will be hers and hers will be mine. She’s incomplete, and there is a war coming that she won’t be able to fight alone.”
I shook my head and took Ezra’s hand. “At least give the angels a try, they might help you…help us,” I said as she shook her head.
“Seth, it will be too late. By the time Ayil Archer comes home, I will be lost beyond the Shawdowlands, and never see you again.”
Ayil had called and said she’d be back in two days. It was taking some time for the angels to get here, and she said that we should stay in the house within the protection of her spells. She reassured us that the spells were demon-proof, and nothing should happen. Something would happen—Ezra would die. I didn’t say anything to Ayil about that because I had made a decision—now to get April to agree.
“Ok, what’s so important that we had to assemble in the kitchen?” Malachi asked sitting next to April and Nessa beside her.
I let my eyes switch from Malachi to Nessa and then rested on April. “As you know we don’t have much time with our mission or with Ezra. But I think for us to be successful, the two are linked.”
“Seth, what are you talking about?” Nessa asked. “We should be going to the night market in Nethopania, not talking about what’s important, but doing what’s important.”
“Nethopania?” April questioned as she looked from me to Nessa.
“Like I said,” I raised my voice cutting Nessa’s explanation off. “The two are linked.”
I gazed into April’s eyes. Her dark eyes were a multitude of colors, and Ezra was right, she was old and young at the same time. I could clearly see it as I focused on her.
“Seth,” Nessa’s voice questioned with warning. “What are you doing?”
“Doing what needs to be done.”
“You’re compelling her, why?” Malachi asked defensively.
I was and I wasn’t. “I’m not totally compelling her.”
“What’s compelling?” April asked glancing towards Malachi and proving him wrong.
“Uh,” he replied, and then looked at me dumbfounded for an answer.
“April,” I said her name and she looked back at me. “Compelling is sort of like controlling and getting into ones thoughts. I can do that, but I’m not doing that to you. I’m simply opening your thoughts and mind so I can ask you a question.”
“Ok Seth, you’ve…” Nessa started to say as I shushed her.
“What question?” She asked.
“I need you to do a Taking. I need…I mean, I’m asking you to take Ezra’s life force.”
“What?!” Nessa yelled, but didn’t even disturb the hold I had between April and me. “You can’t ask that of her.”
“She’s dying and she will be lost beyond the Shadowlands, unless I take her life force and we will be as one.” April read my thoughts and my feelings as I relayed them to her. “You love her very much and the mission, it depends on it. I’m incomplete and to be that way, will be the death of me.”
“Stop it Seth!” Malachi jumped from his chair and shoved me to the floor. “You are risking her life to try to save Ezra’s! Do you not think of anyone else?!” Malachi’s blue eyes burst with flames as he pressed me to the floor.
“You don’t understand, Malachi.” I didn’t want to fight, but he left me no choice.
I flipped him over in the matter of a heartbeat and he retaliated by quick punch to my mouth, and a slam back to the floor. I tasted blood, but the pain in my heart was deeper that any physical pain. I didn’t punch him back; as I knew he had taken a liking to April and was just defending her.
Malachi had anger that ran deep and had been bottled inside him for a long time. I could see this clearly now like a geyser breaking land’s surface. He raised his fist, and readied it to slam it into my face. I had to get him under control.
“Malachi, get off of Seth!” Nessa grabbed Malachi’s clenched fist in her delicate hand. “Seth’s right.” She admitted. “Fighting your brother will get you nowhere.”
Malachi calmed at the sound of Nessa’s voice. He got off of me and I stood up and was going to ask April one last time to do a Taking, but she wasn’t in the kitchen. “Where did April go?” I asked rubbing my mouth knowing the answer to my own question.
April
Seth could compel, but I wasn’t compelled, and did what I’ve only done once on my own free will. Seth had opened his thoughts to me, and I understood more than he could ever explain to me in words. I also believed in Ezra, she risked entering my dreams so she could talk to me, and comfort me. This was the least I could do.
I walked up to Ezra, and her eyes opened upon my presence. She smiled and reached for my hand.
“It’s alright, little one,” her voice was gentle as a white-golden fog curled around us.
