Rise From Darkness

by Ciara Knight

  The crickets chirped and seagulls squawked in the distance. Shouldn’t nature be silent in the presence of a demon? Something wasn’t right. “You saw her, I can see it in your eyes.”Alexander circled Boon studying him. “I saw an angel hiding in the trees watching the house. She’s here isn’t she?”

  “Sammy’s not here.” Boon retorted.

  “I’m not talking about Sammy. I’m talking about Eliana. I know she’s here.”

  “Eliana? Who’s Eliana?” Boon’s brow raised in question, Alexander saw through it. There had been an angel here. He knew it. He saw it.

  “Listen, I just came to give an update on Forras. I believe he’s headed back with the weapon. There’s no sign of him right now so I’m going to stay in the woods between Gaby’s house and yours.”

  “We’ll be fine, just keep an eye on Gaby.” Alexander couldn’t believe he trusted Boon to watch over Gaby.

  “I will. I promise Alexander, I won’t let anything happen to Gaby or Bruce, but I don’t think Forras is after them. Why would he search for a weapon that will kill angels if he were just going to attack Gaby or Bruce? No, he’s after one of you.” Boon looked away his face sullen.

  “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

  “He wants to destroy you by harming those you love.” Boon looked up with water in his eyes. “He’s after Grace or Sammy.” Boon visibly shuddered at the word.

  Did this demon really love his sister that much? How? Love wasn’t the nature of a demon.

  “I’m going to make another round by Gaby’s house. Please, watch over Sammy and Grace,” Boon insisted.

  Alexander didn’t have a chance to respond before Boon was gone. He stood there trying to comprehend the depth of affection he saw in Boon’s eyes. His insides twisted at the thought of Boon worrying about Sammy. It surprised him that he didn’t feel disgust but empathy when the demon mentioned his sister’s name.

  No. He wouldn’t be fooled by him. That was their specialty, twisting emotions to guide you down the wrong path. He shoved his compassion deep down and made his way back to the house. No matter what it took, he’d save his own family.

  ****

  “Sammy, thanks for meeting me here.” Gaby panted trying to catch her breath. She motioned for Sammy to sit down on a fallen tree at the edge of the clearing in the woods. “I didn’t know what else to do. Dad went to walk Patronus and I knew I had to come warn you. There just wasn’t a way to show you over the phone.”

  “Calm down.” Sammy placed a hand on her arm.

  “No, I’m not losing control again. Look!” Gaby shoved the picture of the angel in Sammy’s face.

  Sammy stood with it in her hands for a moment. “You think this is Forras murdering Alex don’t you?” Sammy’s voice trembled. “This doesn’t mean it will happen.”

  “Yes, it does. There’s more though.” Gaby retrieved several other pictures, some revealed scenes that already transpired in her life.

  Her father drunk and wounded.

  A monster scratching Gaby.

  A dog barking at a creature in the night.

  “You see the one where the monster scratches me? I didn’t know it at the time, but I know those eyes and the darkness that surrounds it. Those are defiantly Forras’ distinctive four horns and there’s Alex on the ground.”

  Gaby trembled at the sight of the four horns. She shuffled through the pictures handing each to Sammy as she explained what they detailed.

  “Yeah, I can see that.”

  “Well I couldn’t figure out what it was until after it happened. Since then I can make out bits and pieces of the pictures. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle. In this one I can make out the form of a demon in it but there’s no distinctive features to tell which one. And this one is evil fighting light.”

  Gaby grasped Sammy’s hand. “You need to convince Alex to leave. It might be the only way to save him.”

  “Gaby I know you blame him for—”

  “My mother’s death? No, he didn’t do it. You can’t tell him though. If he knew he’d never leave and it might be the only way to save him.”

  “But he’ll be alone again.”

  “I know. My heart aches to be with him. To tell him how much I love him and to beg his forgiveness for ever doubting him, but I still think it’s better if he leaves. Just until we can figure something else out.”

  Tears rolled down Sammy’s cheeks and she squeezed her hand. “I guess. I just—”

  A twig snapped from behind and they both jumped. Gaby shoved her art into the bag and stood up to see who was there.

