“Get him!” The larger idiot demanded.
Hmm, this wasn’t going as well as I’d hoped. Time for a quick getaway. I picked up speed, sped past the small chubby one, and picked up an unsuspecting female from the crowd of shaking citizens. As quick as a flash, I was gone, hot tailing it out of there with my new blood bottle in the shape of an exquisite female form.
Arriving back beside Luci, he stunk. I wasn’t sure if it was piss or shit, but damn man, he stunk. It had to be his melted gut piecing itself back together. I shuddered. Damn, that Lilith really did a number on him this time.
“Oi, mate,” I shouted at the angel. “Here’s your meal, now can we get the fuck outta here?” I said, dropping the shaking girl on the ground.
“Please, please don’t hurt me,” she begged, clearly not understanding the nature of the situation. I did, in fact, save her life and she should've, therefore, given me payment. I was sure I could come up with a tasty sum.
“I saved your ass, now shut it.”
“What he meant to say was, he brought you here so we could borrow a little of your blood,” the pissy angel said.
“My blood?” she cried.
“Yeah, now keep still or he’ll bite your head off.” I grinned, pointing at ol’ stinking Luci on the floor.
She screamed.
“Sodding Hell, you trying to get us killed?” I said, looking around. “Keep your voice down or them demons will be back.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let Lucian take too much. You’re safe with me.” The angel said with a charming smile. Bloody angels.
Gabriel knelt beside her, cupped her head, and lowered her to the floor. Her neck was on full show as she lay beside the melted corpse of the stinking, old vampire.
Lucian groaned, slithering his bones over to her. The girl shook violently.
“It’ll be okay,” the angel said. “What’s your name?”
“V... Violet.”
“Well, Violet, stay perfectly still. I have heard the bite can be quite enticing.” He smiled, flashing his bright, white pearlers. A feeble smile formed on her fearful face as she closed her eyes and muttered the lord’s prayer under her breath.
“Shit, girl, you wouldn’t want the Almighty saving you, he’s worse than the rest of us.”
She cried. “You have a way with words, Joey.” The pissy angel said. I frowned.
“I happen to think my vocabulary is more modern than most.”
Gabriel raised his eyebrows.
Lucian's fangs protruded as he rattled about, trying to locate the vein. The girl cried harder. Then snap, his fangs broke skin and the girl fell silent. Not silent as in dead as a doornail, but silent as in that she seemed to be squirming about, pleasured by the fact Lucian was draining her life away. It was a funny ol’ thing, really. It was like she wanted to die. Lucian kept drinking, he wasn't going to stop anytime soon. But her blood knitted his skinsuit back together as he writhed over her, drinking her to death.
“That’s enough, now Lucian,” Gabriel said. But he kept on drinking, clearly not in his right mind as he wasn’t too bothered about killing the girl below him. Then again, when were we ever? It wasn't like we weren’t actually doing them a favour like. I mean, they got to go upstairs and play in the happy place for all of eternity. Who wouldn’t want that?
The girl’s limbs dropped, her breathing faltered as she sank down into the ground, threatening to take her last breath. “Lucian, stop!” The angel demanded, pulling him off and flinging him across the ground with ease.
Lucian picked himself up, blood dripping from his fangs as he hurtled towards the girl that the angel was trying to heal.
“Shit. No, mate. You don’t wanna be taking on the angel right now.” I said.
“Blood,” he said. “I need more blood.”
“Right, yeah, we can fix that. Let’s go find another girl, shall we?”
“Her blood, I need it all.” Shit. He was like a rabid dog the way he was hampering after her.
“Mate, you don’t want her. Remember, you want that girl. Shit. What’s her name?”
“Taylor?” Lucian said bringing his eyes from the bloody female and staring directly into my own. “Where’s my Taylor?”
“That’s what I want to know,” Gabriel said, sending the girl on her way.
“The mirror,” he said, tears falling from his face. “Lilith pushed her into the mirror.”
