The Angel

by Blaire Hammond

  ‘Now, I see we interrupted your own reunion. Your friends are waiting. Go spend some time with them,’ Elias insisted.

  Laura and Gemma peered over their shoulder at their four friends, who watched them with happiness in their eyes. There were still some of their group missing, and there was still that feeling of concern for them in her gut, but they had found some of their friends, and that was a start.

  Laura thanked Elias and linked arms with Gemma as they dashed back to their friends.

  ~

  Grace’s heart was racing in her chest as she pulled her best friends into an enormous hug. She still couldn’t believe Gemma and Laura had made it. She’d been so worried about them, and the fact that they were standing before her only felt like a dream. She could barely comprehend what her eyes were seeing as the Casters and Creatures of Mist Roe unloaded from the ships.

  Not only had Laura discovered the truth of her power, but she’d found a whole colony of people just like herself. On top of that, they’d brought over two thousand reinforcements, and at least two hundred of those had Laura’s ability to kill with but a single thought.

  For the first time, Grace truly believed that they had a chance. Erebus couldn’t stand against such power. The Wicked couldn’t fight something they couldn’t control or even touch, if the Casters didn’t want them to. It was an enormous game changer, and she couldn’t help the hope that rose within her soul.

  Still, there was much to do. They didn’t have time to spare. They would reconvene that night and make a plan, then they’d set out in the morning. The battle still raged, and from what Elias had told them, it wasn’t going well.

  It seemed the Wicked had focused a large portion of their forces in Lastrala, and were pushing back fiercely against the Enchanted. The Enchanted were still fighting, but the battle was evenly matched, perhaps even swaying in favour of the Wicked.

  In addition to that Porcht, Ilth, Norik Island, Valan, Dante, and Alast had all been invaded. Lastrala was the largest country to be invaded, hence the struggle for the Wicked to gain control, but the fact that they had taken over so many other countries and islands was a clear testament to their strength. Porcht was quite a large country like Lastrala, so that was a huge feat.

  No word had been passed on further about Alast besides the fact that the Wicked were in control of it. Nothing had been mentioned of its hostages. No one had heard a thing, yet. That had Grace’s gut twisting in fear for Stella and Leo and all the other rebels who had been left behind. But she had to tell herself that it would be okay. She would see them again. It would all be okay.

  The likelihood of that statement being true was less than 20%, she was sure of it, but she couldn’t allow herself to think of that. She would crumble if she did, and there was still a war to be won. She couldn’t break yet. They’d come too far.

  Word had reached them upon their arrival that Herrem and Istha were both under threat since they were close to Lastrala, which wasn’t a good sign. It just proved that the Wicked were moving fast and the Enchanted were forced to divide their armies to hold their own lines.

  All in all, it the war wasn’t looking positive for the Enchanted. So the addition of roughly two hundred casters and eighteen hundred slightly scary creatures was much needed. If they could take back Lastrala, then they could prove to the Wicked that the Enchanted would not be defeated so easily.

  Their group was back together for the time being, though, and that was something. Not everyone was there, but that some of them had survived was a start.

  Grace felt a hand on her arm, and she peered across at Gemma. Her best friends face was a mixture of excitement, relief, fear and sadness. So many feeling’s in just one look. It was hard to watch, for Grace knew those emotions all too well. But she had her best friend back safe and sound. After all she’d been through, she was alive. Laura was alive. They’d done it.

  They just had to win the war next.

  ~

  It was a struggle for Drew to comprehend the fact that Laura and Gemma were standing before him. He still gripped Laura’s hand, unwilling to ever let go again. They spoke for a long while, but soon they’d split from the others. Drew knew Laura probably wanted to tell him more about Megan and the Casters and Drew definitely wanted to talk to her about Mr Stark.

  The two of them made their way down to the waterfront and wandered along past the ships. They settled on the dock at the end of the wharf, dangling their feet over the edge. They didn’t dip their toes into the water though. It was much too cold for that.