  Why didn’t Sammy warn her someone was coming? Certainly she should have felt the presence of a human or creature approaching.

  “Well, ladies, I hear there’s cause for celebration.” Forras appeared before them carrying a long object covered in pine green cloth with a gold braided tie.

  “Where’re the rest of your goons? I’m surprised a coward like you would be out without your boys to protect you.” Gaby couldn’t control her hatred for him and stepped forward. Sammy grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Forras’ demon blood pulsed through her body, provoking her anger.

  Forras pulled a long silver object from the material.

  “What do you think you’re doing Forras?” Sammy stood in front of Gaby. “You don’t stand a chance alone. I won’t let you near Gaby and you know it. I’ll fly off with her before you can even get close.”

  “You have it all wrong sweet little innocent, Sammy.” Forras chuckled. “I’m not after Gaby.” The woods amplified Forras’ dramatic laugh.

  “Well, I wish I could say I’ll let you live. But this is a special sword. I know because this is the metal blade that helped cause me to fall. You see a hunter found me and trapped me. He threatened the woman I loved, and when I tried to save her, he speared me with this.” He lunged forward, shoving and thrusting the blade into the air. “Ripping my wing and grounding me forever. After that, there was no reason for me to fight to live as a fallen angel any more. My wings were clipped. What good is an angel that can’t fly?”

  Fear flashed in Sammy’s eyes. She stood frozen. Why didn’t she change and fly away. Could Forras be telling the truth? Did an earthbound hunter cause his fall? Would that sword harm Sammy?

  “In a rage I tried to kill him and instead the woman I loved died. It’s been lonely around here ever since. So I thought, why not get some sisterly company for myself. It seems to work for our good ol’ boy Alex.”

  “Go Sammy! Go now!” Gaby shoved Sammy away from Forras.

  Sammy’s wings exploded from her body as she grasped Gaby to take flight, but she barely lifted from the ground when Forras grabbed her. Gaby fell with a thud and looked up to see Sammy circle back for her.

  “No, Sammy. Don’t!” Gaby tried to make her leave but she didn’t listen.

  Sammy swooped back down between the trees as the picture she had drawn earlier that day flashed through her head.

  “No, Sammy get out of here.” There wasn’t time to warn her. Forras climbed the branches with the blade drawn. Gaby sat on the hard ground in horror as Forras plunged the sword through her wing, pinning her to the trunk. Sammy’s shrill cry shattered the air. Gaby covered her ears with her hands trying to move to help her, disregarding the searing pain plunging into her skull as Sammy’s screams continued.

  Gaby tried to shuffle forward, crawl or climb anything but she kept falling to the ground. When the screeching stopped, she let go of her ears and started yelling to Sammy.

  The brush nearby wiggled and a massive creature jumped from the woods.

  The most intimidating demon ever imaginable with skin black as night stood a few feet from her, snarling. Cords of muscle intertwined and shot out in all directions. It towered over Gaby by seven feet and snorted steam out of his horse-like nostrils. His razor sharp teeth were exposed as he hollered out a ferocious bellow. Claws longer than her arm arched ready to shred her.

  She held her hands up in a feeble atte
mpt to defend herself. Who was this creature that stood taller, wider and more ominous than Alexander, Forras and every other earthbound creature she had yet to experience?

  It jumped at her. She fell to the ground covering her head with her arms but nothing landed on her. Looking up she saw the demon already half way up the tree. It looked back at her and opened its mouth. Was he toying with her?

  “Get Sammy. I’ll deal with Forras.” The voice, powerful and commanding.

  “Boon, you betray me?” Forras’ voice rang out from far above. “You will be destroyed for this.”

  “Boon?” It couldn’t be little framed, pale skinned Boon.

  The black creature chased Forras from the branch and Gaby knew she had to help Sammy. It was so high though and she was afraid she couldn’t reach her. Even if the branches would support her weight, could she deal with the height?

  Sammy’s pleas and moaning grew louder. She had no choice. No one else was around to help.

