Lila tugs away from him. “I will never love you again. That time has passed. I don’t even recognize you anymore. You’re a stranger. A psychotic stranger.”
He rips the bandage from his eye. Hits himself in the face. Lila’s eyes go big. She steps back and Dustin flies at her. Wraps his arms around her. “Look at me. Look what she made me. This is why you can’t love me.”
“No,” Lila cries. She struggles to get away.
“Take your hands off of her,” Micah shouts.
Dustin stiffens. “Who the hell are you?” He glances from Micah to Lila. “Are you cheating on me?”
“I—no. I can’t cheat on you, Dusty. We aren’t together and Micah is an Angel. He’s Keely’s Guardian.”
Dustin straightens and turns to face Micah. “Then I’ll have to kill him too.”
Micah raises his sword. He looks past Dustin to Lila. “I’m very sorry,” he says quietly, his voice full of remorse. The expression on his face is the mirror image of the one he wore earlier when she asked him about the prophecy. And Lila knows Dustin is about to die. She moves away quickly, averting her eyes.
Dustin hurls himself at Micah and it’s over. Micah puts his arm around Dustin like embracing him in a hug. With a sigh, Dustin’s eyes close and Micah pulls the sword from his heart. “My father will forgive. Peace be with you.”
Bryon runs past Micah and kneels next to Keely. He brushes the hair from her face and she groans. “Keely, you o.k.?”
She licks her lips and tries to open her heavy eyes. “Come on Kiem. Let me see those pretty greens.”
“Where is Ramuell?” Israfil asks.
“I don’t know,” Elijah answers.
“Keely?” Nick is slow to get up the steps. He lowers himself next to her and caresses her face. “What’d he do to her?”
“I don’t know,” Bryon says tightly.
Ramuell comes up behind the group. “She did it. The prophecy has been fulfilled.”
“She needs a hospital. How do we get back?” Bryon says.
“I believe that is where I come in.”
Everyone turns toward the small voice. A little boy stands just before the doorway. His dark almond shaped eyes innocently regard them. “My King has sent me to transport you home. I was told the girl is to go first.” He points a chubby finger at Keely.
“Who?” Bryon asks.
“King Asmoday,” the boy replies. He moves his silky black hair out of his eyes and walks over to Keely. “She’s pretty.”
Nick touches the boy’s arm. “Take her to Hunt Memorial Hospital.” The boy nods and he and Keely disappear.
Epilogue:
Keely puts the last of her clothes in her drawer. Hands on hips, she shifts, taking in her room at the Academy. She’s made it her own. Pictures of her parents. Posters of her favorite bands. Her own bedspread. The stuffed animal Bryon gave her during her short stent at the hospital after her leg surgery. She rubs at the brace over her knee. Another scar added to her body.
Keely texts her mom and let’s her know she’s settled in all right. Things have been strained since Keely decided to move to the Academy, not that things were great prior. Her mom was passionately against the move, but Keely was determined. After all, she has a plan. She needs access to the Grimoire and the only way to do that is to be here. She will be a good little Doyenne. Learn to use her accolades and train to become a warrior. Educate herself in anything and everything that has to do with who she is. And the first chance she gets, she will search the Grimoire for some way to get Asmoday out of the Demon realms.
Right now, she is a shell. Her inside is missing. She doesn’t know what she needs to fill the void, but she knows in her heart it has something to do with Asmoday. Maybe it’s because the cord binding them has never severed. Keely thinks it may be because they unknowingly sealed the bond. Regardless, she can’t leave him there. She told him she’d come back for him if there was any way possible and she is determined to find it.
Someone knocks. Nick smiles at Keely when she opens the door. “Hey. I just wanted to check on you.”
She moves out of the way so he can come in. He kisses her cheek. “So, how are you doing?”
She plops down on her bed. “You mean since yesterday? I’m good.”
Nick stares at her. “You’re not good. You’re miserable.” He sits beside her. Puts his arm around her. “It will get better. Easier at least. Over time.”
Keely wiggles out of his embrace and stands up. Paces in front of him. “Better? Easier? You just don’t understand. I wish you could. Something is different in me, Nick. I don’t want it to get better or easier. I’m so…”
“Sad.”
“And angry.”
