by M. R. Forbes
"She's going to hurt herself," Charis said.
I reached in and put my hand on her shoulder. As soon as I touched her, her entire body shot out stiff straight in a major convulsion, and then toppled back to the seat. Her head twisted towards me.
"Get away!" she Commanded.
Her Commands had never worked on me before. She had tried a few times, most recently right before she'd been taken by her father. I understood what the power felt like, the pressure in my head, the compulsion in my soul. I'd always been strong enough to fight it. Until today.
Against my will, I started backing up. Her face tracked me, and I could feel her forcing me further and further from the car, across the street and out into one of the fields. I closed my eyes and focused, pushing back against her, trying to resist. I couldn't do it. Not when she was so agitated.
"Please," I heard her cry out to Charis. "Please, leave me alone." Charis started backing up too. Sarah climbed out of the car.
In that moment, I felt nothing but sadness and pity. She stood there in front of the car in her flannel dress, her hair stuck to her face, her expression one of pure misery. She held her hands down to the side and put her head towards the ground.
"Sarah, please let me go," I said, mustering the energy to speak. "I can help you."
"I saw it," she said. "I saw it." She dropped to her knees, burying her face in her hands.
"Saw what?" I heard Charis ask.
"I saw it," she repeated.
"Sarah," I said. "Let me go. Let me help you."
The compulsion dropped. She had let me go. I ran over to her, sliding on the ground to embrace her. I held her there for a few minutes while she sobbed out her fears, and then let her go.
"Landon," she said. "I'm sorry." She looked up at Charis. "I'm sorry."
"What happened?" I asked.
She used her sleeve to wipe away some of the moisture from her face. "You know that I see... ahead. Things that haven't happened yet. They aren't always things that will happen, but are usually things that do happen. Except... they're blurry. Like shadows of the future, or a silhouette of what's to come. I saw you defeat the archfiend in New York, but I never saw mother's sacrifice to you. I want so much to speak to her."
"Sarah, I..."
"No, it's okay. I know you can't right now. I know what the Beast did to you. I can See the change in you, the way your power has shifted. I can See mother, and the demon in there too, but they are so scattered right now. You need to sleep, for days maybe, but there isn't any time."
I hadn't expected her to be able to See in such detail. My own Sight was an overall understanding of what different Divine souls looked like, and it presented itself in temperature and emotion. She had to be getting deeper, or maybe higher resolution, like a camera with more megapixels.
"So you saw the future?" I asked.
She nodded. "Yes. I felt so strongly about helping the Beast. I was sure it would happen. So much of it did, but not all. Like you said, it's a potential future, and the choices we make can change it at any time. You helped me make a different choice, a better choice." She smiled weakly.
"I'm glad I could help," I said, "but I don't understand. What did you see that was upsetting you so much, that you were able to Command both of us?"
She turned her face back towards the pavement. "It was so real," she said. "So much more... I don't know... true? I felt like it would happen, no matter what choice I made. That it was the future that would come to pass."
"What did you see?"
She put her hand on my shoulder. "I don't know if I should tell you," she said. "I'm so afraid of it happening. I can't imagine anything worse. What if telling you makes it happen?"
There was no way to know. "What if not telling me makes it happen?" I replied. "If I know what it is, maybe we can work to prevent it."
Her chest was heaving, her heartbeat ratcheting up with the anxiety of the situation. She squeezed my arm tighter and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself.
"Sarah," I said. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me. You'll know if it's happening the way you saw. You'll be able to make the choice."
She bit her lower lip and nodded. "It is my choice, isn't it?" she asked.
"Yes," I said. "Always."
She took a few more deep breaths. "We need to get to Florence," she said. She turned to Charis. "You aren't as damaged as Landon. Maybe because there's only one in there with you. You'll still need rest."
Charis smiled. "I'll rest," she said. "Let's get to Florence."
I got to my feet, and helped Sarah to hers. Charis started circling back around to the passenger side.
