Wood turns an odd shade of green. Am I technically related to Wood, too?
“My head hurts,” Kai says, rubbing his forehead with his hand.
“This is one fucked up family tree,” Declan says, disgusted with everything we’ve learned.
Maker continues, “Wood is my brother. Obviously born years apart as mom and dad’s kids are supposed to die in normal mortal time.”
“Dodged that bullet,” Wood mutters, crossing his arms.
“Mmm,” she says. “And McKenna and Kai are my children, so that would make you their uncle?” Maker looks up to the ceiling as if contemplating some confusing mathematical equation. “I don’t know.” Maker stops to look at me, sneering. “It’s a good thing Declan is an angel and not really Noah’s true son. That would be awfully weird considering you’re together.” The disdain on her face is clear she doesn’t approve of me. Not that it matters. I’ll slice her face off the second I get the chance.
My blood boils, but she’s right.
Candy sighs. “What was the point of all of this? Why bring us here? You just want McKenna and Kai?”
“I wanted them to know the truth. Kai was such a good little soldier, always listened to mummy’s word. He fell away, too,” she tisks. “If I want my family to be whole, I have to help them see who they can truly be. Powerful. Dangerous. Commanding. They can’t do that following a little angel around.” She gives daggers to Declan.
“I won’t stay with you,” I promise, holding onto Kai’s arm.
“I won’t, either,” Kai agrees. “Not only did you make up some ridiculous story about how I was made when you decided to pull me out of Limbo, but you’re also my mother.” He shakes his head, hurt. “Being wicked is a choice. It’s a premeditated action. It’s not who we are.”
“You’re demons!” Maker shouts, standing up hastily form her throne. “I’m the ruler of all evil. You can’t expect me to coddle you like some,” the corners of her mouth turn down, “mortal.”
I sniff, my nose twitching a bit. “We may be demons, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get to choose for ourselves. You can’t control us when our hearts aren’t yours,” I say. “Either let us leave with my parents or kill us. Either way, you lose.”
Maker weighs her options. She sits back down, forlorn and melancholy. “You may leave, and you may take your parents. But,” she warns, “I caution you. The cat is out of the bag. The moment the angels find out you know the real story—your story—all hell will break loose. The fate of Beneath rests in your hands.”
“My hands? Why? What does that mean?”
Maker looks down at her lap, pulling at her fingers. “When I fell in love with Lucifer, he didn’t grant me the same as God did with Noah. He turned me into a Mara.” She derides. “A demon witch. But, the longer I live, the less my powers can protect me from aging. The magic only lasts for so long.” She sighs. “I’m dying, daughter. I’m dying, and you have to take over for me. You’re the first born. Beneath will cease to exist without you.”
“No,” I say for what feels like the millionth time tonight, my stomach falling into my feet. “No. I don’t want it. I won’t do it.”
“You refuse to take my place, and everything will fall apart. Demons will roam free in the streets. You want that on your hands? Monsters will outnumber mortals. You think I’m a bad person—and maybe I am—but I keep order. You can, too.”
My nostrils flare and I swallow. Become the ruler of Beneath? This is all too much for me to take in.
“You may go. Take your family and think about what I’ve told you. You’re to return when you’ve made up your mind.”
With that, Maker stands up from her chair and walks out of the room, leaving us alone.
Candy and I waste no time running to our parents.
“Recludeam,” I say, snapping the chains away from their wrists and ankles.
Mom grabs onto me and dad does the same to Candy. Tears fall from my eyes, finally reunited with my parents. My arms squeeze with as much might as I can muster and dad engulfs us all in a hug, not letting Candy go.
Loosening my grip, I pull back, staring at their exhausted and filthy faces. “Let’s go home.”
Helping mom and dad to their feet, my family and I walk out of Beneath, our heads raised high and our souls fully intact.
I’d take this as a win, but I’m leaving with a lot more than I bargained for. My shoulders now hold the weight of the underworld on them, and even though I know what Maker said is true, I don’t know if I have the heart for it. I don’t know if my good can outweigh my bad, and I don’t know what it means for my angelic side if I decide to take Maker up on her offer.