“The what now?” I asked. Why couldn't things ever be simple like she put her in a cage, or perhaps locked her in a nasty dark room, or some shit like that. No, it had to be some fucked up mirror to another realm. That has buggered it then, there wasn't no finding her now. “Shit.” It was all I could think of saying.
“Indeed,” the angel said. “I must go and tell Adam.”
Lucian looked angry. “Not without me you aren’t.”
“I didn’t think you liked flying?” He smirked.
“I don’t.” Lucian frowned “But that’s easy compared to the vale of acid I lived in for...” He paused. “How long was I in there for?”
“Well, mate, it's December now. Them pissing carollers have been out demanding money again. Remember when we used to pick ‘em off one by one?” I laughed “Those were the days.”
Lucian grinned, then his brow drooped, and jaw dropped “Damn. I’ve been in there since bloody summer. She’s been missing for months already and no-one thought to look for her until now?” he asked. “We’ve missed her birthday, too.” He said, looking down.
“Mate, you’ve been missing for four months here, but it would have been a lot longer in there.”
“No,” he cried. “She’s been alone for so long. Could she still be alive?” He asked the angel.
“She hasn’t returned to Elysium, so we hope so. But if her soul was lost to the mirror, she might not ever return to Elysium as her light wouldn’t be able to find its way home to the rose,” Gabriel said with watery eyes.
“Then we need to find her now. Take me to Adam.” He demanded.
“Oi mate, you ain’t leaving me here. Where ol’ stinky here goes, I’m coming too.”
“He’s got a point,” Gabriel said. “You could do with a shower and a change of clothes. I don’t think you would be welcomed in Elysium right now... looking like that.”
“Sod that. Taylor’s my priority. I need to speak to her brother now. We have to find her.”
“Okay, it’s your funeral,” the angel said as he picked us both up and rose high to the sky, through the clouds, and into a land of somewhere, nowhere, and anywhere.
Chapter 13: Eve
Landing on the yellow brick road, I found myself within a myriad of trees, and from each of them hung a spectacularly unique mirror. I knew that each mirror was a passageway to another world, but which one was our own? Which mirror led to the safety of my lover’s arms, my Lucian? Could he have survived?
My heart broke every time I thought of him. A heaviness resided in my soul, a caged happy ending with no keyhole nor key. Without him, none of that was possible. Not without the love of his caress, the tinge of blue in his smoky-hued eyes, or the softness of his supple lips as they placed butterfly kisses over my neck, threatening an ending but bringing only salvation, safety, and sensual security. I loved him more than my heart could bare. I ached, felt utter crushing pain under the weight of the betrayal my sister had spoken. She had done this; killed my love, destroyed my heart, and decimated my reason for living. The only reason I kept going was to know, to know for certain. I needed to see his decaying body and know that he was completely and utterly gone. Then I’d find where he had gone and I’d jump in, no questions asked, and save his soul, just like he did for me. Because that was love; utter sacrifice in times of despair and need.
Lying down, I started up, watching the sky above shade over with the allure of a forgotten past. Where was this place? This in-between in nature? The middle between fury and fate. The purgatory of what was, what is, and what could be. I had access to hundreds
of planets, realms within realms, times gone by and times to come. It was a God’s dream, but how would I know which mirror the right mirror was. It wasn't like I could conjure a map... or could I? Then again, I couldn’t conjure much at the moment, let alone a map to get us the Hell out of there.
Thinking about us, where was my mother? I knew we had stepped through together. “Mother?” I yelled. My voice carried through the tree’s, fluttering over the leaves as dew drops fell and splashed over the murky soil below. I pulled myself upright, sitting, gripping my stomach. Blood soaked through the white Grecian dress. It didn’t look good. I pulled my dress up and inspected the wounds. Three claw marks had ripped through the first four layers of skin, ruptured a few veins on the way, and had sent a shitload of blood streaming out of me. Bugger. “Mother!” I yelled. I needed help, right now.
