Against the Fallen

by Devin Lee Carlson

  “Thank you. I don’t deserve your kindness after the way I attacked you. I have no one to blame except for my own greed and jealously. Even my clan exiled me.” She paused to clear her throat. “They want me dead.”

  Ariane had no problem understanding why. “So, you were jealous? Of what? My abilities?”

  “Of Sabree. He adores you. I recognize the signs. Easy to detect when you have known someone forever; however, with Sabree, one or two years is enough to read his overly dramatized emotions.” Abyss giggled.

  The she-devil toy with her emotions. But why? Ariane hoped the reasons were virtuous and added to the merriment. “Unlike Sabree, my brother is as complex as reading a dissertation written in a foreign language.” She noticed how Abyss’s lip curled upward, a bit lopsided. The woman probably had no idea what a dissertation was. Her brother’s abilities seemed endless. They kept popping up like lottery tickets: him the winner, her the loser. Ariane sensed his destructive prowess had earned Abyss’s respect, an accolade the she-devil rarely bestowed according to Sabree.

  “Brian is dangerous.” With one arm wrapped around her torso, Abyss shuddered. “Do you fear him?”

  Proven often, science could be just as deadly. Her science even more so. “Not at all. Brian loves me unconditionally.” Sister and brother shared a bond. Nothing except her own foolhardiness could fracture their relationship. Of late, the voices inside her head sought to end her ties with her brother as well as with Sabree. The motives both irrational and perilous made no sense. At least not any that she could surmise.

  Ariane finished detaching the IV and helped Abyss sit upright. She handed her a mirror and by the toothy grin, her patient approved the results. The flaccid complexion morphed to its supple self. Abyss’s dull eyes returned to a radiant silvery gray, and her lifeless hair bounced with elasticity and sheen. Best of all, her teeth had grown back, the eyeteeth sharper than ever. Black bangs fell over her brows, still bare of the jeweled piercings.

  The immortal’s exotic beauty filled Ariane with an envious dread. She bit her lower lip. Sabree would be smitten. After all, because of this anti crap, to his eyes, she probably triumphed as the Fatal Attraction bitch-goddess. “Behave, Abyss, and all will be forgiven. Don’t behave, and you will go back to looking like an ugly withered bitch for all eternity. Do we understand each other?”

  “Perfectly.” The arrogance Abyss once possessed resurfaced. She laid the mirror facedown. “I knew it. You’re crushing on Sabree.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Ariane said too quickly. Science, logic, reason, concentrate. The animated buzz grew louder. “Unfortunately, you might develop an immunity to the booster, and it will no longer have the same effect. For now, I dispense daily doses of the serum only to Sabree.”

  “Works for me. I remember when he looked like hell, but now he’s back to his handsome self.”

  Again, a twinge of jealousy tugged at Ariane. She jabbed the syringe into the back of Abyss’s neck, receiving payback when she yelped. Guilt rarely reared its ugly head. Ariane’s mouth twisted to one side. “Once I formulate the correct dosage, I should be able to produce an ingestible tablet.”

  “Am I finished here? I want Sabree to see the new and improved me.”

  Think fast. “Yes,” Ariane said, “but I forgot to give Sabree his daily dose. Tell him to hurry. I don’t have all day. A woman’s work is never done.”

  Abyss paused at the door and looked back before she left. The pout on her face washed Ariane with relief until realization struck her like a tsunami—Abyss would be alone with Sabree. After she poured a tall glass of cabernet, she downed the contents to soak up enough courage. Had she fed today? Her head spun, matching the mixed emotions she harbored for Sabree.

  The door opened and shut behind her. His roasted caramel sugariness sprouted gooseflesh up her arms, and she silently damned him for making her lose control. Ariane placed the glass into the sink and twirled in place to face the bad boy who toyed with her hormones.

  “You wanted to see me?”

  Her gaze steadied on the color of his eyes. Violet. The pastel hue meant a calm lovey-dovey mood. He had just seen Abyss. Without a word, Ariane lifted the syringe.

  Sabree nodded and removed his shirt as he sat on the edge of the table. “Abyss is back to her stunning self, thanks to Brian’s magnificent blood.”

