“Ezra,” she confirmed, and I nodded.
“But your name was Myra, not Ella.” Malachi gazed down at his sister.
“She picked that name since I didn’t know her true name,” Eveie said, still standing a slight distance away as a servant would do waiting on her employer.
“It’s true, I did.” Ella confirmed with a smile. “Eveie told me about you, and said this day would come, and it has.” She wrapped her arms around Malachi with a giant, content smile on her face.
Malachi was taken by surprise by her gesture, and stood with arms out, frozen as if contemplating to hug Ella or not. He looked down at her as she continued to embrace him, eyes closed.
“She’s your sister,” I said, as if he was waiting to be formally told.
Malachi glanced at me, and then back at Ella. Slowly, and almost like a rusted gate, Malachi’s arms curled around Ella.
“Myra, I dreamed of this day, but never thought it possible. And your hexmark is beautiful.”
Ella smiled u at him. “I know,”
Malachi lifted his eyes to Eveie, and nodded. “I have you to thank.”
Eveie’s eyes filled with shock, and I’m sure being a demon, no one had probably ever thanked her for anything she did. Her surprised expression faded into a smile.
Suddenly, April ran past me with her translucent, glowing wings behind her.
“April?” Nessa ran after her as they both stopped at the crest of hill.
April turned and looked over her shoulder at me. The blue sky framed her and the wind gently blew through her hair as Nessa gazed into the distance trying to see what April had noticed.
“What are you looking at?” Nessa asked.
I joined them along with Malachi, Ella and Eveie. We looked into the green-scape that surrounded us.
“You don’t have dragons or gargoyles around here, do you?” Edan asked Eveie.
“No,” she said, not removing her eyes from the horizon. “But this is the Isle of Stars. Many creatures live here, and could be any number of them.”
I touched April on the shoulder, and was going to ask her what alerted her to dash up the hill as if someone had called to her. She quickly placed her hand on mine and turned to me with Ezra’s indigo eyes.
“The archangels are here,” she said, trembling. “But so are demons.”
April
“How can you see them?” Nessa asked.
“I sense them.” I replied, with my hand still on Seth’s. I felt Ezra surface inside of me like a fishing bobber floating on water. We were one, but yet a small piece remained of her, and it still reached out for Seth. “They travel quickly—both of them.”
“Can demons withstand being here?” Malachi asked no one in particular. “They aren’t strong enough to leave the shadows, unless…” He turned to Eveie. “The serum…”
His eyes narrowed as he looked at Eveie who stood expressionless at first, and then started to shake her head.
Even though Eveie had done nothing but prove herself as a good demon, Malachi still held a piece of suspicion for her. Having Ezra to guide me, I honed her ability to see into and past things, and seeing things for what they are.
“It isn’t the serum—it’s something else.” I cut in front of Eveie as she opened her mouth to defend herself. “The serum can’t be made without this.” I raised my hand showing the engagement ring Ben had given me. I felt it had been years since he had proposed to me, and looking at it made my heart ache. “It’s something else that is making them materialize.”
“I still don’t see anything.” Nessa reported as she kept her eyes focused on the peaceful looking landscape.
“Even if I did have the serum, I would never give it to any of the demons in the shadows.” Eveie stepped towards Malachi with chin raised. “You have no idea what sort of things exist there, and I never want them to leave that horrible place.”
Malachi’s eyes softened as a sudden whooshing sound passed over our heads. We ducked and frantically surveyed into the bright sky.
“Please tell me that was just the wind,” Nessa said, as a cawing sound gave her reply.
I stood up as Malachi pressed himself next to me and grasped onto my wrist as you would a small child so they don’t get lost. I closed my eyes, and reached out to the invisible creature that flew over our heads.
It was by itself—a scout, maybe. It had no intentions of hurting us, but it did try to send a message. Without thinking, I blocked the message. It tried again, and I blocked it again.
I felt the air around me stir as if a large fan had been placed over our heads.