  One foot at a time, she scaled the tree. At first it was simple enough but after she glanced toward the ground, terror took over her body and she couldn’t move. It was such a long way down. She wanted to be back on Earth where she belonged but the adrenaline kept her going. One hand, one foot, she pushed farther and farther up the old swaying branches. Her entire body shook in protest. She swallowed down the burning bile threatening to escape.

  When she reached Sammy, she gasped at the sight. Her body had transformed to a human state except for one wing. The sword plunged through her side and pinned her to the trunk. It didn’t look good. Blood trickled from above her hip, a flesh wound that she could heal easily. But the wing oozed a florescent army green and appeared as if layers peeled away where steel punctured it.

  “Forget me. Help, Boon.” Sammy pleaded. “I can’t lose him.”

  Gaby ignored her pleas and reached for the hilt of the sword. She carefully pulled the blade from the tree as Sammy wailed in pain. Gaby could barely see through the tears in her eyes as she grabbed Sammy, almost knocking her to the ground.

  There was no way she could hold the sword while she descended the tree with Sammy in tow. She looked down and dropped the weapon to the ground, watching it bounce once and landing against the tree trunk.

  “Sammy, you have to help me get you down. Try to stay conscious. If you pass out we’ll both fall to the ground.” For once Gaby was thankful for her oversized gymnastic shoulders. Without that upper body strength they both would have surely died. It didn’t hurt Sammy was the size of a child and weighed probably eighty-five or ninety pounds.

  Concentrating on each move, she traversed down branch by branch. The smell of blood and decay made her gag several times.

  When they finally reached the bottom, she discovered where the rotting smell came from. It was Sammy’s white ultra soft feathers. She touched the edge of the blackening wound and caused ash to fall. Another quarter of an inch disintegrated from the motion of sitting on the ground.

  “Boon? Thank God,” Sammy cried out.

  Boon entered the clearing transforming back into his meek, boney human form. He ran over taking her into his arms. After a moment he released her and assessed the damage. His face contorted with grief and his eyes told Gaby what she already knew. Sammy would never recover. Not if her wing continued to disintegrate.

  Boon took Sammy’s face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “Everything is going to be okay. Grace will know what to do. No matter what happens, remember how much I love you.” He planted a firm kiss on her trembling lips. When he leaned back, she saw Sammy’s eyes roll back into her head.

  “I’ll meet you at her house.” Boon swept her up in his arms. “If I’m going to get her there in time I’ve got to go now.” Boon turned and transformed in mid-stride. He vanished within a second. His enormous frame knocked over several pine trees leaving a path for her to follow.

  Gaby, still in shock over the massive creature Boon transformed into, sat on the ground looking at the debris. The wind he created with his hasty departure had stirred up leaves and the pictures that had fallen from her bag.

  A picture floated down next to her leg. Lifting it up she saw a perfect visual replica of what just happened. It wasn’t Alexander she had painted, it was Sammy. What was the point of having these dreams and drawing or painting them if it didn’t help?

  How could she use these to protect the ones she loved? What if there were details she missed, something to warn her of what was coming. She gathered all the pictures and decided to spend more time analyzing them later. Now, she had to get to Sammy, if for no other reason than moral support. After all Gaby had experienced in the last few weeks, she knew what kind of battle Sammy was in for.

  “Alex, where are you?” She whispered into the wind before reaching for the sword she’d dropped to the ground. But it was gone.

  ****

  Alexander swooped down into the clearing and crouched next to Gaby. She flinched and scooted away from him against a tree. His eyes watered at the rancid stench of demonic poison. He knew the smell well. Flashes of Gaby being sliced by Forras’ claws haunted him. Something horrific happened in the woods. He’d sensed someone was injured, fatally injured.

  How could he have trusted Boon to protect Gaby? He knelt down on the ground in front of her and grasped her arms analyzing them for any marks.

  “I’m fine. It wasn’t me.” Gaby’s voice broke as she spoke, her eyes appeared vacant and distant.

  Her hand caressed his face. The touch sent a charge of electricity through his body. He quaked with pleasure until she pulled away, her face contorted. How he longed to make the memories of his mistakes vanish from her life. Hold her in his arms and kiss the tears away.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know who…” Gaby looked at the ground.