  “Back to her bitchy self if you ask me.” Ariane readied the plunger, wishing she could jab Sabree in the neck, but she had always injected his lower spine. Her fingers tingled as they traced his backbone until she reached the correct spot. She fingered the injection site.

  Once finished, Sabree stood and faced her as he reached for his shirt. “Thank you.”

  She stared at his smooth stomach where no sign of a bellybutton had ever existed. Hers was an innie, which linked her to humanity, now a farce because Duncan Colton had manipulated their memories, education, and persona to appear human. Ariane reached for Sabree’s shirt and whipped it aside. She lunged, pushing him into the refrigerator, pinning him against the hard surface.

  Her face inches from his, she stole a glance at his widening eyes, still violet. Hope fed her bravado as she leaned closer, her warm breath mixing with his, her lips brushing against his chin. A warm fire ignited her core. With what seemed like electricity coursing between them, she planted her lips firmly on his. Hope grazed reality when he returned the passion. His tongue sweetened the wine’s aftertaste in her mouth. Her knees almost buckled.

  Sabree’s lips departed hers. His eyes revealed horror. “Enough!” He pushed her away.

  Her backside smacked against the lip of the countertop. Ariane tried to remain calm if not for her racing pulse. His adverse reaction pumped toxic adrenaline into her bloodstream. She lurched at him and pounded her fists into his chest. Why couldn’t he love her the way she loved him? Tears blurred her vision. She didn’t care what color his eyes were now and kept hitting him until her punches faltered. Strong hands encircled her wrists. She released the sobs she tried to hold back.

  “Ariane Rose,” Sabree’s voice crooned. “This can never be.”

  “Why not?” She managed to spill the words between gasping sobs. “We’re not related. Is it Abyss?”

  “Look at me,” Sabree said. His hands released her wrists and cupped her cheeks.

  She dared a peek. His eyes were purple, a rich, majestic hue—a new mystery mood she had never witnessed. The lump in her throat grew, one that prevented her from speaking. Ariane breathed in his signature scent of faintly toasted caramel. She could never inhale enough of him.

  “I care too deeply about you to endanger your life. Why can’t you understand?”

  Ariane chose never to understand. Only half-human, deep inside she knew her Fallen half could handle his love. However, he might not be able to handle her anti-Fallen quirkiness. At this moment in time, she stood on the line between love and animosity. Her sobs subsided; her tears evaporated. She swallowed the lump and inhaled, filling her lungs to clear her head. “Leave. I have work to do.” And just like that, logic took hold once again.

  She noted how his pupils darted until they focused on her. His mouth opened to speak and clamped shut when anger contorted her face. Her jaw tensed, and her eyes narrowed. Her pupils burned. “Enough, huh?” she hissed. “You say that a lot lately. In fact, you said it to Brian earlier. Why?” His fidgeting bolstered her confidence, certain the gears in his mind whirled chaotically to avoid the truth. The hush-hush conversation between him and Brian had ended abruptly when she walked in on them.

  His fingers splayed to shield himself, Sabree spoke slowly. “Brian and I were discussing something he did in the past, something I don’t understand. Until I find out why, the confession should come from him not me.” Sabree walked out.

  What have you done now, dear brother? She slammed the door shut, hoping Sabree would hear the racket and realize how much he upset her. Before she returned to her work, a buzzing drone filled her eardrums. Ariane squeezed her head
until her knees buckled. The noise stopped, replaced by a callous voice.

  “Sabree loves Abyss not you. You are the alien.”

  “What? Who said that?” Ariane whirled around. An iciness froze her to the core. The vision of her injecting Sabree with a giant syringe full of venom consumed her mind. The syringe morphed into a huge stinger. She shook her head in defiance. “Leave me alone! I will never hurt him.”

  “Logic rules over emotions. Kill him.”

  The numbness within her invaded her mind. More at ease, she stood upright to adjust her lab coat. Dead or alive, Sabree would eventually be hers. “Dead? Are you crazy? Get out of my head!”

  10

  ITSY-BITSY SPIDER

  E very muscle in my sister’s body tensed when I entered the lab. At first, I sensed her worry that Sabree might have asked me to tighten her reins. He would never stoop that low, never involve me. Whoa, better tighten my own reins. Too easy to read her open mind, I dove right in. So much for the promise I had made to myself. My gaze wandered as she busied herself by tidying up. Science consumed her mind, her sanity savior of late.