The days following our visit in Beneath were filled with sleep. Long, luxurious stretches of sleep.
McKenna’s parents, Cole and Abigail, never left their room for the most part. Every once in a while, one of the girls would bring them food, but they mainly stayed away from us, hiding from the truths conveyed by Maker.
I don’t know if they’re healing from the trauma they endured while down there, or if they’re just too scared to face McKenna and Candy.
Either way, as the week drags on, we all become more anxious, weary as to why they refuse to talk to us.
When we aren’t sleeping, we’re celebrating holidays we missed because we were so caught up with our mission.
Two days ago we celebrated Thanksgiving. McKenna and Candy tried their hardest to prepare turkey and all the fixings for us. And even though it was burned, we sat around the decorated table and promised each other we’d stay thankful for our connection. It was such a nice change in contrast to the weeks prior. McKenna and Candy laughed and joked all through the day, finally feeling more like themselves.
The realization of Kai, Wood and McKenna being related, brought a new camaraderie we didn’t have in the group before.
That’s not to say it was an easy transition for any of us. With the insight of McKenna and Candy not actually being blood related, to Kai being McKenna’s real brother, and then tossing in Wood as their uncle, it was a lot for them all to absorb.
The first few days were challenging as they each worked through their tangled family tree. I mostly watched them from a distance, consoling McKenna when needed, offering a shoulder or ear if necessary. I tried to help Candy when I could—when she’d begin to drift. Her and I were a lot alike. We were both outsiders looking in on this whole new family. I could understand her seclusion.
Wood is now much more careful around McKenna, as well as with Kai. His harsh and brash demeanor has toned down immensely in the days past. The same can’t be said for Candy. The closer Wood got to Kai and McKenna, the further he pushed Candy away. In turn, I think McKenna is feeling the fallout, which is causing her to pick up the pieces and bear the brunt of Candy’s pain.
Even though they didn’t say it, I think Wood and Candy felt some sort of attraction. But, with all the new information, Wood is just overloaded with responsibility and loyalty to his family. In his mind, he doesn’t have time for anything else. I have to give it to him, his allegiance runs deep and when Wood decides to go all-in on something, he doesn’t do it half-ass.
It brings me joy watching them. Though Wood and I aren’t family in the blood-sense either, we’re connected on another level, so I don’t question his need to grow closer to McKenna and Kai. I revel in his ability to love the people he was taught so very strongly to hate.
With the reality of everything, McKenna is definitely taking it the hardest. As to be expected. I sometimes find her sitting in the living room alone, pulling on her lip, deep in thought. She rocks back and forth for hours, her eyes furrowed in worry. Occasionally, I’ll just sit and watch her at the night when she hasn’t come to bed. I’ll analyze every wrinkle that creases her brow, or every deep sigh that comes out of her mouth. Her struggle is beautiful—yet so very tragic.
Thankfully, it never takes much to get her to come out of her haze, but the more she does it, the more I worry
she is falling off the ledge contemplating Maker’s offer.
Today is day eight post-Maker, and I sit at the breakfast nook in the kitchen, twiddling with the ring on my finger, deep in thought.
“Morning, Dec,” Wood greets with a smile as the sun rises just over the horizon outside the window above the sink.
“Hey,” I say. “How’s it going?”
Wood stretches, his arms elongating them over his head. “Good. I don’t think I’ve ever slept this good.”
I take a long sip of my coffee, the bitterness seeping into my bones, giving me energy. “Same here. It’s quiet.”
“I don’t think we’ve ever taken this long of a vacation,” Wood says, sitting down at the white table with a cup of coffee of his own.
I laugh. “This isn’t vacation, Wood. This is our way of recuperating from some hardcore shit.”
Wood stares down at his cup. “It’s just nice not to worry about killing monsters every second of every minute of every day. That’s all.”