Nick nods. His phone sounds in his pocket, a steady buzzing. “Sorry.” He takes it out and looks at the caller I.D. His eyes go wide and he closes himself in Keely’s bathroom. She can hear his hushed voice on the other side of the door. After only a moment, Nick comes back into the room. “I’ll take care of it,” he says to the person on the line. Turning away from her, he ends the call and pushes the phone back into his pocket. Presses his thumb and finger against his eyes. Takes a deep breath.
“Who was that on the phone?” Keely asks.
He whirls on her and she stops dead in her tracts. “I’ve tried to be understanding,” Nick says. “I have been patient. I mean, I thought you were going through this terrible depression because that cord, or whatever you call it, broke. I assumed that’s what this is.” He gestures at her. “I could deal with that, but it didn’t break. Did it? You’re still tied to him, aren’t you?”
Keely looks away, but Nick isn’t allowing that. He won’t let her hide anymore. He pulls her chin so she is facing him again.
“I don’t know what hurts more. That you’ve been in this misery because you miss him, or that you love him so much you’re willing to put yourself in danger just to be with him.”
“It was him? Asmoday called you?”
Nick glowers at her. “Yes. He could feel your intentions to go back to the Demon realm. He wanted me to stop you. He doesn’t want you to go back. Don’t you get that? Whatever you had with him is over.” He shakes his head. He can’t even look at her anymore. “I can’t compete. I won’t. I can’t always wonder if you’re going to put yourself in danger. I love you, but this is too much. Especially when you can’t love me back.” He pauses, gives her a chance to say something, to protest, to stop him.
“I do love you, Nick. I just love him too. And…”
“And?”
Well, if she’s going to be honest, she might as well spill it all. “I love Bryon too. I didn’t mean to love anyone. It just happened and I’m so confused.”
“Well, let me help you out. I’m done. You can just worry about two guys now.”
“I just need time. Please.”
He shrugs. “Take all the time you need, but don’t you dare come to me unless you know for certain. Unless you know you only want me. I don’t share people. I want you to myself. If you can’t do that, just…just stay away.”
“Will you still be my Guardian?” Keely asks, panicked.
“I swore to protect you. I always will.” He closes his eyes and kisses her forehead, his lips lingering on her skin. “Goodbye, Keely.”
Nick opens the door, nearly runs into Bryon.
“Hey, man. What’s up?” Nick brushes past him without responding. Bryon gives Keely a look and shuts the door. “What’d I miss?”
Angry tears fill Keely’s eyes. She did this to herself. It’s her own fault. “Nothing.”
Bryon raises his eyebrows, but doesn’t comment on it again. Decides to change the subject. “Have you seen Lila?”
“Not since this morning. She went to the park with Micah.”
“What’s going on with them?”
Keely wipes he
r eyes and shrugs. “I don’t know. I think she likes him, but it’s weird for her, ya know? He killed the only guy she ever loved and he feels so guilty about it. I don’t know where it will go, but the others left. He’s the only one still here, so I think that means something.”
“I hope it works out. She deserves some happiness.” He turns the bar bell ring in his brow and licks his lips. “Which is why I’m here. You know I’m a prophet, right?”
Keely smiles at him. “Right.”
“Well, two days ago, I had a dream. At first I didn’t think much of it because it isn’t the first time I’ve dreamed about you, but last night, I had the exact same dream. I mean, exactly the same. I think it may be my first sight into the future.”
“Oh my gosh, Bryon. That’s amazing. Can you tell me about it?”
He sits on the edge of her bed and gazes at her. “Well, what are you doing tomorrow night?”
Keely scrunches her nose. “Tutoring. Same as every night until this thing comes off and I can start training.” She pokes at her brace with disgust.
Bryon smiles. “Wrong. You’ll be with me. On our first date.”
Keely blinks at him. “Wait, what?”
“I’m taking you out.” He winks at her. “I have to. It’s been written in the stars.” He waves his hand in front of them, a dreamy expression clouding his face.
“That’s what you prophesized? A date? With me?”
Bryon grins widely. “Don’t worry. You have a good time.” He meets her eyes evenly and sighs. “Look, I know there are a lot of things that need to be discussed. Things you need to work out. Things I need to get over. But I’m willing to try. And I kind of already know you are too. So, what do you say? Will you go on a date with me?”
Keely can’t fight the smile tugging her lips. “Yes, Bryon. I would love to.”
Dark Calling Page 42