  “Need something?” Ariane finally asked. She removed her safety glasses and feigned interest as she brushed the hair out of her eyes.

  “Abyss is back to her old self.” The table still untidy, I fondled an empty syringe. “Funny, how it works. Along with beauty, comes aloofness. She wants to move out of the basement. Pretty much insisted.”

  “My guestroom’s available.”

  “Surprised you didn’t offer her the room already.”

  Ariane peeled the nitrile glove from one hand, making sure it snapped. “What do you really want? The Great Brian Ross never stops by for idle chit-chat.” The clatter-like sound of katydids rubbing their forewings filled her eardrums. Mine too.

  She snapped off the other glove and threw them into the biohazardous waste bin. My sister snatched the syringe from my fingers and tossed it next. Her nail sliced my thumb.

  “Ouch! What’s your problem?” In answer, empathy replaced anger. I wasn’t at fault this time, so why did she take her frustration out on me? If she needed something, her abrupt behavior would fetch only ill will. My sister could do better.

  “I’m sorry,” she said in truce. “All that talk about our anti-ness has me worried. Then Sabree got on my nerves.”

  I shrugged. “Both topics understandable. Apology accepted.” I placed a hand on her arm and pulled back when she jerked away from my touch. “Wow, you’re wound up tight. Did Sabree hurt you?”

  “Oh, if you only knew how much.”

  Without revealing how easily I could slip into her unguarded thoughts, I still flinched. The reply had come from her mind but not in her voice. Whose then?

  Ariane glanced at the computer screen before she flashed a weak smile. “My nerves are shot. What do you want?”

  “To assert his superiority over you.”

  Startled, we both glanced around for the voice. Ariane rubbed her ears.

  “To see if you’re all right,” I said as my hand gently raised her chin. “I thought the Caderen attack and our daft lineage might have bothered you. But if not, I’ll let you get back to work.” I backed toward the door.

  “Wait, don’t go. It’s time you made good on your promise,” Ariane said outright. “I want to meet our mother. Please, take me to see Julia.” She bit her lower lip when my back straightened. Every muscle tightened. Not a good sign.

  “Spineless creature. You don’t deserve to see your mother.”

  One cautious step at a time, I approached as if her rage would erupt any second. The alien voice inside her head certainly impressed me as one who despised us both. I ignored it for now. “Do you realize what you’re asking me to do?” A pause overtook me when my sister planted her hands on her hips. The signature stance convinced me to add reason to my hesitation. “Besides opening the portal, I have to figure out a safe time to visit. When she’s alive and no one is waiting in ambush. I don’t even know what portal travel will do to you.”

  “He’s lying.”

  “I’m not lying,” I yelled, at once realizing it wasn’t her voice. Either something alien invaded her mind, or madness had spoken for her.

  Her eyes questioned me as they narrowed. “Test it on Abyss. Or better yet, why not one of the Caderen who attacked you. If they survive the portal than so shall I.”

  “Seriously? You want me to go after one of Cayiel’s men and enter the portal with him in tow? What if it kills him?”

  “You’re right. Anyway, forget it. If I’m an anti-being like you, then I should be able to survive.” With each word, she poked me in the sternum. “Wait. If we time travel, portal travel isn’t necessary.” She pushed away from me. “Take me to see her. I demand it.” Tears began to spill. The drone inside her mind grew louder.

  “Make him pay for his narcissism.”

  The buzzing and the voice thundered over my own thoughts. The invader inside my sister’s mind frightened me. It tried to sway her into its way of thinking. I backed away when her eyes darkened. “Take it easy, Sis. You’re trembling—vibrating—worse than a jackhammer.” When her shakes intensified, I said, “Let me think about it. Time travel should work. But we can’t make the jump this minute.”

  The vibration rumbled until the laboratory glassware shook. Either my refusal or the strange voices fueled her metamorphosis. Her clothing shot out and slapped against the wall when her body shrank. Each of her limbs doubled in count as she transformed into a hairy tarantula with a thick body mass. Slowly, she crawled toward me, her leg span reaching a foot.

