Masquerade

by Cambria Hebert

  He jerked like I hit him, his eyes closing for a second only to reopen and stare at me, shocked. I thought this was just a legend.

  A legend?

  His eyes flared again because I heard his thought and answered. “Mindbond,” he said, mostly to himself.

  I had no clue what that was or what it meant, but whatever it was seemed to be a big deal. But right now we had bigger problems. “Where are we?”

  “I don’t know.” He frowned, and in one fluid motion stood, pulling me with him. “What’s going on, Airis?”

  I completely forgot about the woman in white. “You know her?”

  “Allow me to explain,” she graciously answered.

  Sam settled an arm across my shoulders.

  “You are safe here,” Airis said.

  I believed her. I did feel safe here. Besides, if she wanted to harm us she would have just left us dead.

  “Where exactly is here?” I asked. And how the heck did I die and then come back to life?

  “The InBetween.”

  “The what?” I asked, and Sam stiffened. He had heard of this place?

  Yes.

  I jerked when he answered my thought with his own.

  “It’s a place where people who have died come before passing over completely to Heaven.”

  “Or Hell,” Sam finished Airis’ explanation.

  “Why are we here?” I asked.

  “Because you died.”

  “We’re still dead then?”

  “You were. But you passed the test.”

  “What test?”

  “Sam gave up his life for yours. He made the ultimate sacrifice for you, proving his loyalty – his love. Your clear distress and utter certainty that you would not go on without him proved your love for him

  You wouldn’t live without me? Sam’s thought speared into my brain, and this time I didn’t react.

  Never!

  My response seemed to anger him and he glared at Airis. “You killed her to see if I would give up my life for her? You killed her for a stupid test!”

  “I had nothing to do with her accident. She died because of China’s decisions.”

  I shuddered at the memory of China’s soulless, red eyes.

  Sam made a sound in his throat. “How do we get out of here?”

  “I can send you back.”

  “Do it,” he said, not unkindly.

  I wondered how much time had elapsed since we got here.

  “Not just yet,” Airis began. “When I spared both of your lives you acquired a debt. I need to explain this.”

  “You want me to pay back a debt because you spared my life when I didn’t ask for it?” Sam vibrated with confusion.

  I began to worry. I was thankful that we were both alive, and I was beyond grateful to this woman…but I didn’t like the idea that we were now indebted to her. What would she want from us? I pulled away, but he anchored his arm around me harder. I felt trapped…

  Calm down, Hev.

  I can’t breathe.

  Yes, you can. He removed his arm from around me to rub slow circles over my back.

  In. Out. In. Out.

  Air found its way into my lungs to the tune of his voice, and the panic ebbed.

  That’s my girl.

  I kind of like hearing you when no one else can.

  He smiled.

  “You did ask me to spare her life, did you not?”

  He gave a tight nod, “I thought the debt was my life.”

  “Your life is too valuable.”

  “My life?” He seemed surprised, but I wasn’t. His life was more valuable to me than my own.

  “If she lives, then you must live as well.”

  “Can you please say something that makes sense?” I asked.

  She inclined her head and spoke to Sam. “How much do you know about being a hellhound?”

  He sighed. “Hellhounds are not as common as they used to be. Rare, in fact. They were once used to guard the gates of Hell and help souls pass into the World of Sin. They were also responsible for dragging escaped souls back to Hell.”

  “Do you know why they have fallen out of favor to use?”

  His feet shuffled a bit then he cleared his throat, “They were too hard to control. Even Satan couldn’t handle them when they wanted to disobey.”

  “Did you know that hellhounds have been asked to undertake other duties in the recent past as well?” Airis asked.

  “No.” He seemed genuinely confused by this.

  Airis nodded. “Yes. And I have come to offer you a job.”

  Something told me that this job wasn’t something he could turn down. He squeezed my hand again. “What’s the job?” he asked, grim.