Then it came. The utter pain of hot, hefty liquid rushing out of my oesophagus, into my throat, and out onto the ground beside me. I couldn’t stop vomiting. If it wasn’t blood I lost, it was the last meal I’d ate, whenever that was.
Footsteps clambered over the ground as my mother ran to my aid, holding back my hair and rubbing my back. Finally, I stopped, wiped my mouth on my bloody dress, and fell backwards to lie on my mother’s outstretched knee.
“It’ll be okay, Eve,” she said, placing her hand over my wounded stomach. Light pulsated out from her hand, heating my insides, healing my outsides. When she was finished, I was whole again, but just as I sat up, my lower abdomen began to move. Butterfly flutters caressed me from the inside and my mother yelped as something pushed my skin out against her hand.
“What!” she said, placing her head on my bloody stomach.
“What is it?” I asked with an unease.
“Shush,” she demanded, listening in. “I can’t believe it!”
“What?” I asked, “What is it?”
“Eve, you’re...”
“I’m what?”
“Pregnant!”
“Say again?”
“You’re with child, Eve.”
“No, that’s not possible!”
“I can only presume you and your lover have mated.”
“Pardon?”
“What do you call it in your world?”
“Sex, Mother, we had sex.”
“Yes. Well, that makes girls of your stature pregnant.”
“Shit.”
“Pardon?”
“Sorry, Mother. But really, shit.”
“Shit.” She said, laughing, hugging me.
Could it be? Was I really pregnant with Lucian's child? All that time he was with me, all through the darkness, my light had shone from inside. We’d created the future, he and I. We were going to be a happy little family, our forever family. I had to find him! I had to tell him! He would be so excited! Shit. I was excited. Scared as Hell, but ecstatic.
Christ. I wondered what our child will be. A boy, a girl? Dark or light? It didn't matter, he or she would be perfect, loved, and no matter which path they followed, I’d always standby my baby’s side. My little baby! I was having a baby!
“You’re having a baby, Eve!” she smiled.
“I’m having a baby, Mother!” I smiled.
Chapter 14: Adam
Screams resonated through the temple. Charmeine soared into the air, ordering a group of angels to gear up. Could this be it? Was Lilith here? We weren’t ready.
I might have been their leader, but I’d be damned sure I’d fight beside them on the battlefield, should it come to that. Running forth, I stood beside the guards at the entrance. “What is happening?”
“Wait!” a familiar voice yelled. “I need to speak to Adam.”
“You shouldn’t have bought them here, Gabriel” Michael yelled.
“I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice. What if they take down the rose? What then?”
“Is that blood all over that one?” Charmeine asked, landing beside Gabriel. “You shouldn’t have bought them here.”
“Err, if I may interject?” Lucian asked.
“No!” The three shouted. Joey pulled Lucian back.
“Move out of the way.” Gabriel yelled, pushing Michael aside. “I have to speak to Adam, it’s about Eve.”
“Eve?” I asked, landing beside Gabriel. “Where is she?”
“Adam, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
“Stand down!” I bellowed. The angels lowered their weapons and faltered back to their daily existences.
“This is Lucian and Joey,” Gabriel introduced.
“Ah, so this is the one who stole my baby sister's heart?” I asked. “What is he wearing?”
“Yes, that would be me.” Lucian said, stepping forward. “I didn’t have time to change.” He smirked. “But it’s good to finally meet you. If only it were under better circumstances.”
“Yes... so, where is she?”
“That’s the problem.” Gabriel said.
“Yes.” Lucian said.
“Your twin only went and threw her into a pot of acid, mate.” Joey said.
“She did what?” My eyes widened, jaw dropped.
“No. No she didn’t, Joey.” Lucian hushed. “Taylor tried to save me. She manifested her light and held me until she could no more. Lilith banished her into the obsidian mirror. She had no choice but to let go.” I said. “She nearly jumped in after me, before she was banished, but Lilith stopped her.”
“She tried to save you?” Gabriel said, his face twisted in disgust.
“Yes, of course she would.” Adam said. “She’s in love with the boy, can’t you see that, Gabriel?”