“Fine, if you overpower me, then I will take a sample with me.” A voice, female, said as I opened my eyes and scanned the skies overhead.
“Where did that come from? I can’t see anything!” Edan yelled over the wind and the sound of wings flapping overhead.
I looked up at the empty sky knowing something was there, but was invisible. Malachi, Seth and Edan stood in front of me with Nessa beside me gazing up at the sky as well.
“Who are you?” I demanded worming my way between Seth and Malachi.
Malachi grabbed my arm, but I jerked it away as I glared into the blue sky. “I said, make yourself known! Who are you?” I repeated.
Suddenly, right over my head, the sky started to ripple like water. Slowly, a shape began to take form as I watched it pull the colors from the sky making it almost translucent, but solid enough to see it. If I had to guess what it was, I’d call it a dragon. It had a long neck, oval head, glistening, iridescent scales, and webbed wings that gracefully flapped behind it. Its eyes reflected the clouds surrounding us as it made eye contact with me.
I should be scared out of my mind, but I wasn’t. The creature had a majestic appearance to her, and from what I sensed, she wasn’t here to hurt us—at least that wasn’t her duty right now.
“It’s a sky serpent!” Edan yelled as he grabbed Nessa.
Malachi pulled me back, and started to run towards the cottage along with everyone else. I didn’t think the structure would protect us from whatever a sky serpent could do.
“Fine,” the serpent huffed as her shadow glided over us and then landed right in front of Eveie’s home, gracefully.
We stopped dead in our tracks as the ghost-like sky serpent blocked the entryway. She towered over us as she gazed down with dark eyes that were like two sponges that soaked up what color she had to her. Her skin slowly reflected the color of the flowers, the grey stones, and blue sky that made her look like a watery cutout of the space before us.
“Stay back!” Edan commanded to us as he held out his arm like a traffic cop stopping vehicles. “I’ve training with sky serpents before.”
The serpent cocked her head, and looked bemused even through her translucent appearance.
“I’m impressed, little angel.” Her voice was pleasant, and very human-like. “Most don’t claim experience with us, and lived to tell others about it—yes, very impressed.” Her voice rang with amusement.
“You serve the Fae here, don’t you?” I asked, stepping forward as Malachi pulled me back, and gave me an are you crazy look.
I kept my eyes on the sky serpent as Malachi grasped onto my wrist. With eyes that looked like two organs, a heart maybe, that had tiny veins and capillaries trailing to it, she glanced between Malachi and me.
“He protects you, young Fae.” She sounded pleased. “My time here isn’t supposed to be long as others are treading on our ground.” She glanced in the distance. “I bring no resistance with me, and come in peace as that is the way of the sky serpent on The Isle of Stars.” She looked at Edan who held a dagger in front of him. “You would know this, Edan, son of Isaiah Tollwick, if your experience was correct.” She still had an amused tone to her voice as Edan lowered his blade slightly.
“How do you know my name?” He asked.
“I can see through all of you, and that’s why the Fae employ me and others like me as their watchguards. My name is R
owain, and I’m the personal guard of Eldon.” Rowain set her eyes, feathered with color, on me and slightly bowed. “He sensed you, April Snow, but didn’t know who you were exactly, but I can tell you are Fae mixed with other creatures. You bring an un-pure presence to our lands.” Her eyes pulsated with color as they narrowed.
Seth, Malachi and Edan, acting on her threating looks and words, stepped closer to the serpent with daggers toward her. Nessa slipped in between them as Edan gave her a discouraging look that she ignored. Eveie, who stood a few steps behind me, clutched her arms protectively around Ella. Rowain glanced at all of us as if she was studying our movements, and summing us up.
“Sky serpents are not immune to the blades of angels.” Edan threatened.