  As Laura sat, Drew reached out and secured an arm around her, drawing her into his side. She was warm against him, and he could smell the scent of soap and leather on her. Underneath that was an underlying aroma of something he could only describe as mist. He wasn’t sure mist even had a smell, but somehow he could sense in on Laura.

  Not only that, but he could also feel a shift within her. Her skin prickled a little. Buzzed even. He ran his fingers over her knuckles then drew back when something zapped him.

  ‘Woah,’ he said, shaking his hand a little.

  Laura laughed lightly. ‘Sorry. I forget sometimes that I’m doing it.’

  ‘Doing what?’ He asked, retaking her hand in his and feeling the prickling again.

  ‘My power. Megan taught me how to control it. I’ve learned to hold it at the surface so it’s always available for me to use. That way I don’t have to stop to search within me for it. It’s just always… there.’

  ‘Really? That’s incredible. So you can draw on it when you’re fighting?’ Drew asked, surprised and enthralled by the idea.

  Laura nodded into his shoulder. ‘Yep. Megan even showed me how to use it in battle, how to wield it like a weapon and even shape it in my hands. I’m still getting used to it, it’s hard to sometimes. I have to almost split my mind, so half of it is focusing on the fight and half on the power. But I’m better at it now than I was.’

  ‘What about draining yourself?’ Drew asked, worry seeping into his gut.

  He peered up at the foggy sea, the sun barely visible through the mist.

  ‘Megan explained that because I was using the power for extended periods of time without having learned to hold onto it, it had begun to affect me. She showed me how to understand the levels I have available to me and recognise when they’re getting low. She also said that I not only had to control the power but the portion used, if that makes sense? Like, I would just throw everything into what I was trying to do when really, I might have only needed half my power to do it.’

  Drew nodded. ‘I get what you mean. I guess now that we know, it does make a lot of sense. It must be a relief to finally understand it better.’

  ‘It is. I mean, when I set off for Mist Roe, I never expected to find much. But that there are others out there like me? People with this kind of power? I just feel like I’m not alone now. Of course, we have to be careful. If Erebus finds out I’m not the only one, he might try and capture any one of us to use us for his benefit.’

  Drew hadn’t thought of that, and with that sudden insight came another wave of dread and fear. None of it would be over until Erebus was dead.

  ‘But we don’t have to worry about that yet. Right now, I just want to stop and breathe for a moment. It’s been one thing after another. I haven’t had a chance to really feel happy. And I am happy. Not about this war and everything else. Just that I have the answers I needed. That I can finally close that book knowing the whole truth of who I am and what I can do.’

  Drew hugged her tighter to him, glad to hear her say that. He couldn’t remember her once mentioning being happy. She’d been through so much with the loss of her father, then her mother, then being taken hostage. It had indeed been one thing after another. To hear she genuinely felt happy for the first time in a long while only made him smile.

  ‘I’m so glad, Ace. Truly. And I’m glad we found each other again. I- well I was really worried about you.’

  Laura pulled back s
lightly so she could peer up at him.

  ‘I was worried about you too. It was always on my mind. What were you doing? Were you okay? Were you safe? I just couldn’t stop thinking about you. I still can’t believe you’re here right now, if I’m honest. It feels like I’m going to wake up from a dream at any moment.’

  Drew peered down into her hazel and gold eyes, then pressed his lips to her forehead. He pulled her close into a hug again, and she wrapped her arms around his waist.

  ‘You’re not dreaming, I promise. This is real.’

  ‘It better be,’ Laura responded with a chuckle.

  They pulled back again and he saw her wipe quickly at her cheek and nose. He felt that love within him grow. That she’d been so genuinely worried about him was endearing. It also meant a great deal to him to know she truly felt for him in the same way he felt for her.

  ‘Anyway, how are you doing? After… you know. Everything.’

