Rise From Darkness

by Ciara Knight

  “You were?” She smoothed the napkin across her lap.

  “I know you are probably not going to believe me.” Alex looked away, his gaze dancing around the room. “This is my first real date.”

  Gaby couldn’t help but laugh. She laughed so hard she almost fell out of her chair. Tension in her shoulders melted away.

  “I’m sorry I told you.”

  “Alex, no. I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s my first date too. I was sitting at home wondering how to act or dress.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. Seriously.”

  They both started laughing together. The waitress glared at them as if they had lost their minds.

  Alexander reached across the table, grasped her hand and kissed it. “Sammy was right. We are perfect for each other.”

  Her heart soared at his words and soft touch. She was disappointed when the soup arrived and they had to let go. Heat surged inside as she sat across from Alex sipping Beer Cheese soup. It had been years since she ate in a restaurant, and all the flavors were so hearty and filling, even the croutons on the salad were homemade. Smell of fresh cracked pepper and spices filled the air. Half way through the main course, she was stuffed and couldn’t eat another bite.

  The sun started to drop down in the horizon as they finished dinner.

  “Why don’t we watch the sunset on the pier?” Alexander pulled her chair out.

  “I’d like that. I guess I don’t have to rush home.”

  “Why?”

  “My dad called and said he wouldn’t be home till late.”

  People were flocking to the pier with picnic baskets, bottles of wine and blankets to watch the sunset. Half of them looked like lobsters, probably tourists with no sense to wear sunscreen.

  Alexander led Gaby over to a less inhabited, small corner of the pier. He pushed her hair behind her ear, taking her breath with it. The rhythmic surf swayed the wood beneath them and she grabbed his arm to steady herself. He leaned back against the railing and edged her closer to him.

  This was it. The moment. Nervous energy shot through her. She’d been waiting all night for a kiss, but now, she trembled at the thought. Would this kiss be as sensational as the first? He took her face in his hands and tilted her head up. “I’m so lucky I found you.”

  He was lucky? She didn’t have time to reply before his lips pressed against hers. She hesitated, what if she didn’t kiss well? She hadn’t had a lot of practice.

  After a moment of his mouth sweeping and teasing, her nerves settled. For the first time in years, she felt safe in his arms and she responded.

  Never had she imagined such a perfect guy would want her. But here he was, kissing her, on a pier where everyone could see. She gave herself completely to the moment and to him. Not a hint of loneliness or anxiety remained. For the first time she felt…loved.

  “Excuse me, I hate to interrupt the two of you.” A sarcastic voice shattered their moment.

  Forras and his friend Gremory stood a few feet away. Hatred and fear collided as she steadied herself, trying to appear as if they were no more than a nuisance.

  “What do you want?” Alexander stepped in front of Gaby.

  “You know what I want.”

  “Stay away from her.” Alexander sounded more agitated.

  “Calm down, I just want to have a little chat with Spunky. I think she deserves to know the truth.”

  “Don’t call me that.” Gaby snapped.

  “You don’t like my pet name for you?” Forras feigned grief. “You know your mine, I’ve marked you.”

  “Stay away, Forras. She’s not interested in anything you have to say. She knows you lie and twist everything around. She’s too smart to fall for it.” Alex stood with fists at his side ready to defend her.

  “I’m not going to use any demon manipulation on her.” Forras waved his fingers in the air representing mock magic.

  “Not interested.” Gaby stepped from behind Alexander. Grasping his hand, she started down the pier.

  “Alexander hasn’t told you the whole truth. You have a right to know what happened to your mother.”

  Gaby couldn’t help but stop.

  “What are you talking about? You know nothing. My mother died in a car crash you idiot.” Gaby started forward again, choking down the crackling in her voice.

  “Alexander knows what really happened.”

  “Shut up Forras, I’m warning you.” Alexander’s face twisted into harsh ridges.

  “Or what? You can’t do a thing to stop me. Your little dog isn’t around and you can’t take an angel form in front of all these people. I don’t personally care if they all see my demon form.”