It’s then I see the true human in Wood. I never really thought of the toll our bodies take being Pursuers. He holds his head so high, never allowing the vile we’ve been forced to fight overcome him. I wish I could be more like him. He’s my little brother, but he has no idea how proud I am. “I know, brother. It’s nice,” I agree.
Grabbing the container of creamer in front of me, he pours a bit in his coffee and stirs it with a spoon, bringing the sweetened liquid up to his lips. He sighs after a large gulp. “Do you know what she’s going to do?” he whispers, looking cautiously around the kitchen for McKenna.
I sit back on the chair, scratching my stomach. “I don’t know. I think she’s afraid to talk about it, and scared what we all might think of her.”
“Do you think she could do it?” he asks. “Take over Beneath and still keep her soul intact?”
Pulling the ring off my finger, I twist it on the table, sending in spinning in a circle. “Honestly, I have no idea. I’ve never heard of such a thing. Her will is strong. But, being down there, living off that brand of magic, it can’t be good for her. It’s not good for anyone.”
Wood takes in the information, glum with the possibilities of what lies ahead. “She’s half angel. We have to give her credit for that. All those years—centuries of being a demon, living under the thumb of the most powerful demon-slash-witch in the world.” He shakes his head. “We don’t know how she was before. Maybe she was always defiant. Maybe her heart always yearned to be different.”
“It did,” Cole says, sheepishly walking into the kitchen, his pajamas wrinkled with long hours in bed.
“Morning, sir,” I welcome, standing up to allow him to sit. “How are you feeling?”
Cole waves me off, pouring himself a bit of coffee at the counter. “Oh, I’m fine, son.” He brings his voice to below a whisper. “Can I be honest with you boys?”
“Of course,” Wood and I say at the same time.
Cole shuffles to the table, taking a seat across from us. “We weren’t supposed to be part of this whole heavenly scheme. Our family had always been Strix; our generations date back to just after the great flood. So, when Sally, our family Spirit Guide, called upon us, we knew we had to take McKenna in.”
“Sally was the one behind the mission to save McKenna?” I ask in a hushed tone, leaning in closer to Cole.
“She orchestrated the entire thing. She had a vision of McKenna and took it straight to God. When He found out about her being half angel, He didn’t hesitate to pull forces to bring her home. He wanted to give her a chance.”
“Why not tell her from the beginning?” Wood asks.
Cole shakes his head, the bags under his eyes far too dark for someone who has supposedly been sleeping for the past seven days. “We were worried.”
I slip my ring back on and grab my coffee cup. “Of what?”
“What she’d think of us. What she’d think of herself when she found out who she truly was. If she’d find her way to the darkness inside of her. There were all these possibilities up in the air and we were scared of each and every one of them.”
“But, she’s so good,” I say with earnest. “Everything in her is fighting to do the right thing.”
Cole traces the lines in the wood table with his finger, his eyes downcast. “I should have had faith in her.”
“You couldn’t have known,” Wood encourages. “You were trying to do what you thought was right.”
“We shouldn’t have manipulated her memories. Or Candy’s for that matter. When Abigail is ready, we’ll lift the curtain on their minds and then they can do what they think is best.” He sighs. “We’ve messed up,” he says exasperated, his head falling into his hands. “I don’t know where to go from here.”
My hand clamps down on his shoulder. “I think your only option is to tell them the truth, sir. I know it’ll hurt, but the lies—the cover ups—those are what got us into this mess. They have a right to know everything.”
His shoulders shake and Wood looks to me with a creased brow.
“Give them a chance. They’re stronger than you think.”
Cole lifts his head, the pull of a smile on his lips, his cheeks wet with tears. “Those girls are capable of greatness. We’ve been holding them back. It’s time I make this right.”
“And you will.”
“Mighty,” I say, sitting down on the bed next to her, rubbing circles on her back. “It’s time to wake up.”
It’s well past noon and if she doesn’t get up and talk to her parents, I’m nervous they’ll go back into their room and refuse to come out, again.