  Drew knew she was asking about Mr Stark. He still wasn’t sure how he felt. He was glad the man was dead, that much he knew. Be that as it may, there was a part of him that, like Grace, had thought that the moment they killed Mr Stark, it would all end. The War, Erebus, the conversions, all of it. Then Creshan and the Wicked had shown up.

  He still wasn’t sure what to think about what Grace had said to the Wicked and that they left. It was hard to comprehend what that even meant. Was there still the good of the Enchanted in them? What about those that were Wicked, not Enchanted turned Wicked? Why did they leave?

  Drew recalled the conversation he and Laura had over a month ago in the confines of their hotel room. Laura had mentioned that the Wicked were only fighting for a better life. That to them, they were the good and the Enchanted were the bad. That it was about perspective. What if she had been on to something? What if the Wicked were only evil because the Enchanted drove them to be so by chucking them out on the streets for having the same coloured lightning as Erebus.

  When they’d been created, there had been no Enchanted and Wicked. There had only been the lightning. Because Erebus was the only one with red lightning, it had been assumed that all with red lightning were evil. It had then lead to their banishment from the tribe, until it reached a point where the Enchanted and Wicked were created, making their respective deals with the Gods and the Devils.

  Maybe they’d been wrong all along?

  Drew didn’t like thinking that, for he’d been brought up in a world where the Wicked were evil, and they were literally fighting a war against them. But for some strange reason, it made sense.

  Laura looked up at him again, and he realised he’d fallen quiet and hadn’t answered her question.

  ‘I’m fine,’ he said at last, hoping to reassure her. ‘Like you said, it’s been one thing after another. I’ve barely had a chance to process everything that happened. But I’m glad Grace killed him, that much I know.’

  It was Laura’s turn to snuggle in closer to him, tightening her hug. Drew appreciated it. He didn’t have to say anything else, and still she understood what was going on inside him. The conflicting thoughts, the worries, the confusion. She recognised that and was simply showing she was there for him. Yet another reason why he knew he was definitely in love with her.

  He hadn’t yet told her. He didn’t know if he should. He wanted to, yes, but he didn’t want to create a distraction for them both. They had a lot to focus on. A lot to do. They couldn’t risk anything getting in their way, even their feelings for each other.

  So, he kept those thoughts to himself and held her. The two of them continued to talk, to wonder about the others, to discuss more of the Caster and Creatures and of Drew’s journey and how they rescued the Humans. They stayed there until night fell and it was time to head back. Reluctantly, they climbed to their feet and made their way to the town houses where they would be meeting Elias for dinner. After that, they would plan their next move.

  Then, it would be time to enter the battle themselves.

  ~

  Gemma watched as Drew and Laura linked hands and wandered off down to the docks. She concealed the wry smile her lips were tempted to make and looked back to see Grace and Logan caught up in a discussion with Elias. They’d promised to organise protection for the Humans and were already talking strategy.

  That left Mitch and herself. She felt a little awkward. They hadn’t really spoken yet, and after so much time apart, she wasn’t really sure what to say. She reached across her stomach with her right hand and gripped her forearm. She felt more comfortable crossing her arms but didn’t want to do that because she knew how scary she came across when she did.

  At last, she allowed her eyes to trail back to meet Mitch’s. His deep brown ones were already watching her, and she felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

  ‘So,’ she said quietly.

  The corner of his mouth quirked upwards and just like that, the awkward spell was broken.

  ‘Miss me?’ He said.

  His voice sounded as if he were joking, but his eyes told a different story.

  She laughed. ‘Who, me? What would I ever miss about you?’ She responded in the same light tone.

  Her own eyes softened though, and she hoped he could see what she really meant. That she did miss him. That she’d been worried about him. That she hoped he had missed her too.

  Mitch took half a step towards her. ‘I don’t know, my charisma, my handsomeness, my smarts?’

  ‘Your cockiness, your smartassness, your annoyingness?’ She shot back, the smile growing on her lips.