“You are brave and scared and old and young all at the same time. I will make you complete and give you the strength you will need one day.” Ezra smiled at me as she spoke in my thoughts.
I knew time wasn’t on our side, and I had to act quickly. I wasn’t scared of doing this Taking as I was with the one I did before to the man in the alley. I relieved him of pain and given him a quick death, but this one would be different, because this was a favor. And as Ezra explained to me, she wouldn’t die, but become a part of me. I wasn’t scared, but felt a piece of me was finally being made whole.
I linked my fingers through hers, and stared into her eyes. Her strength was never-ending, but disease had taken over. Her time in the Shadowlands was over—I was her last hope.
“You are an heir, April Snow to a great destiny, and Malachi will help you get there.”
I didn’t speak or ask any questions as I felt her light and energy mix with mine. Even in her weakened state, she was stronger than me. Released from the sickness that took her body, her energy was freed and mixed with mine. Golden light flickered around us like stars and the white mist thickened until her pale skin, dark hair, and indigo eyes were all but lost to the shroud of mist.
I tightened my fingers through hers, but they weren’t there. I opened my eyes to see a pool of glitter where Ezra had been lying in bed. I could hardly breathe as I felt a hand gently touch me on the shoulder.
“April?” Questioned Seth’s voice.
I turned around, let my eyes mingle with his, and then smiled. “Her strength is my strength,” I said in my voice, but clearly heard Ezra’s voice join mine.
“We can’t stay here,” Nessa said, pacing the floor. “And now with April doing a Taking, we really can’t stay here.”
“We need to go to Nethopania, and at least start at the night market there,” Malachi said sitting next to me. I felt an unspoken bond had formed between us, and even though Ezra said he’d help lead me to my great destiny, I wasn’t sure if I’d make it there without being embarrassed to death for the things I say aloud , or me killing him from his over-inflated ego he had for himself.
“It will be a place to start.” Seth put on his long, dark coat. “Let’s go.”
Everything that happened had gone by in a blur, kind of like a car crash that kept replaying in my head: us leaving the safety of Ayil’s home, doing my second Taking, and now going to Nethopania in Iethia to a night market. I still felt slightly numb as I walked towards the outskirts of town under the cover of darkness. I was going to another realm—a realm that monsters came from, but not the monsters humans had designed them to be, real ones that are like humans in many ways.
Nessa walked beside me and Malachi with Seth. Through the darkness, Malachi would glance back at me as would a parent watching their child. Ben l
ooked at me the same protective way. I drew in a deep breath thinking of Ben. He had saved me from a demon, and no random one. Eveie was the demon that had bit me, and turned me into what I am, or was I this way before?
“Are you cold?” Malachi asked me pulling me out of my pondering thoughts as we walked along the edge of the desolate road.
“No, I’m fine,” I replied.
“Quick in the ditch—car coming,” Seth said as distant piercing lights shone in front of us.
Malachi grabbed me by the shoulders and guided me to the deep ditch. Nessa and I were sandwiched between Seth and Malachi as we peered towards the road through the tall blades of the dead grass.
I heard the engine coming closer and lowered my head. The ditch was deep enough that no one would even know we were there. I waited with pounding heart for the car to zoom by, but it didn’t. Instead, wheels screeched to a sudden stop right in front of our hiding spot.
I looked at Malachi who kept his glowing eyes forward. We stayed quiet as two car doors opened and slammed shut.
“We are just about there,” said Ayil’s voice. “And you have to stop again to take a piss.” She seemed aggravated at whoever was with her.
“I’m four-hundred and thirty-six years old—you’d have the same problem as well when you reach my age.” A male voice replied with a slightly amused chuckle.
“Yeah, well I have a demon contained in a stone, a monster with archangel abilities, and another monster with a royal hexmark, and a ring with the last remaining power of the first angels around her finger.”
I looked at Malachi who kept his gaze forward then at Nessa who did the same.
“Look, I’ll be quick, my lovely, or I’ll be having an accident in your car.” He stepped closer towards us. “Besides, they are safe and secure in your little home. Just like a present for us angels—and we don’t get many presents.” He chuckled.
Dancing With Monsters Page 12