“No, they are not, little angel.” Rowain didn’t appear impressed or worried at the three of them. “But I am not here to hurt you—I’m a messenger, guard, and scout. What you should be frightened of is the feet that trample closer to you. They come after the April Snow for her nectar that runs through her. Demons have struck, a deal and found their father that they’ve been searching for. Angels with their power chase them, and if not stopped, both will be obliterated. We don’t like war on our lands, and will eliminate all who try. We are strong, we are numberless, and we will not discriminate.”
“Why are you telling us this?” I asked unafraid of Rowain, even though her appearance should have made me scared, and a few weeks ago would have. “You could kill them all, including us, but you don’t. Why?”
Her eyes fluxed with color and understanding. “You have ties to these creatures, and as a single flower that belongs to a larger plant, you, April Snow, are part of this world and we’ve waited a long time for you to come. We are giving you a chance to save the ones you love—a rare opportunity from a sky serpent and the Fae.” She turned her attention to Edan. “And you, Edan Tollwick, you should know this from your experience with sky serpents.” With those words, Rowain’s image liquefied, and she disappeared with a whoosh of her wings.
15
Seth
Somehow demons had materialized enough to escape the shadows. But how many had come, and what strength did they have? So many questions ran through my head as everyone talked at once, and I couldn’t understand anyone.
“Quiet!” I yelled, catching everyone’s attention. “Malachi and Edan, go to the hill and watch for anything.” I pointed towards the knoll where we were at. “Tell us if you see anything.”
With slightly surprised looks, they nodded and took off.
“I can sense if anything is coming before Malachi or Edan can.” April stepped in front of me and looked at me with brown eyes. I searched them quickly for a glimpse of Ezra. “Let me join them.”
I studied her for a moment then nodded for her to join them.
“The demons won’t be strong without the serum.” I turned to see Eveie, arms wrapped around Ella as a mother would do protecting their child. “They have to have a willing host in order to escape the shadows, and I have a guess at who might have been willing.” She raised her right eyebrow as the scales glistened in the slight movement.
“Who?” I asked
“Benjamin Marsh, April’s companion that just wanted her for what she could do. He isn’t done with her.” Her eyes shifted to April. “Allow me to make a barrier around them—they need protection. We all need protection from not only the angels and demons, but the Fae here as well. If this isn’t resolved quickly, they will release the sky serpents and all will perish. We are lucky they are allowing us to settle this on our own, unless they are bored and in need of entertainment.” She looked away for a moment. “Seth, the Fae are very strong here, and possess many magical implements—it’s a containment facility for the Fae world, and they do have use of it.”
I looked at Eveie, and then over at Malachi, April, Edan and Nessa who followed him. They were under my protection, and even though Uncle Hes was gone, I still had a mission to complete.
“The Fae are not unreasonable, that is how I came to have sanctuary here.” She tightened her arms around Ella. “They want April, and will protect her here along with us.”
There was something in Eveie’s voice she wasn’t telling me. A demon living on The Isle of Stars with access to all kinds of magical implements and given a house by the Fae didn’t add up. Why didn’t I see this before and question Eveie? Because I was worried too much about Ezra and April—I let my personal feelings get in the way of what’s going on.
“The Fae would put a stop to this.” I stepped closer to Eveie. “This is their pristine lands, and they are letting demons and angels tread freely on it. There something more going on, and I know you know what it is.”
Eveie shook her head as Ella looked up at her.
“Their king is dying—April is the closest heir. But she must prove herself to the Fae or a new line of Fae will control The Isle of Stars.”
I started to put the puzzle together. “You found April for them, and by doing so, they promised you a home here.”
She nodded her head. “We have to win against the demons that come here and make peace with the angels. April must guide us and prove her strength to them or…” Eveie tightened her hold on Ella. “The new line of Fae will wash the lands of her blood.”
“What do you mean…kill her?” I asked and she nodded.