  Mitch took another half step towards her. ‘Ouch. You wound me.’

  ‘Poor boy.’

  In an instant, he was standing before her, his brown eyes staring down into hers.

  ‘I missed you, Gemma,’ he murmured.

  Gemma’s stomach was performing summersaults and her heart was pounding in her chest. She could have sworn she felt breathless, even though she couldn’t breathe.

  ‘I missed you, too,’ she whispered back. ‘I know we never discussed it but-’

  She didn’t have the chance to finish, because then Mitch was kissing her, and the world was exploding around her. She never thought she could feel such things all at once. She never thought she would.

  His lips were soft and sure, and she couldn’t help but kiss him back with matched eagerness. It was hard to believe that they’d been stranger’s only months before. She knew she’d found her match, though. Someone she could lean on, yes, but someone who would challenge her, and who she could challenge in turn. Someone who would show her respect and kindness. Who would only ever support her. Someone she was proud to stand with through the good and the bad.

  She’d never allowed herself to admit it for fear of jinxing it and never seeing him again, but having Mitch in her arms, she could no longer deny her feelings for him. She would no longer deny them, either.

  Mitch pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against hers, a grin playing at his lips.

  ‘Well. That was generous for someone who didn’t miss me,’ he remarked.

  Gemma hit his chest lightly and laughed.

  ‘Shut up,’ she muttered, and pulled him in to another kiss.

  ~

  ‘Dang. Did not see that coming,’ Logan mentioned to Grace as the two of them peered across at Gemma and Mitch.

  They’d finished talking to Elias and were about to enlist the two lovebirds to help with setting up the protections.

  ‘You’re kidding, right?’ Grace asked.

  ‘What? You knew about them?’ Logan countered, feeling as though he had completely missed something.

  ‘It was so obvious!’ She exclaimed, throwing her hands up.

  ‘But I thought they hated each other? They fought, like, all the time!’

  ‘Yeah, that’s called flirting honey,’ Grace responded with a giggle.

  Logan frowned. ‘Huh. Really?’

  ‘Wow. You need a lesson in flirting. No wonder it took you so long to pick up on my hints.’


  ‘Wait, what do you mean?’

  Grace huffed. ‘I literally flirted with you for three years before you ever noticed!’

  Logan glanced at her, baffled. ‘What? When?!’

  Grace crossed her arms. ‘That explains a lot.’

  Logan chuckled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Sorry.’

  She shook her head, a laugh of her own escaping her lips. ‘We got there in the end.’

  ‘That’s right.’

  They fell quiet, watching as Mitch and Gemma talked and laughed with one another. It was nice to see Gemma so happy. Logan had never known her to smile as brightly as she was with Mitch. Even after she’d started coming to terms with the loss of her parents, she’d never had the joy that was clearly radiating from her in that moment.

  ‘Wait, so you’re saying we could have been together, like, three years ago if only I had have noticed your flirting?’ Logan asked suddenly.

  Grace shrugged. ‘Maybe.’

  Logan shook his head. He really was oblivious sometimes.

  ‘Damn. I really suck.’

  Grace put an arm around him, kissing him softly on the cheek.

  ‘You won me over in the end. And I love you even more for it. Plus, you’re super cute when you’re oblivious. I was flirting with you this morning and you didn’t even notice.’

  Logan turned to face her in one swift movement.

  ‘Seriously?’

  Grace laughed and nodded.

  Before Logan could feel too sorry for himself and his awkwardness, she’d already planted a kiss on his lips.

  ‘Now, when would you like to book in for your lesson? You know, so in future you can pick up on my flirting,’ Grace asked in earnest.

  Logan laughed. ‘Right now please. Clearly I need help.’

  Grace’s face brightened, her green eyes flashing with a lightness. ‘Great! I’ll teach you as we set up the towns protections. Because, you know, flirting and creating death traps do go hand in hand.’

  With that, the two of them set off to gather their supplies.

  Chapter Eight

  A Different Light