  Gremory circled behind them and put a hand on Alexander’s shoulder. “Maybe you should find a support group to help you come out of the closet?” Both demons chuckled.

  Gaby realized they split up and cornered them. She tried to step around him, but he moved too fast.

  “Alex couldn’t know anything about my mother’s accident. He wasn’t there. I feel sorry for you. I couldn’t imagine living with all that jealousy and hate. Now leave me alone.”

  “Poor Spunky, you don’t have a clue about Alexander and what he’s capable of. You see he was there when your mother—”

  “I said shut up Forras.” Alexander grabbed Gaby’s arm and pulled her along away from them.

  A second later Forras appeared a few feet in front of them leaning against a railing.

  “Why won’t you just leave us alone?” Gaby’s breath caught in her throat as the mark on her skin throbbed. He didn’t have the right to even mention her mother.

  “Alexander murdered your mother.”

  “You liar. I won’t let your jealousy split us up. Go away, it won’t work.” Her voice broke with a heavy feeling of dread.

  “Ask your boyfriend. I bet he won’t deny it.”

  Gaby stopped in her tracks. She felt compelled to turn and face Alexander. Like the day on the beach when she almost agreed to go to the bonfire. This is what Alexander had warned her about. It was as if Forras placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around. He had complete control over her body. She whimpered as she turned to face Alexander.

  Guilt showed on his face and it drained the life from her.

  “Tell him he’s wrong. Alex, tell him.” Her voice rose and she choked back the sobs she knew were surfacing.

  “Gaby, I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you.” Alexander took her hands and pleaded with his eyes.

  “No! It’s not true.” But his face said otherwise. He’d betrayed her. Murdered her mother.

  Forras’ control released and she took off running tripping and twisting her ankles in her heeled shoes on the boardwalk. People watched as she raced past. The demonic mark on her abdomen stung like a hundred army ants bit it at once. She didn’t know where she was going or what she was doing, she just had to get away from them.

  Turning down the back of a building into an empty parking lot near the woods, she attempted to silence the voices and sounds in her head. The car crash flashed through her mind. The sounds, the smells, the emotion, everything haunted her. The burn of anxiety blanketed her skin. Could Forras be forcing her to relive everything? To see Alexander’s role in this? No, he couldn’t have caused the accident.

  Why didn’t he deny it? She crouched holding her head in her hands trying to make the vision go away. It was vivid like one of her dreams, but she never had one during the day before. Her head pounded as hard as her heart but she couldn’t escape the memory.

  Crawling to her mother - her father’s screams - the fire - it all flashed by, but there was more. She saw him. Alexander kneeling in a snow covered field not too far from the crash. Wings outstretched and fire in his eyes. She heard laughter, deep sinister laughter—Forras. Both were there.

  Someone touched her shoulder. She glanced up trying to see though the blur of water in her eyes.

  “I’m so sorry.” Alexander wrapped his arms around he
r shoulders.

  “No, you don’t get to comfort me.” She pushed him away and slid up the wall to stand.

  “You’re only sorry you got caught.” Forras’ mark on her abdomen pulsed with the beat of her heart.

  Gremory stood behind him taunting, Forras loomed behind with a large grin adorning his face.

  “Leave her alone, haven’t you done enough?” Alexander ordered.

  “I’m just getting started. She’s mine now. You lost.” Forras’ voice came with deep-seated pleasure.

  “I’m not anyone’s. I’m not a thing you can posses.” Gaby’s body betrayed her as it shook violently.

  She turned to run but Alexander grabbed her arm. “No, you have to stay with me. I understand if you never want to see me again, but I’ll take you home. You’re not safe, not with Forras targeting you.”

  Forras laughed. “I need a new pet. You’ll be perfect.”

  Gaby pulled from Alexander and fell into Forras. His arms locked around her. Everything around her erupted. Wings and claws and red eyes. Smears of browns and greens in the darkness. It was one of her paintings—the one that evoked so much pain.