  A shrill girly scream bounced off the lab walls. Mine of course. My body became a blur and a split second later I appeared on top of the recliner she used to treat patients. The chair teetered, unbalanced by my sudden weight. I squatted low with both hands digging into the arms. “Change back! I’ll take you. Honest.” My gaze locked onto her hairy body as she crept toward the recliner. “Stop listening to those voices. They mean us harm.”

  Morphed into a Goliath Bird-Eating tarantula, Ariane shot out a cluster of hairs. None reached my feet. To freak me out even more, her legs performed a dance of sorts. Sideways to the left, to the back, and then a few clicks to the right. For the grand finale, all eight legs buckled underneath her body. My nerves shot up a notch when she repeated the dance, except this time jumping up and down.

  “Don’t you dare,” I cried, still perched on top of the recliner. It wobbled on its backside.

  Again, a girly scream filled the lab when the spider launched into the air and landed on the seat cushion. I shot off the chair, knocking it over and landed behind it on all fours. A speeding blur disguised my form as I shot across the floor to the safety of the kitchen table. Crouched low, I leaned forward over the edge. The spider was missing. “I’ll take you! Just turn back.”

  Laughter filled the lab. Behind the toppled recliner, Ariane stood upright and reached for a lab coat hanging on the wall. She covered her nude body, her amusement mere giggles—nervous giggles. “Thank you.”

  “Not fair, Sis. Changing into a gigantic spider is mean. It’s cheating.”

  “You cheat more than me.” She took a few steps closer to the kitchen table and stopped when I scrambled to the opposite edge as if she might change back. Her giggles ceased, replaced by a void that left her feeling hollow. The same void touched me.

  “I don’t know how to control it.”

  “You cheat time,” Ariane hissed. “You cheat inside the portal. You also cheat death by speeding away.” She folded her arms over her chest. A deep breath filled her lungs. “You will never cheat me by refusing to grant me access to the portal. To see my mother.” A wicked cackle reached my ears. “Cheat me and you will wake up in bed with a Brazilian wandering spider, the deadliest in the world, its venom extremely painful.”

  “You sure know your bugs.” I shivered all over, now an expert in the jittery dance. “We will go as soon as I figure out a safe time. We can’t d
rop everything and make the jump. It doesn’t work that way.”

  “Make it work then.” Ariane slapped a hand on the table. Her fingers crawled toward me like a spider. “Or else the itsy-bitsy spider will…”

  I sped off in a blur and stopped in front of the door. My hand clutched the knob, knuckles white. Genuine terror widened my eyes as I spoke a timid plea. “No need for threats, Sis. I’ve always taken care of you, protected you, put your needs first.” My eyes filled with the threat of tears. “Watch yourself. You’re messing with the unknown. Take it from me, your abilities can drive you over the edge.” I left her to ponder on those words.

  A pang of guilt knocked on my mind, but I refused to acknowledge it. I always considered her needs before my own, and yet, she still demanded equal rights. More so, to meet her mom.

  11

  RIP GRAY WOLF

  J esse glanced at the dirt road that led to his grandfather’s final resting place and spotted Eric propped against his truck. With cell phone in hand, too busy yapping, Eric snubbed the brightly adorned Navajos who stood by to pay their respects. Umbrellas dotted the gravesite as shelter from the blistering sun. Jesse squinted and shielded his eyes when his gaze drifted back to the tombstone. His grandfather deserved respect. Why did Eric insist on being so distant? The ceremony drawn to a close and his good-byes declared, Jesse eyed the dusty truck and the equally dusty spelunker.

  A vibration next to him pulled his attention away from Eric’s indifference. It seemed another showed up to pay respects: Tim E. Traveler. Jesse never understood when or why he chose to make an appearance. He just did and usually at an inopportune time. “Hi Tim, how’s travels?”

  “Funny, you should ask,” Tim said as his body continued to vibrate like a black and white television screen, his corporeal form not quite materializing. While in this phase, those nearby could not witness his appearance. Unlike most, Jesse and his grandfather had no trouble seeing him. Tim would colorize only after he materialized in full. “You do realize Brian and Sabree had nothing to do with Gray Wolf’s death.”