"Hop in, kiddo," I said, waving her into the back seat. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me down towards her.
"Brother," she whispered in my ear. "I didn't want her to hear. To hear what I saw." Her breathing was ragged, her fear of the vision obvious.
"I saw her die," she said. "I saw you die. I killed you."
CHAPTER FIVE
The rest of the drive to Florence was tough, with Sarah's final words to me before we had regained our journey rattling around in my head. She was sure she was going to kill both Charis and me. She was more certain of it than she had been of helping the Beast. It wasn't that she wanted to, or even felt compelled to, but she truly believed that she would. Did that mean the Beast was going to win? She had been concerned that telling me would cause bad things to happen, and maybe it could. If I allowed the information to seep into my psyche and convince me not to try as hard, not to fight as hard, could that be how I wound up dead?
Shadows. That was the future that she saw. In the moments we had before getting back into the car, I had asked her how she did it. She said she didn't know, only that I was dust, and Charis was dust, and our blood was on her hands. It would have bothered me more, but I was resisting the urge to believe, knowing full well we had already altered one of her perceived futures. There was nothing to suggest we couldn't do it again.
I was glad Charis had taken the opportunity to go back to resting. She didn't notice my sweaty palms, or my sure-to-be-distracted expression. She rested in the seat next to me, her head lolled to the right, a thin line of drool running out of the corner of her mouth and onto her chin. There was something so normal about it, so perfect and yet surreal. Wouldn't it be so much better if we were sitting on a couch somewhere, watching a crappy movie? How much would I want to kiss her when she woke?
The thought was troubling, and getting harder to shake with each soft breath that escaped her, with each gentle effort to try to pull the spittle back in. We had shared everything in the cave, when she had connected her soul with mine. I knew everything about her, and she knew everything about me. How could I not feel something for someone who I had known for over two hundred years? I was there for every fault, every weakness, every evil deed. I had also seen her strength, her goodness, and her ferociously loyal love. So, she had been the one who had killed me. She had also brought me back to life. It was balance.
I cast one more glance her way, admiring the shape of her face, and then checked in on Sarah. She was in the back seat, head down, her breathing even. She hadn't said anything since we had gotten in the car, and I didn't expect her to. She had a greater burden to bear than I did.
Florence was an Italian city, which meant that it just kind of snuck up on you. Nestled along the Arno river, it didn't appear in the distance as some great metropolis, but rather just appeared at the end of an endless string of farms and pastures, from a vast quantity of wheat and grass to the hustle and bustle of one of the most famous medieval centers. I'd never been here before, and driving through the streets, looking around at the architecture and history, I was more amazed than someone in my position should have been. Wasn't being Divine more amazing than sculpted stone? I wasn't so sure.
I pulled us up to the curb of the San Gallo Palace Hotel, pushing my focus to glamour the car and its riders as a trio of wealthy touri
sts. I couldn't actually change our clothes, but I pushed the image of finery and gold accoutrements. It was enough to fool a mortal. The vehicle took its last breath and died as I eased it to a stop, and the attendant came over and opened my door.
"Good morning, signore," I said, finding a bit of joy in being able to use Dante's line.
"Good morning," he replied. "Can I take your luggage?"
I smiled. "No luggage, my friend," I said. "We just flew in for the weekend. We're going to do some shopping to take care of our necessities."
He returned the grin. "Excellent, sir," he said, laughing. "I'm sure your wife and daughter will be very pleased."
"I'm sure they will," I agreed. "Honey," I shouted to Charis. "It's time to wake up now. We're here."
Her eyes opened and she sat up, using her wrist to wipe the drool from her chin. Sarah had heard me too, and she lifted her head to see where we were.
"Welcome to Florence," I said to them. The attendant helped Charis from the car, and I took Sarah's hand to pull her from the back. "Don't worry," I whispered to her. She bit her lip and nodded.
"Please head on inside, sir," the attendant said. "I will take care of your car."