  Forras raked his claws across her shoulder and blood ran down her arm. Red mixed with brown and yellow. She pulled away with a sharp pain in radiating from her neck all the way to her fingers.

  Forras stood a foot away with a sadistic smile. His own blood trickling down his wart covered grey cheek. It was his blood that mixed with hers. The world around her spun. The ground quaked and lights exploded as she ran to the woods.

  She bolted, faster, harder, leaving her shoes behind. The twigs and rocks cut into her feet. Glancing down she saw the trail of blood but nothing stopped her.

  A rage surfaced from within. She reached a large clearing. Boon and Sammy jumped from their blanket on the ground.

  “Sorry to interrupt your secret rendezvous.” She could hear the hate and sarcasm of her own voice.

  “What’s wrong?” Sammy ran over to Gaby but she pushed her away, knocking her to the ground. The strength empowered her, there was no pain or sorrow just unadulterated hate and fury that made her strong. No more being a victim. She could handle herself.

  Boon ran to her. “Gaby, you’re bleeding. What happened?”

  “Nothing. I feel great.”

  Boon shifted and analyzed her wound. “I bet you do. For another couple of minutes anyway.”

  “What are you talking about?” Sammy looked between her and Boon.

  Boon approached with a cautious step. “Can I look at your shoulder Gaby?”

  She ripped the shrug from her shoulder and threw it to the ground. Not feeling the need to hide her skin, or anything else on her body for that matter.

  “Where’s Alexander?” Sammy shrieked.

  “Who cares?” Gaby shrugged her shoulders. “Poor little Boon. You’re so pathetic. Why do you hide from him?”

  Boon leaned in and sniffed her shoulder. “Sammy, find Alexander. We might have minutes left.”

  Sammy took off in a blinding light.

  “Why do you sound so concerned? Everything is great, amazing, stupendous. I’ve never felt so alive before.”

  “Gaby you have to listen to me. You have to fight it.”

  “Fight what?”

  “The poison. It is going to be painful, excruciating, but you have to try to be strong.” Boon clutched her arms. “Look at me.”

  What was he talking about? “I feel fantastic. I could take on the world right now.”

  “I know. You have this euphoric sensation, but it’s going to pass. You are going to hate everyone and everything. You’re going to want to cause pain to everyone you love. You’re going to feel like … a demon.”

  Alex raced toward Gaby with a navy hue surrounding him. “What happened?”

  Gaby shoved him away from her. He stumbled back several steps. “What do you mean, what happened? You know what happened. You murdered my mother.

  Her skin started to burn.

  “Gaby stay calm, you’re going to make it worse.” Boon said in a smooth tone.

  “Shut up, Boon. You don’t even like Alex.” Gaby wanted to destroy both of them, “Are you going to tell Alex, or shall I?”

  “Gaby, don’t,” Sammy yelled out, but there was no stopping her.

  “Sweet, dear Alex, love of my life, liar and murderer.” The burning sensation rose up in her throat, she could spit fire. She knew she could burn them all to Hell with her words. “Your sweet little innocent sister here and Boon have been getting it on behind your back.”

  “What?” Alexander’s voice came weak.

  “Alexander, focus. Gaby is losing it. We have to get her to some place safe before we can’t control her at all.” Boon insisted.

  Alexander turned on Boon. “How can I trust you? You could be lying. All of you are liars.”

  “You don’t have to believe me. Look at her.” Boon gestured to Gaby.

  “Alexander, please. I will explain everything later. I know you see Boon only as a demon but—”

  “Demon? Oh dear Sammy, really? How perfect. Your brother despises demons. He thinks he’s better than them. Even though he hasn’t realized yet he is nothing more than a demon with wings.” Gaby purred.

  Boon tried to grab Alex but he moved away. “Don’t listen to her. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

  Gaby laughed deep and loud. “Please, Boon, I know exactly what I’m saying and don’t try to change the subject. We were talking about you and Sammy and your sordid love affair. Alexander, what do you think their babies will look like? Fangs, greenish-red eyes, with or without wings? That would be a sight.”