  “We would like you to guard a Supernatural Treasure.”

  “We?” Sam asked.

  Airis lifted her eyes to the heavens. I felt Sam recoil. “You can’t possibly be saying that…”

  “Yes, you have been chosen, Sam, by the highest power there is.”

  “That’s impossible.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m a hellhound. We usually operate on the other side, for the sinners. We are sinners.”

  “You were created by God, but twisted by the wrath of Satan. Satan twisted two beasts, coerced them into his evil and the hellhound was born. You were always children of God, but you were led to believe otherwise. But then hellhounds were cast out of hell, and your lineage changed. Hellhounds realized that they, too, had free will. A choice of who you would become. Tell me, Sam, do you think that you are a sinner by birth?”

  “Yes.”

  “You have a dark soul?”

  “No!” I yelled. I’d stayed quiet until now, but I couldn’t stand here and allow this woman to call Sam evil, to imply that he wasn’t good. “If he was a dark soul he wouldn’t be capable of love. He wouldn’t have given up his life for mine.”

  “The test,” Sam murmured.

  “Yes, the test. Now you have proof that you have always wanted – you have proven you are pure of heart.” Airis smiled brilliantly.

  “Are you telling us that God now wants to employ hellhounds to do good?” I asked skeptically.

  Sam laughed. “If Satan couldn’t control us, then how will He?”

  “He does not seek to control you. He seeks the abilities that were sired to you, that are yours by birth; He prays that you choose to use them for Glory and not for evil.”

  “By guarding a Supernatural Treasure?” Sam asked.

  Airis nodded patiently, kindly and Sam fell silent. It was a lot to take in, and I don’t think Sam ever thought of himself as a child of God before. If he could accept that, then everything could be different for him, better.

  “Are all hellhounds being offered these jobs?” I asked.

  “Not all,” Airis replied. “Some are indeed what they were originally twisted to be; they have turned their back on God and have chosen darkness. They will not be welcome.”

  Sam was quiet for so long that I began to worry. I could feel that he was intrigued by the idea of being something better than what he thought he was. I already thought he was wonderful. This could be good for him, giving him something to be proud of. It didn’t take long, though, for doubt to creep into my head. Selfish doubt. If he was off guarding some Supernatural Treasure, then when would I see him? We couldn’t be together. The thought made panic begin to build in my chest. I couldn’t live without him.

  “I can’t do it.”

  Did my ears deceive me? Did he just refuse this?

  “Sam.” I tugged on his hand.

  “Can I ask why you would refuse?” Airis asked calmly.

  He looked down at me. Love swelled in my heart for him. He was doing this for me. I turned my back on Airis and faced only him. “You can’t refuse.”

  “I already did.” His chin jutted out and he had a stubborn glint in his eyes.

  “You cannot refuse God to be with me!” I hissed, even though I wished he could.

  “I was
meant for Hell anyway. I’m staying with you. Besides, who else is going to stop China?”

  “You are not meant for Hell. You have a good heart, Sam. You need to do this; your eternity depends on it.” As much as it hurt, I knew I was right. I would give him up if it meant saving his soul so that when he — gulp — died, he would spend his eternity in peace.

  “I want you. To hell with my soul.”

  I gasped.

  From behind me Airis spoke. “Perhaps you would like to know about this Supernatural Treasure that you would be guarding?”

  Sam shook his head, but I turned around to say, “Please. Is it something that he can take with him and keep where he lives?” Then he could still be with me.

  “It must stay with him, and he must go wherever it goes.”

  “Oh.”

  “What is it, anyway?” Sam asked.

  “It’s actually a ‘who,’” Airis replied.

  “A ‘who?’” I didn’t like the sound of that. What if it was a girl? A beautiful girl without scars and a crazy mother…

  Cut it out. Sam’s words cut through my thoughts. No one could compare to you, and I am not doing this.