Gabriel nodded and walked off.
“Now Lucian, let’s get you cleaned up and then we will hunt for Eve together.” I said, placing my hand on Lucian's shoulder.
“Pissy angels aren’t so bad after all, mate.” Joey chimed.
“Indeed, they aren’t.” I laughed.
Chapter 15: Elisha
Darkness turned to light as night became day. Eli slept soundly beside me on the old sofa next to the roaring log fire. Lifting his head from my lap, I covered him over and walked across to the frosted window. Dew lifted from the mossy growth below, birds tweeted their early morning tune, and the shadows crept in the forest before my eyes. My back bone stiffened, muscles taught. There was something out there, watching, waiting. Eliza had shrouded our family home to hide from us from the darkened army that Lilith had created, but something knew, something saw through.
Bristling through the trees ahead, I spotted a darkened figure we all had once known and loved; Rowena. Granted, she wasn’t my favourite schoolgirl friend, but she was still one of the humans Taylor adored. So with her absence, I’d vowed to protect what was left of them. Sadly though, I hadn’t quite reached Rowena in time.
Lawrence walked in rubbing his eyes. “What’s happening?” he asked. “I heard you calling out.”
“I didn’t say anything, Lawrence.” Then again, I didn’t need to. He always foresaw problems.
“Oh, okay.” He paused in thought. “Is she out there?”
“Rowena is. I can’t see Lilith, though. But then, I doubt she would be powerful enough to ward off Lilith’s darkness, even with Eliza’s magic.”
He nodded.
“What are we going to do, Lawrence?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know,” he said, his eyes filling with sadness. “I’m waiting to hear back from Eliza, and I have yet to see a way out of this particular predicament.”
“I’d call it more than a predicament.” I said. “It’s the end of everything."
“Yes, I’m afraid it is,” he said. “But where there is an end, there is always a beginning.” He smiled.
My lips pursed, I had to think. There was always a way out. Lucian would know what to do if he was here. We couldn't even ask the angels for help now that Gabriel was gone. Not that they would have lifted a finger to help, anyway. They’d rather sit back on their comfy thrones and pla
y God than actually manage their people. Couldn't they see the bloodshed that I could only imagine was going on out there?
I’d watch the television for an up-to-date report, but Lawrence didn't like them, so we had never ended up getting one. He didn’t really feel the need to engage in humanity’s thankless lives. Better to keep on going with our own eternal reign than play puppet to their masters. Besides, there was the fact that I could control every single one of them with a click of my fingers, if I wanted to. The thought was always there, the desire, too. I needed their love, their attention, sometimes. Hell, I needed their lifeforce just to sustain my tremendous figure. But what had my figure ever gotten me? Except the wrong kind of guy and a crap load of bullshit. I was fed up of that life. I welcomed the change. It had to be better than this stifled existence. I yawned. I wasn’t tired, but the thought of the mundane wore me down.
Lawrence walked away, patting his hand on my shoulder as he left. “They’ll be here soon,” he said as he left the room.
Great. And we had what? A zero chance at anything. Even the fluffy wolves weren't there to play anymore. They had headed off to fight their own song and dance. I looked over at the child who slept on the sofa beside the fire, Eli. He appeared so innocent, so young and lost. He had been alone when Lucian found him, had no-one in the world. But just like Lucian did with me, he had brought Eli in, gave him a home and a chance to grow and live as one of us. Granted, he only had a mortal path ahead of him at the moment, but he still had a path, a chance to hope and desire, to have faith in his own role when it came to the end of the world. Which, I was afraid, would be quite soon.
The trees bustled as Eli raised his weary head, stretched his little toes, and hobbled over to the window to stand beside me.
“That mean lady is outside, Elisha.”
“I know, Eli, it’ll be okay.”
“But it won’t, not if we stay here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard them talking. They're coming in in ten minutes.”
“What? How?”
Eternal Devastation (The Celestial Rose Book 3) Page 6