She turns onto her stomach, the comforter wrapping around her body snug. Mumbling into the stark white pillow, she shakes her head. “Don’t want to.”
I smile and travel my hand up her back to her neck, threading my fingers in her head, massaging her scalp. She groans and burrows further into the bed.
My hand stills. “Nope. Get your beautiful butt out of bed. Your parents want to talk to you.”
“Ugh,” she groans. “Now? It’s so early. I bet this is all a ploy to get me out of bed and mom and dad are still sleeping, too. You can’t fool me, Declan Wilder.”
I laugh. “It’s not early, lazybones, it’s after twelve. Your parents really are waiting for you.”
McKenna turns and sits up straight in a whoosh. She combs her hand through her hair and yawns, stretching her limbs outward. “They’re really out there?”
I nod, hopeful. She’s been so anxious to talk to them.
“Okay, let me brush my teeth and I’ll come out.” She reaches her hand out to touch my face, stroking the long scruff I have growing on my face. “Thank you so much for being here. For staying. I don’t know if I could have survived the last few days without you.”
I push into her hand. “I’m here for as long as you want me, Mighty. Your struggle is my struggle now.”
She sighs and her hand falls to the side of her body, looking down at the comforter, the worry pouring out of her. She laments and runs her hand over the rays of sun shining through her window. “What if I make the wrong choice?” Her voice is so small, much like I imagine her as a child. So quiet, yet so fierce.
I turn my body, fully facing her and take hold of her hips. “There’s no wrong choice. We haven’t really talked about what you would do if you decide to take Maker’s place…”
She grimaces. “If? Declan, how can I do that?” She shakes her head. “There’s no if. I’m having a hard enough time swallowing the fact Maker is my mom, and Kai is my brother.” She shudders. “And Wood is also apparently my uncle. But, allowing myself to think about becoming the “new” Maker…I can’t.”
My shoulders slump and my hands knead her skin. “What if I told you it isn’t as bad as you think?”
Her head tilts and she gives me a level stare that says, you’re-out-of-your-damn-mind.
“Hear me out,” I caution. “What if you do take over. Let Maker die like she says she’s alre
ady doing and then change the game.”
“How?”
I lick my lips. “If you’re Maker, your word is rule. No if’s, and’s or but’s. Demons and monsters alike follow your word. They need an Alpha and you’d be the ultimate one. What if you don’t allow them out of the hole anymore? What if you use your power, your Lucifer-slash-God given power to change how this world is run.”
A sly smile pulls on the corners of her mouth. “Bring order and punish those who disobey. I never thought of that.”
“Think on it. Take your time. You could be the turning point for all evil. I’m sure it’s not going to be that simple. They’re going to act out. There will be plenty of them who will want to do their own thing. You’ll probably have to weed out those who aren’t loyal to you, too.”
Her face scrunches. “You think there are traitors?”
My mouth thin, I nod. “I’m sure there are. As a matter of fact, in all my centuries of knowing monsters, there’s no doubt in my mind. That’s something you’ll have to deal with, but you’ll have to just hit the ground running. It’ll take a long time to get things under control. You’re going to need Kai, McKenna. He’s the key to keeping who you really are intact.” I don’t like that I have to share her with him, but what am I supposed to do? She needs her brother. He might be able to help her in ways I can’t.
She looks down, playing with her hands.
“Hey.” I place my hand on her chin to look at me. “It’s going to be okay. You don’t have to make a choice right away. There are things that need to be done before you do. No matter what you choose, you have to be true to your heart. It’ll never lead you astray.”
She grins. “Says the angel.”
My mouth drops open in playful manner. “Trust me, that word doesn’t mean what you think it means.” I shake my head. “The things I’ve seen—all the things I remember—angels are assholes.”
Her eyes furrow. “So, basically we’re screwed.”
“Nah,” I say. “Heaven has a pretty good leader.” I shrug a shoulder. “Flawed like the rest of us, but He’s fair and just. When I return, I intend on setting some things straight.”
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