  “It’s why you were given your life back, Heven.” Sam and I both looked over at her. “The Supernatural Treasure is you.”

  “I’ll do it.”

  “You’ve changed your mind then?” Airis asked.

  “I wouldn’t have said ‘no’ at all if I’d known it involved Heven.”

  “I was hoping you would agree before you knew.”

  “Guess I’m not as pure of heart as you think.”

  I heard the exchange, but I was scarcely paying attention. Did no one seem concerned that Airis just announced that I was some kind of treasure? It was ridiculous. I was hardly a treasure; my own mother thinks I’m evil, and I’m dating a hellhound. Admittedly, he is a hellhound who has a moral soul, but still, he was a hellhound.

  “Heven?” I looked up at Sam. “You okay?”

  I shook my head.

  “Could you explain to us exactly what a Supernatural Treasure is and what that means for Heven?” Sam asked Airis.

  “A Supernatural Treasure is a person who has been gifted supernatural powers. The ones that discover their powers are generally guided by us to accomplish good things in the world. We use them as tools. The noble, extraordinary deeds you witness are usually the work of Supernatural Treasures.”

  “I don’t have any powers.” I said, confused. There was no reason that I should be considered a Supernatural Treasure. “And I haven’t done any noble deeds unless you count not kicking the crap outta Jenna a noble deed.”

  Airis smiled at me like I was a two-year-old, then she turned to Sam. “So you agree to be the guardian, the protector of Heven, a Supernatural Treasure? You choose to denounce sin and accept virtue?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why me? What makes me a Supernatural Treasure?” I asked, suddenly.

  Airis regarded me with patience. “Because of who you are, for reasons you have yet to understand.”

  “Explain them to me.”

  “You will learn in your own time. For now, I would like to awaken the gifts that slumber within you.”

  “Slumber within me?” I murmured.

  “Many Supernatural Treasures live their entire lives without realizing what and who they are. Many of them never know of their abilities. That knowledge isn’t always necessary, but sometimes it is. You, Heven, have a path to walk. I pray that you will be strong enough to take what I awaken within you and use it for Glory.”

  “I don’t under–” I began but Airis turned to Sam.

  “Step aside please, Sam.” As we watched a giant ball of light swelled in her palm. It grew until I thought the weight of it must be unbearable, but she never seemed to struggle. It shimmered and glittered turning so bright that I had to squint, yet I couldn’t look away.

  “What are doing?” Sam asked, his muscles tensing.

  “Step aside,” she repeated.

  “I can’t. You have asked me to protect Heven, and I agreed. While you have given me no reason to think you mean us harm I cannot just let you do whatever it is you are about to do to her, I have to know that she will not be hurt.” Even as he said the words he angled his body in front of mine.

  Airis, still holding the swirling ball of light, inclined her head. “Your loyalty is commendable. I give you my word that I will not harm her. I am only doing what I said, awakening her abilities.”

  Sam turned to me, his body completely blocking Airis from my view. He cupped the side of my face in his palm, his eyes lingering on me. “Your face,” he murmured.

  I knew I probably looked horrible from the accident and I laid my hand over his. “I know, I…”

  “It’s beautiful.” He said, smiling. “She will not hurt you.” He told me, he said the words like he knew them to be true. “Trust me?”

  I nodded. “Always.”

  He backed away from me, never once looking away. I got lost in those honey-colored eyes, and I barely noticed when Airis sent the ball of light at me. Only when Sam looked away did I look up. I braced myself for the impact, for the searing heat, but there was none. The ball of light hit me and spread out, enclosing me in a bubble. The bubble floated up off the ground and hovered high above Sam and Airis. Sam stood below watching. I didn’t want him to worry, because I didn’t feel afraid at all.