Before Evevie could reply, the sky darkened and a gust of wind pushed on us like two giant hands. I nearly fell, and managed to catch myself as I turned to see a black, boiling cloud fill the sky. It looked angry as it rapidly engulfed the blue sky. Ghost-like, deformed faces of demons, protruded out of it like they were desperately trying to escape. Screeching filled the air as an image formed out of the billowing clouds. It was clearly a man with dark hair and wearing a long coat that swirled around him like black ink in water. His eyes focused on April as he descended from the sky like a bird landing gracefully on the ground.
“April,” he said, with a smile.
From behind him, and as if attached to him, the black clouds swirled with the faces and bodies of demons trying to claw their way out as the man extended a hand towards April.
“The demons—they are here,” Eveie said, with fear hanging on her every word.
Ella suddenly grabbed my arm and I twirled around.
“Here,” she said calmly and with a slight smile. “This is a demon blade, and yes, I stole it. The Fae should watch little girls more carefully or have a better security system.” Her smile deepened. “I knew one day it would be needed. It’s the only thing that will kill demons as strong as this one.”
I took the black blade that looked like it had been carved out of glass. It was light in my hand, too light to kill a demon—surly it would break. But magic surrounded it, and I felt it.
The man stood in front of April, and was talking to her in a way a couple would tenderly talk to one another. Malachi, Edan and Nessa stood motionless in poses that looked like they were going to attack him. They had been frozen by a spell, I’m sure, and that left me to stop this demon and his army that was literally behind him.
I glided up the hill, dagger in hand as I heard the hum of Eveie placing a barrier around her and Ella and me as well.
I’ve never had a barrier placed on me before, much less by a demon that seemed to care about me. I felt like I was moving through thick mud. I glanced behind me as Eveie nodded holding onto Ella.
I turned around, and with all my strength, I ran up the hill towards the demon with dagger raised as his surprised eyes met mine.
April
“Come with me, April,” Ben said cupping my cheeks with his hands.
I felt tears of joy sting my eyes as I touched Ben’s arms to see if he was really standing in front of me, or if he was just a figment of my imagination. Confusion filled me as to how I got here with Ben, who appeared to be alright. My disbelief, I let get washed away with the elation of him standing before me. “I thought you were dead.” Could this be happening? “I saw yo
u die in the blast. Are you really here, and everything is ok?”
Eveie had tried to get me from him, and to protect me, Ben died in Eveie’s blast.
He smiled as his brown eyes gazed tenderly at me. “I could never leave you, and we can live here in Avalon.” He stepped aside and motioned towards the city of light that framed the indigo sky with twinkling stars.
It was night, and the city glowed like a zillion diamonds under bright light. Everything about it was perfect. But it couldn’t be happening—other things have happened since Ben proposed to me—I couldn’t remember.
“It was meant to be for us, April.” His words curled around me like a warm blanket.
I looked at the city. It was Avalon—city of the Fae…the Fae. I was Fae, and, I now had wings—Eveie uncovered them for me. My memory pushed through my happiness for a happy ending with Ben, even though I didn’t want it to.
“I don’t understand,” I said, felling something pull at me. “What about the rest of them…Malachi…”
Ben’s face turned to a scowl as he extended his arm out in front of him, and yelled an incoherent command. Immediately, a thin, grey arm covered in loose flesh, crept over his like a fog, and then curled its bony fingers around Ben’s. A ball of grey mist shot from his hand.
I turned, following its path, and realized Seth was behind me. The grey mist exploded in front of him, sending Seth tumbling down the hill. The lights, twinkling stars and the city filled with diamonds, crumbled from my vision.
“No!” I yelled realizing I wasn’t in Avalon, and ran towards Seth.
“You’re staying with me, April!” Ben yelled as he grabbed hold of my wing with his demon covered hand.
I screamed as Ben turned me around.
“Let me go!” I cried as Ben gave me a sympathetic look.
“But I loved you, April. I gave my life for you.” He pleaded as his face shifted from the gentle one I fell in love with, to one of hardness and hate.
Dancing With Monsters Page 24