  The burning grew more intense. She lunged to attack Alex with the intention on killing him or sending him to hell. There would be no stopping her. She could feel the strength and power surge through her body. She threw him to the ground.

  “Come on, fight back. Aw, are you going to cry now? Poor, Alexander isn’t as good as he thought he was. He’s no better than a low life demon.” The skin on her arms started to bubble in front of her eyes. She jumped down on him and started punching him. He didn’t turn, his eyes stayed cool, wings invisible.

  “Fight back.” Gaby yelled at him trying to get him to change. She wanted to conquer him in his angel form. Boon and Sammy grabbed each of her arms but she jerked free.

  “Alex, come on we have to get her home.” Sammy pleaded.

  Gaby jumped to her feet and turned to fight them all, but her arms erupted in flames. She waved them up and down rapidly and fell to the ground rolling trying to put the flames out, but her entire body exploded in an inferno. The pain was maddening and she could smell her flesh melt. “Help me. Help!”

  “Boon, help her, what do we do?” Sammy reached for Gaby but the heat intensified. “No, don’t touch me.”

  “We have to get her home now. The hallucinations have started. She’s going to be out of control soon,” Boon urged them.

  Hallucinations? Was he mad? She was burning alive.

  “I’m so sorry Gaby. So, so sorry.” She could hear Alexander’s words and hated him more, but she couldn’t respond. The pain and rage empowered and crippled her at the same time. Maybe if she gave into the pain, it would stop but something warned her it would only be the beginning if she did.

  Chapter Ten

  Alexander shoved Boon out of the way. “I have to try.” He touched Gaby’s shoulder only to jerk his searing hand away. “She’s burning up.”

  His stomach twisted as Gaby thrashed about. He cursed himself for not listening to Grace. This was his fault. If she died, he had no one to blame but himself.

  Boon helped him up from the ground. “Alexander, you can’t help her. Even with the powers you once possessed—”

  “I-I can’t lose her.” Alex jerked away and Boon knelt next to her. What had he done? She was the only person on this Godforsaken planet he cared for more than Grace or Sammy. A strange heaviness covered his heart. A sense of loss he’d ne
ver felt before, not even when he fell. His insides twisted and he doubled over unable to rid himself of an overwhelming desire to die.

  Pain, sadness, and fear collided in a sea of emotion. His heart ached with each beat, as if it had been created for one purpose. Not just to pump blood through his body. How he yearned for her wasn’t just physical, or emotional, but a compound of everything. He couldn’t think of a word to describe his emotion except, love. He loved her and he couldn’t lose her now.

  He placed one hand on her shoulder and the other on her waist.

  Ignoring the burning that radiated from his palms, he struggled with every ounce of light within his body to keep his hands against her flesh. He swallowed down a lump in his throat as his head spun. The horrific sensation of falling forever into a sea of darkness invaded his mind. The evil radiating from her body forced him to relive the feelings he experienced the day of his banishment from Heaven.

  His eyes burned and his body trembled. He cried out and panted forcing himself to continue.

  “Alex, stop!” Sammy grabbed his arm and yanked him away.

  He choked and gasped for air, watching Gaby through watering eyes, curled in a fetal position, her screams growing louder with each second.

  She lay there dying. And he knew there was nothing else he could do. He had failed. “What’ve I done?” He held his head and beat it against the ground. Sobs escaped his lips while he fought for control.

  Boon ran past Alexander to Gaby. “There’s no more time. We need to go.”

  “We’ll never make it to our house and we can’t take her back to your car, at the pier, in her condition. What are we going to do?” Sammy sobbed.

  “Gaby’s house.” Alexander whispered. “Her dad shouldn’t be home. It’s our only choice.”

  Did it matter? Was there anything anyone could do to save her now?

  Life would be meaningless without her. His entire body ached to help her.

  Gaby thrashed about and he reached out to touch her but halted. Instead rested his body next to hers on the ground, trying to remain as close as possible without physical contact.