I reached out and took Charis' hand as she came around the Fiat, and led my two girls inside. How I wished we really were on a shopping spree vacation. It was easy to picture Charis as my wife, and even though Sarah called me 'brother', I already felt like more of a father to her.
"Name?" The clerk asked when I approached the front desk. He was an older man with a ring of white hair around a bald top, a pair of wire-rimmed glasses on the end of his nose, and a decades old suit on his meek frame. At least he kept it ironed. I reached into my pants pocket, feeling around the cellphone, and pulled out a Taylor, Inc. corporate credit card. Seeing it in my hand forced me to remember Rachel, and I felt a twang of guilt and regret as I handed it over to him.
"I don't have a reservation, signore," I said. "If you have a room, I can pay."
He took the card. "Of course, sir," he replied. He started typing into the computer. "I will still need a name."
"Taylor," I replied. "Justin Taylor."
The clerk typed it in. I took a peek outside, seeing that the attendant was still struggling to get the car started. Charis noticed, following my gaze and then looking back at me with an amused lifted eyebrow.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," she replied, her voice hinting at her mirth.
"I'm sorry sir," the clerk said. "It seems your card is being declined. Might you have another?"
That was fast. I hadn't expected a company as large as Rachel's to be organized enough to cut me off in a matter of hours. There had to be someone else involved on that front. I took the card back from him and dug around in my pocket.
"Excuse me a moment," I said. I turned to Sarah. "Do you mind?" I asked. "It's okay if you don't want to, if it makes it harder to resist her."
"I don't mind," she replied. "We have a need."
I thought she was going to Command the clerk to give us a key, but she didn't. Instead, she walked outside and started talking to the attendant, still sitting in the Fiat. He smiled at her, and then reached into his pocket and handed her his wallet. She kissed his cheek, and came back inside.
"It's better to use a card," she said, handing me a credit card. "It will make it easier when we check out."
I was a little concerned about the ease of her deviousness, but she had told me she was okay. I handed the card to the clerk, glamouring it to look similar to the one I had already tried to give him. He took it without suspicion and ran it through.
"I've put you in a room with two queen beds, if that is okay with you sir," the clerk said, handing me two key-cards. "Room 314."
"It's fine," I replied.
"The stairs are over there," he said, pointing. "My apologies, but it is an old hotel, so we don't have an elevator."
"It's no trouble," I said. "Come, my lovelies."
Sarah giggled at the term, and took my hand. Charis walked beside us. We climbed the steps and made our way into the room.
It was pretty standard hotel fare, two queen beds, a desk, a television, and a bathroom. It didn't stand out in any way, but that was fine with me.
"So, we're here," Sarah said. "Now what?"
They both looked at me.
"I'm going to go out and see if I can get a battery for my phone. Failing that, an internet cafe. I need to reach Obi, make sure he's okay, and warn him about the Beast. You two are going to stay here. Charis, you need to rest. We're dead in the water without Vilya. Sarah, you keep her safe."
"You.. You're trusting me to keep her safe?" Sarah asked.
I was about to reply, but Charis took care of it for me. "It doesn't matter if he trusts you," she said. "I do." It was well done.
"But I don't deserve it. After what I did."
"Nonsense. You aren't the only one who's done something they wished they hadn't. We need you, Sarah. I need you to watch over me. You can keep anyone, mortal or Divine from hurting us until you can wake me. I know you can."
"Okay," Sarah said. "I'll wake you if I See anyone coming."
"I know," Charis replied. She walked over to me, and surprised me by leaning up and putting her forehead against mine. "You be careful."
I pressed my head forward against hers. "I appreciate your concern. I'll be fine."
She swung her head around to kiss me on the cheek, handed me one of the cursed daggers, and backed away. The warmth of her lips on my face sent a shiver through my spine.
"I'll be back soon," I said, sticking the blade in my belt, and then turning and heading out the door.
The attendant had enlisted a bellhop to assist him in moving the Fiat out of the way, and was in the process of pushing it off to wherever they kept the cars when I reached the front desk and got the clerk's attention.