  Did she still hate him so much she couldn’t even look at him?

  “I-it’s my fault. All of it.” She collapsed into his arms.

  “What’s your fault? You’re not making sense.” Alexander instinctively kissed her forehead and stroked her hair. She leaned further into him. He held his breath in hopes she wouldn’t move away.

  “I-I’m s-so sorry. I know it wasn’t you. You d-didn’t cause my mother’s accident.” She broke into sobs.

  “What? I don’t…” Alexander’s mind reeled. Hope welled up inside.

  Gaby pulled away and looked into his eyes. Tears poured down her rosy face, dampening golden strands cascading around her cheeks. “I love you.”

  She spoke the words quietly. Did he hear her right? Had she really just told him she loved him? He brushed the hair from her face. Her full luscious lips mere inches away. She wasn’t pulling from his embrace. “What did you say?”

  “I love you, with all my heart. I’m so…”

  He’d longed to hear those words. He reached around the back of her neck and pulled her face to his. Their lips parted, his tongue caressed hers as the sweet cherry taste vanquished all the evil around him.

  The world slowed and spun around them. His heart thumped in rhythm to his lips pushing and sweeping against hers. A sweet floral scent made his pulse quicken. He brought her to her knees. Their hearts beat in unison as their chests pressed together.

  Time stood still and he begged it never to start again. Her touch made the hairs on his arm dance in response. The longing to be one with her sent a heat through his body he’d never experienced.

  She pulled away gasping. “Wait. I have to tell you—”

  “It can’t wait.” He took her arm and pulled her close again craving the heat to return.

  “Sammy. She’s hurt.”

  The warmth faded as his blood ran cold. “Is she—”

  “No, at least I don’t think she’s dead. I-it’s her wing.”

  Pleasure warred with pain at the realization of Sammy’s fate. It was a fatal wound to her wing. Was she cursed never to fly again?

  Gaby took his hand in hers. “I didn’t know what to do. Her wing was disintegrating around th
e wound so I pulled the sword out.”

  The knot in his stomach tightened cutting off any remote sensation of calm. “How? Who?” Alexander’s eyes burned, his heart weighing him down and crushing his insides like a boulder against a leaf. Gaby’s eyes widened at the sight of him.

  Calm. Stay calm. He repeated the words in his head until he could force the muscles in his face to relax, his burning eyes turned cool again.

  “I’m fine, continue.” A long deep breath helped still his emotions.

  Gaby tightened the grip on his hand. “I dropped the sword to the ground so I could get Sammy down, but when everything was over the sword was gone.”

  “Maybe Boon took it.” Alexander hoped. Wait … he hoped a demon took it?

  “No. He didn’t. I saw him carry Sammy off.” She pointed to a path of twisted and fallen trees.

  “It’s not your fault.” He wished he could have been here to help. If he hadn’t been so distracted about Eliana, he would have sensed what was going on. He brushed his lips across her cheeks and gently kissed her eyelid. “We’ll worry about the sword later, right now we need to get out of here and help Sammy.”

  “Boon took her to Grace.”

  Alexander kissed her hand. “We have to go.” He pulled her close and took flight for his house, racing to his sister’s side. But his hands trembled at the thought of what he’d find.

  ****

  Gaby clung to him as the wind whipped through her hair. She wanted to hold him close and never let go. The height wasn’t even a concern as he flew with her in his arms.

  He’d been so gentle and kind, yet strong. Did he really forgive her that easily? She’d been scared to death to beg his forgiveness for blaming him for her mother’s death. Yet, he’d dismissed it as if it were old news.

  She’d made so many mistakes with him. No matter how hard she tried, she kept screwing up. From chasing him out of her life, to calling Sammy to meet her in the woods, to losing the sword. A sword that could kill Alexander and Grace. It’d sliced through Sammy’s wing as if it were paper. She shivered at the memory.

  After everything, should she have told him she loved him? She couldn’t help it though. The words spilled from her mouth before she had a chance to stop them. She did love him. In a way she never thought possible. A deep ach pulsed deep in her soul with the thought he wouldn’t feel the same. He didn’t tell her he loved her but certainly his response spoke volumes.