  “I’m okay,” I called down to him. I wasn’t in pain and for several moments I floated in the bubble of light, and it was almost peaceful. But then something changed. The air around me became electric and charged. I could feel it vibrating, making my skin tingle. “Sam,” I croaked, but my voice caught in my throat. The pain was sharp and quick, and if I hadn’t been floating, I would have fallen to my knees. My whole body jolted as if I was being electrocuted, and I couldn’t breathe. Over and over again I felt the jolts until I was so exhausted I yearned for sleep. A loud ‘pop’ sounded, and it jerked me back to reality. The electric jolts stopped, and my body was left shaking. I crumpled forward only realize there was no floor to catch me; my heart seized, panic assailing me once more as I barreled from the sky toward the ground.

  The feeling that I was free falling lasted only a second before my body was lowered to the ground with ease with deliberate care, and Sam reached out to catch me, holding me close to his chest.

  I let my head rest against his shoulder, my body feeling drained.

  Sam stiffened and looked at Airis. “That didn’t look pain-free.”

  “She is just fine. She only needs rest.”

  Sam relaxed as he shifted my weight higher into his arms.

  “I will transport you home now.”

  “You haven’t told us anything about her abilities, or what she needs protection from.”

  “She will soon learn of her gift, and she needs protecting from anything that may cause her harm.”

  “But,” Sam began, only to have Airis cut him off. “You have been through enough today. Everything else you will figure out. I will be there if you truly need me.”

  Just like that she dismissed us. Seconds later, we were standing in the rain on the side of the road where my wrecked car lay smoking. I was still in Sam’s arms, and I looked up at him through the falling rain. “What in the world do we do now?”

  The Hate

  The bitch was alive. I stalked her all day for nothing. Finding her alone was more than I could have hoped for – the perfect opportunity. I was sure that my final attack would have finished her off. But then he showed up and ruined it. How did he know where to find her? I had escaped, fleeing the scene, but I couldn’t help but come back to watch Sam grieve. The draw of that kind of hell was just too great. But when I got close I saw that they weren’t there. Where had he taken her?

  My body was damaged, and I was in immense pain; I sat down to rest. As I lay there, licking my considerable wounds they reappeared. Now she stands in the rain looking whole and healthy. By the stark reli
ef written all over lover boy’s face and the way he is hunched over her in the rain, protecting her still, I would say that she was nowhere near dying.

  How did she manage to defy death? He couldn’t possibly have saved her from what I did to her? But seeing her now, it looks like I never even touched her. I felt satisfaction knowing that her scars from this encounter might be invisible, but the ones I inflicted before were permanent.

  I watched in smug satisfaction as she came to stand over the wreckage that used to be her car, her face twisted in pain. He called out to her and she lifted her face and turned. Pain screamed through me with my sharp intake of breath. It couldn’t be!

  There was only one way that she could have survived my attack and have this ‘miracle’ occur. The rumors I’d heard down below were true. The scrambling for power, the plan to upset the balance of Glory and evil, was not going unnoticed by those who wanted things to remain as they were.

  But what did she have to do with it? What did he have to do with it?

  Pain, sharp and pungent, ripped through me. I had to get out of there before I passed out; he would smell me and come to finish me off. I was lucky he was so busy mooning over her and calling the police to catch my scent now. This wasn’t over, not by a long shot. It didn’t matter how they were involved because I would take them out of the game before they even got a chance to play.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Heven

  Hospitals suck. I swore after my accident that I would never go back to one, yet here I was. Sam sat over by the wall, his hair wet and mussed from the rain with an unreadable expression on his face as he watched the nurses poke and prod me. He was lucky they weren’t torturing him this way, too. Sure, he hadn’t been in the accident, but the clothes he was wearing (the shorts Airis seemed to conjure right on his body and the shirt he got from his truck) were ill fitting, ripped and covered in blood. He looked like he needed medical attention, even if I knew he didn’t.

  Just as I thought it, a new nurse came into the room with what I thought of as a blood bucket (a kit to draw blood) in her hands and an intent look on her face as she headed for Sam. “We would like to check you out as a precaution.”