"Excuse me, signore," I said. "Where can I find a store that sells phone batteries?"
"Of course, sir," he said. "You'll want to head to Home Away, on Via Chiara. Go south to Viale Spartaco to Piazza dell'Indipendenza, and turn left when you get to Via Chiara. Simple. Would you like a map?"
A map sounded good. "Yes, please." He went in the back and retrieved a map, opened it up, and circled the hotel and the store. "Thank you, signore," I said.
I dropped the glamour as I exited the hotel, and walked past the attendants pushing the car without being noticed. Divine weren't seen by the Sleeping, unless they wanted to be.
It was a fifteen minute walk from the hotel to the store. I kept my focus on my Sight, but I didn't push it very far, trying to conserve energy. There were no Divine on the streets I was walking, or in the surrounding buildings, or on the nearby rooftops. The quiet only left me more time to think, and my mind kept flipping chaotically between Sarah, Charis, and the Beast. One to save, one to match, and one to kill. I remembered Sarah's words again. 'Three brother, there are always three,' she had said. The patterns were everywhere. The balance was everywhere.
It was then, almost out of nowhere, that I thought of Rebecca. I remembered her first writhing in pain at the point of what I'd learned was a Canaan Blade, whatever that meant. I remembered her next in the janitorial closet of the Statue of Liberty, where she had first both frightened and fascinated me. It hadn't been an accident, I knew now. Ross had dumped me right into her hands, so she could look after and guide me to the destiny he had designed. Everything she had said, everything she had done had been false. Not a lie, exactly, because I knew the feelings she had developed for me had been as real as she could understand them to be. Then she brought me to the Beast so he could kill me and take back his power. Sacrifice was a part of love, but wasn't it supposed to be the other way around? Was a demon even capable of understanding that?
I was at Home Away before I knew it. It wasn't a surprise to me that it turned out to be a store specializing in helping foreigners get connected to their loved ones through electronic devices. The clerk approac
hed as soon as I entered.
"Can I help you, sir?" he asked. He was young, maybe the age I had been when I had died. He was tall and lanky, with a spread of curly brown hair and a stylish pair of red glasses.
I reached into my pocket and took out my phone. "I just need a battery for this," I said.
He looked at it and nodded. "The S3," he said. "That's a popular phone. We have replacement batteries behind the counter." He led me over, and dug around in a drawer behind him until he found it. "We do an exchange service here. Just give me your battery, and you can take this one. The price is one euro."
I unsnapped the back of the phone and took out the battery, handing it to him. He gave me the replacement and I slipped it in. I snapped the cover on and hit the power button, thankful when it began booting. Then I grabbed the attendant's credit card and gave it to the kid. He ran it through, and it was done.
"Thanks," I said, taking back the card and heading back out into the street. The phone was almost ready to go, and there was a restaurant with outdoor seating nearby. I made my way across the road, the traffic flowing smoothly around me, and claimed a spot at the cafe. I leaned back in the chair and stuck my legs up on the table, ignoring the looks I was getting from the other patrons.
The phone rang four times before Obi picked it up.
"Where the hell have you been, man?" he shouted into the phone. "It's like World War 'D' over here."
I dropped my legs and stood up. "What do you mean?" I asked, finding the panic button in record time.
"I mean total Divine chaos," he said. "Demons and angels fighting together, hunting down any Divine they can find, and taking out whoever or whatever gets in their way. The angels are outnumbered, and without an archfiend, the demons are disorganized. We've been lucky, because most of it has been isolated to more private locations so far, but I think it's only going to get worse."
It was only going to get worse. The Beast's warning. He had started his destruction in New York, because that's where the factions were weakest, thanks to me. I was the one who had taken out the archfiend, dismembered the ruling vampire family, and caused the angel sanctuary to be decimated. I was the one who had created the balance in that war, and unwittingly designed a complete imbalance in the other. It was exactly what the Beast had said he needed me for, and I hadn't let him down.